First a look at our great missionaries. With this last transfer we had two go home and one transfer to another location in Romania. We will miss them, we get so attached to these wonderful young people. So happens that both going home are going to Arizona. One to Mesa, and the other will be attending ASU (but we love her anyway). Both served so faithfully and are ready for the next step in their lives. The other missionary, who was transferred, was here when we arrived so he had been with us for a long time. He served as the district leader and the first councilor in the Branch Presidency. He was such a help to us during this adjustment period. We love him and he will be sorely missed. Here are some pictures of the comings and goings.
Goodbye dinner for the departing missionaries. We all get together and have a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Centru. It is such a great way for Ginny and I to express our gratitude and say farewell to those who have served with us and been such a help to us. Always lots of food and fun.
Arrival of the new missionaries at the Gara. It is always an exciting time here in the mission. New companionships, new personalities, new city and wonderful people. Its amazing how well planned and how well thought through every aspect of a mission is. I am so happy to just have my little part. Can you imagine this happening every six weeks all over the world involving over 80,000 people? Noah only had 8 and look what a big deal that was.
Its a tradition. On the first day after everyone is basically settled in we all meet at this little sidewalk cafe for the best hot chocolate you have ever tasted. They serve it with a spoon that you actually need to eat, drink?, consume this delicious desert. Leave it to the Elders to know every great eating spot in town.
On the first Sunday after transfers, after church, we have the missionaries over for one of Ginny's much loved home made meals. Here we are consuming shepherd pie. Home made meals here are very rare and hard to come by for these young missionaries so we always look for an excuse to feed them. It is one of our very favorite parts of our mission. Being around these amazing young people makes you realize that the future is bright as long as youth like these exist. Oh yeah one is Australian so I guess their future is in good hands too.
This is my personal favorite picture of this blog. The sister missionaries and Ginny and I went to visit one of the members of our branch who was ill and lives in a small village about 10 miles outside Timisoara. When we arrived we saw these wonderful people sitting under a tree trying to escape the heat, about 85 degrees and 85% humidity. The older gentleman, no not me, sitting on the bench was proud to announce that he was 86 years old. We had such a great time talking to them. This is a scene you see all the time in the countryside. The people here are so friendly and are almost always eager to talk. This is when having these young missionaries is so valuable. They speak the language fluently and it makes conversing really fun. Of course Ginny and I still need everything translated, but the people are patient and really seem to enjoy our very clumsy attempts at speaking their language.
Even though this is a country of modest means and they seem to have more than their share of poverty, I have to show you these next few pictures. On our walk to our church building friday evening for our weekly Institute class we came across this wedding going on in the yard of one of the local residents. I wish I could of taken pictures of the home and yard but I just wasn't gutsy enough to stand there and take pictures. It was amazing, there were hundreds of people, they had an entire pig roasting on a huge rotisserie, big band and no place to park. Check out these pictures.
They had this entire street closed off. What you see here is the Cinderella carriage. The party is happening to the right of the picture.
I thought you would like an up close and personal view of the carriage. The driver was nice enough to let me get this close up
I could not resist this picture. This gives you an idea of the wealth there is here. The white car is a Rolls Royce, I counted eight Ferraris a Bentley several Jaguars and so many Mercedes and BMW's that I lost count. It was such a surprise to me. Anyway Romania does have its upper class.
Now the best for last, if you thought looking at the Rolls Royce was something, let me really show you something. This week was our 43rd wedding anniversary so I want to show the Rolls Royce of women and the Ferrari of marriages. (In my humble opinion). Who wants an ol car when you can have what I have.
We celebrated by leaving the car at home and walked to our favorite little restaurant where we had a wonderful outdoor dinner. We then held hands and took a long walk through the park and to centru where we bought cherry pastry and sat on a bench and talked the evening away. We returned home about 9:30 pm. Long three mile walk on a most beautiful evening, we loved it. Here are some of the scenes along the way.
Just the two of us with our delicious authentic Romanian meals.
My very thoughtful gift displayed in this expensive vase. Well it is expensive on a missionaries salary. -0-.
Below are the sights along our walk. Don't you wish you were here?
Close up of the fountain with the Beautiful orthodox cathedral in the background.
View as we sat on the bench looking across centru. You can see the canopies of the outdoor restaurants in the foreground. Beautiful.
How is this for a back yard landscape. The wall in the background is about 10 feet tall and completely covered with vines. Yes they do get more rain here than we do in Tucson.
I just couldn't pass this picture up. It is one we see most every evening as we cross centru. We always stop and watch the children with the pigeons, sometimes shedding a little tear or two as we think of all our wonderful family and the great blessings of the Lord. We often take this sight in and are reminded of the great plan of happiness the Lord has provided for a fulness of joy. We are so grateful for his Atoning Sacrifice in our behalf. May the Lord so bless you and your families as well.
Know we are healthy and happy here in beautiful Timisoara Romania.
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