The Journey Continues...

Since my last post, I happy to announce the safe arrival of bag 2094832 from London to Romania. Fortunately yesterday, I was able to claim it from a newly met friend in Sibui.

But before I get ahead of myself...let's go back a few days.
Friday, June 16
The morning starts with a lovely breakfast. That having been done, we head into town on a mashutka - a taxi bus. It allows for people to get closer than they would actually like....but it is cheaper than a taxi. With 2 lei, we head into the city and start our walk to and from building, gathering what we need for the next week when we head to Sibui.
We have lunch at the patisserie. The building is very nice and has paper lanterns and a tree that is upstairs housing a carved elf and a dragon. We order lunch - a piece for salmon and broccoli quiche with a hot cappacino and a mousse tart to share) for dessert. We head back to the apartment and get some rest.
Saturday, June 17
I should be tired....but I am not, I am the only one up...up with the sun that peaks through the curtains of my room. I hear very little in the early outdoor moments. This time has been essential in preparing for my day. Going before the Lord, I pray that God will bless our day and that we will please Him in all that we do and say.
We spent the day resting at home. Lots of chtting and catching up on our schedule for the next two weeks....very long and probably in time...exhausting, but we know that God will give abundant strength.
Sunday, June 18
This morning we will be visiting a church that is full of young, excited believers. God's Design is the name of the church that meets in an old school building. Due to my lack of the Russian Language, Tatianna was able to interpret the message. Amazingly it fit into my devotions of that morning and from the last weeks of my pastor's sermons - the Book of James.
Since we had an afternoon meeting in a remote village of Moldova, we went to Jeff and Robyn's for lunch and then took off for the meeting. After picking up our Romanian interpeters for the teacher training, we made our way over the bumpy roads to a small church of fellow believers. They were excited to hear from Tanya and from the other teachers that came with us.
During our visit, I was able to meet a small boy. He was totally into the camera and seeing his picture on the back of the camera. He said...me, me in Romanian to his dad. Even though I do not speak his language...I was able to understand perfectly his excitement.

June 14,15, and 16 - A Journey Back in Time

The events of the last 3 days consist of a lot of the same mixed in with much diversity.

When I boarded the plane in Buffalo, I had no idea what would lie in front of me as I traveled to Moldova. Lots and lots of sitting. I boarded the plane in Buffalo and sat next to some vegetarian Jewish businessmen who were not impressed with the flight service. Since the TV in front of the one gentleman did not work... the steward gave the guy extra snacks...a pillow....and extra sodas. The man wasn't too appreciative...but oh well, I was glad for the window seat with an empty in between.

I got to JFK with a 4 hour layover in between flights....I got in line for British Airways and waited 2.5 hours to get a boarding pass. I was ever so glad to find a seat with 2 people willing to sleep during the entire flight. Our flight lifted off an hour and half behind schedule and I was a little weary about getting to London on time.

The flight landed at precisely 9am, 1 hour later than expected.

I boarded the air transit and headed to terminal 1 from terminal 4. The time said 9:20am and my flight was to leave at 9:45am, gate closing at 9:20am. When I got to terminal 1, I ran to gate 17 to catch my flight to Bucharest, Romania.

To be continued tomorrow...

Happy Dad's Day!...early!

I saw this card in Target and had such a good laugh.

I know all my siblings will agree...THAT IS SO DAD!

One More Day...

With packages recieved...clothing packed....recipes copied...and books read...I believe I am ready to go to Europe. Tomorow is the catch-all day. I need to get my hair cut, work on finishing some last minute projects, and get some sleep before I board the plane. I cannot wait to get there and have a couple days of rest before taking off into all the projects that my friend, Tanya has for me to do.
Some things to pray for...
1. Safety travelling.
2. That my luggage will arrive with me. :)
3. As I look for my flights in all the different terminals.
4. Safety as my friend and I go through all the borders to our final destination.
5. Several opportunities to share my reason for going and how the Lord enabled me to go.

The Smells of Summer

It was not too long ago when the "smells of summer" started here in NY. It starts with the grill in April...yes there was still snow on the ground...but the grill was calling here in NY. The smell of chicken and steak...what a minute, steak - yeah right...let's try tube steak - (for those of you who are not sure what tube steaks are...I will break it to you gently...HOT DOGS!)

My sister and I can remember the many Wednesday nights at Awana when all the kids would come smelling of hotdogs. I guess all the moms were trying to think of a quick and simple meal. Unfortunately, the moms did not account for the awful breath that would accompany each child. Times it by 3 or 4 and you have a hotdog nightmare...

okay a little off the subjuct...but had to put that in...

Other smells... banana tropics sun lotion (not a bad smell)

OR, for those who really burn - the NO-AD lotion SPF 45 (horrid smell)

Now the new smell for the week...OFF bug spray - the smell that lingers even after your shower. At least I know that I will not eaten in my bed.

The other smell - grass - For some reason, when I substitute at different schools, I always hit the mowing days. The smell of the grass plus the noise makes for a very distracted group of kiddos and a very frustrated teacher.:(

I suppose there are worse things like...Lancaster farm smells, always occuring at the end of the semester in summer when you really need to have the windows open...or...those white, flowering trees at LBC - my friends that graduated with me there already know the smell that goes with those babies! Go PA! GO!

Conversations with family and friends...

"You better write everything down while you are there. Don't leave out any details."

"Pictures - 10 rolls - you better be taking lots of pictures. Who cares if half of them don't turn out. 24 pictures times 10 rolls of film...you should get at least 120 memories."

Yes, the day is quickly approaching when I will board the plane and fly to Bucharest to meet my friend for 6 weeks of excitement. In the first week alone...our schedule is so packed - which is a good thing - that she says that we will have to have breakfast and relax at the local inn after we take the Boston group back to the airport. I entirely agree.

"Do you speak any Russian?"

"Well, I know the words, Thank you, okay, yes and no! That's not too bad, is it? I am trying to learn some from the tapes from the library - but those rolling r's."

"I am more worried about transferring plane in England."

"Oh, just ask...at least they speak English."

"True."

In 8 days I leave for Moldova...I am hoping to journal daily my happenings while I am there.

Tea at 4 o'clock, anyone?

It is obvious that these little purple flowers are ready and colorfully dressed for the 4 o'clock tea party.

Flashback Friday...

The Secret Garden was my first of many adventures as a reader. I remember staying up late at night after my parents had gone to bed to read to the end of this book. It's theme and plot aroused my curiosity. Reading it, broadened my imagination and increased my desire to read many other "girl" books. My parents also made the agreement with me..."If you read a book, we will buy you another book." Since then, my book collection has increased from picture books to biographies from novels to classics. As a teacher, what are the gifts I give at holidays and birthdays...?...books, of course. And what am I reading at this present time? I just finished Jane Eyre and am now reading The Schoolroom.

What book in your memory made you a reader? OR
What was the book that made you fall in love with reading?

Also what book or books are you currently reading?