3/6

So I figured it was about time to update this blog because I had a few dear souls tell me that I needed to, and Junior just recently sent out a message on facebook to everyone telling them to check out my blog- and to their disappointment I don’t have much on here! ( I should probably stop babbling and start informing! ) At this moment in time I cant remember where I left off because I am writing this entry in Word and will then copy and paste it onto my blog when I have the internet J I guess I will just have to generalize some things and describe some of my most recent endeavors!

Well I am pretty sure that I wrote already about Bucharest- but in case I didn’t… the weekend of the 15^th we went to Sinaia and Bucharest! I was sick the whole weekend with a horrible cough, drippy nose and a massive headache! Despite being sick, it was a wonderful weekend! We visited the monastery in Sinaia- it was absolutely beautiful! It was a smaller church, but extremely royal in its decorations considering that it was the church that King Carole built/ attended. It is open to the public, and is used for mass every week. It was very interesting that the Monastery was open to the public… I know if I was one of those monks I would be pretty ticked if all these dumb tourists came into my living/worship place, and place of solitude and often silence and learning… It was just kind of ironic. Another thing that I have found very interesting here in Romania is the fact that so many of the churches (catholic, orthodox, reformed) they sell things. It is just very interesting how the place of God is being used to sell postcards and other various items. I know that there are arguments for and against this issue, and I don’t really know where I stand on it because there are pros and cons for both.. but its just something I have thought about. Anyways! In Sinaia we visited King Caroles palace! It was so big and everything about it was truly fit for a King. We were only able to view the first level because it was too expensive to view other floors, but it was quite amazing. My favorite room was the Kings personal library. I think if Junior had been with me, he would have been drooling to say the least! The room was designed with all these really rich colored types of wood, and deep brown leather. All the shelves were the same except one section has one extra shelf- this was the secret passage way… so cool! The library was filled with so many classics, and it was just lovely.

After visiting Sinaia we went to Bucharest. We went to the peasant museum, the history museum, and we visited the “Peoples Palace.” My favorite of these places was the peasant museum- I definitely recommend it! The museum itself was so simple- no fancy lighting, no crazy glass walls- just real artifacts and scary looking manikins wearing traditional clothing. As long as you look, and DON’T touch- the peasant museum is a wonderful experience! I was reaching to touch one of the pieces of clothing and I heard a woman yelling from across the exhibit hall- haha…. She was not very happy with me, but I apologized and had to resist the urge to look at anything too closely! The peoples palace was also very interesting. We took a tour that took about 2 hours…. Guess how much of the palace we saw? …. Nope… a little less…. Yeah… we saw 4 percent of the building! FOUR percent in Two hours!! CRAZY!!!! The Peoples palace is the 2^nd largest building in the WORLD( it ranks second, the Pentagon being the 1^st!) Can you believe it? There are 11 floors( If I remember correctly!) 7 floors above ground, and 4 underground. The building is made of 100% indigenous products. All the marble, glass, diamonds, gold… everything is from Romania! This building was truly extravagant- but also very drepressing. They STILL aren’t done with the building. It is sad to think of the all the families that lost their homes so that this building could be built, and to think of all the pain the Romanian people felt because of this stupid building- What is worse is that now communism has ended and the building still isn’t really helping the people…It is frustrating to think about all the hard work, and the many broken families, and the communities that suffered because of this building. One cool fact about the palace is that the Lead Architect is a woman from Sighisoara! Yay for Sighi!... another very interesting fact is… There is a balcony at the palace that is in the front of the building facing the city of Bucharest, and only ONE person has ever spoken from that balcony… guess who it is?? Michael Jackson! Go figure, eh? Well anyways… he was on the balcony looked to the people with open arms and said “Hello Budapest!”…. what a moron!!! He was in Bucharest…. Not Budapest… therefore when in Bucharest, do NOT mention Michael Jacksons name- you will receive many dirty looks! ;)

On a more serious note… last week we had our first parents meeting for the children in the Kindergartens parents. It went really well!! All but 2 parents showed up!! It was very exciting to have such a great response! I opened with a game, and broke the ice a little bit which was very comforting for all the parents, I think. The parents spoke up about things that they were feeling, and were talking about their children and were open about things- it was awesome!! We will be having our 2^nd meeting today ( 3/5) and I will be presenting on the topic of the importance of Affirmation and Affection with children. I am really nervous about the whole thing because I was kind of put on the spot about doing it- which was really frustrating… but Im doing it anyways with a smile on my face!

This past weekend we went to Praid and Korund. It was such a great day- despite the rain! We visited the salt mine in Praid! It was SO cool. For medical purposes doctors used to send patients down to the salt mines for healing- they believed that it helped cleanse the body, and for most it really did work! When you go down there is the usual souvenir shop, but there are also picnic tables for people, doctors to visit, massage therapists, playgrounds for children, places to rollerblade, a small museum, a coffee shop, and a church! It was amazing, and it is all underground- it was like a little utopian society down there! After visiting the salt mine we went to Korund where Ï bought some souvenirs for friends and family! J I am really excited about the gift I got for my mom!!! I would totally say what it is on here except for the fact that I know she reads this thing!! Haha.

I am really excited for this weekend- I don’t know why! I think its because on Saturday we are having a church work day- gotta love those (Right Autilio?)( he probably doesn’t even read this- but those who know him better be laughing right now! J) Anyways- we are painting the interior of the church, and I am really excited about it! No more pale blue!!! It will be a fun day- I like to paint, and I really enjoy doing things like this for other people, so we shall see how it goes! J

If you think about it- keep Veritas in your prayers. We are figuring out some financial things right now with grants and other such things. We are planning on tearing down the family center and rebuilding a nice new building for Veritas that can be used for more activities and will have more space, but there are so many restrictions and weird laws in Romania that are not helping make this an easy or even somewhat easy process. Thanks… I think that is all for now!! I will try not to go a couples weeks before I write in this again!! I appreciate all your prayers so much! I love and miss you all!

Shout outs for the day***

Love you Mom and Dad and Mikey and Junior

Miss you 410- sorry im not there to help plan wedding stuff I love you girls <3>

Miss you Cara*

Good luck to everyone in the SGA election process- praying for all of you guys! (especially My babe, and Hil!!! )