Cookout at Ciric Lake

Yesterday (Sunday, 22 April), Benone, Costel, my family and I went to Lake Ciric (pronounced CHEER eek) outside of town for the first cookout of 2007. It was a warm, but windy Sunday afternoon, and we think everyone else had the same idea. We were able to find a semi-secluded spot to grill out our old-fashioned hamburgers, some mici (a ground beef and pork mixed with garlic and spices). We cooked up some old fashioned hamburgers and some Romanian sausages.

We found out later that it was St. George's day and all those born on that day and named after this saint celebrate his name day as if it were a birthday.

Dinner at the Ezariu's

Tonight my family and I are going for dinner to the Ezariu family. She will prepare a meal probably from food leftover from Easter. I preferred not to go because I have a 30+ paper due by Friday, in which I will be discussing the role of Jesus as high priest, and by extension, how it is perceived by Orthodox and Catholics. However, she asked me if I would come prepared to say something about the resurrection of Jesus. Not wanting to pass up a free opportunity to share the gospel, I will bring my Orthodox Bible and draw a lesson from the disciples on the road to Emmaus. There I will have a great opportunity once again to stress the importance of studying the Scriptures. Please take a moment to read it. I will point out the joy, the hope and the zeal the resurrection give those who believe it and take it seriously.

Children's Books/Ezariu family/Mr. Filipovici

Yesterday and today we gave 18 children's Bible storybooks to Nathaniel's kindergarten class and 30 children in Ethan's primary school. They were well-received and appreciated.

My family and I have been invited over to the home of the Ezariu's for an "Easter" meal. The Ezariu's are very strong Orthodox, but she has invited me to speak to them about the resurrection of Jesus. Even though we would prefer not to "celebrate" with them, I will take any opportunity opened to me to teach the truth. The lesson I plan to share with them is from Luke 24 and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. In the story, Jesus mildly reproves them for not knowing the Scriptures. This will afford me a good opportunity to encourage the Ezariu's to read their Bibles for themselves, something that most Orthodox people do not do.

Yesterday was the first time that I was able explain more to Mr. Filipovici about our worship. Although he will not come this Sunday, I hope he will do so the following Sunday or one in the near future. Our studies are going very well and he is reading more and more from his Bible. He has told me that he gets a double benefit from our studies, learning the Bible while learning English. That's the real purpose of our studies.

Kaufland

Saturday my family and I went to a new grocery store called Kaufland. It reminded us a little of what we are used to in the states. It is mainly a grocery store, but it has other departments as well. We found many items much cheaper than other places, but because we have no car, the taxi rides there offset the prices somewhat. At least it gives us a new place to visit when we or the kids are bored. In the fall, Carrefoure, which is a French version of Walmart, will open.

There's a pietricica in my orez!

Last night I was eating rice and chicken delivered from our favorite Chinese restaurant in town. I was chewing happily along when--crunch!--I bit a pebble (pietricica). I thought everything was okay when after I finished my tongue felt a huge piece missing in my lower left second molar! I had never had that happen before. Today, I was able to call a Romanian dentist that Stephanie has been to (I'm glad she went first!). I will be able to go tomorrow afternoon and get it repaired. I don't mind either since dental visits here are far less expensive than those in the states, with an xray costing just over two dollars. Well, I guess I'd better get the dictionary out and brush up on some Romanian dental words like "tooth"; "drill"; "more novacane please!"; "Ow"; "it HUURTS"; "Auugh!"; and especially "What that?!". I add more to this once it's over.

Update: Well, I probably experienced one of the best dental visits that I can remember. The office was very well equipped with what it seemed to be new technology that I'd never seen before. The dentist and is wife, his assistant, were very kind and professional. The only difficulty I had was understanding his Romanian through his face mask. He kept telling me to turn my head toward him, sometimes several times. Not until he took my head and turned it, did I fully understand what he was saying. In just 30 minutes he was able to fix my chipped tooth and buff my teeth. The tooth looks as if it was never broken. I told Daren about it, and he went the next day. Another problem is that I had to ask for the invoice and receipt, something that will take time Romanians to get the hand of, especially as new European Union citizens. Anyway, I joked and said that I was giving it to the Chinese restaurant from whence came the rice--and the pebble.

Daren Schroeder

My family and I have been blessed having Daren Schroeder with us this week, although I wish it were on happier circumstancs. Daren came to sell his apartment and ship some of his belongings back to the states. Daren's apartment sold rather quickly and went fairly smoothly. He hopes to sign all the documents by Tuesday and take care of all the bills. We will miss the Schroeder family very much. We ask that you pray for them as they await another child who is coming in September.

We appreciate all the good times we had together with them as a part of our team and we wish them Godspeed in all their endeavors. We know that they are hard workers in the kingdom and we pray for many, many years for them in His service.

Du-te cu Dumnezeu, Daren.