Elder and Sister Petersen arrived on Monday morning. He is the water specialist for the church. We need is "OK" on any project we want to do. On Monday afternoon we went to see our first water project not far form Chisineu. On Tuesday we left for the far North of Moldova. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive one way. We were there 3 hours and then headed home. This project looks like a good one.
Wednesday it was raining. The first rain we have seen since we got here. The streets were full of water. We drove to Elizaveta 2 1/2 hours away. There was a closing ceremony for a water project. We thought they would take us inside for the party but we stood outside for an hour in the rain. The mayor, Councelor assistant mayor to the town next door, Walt and Elder Peterson spoke and a few others. Walt got a red ribbon tied around him and a cookie jar. He was the honorary person along with the neighboring assistant mayor.
We had some hand outs to give out. Our young Elders were there to do that. Then we went into the Kindergarten and some of the young children gave little talks about water and the sang and danced. Our translator got very cold and wet she was standing on the edge of 2 umbrellas both were dripping on her. Luckily our friend Lydia had a change of clothes for her. They were two big but dry.
Then there was food and wine. (we had water and cherry juice) We ate and had visits with the people of the town. Lots of fruit and little fishes on bread. We were told not to eat the fish it might make us sick. So we didn't. They gave us a big bag of fruit to take home.
Walt had to sign some papers and use our stamp. To show all was well and accepted. We were finally able to leave at 7:30 It was after 10 p.m. when we got home. We were tired and ready for bed.
Thursday was another closing. It was still raining so they had it in the mayors office and will have the big party on Sept. 19. Walt signed and stamped more papers. There was some discussion about how everything was handled but Walt interrupted that with a Thank you speech of his own.
Then we heard about another water project that is for a town in that area. Then we drove another 30 min or so away and heard about another water project and saw the plans and the work site. Lydia was going to go with us but her car broken down. So we went on without her. I didn't like this mayor as well as the other. He has more work to do. Then we came home, it was about 7:30 when we arrived.
We and the Petersen's had watermelon (a gift from the Mayor) and leftovers for dinner. We visited
until about 9:30. They are in their upper 70's and have traveled all over the world. Great Wall of China, Africa, and the Antarctica the only continent they have not visited is Australia. I don't think we will every be like them when we grow up.
Friday, we left at 10:00 a.m. and went to a water project still in process. then we saw 2 more place wanting our help. They were both small projects that we will have to take care of next year. If we can.
We were back in Chisineu at 4:30 We decided to go out to eat at a restraunt near our apartment. It was very good. We left the Petersen's at their hotel so he could work on his pictures for a presentation he has to give on Monday in Germany.
Today, Saturday, we picked up the Petersen's at 10:30 with their luggage and went shopping. It is a holiday in Moldova so there was a band playing and lots of stands open. We went to market in the middle of town. They have been there before. Sister Petersen's bought some lady bugs made of wood and some little wooden dolls. Then she bought a traditional blouse that is embroidred with red and black cross stitches. It is very beautiful. She also got some little shoes made of corn husks and a cutting board with a map of Moldova on it.
Then we headed to the airport and dropped them off at the very time they needed to be there.
We saw the North, South, West and East part of Moldova. It is a beautiful country. There was lot of time in the car and on bumpy roads but it was good to see the country and the people who are so excited to see us.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
WAMP wamp
I was sitting in our office this week and could here this sound wamp wamp. I wondered what it was and after about 5 minuets I go up to check. There were 2 boys out side with a long rug hung over a chinning bar. They had a tennis racket thing and they were hitting the rug with it sending up dust. After a little while they started to roll up the rug and hung up another. They same process continued for about 15 minuets then I noticed the noise stopped so I got up and peeked out they each had a rug over their shoulder and were headed in side. I have a very noisy vacuum maybe I should ask them the clean my rugs too.
Another sound I heard last night was a siren which sounded like it was out front. I went to look there were 2 guys out there getting into a car and one had a key bob and messing with the lights of a car. It was the car that was making the siren noise. It was making all the siren noises there are over here. After it went through one round it started on a second. Another couple came out and got in the first car and they drove away. The car making all the noise was finally silenced.
Every emergency vehicle here had a different sound. The amblance sounds like the old Natiz sirens. then the fire and police have a different sound. I haven't figured out what they are yet to tell the difference. None of them sound like American sirens.
There is a huge apartment building going up around the block. We can see the crane lifting loads of something ( probably cement) up seven or eight stories and putting in down where it is needed. We also here the banging of hammers and saws and men calling to each other.
We also here the voices of people walking in the street calling greetings to each other. We also hear children out playing or crying.
Tonight it pretty quite because it is a relgious holiday and a lot of people have returned to their villages or are at their home starting a fast that will be broken in a few days. It is kind of like lent where they give up something they really like for a few days. The stores and business will be closed until Wed. morning. I don't know what all we will get done. We did do some shopping to day so we will be ok until things are back to normal. Of course there is another holiday that starts next weekend so things will be closed again. We just have to plan for what we need and be prepared.
It is fun to hear and see all the things going on from our windows.
Another sound I heard last night was a siren which sounded like it was out front. I went to look there were 2 guys out there getting into a car and one had a key bob and messing with the lights of a car. It was the car that was making the siren noise. It was making all the siren noises there are over here. After it went through one round it started on a second. Another couple came out and got in the first car and they drove away. The car making all the noise was finally silenced.
Every emergency vehicle here had a different sound. The amblance sounds like the old Natiz sirens. then the fire and police have a different sound. I haven't figured out what they are yet to tell the difference. None of them sound like American sirens.
There is a huge apartment building going up around the block. We can see the crane lifting loads of something ( probably cement) up seven or eight stories and putting in down where it is needed. We also here the banging of hammers and saws and men calling to each other.
We also here the voices of people walking in the street calling greetings to each other. We also hear children out playing or crying.
Tonight it pretty quite because it is a relgious holiday and a lot of people have returned to their villages or are at their home starting a fast that will be broken in a few days. It is kind of like lent where they give up something they really like for a few days. The stores and business will be closed until Wed. morning. I don't know what all we will get done. We did do some shopping to day so we will be ok until things are back to normal. Of course there is another holiday that starts next weekend so things will be closed again. We just have to plan for what we need and be prepared.
It is fun to hear and see all the things going on from our windows.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Children
The children of Moldova are like children every where.
They have round faces and round cheeks. They have blond or dark hair. I haven't seen any red heads.
I hear them playing outside every evening. Their is a play ground of sorts out our back window. With a sandbox, slide and swing anchors with no swing. Mostly they play in the street with a ball or playing tag.
The young ones are always in a stroller being walked where ever their parents need to go. They get bumped down the 8 stairs to the entrance or our building. One little guy was waving good bye to us from his stroller as they walked away.
There is a hand rail on our entry steps the kids like to swing on that and jump off and go around to do it again.
Today, walking home from church we saw a double stroller. They were twins about 6 months old. They were happy and playing with their toys.
The children in some of the schools we have seen have one parent living abroad working a job. This parent might be gone for 4 months home for 2 weeks and gone again for 4 months. Some children have both parents living abroad and they are being raised by grand parents or are put in boarding schools. During the summer the school tries to find a place for these children to live either with relatives or with families in the village. I think many children are raised by grandparents so the parents can work.
The kids start school at the young age of 3. They are at school 12 hours a day. Doina our interpreter was telling us that her sister went to American and learned that it was not good to have children in school that long and that they should be not be taught baby talk but use correct words for everything. The mother of these children found that her kids could talk to adults but not to children. She sent her son to school for the morning for reading and math studies and then had him come home at noon. Pretty soon he wanted to stay all day, because he liked being with the children and the activities.
Now the little sister is about ready to go to school and she will probably go all day. They live next door to the school so if she needs to come home, she can.
I just think how much the parents are missing out on. This is a way that both parents can work and provide a living for the family.
I saw a coloring book in the store on Friday. One side of the page was the picture all painted and colored the other side was the same picture only needed to be colored. I guess just like the original.
Not much for imagination..
Well there are beautiful children here, with big eyes and curly hair. They are clean and happy in spite of the hard times they may have.
They have round faces and round cheeks. They have blond or dark hair. I haven't seen any red heads.
I hear them playing outside every evening. Their is a play ground of sorts out our back window. With a sandbox, slide and swing anchors with no swing. Mostly they play in the street with a ball or playing tag.
The young ones are always in a stroller being walked where ever their parents need to go. They get bumped down the 8 stairs to the entrance or our building. One little guy was waving good bye to us from his stroller as they walked away.
There is a hand rail on our entry steps the kids like to swing on that and jump off and go around to do it again.
Today, walking home from church we saw a double stroller. They were twins about 6 months old. They were happy and playing with their toys.
The children in some of the schools we have seen have one parent living abroad working a job. This parent might be gone for 4 months home for 2 weeks and gone again for 4 months. Some children have both parents living abroad and they are being raised by grand parents or are put in boarding schools. During the summer the school tries to find a place for these children to live either with relatives or with families in the village. I think many children are raised by grandparents so the parents can work.
The kids start school at the young age of 3. They are at school 12 hours a day. Doina our interpreter was telling us that her sister went to American and learned that it was not good to have children in school that long and that they should be not be taught baby talk but use correct words for everything. The mother of these children found that her kids could talk to adults but not to children. She sent her son to school for the morning for reading and math studies and then had him come home at noon. Pretty soon he wanted to stay all day, because he liked being with the children and the activities.
Now the little sister is about ready to go to school and she will probably go all day. They live next door to the school so if she needs to come home, she can.
I just think how much the parents are missing out on. This is a way that both parents can work and provide a living for the family.
I saw a coloring book in the store on Friday. One side of the page was the picture all painted and colored the other side was the same picture only needed to be colored. I guess just like the original.
Not much for imagination..
Well there are beautiful children here, with big eyes and curly hair. They are clean and happy in spite of the hard times they may have.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
PINK
Hi from MOLDOVA
I have noticed lots of places are pink. Our kitchen cabinets are dark pink and our bedroom is light pink. We were in a school, that we are helping to renovate, and I noticed that the ceiling in the halls are the same color as our kitchen cabinets. The class rooms were also painted pink. This school was for younger children.
The other day I noticed 3 little girls playing on our front entry way, all of them were wearing pink skirts or shorts.
There is a big apartment building going up near our apartment. The brick they are using is, you guessed it pink, though not the same color as our cabinets, more muted.
In our travels we saw a Church with the towers like the Russian Kremlin all painted pink. A little further down the street was a yellow church and then a blue one. These colors as all bright.
Pink is a happy color and these people need happiness in their lives so pink is a way to do that.
We were reflecting today as we bought groceries. The prices are about what we pay in the states but some only make in a month what I made in a day at the school. It is amazing that they survive.
Their schools are old and need of repair but their children or clean and not going hungry. Luckily Moldova has the best top soil in the world. Everything can grow here so no one need starve.
Another color quite prevalent in Chisineu is cement gray. The building we live in is that color on the outside. It and many other buildings were built when the Russians occupied this land. Some of these building still house people and others are empty and need to be torn down. We have found little shops in these buildings for printing and photo taking. It is amazing what interesting things you can find in the smallest of places.
I have noticed lots of places are pink. Our kitchen cabinets are dark pink and our bedroom is light pink. We were in a school, that we are helping to renovate, and I noticed that the ceiling in the halls are the same color as our kitchen cabinets. The class rooms were also painted pink. This school was for younger children.
The other day I noticed 3 little girls playing on our front entry way, all of them were wearing pink skirts or shorts.
There is a big apartment building going up near our apartment. The brick they are using is, you guessed it pink, though not the same color as our cabinets, more muted.
In our travels we saw a Church with the towers like the Russian Kremlin all painted pink. A little further down the street was a yellow church and then a blue one. These colors as all bright.
Pink is a happy color and these people need happiness in their lives so pink is a way to do that.
We were reflecting today as we bought groceries. The prices are about what we pay in the states but some only make in a month what I made in a day at the school. It is amazing that they survive.
Their schools are old and need of repair but their children or clean and not going hungry. Luckily Moldova has the best top soil in the world. Everything can grow here so no one need starve.
Another color quite prevalent in Chisineu is cement gray. The building we live in is that color on the outside. It and many other buildings were built when the Russians occupied this land. Some of these building still house people and others are empty and need to be torn down. We have found little shops in these buildings for printing and photo taking. It is amazing what interesting things you can find in the smallest of places.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Streets
An observation of the streets in Moldova is amazing.
The street that goes in front of our apartment is narrow but has traffic coming both ways. People also use it as a side walk. Parking is a premium search. There is a new apartment building going up in the next block so the workers need a place to park. There is a parking lot between us and the new building but the government has closed it off. There may be a government building over there. During the weekdays it is hard to find a spot. Some people park on the the side walks, or take the spots for our building.
There are other streets a little wider than ours with three lanes. One going right the other going left. The one in the center is what Walt calls a Chicken Lane. Both lanes of traffic pass using the center lane. I don't know why there aren't more head on collisions but so far we haven't seen any.
All main streets in all the Moldova towns are called Stephan cel Mare. This man was a military man who helped save Moldova from an invasion a long time ago. The street in Chisinau (where we live). is wide, two lanes going both directions with round abouts (traffic circles). There are business, shops and parks on this street.
Yesterday in our travels to the North we found some brand new highways. Newly paved. They were very nice. They got the money to do this from a grant from the United States. As soon the new pavement ran out the roads it was rough riding.
All the roads are pretty rough. (Except the new one) Some times we nearly hit the roof of the car going over speed bumps or through pot holes. We got a little lost once so this guy came to find us and take us to where they were digging trenches for a water project. He was trying to stay out of the pot holes and was driving quickly from one side of the road to the other. We were trying to keep up but couldn't his driving was to fancy for us. We were glad to get out and walk around for a bit. We get pretty tired with all this driving. I think it is because we are joggled and tossed from side to side and up and down the whole way to where ever we go.
Some of the roads into the villages and to water sites are not paved. They are bare rock or dirt. We see a lot of horse and cart travelers on the roads of all kinds, not in the city though.
I always wear my seat belt but I noticed that Sis Pinder and our translator Doina do not. We were all riding in the back seat. Walt and Elder Pinder in the front wear their seat belts. There is no way I will be without mine. Traffic is a white nail, hang on tight, close your eyes and pray experience.
The roads almost every where are lined with English Walnut trees. The nuts are green now but people go out and pick them to sell. We have also seen beautiful fields acres and acres of Yellow Sun flowers. They are very beautiful. We also see orchard of apples and peaches which are on right now. Watermelon and grapes are also being grown here. People sell these and every other kind of fruit of Veggie you can think of. People are not hungry here for which I am Thankful.
Moldova is a good place to be.
The street that goes in front of our apartment is narrow but has traffic coming both ways. People also use it as a side walk. Parking is a premium search. There is a new apartment building going up in the next block so the workers need a place to park. There is a parking lot between us and the new building but the government has closed it off. There may be a government building over there. During the weekdays it is hard to find a spot. Some people park on the the side walks, or take the spots for our building.
There are other streets a little wider than ours with three lanes. One going right the other going left. The one in the center is what Walt calls a Chicken Lane. Both lanes of traffic pass using the center lane. I don't know why there aren't more head on collisions but so far we haven't seen any.
All main streets in all the Moldova towns are called Stephan cel Mare. This man was a military man who helped save Moldova from an invasion a long time ago. The street in Chisinau (where we live). is wide, two lanes going both directions with round abouts (traffic circles). There are business, shops and parks on this street.
Yesterday in our travels to the North we found some brand new highways. Newly paved. They were very nice. They got the money to do this from a grant from the United States. As soon the new pavement ran out the roads it was rough riding.
All the roads are pretty rough. (Except the new one) Some times we nearly hit the roof of the car going over speed bumps or through pot holes. We got a little lost once so this guy came to find us and take us to where they were digging trenches for a water project. He was trying to stay out of the pot holes and was driving quickly from one side of the road to the other. We were trying to keep up but couldn't his driving was to fancy for us. We were glad to get out and walk around for a bit. We get pretty tired with all this driving. I think it is because we are joggled and tossed from side to side and up and down the whole way to where ever we go.
Some of the roads into the villages and to water sites are not paved. They are bare rock or dirt. We see a lot of horse and cart travelers on the roads of all kinds, not in the city though.
I always wear my seat belt but I noticed that Sis Pinder and our translator Doina do not. We were all riding in the back seat. Walt and Elder Pinder in the front wear their seat belts. There is no way I will be without mine. Traffic is a white nail, hang on tight, close your eyes and pray experience.
The roads almost every where are lined with English Walnut trees. The nuts are green now but people go out and pick them to sell. We have also seen beautiful fields acres and acres of Yellow Sun flowers. They are very beautiful. We also see orchard of apples and peaches which are on right now. Watermelon and grapes are also being grown here. People sell these and every other kind of fruit of Veggie you can think of. People are not hungry here for which I am Thankful.
Moldova is a good place to be.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
First 5 days
I don't know where to start. We have traveled over part of the Southeast part of the country, tomorrow, we go Northwest.
At church on Sunday, we meet some members of the branch. There were about 60 people there some were visitors from the United States. A former missionary returned with his family. We had an interpreter who speaks Russian and English. We were singing songs in Romanian others were singing Russian. You really couldn't tell the difference. The Pinder's gave a power point about the things they have been doing for the past year. People were surprised they had no idea what Humanitarian missionaries do. any way Elder Pindar was speaking in English. The power point was written in Romanian and we finally got a Russian interpreter up there to tell the Russian speakers what was going on. It was slightly CONFUSING.
Monday we took off at 8:00 a.m and went to a Kindergarten school in Causeni. The children going there are 3 to 7 years old. This project will be finished next week. New bathrooms were installed for boys and girls and 8 new outside doors were put in. That was our part but because we were willing to put money and equipment into it others who do construction were willing to redo floors and windows. Another company is going to put in new windows on the North side of the school. There was a big change in the old and new.
Then we went to a water project that will be finished this month. When we have the closing the US Embassy people, mayor etc with be there to speak and thank the people who did so much or the work and are willing to pay for clean water. Right now they get their water from wells that you draw up the water with a bucket.(usually rusty).
We also saw fields of big Sun Flowers. We stopped and got some pictures. Horse drawn carriages are a way of travel. People walk miles to get to the bus or Maxi Taxi stops to get into town or to work.
They walk a lot. We also saw people selling fresh tomatoes, peaches, grapes. There is also a place to buy these close to our apartment. yumm
Tue at 6:30 a.m. We got out and Elder Pinder drove us around town so we can get the law of the land with out to much traffic. The next 2 days we also drove around Walt drove I tried to follow on the Map. The most danger you are in is when you drive during business hours. SCARY IN DEED.
Wed. We saw another school this one was a school housing children form 7 to 18. They needed desk and chairs for three class rooms and computers. They are teaching English for their number one foreign language. The desks they have were donated from a kindergarten and are to small for the kids going there. The desks, chairs and school are 40 years old. They have been painting them white to help them look sort of nice. Parents and teachers help paint rooms etc. No money for desks and chairs.
They also need computers so we will be able to get some refurbished computers for them. Walt and I wrote up a project request for this school. It is our first project.
Today we went to another school here in Chiriseu It is a kindergarten so kids form 3 to 7. The kitchen is going to be constructed and they need a bread cutter. They slice 150 loaves of bread a day and peel 88 lbs of potatoes a day. They need a new potato peeler and oven. I worked in the school system for 15 years and we complained about freezer and refrigerator that were a little old. This fridge was 30 years old and rusty, there were holes in the walls and tile. They only had 4 racks in two small ovens. It is awful. The workers were surprised when I told them I had worked in a school kitchen.
The educated teachers there make in a month about what I made in a day. Yet they stay on and help the children, who are there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are fed 4 meals day and each child has a little bed to sleep in. This school might be our next project.
Well tomorrow we head North. Good night to all be. Thankful for what you have.
At church on Sunday, we meet some members of the branch. There were about 60 people there some were visitors from the United States. A former missionary returned with his family. We had an interpreter who speaks Russian and English. We were singing songs in Romanian others were singing Russian. You really couldn't tell the difference. The Pinder's gave a power point about the things they have been doing for the past year. People were surprised they had no idea what Humanitarian missionaries do. any way Elder Pindar was speaking in English. The power point was written in Romanian and we finally got a Russian interpreter up there to tell the Russian speakers what was going on. It was slightly CONFUSING.
Monday we took off at 8:00 a.m and went to a Kindergarten school in Causeni. The children going there are 3 to 7 years old. This project will be finished next week. New bathrooms were installed for boys and girls and 8 new outside doors were put in. That was our part but because we were willing to put money and equipment into it others who do construction were willing to redo floors and windows. Another company is going to put in new windows on the North side of the school. There was a big change in the old and new.
Then we went to a water project that will be finished this month. When we have the closing the US Embassy people, mayor etc with be there to speak and thank the people who did so much or the work and are willing to pay for clean water. Right now they get their water from wells that you draw up the water with a bucket.(usually rusty).
We also saw fields of big Sun Flowers. We stopped and got some pictures. Horse drawn carriages are a way of travel. People walk miles to get to the bus or Maxi Taxi stops to get into town or to work.
They walk a lot. We also saw people selling fresh tomatoes, peaches, grapes. There is also a place to buy these close to our apartment. yumm
Tue at 6:30 a.m. We got out and Elder Pinder drove us around town so we can get the law of the land with out to much traffic. The next 2 days we also drove around Walt drove I tried to follow on the Map. The most danger you are in is when you drive during business hours. SCARY IN DEED.
Wed. We saw another school this one was a school housing children form 7 to 18. They needed desk and chairs for three class rooms and computers. They are teaching English for their number one foreign language. The desks they have were donated from a kindergarten and are to small for the kids going there. The desks, chairs and school are 40 years old. They have been painting them white to help them look sort of nice. Parents and teachers help paint rooms etc. No money for desks and chairs.
They also need computers so we will be able to get some refurbished computers for them. Walt and I wrote up a project request for this school. It is our first project.
Today we went to another school here in Chiriseu It is a kindergarten so kids form 3 to 7. The kitchen is going to be constructed and they need a bread cutter. They slice 150 loaves of bread a day and peel 88 lbs of potatoes a day. They need a new potato peeler and oven. I worked in the school system for 15 years and we complained about freezer and refrigerator that were a little old. This fridge was 30 years old and rusty, there were holes in the walls and tile. They only had 4 racks in two small ovens. It is awful. The workers were surprised when I told them I had worked in a school kitchen.
The educated teachers there make in a month about what I made in a day. Yet they stay on and help the children, who are there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are fed 4 meals day and each child has a little bed to sleep in. This school might be our next project.
Well tomorrow we head North. Good night to all be. Thankful for what you have.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Moldova
Well we have arrived. Our flights were all pretty good. We had some bad turbulance over Boston and Washington DC area. The stewardesses were trying to hand out our meal, it took them a long time to get it all out. We were sitting on the last row of the airplane so were about the last to be served. By the time they got to us the ride was smoother so this time it was good to be last. That 2nd flight was 8 1/2 hours long. We had a GPS on our individual screens so we could watch the course our flight was taking us. We were able to sleep a little. In Frankfort, Germany we had to ask for the gate number the man helping us spoke very good English. We were in the bottom on the airport way on the end. They bussed us all to the airplane for the 2 hour flight to Moldova. Walt and I were assigned different rows. I was able to have my row to my self. I got to look out the window in between nodding off to sleep.
There are a lot of trees and plowed fields going in different directions. There is a river too that we followed for a while. Don't know which one.
Elder and Sister Pinder and Elder and Sister Schwartz picked us up. Their cars were to small to pick us up with our 4 large suitcases. So we met both couples at the same time. Moldova only allows 2 adult missionary couples in the country at once. I don't think the young missionaries have a limit.
Our apartment is pretty big. We have 2 bedrooms on of which is our office. A kitchen with a breakfast nook and then and inclosed balcony where we hang our clothes to dry, (there are no dryers here) and we can store our snow tires and suitcases etc. there. Next to the kitchen is the living room with a formal dining area. We have 1 1/2 bathrooms. In the smaller on we have filtered water which we can get our water to drink and cook with. It is all very nice.
The windows are all open so there is a nice breeze going through. Also going through are the noises of the children playing and people calling to each other. The street is narrow and is used for a sidewalk as well as the street.
The threshold to each room is raised so you have to step over it to get into the rooms. I wonder how many times we will stub our toe or stumble before we learn where they are. The floors are wooden with different patterns in the way the pieces are put together. They are very beautiful and have rugs to cover the walk ways. We have three locked doors to get to our apartment so it is very safe.
Today we went over to Elder and Sister Schwartz's place of dinner. It is much smaller, but thy have a beautiful flowered courtyard to go through to get to their apartment. They have 3 rooms and a bathroom.
It was Fast Sunday at church today. Most of the people speak Russian, some speak Romanian. Testimonies were said in both languages. The Romanian I could understand parts of what was said.
The Young Adults had a conference in Turkey (I think). There were about 7 from our branch and 3 others 2 investigators, 1 from the Ukraine. They had to go through a lot just to get visas and passports, driving records etc, etc to go. It was a hard process, but it was a wonderful time for them to draw together, learn so much, and feel the spirit. There was about 50 people in attendance more than we expected so it is growing here. There was a family from Utah there. They had picked up a son from the German mission and come to Moldova to visit the place their older son served his mission. The members loved seeing him again with his family.
The people were friendly lost of young adults. I only saw 3 children for the Pimary
There are a lot of trees and plowed fields going in different directions. There is a river too that we followed for a while. Don't know which one.
Elder and Sister Pinder and Elder and Sister Schwartz picked us up. Their cars were to small to pick us up with our 4 large suitcases. So we met both couples at the same time. Moldova only allows 2 adult missionary couples in the country at once. I don't think the young missionaries have a limit.
Our apartment is pretty big. We have 2 bedrooms on of which is our office. A kitchen with a breakfast nook and then and inclosed balcony where we hang our clothes to dry, (there are no dryers here) and we can store our snow tires and suitcases etc. there. Next to the kitchen is the living room with a formal dining area. We have 1 1/2 bathrooms. In the smaller on we have filtered water which we can get our water to drink and cook with. It is all very nice.
The windows are all open so there is a nice breeze going through. Also going through are the noises of the children playing and people calling to each other. The street is narrow and is used for a sidewalk as well as the street.
The threshold to each room is raised so you have to step over it to get into the rooms. I wonder how many times we will stub our toe or stumble before we learn where they are. The floors are wooden with different patterns in the way the pieces are put together. They are very beautiful and have rugs to cover the walk ways. We have three locked doors to get to our apartment so it is very safe.
Today we went over to Elder and Sister Schwartz's place of dinner. It is much smaller, but thy have a beautiful flowered courtyard to go through to get to their apartment. They have 3 rooms and a bathroom.
It was Fast Sunday at church today. Most of the people speak Russian, some speak Romanian. Testimonies were said in both languages. The Romanian I could understand parts of what was said.
The Young Adults had a conference in Turkey (I think). There were about 7 from our branch and 3 others 2 investigators, 1 from the Ukraine. They had to go through a lot just to get visas and passports, driving records etc, etc to go. It was a hard process, but it was a wonderful time for them to draw together, learn so much, and feel the spirit. There was about 50 people in attendance more than we expected so it is growing here. There was a family from Utah there. They had picked up a son from the German mission and come to Moldova to visit the place their older son served his mission. The members loved seeing him again with his family.
The people were friendly lost of young adults. I only saw 3 children for the Pimary
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