More Precious Than...

  Our Elders are hanging up posters advertising free English lessons.  The posters are really nice and they want to hang them on telephone poles.  The only thing they could think of to do that dirty job was some duct tape.  They have looked every where for duct tape and we have too.  They is none to be found.   Luckily,  a Senior Missionary some where brought some to this apartment and we have some in our drawer.  So we had them come over and get it.  They were very excited.  They said, "this is more precious than GOLD."  That is true.  We see many people in the villages and here in town that have teeth filed with gold.  On the cover of a magazine we got on the airport on the way over they is a picture of a women smiling with all gold teeth.
     A man helping Elder and Sister Schwartz put together their furniture thought his clothes were very precious.  He came in in jeans and a nice shirt.  Before the men started working, the one guy took off all his clothes except his underwear.  He didn't want to mess them up.  Sister Schwartz went "woow!"
"Now that is service."   She turned around and went out of the room.  She didn't go back.  They wouldn't take their boxes out after they were done.  They said that is not our job.  Elder Schwartz had to pay each of them 25 lei to carry out their mess.   Service is very precious.
    A couple of weeks ago Elder Kneib and I went  to a day care center for severely disabled children.  We took some toys and furniture over to them.   One of the things we took was a little key board.  There is a little girl about 7 who had a hard time opening her hand.  They have worked with her to get her to do that.  She has no strength to hold up her head she can't sit up either.  She was sitting in a bean bag chair.  She loves music.  I opened the key board and sat it in front of her it didn't work but I tried to show her how to put her hand on it.  Then I found the power cord that went with it.  We plugged it in and put it on a table.  We moved her and the bean bag over to the table.  She opened her hand and reached out to touch the key board.  It made a sound.  Her teacher ran to get her mother and other teachers and parents to watch what was happening.  The teacher had tears in her eyes.  The little girl moved her arm along the keys and made "music."  Such a smile was on that child's face.  It brought tears to my eyes as well.
 The Most PRECIOUS thing of all.   THE SIMLE OF A CHILD.

Kindergarten 183

Six weeks ago this project was approved.  We were working with Counterpart International who renovated the kitchen.  It was in terrible shape. The ventelation system was so loud the kids couldn't hear their teachers.  The water and sewage system were sub standard.  Anyway, when I walked in the kitchen, on Friday there was such a difference.  It was beautiful.  We had originally bought a bread slicer and oven.  They were delayed at the boarder so our provider gave the option of a steam oven which was more expensive and a food processor.  We talked to the school they were pleased so we went for it.  Everything was in place for the closing on Friday 27 of Sept.  I want to find out if the cooks really like and use what we provided.  They had the option to change to the bread slicer if they would us it more.
   Our young missionaries had ask to do service projects.  We told them about this school and they called and were invited to go help with the work that was done.  I think their work was more appreciated than the appliances.  They put in about 120 hours.  If they had been paid the going rate here it would have been worth more than $700.  The project was completed quicker with their help.
    We met the Ambassador from America to Moldova.  He was in a hurry but was glad to meet us and appreciated the work we all do.  
    The school provided some women singers.  The children also sang some songs they were all dressed in traditional dress.  There was also a big very classy meal served.  The Ambassador left after the toast and then we could eat.  One Elder hung back and said this is to classy for me.  I told him we are all country folk and it was OK to eat.  He did.
    Then the choir came in and started to sing again then they were doing a round dance and invited Walt and I to join them we did and then all the Elders and Sisters joined in as well.  Then the singers made another circle inside our circle and went the other direction.  It is a traditional dance and was fun to be part of it.  It was the same dance that the children at the High School did on Sept 2 opening day of school.  There were 3 sets of young Elders and a set of young Sisters and Elder Kneib and I at this closing.  So that was 10 missionaries dancing in a circle with some of the teachers and the director.
    Walt was interview on TV and so was the District Leader Elder Adams.  The ribbon cutting ceremony was shown on the evening news.  Hopefully, it will help the people recognize what we are doing in this country.