It's been an eventful couple of weeks. I finally shook the respiratory infection (mostly) and I've been traveling a good bit.
I finished out April and began May by joining the International Teams Staff for their annual staff retreat in Sibiu, Romani. Sibiu was designated as a European Union Cultural Capital last year (which I suspect is just a way of creating a tourist environment) but it is a cool town. It was originally settled by Saxons (Germans) several hundred years ago it is evident in the language, food and architecture.
Just outside Sibiu is a really large National Cultural Park of sorts- a 120+ acre park where the government has relocated and restored over 100 dwellings from all over Romania. It's like going to Cades Cove but with much older buildings and much bigger. Entire villages are recreated in some cases.
The retreat was really good. I was hesitant about going or staying the whole 4 days; I was itchy to get on the road again. But I'm glad I stayed. It was restful. We enjoyed sweet worship and prayer times and I got to see everyone one good last time before leaving.
So, last Sunday the team and I parted ways. I found a micro-bus headed from Sibiu to Brasov that cost about $2.00! I spent 2 nights in Brasov and managed to find my way to Bran Castle (think Dracula!). I love castles. There was actually a bigger and better castle nearer to Brasov but I didn't have time to go there.
On Tuesday I figured out how to get from Romania to Moldova via bus. It costs about $28.00. I got into Moldova about 1opm Tuesday night and found a taxi driver that found me a hotel. I bought a SIM card for my phone Wednesday morning and called my ministry contact. He sent someone to pick me up and I joined a church team from Helena, Montana for 2 days on a church construction project in Orhei, Moldova. While in Moldova, my contact arranged for me to spend 2 nights with an awesome young couple finishing up some school requirements for their mission program at Bethany College in the twin cities. They are preparing for full time work in Eastern Europe in the future. Staying with Alexander and Mary and their two daughters Autumn and Jade was definitely a highlight.
I'm sitting in the airport in Chisinau, Moldova now. It's already been an adventure today. Today is Victory Day and the airline office was closed this morning where I was supposed to pick up my tickets. Alex helped me get a taxi to the airport thinking I could get the ticket there. Nope! But the airport figured out that the airline office in town opened at 1:00 pm, so I found the 25 cent microbus back to town, found a taxi to the airline office, ate pizza served by the prettiest girl I saw in Moldova, got my tickets, lucked up and got on the right microbus back to the bus station, then found my #165 microbus back to the airport! And here I am...headed to Vienna and on to Sarajevo tonight. I'll stay at least one night there...I'll try and figure out how to get a bus or train from there to Montenegro tomorrow.
2 comments:
Clinton,
I was waiting to hear from you! It looks like you made it, but all you had to do was call. I think I have you figured out though. The easy way isn't your way. You'd rather figure it out yourself!
Passion Ukraine? That sounds awesome. You'll be back in the states soon, I read. Sorry about the sickness. I'm glad you've gotten through it. Talk to you later.
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