2009
ROMANIA JOURNEY
The Journey east was much more difficult than most. Having purchased
tickets at a substantial savings, my trip included two changes of
airplane, one at JFK New York and the other at Paris. The flight from
Seattle was on Delta so at Seattle via internet I was able to print up
my boarding pass for that flight and reserve my seat for all flights.
However, I was advised I would get the Air France boarding passes at JFK
for the remaining flights. Because of the distances at each airport, I
enrolled in passenger transit assistance, generally provided by carts or
wheelchairs. Seattle failed to provide any assistance but at the gate I
again asked for the JFK boarding pass and was told I would have o get it
at JFK in New York. The five hour flight from Seattle was full, very
crowded, and only offered a small pack of pretzels and water. Anything
more, including beverages and ear phones was at a price. The only movie
was “The Land Lost in Time”. It was fine without sound!
At New York, I was greeted with a wheel chair and taken to another
Terminal... At Security they would not let me pass without a boarding
pass so we had to find an Air France Desk. Finding it, they wanted copy
of my E-ticket on Air France but all I had was Delta, of course. After
a long wait they gave me Air France Boarding Pass for JFK to Paris but
refused to give me one for Paris to Bucharest saying I must get it in
Paris. They changed my “reserved seat” to one under the stairs where
you could see nothing. The homeland security attendant dumped out my
carryon bag, breaking a flashlight and totally empting two
weeks-pills-box containers, giving me a great puzzle in resorting each
of 28 days worth of six am pills and seven pm pills, all settled to the
bottom of the carryon. The Ziploc bag I kept them in failed! He did not
apologize but grunted enthusiastically! The movie was “The Land Lost in
Time”. I did not bother buying headphones. It was a very long and
uncomfortable flight and very cramped. Worse I have experienced.
At Paris I was met with wheelchair and man who spoke no English. He
took my itinerary and I said I need boarding pass. He said we would get
it at the gate and had plenty of time. He took me to a doorway and
parked me saying he would be right back. I explained to hi supervisor
about needing Boarding Pass and she said not to worry, it was taken care
of. She became quite irritated and left. After 40 minutes, the man
returned and put me on bus for Terminal 4, saying someone would meet me
there. I and another passenger in a wheelchair got to Terminal 4 but no
one was there and door at bus entrance was locked. Driver called
several times and finally after about 3 minutes a single man arrived
with two wheel chairs. We waited another 10 minutes and another man
arrived. It was now 2:15 and my flight was scheduled to leave at 2:25.
He pushed me up to security and they would not let me enter as I had no
boarding pass! We watched as my plane took off. I had been in Paris four
hours but managed to miss my confirmed flight!
I remained remarkably calm, noting that in all my life, this was the
very first flight I had missed! He never once apologized. He just took
me to the Air France Desk where they issued me a ticket and boarding
pass for the next flight in four hours, took Marin's telephone number in
Romania and promised to call him and advise of the delay. They then
took me to Terminal 2 waiting area and told m to wait there. Three
hours later as I boarded the plane they handed me a voucher good for one
ten minute international phone call from Paris so I could call Marin!
Arriving at Bucharest on Wednesday at 8:45 PM instead of 4:15 PM, I
discovered my luggage was no where to be seen. It arrived Monday
Morning. Marin was waiting for me and of course no one had advised him
of my delay. He was just meeting all Air France Jets until I arrived!
Romanian passport control sports a flyer which states that if you are
from USA or Canada and have swine flu, you cannot enter!
We drove to Braila direct from Bucharest, arriving about 1 AM Thursday.
I slept most of Thursday. Marin has not been able to finish the new
house as yet (no roof) so they moved to a third level apartment a month
ago so I would not have the steps to contend with. That evening visitors
started arriving. Marin’s’ family, Brother Nakutsa, Pastor Streghor
and his wife, Pastor Florin and his wife, Sister Maria, and others.
Friday I attended a prayer meeting with Christina, gave a teaching and
generally filled them in on Caleb events and my family. Friday night
Marin’s ‘family surrounded me and talked for two hours on why I should
move here and live with them! They have several private medical
facilities in the country that are modern and they would pay for my care
and meds and I could travel back to Seattle e for visits three or four
times a year! We have had this discussion before but they keep renewing
it each trip! Indeed, this is my second family.
Late Friday night a lady came to see me about her situation. She said
she had been praying for my journey for a week in hopes she could meet
with me. She has three children, the youngest 14. Her husband left her
for a mistress ten years ago. He lives close but never even visits his
family or supports them. The eldest son now spends all his days in bars
drinking. The state church will not intervene on her behalf as women
have no standing in such matters. We prayed for her situation.
Saturday was meeting with the elders and the Caleb Volunteers. That
evening we had church at the Colony with the gypsies. Sunday was morning
and evening church and a barbecue at Sister Johanna’s House.
Monday at nine my luggage arrived so I could change and pack for travel.
Marin and I then headed north to Iasi to deliver Glycobears to two
orphanages and a family and to visit the jobsite where he is building a
house. We stayed the night at his brother’s house where last year we
stored Christmas Shoeboxes.
Tuesday we drove to Bistritsa to deliver more Glycobears, on to Beclean
and the hospital for their shipment, and then tried to find Kristin
Miller. We never located her. Her number no longer works and the
hospital staff had not seen her. We got a room for the night.
Wednesday, we drove back to Iasi to complete papers for the house and
then back to Braila.
It was 4 below in Iasi and though they built a bonfire at the jobsite to
warm me, I got a bad cold so Thursday I stayed in bed.
Romania held an international conference on swine flu last week,
inviting experts and health workers from 17 countries. Held at the
Sinata Hotel, the conference was abruptly cut short when 40 tourists in
Sinata Hotel were diagnosed. All participants were sent home.
Friday night was “long night” service at Marin’s church in Braila. We
had 5 pastors present, much prayer and much preaching. Pastor Streghor
asked that I share about the Philippines Trip as they were praying for
me for that journey when I last left Romania. We slept most of Saturday
to recover from being up all night Friday. Saturday afternoon we bundled
the 5 Tiripa children and had a picnic at the site of the house
construction. Then Saturday evening several families came to Tiripa
apartment for weekly prayer time.
Sunday morning was church in Braila. I preached on Acts 17 (Paul at Mars
Hill). In the afternoon we took soup and bread and blankets to the sick.
Sunday evening was church again and I spoke on Gods preparation for our
work, using Acts chapter 14 and 15. After church we took two loads of
Gypsies back to the Colony so they did not have to walk in the frigid
air as buses stop at 8 pm along with the trolley. I am constantly
surprised and thrilled by the efforts the Gypsies take to get to church
from the Colony, nearly six miles away! It was nearly midnight when we
got home and put the kids down. Marin has five children ranging from 15
months to 11 years of age so it is a handful in the small apartment.
Early Monday morning Marin and I drove to get our friend Jonathan to
take to the hospital. He suffers an inoperable brain tumor and very
painful neurological condition which requires frequent clinic treatment
for the pain. He can barely walk and lives alone so Marin takes him.
Arriving at the clinic for his appointment at 7 AM, he was turned away
as the clinic was full for the day! He has been assigned here so cannot
go elsewhere and he had an appointment but no matter, he was sent home
to try again next Monday! Life is very hard here in so many ways we do
not appreciate in America.
Monday we had errands to run getting groceries at the market, getting
kids to school and music lessons (Ann plays the piano and Paul the
violin). After, Marin and I picked up the approved finished plans from
Braila Provincial Government for his new home he is building in
Versatura (just outside Braila) and took them to Chiscan for approval by
the city hall. There he was admonished to bring the originals plus two
photocopies for their files so we had to return to Braila to find copy
machine! We returned with the copies and left the plans for their study.
Then we went to The Colony (Gypsy slum village) to pray for a man named
Sergio who has lost use of his legs. He is gypsy. The government health
program declared him handicapped and offers him Rehabilitation treatment
for $2,000.00 US with no guarantees and he most travel 600 miles to the
center. He gets only $80.00 per month for him and his wife and two
children so this is hardly feasible. We provided Mannatech Supplements
which might help, prayed with him and visited 90 minutes. He was very
pleased as no one has visited in over a year! I asked why the other
gypsy families did not visit and pray with him but Marin says they never
pray alone or in small groups but only when church meeting as is sign of
weakness in their society to ask anything. The man and his family live
in a room about 10 by 12. It has television set, one light bulb strung
from ceiling, couch, two wood chairs and many stuffed animals. The only
wall decoration is classic painting of traditional Orthodox Jesus, a
lighted candle in sconce, and a Christmas card photograph from another
family. The room has a metal box for fire as heat and cooking source.
There is outhouse outside door for five apartments in the building. It
was clear our visit touched him deeply. His wife was wearing a U of W
Husky Sweater indicating Marin has been giving them Caleb clothing and
supplies. Both boys work for Marin in construction.
Monday evening was church Board Meeting at Braila concerning the 14
churches in their alliance.
Tuesday we took clothes and food to a lady with four children living on
the church land at Unirea, about 30 kilometers from here. Her husband
deserted her and she lives on a small farm with two horses, two cows and
many chickens.
Tuesday evening was small church service. We had prayer time from to 8 pm. Process is elder reads a psalm or scripture point to “the sick”, “the world”, “our community”, “the church”, “the poor”, etc, gives short teaching and then everyone gets on knees and prays , usually in tongues here, for that concern. This process is practiced in most ell Romanian Pentecostal Churches each Tuesday or Thursday evening and then for the hour before Sunday morning worship. I love it! It is known as “Appointed Prayer” and each time different elders or pastors lead it.
After church many wanted to stay and talk so we got home at midnight! One gentleman came up and told me I prayed for him seven years ago as he had only weeks to live because of cancer. I was thrilled to again witness yet another miracle by Jesus. This has happened countless times but always gives me a new respect and love for our gracious Lord!
This AM Marin and I leave for Iasi (pronounced “Yosh”). The route is about 600 miles we will take, on dirt roads, back streets and wagon ruts’ as we have many visits to make. Picture me in a Luv- size pickup, crammed in with clothes, Glycobears vitamins and an overnight bag. I love this life!
Wednesday, Marin and I headed out, first to Camp lung to visit Rebecca and the House of Hope Orphanage. As we were driving through the hills, I thought of our visit a week ago to the lady we took clothes and food to in Unirea. I failed to mention she alone is working the small farm, tending the two horses and cow, goats pig and garden while caring for her four young children! How hard life is here for so many. When we arrived, she was washing clothes in the back yard by drawing well water and scrubbing the clothes by hand in a metal trough designed to water horses!
Driving through the hills west of Bucharest we saw many tending their fields by plowing with horses, a few by tractors, and a few by mechanized farming. This is fast becoming a land of contrasts as many young who fled after the revolution now return to build with money earned abroad, the European Union and favorable tax breaks bring in mega stores and hypermarkets, while the elderly and infirm struggle on using old techniques and dated equipment.
Arriving at Campalung de Arges in late afternoon, sadly, we discover Rebecca is in the United States but we visited the facility and left food, clothes and Glycobears. The “House of Hope” she has constructed on the hillside outside Campalung is absolutely beautiful and in every way state of the art. The grounds are wonderful with farm animals, playfields, orchards and gardens! To its shame, Romania still refuses permits to open the 300 plus facility for technical reasons in a country still replete with street children! Rebecca operates the orphanage with severely handicapped children, about 18 in number, using two cramped apartments in the city.
Heading east again, we traveled through the foothills and mountains up switchbacks towards the Carpathinians and snow country. The scenery is breathtaking with autumn colors, small roadside stands of apples, pears, late grapes, cheese, wines and local specialty foods. Marin and I stop and buy “wild boar jerky” and a pretzel-like baked “circle” called “Cobrink”. (Very bland flavor as if a thin bagel) We spend the night at a pensiune for $45 including coffee for breakfast. The “Bicuz” pass and Bicuz River and town of Bicuz are as beautiful as ever and the queue roadway takes your breath away! We journey on back east now as we head towards Neamt and the small village where my friend Arhile Vasile lives. Marin stopped at a Farmicia for headache medicine. He returned with the Romanian standard treatment, a single pill torn from a foil packet. You never get more than a capsule or two and rarely in a package could you identify. You just tell the pharmacy your symptom and he sells you a pill, usually cut from a packet of pills.
Arriving at Arhile Vasiles mid-morning, we are greeted by his second eldest son, a 26 year old who has returned from working 7 years in Italy. His father is in the forest cutting trees so he invites us into his new house built with funds he earned in Italy. His bride prepares coffee by drawing water from the well, carefully getting out a small metal tin from atop the cupboard and pulling out sufficient coffee beans, crushing them with a mallet and tying in a cloth and dunking in the water as it heats. They do not serve coffee often! Finally, Vasile arrives, speechless by our visit and full of questions. The three eldest sons and daughter are on their own, the daughter in college! He still has seven at home and he still works the forest for firewood, pelts, fish and herbs. He has several questions he has been waiting to ask as on my last three visits he was gone. Pointing to a passage in Hebrews 6:4-6 he asks if the unforgivable sin is adultery. Marin and I explain it is not and that sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He says “yes” and then goes on to insist it is adultery. Going round in this discussion I finally realize someone has been committing adultery in this circle and Vasile will not accept any explanation except that it is unforgivable! I suggest we leave it at that and let the local Pastor deal with it as we had discussed it two hours with no resolution! Vasile is proud of his son and new daughter-in-law. Their house is right next door. The son says it was terrible working in Italy as he was badly treated as a foreigner and poorly paid and his health now suffers. He says he will never leave again . Spending six hours with Vasile was truly wonderful; He is doing well for which I am very thankful. We leave funds for their Christmas, medicines and food as there are now 16 plus a baby on the way in this family, living of the forest!
Traveling East from Neamt, the drive is challenging at times as Marin listens to soccer on the radio (in Romanian), answers both his cell phones, and I keep the windows clear from fogging up as best I can while looking out for horse carts and drunks on the roadway. We pass cows meandering home, horse-drawn carts with farmers asleep on the fodder or hay as the wagon heads home, the horse knowing the way, sheep and shepherds, big trucks and containers, logging trucks, and every variety of small car you can imagine.
At Suceavea we were to visit a village with our Policeman friend for services but he was sent out on assignment in Portugal, presumably bring back a prisoner, so we continue on to Iasi.
We arrived at Iasi about 10:30 PM, and stayed at Marins’ in-laws for the night, I slept on a couch and Marin a lawn lounge chair. The house is still under construction so it is less than ideal but better than sleeping in the car or up the 13 flights of stairs to his brother-in-laws apartment!
After a light breakfast of coffee, goat cheese and olives, we head to Nadia House, an orphanage we support operated by the Cazcaus family from Detroit. They are Romanians who had a foundry business in the USA when Romania had its revolution. They adopted a severely burned Romanian girl named Nadia and after year sold their business and returned to their native Romania and started this ministry based in Iasi. They provide wonderful services to children in villages in Moldova and Romania. Christina Cazcau was at a hospital attending to two girls having surgery but we had good visit with Ghiorghi Cazcau. He was excited to tell us the latest in their ministry. They now have 55 missionaries in Moldova and Romania serving small villages. He is very excited we have bought another box of Glycobears and much clothing. We shipped containers here previously and continue to support their work. The 14 Caleb computers here are all being used in village churches to teach typing and office skills. Ghiorghi has invited us to take photos of the Glycobears program and encourage Mannatech to continue to include his ministry in their distributions. We will pass the word along for him.
Leaving after a light lunch again of cheese, olives and bread in Iasi, we journeyed the backloads to Negreste to visit Lydia Rascol. Encountering a most unreasonable police officer in Negreste, we were ticketed because a speeding car passed us and a horse-wagon in the center of town. We were going very slow behind the wagon as we were just two houses up from Lydia’s and going to park our car. However, the officer was so mad at the passing car he ticketed us both. We had to go in traffic court right then, and were fined $10 for being in Negreste with a car from Braila. ????? The other car was fined $125 ! Its not justice but it is common here for districts to fine cars fro other areas of the country for little or no reason.
Leaving the “courthouse”, we found Lydia was not home, away in Bucharest according to neighbors.. We visited her two villages where she feeds about 200 gypsies each day, left food and clothes and continued back towards Braila and visited the first “long night” services at a Gypsy village about 10 miles north of Braila. This village is birthplace of Gypsy Peter whom I baptized four years ago. He organized this first “Long night” in his home village, binging benches in via horse-drawn wagon, baking bread in the fireplace, buying pop and coffee, cleaning the two room and inviting many to come. It was attended by about 20, packed into the room, many not believers yet! We left the services about 4 am and came home to Braila.