Romania 2k6

Wed, June 21.

Arrived into London after VERY LONG flight. Atl to Frankfurt to Paris to London. 17 hours total. Only one hour sleep at best. I am TIRED.

I had a tough time in Frankfurt airport making my connection. Told to go to Terminal 1. Then told back to Terminal 2. Then told to go upstairs. Then told to go downstairs. Then back upstairs. Finally got to my plane with 15 mins to spare. This after 10 hours on a plane in TIGHT quarters and no sleep.

Plane into Paris was one hour late which gave me 15 mins (again) to connection to London.

Eventually got into London at noon and at hotel at 2pm. I left my house at 5pm London time (10am CST) the day prior.

Ross had already checked in but didn’t catch up with him until 4pm-ish. My luggage has yet to arrive.

Ross and I eventually go to London Eye to stay awake for sleep tonight on Euro time. We worship with the Kings Cross c of C. I am nearly asleep during the lesson. We do Burger King for dinner after services. My bag is awaiting me at the hotel so I can change my clothes, brush my teeth, have my camera for tomorrow (France), etc.

Wake up time for tomorrow is 415am for day tour of Paris, etc.

Went to Bible Class at Kings Cross c of C w/ David Cambridge. (Send report of Romania trip when completed)

Thu, June 22.

Today was in Paris. Left the hotel at 445am via taxi to Waterloo. Then nearly 3 hour train ride via Eurostar to Paris. We were then quickly guided on a tour. Major landmarks via bus such as: Champs-Elysses (?), Louvre, Opera house, MANY statues to France’s past. Hilights of today include cruise down River Siene, Eiffel tower 2^nd story, and Versaiile Palace. All in all ended up being 18 hour day after yesterdays travel day. Whew!

Fri, June 23.

Slept for 11 hours, woke up at 11am. Havent slept that long since college! Boy did I need sleep. We woke up too late to see the British Museum. Decided to go to Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Buck Palace, West. Abbey, etc. Had dinner at an Italian place where Ross finally got his traditional fish n’ chips. I had spag n’ meatballs.

Sat, June 24.

Got about 6 hours sleep. Travel today from London Bucharest via Paris. In Paris one hour delay which means Marion and Ross have to wait even longer for me. I hope they meet up at the airport while waiting.

I called Jana today via cell phone. I wonder how much that will cost? Whatever it is it is worth it. I was hoping to hear Lydia cry or even better, laugh.

UPDATE: Called Jana after my arrival (2^nd time today). Asked her to retrieve my voice mail and handle messages. It is HOT/MUGGY/HUMID in Romania. We are staying in an apartment with no a/c. UGH! At least there is a fan.

Sun, June 25

Worshipped in Bucharest in AM. I preached and taught. (Walked Away and What is a c of C?) Afterwards went to Marion and family’s house for lunch. Traditional Romanian food consisting of bread, soup, pork, cabbage rolls, all covered in sour cream at our choosing.

Then, afterwards drove with Marion, Leaveyou, Ross and me. First stop was in Pitesti to pick up Florena. We then head to village of Falfani to meet up with Elena and family to worship at their farm. The town of Falfani is poor; full of peasants and gypsies. See pics of many horses drawing carriages and cows. Elena and family grow their own food which is common in this area. I teach the class after many songs and LS (Passover as LS).

Tomorrow we head to Constanta via train.

Monday, 6/26

Took train from Bucharest to Constanta. This was longer than expected. Previous time was 3 hours. This time, 5. This was due to construction on the train rails.

We went to Pizza Hut for lunch. Watched a World Cup soccer game. All of this was to kill time and visit. We began a study at 8pm that lasted until 11pm. Our study was with George. We covered Ab, Sarah, Isaac, in Gen 15-22. Many good observations were made. The class ended with an observation: it would be nice if people in our circle made said about us that God was with us in all that we do as Abimelech said in Gen 21:22 to Ab.

I gave the bball to Iulian and he seemed to enjoy it. We are playing first thing tomorrow morning. We also played pool with Edy, Ronnie, Ross, etc.

Tuesday, June 27

Today is my 36^th bday but it doesn’t feel like it. Maybe I will forget I am 36 J

Busy day today. Stayed up late last night after final world cup game. Started day off with playing 2 hours of basketball. Then came home and rested. We then went to the Black Sea and stayed 3 hours, 2 of which was in the water. We got back at 5pm and I had a shower. The humidity is horrible. I also got somewhat sunburned. Ross had some stuff for burn. We are also carrying around the same type of bees chap stick.

Ross and I had a Bible study with Iulian, Ronnie, and Edy. It went well. The study lasted about 1.5 hours. We started off with Balam in Num 22. We then fielded some questions. Some of which were “why should I show respect for a woman who, after having a baby, abandons that baby?” A very good question along the lines of theodicy. Tomorrow I am having a study with Iulian which should be good.

Tonight I had a Sharmara which is like a gyro w/ fries.

Wed, June 28

Slept in a bit today by waking up after 9am. I saw Iulian the orphan today. It appears that he has had some ups and downs since last year. After my last visit (Spring, 2k5) he was in trouble with the law but has repented. He is now working as a security guard at a hotel and living on his own. It seems that his spiritual life is back in order as well.

I then took Iulian Badara to lunch and tried to encourage him in his faith. He says he is “close” to being baptized. After that we (Edy, Iulian, Ronnie, Ross) went to the Black Sea for swim. We tossed the aerobie around and then swam for about an hour.

On the return Ross and I stopped to get slushies which were good but we were short the money. We came back later to pay the full amount and they were delightfully surprised that we did. I was surprised that they could not void the deal since that was a possibility.

After that episode we went to play pool then had dinner, a Kebob. We then had a Bible study in the evening with the same 5 and studied Authority, OT and NT differences, Plan of Salvation, the Church, etc. This study is going well and we plan to continue each night we are in town.

Thu, June 29

Today was the hottest day on record. It is supposed to cool off tomorrow and rain is forecasted.

Slept in a bit today. Met with Iulian. Walked to his house which is a nice room. He needs some furnishings for it. The walk was about 2-3 miles one way. We then walked back to his choice of lunch for b-day which was 2 weeks ago. He chose McDonalds. Ross and I had traditional chicken dish with yellow rice. I then shopped for Jana and Lydia and had complications with credit card.

I then took a nap and afterwards went to Black Sea again for swim. After that the church met (typical for Constanta) and I taught a lesson on Matt 6:33 & 7:12. I had many questions and the class went well. After that we went to play pool (Ross, Iulian B., Edy). I then nightcapped the evening with a 7-6 loss to James in backgammon.

Today was the first time I saw Rodeca. She is a wonderful Christian lady whom I met last year. She is kind and tenderhearted. I showed her the pictures of Lydia and Rodeca said, “she (Lydia) is so fat, she looks like you (Jeff).” J

Edy is coming around in our studies. I reviewed with him Matt 7:12 the night before and he said he applied it to a situation with his G’ma the following morning.

Fri, June 30

Woke up today to take care of $$$ issue. After three tries I got a money changing booth to give me money. After that I took Ross and Iulian B. to the Arch museum, the Mosque, and other walking around.

Today it rained on us while we were walking home. And then later rained after swimming. During swimming we were looking for “treasure” (comoara) and it turned out to be a trash can. We stayed about 2 hours in the Black Sea. After that I had my shower and then we had class.

Tonight at class we discussed Contentment, headed by Ross. I then leaned the discussion towards encouraging others. That seemed to be needed.

Sat, July 1

Slept in today and visited with James in the morning. Then went to the Black Sea to swim for about 2 hours. Did some shopping as well.

After swimming it rained HARD, Louisiana style! It rained so much that the water started leaking into the room where we are sleeping as well as other parts of the house. I think rain is forecasted for tomorrow as well.

In the evening we had a Bible study on James. I asked everyone to read the book ahead of time and everyone did. I bought pizza at Pizza Hut for everyone. No more Bible classes for the rest of my trip. I preach tomorrow.

Ross and I nightcapped by watching Brazil lose to France at the local pool hall.

Sun, July 2

Worship begins at 3pm and lasts for over 2 hours. We ate at La Croica (Shell) which is a great Italian restaurant.

I preached on Phil 3, Ross taught a class on Making Choices with God in mind. We then had a singing in English at the Romanian Brethren’s insistence.

We then ended our evening at the pool hall. Today is Monday and it is significantly cooler. We slept with the windows open last night and it was quite windy and kept us up nearly all night. All of us were too cold to get out of bed and close the window (noise from wind as well). I eventually did at 5am.

Today Ross and I take a train back to Bucharest leaving at 5pm. We are planning on spending the night at a hotel near the Buch airport to catch a plane at 615am Tue morning.

I am scheduled to fly to Amsterdam with a 6 hour layover and then stop in New York for one night. Home on Wed.