Good bookends

I didn't plan to write this update in the way it has come about, but it will be appropriate. I've written already about our afternoon meeting yesterday when we had a little resistance in the feedback, but I've not written about the morning and evening. They made good bookends to the day.

We woke early to find that we had no hot water (or heat during the night before). We stayed in a pensione at the crest of a hill and the top of a very narrow road. It was a cool setting, and we were assured that we would have hot water. Oops. So, no shower for me yesterday, only a frigid shave and a scalp freezing shampoo under the sink. We drove down to town and had chicken sandwiches for breakfast. They were enormous and had french fries and shredded cabbage in the bun with the meat. A little different for us but typical here. The saurmas that we had in Bucharest that were so delicious were the same way--french fries and pickles all in the wrap. I suppose there is some efficiency here after all.

Anyway, we met after breakfast with Adi Stanciu. He is a pastor in Brasov as well as a leader of the Romanian Missionary Society in Oradea. Plus, he is a member of the board of BIG Impact Romania. Everyone we've met here wears multiple hats. BIG Impact is a pastoral training organization that gives training on church leadership, organization, and planning. It equips pastors for the other side of pastoring besides the theological.

The organization has purchased about 22 acres of land on a mountainside above Brasov near a little village called Sacele. The land cost $50,000 (for 22 acres!), and they have begun efforts to construct a training center. The goal is to create a Master's and Doctorate school for pastors from throughout the country. Another big vision these people are operating within!

We drove up to the site and talked for a while with Adi. It was a tremendous visit as, at the end, through normal conversation, we found out that he has some very key contacts that would fit perfectly with our ministry. Divine appointments! Some are in the States and some still here in country. He also told us of a publishing house that the Society runs. When we visited a bookstore in Brasov later in the evening, we saw some of the books they publish. Most are authors and resources that we have recommended in our travels to people who want more information on Biblical worldview. God really encouraged us with all of that.

After our afternoon pastor's meeting that I wrote about earlier, we had the late afternoon and evening free. So we took the opportunity to visit the old town center of Brasov. Just beautiful. It's the stereotypical European town, big central square, old baroque buildings and houses, and a massive central church. The Black Church sits in the middle of it. It is a still-operating Lutheran church built in the 14th century. Huge! The name 'Black Church' comes from the appearance of the church after a fire in the 17th century. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we could only see the outside. Good enough for a first visit, though.

We walked the main street of the city and stopped in a bookstore, a traditional crafts store, and finally made our way to a restaurant for pizza. All during our stroll and at dinner, we were talking to Florin about worldview, Romania, his studies, the EU, Western Europe, etc. It was a tremendous time. We even found a copy of "Intended for Pleasure" in Romanian in the bookstore. Florin got so excited as he had been looking for that book for a while. He pulled back a little at the price and was going to wait to buy it cheaper at the book fair that comes to Bucharest twice a year. So, we bought it for him as a gift which he humbly and reluctantly received. It cost all of $6.

To finish our night, we went to an Internet café. I was able to check my email and respond to Karen. She sent some pictures of the boys from the Harvest Party at church that were adorable! I miss my family lot, and I feel so bad that Andrew seems to be having a very hard time with his reflux while I'm away. Karen is worn out, and I pray that God will give her rest and encouragement.

One more quick thing that I keep forgetting to add. On the way from Bucharest to Brasov on Wednesday, we passed a horrific traffic accident. Two cars had apparently hit head-on at about 60 mph. The fire and rescue crews were swarming all around trying to free a person from one of the cars. Lying on the road in the middle of everything, covered with a thin blanket, was a man who was obviously dead. His arms and legs were sticking out from under the blanket. Chilling.

More to come...