Thanksgiving pictures

Giving Thanks in Romania

Thanksgiving is our ultimate favorite holiday and we will be having a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with Elders and Sisters squeezing around our small table to give thanks, eat and play a few games. We found a pumpkin at the piata, came home and cooked it up for Dave to make pumpkin pie....can't wait. Finding the spices we need for this special occasion has taken a bit of footwork and guessing at the stores, but we think we are about there. As far as the turkey goes, they are way too expensive and look like the wild ones. A big chick will be fine! We have such yummy bakeries that they are making the rolls this time! These little pasteries shops are located along the streets and bake fresh all day long. They have the filo dough goodies down really well. It could be one with meat or cheese or something sweet and delicious, but hot out of the oven is great on these cold days. My favorite is sweet cheese wrapped with filo dough and Kelly instructed me to eat one a day to try and gain some of the weight back that I have lost! We will have an update on Thanksgiving after we celebrate. For now we are trying to hold off the Christmas music as they are starting to celebrate already. The lights are up in downtown Centru and staging for booths and other entertainment are getting built and the stores are full of decorations and goodies.

We have, of course, become very attached to the Elders and Sisters here in Arad and have had them in our home for dinner and district meetings often. We will be going through withdrawal this week as one of the zone leaders goes home and we get a new set of Elders and a new Sister. I have to say they are doing a fine job here in working with the members, inactives and bringing new ones into discussions. Very dedicated and hard working and sooo loving and kind.

Something that has come to be a great form of communication is mail. Yes, we actually have a "Post" and you can view the pic....had no idea what that beat up red thing on the street was until we had been here for a few months! Our address is:

Rosemary and Dave McFadden

Str. Simion Balint

Nr. 7 BL B Sc B Ap 3

Arad, Romania 310019

I also included a pic of the essentials we do not leave home without as we have quite a lock system here. Three deadbolts fall into place on the bottom of the doorjam when we lock to leave and these gigantic keys are turned three times to unlock. We seriously doubt anyone will ever break in! And the cell phone.....had to relearn how to use this old time baby! But we are grateful for it keeping us in touch all over the country.

Had our first delicious Romanian dinner last week as a surprise to us. We had to go to a village called Curtichi about 20 min. away to pay our proprietor our rent and they invited us in. Wow! They raise everything...animals, garden the works and everything had been harvested and cured for winter storage. Asked if we would like a drink we said yes.....it ended up being hot chocolate as the other choices were not allowed! The Mothers of the husband and wife were in the kitchen cooking up a storm and we found ourselves treated to the most delicious food in 4 courses. We were planning on leaving after each one, but it just kept coming. All prepared there from their property. It was such a treat and one we had not expected. Very nice visit with traditional set-up of married children and parents living in same place, Grandmothers taking care of little one and doing cooking and gardening and all else. The Mom is a doctor and her husband has a little business. Delightful people that spoke fairly good English....how refreshing for us. Came home stuffed with unusual and delicious food. The meats have various parts of the animal we do not usually consider eating, but it was all tasty. Didn't have my camera with me.....bummer!

Our Branch seems to be progressing, we were so encouraged to see more saints coming and our Young Adults had a conference in Hungary this weekend. One small step at a time we keep telling ourselves.

We send our love, and again ask for your prayers in behalf of this " so very new in the gospel" country. Thank you from our humble hearts for your packages (that eventually get here) your letters and the treasured memories of each of you. Thank you for watching over Jamie & Tyler and our home. And thank you for being such great examples to us.

Iubim sa atunci

Elder and Sora McFadden