CELEBRATE ROMANIA!

                                      Flagged Romania
. 
NATIONAL DAY of ROMANIA kicked off on Dec. 1 in a big way in Bucharest celebrating their 22 year of freedom from communism dictatorship.  The  parade route was down Kiseleff Strada and right through the Arch of Triumph with massive military units in full dress marching so pricesly with dignitaries galore.

    
  Helicopters flying overhead along with fighter jets in formation and on ground modern tanks with flags were almost dwarfed by the gigantic arch they rolled through.  Red, yellow and blue balloons, flags and lapel ribbons were everyshere.  Even the thousands of buses, taxis and metro cars were decked out with Romanian Flags.  What a spectacle!  To top it all off, all the Christmas lights were turned on with fireworks overhead.  Celebration time has begun with all the Romanian Artisans situated in parks and around the city in museum areas selling their crafts wearing their traditional costumes.  The branch here jumped right in with a party beginning with  singing of the national anthem then food, program and dancing.  Many were dressed in traditional costume.

Public Affairs had a big leap forward when Elder McFadden and two missionaries met with Rev. Dr. Michael Tita of the Romanian Patriarchate and invited he and his wife to have dinner at the Mission Home.  He along with Pres. and Sora Hill, District Pres. Doru and his wife and ourselves had an enjoyable evening together.  McFadden Catering, Inc. prepared a 5 course  dinner and had good conversation, pleasant exchanges and ended up with a friend in the heirarchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church.  He invited us to visit him last week at the Orthodox Headquarters here in Bucharest which we did.   It was an insightful meeting ending with  photo opportunities with him and the complex.  There are about 19 million Romanian Orthodox here in the country which is about 87% of the population.  Being at the complex was a touch like being @ Temple Square in Salt Lake City with all the beautiful old buildings that are used by the head of the church.  Different spirit however as everything is so materially oriented.  There are few that even enter the churches except to be baptized and at Easter and Christmas.  However, as we ride on the bus or tram each time we pass a church, passengers cross themselves three times. 

 

 

 

BELL TOWER

 

 

There are as many churches sprinkled around the cities and villages as there are LDS churches in St. George.  We took a few pictures as we were out and about and came up with quite a variety;  all have one thing in common:  3 towers--one larger in the center flanked by two smaller ones on the sides.  Inside they are painted ornately with much gold work and hundred of "saints" painted extending to the top of the towers.  Have a look..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gala we were invited to attend turned out to be quite an event.  We were to dress formal/business for the evening at the RTV2 Television Romania Center which was recording the Gala to be broadcast Sunday all over the country.  (We were in church and could not watch it!)  It featured those individuals with disabilities who have excelled in the performing arts along with the organizations that give support and encouragement to the disabled.  Many of the participants who were there were recipients of the wheelchairs the  LDS  church provides here in Romania.  There are over 1,000 wheelchairs donated and distributed to recipients each year.  They literally rolled out the red carpet for us to go into this new, modern and immense building where they record TV programs. Cameramen were taking our pictures as we entered and then off to mingling and a few drinks before going into the recording room.  The room had 40 ft. tall pictures of disabled persons playing tennis, wheelchair basketball and other sports, a ramp for participants and beautiful background shields.  One of the outstanding numbers on the program was a violinist whose accompanist was blind.  They had performed in Carnagie Hall NY and what a touch that young man had on the piano!  Fabulous.  Afterward there was plenty of food presented artfully as it is Romanian style.  Beautiful! 

 

 

 

Television Romania TVR2 Studio

 

Yesterday we delivered 50 soft toy animals that our YSA's have stuffed to the AIDS Hospital along with 8 quilts that have been completed.  What a humbling experience to see such a need and they were so grateful for all of it. 

 

The weather has turned very cold after a very nice warm day....we have named it "bi-polar" weather!

 

Plenty of Christmas events and plans coming up with the branch, zone party with Elders and Sisters for 60, YSA party and New Year's Eve party for YSA District from 6 cities.  All to be catered by McFadden Catering, Inc.

Sometimes we think it may be a good idea to come home in February for a little R & R.  What do you think?

 

Tu iubim si Craciun Fericit,

 

Sora and Elder McFadden

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

                                

              

What's Up in Romania

                                      Florin

                                                             Edith and Mummy

                                                         Denisa

                                                                 Edith

                                                                 "live" mummies!

                                                Cami and Denisa

                                   Pinata time

Stuffing animals for hospital children

Halloween is emerging in Romania, however no one can figure out what it all means!  Frankly when it came down to explaining this holiday it made no sense at all, but nontheless the Young Single Adult group were all about celebrating.  With October being our "Mexican Food Month" Elder McFadden begun the celebration by preparing enchiladas for the "after institute" meal coupled with cupcakes Sora McFadden made with black and orange decos.  Afterward we cut the pumpkins we had picked up at a roadside stand on our way back to Buc from Brasov.  The mummy wrap was a halarious white out to see them trying to find people and pumpkins with apendiges in "wrap".  Apple dunking was a hit before we went outside to break open the pinata Sora McFadden had made and soon there was candy spilling out all around.  This began at 10:00 a.m. and we finished about 4:00 p.m. which is what time our Branch Activity started.  We were in charge of this one as well.  About 8:00 p.m. two tired missionaries had had enough partying and food preparation and clean-up to last----well until Tuesday anyway!

While in Brasov for our Senior Couple Conferenc we visited Rasnov Fortress built in the 1400's.  High on the hillside this fortress presides over villages below and tells so many stories of battles and conquering and protection within the walls.  Armour and weaponrey were to be explored as we ventured throughout this amazing place envisioning the 500+ times this fortress was attacked and only taken 2 times in it's long history.

Along the road to Dracula's Castle we were so taken by the beautiful countryside and the haystacks or in Romanian "căpită de fân" that are so unique and have captured a small spot in Sora McFadden's heart. 

Arriving in Bran we were delighted to see many of the well known Romanian Craftsman working in their crafts and selling them as well.  The shoes are particularly unique and many in the country wear them .  You will not see them in Bucharest, however!

A member of our branch found a few dried gourds from a farmer and Kelly, our daughter, brought a burner over when they visited us.  I found a few free hours and this was the perfect combination to get a couple of the Romanian sisters hooked on gourd art.  They are so excited and are doing very well in creating some art pieces they can sell.

Our meetings with universities have produced several opportunities for lectures from some of our LDS  professors that are in country which is giving us some good exposure.  We also had a TV station that came with crew and shot about 7 hours of coverage for a 16 min. special on the "Mormons in Romania".  This was generated by the U. S. elections and Mitt Romney's association with the church. We will be anxious to see how this one comes out on Nov. 3.  They seemed sincere in wanting to know what we were about. We arranged for a wheelchair distribution to take place at our branch building while the media was there and they were very impressed with the many aspects of service and aid that is provided here in Romania by the church.

Exchange rates posted in Bran!

We have a fantastic group of Elders and Sisters here in Romania and Moldova.  They are around our dinner table often and we in turn go with them for discussions.  The baptisms and numbers may be small, but we know that out of small things proceedeth that which is great. And Romania is starting to "break forth".

Happy Thanksgiving and know that we love you all!

Cu drag,
Elder and Sora McFadden

Bucharest may have pieces of historic beauty, pieces of historic ruin and a cocophany of flavors, but one thing for sure:  Plenty of flowers!  That is stands of beautiful flowers for passersby to purchase as they are on their way to visit someone, go to dinner at someone's house, going to church, or for any kind of celebration.  On our way to buy groceries we pass three stands which are fully stocked so that if you are going to a birthday celebration, wedding or other happy occasion you would only purchase an uneven number of flowers.  If you are going to a funeral you purchase an even number of flowers and/or a very large oval wreath.  And the most important thing is the way you carry them.  Always wrapped and tied by the shopkeeper you carry them with their heads toward the ground.  On the first day of school the children all buy flowers for their teacher.  What a delight it is to see the children going to school on the first day in September.

 

 

 

 

Facebook seems to be the tool for informing the world, however we want to document here that Ian and Marie came to visit and a week later Kelly and James came for a visit.  We loved it!  Sharing the culture, castles, palaces, public transportation and the Romanian people was a treasured time together.  They had the opportunity to experience this country and to relate somewhat to our lives as we serve here.  After attending a baptism, Kelly and James went out to get some "lei" from the ATM and came back with a bouquet of yellow lilies and mums  (carrying them heads down, of course).  Marie and Ian found some adorable hand made baby shoes but couldn't decidde whether tto buy boy or girl colors!  They will let the new little one to be born in February 2013 know that the THREE of them had adventures in Romania. 

                                                      Kurtoskalaccs in Bran, Transylvania

                                     Gourd flute ...this lady raises gourds and makes the instruments

                                            Off to the airport....... so good to have them here!



 We are still eating the saramales that our Romanian friend, Aurelia, came and demonstrated how to make as well as our head of cabbage "pickling" in a container which will take about two months!  Most every kind of vegetable is pickled for preservation to be eaten during winter months.

                                                 Happy Birthday Dad from Kelly and James

                                                     Dinner at Casa Domnas

Rolling up the saramalies!

                            

We prepared dinner for 16 at the Mission Home to say goodbye to our Office Couple, the Pattons who are now safely tucked away in their home in Provo, Utah.  They willl be missed immensly as the new office couple will not be in country until November.

We are excited for the universities starting their classes as we have committed for several of our American Businessmen as well as Preesident Hill to lecture to their students.  Our work with government officials continues to progress and we have another wheelchair distribution the end of October.  The YSA group is kinda like our own kids, they are willing to come learn and do service projects as long as we feed them  : )

                                                           First purchase in Romanian Lei

We are so grateful for the gospel and the grand opportunity we have had to view Conference via our trusty computer!  We are so blessed in many ways as we trust in the Lord each day to do His will and have faith to accomplish "small things that will become great"

Once again we love hearing from you and what is happening in your lives,  keep it coming!

                                                 Bran or "Dracula's Castle" in Transylvania

Tu iubim tot  si ladevedere

Elder and Sora McFadden