Landing in Bucharest close to Easter was quite a treat as it is celebrated for weeks with decorations, traditional eggs, spring flowers and vendor stands from all parts of the country.  As we ventured out about the city familarizing ourselves with the Metro (underground sub), bus systems and Tranvai tracks, we found that this is a city of great architectual beauty both old and modern and massive parks full of beautiful flowers, trees, grass and water.  Our eyes and senses have had a feast of spring flowers not only in the parks but often on street corner stands abundant with flowers of all types.

We are also ticking off cultural places of interest as time will allow.  This past week we had a Senior Missionary Conference here ( conveniently across the street in OUR branch building), and as a last event we went to the very beautiful Athenual Concert Hall where two of our vocally talented elders performed in concert singing LDS church  hymns.  Also featured was a famous cellist and violinist. The Romanians were smiling and clapping and really loving the Elders numbers. Outstanding!  So was the food Elder McFadden prepared for one dinner and a lunch for  this group.  Our kitchen is a very busy place. 

We live on a busy street with the the normal sounds of sirens, road rage honking wars, and traffic noise.  With the windows open the other day we heard a familiar clippety-clop, clippety clop sound.  Sure enough as we looked down onto the street below there was a gypsy cart and horse traveling down Panduri Strata!   Only in Romania!

Back to Easter.   Our FHE  with  Young Single Adults (YSA) was a lesson on the resurrection tying it into eggs ending with a silk tie egg dying activity. They had so much fun.  Although they were wonderfully beautiful, nothing can compare with the age-old tradition of painted Easter Eggs in  Romania and Moldova.  No where in the world does this art reach the fine craftsmanship as in Bukovina, Romania.  The craft operates with symbols of nature, folk textures and a full repertory of sacred signs.  The symbolic register of the Bukovina eggs encompasses 291 signs.  The eggs are first emptied, then plugged.  The pattern is then intricately drawn in wax, immerged in dye and then the wax is removed by heating.  Some are decorated with glass beads driven into a wax layer with a tiny stick.  Most of the artisans are women and after seeing many eggs on stands and in museums we have come to recognize the most famous designers from Bukovina.

Very red and bright purple died hair is so popular among many Romanian  women----finally got my pic with one so you could see.

"Taste of Buc"  pictures include the "People's Palace" which is quite an impressive structure and the Triumphant Arch from France  standing guard one of the round abouts.  Couldn't resist taking a pic of the Kokopelli women's apparel store!  What a standout! 
 We spend a great deal of time "across the street" in our church.  Many YSA activities and meetings with elders, investigators and members.  The Elders here in our zone are outstanding and sit around our table at home often.  This weekend we had District Conference with an area authority from England.  Very good meetings and well attended. 

Our prayers are being answered in so many ways as we made contact with Jeffery Franks who is the International Monetary Fund Director for Romania and Tom Holt who is Chevron's European Oil Director.  We had them both here for dinner today and they are willing to provide names of government officials and ministry officials that we can perhaps meet with in a Public Affairs Meeting that we will organize.  Both are LDS and fine men with much recognition in this country. 

Can't wait to "share" again as there is so much happening here...we are grateful for this opportunity to serve and inspired by the help of our Heavenly Father who we know wants this great work to move forward in this country.

Know that we think of you often and send our love to you.

Va iubim si ladevedere
Elder and Sora McFadden

Hello from Bucharest. After getting affairs tied up and belongings packed and cleaning done, we helped the Walquists move into our apt in Arad and we loaded up "big blue" the office van and took off for yet another adventure. We had a long drive to Sibiu as we were stopped along the way for over an hour due to an accident on the road. What a beautiful drive, everything is spring greening up and the Carparthian Mountains were magnificent with the rivers and lakes along the way. Many villages where the people were busy planting crops and gardens. It seems that every house has a grape arbor and garden and animals. We get such a kick out of seeing the gypsy wagons with the ponies always having red tassels on their halters as they prance along the roads pulling the wagon and it's contents and drivers. There is a freeway between Poieste and Buch that has two lanes both ways and the gypsy wagons were even traveling on that in a few places.

We arrived at the church parking lot which is across from our apt. Soooo glad to get out of that van and have arrived safely, yes, Elder Mc drove right to it with the now expert navigator, Sora Mc. This is a beautiful two story church building that we can see everytime we look out our windows. We love it. The Elders came and helped us move in and our apt is very nice. We feel like we are starting a new mission as everything is so new and different and we have no idea how to get around on the metro and bus systems yet. It may take a day or two, but we have many challenges before us.

Elder Mc went to priesthood session of conf. with the elders which is broadcast in the other church building way across the city. The sisters are coming to pick me up and will go with me to join them for more sessions as they come to Romania. We got to view the first two sessions on our computer last night.

We send our love and hope all is well with you and your families.

Tu iubim,

Elder and Sora McFadden