Tuesday, October 30, 2012

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

Sunday, October 7, 2012


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