Beginning our last full day in Romania

(posted by Michael)

Wow, I can't believe it's already Thursday (although in Fremont it's only very late Wednesday night)!

Last night we went to the mid-week worship service in Nou. For various reasons (anyone who has been here will understand "Romanian time"), we actually got there about 5 minutes before they would normally finish. They welcomed us, and invited us to each speak for a few minutes. Radu (the missions pastor from Sibiu we are staying with) pointed to the clock and said something like "thank you all for coming; good night!" Everyone laughed politely, and showed no signs of wanting to get up or leave. We then spent about a half our sharing some things God has taught us. One of my favorite things in the churches here is that the service lasts until it is over, not until a particular time. But I don't think I'm recommending that for home...

Back in Sibiu we have 4 computers working in the lab, and one of the ones we sent with Pastors Kevin and Rich was already in use replacing their projection computer. We are about to go look for some parts to get a 5th computer up in the lab. We bought a new LCD monitor yesterday, also -- some of these ancient CRTs are on their last legs.

Kim is on her way to the senior home in Slimnic. She has two suitcases packed with things people gave, and some letters from students in the CCS Bible class. I know they are more interested in seeing Kim, though.

For everyone who is thinking about coming to Romania, one small bit of advice: don't plug a computer in until you change the power supply from 110 to 220. I neglected to tell Parker, and we got to go buy a new power supply...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning from Romania! As so often happens, our scheduled plan has changed due to some unexpected occurrences. Today we will be going to see a museum with Radu and then go to visit the village of Nou (pronounced 'no').

It is a mix of rain and snow today so we probably won't be out strolling. A nice warm gogosi filled with chocolate sounds good!

There is news around that the water to the whole city of Sibiu is to be shut off for the whole day...but that was supposed to be on Tuesday. They didn't shut it off then, but who knows when they might. We fill pots with water and fill the tub up with some for use in the toilet should they decide to shut it off. It makes morning interesting as the first news is 'the water is still running!'.

Ahh, the joys of travel!

Some Pictures

This is Parker posting. :)
(cut and paste the the image links)

In Vienna, the St. Stephens
Cathedral:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4614/img3178dw4.jpg

Vienna, city centre:
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/5128/img3218ms3.jpg

Ice cicles!
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8056/img3295gb5.jpg

Mrs. Hensley is… COLD!! (along as the rest of us):

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8844/img3312yy6.jpg

The Plachutta food, so good… yet we were so tired.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1466/img3353bx9.jpg

Us at the Vienna airport (waiting for the Sibiu plan):
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1289/img3432dp6.jpg
(sorry the picture was blurry, the camera focussed wrong, my bad)

Last night we went to the Church to see a play from the youth group, was very dramatic and funny. :)Heres the cast:
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5346/img3462dw3.jpg

Well, we are working in the computer lab now, so I will get back to work.

For now,
La Revedere (good bye, in romanian)
~Parker

Safely in Sibiu...and yes, it is cold!

We have been trying to reach the outside world, but when you are travelling across the world, things don’t always cooperate! Thanks for the comments, we enjoy ‘hearing’ from you!
Our day in Vienna was cold and windy, and we were exhausted from the flight. We ate at the same place the team ate at last year. It was funny because as soon as we had eaten enough to not be starving we all started falling asleep at the table of this lovely restaraunt. Our waiter stopped by and notice we had not eaten all our abundant platters/pots of food. He proceeded to serve us more and told us to eat. I checked, but I definetly did not have a bib on and was not sitting in a high chair. We must have looked tired and helpless:)
Will write more later about the evangelistic theatre production the Betania youth put on. You won’t believe it!
Bye for now…mmmm, thinking about that chocolate filled gogosh!

Live Webcams in Sibiu

If you’d like to take a look at Sibiu, live, stop by http://www.sibiu.ro/LiveOK/ . We’ll try to let you know some time when we will be in sight of the cameras.

Waiting in Washington DC for our flight

We have arrived at Dulles airport and are waiting to board our flight to Vienna now. Parker has taken some cool pictures already...we'll see if we can post them.

Leaving for Romania Saturday, November 22

Kim Hensley, Michael Hensley and Parker Stevens are leaving for Romania on November 22 and will return on Saturday, November 29.
This is a discussion group for this trip and you are welcome to post messages, questions and the like here.
Please pray for the team as weather is a concern for our flights at this time.
Thanks!
Kim HensleyTeam Leader