Week 9 - Standards and Guitar Lessons

Day 56 - Monday, July 30, 2007, The morning was spent planning for our last mission meeting and in the afternoon, we were able to visit Roxanna at the hospital. We invited her and some of the other patients in her room to join us on a walk to a park at the hospital. We had snacks and a fun time together.

Day 57 - Tuesday, July 31, 2007, In the morning I started a guitar class for 6 children from families in need. The families have met certain criteria which puts them at risk of putting their children in orphanages. So the kids came and we had a great first beginning lesson and planned on continuing. I also was able to meet with Faur, a young man from summer camp. He grew up in an orphanage and now works for Orphanage #7. He's been learning advanced guitar!

Day 59 - Thursday, August 2, 2007, We went to Casa Din Tei (daycare for at risk families) to prepare a celebration for the kids. The mayor's wife was expected to come and we had fun activities like a trampoline, water slide, face painting, and more.

Day 61 - Saturday, August 4, 2007, In the morning, we everyone met at a government building where Josh and Edena would have their civil wedding (the legal wedding 1st, then the church wedding). It was a great experience to see how Romanian people celebrate marriage. Lot's of pictures, flowers, and music!

After the wedding, Alina and I went to an old people's home and visited some people she's worked with. The first was an old lady named Acatalina who had made me a stitched cloth!

After that, we went to the Palace of Parliment (2nd largest building in the world) and went on a tour. Very beautiful building! Then after that, we enjoyed a Gyro and went to the theater to see "Blades of Glory". I can't recommend the movie-- but there were many funny moments!

That night we saw a really interesting performance by a theatrical group from Holland called
"Water, Wind, and Fire". Really abstract and progressive-- but very cool.

Day 62 - Sunday, August 5, 2007, Alina and I were able to travel north to the city of Moran (were she grew up). I got to meet her mom, dad, and two brothers. We had a great day of food and rest.