Week 4

This week ended with a trip to Oradea, a town about 2 hours north of Arad.  We were going to attend a District Conference with visiting General Authority, Alan Phillips a member of the seventy, from London England.  Shortly after noon we headed out with the Elders riding in our back seat.  The sisters took the train.  Brent was to be at a meeting in the Oradea chapel, for Branch Presidents and their counselors that was being broadcast to Cluij.  The countryside was rich farmland with several sheep herds grazing on the green grass.  Homes outside the city are a bit further back from the street, which I like, some even have a bit of grass separating them from the road. We stopped at the Ramada and checked into our hotel first and arrived at the chapel a bit ahead of schedule.  

Following this meeting, we drove to a restaurant called Rivo, where we met Sister Ivory, her son, and their nanny, Claire, who is from their hometown in Utah. It was Sora Ivory's birthday. 

President Ivory entering at the front door of Rivo.  The whole wall you see on the right side of the picture was covered with plants.  It would be fun to see this in the summer when the plants were full, but it was still very fun to see. 

Beautiful garden along a river just outside of the window near the table where we ate. It was raining.  

From left to right: Pres. Geambazu, Izabela Geambaze, Pres. Ivory, Sora Ivory, Ellis (their son, you can't see him), Claire, Elder Phillips.  Brent and I were sitting next to Elder Phillips. 

Brent, Jamie, and Sora Ivory all ordered this most yummy hamburger.  The coleslaw was also outstanding.  I helped Brent with his. 

The sister missionaries baked Sora Ivory a cake and bought her some lovely flowers.  We all had a piece cake following our meeting. 

Sora Ivory and the Oradea Elders enjoying the birthday cake.

Brent visits with Sora Simmons from Soda Springs.

We stayed in a Ramada Hotel in Oradea on Saturday night.  Sunday morning we had Branch conference in one of the Hotel conference rooms.  Elder Phillips, even though he had to speak through a translator, was very inspiring.  He taught about keeping the Sabbath day holy and about responsibility for our own testimonies. 

A little socializing between sessions of the conference. 

In the spirit of sharing, look at this most cool bathroom vanity that was in the hotel restroom.

Hmm it does not look as good as it did for reals, but it's kind of S shaped with a trough where the water runs down the drain.