Week 6

One big adventure this week was navigating the system to obtain a Visa.  The Elders took us or went with us because we cannot speak the Language.  We started by paying a couple of different taxes at two different places.  It cost about $500  for each of us. 

Brent and Elder Paul in the tax payment office.  We are waiting for our turn. Pretty small office.  You go to one window to get the paperwork and another to pay. 

The interesting thing about Romania is that many businesses have a little tiny door on the street, or possibly a gate.  It is difficult to see from the street what is inside.  We walked down a narrow sidewalk from the street and waaalla  . . . . there was this nice doctors office.  Pretty modern with lots of glass walls and such.  When we talked to the receptionist we were told to go to room 5 for our medical paperwork.  There were about 8 people ahead of us so we waited probably an hour, which was shorter than you would think, but everyone ahead of us went quickly.  The missionaries told them we needed papers for a Visa.  The doctor filled out two little papers.  Asked if we were healthy and sent us out to the front desk for yet another stamp and to pay.  Another $25 each. 

Another project this week was to see if we could figure out some of the things left in our kitchen cabinets.  At least two other senior couples lived here before us.  They left behind lots of food stuffs, which we are grateful for and have used some of, but there are many things we do not know what they are.  Between google translate, a cookbook with Romanian and English words, and looking at the pictures we got it all figured out.  In the lower right corner is an obvious item, but still took me a bit to figure out, Black Pepper.  

We took a road trip out to a place called SanPetru German to visit a couple from the branch.  They moved out of the city to the little town about half an hour away.  They are very self-reliant.  They have many animals including: chicks, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pigs, geese, and ducks. The homes are close to the street with a small gate to go through which opens up into a yard and the entry door.  They joined the church in 2004 when they invited a couple of guys in white shirts and ties in to learn what they were doing.  He served as branch president for 4 years.  Elder Wilstead is between the couple and Elder Paul is on the right. Brent asked them if they remembered the name of the missionaries who taught them and they said Erickson and Bell.  It seems like most converts can tell you who taught them the gospel.  

She made this tasty treat for us.  It was a kind of shortcake with lemon filling.  

Many homes have this arbor type set up over their yards.  There is a wire grid with vines growing over it.  I am interested to see if they fill completely in over the summer. I think it makes a cool place to be during summertime. 

We often see gypsies with their wagons and horses when we travel. I hope to be able to get a good picture sometime, but here is what I got this day. It looks like they are hauling hay. 

Every little village or town we see when we are out driving has at least one church with a steeple that is tall enough you can see it from a long ways away.  And of course, the cities have many churches.  

The beautiful summer roses are beginning to bloom.  Rose bushes are found in strips along side roads and in parks and yards.    I had to take a picture of this Rose bush hedge.  It is covered with red roses and is outside a business building of some kind.  It surrounds an employee break area.  People here seem to really enjoy being outside to eat and visit.  You see people everywhere just sitting and talking. 

This house is not far from our apartment and I was impressed that the rose bushes were tall enough to be seen over this 7-foot fence.