A Quiet Week

It's been a quiet sort of week.  

But first, I need to backup to last Saturday evening, when we went to Piata Unirii and sat on a park bench and read and waited for a water fountain light and music show. It was a lovely evening, with lots of families and others out enjoying the clear skies and pleasant temperatures. And the fountain extravaganza didn’t disappoint. The music and lights were very fun, and although we didn’t have perfect seats, we had seats with a back (something we appreciate more and more). 

Otherwise, it really has been a quiet week. 

Last Sunday: Worked at the Gara from about 5:20 to 8:30, then back to the apartment to get ready for church.  The drive to church on a Sunday morning is easy--the traffic is very light.  After church we had a meeting about events at the train station, and then a zoom call with the other senior missionaries in the Hungary/Romania Mission.  We always look forward to Sunday evening FaceTime calls with our kids and grandkids.  

When Mackenzie is holding the phone, 

it's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Kate has a steadier hand...

Monday morning we woke up to a thunder and lightning storm and weather alerts on our phones. But we waded to the car (I’m not kidding–the rain was coming down in sheets; it was Biblical) and drove to the Gara. Stepping out of the car I stepped into a puddle that was 4 inches deep–shoes, socks and pants were soaked.  And there was water everywhere in the station–pouring from the ceiling, collecting on the floor.  It was the worst I had seen.  And then, 30 minutes later, it was done and the sky was blue with billowy white clouds.  Amazing.  

After the storm...

During the deluge, the kids had a Zoom call to to do some planning for our summer trip in July. I was trying to join from a "quiet" corner in the station. Between rain pounding on the roof and the constant announcements (preceded by a 6 tone bell), they had to mute me. But it was a good call and fun to see all the kids on one screen.

While I was drying out after the call with the kids, I helped Jim and Marcel with some families going to a train. Then we checked for any refugees coming off the next train from Baia Mare. There were two families traveling together, with lots and lots of luggage.  They have arrangements through their church to stay in Bucharest until they get their visas to the US.  They will be moving to Washington State, and Perris, CA  (where is Perris, you ask?  About half-way between Riverside and Murrieta on the I-215).  They were so nice, and very organized and prepared. They had already made arrangements for a couple of taxis to take them to their accommodations. One of the wives hugged us after we’d helped them to the taxi curb. We didn't do very much, but they were just so happy for the help.

Later that morning we said goodbye to John, our friend from North Pole, Alaska. He flew back home on Monday. He’s been traveling around Eastern Europe for the last three and a half months, volunteering at refugee centers at the Ukrainian border and at train stations in Romania and Moldova. He spent several weeks at the Gara de Nord.  He’s former military, a writer, adventurous, independent, kind, and an interesting and interested man. He was truly interested in us and our lives.  We enjoyed getting to know him and working with him at the Gara de Nord. 

L - R: Jim, Sharman, John (in case you don't
recognize us in our colored vests).

Monday afternoon we had an early dinner with some good friends at a traditional Romanian restaurant in Old Town. We are so grateful for all the senior missionaries that we’ve served with here in Romania. The Bartholomews took us in and showed us around and helped us in so many ways. We appreciate all their service, generosity and friendship.  We will miss them.

Caru cu Bere, the restaurant we went to, is known for their traditional Romanian food, including sarmale: ground meat wrapped in cabbage leaves.  And polenta on the side.  And--of course--papanasi for dessert. It is a very cool architecture and atmosphere.  We ate inside, where there is lots of dark wood, high ceilings, and stained glass.  It looks like it might have been a church at one time, although someone said that is was originally a German beer hall.  The food was very good, and the conversation was very easy.  On our way back to the metro they showed us a beautiful old church.  Apparently a lot of churches were torn down during Ceausescu’s government, and many of the bits and pieces from the churches were brought to this church, and are sitting/displayed outside the church in a little courtyard.  Of course, I didn't get a picture of the courtyard.

The restaurant: Caru cu Bere in Old Town, Bucharest

The Bloods & The Bartholomews after dinner--all smiles.

Looking straight up at the ceiling of the old church. 

Tuesday: there weren't very many other volunteers at the Gara. Jim was the only Russian translator for most of the morning, and I manned Refugee Room 2 by myself for about five hours.  I had to Google how to make coffee in the coffee maker, since I have no clue, and no one was there to give me an inservice. I have no idea if it was any good. At least no one spit it out (that I could see). It wasn't super busy with refugees, but there were enough that Jim and I were definitely needed since there were so few volunteers. 

On Monday I had stopped by a hair salon in the Carrefour shopping center near our apartment and made an appointment to get my hair trimmed on Tuesday--only $18 for a wash, a trim and a blow dry. That’s a good deal—better do that here in Romania! So, I left my post in Room 2 at about 10:45 to get to my appointment.  Happily, one of the City workers that helps out with the volunteers (in the Blue Tent--our designations are simple here at the Gara de Nord) was able to step in and help out in Room 2 when I left.

After my hair appointment I went back to the apartment to park the car (I knew I wouldn't find parking back at the Gara in the middle of the day, so better to park at the apartment and walk back) and have a quick sandwich before heading back to the train station. But Jim texted to say that the next shift of volunteers had arrived and I didn't need to go back to the Gara after all. So... I ended up walking back to the Carrefour food court where Jim and I met for lunch before walking back to the apartment. Technically, that’s two lunches for me on Tuesday, but since I don’t usually eat breakfast and we walk a lot, I think I’m ok. 

Wednesday we had planned to drive to Constanta, a city/resort town on the Black Sea, with Elder and Sister Probst. They needed to check out a missionary apartment, and we thought we’d tag along to see the city and take the two missionaries serving there to lunch. But Jim woke up at 4:30 feeling pretty sick, so we had to bail on the field trip to Constanta. Jim stayed in the apartment all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Happily, the two rapid Covid tests that he took came back negative, and it was just a bad cold. It’s been a blessing that he hasn’t gotten sick before this, considering the work at the Gara with so many people, and the general lack of sleep for him. 

I went out a couple of times while he wasn’t feeling well for groceries and supplies, but, for the most part, I stayed in as well. 

By Saturday Jim was feeling up to going back to the train station. Saturday was a busy travel day at the Gara de Nord—lots of families and youth groups and cyclists and others traveling. And about 80 refugees arrived overnight on buses and stayed in the refugee rooms or the orange tents. But there were plenty of translators and volunteers in the rooms. So I took a minute to sit in the car and get some ideas down for this week’s blog post. And I'm trying to take photos of the Gara de Nord so I can always remember.

A train coming in on platform 4.

The ceiling and clock outside Tent 3.  You can see 
why the rain would be so loud as it pounds on the 
plastic ceiling panes.

The information boards in the main hall of the Gara.

One of the senior couples that we've gotten to know and become good friends with, the Bowlers, organized a farewell dinner for us and another couple that are leaving in a couple of weeks.  We met Saturday evening at Pescarus restaurant at Herastrau Park. It was a nice restaurant, good fish and chips, and excellent company.  And of course, for dessert: papanasi. Did I need dessert?  No.  But the papanasi was yummy.  

Sunday (today): Gara in the morning, church at 10am, and at 3pm the last Hungary/Romania senior couples Zoom meeting for us.  It was bittersweet:  we have enjoyed so much serving with these other senior couples, and are sorry to leave.  But we are really looking forward to being back home with family and friends.  

I'm going to embarrass Jim here, but one of the Senior Missionaries that is serving here long term who has often helped out at the Gara in the mornings, made a very kind comment at our Zoom meeting this afternoon.  He said that, as a photographer, you're always sorry when you miss the perfect shot.  He remembers one morning when Jim was looking for refugees to help off the train, and there were three elderly Ukrainian women looking a little uncertain.  And here was this tall, kind, bald headed man in an orange vest, smiling at them, asking if they needed help.  He said the look of sheer relief and love on their faces as Jim helped them off the train was something he'll never forget.  It made me a little teary.  This is the essence of what Jim has been doing these past 2 1/2 months. 

More "lasts" -- tonight (tonight our time--morning back in UT and CA) we'll have our last Sunday FaceTime calls with the kids while we’re in Romania. This Wednesday will be our last morning working at the train station, and then we’ll pack up and head to the airport at 4am Thursday morning to catch a 7am flight to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam on to Salt Lake. 

We hope to meet for dinner one last time on Tuesday with our friends Marcel and Zorro before we leave. Work schedules and Jim’s cold threw a wrench in our plans to see them last week. Fingers crossed that we can say goodbye in person to these good friends. 

We are so very grateful to have been in Romania these past ten and a half weeks. We’ve been blessed in so many ways: by the Ukrainian people we’ve met, by the Romanians that we’ve met and worked with at the Gara and at church, by all the volunteers from various countries and backgrounds that we've become friends and fellow volunteers with,  and by the missionaries, young and not-so-young, that we’ve had the honor to serve with. We’ve been so blessed by the support, prayers, and generosity of spirit and means of you all. This has been a memorable, extraordinary time, one that has left a lasting impression. We’re only taking a couple of souvenirs home (refrigerator magnets count, right?), but our experiences and memories are many and dear. 

I will try to do one last post once we’re back on US soil. In the meantime, have a good week, and please keep the Ukrainians and those who help them in your prayers.