August, 2008

HI there all ye friends and pray-ers dear, greetings from the Black Sea, and just to fill you in a little on the last days adventures:

I had a week long camp with this new church from Deva (tho I know these guys mostly a long time, they just started their own church), so it was in the mountains, and some buildings there, and power etc. but bathed either with a bucket or in the river, same one cows and other animals used. The hard times I mentioned were not the tent or sleeping etc, actually slept beter there on crappy air mattress than most other nites here. But tho the concerts there were great and God really moved and was touching these guys (lots of youth too, and non christians there), there were quite a few moments. esp. the first 3 days or so, where I felt very much the outsider and not a part of any group. A friend from Canada who works here and his group of 5 were supposed to come, but they took a wrong turn, and overshot the camp by 100 km.s' or so, and tho they were all looking forward to this time(the other 4 in car, and me seeing some of these good friends), my friend got frustrated and decided they weren't coming so they turned around and went and camped alone by themselves for 4-5 days, not even that far from where we were. Most of the guys were surprised and hurt somewhat by this at the camp...but that's how things went. I was pretty disappointed cuz it was the one good chance to catch up with a few of them, and don't know that I'll get another chance now.
So anyways, I was the only poor romanian speaker there, meaning I did not/could not fit in with the groups just hanging out, or eating, of which there was a fair amount of time. Struggled with that. There was some sport and river time, which was good cuz then I'm in like a dirty shirt, or in this case, dirty shorts. Anyways, there were some special times too, and with the hearts touched and all, it was all worth it anyway.
So then to Alba Iulia for Sun. nite, good nite there in church.
Then Tues. nite at 7:30 left for 2.5 hour train trip to Sibiu...arriving at 10:10 p.m. and having a 4.5 hour wait there for my train to Black Sea, where I am now since yesterday. Well, these train stations are not the safest, nicest places to be in the wee hours of the nite, so didn't relish the idea of this lousy train connnection, but the only direct train to Constanta (Black Sea) and with my heavy bags, that's a plus not having to change trains. So quite the little miracle happened about midnite, in the station ticket area...I took out my guitar and started just playing softly...a few people listening in...but I pretty much just ignored anyone else...about 10 mins. later I look up and am surrounded by about 30-40 kids with some adults, crowding around me. I mean my guitar case was full of crumbs from them eating over it, that's how close they were. So then they were waiting for more, so I started singing songs and they started applauding after every one...and now I'm doing this impromptu concert, and they're all gathered around, some recording video with their phones etc. Then one girl wanted to sing with me, so tried a few songs, she asked questions, and I told them why I did what I did and about God and stuff. All these kids, by the way, were just returning from a camp themselves(not christians), so there were 2 groups of them plus adults all for the same train mostly. Anyways, sang about 40-50 min.'s for them and shared about God (some of them were touched by this), and one girl who seemed kinda in charge, said I must come to their city and sing...so we'll see...anyways, that really helped pass the time.
So then the train was in at 2:00 a.m. and left at 2:37 a.m. I got on early and found my seat, and I was pretty much alone in the car except for some old folks at other end. I see a gypsy man walk by...wondering if he was casing me out...and sure enough he comes back and tries to start talking...well, he's drunk or pretending to be....and I wasn't being very friendly, knowing he was likely just setting me up to steal my things. I tried to ignore him, and not talk romanian, in fact I told him to go and get back to where he supposed to be. I was standing in hallway, and he with me at first, then he sits down in my compartment, in my seat...right beside my carry on bag (full of good stuff) and closes the door and starts pulling the curtains so I can't see (I'm outside in hall way) ...and I yanked that door open quick and said 'what are you doing'? he was mostly mumbling, but I was annoyed and getting more by the minute...he tried to tell me this was his compartment...and his seat. I was getting mad at him and he had the odd outburst too back at me...and I had to shove him away a few times...this went on for 5-10 minutes...tried to enlist the help of 2 other young couples who got on train close to us...but the guy was afraid of the gypsy and wouldn't get involved. I just asked him to translate the guy for me. So that was no help, except the guy told me to watch my stuff. I pressed the gypsy again for a ticket...now I'm yelling...and he pulls out some junk paper from his pocket and says it's a ticket...which it weren't. I'm pushing him again cuz he's not moving and in my way, and then I'm blocking the door to my compartment, and he's trying to get in. He fell down once on the seats when I pushed him, and then I had had enough(after 10-15 min.s of this) so I grabbed my carry on bag, and said 'Okay. you can have the compartment', and threw my carry-on next door in an empty one, in the 3 seconds I was away, he had taken my guitar down from top shelf, so I guess that's when I pushed him down, and then I was taking my heavy pack dowm, and he came back at me, and the thing kinda landed on my face a little and knocked off my glasses, and bent them up real good...just thankful I could find them again on the floor in the dark...I grabbed my bag and left him behind, thinking I'd like to kick his ass if he weren't drunk. But then again...probly wouldn't have been the best idea anyway, there's usually more of them close by and they're normally armed with knives or something similar.
Anyway, he went to other end of train, and when train left, I checked each compartment for him and he wasn't in our car...and then just caught a glimpse of him on the phone on platform as we pulled out. So I hate being alone on these overnight trips, cuz you have to fight off sleep, or risk losing all your stuff...found a comparment with 3 older adults and asked if I could join them...they were friendly...a few hours later the train filled up and I was fine all the way to Balck Sea(11 hour trip).
Now here and being treated royally by my hosts who I met in Austria 2 years ago...
it's hot here...high 90's....here for next 2 weeks....
Bless you all....fighting in prayer for you all too...love the sealion(rob)