Easter ... Again!

As mentioned before, Easter here was celebrated on April 27 (yesterday). I enjoyed traditions of a Romanian remembrance of our Risen Savior ...


Sorin pulls the lid off the egg to reveal the object inside.
To prepare for Easter, we've been sharing at the Children's Home the story of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins using Resurrection Eggs. (I know, this is a bad picture ... the sun was right behind us!) Many of the children are gone to be with family during the holiday, so we will be discussing His resurrection soon.


L: Bro. Gheorge (gee-or-gay), Sis. Florica, Mrs. Robyn, and Bro. Tom
After Easter service on Sunday, we were invited to Bro. George (as we call him) and Sis. Florica's home for a traditional meal. Bro. George will soon become the national pastor of the church in Dersida. We enjoyed Sis. Florica's sarmale (sar-ma-lay); cabbage leaves rolled around meat and rice - very yummy!!!
R: Bro. Petrika and myself
Bro. Petrika was also able to join us. He has good days and bad since the passing of his wife, Sis. Veronica. Please continue to pray for him.


L: Mrs. Florica, Mr. Trian (tray-on), and Mrs. Robyn stir the food on the grill.
Sunday afternoon brought us to a Iarba Verde (yar-buh vare-day), otherwise known as a picnic, with the neighbors. These are Mada and Daci's guardians and are VERY sweet people. We enjoyed smoked ham, lamb, pork filets, sausages, meatballs, mici (meech) (a traditional meat with no American comparison), "salad" (vegetables and rice mixed together and molded in a pan), french fries, bread, and a mixture of sweets to finish off (including cupcakes made by Mrs. Robyn and chocolate chip cookies made by me).
R: Easter eggs - Romanian style
They dyed eggs by placing different pieces of grass on the egg, wrapping and securing it with a piece of pantyhose, and placing the egg in dye. They came out very pretty! I will be trying this next year!! A tradition here is for person #1 to say, "Jesus is risen." Person #2 says, "True, He is risen." Person #1 then hits the top of your egg to see if they can break yours. (You Tennesseeans know this as "egg fighting".) Mr. Trian had a great egg ... he cracked everyone else's. Then again, he brought the eggs ... wait a minute ... have we been sabatoged? =] jk!


L: Mr. Trian, Mrs. Robyn, me, Mrs. Florica, Florica (their daughter), Mada, Daci, and Nelu (nell-oo) (their son).
Bro. Tom was the photographer.
R: Mr. Trian and Mrs. Florica


L: Floricuta (floor-ee-cootz-uh) and Nelu.
We call her Floricuta to distinguish between mother and daughter. This is common, as something that is small or a 2nd (if you will) ends with an -ut (for a boy) and an -uta (for a girl).
R: Daci, me, Corina, Mada, and Duta (dootz-uh)
Yes, we have a new "critter". Duta was brought into the family on Friday and already thinks she owns the place. I can say that until Saturday, I never had a goat in my home before! She is sweet, except she likes to eat my plants and the "little shepherd boys" get preoccupied and don't watch her in the house. Oh well, their all worth it!!! And, yes, Corina is very jealous. She now has to share her reign as queen ... with a stinkin' goat!


12 baptized!
The "2nd Day of Easter" or "Easter Monday" is also celebrated here. Stores remain closed and church services are held to remember our Risen Lord. Today, we saw 12 people from Dersida baptized! What a wonderful way to symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection that was preached! These 7 men and 5 women have taken the first step in obedience. Please pray for their continued growth and service.


L: Bro. Tom baptizes a wife, with the help of Bro. George, while her husband awaits his turn.
R: Another man who was baptized today.