We drove though what is probably a middle class area of Romania which looks a lot like a poor area of the south in the 50s. Poorer dwellings on the outskirts, wealthier homes toward the middle of the community. We pass acres and acres of farm land on a dirt road with holes the size of a compact car. As we enter the town, a horse drawn wagon crosses our path.
We arrived at the Habitat project site from last year. Little children who recognized familiar faces came running and jumped in the arms of their friends from last spring. One little girl didn’t leave the arms of her student friend until it was time for us to reboard the bus. Timon, a teacher from FES, grabbed the little guy who came running to him and swung him around and around. Sadly, the medical clinic–which the local government had obligated itself to complete–is still unfinished. The local government was supposed to finish it. They have not; there is squabbling as to who should work there and complete it.
The joy of children as well as adults was very heart warming. The school teacher asked for prayer as we were leaving.
We also visited the site of a well which was dug for the use of 6 families in the surrounding area. Their homes were built of scrap metal, mud mixed with horse dung and pressed into woven stick walls. The women appeared to be dressed in layers of clothing, probably all that they owned. They were very proud of what they owned, inviting us into their dwelling. One child begged for pennies when none of the adults were looking. As our bus was driving away, the grandmother of the house was sweeping the rain water and mud from in front of the family dwelling. How tragic that they live in such poverty yet how wonderful that they are grateful for what they have and have such pride in their possessions.
As we drive through the country side we come to towns with wealthier homes which are made of concrete block plastered over with tin roofs. Everything is fenced in. The poor homes with wire, others with wood, the wealthier with concrete columns and steel or decorative concrete panels.
The town churches are orthodox. In the year 600 Ivan the Bulgar Slayer overran Bulgaria all the way up into southern Romania. The result is the Orthodox Church and Byzantine influence even in the poorer village churches.
In the wealthier Roma areas, homes are built 5 -6 stories high in the style of Indian architecture; Indian being their heritage.
Lunch at a Romanian Restaurant… fun conversation around the table, practicing German, listening to the happy banter of friends, getting to know the kids from FES.
Back in Bucharest, we saw the Revolutionary Square where thousands died protesting the government of 1989.
En route, a panel half fell off of the side of the bus causing a horrible crash but hung on enough to keep from falling off. Thankfully, it did not affect the operational ability of the bus!
Our bus also leaks on four seats and it continues to rain. One of the students devised a way to use small inverted umbrellas to catch the rain before it falls on passengers… and twice the back door has flown open as we drove down the highway. Fortunately, no harm done and, in the greater scheme, a minor inconvenience after seeing the housing in which an extended family lived and their conveyance, a horse drawn wagon. The question arises in my mind, “How is it that we live so well and often unhappily in the West and they live so happily in their poverty?”
Our bus also leaks on four seats and it continues to rain. One of the students devised a way to use small inverted umbrellas to catch the rain before it falls on passengers… and twice the back door has flown open as we drove down the highway. Fortunately, no harm done and, in the greater scheme, a minor inconvenience after seeing the housing in which an extended family lived and their conveyance, a horse drawn wagon. The question arises in my mind, “How is it that we live so well and often unhappily in the West and they live so happily in their poverty?”
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