The hardest working one here

by noel.piper on May 7, 2012 in Europe with 3 Comments

I’ve written before about what it’s like when we travel outside the US and most of the congregation understands Romanian, let’s say, and the preacher speaks English. When that happens, God’s Spirit speaks God’s word through an interpreter. No matter how good and true the words of the preacher might be, without a translator, they land on no hearts that understand only Romanian.

God has blessed us here in Bucharest with the heart, energy, likemindedness and language skills of Daniel Popa. Romanians who understand English well have exclaimed over his ability to capture and relay even complicated thoughts and long phrases.

From almost the first moments of the first session, Johnny and Daniel were in a rhythm where each was speaking almost before the other was finished, and Daniel spoke with intensity and strength similar to Johnny. It was a pleasure to watch and listen.

When Johnny mentioned a passage of scripture, Daniel flipped to immediately and quickly. The pages of his Bible were soft and loose from use.

Meeting him was one of those times of realizing how small the world is for us who are in the same family–God’s family. Daniel is a pastor in Hunedoara in western Romania. When he was a student at Prairie Bible Institute, he was a choir member under the leadership of Chuck Steddom, who since then has for several years been Minister for Worship and Music at Bethlehem.

We thank God for Daniel’s ministry this week. As Johnny says, “The interpreter is the hardest working person at an event. He’s the only one who has to be alert every second and can’t let his attention wander for an instant.

__________

Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

You can see photos from this trip, as they’re uploaded, at my Shutterfly Share Site.
__________
Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.
__________
If you make a purchase after you click on some of the product links in a post or after you use an on-line shopping link in the sidebar, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I recommend only items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I probably have used personally or wish I had.
__________
I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

Whose palace?

by noel.piper on May 6, 2012 in Europe, General with No comments

Front of Palace of Parliament

Looming over Bucharest is the 2nd largest building (by surface area) in the world (after the Pentagon). Its sides are about as long as its front and it extends deep underground. Probably an aerial view (which I couldn’t manage on my own) helps give a bigger perspective. Here’s an article that includes that overview and at least one Romanian’s perspective on the palace.

Nowadays, the Palace of Parliament houses Romania’s main government offices and the National Museum of Contemporary Art. But many of the 1100 rooms remain unoccupied.

Ceasescu destroyed much of the old city to create a vista from which he would be able to view all Romania's citizens as he stood on his balcony

The construction began in 1983. Ceausescu intended it to be the seat of his government, his own regal palace home from which he could see all the people of Romania gathered in the grand avenue before him, and a symbol to the world of his glory.

It was built by “volunteers,” in other words, by people who were unpaid after being conscripted. I’ve heard that no one was allowed to work more than 3 days in one part of the building, that people were constantly moved about so that no one could understand much about the whole place. I’ve also heard that a number of secret rooms were built, and that the people who worked on those spaces soon died or disappeared.

As our group followed our guide along marble floors, over hand woven carpets, between carved columns, Silvia gasped again and again, “This! While our family of 8 was allowed 1 pound of flour per month. One pound! What can you make with one pound? . . . Five eggs! That’s all we were granted per month. . . . While he was building this.” (our photos)

One of the ironies of communism is the habit of naming things “The People’s _____.” I suppose that’s because in true communism everything is to be from the people, by the people, for the people. In reality, what often gets left out is the part about for the people.

The People’s Palace is a prime example. It was paid for from the resources of the Romanian people, built by the hands, sweat, and lives of the people . . . for the glory of Ceausescu.

But irony turned against him. He died before his glorious palace was finished.

Even now, 23 years later, it’s not clear what the true story of the palace is.

How many underground floors are there? Officially there are 8. Why officially? One person told me it’s because you ask yourself: How can I be sure about anything by or about such a man? But maybe there are just at least 8?. . . or as many below ground as there are above (12)? . . . or 40, as one teenager thought he’d heard?

In 1990, just a few months after Ceasescu’s death, Larry and Alice Agnew were taken around the building by one of the workers. Their eyewitness report is that only 3-4 of the rooms were completely finished and fitted out. But our guide and several online sources say the building was 90% ready to be occupied at that time.

During that same visit in 1990, the worker told Larry and Alice that Ceausescu had gathered from all around the world the finest and rarest of materials like marble and wood. But our guide, even when pressed, insisted that the place is a showcase of Romanian resources, that Ceausescu was proud that all the finest material were from somewhere within the nation.

It’s easy to see why there might be a general sense of skepticism. Who’s right? Who can be believed? Who is telling the truth to the best of their ability, but they don’t know they were deceived?

God Knows My Size! Silvia Tarniceriu

Ah, but throughout all of this, there were people who knew truth and knew where to find it. “When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. ” There were families, like the Tarniceriu family who kept on singing and speaking the Gospel, even when it meant imprisonment and worse.

There’s more to be written about that, another time.

__________

Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

You’ve waited long enough

by noel.piper on May 5, 2012 in Europe with 2 Comments

We’re almost at the end of a week here in Romania and I don’t think I’ve posted one word yet about food. Are you hungry yet?

cozonac (Romanian sweet bread)

Thank you, thank you, my readers, for your excellent suggestions. I discovered that cozonac (Romanian sweet bread) is a holiday specialty. But that didn’t stop Silvia and her sister for finding it for me, though of course I should know it would be much better if they made it for me. I tell you, it was plenty good enough. I’m sure it’s supposed to be sliced politely, but everyone in the van was hungry, so you can see what we did to it.

tocanita de pui (chicken stew) & mamaliguta (polenta)

sarmale (cabbage or grape leaf rolls), mamaliguta (polenta), mici (grilled spicy ground meat rolls), varsa (cabbage, pickled & sauerkraut), carnati (sausages), pastrama (smoked meat)

Do I like the Romanian food I’ve had? Let’s just say, I think when I get home I’ll look into getting a book of good basic traditional Romanian cooking.

One thing we efficient Americans have had to learn here is that eating together is for time to enjoy each other’s company and conversation, not for rushing through the meal.

In America, usually we get impatient if we wait more than 15-20 minutes for our complete meals to arrive. Our main experience with courses is that the dessert “course” is served when everything else is done. Then we can rush off to whatever else we have to do. Or if we’re enjoying each other, we keep talking and enjoying our coffee or soft drinks until the waiter plops the bill on the table and quits refilling our drinks. That’s his hint that if we were gone, other paying customers could occupy the table. At least that’s the way it is at the sort of places we go.

Appropriately enough, our one meal at McDonald’s has been the only fast food here. Today’s main meal is the nicest one, so it’s an example of the extreme opposite of McDonald’s.

We were about 20 at one large table at a nice restaurant. Here’s how it went.

As soon as we were settled into our chairs, lemonade and bottles of water were offered around. . . and Coke Zero for the ones who wanted it (me). We took time to study the extensive menu. I gave up and asked Silvia what Romanian dish I should order. Then with so many of us, naturally it took quite a bit of time for the waiter to answer any questions and take all our orders.

Time passes. Then soup was served to all who had ordered soup.

Time passes. Then salad was served to all who had ordered salad.

Time passes. Main dishes are served.

Time passes. Orders are taken for dessert, which requires a lot of conversation. Who’s eating dessert? Who isn’t? What does the waiter recommend? What are favorites among those who know the dishes? I didn’t order, despite the luscious descriptions of what I’d be missing.

Time passes–45 minutes, maybe. Desserts are served and somehow there’s one for everyone at the table, even the ones who didn’t order. Johnny passes his to the next person. I cut mine in half and say, “Here’s your half.” But he stands firm. I don’t.

papanasi (airy donut & donut hole, middle filled with cherries). Drizzling sour cream over it is optional.

But look, here’s what I was thinking. I ate breakfast, but no lunch. It’s 6:00 now. So I’ll count dinner as lunch, and dessert as dinner. How’s that?

I’m glad to say I wasn’t timing each course, but we were there 3-1/2 – 4 hours, and had some really good conversation.

__________

Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

History rewritten

by noel.piper on May 4, 2012 in Europe with 3 Comments

I overheard a Romanian asking, “Where can I find a true history of Romania?”

When I chuckled, she explained, “Ceasescu rewrote our nation’s history to make himself and communism look great and perfect.”

Ceasecscu and communism have been gone from Romania for 23 years, but it takes a long time for a nation to heal from such a dictator.

Here’s one small example.

I asked a friend, “What do the colors on the flag represent?”

She smiled and answered, “Red is for the blood of the martyrs who died defending our nation. Yellow is for the golden wheat, because we used to be the bread basket of Europe. Blue is for the clear sky under which everyone is happy.” Before she was finished another person nearby chorused in with the same words.

Later I went online to see if there were more details to add, and found instead a history of changing symbolism:

There was a generic explanation, which in a general way says something similar to what my friend said: According to ancient and heraldic traditions . . . red symbolizes hardiness, bravery, strength and valor; yellow symbolizes generosity; blue symbolizes vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance and justice.

There was a geographical-historical explanation: Red was the color of Moldavia. Yellow was the primary color of the changing Wallachian flag. Blue was the color of the heraldic flag of Transylvania. Together they represent the unity of the regions that now form the nation of Romania.

And there was an extremely historical explanation: [Using ancient names of what are now parts of Romania] the Roman Emperor Justinian (527-565) decreed: At the right side . . . red shield . . meaning Dacia. In the second division celestial [blue] shield with Buri tribe signs. And the middle (a part of Olenia and Munenia) golden.

When I mentioned to my friend that I found lots of explanations, but none of them quite like hers, she smiled again and said, “That was what we learned in school under Ceausescu, so that’s what I remember.”

It’s a lovely explanation of the flag’s colors. Never mind that it was Ceausescu shedding the martyr’s red blood, that Ceausescu excavated the fertile golden wheat fields to build industry, and that happiness was hard to find under the blue sky–at least not happiness provided by Ceausescu.

__________
Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

Surrounded with welcome

by noel.piper on May 3, 2012 in Europe with Comments Off

We were welcomed to Bucharest by a rush of friends. The pictures from our arrival are a good way to see who they are.

First of all, the people with us from Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis are Bill & Cindi Walsh and Larry & Alice Agnew. The Agnews have Romania in their hearts and have traveled here many times. I think this is Larry’s 15th trip.

Welcoming us were Pastor & Mrs. Florin (Denise) Vasiliu and their son David of Holy Trinity Baptist in Iasi, and Adi Ghetu and Cristi Chivu of Romanian American Mission.

I was swallowed in a hug from another visitor from America who is really Romanian. I hadn’t seen Silvia Tarniceriu in a long time. She lives and ministers in Ohio now. God Knows My Size is her story of growing up during the Communist years in Romania and of imprisonment for her faith. It’s a dramatic reminder that God knows every detail and watches over his children.

Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

For subscribing or getting someone new to subscribe

The Bucharest Giveaway

The Geneva Giveaway

The Hamburg Giveaway

__________

You can see photos from this trip, as they’re uploaded, at my Shutterfly Share Site.

__________

Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.

__________

If you make a purchase after you click on some of the product links in a post or after you use an on-line shopping link in the sidebar, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I recommend only items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I probably have used personally or wish I had.

__________

I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

Flying to Bucharest

by noel.piper on May 2, 2012 in Europe with 1 Comment

Update: Romanian friends here have confirmed that the mountains in my photos are the Carpathians, and so we were indeed flying over Transylvania at the time.

__________

We had just enough time in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to walk quickly to our connecting flight to Bucharest. That was really good, because I didn’t have time to test my resistance to the great temptation for Stroopwafels, the Dutch caramel waffle cookies that Talitha and I think of whenever we hear Amsterdam and airport in the same sentence.

We flew over Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and most of Romania. Beyond Holland and Germany, I’ve never visited nor given a thought to visiting any of these places. But now, looking down on fluorescent yellow rapeseed fields, red-roofed villages, green river valleys stretching to the horizon, I was thinking, In only a 2-1/2 hour flight, there are 4 nations and who-knows-how-many cultures I want to see, to taste, to hear, to smell.

Unfortunately, in the air there are no “You are now entering ______” signs. So I could only guess which scenery belonged to which country. I think we were over Romania when these mountains caught my attention. They ended abruptly with an escarpment that edged miles of plains. Can anybody tell me if those mountains were in Transylvania? (By the way, I’m proud of you, my readers, that as of today none of you has said that Romania makes you think of Count Dracula.)

You can also take a look at the rest of my flight photos.

Don’t miss the giveaways for this trip:

For subscribing or getting someone new to subscribe

The Bucharest Giveaway

The Geneva Giveaway

The Hamburg Giveaway

__________

Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.

__________

__________

I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

3rd stop: Hamburg (giveaway)

by noel.piper on May 2, 2012 in Europe with 28 Comments

The final official stop in our Europe itinerary will be Hamburg. I say official, because there is one other day trip we’re planning from Hamburg that I’ll tell you about later. (Hint: I bought The Christian Travelers Guide to Germany through one of the used book sellers at Amazon.)

I’ve never been to Hamburg, although about a hundred years ago, we lived in Germany for 3 years. But that was in Munich, far to the south of Hamburg. I’m looking forward to finding out a bit of how much difference or sameness there is between the two cities.

Sometime between now and Hamburg, I’ll be dipping into Hamburg, A Cultural History.

You know, don’t you, that these trip giveaways are my shameless way of milking you of whatever great advice and experience you can pass on that will make my visit richer? And you know what I’ll give away is a mystery gift because I myself don’t know what it is until I get it at my destination? So here goes with the Hamburg mystery giveaway.

To be eligible, comment at this post with any or all of the following:

Are you German?
Have you ever lived in or visited Hamburg or elsewhere in Germany?
What do you think of when you think of Hamburg or of Germany?
What would you want to do if you were visiting Hamburg?
Is there particular German food one should not miss?
What would you recommend as a gift to bring back?

Deadline is 11:59 pm cst, May 18.

And don’t miss out on the other giveaways:

For subscribing or getting someone new to subscribe

The Bucharest Giveaway

The Geneva Giveaway

__________

Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.

__________

__________

I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

2nd stop: Geneva (giveaway)

by noel.piper on April 29, 2012 in Europe with 34 Comments

Apparently my earlier post about traveling to Europe confused at least one person. When we showed up at church tonight for a business meeting, she greeted us, “What are you doing here?!” Nope we’re not in Europe yet, but soon.

The second city in our itinerary will be Geneva. You can check out the Desiring God website to see what Johnny will be doing there.

We went to Geneva once–for about 2 hours in 1972, during a layover between trains, traveling from Munich to Albertville, France. We dashed from the train station to catch a glimpse of the Reformation Wall.

One of the people most associated with both the Reformation and Geneva is John Calvin. So I’ve stashed in my carry-on a copy of Travel with John Calvin: Geneva’s Minister Whose Thinking Changed the World. The publisher, Day One, has an impressive catalog of Travel with . . . guide books.

Also, let’s celebrate my long-delayed return to Geneva with another of my mystery gifts, this time from Europe–maybe Geneva.

To be eligible, comment at this post with any or all of the following:

Are you Swiss?
Have you ever lived in or visited Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland?
What do you think of when you think of Geneva or of Switzerland?
What would you want to do if you were visiting Geneva?
Is there particular Swiss food one should not miss?
What would you recommend as a gift to bring back?

Deadline is 11:59 pm cst, May 18.

Don’t miss the other giveaways:

For subscribing or getting someone new to subscribe

The Bucharest Giveaway

The Hamburg Giveaway

__________

Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.

__________

__________

I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

1st stop: Bucharest (giveaway)

by noel.piper on April 29, 2012 in Europe with 52 Comments

You may have seen at the Desiring God website that Johnny is speaking in Europe soon.

Our first stop is Bucharest . Some friends, both here and in Romania, have been urging us for years to come. I’m so glad the time is finally here.

And I’m glad you’ll be traveling along, via Tell Me When to Pack. So I want to give one of you a gift from Bucharest (or it might be from one of our other destinations).

To be eligible, comment at this post with any or all of the following:

Are you Romanian?
Have you ever lived in or visited Bucharest or elsewhere in Romania?
What do you think of when you think of Romania?
What would you want to do if you were visiting Bucharest?
Is there particular Romanian food one should not miss?
What would you recommend as a gift to bring back?

Deadline is 11:59 pm cst, May 18.

Don’t miss the other giveaways:

For subscribing or getting someone new to subscribe

Geneva Giveaway

Hamburg Giveaway

__________

Subscribe to Tell Me When To Pack. Use the links to the right or click here.

__________

If you make a purchase after you click on some of the product links in a post or after you use an on-line shopping link in the sidebar, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I recommend only items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I probably have used personally or wish I had.

__________

I hope you’ll also visit my other blog–NoelPiper.com

Tell Me When To Pack

If I take the wings of the morning…
even there your hand shall lead me.

The hardest working one here

Whose palace?

You’ve waited long enough

History rewritten

Surrounded with welcome

Flying to Bucharest

3rd stop: Hamburg (giveaway)

2nd stop: Geneva (giveaway)

1st stop: Bucharest (giveaway)

Tell Me When To Pack

About

Search

Subscribe

If you’re shopping anyway…

Donate via Paypal

Categories

Latest Tweets

NoelPiper.com

Meta

About

Search

Subscribe

If you’re shopping anyway…

Donate via Paypal

Categories

Tags

Latest Tweets

Meta