Update from Romania, Oct. 2

By Dennis Nutter

Thursday, Oct 2 – Just south of Ramnicu Valcea, is a salt mine that we attempted to visit upon arrival on Wednesday, but they were closed. Fortunately they were willing to open an hour early this morning. We loaded by twenties into shuttle buses that took us underground. What a surprise it was. Most of us imagined going underground and seeing a few conveyor belts, or trucks mining the salt blocks. Instead, there were huge tunnels with restaurants, play areas, lounge areas, ping pong tables, a tennis court, a soccer field, art gallery, and the largest underground church in Romania, or perhaps the world per the Orthodox priest. They conduct weekly Sunday services there for the local community.

We had already packed our luggage and put it on the buses before breakfast, so we were able to continue on south to our next concert site in Craiova. We arrived shortly after 1 pm and quickly devoured box lunches that the local church ladies had put together for us. The concert was in Filamonico de Stat just off the huge town square in the heart of the city. We were able to walk from the local Adventist to the Concert Hall.

We had another standing-room-only concert at the Filamonico de Stat. People were standing on the side aisles and at the back of the auditorium as well as several rows standing in the foyer. The Lord blessed and we had a very positive response. Several men in the Romanian Men’s Chorus were inspired and invited by their conductor, Alin Apostol, to join us the next night in Pitesti.

Following the concert we boarded the buses and headed out for the two-hour trip to Pitesti. We arrived after midnight, and by the time we got to our rooms, it was later to 1 am before we were to get to sleep.