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| Final concert Saturday evening, Radio Concert Hall, Bucuresti |
Oct. 4 - Happy Sabbath!
We are preparing for breakfast in Romania. We were to have had communion on Friday at 2, but the hotel was not prepared to serve us lunch until 2. If there is one thing we have learned in various mission jaunts, it is that we must be ready to adapt quickly.
So this morning (Sabbath) at 10, we will be having a communion service here in the hotel, after which we load up and head east and slightly north to Bucuresti for our final concert.
God has blessed.
That statement really does stand alone. Our expenses have been much less thanks to Alin (Apostol), Eddie (Ciobanu) and Vio's (Rosca) considerable negotiating skills. That's even with having sponsored more Romanian youth.
Last night's concert in Pitesti was a lead-in to an evangelism series beginning this evening. Near the end of the program, just before the "Four Hymns or the Second Coming," the evangelist made an impassioned plea. He referred to a Romanian artist who created Christian-themed sculptures under the noses of the communist government. We will have to get Vio to tell the whole story.
It was another full house, without the kitty. Let me explain.
The night before in Ramnicu Valcea, a gray striped kitty joined the orchestra in tuning up. We thought we might have escorted the interloper out of the concert hall, but we discovered during the robust opening bars of "Va Pensiero" that the cat was hiding out in the orchestra area. Apparently, Verdi does not agree with kitten ears.
Back to the young people -- last night I watched 14-year-old Olivian do nearly the entire concert from memory. In just a few songs, he glanced down at his neighbor's book. I looked down the rows, watching the faces of the young fellows and felt blessed. Again. Thank you to everyone who contributed to helping some of these young people reap the blessings of this journey. Their faces are aglow.
We had some 73 singers on the platform last night. We expect quite a few more to join us in Bucuresti (Bucharest) tonight.
That's all for now. Breakfast is calling.
Oct. 5 - Sunday morning
Sitting in the Bucuresti airport waiting to board for the return trip to good old USA. Don't know what can be said about last night's final concert, except that it surpassed all our expectations, hopes, dreams. The hardest part of the evening was having to say goodbye to our friends.
There were many hugs and a few tears as we parted ways. Even then, we hung around on the street corner where the buses were parked, one heading for northeast Romania, the other for the airport. We were loathe to board the buses!
We will try to do a better recap once were return home. For now, "la revedere" from Romania.
The interactive blogging, prayer focus tips, and pictures have been super. Your trip has been a "ministry" in all the best senses of the word. And, as you point out, the outreach does not stop with the end of the tour. Thanks for all you've done in Romania and for the ways you've included supporters at home. Nothing happens magically. It takes prayer and effort.
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