Update from Romania, Sept. 30

By Dennis Nutter

Tuesday, Sept 30 – (Sibiu) - The day started with more free time for touring and shopping. The timing of this stop was perfect for the needed rest it provided, giving the singers a recharge to finish the tour in grand fashion.

Late afternoon, we were able to walk to the concert hall, which was built right into the old city’s foundation. Not only did the concert hall, Filarmonica de Stat, have a large ground floor, but two u-shaped balconies around the perimeter of the main floor.

After the concert as I was thanking the Romanians in attendance for coming to the program, I shook hands with an elderly gentleman and patted him on the back. That started a very animated conversation. I was nodding and smiling even though I didn’t understand a word. Finally, Teo, one of our Romanian chorus members spotted us, and came over to assist with translation.

The doctor, told how he had been raised in a very poor family. There were six children. Three became doctors, of which he was one, and the other three teachers. He went on at great length about the goodness of the Lord. I asked if I could take his picture. He agreed but wanted to know what I was going to do with it, gave me his name, address, and phone number and asked for me to mail him a copy.

The temperature was delightful for a pleasant walk back to the hotel, where the hotel had a farewell banquet for us. There was a large salad plate and bread, which most of us thought was a wonderful meal, which turned out to be only the first course. The main course was fried polenta patties and potatoes, and another small bowl of lettuce and tomatoes. That was followed by a very light apple square with powdered sugar on it.

We headed back to the room at 11:30 pm stuffed to the gills.