The weekend is the time when the CTL staff doesn't work (obviously), so since we can't go to orphanages... we get to be tourists!!! I will admit that I don't really like looking like a tourist, but it is nice to have someone else do my translating for once.
Yesterday, we went to Sinaia. It is a beautiful mountain town. We got off the train, Susan discovered that the bathrooms at the train station have been renovated. They aren't these sketchy damp holes in the ground!!! We rode the train up the mountain to Pelesi Castle, summer home of the first king of Romania. I won't give you the history of the country, even though it is fascinating, but one interesting tidbit... the kings of Romania were all German. We didn't have time to go on the telegondolas, but we laid around in a beautiful little park. It was very relaxing, just what we needed after a long week. Our train was delayed, so we went and sat in a little cafe for another hour. None of it sounds very exciting, but it was a great team bonding time.
Today, we told some of the boys that we would go fishing with them if they showed up before church. Only one boy, Alex, showed up. We went to church, which he said he enjoyed, then we went to Herestrau Park to go fishing. After about thirty minutes of fishing, a guy came to tell us we couldn't fish there, the lake is private. After a little arguing in Romanian (which is way more entertaining that in English), we went to talk to the local police patrolling the park. They confirmed the sketchy Romanian man's story, but told is if we paid 100 RON (about 40 dollars) that we could fish in a certain spot. We declined. So we went to lunch where Alex, who was enjoying himself immensely, opened up to us a little. He told us he has two brothers in Belgium and a sister who works for the child protective service! How amazing that they would leave their 15-year-old brother in the orphanage system even though they are relatively successful! It's not a unique story, but it is still amazing to me. We walked around the gorgeous park and Alex, Jacob, and Adam took turns in a paddle boat. This evening, Emily and I cooked dinner after begging not to be fed more pizza. All in all, it has been a great weekend, and we are rested and relaxed and ready for another amazing week... one that will include a trip to rehab (quite possibly more than one!)
2 comments:
Sinaia really is so beautiful and so relaxing! I'm praying for you and the kids :)
Just read all of your blogs addressing this trip and I am so touched. Laura, you have such a gift for expressing your heart. You were so honest in baring your struggles and doubts, and isn't it amazing that we have a Lord who in His grace allows us to wrestle and question, and walks us through the confusion. Your love for "your kids" there in the rehab institutions is straight from Jesus. He has given that passion to you, even when it can break your heart. Thank you for sharing.
Sue Frantz
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