Almost Home!

We are exhausted! As a matter of fact it's 5:30 pm, Patricia is asleep, and I'm not to far behind. We almost completely packed just need to throw in our PJ's in the morning. We are headed home with one less bag than we came with....a good thing I think.

Today was another early morning, well for us. We were up at 6:30a and out the door by 7:30. We drove to Jill and Val's, packed up the van, and headed to Kegy. This is our last group, actually an add on, it's not a quilting group, these ladies don't even sew. It is a group of refugee women. We knew a few days before we left that we were doing this, so we had to change the project for them. Something practical, fun and completed in one secession. Hmmm. We decided on a shopping bag very simple and useful. To make it a little more fun we prepared a nine patch for them to put together and add to the from of their bags. That was a two fold decision: #1 practical, #2 the nine patch would make each one unique. It was really more of a challenge that we thought. Think about the teaching a 12 year old how to use a machine when you cannot communicate. Interesting. Each lady knew a few words and sign language helped as well. There were two young girls there who translated for their moms that was very helpful.


We started with the 9 patch It was all cut and just needed to be assembled. WOW !!! The things we take for granted for example an even seam or a steady stitch. But they persevered and all finished their bags. How proud they were!!  They would shout out done and hold their bags up. So fun to see the look of accomplishment on their faces. Some even let us take their pictures. We were told that would not happen I'm so glad it did. They have so little and are not welcome in many places. It's all very sad.


One of the young girls, Barbie obviously not her real name, told us she had been in 12 countries in a short period of 3 years.


How difficult their life's are? We have no idea the struggle they go through. And yet they go on. We did not verbally share the gospel with them but gave them lots of love and I know God can use that to His purpose. Our God is so awesome.

Salvation scissors

This is at the Vecse's club. The first time Palma met this lady she picked up Palma's sewing shears and started to cut paper with them. Now anyone who sews knows that is a big no-no to cut anything but fabric with sewing shears. So Palma told her, "I know you are a non believer so I won't kill you for using my shears to cut paper because I know where you'll go." The next time they met Palma gave the lady her shears to remind her of what she had said. So every time she used them it would remind her that she needed Jesus. Eventually she accepted Christ and was baptized. She brought the shears to club so they could have a conversation about what the shears meant to her.

Patricia nicknamed them the "Salvation scissors." Some times God uses a donkey and sometimes sewing shears :)

April 23. Saturday

What a day!
It started out at a fairly leisurely pace. Up about 7 to get ready, then breakfast. We left for Ra'koskeresztur, really. It was a small club there were 11 ladies in attendance, a great group of ladies. They were thoughtful and attentive to instructions, well most of them. They were so kind as to give us lunch. That was a first. The club was from 10-2. The nice thing was that two of the ladies spoke English, that was a big help to Palma. One of the ladies asked for a bible....that's always the best part.

The next club was in Vecse's about a half an hour drive. We arrived about 10 minutes early to get set up. This club was a three hour club 3-6.

At this point I'm of the opinion that no one in this part of the world knows that "old people" shouldn't have to climb stairs, this club had a flight and a half, no hand rail, and narrow steps that weren't level. Any way it was a huge club, 24 plus us. Two were young girls about 12-13 that was cool to see the next generation of quilters. The room was very crowded and hot but all the ladies were excited about learning something new. We worked for about 2 hours and took a break, back down stairs, it was time for snacks and testimonies. Patricia went first. Her testimony never gets old for me I love hearing it. So did the ladies you could tell how they related to some areas as the nodded in agreement. After my testimony we headed back up stairs to finish up, that was at 6. We decided to get the group picture before some one left. That was a joke... they didn't finish until 7:30. It was a very long day and all three of us were exhausted.

We headed home and thought we were all to0 tired to fix supper.... hmmm.... There was a Burger King and yep we stopped. It was fun while we were eating there was a group of 8 girls that came in all dressed up, we thought it must be a prom or something like that. As we ate we noticed that the girls were speaking English. Yea!!! someone we could eaves drop on. All just so we could hear English. We later found out it was a birthday party and the girl want everyone to dress up. They had appetizers at McDonalds then supper at Burger King and dessert some where else. We also found out the girls were from one of the local missionary schools. We finished a few minutes late and headed to the next club.

April 22, 2016

It was a slow morning, thank goodness. Patricia and I got up around 9 and walked to McDonalds for breakfast. I'd send a picture, but they won't let you take pictures there :/

We walked to a couple of small craft stores and browsed. They didn't really have much, but the lighting was so poor you could hardly see so maybe there was more that we could tell.

After we arrived home we worked on some of the sewing kits for Mondays group and completed them 12 in all. We were so happy it seems like the work getting ready for the clubs is never ending. Good thing were almost done.

 Next we walked to the Chinese place for lunch ate walked back home and refreshed ourselves a bit then headed to another quilt exhibition. (Have you noticed how often I have said walked ? We walk entirely to much for this old lady.) The exhibition was small, but had some lovely things.



Now since you can tell by our day so far, food is a big part of it so we went to a little shop next to the quilt thing and had "Chimney Cakes." YUM. THEY ARE SO GOOD.

Then home again to clean up a bit and prepare the kits for today's two clubs. We were complete at 11:45 pm. (4:45 Central time in case you haven't done the math yet)

Did you know?

Just a short note. Did you know that Romania use to be Transylvania ? You probably did but I didn't. I'm not really a history buff. This is what we saw as we traveled through many of the towns.

Catch up...

I'm sorry to be so far behind with the days. They seem to pass so quickly and often there is too much in one day for just one blog so I split it up. Hope I don't miss anything. I guess I still need to update you on the days we were in Romania. We stayed at the parsonage, it was the largest parsonage I've ever seen....three floors and we were at the top. Just so you know that was 4, yes 4, flights of stairs. That's a bit much for an old lady like me and of course I was always forgetting something :/ Andrew and Erika were our hosts. I would tell you their last names, but I can't spell it.

The club started at 6:00 pm and was to be over at 8:00 pm. We expected 8-10 ladies. We actually had 17 ladies and were there until 8:45.

We found out before we left that this is a new club so the project we had planned we going to be to much for them. What to do ? Well, they were getting new cutting matts and rotary cutters so Patricia thought it best to teach them the proper way to use them. She also told a little about quilt history. They seemed to enjoy knowing a little about how it came about. There were things I learned too. Now it was time to do a project. We decided a simple tissue holder for a purse would be the easiest and they would go home with something done. They were so happy, it was a bit surprising. I thought it was a little simple, but they enjoyed themselves and that is what keeps them coming.

We were a little disappointed that none of the ladies asked for bibles, but decided that God was in control. So although we were feeling sad, we accepted it. The next morning the leader of the group, Gyo'ngyi, came over and told us three ladies had called her to ask for bibles, yea!!!

I guess we just need edto be obedient and let God do the rest it seems to work better that way.

After the history lesson we had our testimony time as usual. We thought that it was not received very well, but later were thanked by several of the ladies.

Turda Salt mine

Yesterday day (April 20) we toured the Turda salt mine.
The first documented mention of this mine was in 1271 wen salt was more than Transylvania gold. The Teutonic Knights were rewarded for their service and loyalty in salt boulders. During WW II when enemy planes were bombing Turda the salt mine became a place of shelter. Words cannot describe the beauty so I'll just send pictures.

It is the week of Alternative Learning so the kids were everywhere. I thought it was great to see so many kids interested in the mines. Then I found out why.


Yes indeed there is a mini amusement park on the lower level and one more level down you can rent a row boat.

I find it very difficult to believe that people can see this amazing place and not believe there is a great big God and creator. How can one think it just happened ?