"Wow. That's really all that can be said. This day was so slow in the sense of all the flying and the lengths it took to get to where we needed to be. But so quick to think that I went to 3 places... 2 continents in 24 hours. It didn't go quite as planned... okay, as I planned." (it never does... does it?)
"I really wanted to sleep on the plane to Memphis to Amsterdam... a 9 hour long flight. That didn't happen for me. I think it was a combination of nerves and horrible sinus issues and distraction that didn't let me sleep. I slept... well.. shut my eyes for about 30 minutes then maybe slept for an hour between Amsterdam and Bucharest. 23 hours of not stopping... exhausting." (Me interjecting now: It's funny to go back and read what you write when you are THAT tired... I left a LOT of words out!)
"One thing that I will never forget is seeing the day change. In my lack of sleep... I feel like I got to see a lot of things that if I had slept... I would have missed it... so therefore I was blessed to not sleep. I could look out one window to see night and another and see day. Made me realize how BIG this world really is." (To note on this: if one thing gets me... it's how the God of everything loves me, little insignificant me!)
"Amsterdam was neat to see. There are so many diverse people and cultures all wrapped into one. I'd like to think of the airport as a big show case of the people God has created... all the different people. People were pretty nice... especially when I was buying something and didn't quite get what they were asking... they bared with my lovely southern accent and lack of foreign knowledge! I did notice that because everyone is so different... people seem more (I wasn't sure how to put this) unaware of one another. They just accept and move on. A concept I think Americans should adopt."
(Me now) I think being in airports is one of my favorite things and least favorite things. I am such a people watcher. But to notice all these different people... I see now the potential to be bold on faith and share your faith with someone. You have SO many people around you and in contact with you at airports. I think the next time I sit in an airport... I'll take myself up on that.
"On the KLM flight between Amsterdam and Bucharest, I had a terrible bathroom experience. I'm pretty sure when I walked out of the "lavatory" that my horror was quite apparent to everyone. Let's call it (Romania team will know what I'm talking about) a 'that's interesting' moment. I have learned that some Europeans are not the most clean people in the world. I walk into this bathroom (I HATE using the bathroom in an airplane... it freaks me out) and there is urine... everywhere. Let me restate that.... EVERYWHERE. That was "interesting.""
We were told in our preparation meeting that at any point that you see something different or offensive just say "that's interesting." Since there is a language barrier people really rely on facial expression and emotion to get your point. I really felt like a spectacle at some points because I definitely did not fit the "typical" Romanian look. I am quite tall, blond, light skinned and light eyes. I said many times... they stare at me like I'm a blond Godzilla. So, since I felt like I was being watched a lot... "that's interesting" has become apart of my adopted vocabulary.
"The hardest part of the trip over was the 3-4 hour van ride. I have never felt so exhausted in my life. It felt like 8 hours to me. I did sleep a bit though in the van but I woke up as I felt the temperature drop from a nice 60 to probably in the 40s as we traveled up the mountain side from Bucharest to Brasov. It was really cloudy and really wet. Before I fell asleep though and a little bit after... I was amazed at some of the living conditions and make shift markets. That is survival for some people. People walk around just on the side streets with livestock. A lot of times you'll see them free on the side of the road and not fenced in."
I talked about the house for a while in my journal and I mentioned about our friend that lived in the wall for the week "boo," the squirrel. He was there all week and made many appearances during bed time. It made for some good laughs though.
"Today came together with all luggage accounted for (we had a TON of suitcases) and safely through customs with everything still in tact. Praise God! God has great things in store for this team. I cannot wait for church tomorrow!"
You'll see that until we really get into the "meat" of the week... clinic days, church, and down days to think... I would journal a lot about how I saw things so I would remember them. And as I said before, I will not write everything just because some of it was meant for only Christ and myself. Enjoy a few pictures of Air port time and the house!
Live. Laugh. Love.
Melissa
(The pictures are little out of order, I think)
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| Precious Beth and Dr. Joel at Little Rock Airport |
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| Tracy and I in Bucharest, getting ready to go to Brasov |
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| Caron and Beth in Amsterdam |
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| Tracy, Sandy and myself in Amsterdam... tired much? |
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| In Little Rock |
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| Tracy and I had to freshen up in Amsterdam after the long flight! |
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| Pam, Tracy and Sandy in Amsterdam |
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| Most of the team from a distance, packing up the van to head to Brasov! |
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