Grocery Shopping

Today we went grocery shopping. We went to the Bizarr first, then two different stores. Something as simple as shopping to us, is difficult here. The Bizarr had tiny booths all over a large area. You look around and try and find the best price. There is fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, hardward, kitchen supplies, etc. You just have to look around. Not everyone sells things for the same price. One lady was sitting selling domestic chicken eggs. Stephanie bought 20 eggs from her. The lady had one cracked open so you could see the inside. You don't buy things here in dozens, but 10's. The stores were much different than we are used to. There were things we had on the list that we couldn't buy because they were not available. The Metro is like a Sams Club. One of the ladies there watched me like a hawk and followed me because I looked out of place. Eric was watching her too to see if she would talk to me or bother me. She didn't. I stuck close to Eric and Stephanie, but I did look around. It was an interesting experience.BTW, the house that was purchased for the church for $2,000.00 dollars was purchased about 9-10 years ago. Now it would cost $30,000.00 dollars. There is no bathroom at the church, just an outhouse. When things settle down I may get some pictures down loaded.The camp where we are staying is just beautiful. It is green and lush. Not like the brown Arizona dessert. We are liking it here. Skip is busy working on the bathrooms in the administration building. They all need different types of work performed. Walls and tile, etc. I made more cookies today for the 29 Americans that will come in a couple of weeks. Cooking food here is more difficult. EVERYTHING is made from scratch. Some ingredients are not available, so you improvise. Building is the same way. If Skip doesn't have a tool he needs, he makes it or improvises. Getting things done takes so much more time. I am not complaining. I am explaining. That is the way life is here. It is different for us, but we are flexible, no problem. Skip is great at improvising. It is one of his greatest strengths. So, we are busy doing various things to serve the Lord here. Having 29 Americans to feed for 10 days is a huge job. I am helping Stephanie prepare for that task. Measurements, groceries, desserts, etc. I am enjoying myself. Stephanie and I get along well and work well together. It is fun. The Lord is blessing us and we are enjoying serving the Lord.TTFN,Sheryl

Church

Today we went to church in the local village. It is one of the churchs that Eric started. They meet in a house purchased for $2,000.00. The attendance was lower today due to a holiday. Eric preached in English and Keith, another missionary, translated into Romanian. Keith and his wife Marla have 5 children. The children were excited to speak to someone in English. So, while there was singing for a 1/2 hour I took their 3 youngest children, ages 8, 6, and 4 out for an impromtu Sunday School lesson in English. We all had fun. We sang in English too. They were sweet kids and it was a blessing to be with them. Then we joined the adults for the preaching. It was nice. We had a good service. One of their boys picked a flower and gave it to me after church. I think I want to bring him home. :-)This afternoon Edward, the camp director is going to give Skip and I on a tour. We are looking forward to that. Edward and his wife have a 4 year old daughter and are expecting another child in just over a month. They are sweet servants of the Lord.TTFN,Sheryl

Hi from Moldova

Hi,Everything is going well. My asthma is doing fine, Praise the Lord. Skip is busy working on some bathrooms in the administration building. The camp we are at is green, beautiful and peaceful. It looks somewhat like Washington State. Although the trees are not as big. There are rolling green hillls. The weather is in the 60's in the daytime and 30's at night. We have been very comfortable. It is on 25 acres with 10 buildings. The buildings are sub-standard by American standards. They are just over 20 years old but look like they are 50 years old to Skip. Yesterday Skip went shopping in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. They went for toilets, sinks and sheetrock. Skip said it was quite an experience. There isn't one store to go to. They had to go to many different stores to get what they needed. He said the whole city was like a 29 mile Home Depot. It was challenging telling a Romanian/Russian speaking translator what he needed with nails, and supplies, etc. They had lunch at McDonalds in Chisinau. Skip liked the frys better here and in Frankfurt than in the United States. It took 2/3 of a day just to pick up supplies.Meanwhile I took pictures of the camp, made another applesauce cake and assisted Stephanie with other small jobs. Today we planted some plants, checked out supplies and cooking ware etc. It is a big job to have 28 American's coming in three weeks. They have to be housed and fed. Skip is working on the bathrooms where they will be housed. Stephanie and I are working on the food and tea for while they are here. The American group comes in the day before we leave. They will be here to do more construction on the buildings in prepartion for the Bible school to start in September. There is so much that needs to be done. The Americans will be staying in the administration building. The bathrooms have to be finished, Skip is working on those. New windows will be put in next week. Also, radiators, for heat are being installed. Indoor/Outdoor carpet will be laid down too. Then Stephanie and I will do caulking and stuff and painting needs to be done. It will be very nice when it is complete.Tomorrow we are going to the local village church. It will be all in Romanian. So, Skip and I will not be able to understand it.Tuesday we are going to the bazaar to do some shopping.So, there is an update from Moldova.Love,Sheryl