After three months in Africa we have arrived in Romania. We have been here for two days now. I wouldn’t trade my experiences in Africa for anything. I love love Africa, but it sure was nice to be greeted by Romania. One lady said she wants to request that all World Racers come to Romania after Africa, because we were ooing and aawing at every single thing. Nothing was bad or disliked. She even said we were very dramatic. But, we had to remind her we just came from Western Africa!
So we arrived in Romania. What greeted us was 70 degrees as we got off the airplane and set foot on Romanian grounds. Oh how glorious! We weren’t pouring sweat after being outside for one minute. As we made our way to the vans that would take us to our destination the sky was so blue with the puffiest clouds I’d ever seen. Once we got to our vans, the fabulous Miss Becky had apples and sandwiches waiting for us. SANDWHICES! AND CHEESE on them, real cheese! How I’ve missed dairy. As we were driving, we asked ourselves, listen, do you hear that: NOTHING. No longer are constant horn honkings surrounding us at every turn. Did you feel that: NOTHING. No longer are the huge dips in the road being avoided causing a severe turn throwing you into your fellow teammate or run right into with a severe soaring out of your seat occurring.
We then arrived at CASA SHALOM. A beautiful place. We made our way to the restrooms and found the western toilet, where you sit on a clean seat and can flush everything. Oh how glorious. Just when we thought it couldn’t get better than that, HOT SHOWERS. Oh my. But, there’s still more. Salad with dinner! Real salad that you don’t have to worry about eating and being sick afterwards. No welted lettuce, but nice and crisp with real toppings. We thought this must be heaven or we were dreaming. Dessert for dinner, dessert! I have opened back up my sugar taste buds and they were pleased I must say. Later that night we discovered we need sweaters and jackets and even a beanie hat. Wow!
The next day we made our way to the largest European mall. All the shiny clean floors and stores galore. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves. And then there was the food court. We opted for pizza and it was the best pizza I think I’ve had on the race thus far. Tasted like what I’m used to back home. Oh so good! The things you miss, the things you take for granted. I’m grateful for perspective that got rocked in Africa and pray though it may wear off some, it won’t wear off completely as I continue the race and return to the states.
What a greeting we have received. Thank you Romania! We leave tonight to go to our town of ministry in Targu Mures. As far as I know now we will be ministering to gypsies and helping with the Hungarian-Romanian reconciliation. Will post a few Nigerian blogs soon. Love you all.
