Upon the Winds

The clouds are always in motion,  not of their own will or in their own power, an unseen force guides them. God isn't visible to our eyes, but shown present by His movement. Just like the wind, one can see the effect it has on everything. I wish to be like the clouds and let God lead wherever I go so I can provide shade and rain to the seeds waiting to be watered. 

Well, I've officially been blown to Oradea safely, since not timely. Our flight leaving LAX was behind schedule, so we missed our connection in Istanbul. Turned out be be a blessing, the airline paid for  each of us to stay at a hotel, its was beautiful and had delicious food. Although I couldn't figure out how to open my door, a passer-by stopped to end my struggles. I was so happy to get inside and take off my backpack. [if you could still call it that; it was really two backpacks, latched together, both stuffed full of everything I couldn't fit in my suitcases] I felt like a 18 wheeler truck. Then sleep, which was wonderful. I truly believe in divine naps and the power they give. When I woke up, it was still dark out, but there was no clock anywhere in the room, so I didn't know what time it was. Our tram back to the airport wasn't till six, I figured it was alright, but I called the front desk anyways to see [looking back now, I wonder why I didn't dig out my watch?]. The airport security was fairly simple, but they were concerned about how to handle my backpack. Since I couldn't understand them, I settled on answering their confused looks by laughing, which seemed to deepen their confusion. [Oh, side note, don't buy an international calling card from the states and try to use it in another country, it wont work. You have to buy a card there, something with the phones I guess] The flight to Budapest was only an hour and a half, but they still managed to serve a meal and make two rounds of coffee. It took some time to finagle all of our bags onto carts at baggage claim, but we managed. The drive down from there was about three hours. Border patrol I think forgot about us; we stopped, they took our passports and motioned to pull off to the side. After watching cars stop and fly by moments later for thirty minutes, we had to ask about them.

Oradea is maybe twenty minutes from the border, if that. The country side is much different than I pictured. Perhaps I just had mountains engrained in my mind when Eastern Europe is mentioned. But it is very flat; very green and very flat. I hear that 40km away are mountains, but maybe my eyes can't see that far, or I am not staring in the correct direction. The house we are staying at is very unique, maybe not around here, but compared to everything we are used to. The kitchen looks like a craftsman toolbox and I feel like there are secret Target cameras hidden everywhere. The tile work in the house is very intricate and gaudy, but still manages elegance an beauty at the same time. The upstairs has four rooms, all different colors. Mine is yellow. We are settling in right now, figuring out how to live. Who makes the food, when can we do laundry, how to get places, can we get bikes, what food vendors make you sick, etc. Along those lines... we have a car. A red Opal, its like a station wagon without the seats in the back, but that doesn't stop us from sitting there anyways. As always, God had His hand in all of it. I can't wait to see more of the people, they fascinate me so much. I have got to start learning Romanian.  Soon we will go to a near by gypsy village, even though it is my first time and they don't know me, I'm probably just as excited as the people who fell in love with Romania through the faces awaiting us.