Thursday, October 10, Pro Vita

Well, nobody new on the sick list.  We women got the curtains up but the guys are lagging a little.  (Isn't it funny how we lapsed into such traditional roles as soon as we got to this country of gender-role rigidity.)  Romanian women here at Pro Vita have had such bad experiences with men, their drinking and violence, they are amazed to see men in the kitchen or helping with chores. 

Tomorrow we leave for Bucharest after lunch.  In the morning a group is going by van to another local village, a little larger still.  Charlie and I are staying behind, he to finish installing a stair landing, and I to instruct Marie on how to attach the tie backs and do a final sweep.  I don't know why we're bothering.  It's like putting lipstick on a pig.  We've done a lot but the place will still be uninhabitable until they install the furnace.  It's sitting outside the house and looks too big to get in the door. We've put curtains on broken windows, banisters on uneven and extremely steep stairs, and still the ground floor is a trash heap and the first floor above that is a sorted and tidied trash heap.  I know everything will revert to its previous state within days of our departure.

Ground floor trash

First floor tidy trash

Second floor, one of four rooms

Common room and stairs with new rails and banister

Charlie's new landing

Third floor bedroom, one of four

Spent a lot of time washing dishes (all three meals) but since there was no hot water part of the day that too is a production.

Kitchen, Volunteer House

This afternoon was the baptism of Denis, the baby I sent a photo of.  Our program director,  Kayla, is his godmother and we were all invited.  We were told it was at five and would last about a half hour.  We cleaned ourselves up and went four doors up the road to church where people were beginning to gather.  I guess the half hour referred to how long we would wait for the priests.  The third and final one showed up at 5:35 and the service began.  It lasted about 90 minutes and though we seniors and mothers with babies could sit, most parishioners stood the entire time.  (The priest who visited a few days ago said Sunday services last 4 - 5 hours and everybody stands.) It was quite interesting to see how everyone participates.  The kids came up to the pulpit and one little girl read major portions, much like a bat mitzvah might.  Everyone was extremely tolerant of the mentally  handicapped, some of whom were bouncing around or horsing around.  A few of the little girls dressed up, but mostly it was come as you are, which means sweats or jeans around here.  The baby came late in the proceedings, was undressed, anointed, and totally immersed.  I held my breath as he kicked and squirmed because there were lit candles right on the edge of the baptismal.  Also held my breath as the little processional circled the area, as two little boys had been selected to carry lit candles and weren't too careful about how close they came to others.  But all went smoothly, the baby recovered his composure almost immediately, and the cookies and cake baked by Cori and her kitchen cadre were served outside.

At the church, waiting for the event

The baptism

We came back to a late dinner prepared by our cook, Vio, who had to leave the baptism early to do it.  I felt bad about that.  I muttered to Charlie to pass up the cole slaw since I'd seen the little fruit fly critters feasting on it in the pantry.  Am sure it will turn up again at lunch tomorrow.

After we finished our last k.p. we walked  up to the magazin to read email and post yesterday's blog and I was astonished to see so many stars.  It is clear and unpolluted by city lights out here in the middle of nowhere.

5383 steps (2.3 miles)