October 15th- 2021

October 15th 1993- was the year I left Romania right after I married Chet:) It’s been a long time. So both Chet and I found it poetic to return back to Europe, most likely not Romania just yet, next fall, October 15th 2021:)

We’re selling our condo here this spring and will be renting until the time comes to fly back and be closer to my other side of the family and friends. We’ll miss America tremendously!!!!! I love it here! I’ll miss my family and friends here as well, but my heart is calling me back home.

So with great excitement, Chet and I are looking forward to our new adventures ahead. It will be hard to leave but it’s time.

So my friends and family back in Europe, we’ll see you soon!!!!!!

Marius Misionarul

IMG_4657In fotografie, Marius e in clasa a doua si Delia in prima clasa, inainte de a deveni pionier al patriei.

Datorita distantei de virsta nu am fost prea apropiata de Marius decit dupa ce ne-am casatorit amindoi, fapt care-l regret.

Nascut al patru-lea, Marius, dupa parerea mea, a trait o adolescenta cam singuratica, dar o copilarie buna, in general. Mama a pierdut o sarcina (un baiat) intre Sergiu si Marius si asta a fost simtita de Marius, cred, prin faptul ca a fost cam marginalizat de cei trei mai mari. Desi Sergiu a fost abuzat cel mai tare, Marius a fost abuzat pe cea mai lunga perioada de timp, inclusiv dupa ce sa casatorit si a trebuit sa ierte foarte mult, lucru care l-am apreciat enorm. Dar ce ma socat in mod pozitv, a fost stilul lui calm de a vorbi in timp ce era abuzat, cu o calmitate si toleranta mare, mai ales dupa ce sa casatorit. A avut si are un refugiu pozitiv in relatia lui cu Veronica, sotia lui, care a intilnit-o in cimpul misionar.

Refugiu lui Marius in adolescenta a fost in biserica unde a realizat multe, incepind ca voluntar la grupa de copii, pe urma pastor de copii la o biserica, pe urma peste oras si pe urma peste judet tot in cimpul misionar pentru copii. A petrecut mii de ore ajutind copii saraci, copii de tigani, copiii starzilor si copii din biserica. Impreuna cu Veronica, Marius are cinci copii. Ca tata, pune mult effort si bani in educatia copiilor lor, si Maria, cea mai mare, la numai 15 ani stie trei limbi si e eleva de nota 10.

Cu citiva ani in urma sau mutat in Austria si recent Marius a inceput productia lui de miere de albine bio, de la stupii lui de albine dar e talentul lui de a negocia care-l deosebeste de altii, fapt care ne-a ajutat ca familie:)

Sint mindra cu cita diplomatie a facut fata abuzului si cit de mult a luptat pentru o viata bine traita si plina de fericire, desi nu usoara de multe ori. Multami Bunului Dumnezeu pentru fratii si surorile mele:)

 

Marius

Marius the Minister

Due to the age gap between us, I haven’t been too close to Marius in his youth and adolescent times, something I regret. I’ve gotten to know Marius better after we both got married.

Born the forth, Marius was abused the longest. To this day my father does not seem too fond of him. The reasons are personal. But what blew my mind and impressed me greatly, was how much Marius had to forgive. He’s forgiven a lot. In the face of violent verbal and at times physical abuse that continued right after he married, Marius’s attitude was that of calm. To this day I’m impressed with his cool collected way of trying to put a fire out. He became a fantastic negotiator pushed, I presume, by the circumstances of his life. He has class and is very successful in his negotiations. Mom lost a boy between Sergiu and Marius and the gap forced a sort of loneliness in Marius’s life. He found refuge in church and soon became very successful as a children’s pastor. That grew into a ministry of itself and soon he moved from overseer in one church, to overseer of the whole city (in the baptist denomination), then overseer in the entire county. He spent many hours helping the poorest of children, street children and gypsy kids. He met Veronica, his wife in the ministry field and together they have five children.

Unlike the poor fatherly example he’d experienced back home, Marius is a great father and invests a lot of time and money into his children’s education. His eldest, Maria, only 15 years old speaks three languages (German, English and Romanian) and his kids are A students- at lest the ones that go to school:) Few years back they moved to Austria, where they currently live and Marius just began selling his own line of organic honey.

I’m very proud of him and his beautiful life:)

P.S. Alin speaks three languages as well and Sergiu speaks two.

Sergiu

IMG_4626

Sergiu the Resilient

In our childhood, Sergiu made us laugh constantly, thus one of his nick name, “The Joker.” But to me he’s more “The Resilient”. We sat all bruised and hurt after another one of our father’s angry episodes, but Sergiu found a way to always make us laugh bringing such light in a dark world, even if it had to be whispered.

Out of all twelve siblings, Sergiu was the third and abused the most, in a very hateful manner. But looking into his face now you would never know it. He has the most positive and forgiving nature, bouncing right back with such ease it amazed me. I asked him one day how he could do that. He shrugged his shoulders then responded:

“I just don’t think about it. I think of the things I want to do and do them even if I get in trouble. I’ll get in trouble no matter what, I may as well do what I want. It’s worth it.” To him exploring and having adventures was worth the pain he knew he would endure later on. In a way it prepared him for the tough life ahead. He ran illegally into Germany right after the revolution, got caught and sent back to more abuse only to try again. And he succeeded. He entered Germany with the clothes on his back and a small Bible, worked very hard and now he’s the COO of a multi-million dollar company in Berlin, married to Brigitte, a pure breedĀ German girl and together they have one daughter Michelle:) He gives orders all day long and works with employees from many nations, has a house and a very nice life. He’s helped my parents and siblings financially for years. Since he had a few dollars in his pocket he always thought of the rest of the family and sent back thousands upon thousands of euros (or deutschmarks back in the time). He is known for his love to surprise you and pulled lots of surprise visits:)

Sergiu, the resilient:)

I remember caroling with Sergiu and Alin, and every house/apartment we entered Sergiu found a way to walk away full handed with something. He stood in those long nightmarish lines Romania and Eastern Europe was known for during socialism/ communism times, usually taking him all night long during Siberian winters temperatures just to get a few loavesĀ of bread or one kilo of milk or half a butter or few eggs or one kilo of sugar or one kilo of oranges, you name it. He also had the wits to push in the front of the line and walk away with something when so many were left only with empty disappointments. (There was never enough food during that time, and just staying in a line for half a day did not promise a happy result). Sergiu had street smarts and gumption. Still does:)

Sergiu, the resilient. I miss him everyday:)