April 27th was Easter here in Romania. I really experienced Easter in a much different way this year. The sights and sounds of Easter here made me realize so much more . I will try to describe this for you. On Good Friday morning we spent time with the Veritas staff in a beautiful, quiet little garden. We read a play called The Passion of Christ which tells the story of the persecution and crucifiction of Christ. In the middle of the circle was a table and on the table was a crown of thorns, a purple cloth, and a large antique nail. As the play was being read and it said he was made to wear a crown of thorns and a purple rode you could imagine it better with those images in front of you. How piercing that crown must have been- how beautiful the purple rode would have been if it hadn't been stained with so much of Christ's blood. The quietness of the garden felt like we were in the Garden of Gethsemene.
(Sorry if some of you are shocked or appalled at this part- but Christ's Crucifiction wasn't pretty. It was in the graphic detail that I began to really grasp his pain and suffering) That afternoon the boys and I took Emil out to Daie to slaughter the lambs for Easter. Actually seeing these innocent little lambs being slaughtered. To listen to a knife being stabbed in their throats as they hung helplessly upside down and to hear that last gasp of air. How much worse must it have been for Christ. After the lambs were slaughtered the heads were cleaned and the eyeballs were popped out. These were then thrown out to the chickens. The boys chased the chickens around the yard with these eyeballs just dangling out of their beeks. It made me realize how callously Christ was treated. We also took eggs home to dye red. The red color of those eggs was the color of blood and you couldn't help but remember that Christ shed his blood for us.
That night we went to Church and the feelings continued. Communion was served like it was the Last Supper. There was a table on the alter. We went to the table in groups and sat down. Roberta broke a loaf of bread and we passed the cup around the table. How intimate the Last Supper must have felt. The service was by candlelight and the candles were slowly extinquished throughout the evening. At the very end of the service, as the last candle was put out and the church was completely dark, there was suddenly the smacking of a hammer on a nail. Oh the shudder one felt at that sound. To hear what it would have sounded like as the nails were driven through Christ's hands. Then it was just dark and completely quiet. It felt like being plunged into darkness with complete sadness. How must the disciples felt, his mother, Mary Magdalene, his followers? Maurice said- it is easy for us living on this side of the Ressurection. How did they feel- hearing that Christ would rise again but not really understanding what that meant. How did they feel to remain in that utter darkness and sadness until he rose again on the third day.
Thank You for allowing me to share these feelings with you. -
Karen
Yesterday we had a family photo day out in Tsigmandru. Each family from the church was able to come and have a picture of each of their children as well as a picture of their family. I think we took over a 100 pictures and people were so excited. Little girls were all dressed up. I also took some pictures of a new playground that was built for the block of houses next to the church. In the background you can see the new wash house that is being built. The whole area is fenced in. The children seem to love having something to play with. Please pray that this playground can be used as a ministry and not lead to hard feelings within the village.
