First Concert in Galati
By Denny Nutter
Received Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. Pacific
On Thursday our group boarded the buses and headed to the Adventist church in Galati. We were greeted warmly by the pastor, who was with us at during our practice sessions at the seminary. The church ladies had prepared a scrumptious feast for us.
The church was packed for our 6 p.m. concert and the Lord blessed. My personal reward was the warm hugs from one of our church brethren who repeated over and over again with tears in his eyes, “I love you so much! God bless you!” I'm sure that many others in the group experienced the same.
To be perfectly honest, as we sang “We have this Hope,” I had goose bumps all over and tears filled my own eyes as I looked at the sincere faces in our audience. Of course, the other eye was constantly on Lou when I could see him (we were very crowded on the platform)!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Home I Never Knew
Pictured: Levis (left) and Paul Dragulin, with Lou Wildman at rehearsal at Cernica.
The Home I Never Knew
By Paul Dragulin, 2nd Tenor, member of Sunnyside SDA church
Received Wednesday, Apr 15, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. Pacific
My name is Paul Dragulin and I have been a singer in the OAMC for two-and-a-half years. My brother Levis has played trumpet with the group for about 10 years.
Both of us are full-blooded Romanians. Our parents, Victor and Rodica, lived in Romania during the communist years and experienced many troubles. However, by God's miracles and power, they were sustained and were allowed to leave before communism fell in 1989. Levis was about one year old at the time and I was born about a year later in the United States.
We had never been back to visit Romania in about 25 years. It was after I joined the OAMC that I learned of this mission trip and my parents decided to support Levis and me in going to visit the land where we came from.
A week or two before our departure, for a birthday present, our mother surprised our father with a month-long trip to Romania to visit his mother and friends. As I write this, my father, my brother and I are seeing the land that none of us have seen in about 25 years.
Upon arriving in the airport in Bucharest two days ago, we met our father who had already been in the city for a week. With him was a short, sweet old lady who we both knew was the grandmother that neither Levis nor I had ever met. After a short few moments embracing and talking we were forced to part again because the OAMC group had to immediately leave for the hotel.
Just tonight (Wednesday) I met by a Romanian singer in our combined chorus named Titus who embraced me firmly and told me that he had worked with my father fixing medical machines and hadn't seen either of my parents in about 25 years. He offered to drive my brother and me to where my father and grandmother were staying after supper.
When we arrived at their small home in the crowded city a few hours ago, neither our father nor grandmother were there, but instead there were other relatives we had never seen before – our uncle Lucian and a cousin. They were very warm and excited to see us. They showed us the room where Levis stayed for a year, which he immediately recognized.
After about 20 minutes, we had to leave because it was late. However, we have invited my father, my grandmother, my uncle, cousin and their relatives to come to the final concert in Bucharest on April 25. I hope that on that occasion that Levis and I will have a much fuller experience with these people that I should have known already for years. As far as I can tell, from what they've said and pictures in their home, they are Christians. That warms me with the thought that all of my family may be in heaven.
I had never planned to go to Romania nor had I made any specific plans prior to this mission trip to visit these distant relatives. However, this experience has taught me just what Lou and the others have said for years: what we plan for ourselves and our lives always falls short of what God plans to do with us. Just give Him permission to make your life full with many rich experiences and He will do it.
OAMC in Romania route map
A map tracing the travel route. Travel is in a counterclockwise direction.
Follow the OAMC travels with the itinerary and this map. View a larger version by clicking on the map to go Flickr.com, then choose the "All sizes" magnifying glass icon at the top of the picture to enlarge it.
Another map showing the travel destinations is posted here.
OAMC Mission to Romania Itinerary - updated #2
April 12-26, 2009
I've updated this post with a note about the time difference. Also, I've learned that the Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, concerts may be broadcast -- there's still some question about it -- and viewed live on the web via streaming video. The link has been posted on the itinerary below.
View a map here of Romania showing the cities.
Times are 10 hours ahead of the Pacific time zone.
Sunday, April 12 – Depart from Portland
Northwest Airlines flight 92 non-stop to Amsterdam
Monday, April 13 – Depart Amsterdam, arrive Bucharest
Tuesday, April 14 – Bucharest
Morning rehearsal at SDA theological seminary in Cernica
Afternoon rehearsal with Romanian men at seminary
Day tour of Bucharest for family members not involved with practice.
Wednesday, April 15 – Bucharest
Rehearsal and audio recording at SDA theological seminary in Cernica
Day tour of Bucharest for family members not involved with the rehearsal and audio recording.
Thursday, April 16 – Galati
Depart for Galati; fellowship lunch at Galati SDA Church
6 p.m. concert at the Galati SDA Church
Accommodations in Galati provided by local host families and/or hotel
Friday, April 17 – Bacau
8:30 a.m. depart for Bacau.
6 p.m. concert Bacau
Accommodations are a hotel in Bacau
Sabbath, April 18 – Iasi
8:30 a.m. depart for travel to church in Iasi
6 p.m. concert in Iasi (8 a.m. Pacific) -- Concert might be broadcast via streaming video on the web. Check at www.conferinta-moldova.ro/live.php
Accommodations in provided by local host families and/or hotel
Sunday, April 19 – Botosani
10:30 a.m. depart for Botosani; fellowship lunch with Botosani SDA Church
3 p.m. concert in Botosani (5 a.m. Pacific) -- Concert might be broadcast via streaming video on the web. Check at www.conferinta-moldova.ro/live.php
Accommodations provided by local host families and/or hotel
Monday, April 20 – Targu Mures
8:30 a.m. – Targu Mures via Carpathian Mountains
Accommodations in Targu Mures are the Apollo Hotel, part of the Benta Group, an Adventist-owned corporation. The hotel theme is wellness. Healthy, delicious meals are the norm in the hotel’s attractive restaurant.
Tuesday, April 21 – Targu Mures
Rest day. Optional sightseeing.
6 p.m. – Concert
Wednesday, April 22 – Brasov
8:30 a.m. – Depart for Brasov
6 p.m. – Concert in the Black Church
Accommodations in Brasov will be the former Stupini SDA Seminary, which was taken over by the government during the communist era. Several years ago it was returned to the SDA church.
Thursday, April 22 – Brasov, Sinaia, Bucharest
Rest and touring in Brasov and Sinaia; touring the Peles Castle; travel to Bucharest.
Accommodations are the Adventist seminary in Cernica; students are on break this week.
a
Friday, April 24 – Bucharest
8:30 a.m. – Depart for Bucharest
Visit Casa Poporului for a private tour of the seat of the Romanian parliament building and many governmental agencies. The building is the second largest in the world after the Pentagon. Built by the last communist government, many people lost their lives in its construction. Legend has it that there is even an underground marina where the former communist leader had a yacht ready to take him out of the city. After tour, return to Cernica Theological Seminary for afternoon rehearsal and sundown vespers.
Sabbath, April 25 – Cernica / Concerts in Bucharest
9 a.m. – Worship service at seminary in Cernica
2 p.m. – Depart for Bucharest
5 p.m. (7 a.m. Pacific) – First concert at Radio Hall with TV taping for Romanian Adventist Media. This concert was added because the 8 p.m. concert – seating 900 – sold out.
8 p.m. (10 a.m. Pacific) – Final concert at Radio Hall with TV taping again.
Sunday, April 26 – Portland
3 a.m. – Bus departs for Otopeni International Airport, Bucharest.
6:05 a.m. – Flight NW 8358 (KLM 1358) departs for Amsterdam. Breakfast served en route. Arrive Amsterdam 7:50 a.m.
9:15 a.m. – Assemble at Northwest Airlines flight 91 departure gate for security screening and passport check.
9:30 a.m. – Commence boarding.
10:30 a.m. – NW Airline flight 91 departs Amsterdam for Portland
11:50 a.m. Pacific – Arrive in Portland. You will complete Immigration, Agriculture, and Customs inspections on arrival. You and your luggage will then board the International Arrivals bus to the main terminal. You will be exiting into the terminal next to baggage claim 10.
A ride will be provided for those that parked their cars at Sunnyside SDA Church.
Family at home can monitor the progress of domestic flights at www.FlightAware.com. In the box in the left-hand column that says “Track Commercial Flight,” enter the airline and flight number.
I've updated this post with a note about the time difference. Also, I've learned that the Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, concerts may be broadcast -- there's still some question about it -- and viewed live on the web via streaming video. The link has been posted on the itinerary below.
View a map here of Romania showing the cities.
Times are 10 hours ahead of the Pacific time zone.
Sunday, April 12 – Depart from Portland
Northwest Airlines flight 92 non-stop to Amsterdam
Monday, April 13 – Depart Amsterdam, arrive Bucharest
Tuesday, April 14 – Bucharest
Morning rehearsal at SDA theological seminary in Cernica
Afternoon rehearsal with Romanian men at seminary
Day tour of Bucharest for family members not involved with practice.
Wednesday, April 15 – Bucharest
Rehearsal and audio recording at SDA theological seminary in Cernica
Day tour of Bucharest for family members not involved with the rehearsal and audio recording.
Thursday, April 16 – Galati
Depart for Galati; fellowship lunch at Galati SDA Church
6 p.m. concert at the Galati SDA Church
Accommodations in Galati provided by local host families and/or hotel
Friday, April 17 – Bacau
8:30 a.m. depart for Bacau.
6 p.m. concert Bacau
Accommodations are a hotel in Bacau
Sabbath, April 18 – Iasi
8:30 a.m. depart for travel to church in Iasi
6 p.m. concert in Iasi (8 a.m. Pacific) -- Concert might be broadcast via streaming video on the web. Check at www.conferinta-moldova.ro/live.php
Accommodations in provided by local host families and/or hotel
Sunday, April 19 – Botosani
10:30 a.m. depart for Botosani; fellowship lunch with Botosani SDA Church
3 p.m. concert in Botosani (5 a.m. Pacific) -- Concert might be broadcast via streaming video on the web. Check at www.conferinta-moldova.ro/live.php
Accommodations provided by local host families and/or hotel
Monday, April 20 – Targu Mures
8:30 a.m. – Targu Mures via Carpathian Mountains
Accommodations in Targu Mures are the Apollo Hotel, part of the Benta Group, an Adventist-owned corporation. The hotel theme is wellness. Healthy, delicious meals are the norm in the hotel’s attractive restaurant.
Tuesday, April 21 – Targu Mures
Rest day. Optional sightseeing.
6 p.m. – Concert
Wednesday, April 22 – Brasov
8:30 a.m. – Depart for Brasov
6 p.m. – Concert in the Black Church
Accommodations in Brasov will be the former Stupini SDA Seminary, which was taken over by the government during the communist era. Several years ago it was returned to the SDA church.
Thursday, April 22 – Brasov, Sinaia, Bucharest
Rest and touring in Brasov and Sinaia; touring the Peles Castle; travel to Bucharest.
Accommodations are the Adventist seminary in Cernica; students are on break this week.
a
Friday, April 24 – Bucharest
8:30 a.m. – Depart for Bucharest
Visit Casa Poporului for a private tour of the seat of the Romanian parliament building and many governmental agencies. The building is the second largest in the world after the Pentagon. Built by the last communist government, many people lost their lives in its construction. Legend has it that there is even an underground marina where the former communist leader had a yacht ready to take him out of the city. After tour, return to Cernica Theological Seminary for afternoon rehearsal and sundown vespers.
Sabbath, April 25 – Cernica / Concerts in Bucharest
9 a.m. – Worship service at seminary in Cernica
- Finale concerts will be streamed live to the web. Go directly to the video streaming page at www.conferinta-moldova.ro/live.php. Or link from the OAMC home page at www.oamc.org.
2 p.m. – Depart for Bucharest
5 p.m. (7 a.m. Pacific) – First concert at Radio Hall with TV taping for Romanian Adventist Media. This concert was added because the 8 p.m. concert – seating 900 – sold out.
8 p.m. (10 a.m. Pacific) – Final concert at Radio Hall with TV taping again.
Sunday, April 26 – Portland
3 a.m. – Bus departs for Otopeni International Airport, Bucharest.
6:05 a.m. – Flight NW 8358 (KLM 1358) departs for Amsterdam. Breakfast served en route. Arrive Amsterdam 7:50 a.m.
9:15 a.m. – Assemble at Northwest Airlines flight 91 departure gate for security screening and passport check.
9:30 a.m. – Commence boarding.
10:30 a.m. – NW Airline flight 91 departs Amsterdam for Portland
11:50 a.m. Pacific – Arrive in Portland. You will complete Immigration, Agriculture, and Customs inspections on arrival. You and your luggage will then board the International Arrivals bus to the main terminal. You will be exiting into the terminal next to baggage claim 10.
A ride will be provided for those that parked their cars at Sunnyside SDA Church.
Family at home can monitor the progress of domestic flights at www.FlightAware.com. In the box in the left-hand column that says “Track Commercial Flight,” enter the airline and flight number.
Photos of 2nd rehearsal day, 4-15-09, with Romanian Brass
On the second day of rehearsal on Wednesday, April 15, the combined chorus was joined by the esteemed Romanian Brass.
Photos of 1st rehearsal, Oregon & Romania men meet
Here are photos of the first meeting of the Oregon and Romania choruses, the men singing together and getting acquainted.
Here's an MP3 of some of the two choruses singing "Soldiers of the Captain" as described in earlier blog posts. First the Romanian men sing, then the Oregon men sing.
http://www.oamc.org/audio/Romania09/RAMCOAMC.mp3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
