Arad then Timișoara.

We headed off this morning on our last full day in România. The two men have packing the car down to a fine art! Today our destination was Timișoara but we stopped off in Arad first.

Five years ago we received our call to the Hungary-Romania Mission and I was put in contact with Cristina so I could learn a little Romanian. (Russell had the harder language, Hungarian). As Cristina worked full time she got up at some crazy hour because of the time difference. When I realised the time she was up just for me I suggested I use one of the tutors in Utah but she said no. We thought we would meet in person at some stage and almost did then the borders closed due to the pandemic. Facebook has allowed us to keep in contact and we FINALLY met today in Arad! We didn't get a chance to really tour her city as we were passing through but at least we met and enjoyed time at lunch!

Russell and I had a special interest in seeing Timișoara. Just 3 weeks before leaving on our mission we were told we would be located in this city. We knew our role was to cover both Hungary and România but until that point we believed our home location would be in Hungary. The missionary department had told the church travel department that was the case and so we were not asked to apply for a Românian visa. It is a long process for Australians and so by just finding out we would have had to delay our mission for up to 6 months. However another couple were assigned to Eger and would arrive around the same time. They too had a role which involved both countries so a swap was done. (Americans could just arrive and organise their visa once in România.) Instead we were reassigned to Eger in Hungary and we were able to leave as planned in October 2019. Of course no-one knew Covid was coming and had we not gone when we did then we simply could not have gone at all.

Timișoara is very different to Eger. We have discovered that it is a beautiful and large city. (Eger is a beautiful small town.) We know we would have come to love it here had we come, but it was not to be. Instead we found our home away from home in the small town of Eger and loved it there.

We arrived here early afternoon. We walked from our hotel and explored the city centre. We have found Timișoara to be a lovely city. Many very beautiful buildings, squares and parks.Read more