"Hristos a Inviat" (Christ is risen!)

Easter Weekend!
This weekend was so great! Friday was anticlimactic, but it was much needed rest. On saturday, the U.S. ambassador had an easter hymn sing (whatever that is) so Courtney and I went to it. His house is ridiculous! There is no reason anyone has to live in a mansion that big. I think I might have looked at it differently before coming here and I know that I am being really judgemental, but seriously. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, and he, as U.S. ambassador and a Christian is supposed to be representing America and Christ. Living in that house is not representing either in a way that I want to be identified with. Other than that, the hymn sing was really nice though and there was some good food. Afterwards, we met Laurel and went to the Galbenus. After that we met Annie, Rachel, the other Rachel, and John for the midnight orthodox candle lighting easter service. It was beautiful. Rachel wrote something about it on the word made flesh blog:
"On Saturday evening, we attended an Orthodox midnight service with our Servant Team as they wanted to experience this beautiful tradition.
Inside a packed little church with high ceilings the lights go out.  Silence settles around us in the dark as we await the call of the priest.
“Come and receive the light!” he sings as a single candle is lit from the very front of the church.
Slowing the light begins to grow as it is passed from person to person until everyone is holding a single candle singing,”Christ has risen from the dead, conquering death with death; and offering life to those in the grave.”  As the clock strikes midnight we celebrate Christ’s conquering of death, the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness.
And this light does not remain only inside the church. Together we slowly proceed outside, candles lit, and walk around the block where the church is situated. Tired as we were (at nearly 1AM) we went home after the parishioners returned inside the church to continue their prayers until early Easter morning.
Christ is risen! May His light fill you today and give you courage to carry His light so that the whole world may know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
To see a picture I found online from last year in Galati and other Easter celebrations from around the world see: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/slides/2010-04/04/content_9685272.htm"
We all went back to Annie and Rachel's place and ate a ton! But, it was a good night! Sunday, I spent the day with my host family and friends and relatives of my host family. One of them had a little too much easter wine. But, other than that, it was a wonderful day! On Monday, more relatives came and it was a really nice time. After that, Annie, Courtney, Laurel, and I got on a bus to Galati, Romania where we will stay for a week while the kids are on vacation.