Message of the day – Kerry

Beannacht (“Blessing”) by John O’Donohue (Echoes of Memory)

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the host of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

Journal by: Jane

Friday was quiet with all the big kids gone. We were lucky that their leaving coincided with Bob, Brad and Katie Bray’s departure as it would have been tough looking after all of them with a smaller team.

The team had decided to visit the Painted Monasteries which meant leaving just after lunch on Friday. The week had been hot so we were looking forward to the drive through the cooler mountains.

Part way through the drive, we got a little more than anyone expected though when the skies began pelting the van and everything else with marble-sized hail!

Eventually we made it to the Hotel Reuben. It was still raining the next day but we didn’t let the weather dampen our enthusiasm at the prospect of visiting the monasteries. Our first visit was the Humor Monastery, known as the ‘red’ for its predominant use of red in the paintings.

Our guide Florin filled us in on the history of each monastery we visited. Next was the Voronet (blue) and finally the Sucevita (green).

After lunch we also visited the Ceramica Margenia for its exclusive black pottery. After shopping, Emily tried her hand at making her own and made a bowl, which we gingerly placed in the back of the van and hoped for the best for it returning in one piece.

We then headed to Iasi. Sunday brought us a buffet breakfast with two types of chocolate cereal, amongst a host of other choices.

After checking out we walked around the city and visited Romania’s largest church, which was in the middle of a six hour service. It was crowded with worshippers. We then went to an open air art market and saw the Palace of Culture.

Then, especially to Jennéa’s delight, we went to the mall. Lunch was at an Italian place in the mall and then we headed to Carrefour to spend our donation money on things for the clinic.

Tired but satisfied, we drove the remaining two hours back to Barlad.

Monday both Jane and Jennéa were sick and missed the hospital visit but were brought up to speed over dinner. Sammy had gone to the placement centre, Ana Maria’s dad visited, and some new children arrived but hadn’t been met yet. Mihi loved the new bike and had an accident with the new sippy cup.

We’re looking forward to Tuesday!