Virginia 5:25 p.m.

I've finally managed to get some of John R's pictures posted. Just a "snapshot" for some who weren't there.

We will share more photos and stories in September at our Partner Church Service. Hope you'll join us. You can also learn more about the work of the Partner Church Circle at that time. I hope you might be inspired by our journey to be a part of this wonderful work.

Thanks for your interest.

Virginia, 7:16 a.m.

Taking a long, hot shower. Sleeping in my own bed. Watching the Olympics. Going to work. I overheard Natalie asking people yesterday morning what would be the first thing they would do on arriving home. I'm sure showers and sleep and stories told have been happening in the twelve hours since we landed at Dulles.

The reunion at the airport was great. We found at least one parent for every youth. (Except Andy who took a cab.) The excitement of being home was all that kept us standing.

I will write again tomorrow (after going through piles at work) with closing reflections. I'll add some pictures, too.

Budapest, 5:25 p.m.

We've traveled a long way today. We were down loading our shuttle at 4:30 a.m. this morning. All the youth were on time and offered great help. The shuttles took us the short distance to the train station where we caught the 5:50 a.m. inter-city to Budapest. The accomodations on the train were pretty plush...especially compared to the bus trip the other direction. But even more wonderful was watching the sun rise over the mountains in this most beautiful part of Transylvania. Breathtaking.

Last night we had a nice celebration. We surprised John L. with Gary's version of the Beverly Hillbillie's theme song. I had talked to folks earlier in the week about how we might offer our appreciation to John for all his work. Two days later Gary gleefully showed me his wonderful ditty. And he didn't know that this was the song a previous group had offered at the bonfire in Szentgerice years before. John was surprised and I think he knows we do appreciate all he has done.

We arrived here today at around noon. This gave everyone a chance to do a few last things. We tried to see the Parliment but arrived too late. I found a beautiful book about Transylvania. Please ask to see it if you're interested in some beautiful perspectives on this place. Tonight Emery has made a reservation for any who are interested at a restaurant that features gypsy music.

We will be shuttled to the airport tomorrow morning around 8:30 a.m. Our flight from Paris is scheduled to leave at 4-something in the afternoon here to arrive at Dulles at 6-something Virginia time.

As I return and gather my thoughts more, I will add some final reflections to the blog. I hope some of my fellow travelers might add their own comments (and probably corrections). Thank you for reading.

Koloszvar (yes, I've been spelling it wrong), 8:16 p.m.

What a wonderful day! No where to be too early--but church service was at 11:00 a.m. The minister was so warm and greeted us after the service with lots of helpful information about the history of the church and of our faith. He even took the time to take us to the crypt. After lunch our hosts from the Unitarian High School (two lovely young men, both headed to University this next year) gave us a tour of the city. We saw the Catholic Church, that for a time was Unitarian; the birth place of King Mattias, a much loved leader for Hungarians; the Reform (Calvinist) Church; the University; and the Botanical Gardens. Tonight (soon, so I have to hurry) we will have a community celebration. We have a surprise for John L. and Emery--they both have worked so hard to make our trip wonderful.

I'll write one more time from Budapest. We leave at 4:30 in the morning, egad. That will give us about 24 hours more in the city before we head home. Sorry I don't have time for more today...

Kolosvar, 4:00 p.m.

We gathered early this morning (but after the church bells rang--from 6:30 to 6:40, Monday through Saturday) to say goodbye and board our bus for Kolosvar. One of the reasons we left so early was that seventy villagers were leaving at 7:30 for the World Unitarian Congress, held each summer a couple of hours from Szentgerice. Sandor was proud of their representation--very large for a small village. So traveling Unitarians from the village and from Fairfax converged on the village square before 7:00. We took a group picture and then our group sang "Come, Sing a Song With Me." I've sung it a million times--and it will never feel the same to me after this morning. There were tears all around. Real affection. What a privilege and a joy to share this time with our family in Szentgerice. Owen presented gifts to Sandor from our partners in Puriang. Often during the week I heard Sandor say he hopes we are able to help the Unitarians there.

Our bus ride this morning wasn't long--but, we took the long way. I'm sorry I don't know the details, but we stopped for a long look at a beautiful gorge. The bus ride was quiet--lots of sleepers, and not a small amount of reflectiveness. It is so much to have this experience of living with people who experience life so differently from us. And people, all the same, who share with us the things that really matter.

Now we are in Cluj Napoca (the Romanian name), or in Hungarian, Kolosvar. I heard someone say they were struggling with a little culture shock. The Unitarian Collegium is a large building, right next to the Unitarian Church in the center of the city. Our rooms are beautiful and luxurious. Several of us did not have any running water in the homes we stayed in in Szentgerice. The showers were a welcome sight. Tonight we will receive a tour of the Collegium and have dinner together. (Pizza, I think I heard. What a change that will be.)

On the way here we passed through Torda--a very important place in the history of Unitarianism and religious freedom more generally. (Thank goodness Emery woke me to see it!) In 1568, under the influence of his minister, Francis David, King John Sigismund issued a statement legalizing religious toleration. The language goes like this:

His majesty, our Lord, in what manner he - together with his realm - legislated in the matter of religion at the previous Diets, in the same matter now, in this Diet, reaffirms that in every place the preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel each according to his understanding of it, and if the congregation like it, well. If not, no one shall compel them for their souls would not be satisfied, but they shall be permitted to keep a preacher whose teaching they approve. Therefore none of the superintendents or others shall abuse the preachers, no one shall be reviled for his religion by anyone, according to the previous statutes, and it is not permitted that anyone should threaten anyone else by imprisonment or by removal from his post for his teaching. For faith is the gift of God and this comes from hearing, which hearings is by the word of God.

I've always loved that "don't abuse the preacher" part. In all seriousness, though, the persecutions of non-majority religious leaders was swift and harsh in those days. The Edict was a significant step forward for religious freedom--but it is important to remember that the King was magnanimous only to a point. The Edict did not include legal protections for Jews, Muslims, or the Romanians who were Orthodox.

Tomorrow we will attend church here and then have some more organized tours of the city. I saw the most recent pictures of the progress on our sanctuary expansion. I can't wait to see it in person!

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