Election day

Oct 30 2016  It is election day in Moldova today, they are trying to elect a new president, for which there has been no election for 20 years. Generally this has been an appointed position by parliament. so it is an interesting day. If no one candidate gets over 50% of the vote, there will be a second election in 2 weeks with the top 2 candidates. One, is pro Russian , the other top candidate is pro Western and very openly anti corruption. So far it had been peaceful and we hope that continues. This country is truly at a crossroads. It is truly difficult to see such poverty in many and the few elite drive in very expensive cars, seemingly openly flaunting their wealth. We had a chance to see poverty this week, visiting a member in Bălți with a medical problem, who lived in a shanty in abject poverty. In a small room, she had an open brick fireplace that was both heating and cooking. The outhouse had only a sheet and was shared by several in the same yard. This was in the middle of the second largest city in Moldova. It often breaks our hearts to see this. When we see the aged out sweeping to get enough to eat, it is just heart-wrenching. On a brighter note, we had a great Halloween party at the Church this Friday, great attendance of over 90, many were people we had never seen. Deb and I did a station of cupcake decorating- we were to do pumpkin carving, but could find none, most are squash like quite thick. Pumpkins are not a tradition here, nor is trick or treating. We also made popcorn balls, we found marshmallows and made a real treat. We try lots of new cooking here, but always an Ameri-Canada theme. Hey, we had a linger longer after Church today, we had warned that more food needed to be brought. So we brought a large pasta salad, and cake-lemon zucchini. So what was the meal? A well balanced meal of pasta salad, cake and ice cream left over in the fridge from Halloween. Does it get any better? Multiple pics today.

The first 3 pics are from a hill on the south of Chișinău. Fall colors are out, but mostly yellow and brown. It is still very pretty

A little too much like a moose hunting trail

The woods behind our apartment, all oaks and maples. Maples here are mostly yellow, very little red.

These 2 pictures are just maple leaves, kind of Canadian, but yellow. Still pretty to see.

Sister Edwards refused to jump in a pile of leaves for a picture, imagine.

Our cake decorating table. Some of those young kids ate 5 cupcakes each.

Apple bobbing, with Elder Tita and Gore in the back supervising.

Sister Nicol and Jerez were supervising the donut game. We did not even know one could find donuts here. From left, Vitally, Elder Griffith, Chiril.

Elder Sanchez mummy wrapped, the girl to his left had honey cookies, she was buzzing all night as she gave them away.

from left, Elder Brodskyy, Diana Raețchi and Chris, a mystery man on the right

From L, Sister Lee and Schow with a Gorgos girl mummy

The large room, packed

The pink hair is Inesa, we taught her at our place an important lesson, how to make apple crisp. Diana again

In the middle, Nicole Bright and her friend on L, Nina. They are here from America, living with host families and learning Russian. Sam is blurred on the R.
Another good week, busy and fun. I even had a popcorn ball or 2 left over, rather I snatched them away from the jaws of eat. And finally, we drove in snow this week, hope that is not a habit we develop.