I am always inspired to continue to be in communication with many Presbyterians across Canada through the PCC’s website.

My work as lay missionary in Romania is continuing well. In October we welcomed many new students and I was able find four new choir members. My choir has 18 members but we often perform in smaller places with lesser numbers. In May of this year in our big concert we sang together with the esteemed Hungarian Reformed high school choir from Cluj. A highlight of the concert was pianist Benjamin Dioszegi from the special music high school. He is now continuing his studies in Budapest at Bartok Conservatory.

Benjamin comes from a family with severe economic hardships, and was helped financially through the PCC’s Gifts of Change project, “Share the Gift of Music in Romania.” Many Canadians continue to contribute to this fund which supports my musical activities in Romania. In March we were able to purchase a new portable Yamaha piano which will allow us to do mission work in places where there is not an adequate instrument.

As for my photography, in March I exhibited my photos in the Apaczai High School where I first started teaching back in 1993. In July I was honoured to be invited to the Kodaly Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary to do my photo exhibition ‘Romanian Reflections’. This was part of a festival of art which took place at the same time as the summer music courses, which has a large number of international participants.

Kecskemet was the place where I started my “Hungarian” adventure back in 1982 when I was given a sabbatical to study the Kodaly System of Music Education. At that time I never dreamed that I would be returning 29 years later to exhibit photos from Romania. After returning to Romania in late August I travelled to Bilea Lake which is located in the Southern Carpathians.

While last year I reported many floodings in Romania, this year there have been extreme droughts in many areas. In some cases wells have dried up, requiring transportation of water from other spots. One of the villages is Kide which has not had a drop of rain in over two months. A group of twelve ladies from the WMS visited Nagy Tibor and Erika there in Oct 2008.They have also had two visits from Korean Canadians in the last two summers. Tibi and Erika recently celebrated the baptism of their first child Elizabeth born in late August.

Thanks as always to all of you in Canada who continue to inspire and support me.