As we're now settling in and are starting to have to deal with the routine things like internet connection, telephone, electricity, etc., etc., we're amazed at the amount of energy and time it takes to get things done. As we mentioned in our previous blog, paying bills for the various things requires a serious time commitment as one has to physically go to the company's office to make the payment in cash.

The latest thing we're dealing with now is obtaining Internet cable connection for our phone. This simple task has taken at least three days of work. We've been able to sign up today and are expecting a hook up in the next 15 days. Cable companies have a monopoly over certain areas of the city and they don't cross into each other's territory. This greatly stifles competition and gives the companies an edge over their clients. So, we've now entered our waiting period, without any other options.

The car we saw last week, turns out, had its odometer changed (kilometers were 'removed' off the total number) to make the car more interesting to buyers. Fortunately, the seller told us this piece of information, yet not without making us wonder how may kilometers this car actually had since he had no way of documenting the total. Bummer, this is the second car we 'almost' had before something else showing up. Praise the Lord for the temporary car we have to drive around town! Amazing how he worked out the details!

The arrival of our container has been postponed by another week, apparently the Holy Land tour was delayed because elections in Palestine (kidding). With any luck, we may see our things February 1st, if not later. As we called around to find a method of transporting our furniture and belongins from the container which will arrive at the train station in Bucharest, we ran once again into high price territory - $2000 to transport a 40' container less than 10 miles and unload its belongings.

This week, Catalin took over as facilitator of the English Speaking Internationals Meetup Club, an online group of English speakers from all over the world. As facilitator, he will organize this group's monthly meetings for the purpose of enabling the attendees to know each other and learn about life in Bucharest. As we look at the large international community in Bucharest, we pray about developing good relationships for the purpose of inviting those that we get to know either to a bible study or a church service.

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