We think that we passed our citizenship interviews on March 28! We had really studied for days before the interview. Linda had translated the Romanian constitution (all 152 articles) and I had made an outline of Romanian history (goes back a lot farther than 1492). We even memorized all 4 verses of the Romanian national anthem, "Wake up, Romania!" We were really nervous. There were 24 candidates being interviewed that day. Each had to go in separately. Linda was number 20 and I was number 21. Most of the others were from the Middle East. We had to read, take dictation, paraphrase what we had written, and then answer questions in front of three judges. They asked us both why we wanted to become citizens, and then they asked me several questions about Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler--Dracula)! We were so thankful that it was all over, knowing that even if we didn't pass, we couldn't and wouldn't have to deal with this part of the Romanian bureaucracy again until July, 2001, the law having changed the day after our lawyer had submitted our documents in December. They said we would receive a letter in about a month.
So we were prepared to wait, and then on Saturday, April 1, one of the other applicants, an Iranian doctor who graduated from medical school and ENT residency here and has lived here for 9 years, called and told us that he had learned through "connections" in the Ministry of Justice that only 4 had passed, ourselves as well as himself and one other doctor. Mrs. Savu, our attorney, called on Wednesday, and told us that her connection had also told her that we had done very well, even better than our applications had stated, and that we even knew about the history of Wallachia (where Vlad Tepes is really from, not Transylvania). So we are happy. The decision still has to be published in the government "Monitorul Oficial" before we can take the oath and then get more documents, identity cards and passports. Hopefully, prayerfully, the Ministry of Health will now honor their pledge from August 1996, that if we became citizens, we can then get "dreptul de practic liber", a Romanian license to practice medicine. Also, at no time in this process were we asked for "spaga" or bribes!
The clinic building project is also making progress. We received the price quote yesterday from Agribusiness, the construction company we're working with, and it was quite a bit higher than we had hoped, about $159,000 for the light steel portion of the building, including the doors and windows and interior finishing (not including painting). This is $66,000 more than the original bid for the clinic portion of the building we were going to share with Campus Crusade. The total space now is 654 square meters (7039 sq. feet), compared to 503 sq. meters for the previous clinic space. Also, there were other added expenses that had not been included on the original bid, as well as some price increases since last year. This price does not include the wiring, plumbing, heating system, or all the other things that are needed, like phones, furniture, and office equipment. It also doesn't include the foundation and basement, which should cost about another $30,000. Our three funds (Open Door Medical Ministries and World Mission Prayer League's work and clinic funds) have about $185,000, almost enough for the structural part of the clinic and the basement. If we postpone the interior finishing, then we currently have enough for the wiring and plumbing, although not the heating system. Even though the cost is higher, we think (know) that it is a better design. Because of some mistakes by the first architect, it is very doubtful that the original building could have ever obtained the final approval to open its doors. We're praying that God will continue to provide donors to this project, His project, as He has in the past!
Mr. Cojocaru, our new architect also prevented another lengthy delay in the approval process. The previous architect had called the clinic a "polyclinic" in the application for the "Certificat de Urbanism". A new law passed in November now requires polyclinics to have an X-ray machine. Mr. Cojocaru and Sanda spent three days straightening this out with the "Sanitary Police." Otherwise the clinic could have been delayed another year or more trying to get the approvals (and funds!) for an X-ray machine! We really appreciate Mr. Cojocaru. He is like night and day compared with the first architect. He expects all the necessary approvals in another 3 or 4 weeks, and so the foundation and basement could be started in May, and the light steel construction could begin as soon as the first shipment of materials from the U.S. arrives in June. The building could be completed in 4 months (mid-October)! We trust that the Lord will continue to provide for the clinic and in His time, as He has so wonderfully and powerfully done to this point.
Friday, I spoke to about 150 young doctors and medical students who attended a 3-day conference of the Christian Medical Dental Society, students' branch. One of the main organizers was Gabi Talabur, the other member of our foundation, who will soon be starting her 3-year Family Practice residency. These young doctors seem so enthusiastic! It is really encouraging! There were also students from several other countries including India and Albania who have become Christians since coming to Romania. I also gave my testimony, and one of the students complimented me on my Romanian (one of the Albanian students, that is).
Two nights earlier, we had talked with a 31-year old man who had discovered that a sexual contact of his was HIV positive. We listened and then he asked if we had any advice for him. We stated that we had "o gramada" (a big pile) of advice, both medical and Christian. We have never had anybody who was more willing to listen to what it means to be a Christian and the benefits of living in a personal relationship with Jesus. Hopefully his expressions of repentance were not just out of fear, but that he will truly turn to the Lord and begin to follow Him, even if the final blood tests 5 months from now turn out okay.
The only really discouraging news involves our church, Bucharest English Language (BEL) Christian Fellowship. The Central European Evangelical Free Church Mission leadership met with the Council on March 19 and informed us that they had decided, even before the meeting, that they were severing their relationship with BEL. A conflict had arisen between the pastors and the Council over some issues, and this led to the pastors' resignations. Many of us have felt a lot of sadness and pain, but it appears that each Sunday, through both the worship and the lay-preaching, the members are being built up, with a renewed spirit of fellowship and vision. Our home church, Visions of glory Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, sends us tapes of all their worship services. We have listened and re-listened to many of them, and they have so encouraged us and helped us deal with this.
So we are encouraged about our apparent dual citizenship, our progress against all the bureaucratic hurdles here, and the Lord's continued provision for the clinic project, as well as several opportunities to witness. We are also so appreciative and encouraged by your prayers, letters, and financial support. Thank you, and please continue to remember us in your prayers!