An Acquired Taste

I have always associated acquired tastes exclusively with food. It's the onion or tomato that you hate when you're 5, but somehow magically enjoy when you hit the ripe old age of 13. Well folks, it isn't so. You can aquire a "taste" for other things in life too, and I have done just that. Last weekend I went on a retreat into the mountains of Romania to a place called Paltinis. It was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in a house high on a hill that overlooked other mountains. The fall colors radiated back at us from all directions and the air was cool and crisp. The fog would softly come and go, rolling in and out at an unpredictable rate. It was quiet (when you left the house full of 40 people to wander) and peaceful. I chose every opportunity I could to go for a walk and stroll down the winding road that led away from the house. Life there seemed so intertwined with nature that it was hard to separate the two. It's in this atmosphere that I learned to truly appreciate hymns. I've always enjoyed them, when they were few and far between. I have always loved them at Christmas and Easter time, but it was A-okay with me if that was all. But now, I can't seem to get enough of them. Each night a group of people would sit down in the "family room" of the house and sing in harmonious melodies the old hymns that they had grown up with. When I was not alongside them singing, I was listening as the sound carried throughout the entire house and drifted into every room. I think I was unconsciously learning to love them before the retreat as well, but the retreat definitely served as a climax and affirmation of my desire to know and sing more of them. I've come to the realization that many of the hymns hold so much more meaning and depth than the modern worship songs. Even the melodies and harmonies "offer" more. I feel like they do a better job of explaining God's magnificence, although nothing and no one can fully cover that. I know that not everyone agrees with that, and I can understand and accept that. But personally, I hope to learn more and more of these old hymns and continue to sing them when I come back to America as well. Like I said, I can't get enough of them.
Here are a few pictures from the weekend:
Elena, David, and Doreen. Only three of the Veritas staff who came.

An old church that we walked to the first afternoon. The inside was beautiful too. Very ornate and intricate.

The view from the top of the mountain that some of us climbed. It was hard-but so worth it!

Alright, so by now you are probably wondering WHO was this retreat with? Well, it was a retreat for all Veritas staff and volunteers. So the American students who are studying abroad came as well because they are mainly working with Veritas while here. If you want more info on Veritas there is a link for it under "Romania Connections". It was a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know people who I had seen all over town, but never formally met. It felt like another big step into getting invited into the "family" of Veritas. And a warm welcome it was!

In other news: I am leaving for Rome, Italy tomorrow at 8 in the morning!

How is that possible?!