It is TRUE!

Around the world, Christians greet the Easter dawn with words of celebration... "Happy Easter!"  "He lives!"  In many cultures, the greeting requires a response.  In English-speaking congregations, the declaration of "He is risen!" is met with a firm "He is Risen indeed!!"

This morning, I learned from our hosts that the Moldavian Easter greeting is translated:

"Christ is Risen!"

"Yes! IT IS TRUE!!"

What a great way to start this day on which the Western Christian church (our Eastern Orthodox friends will celebrate Easter next week) celebrates the most important truth of our faith:  Christ is risen!  Death is conquered!  Life is ours!

My mom, Ana, Mia and I will remember this Easter for a long time.  We biked to church--listening to the church bells pealing--, first stopping off at the home of Marike and Thijs Blok for an Easter breakfast--the table set with happy yellow tulips, eggs, bread, Dutch cheese and dark coffee.

For devotions, we heard 1 Peter 1:3 read in three different languages:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

Then we participated in a worship service with the joy of Easter songs, psalms and the Lord's Supper, followed by the bike ride home and lunch with the Lantings and several families from the church.

Earlier this weekend we visited the local baker and picked up a "haansbroodje"--a "rooster bread" for Good Friday to recall the betrayal of Peter.  Mom remembers a bigger version that was on a stick, but these breads were just as yummy.

It was a full weekend

Old traditions, new friends.

Ancient action (the Son of God dying and rising)--Eternal truth (God's love --the same yesterday, today and forever!.)