Ok so we got to Romania, and it did not take me a long time to realize that things have really changed. I was shocked that Romania really advanced, but in the words of one of the local Muslims brothers there: people rose their noses in pride. They were not the hard working class people we knew from before. Many people wanted to be who they were not. It seems like this globalization is spreading like a disease. People were dressed inappropriately, talking in vain and swearing, and many other things.
In terms of their faith in God. It seemed like the churches were still packed on Sundays, but on any given days they were ghost towns (MAYBE I'M KIDDING). However the bars were packed day and night. The whole country is full of churches and full of pictures of Jesus on the cross, something that upset me very much, because they are ugly pictures and ugly representations that make you feel very scared when you look at them, while we know that Jesus was beautiful.
In terms of Islam, there are quite a few Muslims in certain cities. In Cluj Napoca, the city that I went to, there was some Muslims. I went for Jumah one friday, and it was a great experience to hear the khutbah in Romanian, and to pray with the jamat. It is something so important to stay with the community. Both my wife and I were feeling our imans going low by being away from the community. The Muslims seem to be active in whatever they can however most of them are international students and they dont' want to risk getting kicked out of the country. They told me that there are many organizations and that they work on dawa. There are many Muslims in the south of Romania, and that Islam is growing. I also met a new Muslim brother there by the name of Robert. He was a very nice guy and he was active in the masjid. It was a pleasure to talk to him and to the other brothers.
The time in Romania went by fast. Next time I will tell you the reactions of my family and some dawa attempts.
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