http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/32398 It took me a few days to get used to the rush hour traffic in Crit. Every morning and evening, the cows and sheep would take over the roads. It was there that I confronted many of the preconceived ideas I had about whether Romania’s small agricultural villages were changing since it joined the European Union. For better or worse, I discovered that there was little if no change. Living in Crit is a tightrope walk between extreme beauty and what the locals refer to as “mizerie.” Are the villagers prisoners of paradise like one of my colleagues suggested? I’m not sure, but that poignant statement has echoed in my mind louder than I care to admit. The majority of the villagers are Roma (Gypsy), but really are just poor Romanians with little in common with the caravan dwelling Roma of popular imagination. Even though Romania joined the European Union in 2007 after being marginalized from Western Europe for so long, little progress has been made. The local schools lack resources and are in poor conditions, alcoholism is prevalent; children start working in the fields and take on adult responsibilities early in life. Malnutrition and illiteracy also weave their way in and out of many households. Like many small villages in rural Romania, within the lyrical chaos and beauty in Crit, there is a structure that is inherently falling apart. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/44676/headshot4_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297017/001_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297017'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297017 Mon, 14 May 2012 01:42:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297017 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297017/001_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297017'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297380/title_crit_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297380'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297380 Mon, 14 May 2012 01:42:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297380 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297380/title_crit_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297380'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297020/002_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297020'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297020 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:57:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297020 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297020/002_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297020'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297023/003_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297023'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297023 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:57:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297023 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297023/003_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297023'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297029/004_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297029'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297029 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:58:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297029 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297029/004_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297029'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297032/005_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297032'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297032 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:58:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297032 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297032/005_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297032'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297038/006_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297038'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297038 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:59:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297038 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297038/006_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297038'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297041/007_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297041'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297041 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:59:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297041 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297041/007_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297041'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297047/008_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297047'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297047 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:59:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297047 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297047/008_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297047'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297050/009_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297050'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297050 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:59:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297050 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297050/009_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297050'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297053/010_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297053'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297053 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:00:17 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297053 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297053/010_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297053'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297056/011_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297056'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297056 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:00:44 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297056 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297056/011_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297056'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297062/012_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297062'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297062 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:01:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297062 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297062/012_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297062'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297353/013_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297353'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297353 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:47:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297353 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297353/013_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297353'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297356/014_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297356'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297356 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:47:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297356 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297356/014_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297356'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297359/015_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297359'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297359 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:47:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297359 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297359/015_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297359'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297362/016_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297362'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297362 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:48:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297362 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297362/016_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297362'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297365/017_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297365'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297365 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:48:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297365 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297365/017_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297365'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297368/018_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297368'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297368 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:48:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297368 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297368/018_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297368'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297371/019_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297371'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297371 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:49:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297371 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297371/019_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297371'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297374/020_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297374'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297374 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:49:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297374 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297374/020_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297374'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297377/021_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297377'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297377 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:49:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297377 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1297377/021_lhermele_asta__small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1297377'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1330324/Smoking_for_Jesus_Ministry_lhermele_02_small.jpg' /><br />***PROHIBITED TO USE PHOTOS OUTSIDE OF CONTEXT PROVIDED BY CAPTION***EXCLUSIVE*** Members of the ministry sing and dance at a Wednesday Discipleship Class. This service took place during a fast the church staged, which excluded meat and sweets for three days, in honor of the anxiously awaited 'breaking ground' and construction of homes on their fifty-six acres of land.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1330324'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1330324 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:11:38 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1330324 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1330324/Smoking_for_Jesus_Ministry_lhermele_02_small.jpg' /><br />***PROHIBITED TO USE PHOTOS OUTSIDE OF CONTEXT PROVIDED BY CAPTION***EXCLUSIVE*** Members of the ministry sing and dance at a Wednesday Discipleship Class. This service took place during a fast the church staged, which excluded meat and sweets for three days, in honor of the anxiously awaited 'breaking ground' and construction of homes on their fifty-six acres of land.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1330324'>view full-size image</a> lauren hermele