Hey everyone hope that everyone is doing good. For us it has been slow for us here just like this bipolar weather here in Romania. As much it continues to rain here never really shakes our efforts to go out and enjoy the rain and continue on with FINDING. Really cool my comp has been able to use his talent by teaching people how to play the piano even me sometimes. But when time comes it transitions to a Q&A session of what we do? and all questions.This past Sunday was all sudden from our BP was not present because he had to do a few things and they looked at me Elder you conduct today? Uhhh yea sure. Living up to the calling I haven't conducted since Sibiu but it was funny tho. From conducting to leading the hymn to sacrament. You learn alot tho. It was good thing the same day on Sunday for all us to share our testimonies. After bearing my testimony, it started off very slow at first but giving everyone the stare down to come up and share their testimony. Which worked out for some which I was happy for until the end. Happy my comp came up bore his testimony short and simple but overlooked into the members faces with a smile. I liked what my comp bore testimony of his language has improved really well. He bore testimony of how he first got he was shy to speak up but having courage allowed him to really prevail I can tell alot from English class here. After sacrement a member friend came a different time and started speaking about learning piano. It allowed Elder Jardine to use his talents once again. Are investigators thus far have been MIA and but hoping that everything is ok with them. This week we exchanges down in ploesti and hoping to meet up with some really cool people this week. Other than that found out this city is a tulip city so lots of tulips around the city. Thanks Again. Ofa Lahi Atu to you ALL.
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Sup yall hopefully everyone is doing good and this past General Conference was very good. It was much needed and very uplifting to hear. No worries if ya missed out there is always the the website to recap what these past GC days were about. I really got to listen to what each of the speakers talked about. Because of differences in time lets just say we wwatcheduntil it was time for us to go home. Excited for the new temples being done and more on the church news. Really loved the Presidents' Message on Choices and what we come to face.
"I have been thinkg recently about choices. It has been said that the door of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives. The choices we make determin our destiny. When we left our premortal existence and entered mortality, we brought with us the gift of agency. Our goal is obtain celestial glory, and the choices we make will, in large part, determine whether or not we reach our goal...May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong." -President Monson' Made me think alot as me as missionary and the questions that I had before watching conference. I hope to continue to make stride throughout my time here and find his lost sheep and come unto Christ. But this past week has been really cool. A English class had been going very well and started teaching the 21 Laws of Leadership to the students here. I had asked them what they wanted to learn or work on. So no one wanted to say anything so I tossed up a few ideas and they right away wanted to talk about leadership. Good thing for my previous companion in Buch we talked about the same topic but he mostly did the talking. So now I get to go up talk their ears off about leadership. So Easter holiday over here is not until May so we shared the church video with my students again. But its funny I realized that one of my students wearing a Nu Skin company bag. I stopped her and asked her if she was apart of that company. For those who don't Nu Skin is a multilevel marketing company which develops and sells personal care products and dietary supplements. This company hit me because I know its big in Utah and because it was across the street from my school. She turned and said "its a good thing you realize my dad is apart of it." I haven't heard that company name in a long time since my very first transfer because one of the members in my first city was married to a very successful man who is apart of the same company. I made mention to her if she knew the couple in Arad and right away she was laughing and saying that they are close with her family here in Pitesti. Its like I just make connection of knowing whos' whos' in Romania. I would never expected it to happen so. It was really nice because her dad wanted to meet up with us and I told my comp watch they gonna pull every string for their company. But we met up with him and the family which was very nice because he shared a video about his company in exchange I asked if we share a brief message of who we are and what we do. Really nice because I can tell this family is a great potential pillar family that we have been looking for. The father told me that he has been to Utah for his company convention and has been to temple square. It was crazy because he shared how beautiful the temple is and how he felt walking on temple grounds. It made imagine how comforting it must of felt to walk on holy grounds. Stand ye in Holy Places'. We hope to work with them and help them see the blessing. We also got to do service for a member which was really good to be out and doing physical labor. lol. We had to take a Maxi out to the country side which was nice. Everytime I go out to the countryside I always think to myself mann this is real missionary work.' lol. Glad to do service at all time. Felt so good to even eat fish afterwards. I know they tell us not to eat fish from the Black Sea or any rivers or lake here. But the family prepared it never been so happy. Fried fish from the lake down the road and bread and SALT. That was life for me. For my comp it was something new for him because he doesn't eat fish often. But it was good an we still alive. Got to see alot of the countryside while there, another dam, and lots of dogs. We rushed by running everywhere to the maxi stop thinking our maxi left bus but we came early. Thanks Marius. Other than that I look forward for the week ahead of us. We have been praying for our investigators hoping that they will continue to see the light of Christ. Thanks again hope that everyone is doing good and having a good week. Ofa Lahi Atu' Happy Easter to everyone back at home and what better way than to share this awesome video with you all. Blessed' https://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_SU_3-13-2016_dMIS_fSPC_xLIDyL1-A_ This past week really hit me big time. But aye all I can say is that Lord has plans for all of us and we each have differents road ahead of us. So with Maria it was unfortunate that we didn't seek to have a baptism with her this past week. She has been dealing with alot of things and we hope to continue to help her. President told us to keep in touch with her and that we must continue to pray for her and stay POSITIVE about it. We look forward to helping her each step of the way. Its sad to hear from a fellow missionary that a member in my first city Arad had past away due to illness. The Mogos were the first couple that I met in the branch. Fratele Mogos a very timid and funny guy once you get to really know him. Sora Mogos the stronghold of their family kind of reminded of mother who devoted so much of her time and efforts towards her family and callings. I know that the Plan of Happiness is true and that the lord would seek out for all his children. Again, my condelences to the familia Mogos and that fratele Mogos is in a better place. Other than that we had Zone Conference in Ploesti again which was good and informative. Biggest takeaway from Zone Conference was being full and active as missionaries they used the shades of the moon and how its applicable to us here. Missionaries being the full moon. Up and early for the days worth. So I hope that I continue to make strides and changes from hereon out and see the blessings in return. Alrite then yall, hope everyone had good week and keep ya until next week. D&C 88:13 Verse to ponder about' This week for me has been like a roller coaster as far as the things we have going on here. So this past week we were able to meet up with our investigator Maria who we are excited to see grow and progress through the gospel. She wasn't feeling very good due to her condition so we gave a blessing. All I can say is the power the priesthood is stong. She was moved and thankful for the blessing that it brought tears to her eyes. We gave her a lesson on the Plan of Salvation and the meaning of our purpose here on Earth. She seemed very receptive and moved again by the Plan of Happiness as she see it. Although she may not understand it all at once. She herself said to us that she knows for its true if we can pray about it and live like Christ on the daily. She is set for this week. So we are super excited for her to meet our mission president through this week. I know she will be a pillar member for this branch and for her own family. Looked forward to her baptism this weekend and seeing whats in store for her. We met up with another special individual Virginia at her place which went so-so she is well educated woman. She asked alot of question about the gospel that seems to get her more interested more in depth. Knows alot of English Terms that I don't even use in my own vocabulary. Its funny when she trying to say a big word and then squints her eyes and look at us. Then right away I just make up some word that make sense in my head then she says "yea, yea, that word..." Honestly, I laugh in my head because it sounds good to me so she would say it made sense. The lesson went good until she popped the question of trying to bribe us to move into her apartment. You see back then she did this with previous missionaries of trying to bribe them to move into the apartment then she would get baptized. lol. I looked at her trying to come up with some excuse that change the topic so that we can leave her place. Its funny though I should of listened to previous elders but overall shes ok. Hopefully, it would come clear to her that the Gospel is TRUE and that she can be more open to understanding the purpose of why we are here. We also had Branch Conference which was nice and to have Brother Iacimov come down and speak before us. Then, out of the blue during sacrament he called my name for First Counsiler for our branch here. It almost felt like back home when your bishop would just call on you for calling without even knowing. It was bit unexpected but its ok. And my comp too was called as the Ward Clerk for the branch. I hope to continue to learn and grow more with the callings here. I know it would be good for us. This week I look forward for Zone Conference down in Ploesti and hope to continue to learn a lot. Other than that, Hope that everyone at home is doing good and continuing to be like Christ.
Ofa Lahi Atu This week has been really good for us and transfer came out. So first and foremost I am happy to yet serve another one with Elder Jardine here in Pitesti. Happy with the things that we have going here. So unfortunately our investigator has been under the weather for the last few days. But we constantly have been keeping up with her and keeping her in our prayers. We hope to meet up with her and continue to teach her the gospel. This past Sunday we had what you call an eternal investigator come to church. Her name is Virginia I remember seeing her name in our area book. She is a nice lady who has been investigating the church for many years. We hope that we can break through to her and help her somehow. Overall, she seems really nice knows alot of previous missionaries but she doesnt seem crazy as written in our area book.lol. Its ok we go in with a open mind and see how it goes. Happy to finish off English class and now have a two week break from it. Gives us time to prep and contact for the next session. We ended English with Jeporady that Elder Jardine created. And something we did was personalized certificate for our students as lil thing for them for even participating. It was funny it was like a lil graduation. After, we had a lil party for the students. Most of them brang sweets for days. Sugar High. We also had apartment check with the Strattons which we passed as for my 77dayChart. lol. They can tell I did it for the last Zone Conference. Not the best but its a work in progress. They took us to a fancy restaurant. Bistro 27. Let me just we ended up there for more than 3 hours waiting on our food. The Strattons looked at us and said we usually dont do this eat out in a sit down restaurant. Im like we could of went to KFC and be out quick. It was funny tho Im like over here trying to start a conversation while waiting for the next 3 hours. Overall, Im just thankful and happy to see the Strattons come down before they had back home this transfer. I also went to the dentist out here to fix my teeth. Never had to do so many scanning of my head just for one teeth. Thats what I get for going to a fancy ol Dentist. Its super cheap out here to do your dental work here. Now I know why the Italians I met who flew down here just to do their dental work here. Oh and I also added a Nifo Koula on my top K9 teeth. Show ya next week. Other than thought I rich for this week but got to patiently wait for my new card from home because my card now that I had was expired. That just goes for my week. Hope that everyone is doing good back home and going to church.
Ofa Lahi Atu This week has been really good for us I will try and keep this short and brief. One of the many miracles we have seen is having on of our investigators accepting the invitation to be baptized later on this month. Her name is Mariana who lives in the countryside of Pitesti. Nice, humble lady who sent to us through a referral and for which we were able to follow-up with. She met with sister missionaries in France and then referred later on to us. She came to church 2 weeks ago and we asked her if we meet up with her anytime that week. Our first lesson with her went very well. Just getting to know her and her family allowed us to share pictures of our own. From there we transition to teaching the Restoration to her. She explained to us how she always wanted to know for herself which church is true. Going through the lesson we knew their was great emphasis just like Joseph Smith asking the same question that Mariana had told us. When Joseph Smith knealt down to pray in the grove and there appeared two personages.
"... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself deliveredfrom the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" -JS'History 1:16-17 Just reading his experience, Mariana paused and looked at us saying that she got the goosebumps just hearing it and talking about the Restoration. We bore testimony to her saying that this Church is true and the lord has a plan for all of us if we are willing to accept it. My comp extended the invitation and she accepted it. So we look forward to meeting with her regularly and preparing her along the way. Other than that we are finishing up English Class and transfers is coming to an end. We shall see. Alrite then yall have a good one. Keep yourself busy in the lords work. Jah Bless' Ofa Lahi Atu' Raccoon' Rasta' Elder Lafo'ou ...Tokanga ki he Ngaue'... This week has gone by fast didn't even notice. Crazy to think that we just have been through our first few English courses this past week. Honestly, I was super neverous just let alone teaching beginners class with my comp. But you know what I got to give props to my comp he took lead in the beginners class. Let just say Pitesti got way much more than expected. All thanks to FaceBook Ads. You know when you just want a small class like 20-25 and you end up getting tripped the amount. Our first class we had 65 in our beginners class I couldn't even believe the amount of students that showed up. Our following class was at least 20 for Medium/Advance class. Couldn't believe the amount of students that showed up. Just let alone planning out which class should we split or take was challenging enough because most people here think that they are in begginners when clearly they know how to structure a sentence by speaking very well. But our finding has been much easier to have a weekly schedule where they can fill in so just in case people the people wanted to English more so in a one-on-on base. All I can say is sure does fill in time. But other than that, celebrated my comps birthday this past Monday. The BIG 20! TurnUp for him at home. lol. Funny the landlords wife spoke with us later that nite while walking towards our apartment saying "why you guys come home late? Too much partying with the ladies." I looked at my comp laughed it off saying he is a big boy. Lol. But that goes bout our week. This week we will Zone Conference in Ploesti looking forward to it. We were also given a book to read earlier this transfer "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie. Great book and I would recommendthis book if your interested. I hope that everyone will have an awesome week. Catch ya next week.
Ofa Lahi Atu One of our members always says this when he is trying to get a point across. Its funny hearing him say it because it just stick with us.
This week has been really chill going through our area book and making sure all the people here taught are up to date. This week we had exchanges with the ZLs' in Ploesti. Not the nicest looking city but the members there are super solid. Love the members there even though I haven't serve yet. Other than that, we had english sign ups this past weekend and I was shocked to even to see how many people showed up. We had 75 people come to Pitesti. I know shocking for a two man city. In my head I was hoping only at least 10 people show up, lol. jk. Much more people decided to show up. I was shocked at our turn out. But for me and my comp all we can do is put our best work forward and continue to pray and share alot about the gospel. The more prepared we are the better the result will show forth. Happy and thankful to serve in a small city. Hope everyone back at home is doing good and making changes. See yall next week. Ofa Lahi Atu' Never really expected anything to happen when it came to traveling solo to Pitesti. Solely I was more worried about carrying around lots of baggage around on the train. I had help from the other missionaries and felt weird being by myself on a train for 2 hours. But I knew that everything will be ok because I had the holy ghost with me. Sitting in a train full of people made me think to myself this is an oppertunity to find the one on the train. I know that the train ride was going to be short because if I allowed myself just to speak with someone time surely does fly. I sat next to two construction worker looking dude and I overheard them talking about leaving Romania for work a bit in England but for the guy standing he said that he needed to learn English by August so that he can at least get by for working abroad. I intervined and I cut him off by telling him that we offer courses here and they are free. I guess I caught his attention with FREE english courses in Pitesti. He was really impressed and started asking questions about me and what I am doing here in Romania? Why am I even teaching English? That question I laughed at because I express to him that learning English is my second language too. I can only express to him its not easy learning a new language but I know that he can learn through mistakes and practice. Learning Romanian is still hard for me but I know through practice and praying for that gift of tongue daily comes in through time. He was nice enough to say that I speak very good Romanian but I know I have alot to learn. As people were leaving off the train, stop by stop, the fewer people it got inside. I realized that it was just me, him, and two ladies who moved near us and wanted to join in the conversation. The tables turned when he started asking me more questions about me and he noticed the pictures in bag of my family. Carrying pictures of my family proudly allowed to share with him of who I am and where I come from. I love having pictures of my family and friends. Its much easier for me to share and connect with the people here. One picture caught his attention and it was seeing all my family together for my cousins' graduation. He expressed how nice it must be to have a big family and see happiness in all our faces. I know that I expressed to him having a family like them is like no other. This gospel truly blesses families and it can also bless yours I told him. I was lucky to start from their and lean into the Restoration and his response was nice. He took it very well and we exchange numbers. He invited us to visit him. As I arrived to our destination, I realized the other elders weren't there because we arrived earlier then expected. Right away he carred my bag in his car and drove me to the elders apartment. Its' crazy to think that I would never meet people like him on a train going solo. He is a character funny dude and generous man who just appeared to show up on the same ride with me. Truly thankful to have met chill and funny like him.
My new companion is Elder Jardine from Lindon, Utah and from the same MTC group. So far we have had alot of calls all just in one day for English. Kind of annoying but funny too speaking with people when I feel like I just spoke with the same person 2 minutes ago. The city here is small which is really nice and alot hole in the wall restaurant. Other than that, hopefully everyone loved the result of Super Bowl sad I couldn't watch it. Its ok always next year tho. I hope that everyone is doing good and making changes. Jah Bless' Ofa Lahi Atu' First and foremost, never been so excited to leave Buch for a bit and downsize. Plus, I get to serve with one of the Elders from my MTC group. Had so many memories here in the big city. All I can say thanks buch for making me msf BROKE. lol. No more transportation for days. I will miss the Panduri branch and all the investigators we taught and met up with. Also, even the awesome missionaries I got serve around and with has been one to remember. All the adventures I had in Buch have been the best.English class was super fun and ending off with English Jeopardy. Word! Really gonna miss it here and E. Gunsay my companion, two fingers to the air "Holly, can I get my starting note?" quote the my transfer with my companion. Lol. I hope to continue to learn and grow alot being in a two man city. I know the lord will continue to bless our efforts if we continue pray and find those to come unto Christ. Alrite then yall hope everyone is good and well. See yall next week.
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February 2017
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