Hey Everyone!
I don't know how much I have to write, but we will see. I really can't believe that February is almost over. Time goes ridiculously fast. It feels like yesterday when I was writing you about my first full week in Buch.
I think things are going better here now and are starting to turn around. I'll start by talking about our investigators. Victor is doing really well. We had a lesson with him and President Iachimov on Thursday and it went really well. President Iachimov is the man, he impresses me with his teaching and he was a big help with that lesson. So Victor is still on for the 9th of March. Oh, and Iachimov talked to him and he has gotten a calling to be the pianist for church.He'll start next week.
Relu is doing super well. We have had a couple lessons with him in the last week. The first one my companion and Elder Fitzgerald did, on an exchange. They were going to take a member present, Fratele Ponoran but they forgot to pick him up. They told me it was kind of a weird lesson with him, but when Elder Mielke and I went on Thursday we had a super good lesson, talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He totally agreed with it and so I asked him if he was willing to follow those steps. He said yeah and so then we talked about baptism and he accepted a date for March 23. He really wants to learn more and he told us he also wants to meet more people from the church. Perfect, we'll find a way to fit that in ; )
So the investigators we have are doing really well, but unfortunately they are the only two investigators that we have right now. We are definitely trying to find more, though. I think this week will be a really good one. We have zone conference on Wednesday, too.
Church was better than last week, though there were less people, 49, and last week it was 61 or something. It feels like way less, because the chapel is so big and everyone is spread out, but that's what the count was. Priesthood went a little better, sunday school was a little crazy, but that is because of a certain two guys. I'm really trying to work on charity and fight this growing dislike that I have for one of them in particular. If he wasn't a member, I would have no problem kicking him out. Anyway, I think it was better. After the block, we had a branch council meeting, which was really good. At first Iachimov wasn't there and it was a little chaotic, but when he came back there was a lot more order. He really has a presence and he takes good care of this branch, where he is very underappreciated by the members. This branch, by the way, has one main problem, pride. It leads to disunity, a lot of gossip and judging of others. It's pretty lame. Anywho, one thing I really liked was that Iachimov went through and made a list of everyone that wasn't at church and gave out some assignments to contact those people.
We had a mass fast with a few investigators this week, Victor, Ovidiu and Doina. There were supposed to be a couple others but they didn't show. Anyway, it was for those preparing for baptism. There are 4 baptismal dates in this district, which is way more than any other district I've been in. Elder Fitzgerald was talking to me on the phone one night, and was like, yeah, before I got here to Buch I heard it was really rough, but Buch is super bling! It's really cool, and we are all doing are best to make Buch the place to be in the mission.
Anything to go in a package huh? I could use a few more white short sleeve shirts. Other than that I think I am pretty good. A few more black ankle socks would be nice. Oh and my suits are doing alright, they are getting worn but they will last. A little bit before I come home, though, I want to get a new European tailored suit. It would be pretty hot! Pleatless pants and all. Just so you know, that is a goal I have.
Man, my workouts are working so well, it is ridiculous. I am like the most cut I have ever been and most of it is the Perfect Pushups. I would really love to get my own set seeing as I won't be with Elder Mielke forever. My batman abs workout is doing its part, too. I am going to come home looking super cut if I keep this up. Which I will because it works so well and I love the results. Just thought you should know, lol.
Ok, well, not too many newities, district meeting was good. We're all working hard. My companion is doing well. He actually angers really easily which presents problems now and then, but other than that we get along really well and I could easily do another transfer with him and have fun. I hope you all have a great week. I love you!
--Elder Ross
P.S. thanks for the update on Josh, it's so good to hear he is all ready to serve the Lord.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
This week has gone fast!
Hey Wonderful People!
I really can't believe how fast this week has gone by. Seriously, in every transfer the weeks go by faster and faster. The two marking points in every week are weekly planning meeting(Friday) and P-day and it feels like I have P-day,then planning meeting, then P-day, etc. I really can't believe that I have almost been in Romania for a whole year now. That's something that I have felt since being here in Buch. I'm not the young district leader anymore.....I'm a veteran. And that thought kind of blows me away. My companion has been one person that has really shown me that. He said he really looks up to the way that I speak the language and how I how I have a lot of faith in people and some other things. Haha, like it's scary in one way, that I have to live up to that, but in another way, it makes me really confident and want to do even better. Of course not solely a self confidence, because I know that the Lord has molded me so much. For some reason, I feel that I have matured so much in the past week, stepping into my new assignment and the situation here in Bucharest. Or maybe I've just been given a chance to recognize some of the growth that I have had.
On Tuesday, we had ZL/DL. It was super good. The theme was The Nord-Vest Side Story: We are writing it. It was really good and got me really pumped up for this transfer. My presentation was on leadership. I was super happy to get that topic, because it is something I have thought about a lot and really studied. I used D&C 121(of course) and also the example of King Benjamin from Mosiah 2. I also shared a ton of experiences and examples, good and bad, that I have seen on my mission. It's sad, but really true, that people, even missionaries, just like it says in D&C, will begin to have a little unrighteous dominion when they get a little power. Some missionaries change when they become a leader, thinking they need to conform to a mold or suck up to those above them. Each of us is different for a reason and there is no cookie cutter leader or missionary. Anyway, as you can see, I really like that topic and I could go on forever. :)
On Thursday, I had my first district meeting with my district and it went pretty well, I think. We talked all about getting pumped up for the transfer and then set some sweet goals for the transfer. We set solid and ultimate goals. Solid goals being the things we can control 100%, like SYLing, having great studies, having fun, etc. Ultimate goals are things like baptisms, gaining the branch president's trust and so on. We got a good list, mostly solid goals and we are determined to have the best transfer ever. We'll turn Bucharest around.
This week we found a really cool guy named Relu in the blocs. He is about 50 and is partially paralyzed on his right side, like he can't use his right hand very well. He is really cool and because he is has this disability he doesn't work or anything and he is always at home, so we can visit whenever really. We gave him the Book of Mormon and some reading and we've taught part of the plan of salvation already. We were really hoping he would come to church, but he didn't and he hasn't answered the last couple times we've called. I hope he's doing alright. So I'll be telling you a lot more about every single new investigator probably because we have so few investigators and we are trying so hard to have more people in our teaching pool. We set a goal to have 5 by the end of the transfer.
Another goal that my companion, Elder Mielke, and I have is to totally clean up our apartment and bling it out, make it our crib, if you catch my slang. We did a ton of cleaning this morning. I was mostly just working on the kitchen which was pretty sick. A lot of dust everywhere and a lot of dishes that needed to be cleaned. Not our dishes, but pots and pans that were dirty before I got there. And then with our living room we are going to totally rearrange everything. It will be sweet, I can't wait. It will be a big project, but it will be so worth it. I want to do this to every apartment I go to now, which might not be that many.
We had a big Valentine's activity on Friday(there was an activity at Mihai Bravu on Thursday and we didn't want to compete). It was nuts because somehow I ended up running it, even though it was our branch and the other branch in the Panduri Chapel. Btw, there are four branches total in Bucharest. There were about 20 people at our activity, not a lot, but it was good and I guess good compared to how they have been in the past, so it was a good start to turning this place around.
So this city doesn't even compare with Iasi. I pretty much miss everything about that place; the branch, the investigators, the sites, everything. But I am glad to be here, because it makes me stretch as a missionary and develop myself in different ways. It makes me speak faster and understand better, because the people here speak faster. Also, I like how there are a lot of missionaries in Buch(20-25) and we can see them and hang out on P-days. Oh, Buch has 6 sectors.
To help the branch, we are going to work really hard and show them we are serious and that we care about them. Elder Mielke and I helped Sora Pavel get to church on Sunday. She is a member that has been inactive for a while. But she knows everything and knows she needs to come back. She was baptized like when she was 12 and she's 29 now. She has two sons, one is like 10 and one is close to 8, I think, so we are hoping to start working with them and get them baptized. That would be so cool.
Victor is still doing good, he came to church and mostly enjoyed it. In priesthood, there were some fights. Not physical ones, but some shouting and arguing. It's pretty chaotic. But Relief Society was worse, I guess. People storming out, people yelling, crying, kind of a mess. Btw, there are all sorts of ages, a lot of old people, but some younger adults, too. Not a lot of youth, though. I still don't know who tons of people are. Anyway, I'm really going to try to get on the same page as President Iachimov and see how we can work together to change this, to have the Spirit be stronger in our meetings. He is a great guy, but has lost from missionaries in the past, so we have to show him that we are different. Hopefully, this week we can go over and have a visit with him and talk about all this.
Well, I am going to sign off now. I hope you guys have a great week. I love you! And I can't wait to get that Valentine's package! ;) Peace
--Elder Ross
P.S.Just send letters/cards to the office in Buch. Because it's in the same city, I get mail as soon as it goes there
Monday, February 11, 2008
Reporting from Bucharest
Hey Everyone!!
Well, it's a new week, a new city, a new branch, and a new companion. It was a transfer of breaking streaks. First of all, my avoiding Bucharest has come to an end. I'm now serving in Sector 6. My companion is Elder Mielke, and that's where I broke another streak. He's not from Utah! He's actually from Oregon, La Grande. I have a really tight district, which also gives me a bigger responsibility, because it's more than just me and zone leaders, which I really like. I am in a district with zone leaders again, though. It's Elder Valentine and Elder Suckow
(he's from Berlin, Germany). Also in the district, Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald. And also a senior couple, the Reeds. They are a CES couple. So that gives me 3 phone calls every night, when last transfer I just had one. I like it, though.
Other exciting stuff from transfers. Like four people from my group are training this transfer, including Sora Harrison. Elder Sumbot and Elder Rigby are both zone leaders now, which is way cool. Almost everyone from my group that was at transfer meeting said that they thought I was going zone leader and were way surprised that I didn't. I am really glad that I have a chance to be in Buch right now, I'm really looking forward to this transfer, but it made me feel way good that they all said that and have that confidence in me.
So the missionary work in Buch is really different. We only have one investigator, a huge change from Iasi, where I had at least 10 at any point. But we are determined to work hard and get the pool up. With only a half week(starting Thursday), we had 18 lessons this week. I'm sure it will pay off. People have been pretty cool with us. I'd heard that people in Buch are way harder, but I don't buy into it. The work can go here just like it goes in Iasi or Timisoara or any other city. That's actually been something that has really motivated me. I really want to turn this city around and bring it back to what it used to be, the powerhouse of the mission. We have the district to make an impact and we're going to work our behinds off.
The branch here is so different from the one in Iasi. We meet in a real chapel, like it's as big as our chapel back home, but there are only like 30-40 people at church. Nobody sits by each other, they're spread out throughout the whole room. They're not united like Iasi, and they aren't as strong either. Like there are a few slightly crazy members that talk a lot and distract from the classes. Obviously the branch has some really cool people, too. The branch president is President Iachimov and he is a big stud. One sad thing, though, is that no one knows who anyone else is. They don't interact at all. We had a lesson with a recent convert, baptized over a year ago and we referred to some of the other members and she had no idea who they were. We'll see if something can't be done about that.
Well, I should probably tell you about the one investigator we have, Victor, because he is really awesome. He is about 50-60 years old and is a piano professor at a university. Anyway, even cooler is that he has a baptismal date for the 9th of March. Actually everyone in our district has a baptismal date, which says to me even more that Buch doesn't have to be the hole everyone says it is. It will be what we make it. And we're going to tear it up!
I started this way sweet, super intense ab workout.I started that on Friday and it's already working me way hard. I love it. Then this morning I added to my workout, doing Perfect Push-ups. It's like a push-up workout using this circle things that spin. Haha, it's way hard to explain. Google it and you can see a picture probably. Anyway, it's super helpful having a companion that works out every single morning. It makes it easier for me and I'm super grateful I'm doing it. It makes me really good.
It was hard saying goodbye to everyone in Iasi, but I am excited to work harder than ever and have more fun than ever here in Bucharest. My companion speaks really well which is really nice. Well, everyone. I'm sure I forgot stuff. Ask questions. I'll hear from you next week. I love you all!
Elder Ross
Well, it's a new week, a new city, a new branch, and a new companion. It was a transfer of breaking streaks. First of all, my avoiding Bucharest has come to an end. I'm now serving in Sector 6. My companion is Elder Mielke, and that's where I broke another streak. He's not from Utah! He's actually from Oregon, La Grande. I have a really tight district, which also gives me a bigger responsibility, because it's more than just me and zone leaders, which I really like. I am in a district with zone leaders again, though. It's Elder Valentine and Elder Suckow
(he's from Berlin, Germany). Also in the district, Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald. And also a senior couple, the Reeds. They are a CES couple. So that gives me 3 phone calls every night, when last transfer I just had one. I like it, though.
Other exciting stuff from transfers. Like four people from my group are training this transfer, including Sora Harrison. Elder Sumbot and Elder Rigby are both zone leaders now, which is way cool. Almost everyone from my group that was at transfer meeting said that they thought I was going zone leader and were way surprised that I didn't. I am really glad that I have a chance to be in Buch right now, I'm really looking forward to this transfer, but it made me feel way good that they all said that and have that confidence in me.
So the missionary work in Buch is really different. We only have one investigator, a huge change from Iasi, where I had at least 10 at any point. But we are determined to work hard and get the pool up. With only a half week(starting Thursday), we had 18 lessons this week. I'm sure it will pay off. People have been pretty cool with us. I'd heard that people in Buch are way harder, but I don't buy into it. The work can go here just like it goes in Iasi or Timisoara or any other city. That's actually been something that has really motivated me. I really want to turn this city around and bring it back to what it used to be, the powerhouse of the mission. We have the district to make an impact and we're going to work our behinds off.
The branch here is so different from the one in Iasi. We meet in a real chapel, like it's as big as our chapel back home, but there are only like 30-40 people at church. Nobody sits by each other, they're spread out throughout the whole room. They're not united like Iasi, and they aren't as strong either. Like there are a few slightly crazy members that talk a lot and distract from the classes. Obviously the branch has some really cool people, too. The branch president is President Iachimov and he is a big stud. One sad thing, though, is that no one knows who anyone else is. They don't interact at all. We had a lesson with a recent convert, baptized over a year ago and we referred to some of the other members and she had no idea who they were. We'll see if something can't be done about that.
Well, I should probably tell you about the one investigator we have, Victor, because he is really awesome. He is about 50-60 years old and is a piano professor at a university. Anyway, even cooler is that he has a baptismal date for the 9th of March. Actually everyone in our district has a baptismal date, which says to me even more that Buch doesn't have to be the hole everyone says it is. It will be what we make it. And we're going to tear it up!
I started this way sweet, super intense ab workout.I started that on Friday and it's already working me way hard. I love it. Then this morning I added to my workout, doing Perfect Push-ups. It's like a push-up workout using this circle things that spin. Haha, it's way hard to explain. Google it and you can see a picture probably. Anyway, it's super helpful having a companion that works out every single morning. It makes it easier for me and I'm super grateful I'm doing it. It makes me really good.
It was hard saying goodbye to everyone in Iasi, but I am excited to work harder than ever and have more fun than ever here in Bucharest. My companion speaks really well which is really nice. Well, everyone. I'm sure I forgot stuff. Ask questions. I'll hear from you next week. I love you all!
Elder Ross
Monday, February 4, 2008
Iasi Sights
A parade celebrating the union of the Moldova county with the rest of Romania.
A cool church in Romania
New Year's at the Palat - a sweet laser show
Me and my dying friend. He's going home now, but I served 5 transfers in his district.
Burning a shirt at my one-year mark
A door at a church on a hill
New Year's at the Palat
Iasi Days
The Iasi branch with the BYU girls. 
Narcis is a stud! Also my home teaching companion.
With comp and Petru
Good ol' Fratele Pitulan
With Nicu
Me and Sora Genoveva
Me with Radu, he's like half my height, lol
With comp and Gianina
Moving On
Greetings All!
So the news is in and we know who is transferred. Nothing too exciting, just the predictable. I am transferred and my companion is staying. Elder Middleton is going home and Elder Stroud is staying. I definitely have mixed feelings about leaving this city and branch. Sadness, because I've been here so long and gotten to love the people so much. But I'm also excited to go to a new city and meet new people and fall in love with them. I'm pretty anxious to see where I go.
I know what I'll be, though. Because all of the zone leaders have to be in Bucharest today, I know that I am not a zone leader, so whereever I go, it will be as a district leader again. But it was really cool, because everyone in my district, when we made our transfer predictions, thought that I was going zone leader. And then Elder Magleby called me asking for something and he was really surprised that I didn't go zone leader. It's really nice to have the confidence of all those people. Whenever I go zone leader, it's all in the Lord's time, and it will be when it's best.
Well, Elder Middleton is "dead", as we say. He's going home. The last couple weeks of this transfer have been a little trunky with him going home, lol, but it's been fun. We've been working hard, too. Still, a lot of our investigators haven't been meeting with us. It's lame, because I don't have a picture of either Alis or Alina and they've both dropped off the face of the earth. Speaking of pictures, I put a bunch of pictures on snapfish. Do those go on the blog, too? I want other people to be able to see them, too, like the BYU girls for example.
That's way sweet about J and getting the opportunity to play for BYU. I'm way excited that he is going there. Sounds like singing group is doing really well, too. I can't wait to see a video of some of that, or of your singing of Love Potion Number 9. No, I haven't been able to see the service for President Hinckley, but we'll get it in Romanian soon and then I'll be able to. It's great that my language has reached a point that I'll understand it no problem. I can't wait. Yeah, I feel the exact same about Gordon B. Hinckley, that I don't remember another prophet growing up. He'll always be my favorite(if you can have a favorite prophet, haha), but I'm sure he is so happy now, with his wife and family. Truly a great man.
Ok, I don't really have a lot to write. We did a lot of contacting and met some really cool people that hopefully become investigators, even if i'm not here. Man, it's going to be way hard to pack. I've been here for 4 transfers and with each transfer more and more stuff has come out of my suitcases. I've become quite accustomed to my life here, lol, but it's time to move on. Next week, I'll tell you where I am, who my companion is and what kind of investigator pool and branch I've got to work with. I'll also tell you my address, so that you can send me some handwritten letters straight to me :) That would be amazing(hint, hint).
Alright, sorry for the lame email, but next week's should be exciting and my pictures this week should make up for my lack of email. Well, I'm signing off. You guys are the best. I love you all and have an amazing week!
-- Elder Ross
So the news is in and we know who is transferred. Nothing too exciting, just the predictable. I am transferred and my companion is staying. Elder Middleton is going home and Elder Stroud is staying. I definitely have mixed feelings about leaving this city and branch. Sadness, because I've been here so long and gotten to love the people so much. But I'm also excited to go to a new city and meet new people and fall in love with them. I'm pretty anxious to see where I go.
I know what I'll be, though. Because all of the zone leaders have to be in Bucharest today, I know that I am not a zone leader, so whereever I go, it will be as a district leader again. But it was really cool, because everyone in my district, when we made our transfer predictions, thought that I was going zone leader. And then Elder Magleby called me asking for something and he was really surprised that I didn't go zone leader. It's really nice to have the confidence of all those people. Whenever I go zone leader, it's all in the Lord's time, and it will be when it's best.
Well, Elder Middleton is "dead", as we say. He's going home. The last couple weeks of this transfer have been a little trunky with him going home, lol, but it's been fun. We've been working hard, too. Still, a lot of our investigators haven't been meeting with us. It's lame, because I don't have a picture of either Alis or Alina and they've both dropped off the face of the earth. Speaking of pictures, I put a bunch of pictures on snapfish. Do those go on the blog, too? I want other people to be able to see them, too, like the BYU girls for example.
That's way sweet about J and getting the opportunity to play for BYU. I'm way excited that he is going there. Sounds like singing group is doing really well, too. I can't wait to see a video of some of that, or of your singing of Love Potion Number 9. No, I haven't been able to see the service for President Hinckley, but we'll get it in Romanian soon and then I'll be able to. It's great that my language has reached a point that I'll understand it no problem. I can't wait. Yeah, I feel the exact same about Gordon B. Hinckley, that I don't remember another prophet growing up. He'll always be my favorite(if you can have a favorite prophet, haha), but I'm sure he is so happy now, with his wife and family. Truly a great man.
Ok, I don't really have a lot to write. We did a lot of contacting and met some really cool people that hopefully become investigators, even if i'm not here. Man, it's going to be way hard to pack. I've been here for 4 transfers and with each transfer more and more stuff has come out of my suitcases. I've become quite accustomed to my life here, lol, but it's time to move on. Next week, I'll tell you where I am, who my companion is and what kind of investigator pool and branch I've got to work with. I'll also tell you my address, so that you can send me some handwritten letters straight to me :) That would be amazing(hint, hint).
Alright, sorry for the lame email, but next week's should be exciting and my pictures this week should make up for my lack of email. Well, I'm signing off. You guys are the best. I love you all and have an amazing week!
-- Elder Ross
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