[I thought I would post J's letter to Elder Ross and his response this week.]
Hey! Hows it going?
Life is pretty good around here, I enjoyed spring break! it was pretty relaxing. I didn't finish my homework, natually, but I don't have a whole lot. Getting ready for prom and all that stuff soon, but I have no idea who I'll ask. should proly get on that soon.
And yeah that film class is a pretty fun class, our movie should be pretty good. My other classes are pretty solid too, but I really wanna get out of high school. I used to love it so much, but not really, haha I want out.
I have a lot of work to do to get ready for college especially if I am gonna play football, hopefully I'll start a real intense work out next week.
You are a great example to me, keep up the hard work. I'm doin my best to make sure I am ready to leave as soon as you get back, tag team the world.
I love you, talk to ya later!
- J
Hey J, I am way glad that I got to hear from you this week. Tag team, baby, I love that!
Man, the mission is so amazing. I wish I appreciated it before as much as I have this transfer. Our whole district is just on fire, working really hard and having tons of faith that miracles are coming and amazing things will happen. I am having the most fun of my life.
Keep me updated on your life and your working out and getting huge. I've been doing it myself :)
Have a great week and thanks again for writing me. I love you, man
Ross
Monday, March 31, 2008
A really good week in Cluj
Hey Amazing Folks!
I haven't even know how to respond to all the news that I got from everyone, especially you, Mom. It is way good to hear from everyone, though, and please don't stop. :) My week was really good and went by really fast.
To start off, we had ZL/DL on Tuesday and it went really well. The Spirit was really strong and I think everyone got psyched for the transfer. The presentations that were done by everyone were super good, the best ones that I've ever seen in ZL/DL. The sisters from Oradea were there because Sora Peterson was at Mission Council with us. They had a way cool presentation on planning and a good activity, too. They made two teams, I was with Elder Armstrong. The other two were told ahead of time what was happening and had a couple minutes to plan. It was an obstacle course and the trick was that we were tied together like a 3 legged race and one of us was blind and the other was mute. At the end of the course, the blind person had to read the note. So Elder Armstrong and I had no planning whatsoever and I was the mute one. It was way fun. There was this table which I'm pretty sure we were supposed to go under, but Elder Armstrong wanted to climb it, so we did and then of course we had to jump off and when we did, the rug slid out and we wiped out. It was sweet. And I think we ruined their activity a little bit, because we won, lol. Overall, the meeting was great and the Spirit was definitely there.
Cluj is a lot different than Bucharest, that much is sure. The pace of life seems to be a little more laid back here. And I don't know if this is just the changes that I personally am going through, but I feel like there are so many people here that are prepared for the Gospel. Cluj is a pretty clean city and I think a pretty well-off one as well.
The branch here is pretty great, I love it a lot actually. There are a lot of young people and a couple young families as well. Because of them I know that the Church is going to do really well here in Cluj. Yesterday at church was pretty interesting because it got a little out of hand in the 3rd hour. Since it was the 5th Sunday everyone was combined. The 1st counselor talked about love and the commandment Jesus gave His apostles. That part was really good. But then he put in a movie that definitely is not made by the Church. The actor that was as Jesus did not do it well at well. He was proud and condescending. The Spirit left when that movie was in, it's something we all felt. Elder Armstrong went and sat by the branch president and explained it to him, because he wasn't doing anything. He turned it off. Then President Condurachi(the branch president) spoke about God's nature and the role of Satan and he actually taught a decent amount of false doctrine, after telling everyone that this is the Church's doctrine. So Elder Armstrong is going to be meeting with him and talking to him about that. Other than that, the branch is so cool. The leadership is too, just a little off course. I am in love with the people here already.
It was a little trial of faith yesterday, that only one investigator came to church, Alex the 11 year old. But everyone is doing well. We had a lesson with Catalin and Ionut last night at the Hakes' place. It was really good. Ionut is really solid and his parents have given him permission, his dad was even happy for him, to get baptized. He hasn't set a date yet, because he wants to talk to his parents and have a date that works for them so they can go. It will be really soon, hopefully in two weeks.Catalin is having some doubts. His mom got back from Italy and she is planting these little seeds of evil in his head, saying that maybe he isn't totally ready yet, that he should wait. He will get baptized soon, but I don't know if it will be the 6th. In any case, it will be in the month of April.
We met with the Militarus this week. They are the coolest family ever. We have some ideas of building a better relationship with the father, but mostly we are dependant on the Lord. We don't know how they will get baptized just that they will. We fasted for them and for Ionut and Catalin on Saturday to Sunday. It was good. I love that family, a miracle will happen. They've been investigators long enough(3 years).
Wow, that is so nuts that we belong to a different ward now. It will be weird to give my talk there, but I have no doubt there are amazing people there as well. I'm sure you guys felt some emotions in that meeting, I know I would have.
Oh, to answer your question. In order to have time for the gym, my companion and I get up at 6 every morning and start our studies then. We finish studies by 9(and with a little time to eat something) and go to the gym from 9 to 9:45. Then we come back, shower and change and are out the door at 10:30. It's a busy morning but I love it. Working out is so amazing.
By the way, I am in need of a new journal pretty soon, mine now is getting close to its end. Oh, and a few weeks ago, two maybe, I sent a box home that has a ton of books in it. I did that so I don't have to carry them around when I'm transferred. Just so you know what that is.
Man, as a ZL I feel like I have so much less time and so much more to do. Life is busy. For example, last week we didn't have a full weekly planning meeting and this week we started like an hour late, but we kept getting phone calls and also had to do the Captain's report. I love it, though, being so busy and really working hard. Plus, we have a super nice, bling cell phone, haha.
I have a question for you, Dad. I never heard a lot about you on your mission. What kinds of experiences you had, what kinds of responsabilities you had. Were you a district leader? Do you ever train? I would really love to hear all that stuff, Dad. I have no doubt that you were an incredible missionary and were really diligent but other than that, I don't know a lot.
Well, I should go. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Elder Ross
I haven't even know how to respond to all the news that I got from everyone, especially you, Mom. It is way good to hear from everyone, though, and please don't stop. :) My week was really good and went by really fast.
To start off, we had ZL/DL on Tuesday and it went really well. The Spirit was really strong and I think everyone got psyched for the transfer. The presentations that were done by everyone were super good, the best ones that I've ever seen in ZL/DL. The sisters from Oradea were there because Sora Peterson was at Mission Council with us. They had a way cool presentation on planning and a good activity, too. They made two teams, I was with Elder Armstrong. The other two were told ahead of time what was happening and had a couple minutes to plan. It was an obstacle course and the trick was that we were tied together like a 3 legged race and one of us was blind and the other was mute. At the end of the course, the blind person had to read the note. So Elder Armstrong and I had no planning whatsoever and I was the mute one. It was way fun. There was this table which I'm pretty sure we were supposed to go under, but Elder Armstrong wanted to climb it, so we did and then of course we had to jump off and when we did, the rug slid out and we wiped out. It was sweet. And I think we ruined their activity a little bit, because we won, lol. Overall, the meeting was great and the Spirit was definitely there.
Cluj is a lot different than Bucharest, that much is sure. The pace of life seems to be a little more laid back here. And I don't know if this is just the changes that I personally am going through, but I feel like there are so many people here that are prepared for the Gospel. Cluj is a pretty clean city and I think a pretty well-off one as well.
The branch here is pretty great, I love it a lot actually. There are a lot of young people and a couple young families as well. Because of them I know that the Church is going to do really well here in Cluj. Yesterday at church was pretty interesting because it got a little out of hand in the 3rd hour. Since it was the 5th Sunday everyone was combined. The 1st counselor talked about love and the commandment Jesus gave His apostles. That part was really good. But then he put in a movie that definitely is not made by the Church. The actor that was as Jesus did not do it well at well. He was proud and condescending. The Spirit left when that movie was in, it's something we all felt. Elder Armstrong went and sat by the branch president and explained it to him, because he wasn't doing anything. He turned it off. Then President Condurachi(the branch president) spoke about God's nature and the role of Satan and he actually taught a decent amount of false doctrine, after telling everyone that this is the Church's doctrine. So Elder Armstrong is going to be meeting with him and talking to him about that. Other than that, the branch is so cool. The leadership is too, just a little off course. I am in love with the people here already.
It was a little trial of faith yesterday, that only one investigator came to church, Alex the 11 year old. But everyone is doing well. We had a lesson with Catalin and Ionut last night at the Hakes' place. It was really good. Ionut is really solid and his parents have given him permission, his dad was even happy for him, to get baptized. He hasn't set a date yet, because he wants to talk to his parents and have a date that works for them so they can go. It will be really soon, hopefully in two weeks.Catalin is having some doubts. His mom got back from Italy and she is planting these little seeds of evil in his head, saying that maybe he isn't totally ready yet, that he should wait. He will get baptized soon, but I don't know if it will be the 6th. In any case, it will be in the month of April.
We met with the Militarus this week. They are the coolest family ever. We have some ideas of building a better relationship with the father, but mostly we are dependant on the Lord. We don't know how they will get baptized just that they will. We fasted for them and for Ionut and Catalin on Saturday to Sunday. It was good. I love that family, a miracle will happen. They've been investigators long enough(3 years).
Wow, that is so nuts that we belong to a different ward now. It will be weird to give my talk there, but I have no doubt there are amazing people there as well. I'm sure you guys felt some emotions in that meeting, I know I would have.
Oh, to answer your question. In order to have time for the gym, my companion and I get up at 6 every morning and start our studies then. We finish studies by 9(and with a little time to eat something) and go to the gym from 9 to 9:45. Then we come back, shower and change and are out the door at 10:30. It's a busy morning but I love it. Working out is so amazing.
By the way, I am in need of a new journal pretty soon, mine now is getting close to its end. Oh, and a few weeks ago, two maybe, I sent a box home that has a ton of books in it. I did that so I don't have to carry them around when I'm transferred. Just so you know what that is.
Man, as a ZL I feel like I have so much less time and so much more to do. Life is busy. For example, last week we didn't have a full weekly planning meeting and this week we started like an hour late, but we kept getting phone calls and also had to do the Captain's report. I love it, though, being so busy and really working hard. Plus, we have a super nice, bling cell phone, haha.
I have a question for you, Dad. I never heard a lot about you on your mission. What kinds of experiences you had, what kinds of responsabilities you had. Were you a district leader? Do you ever train? I would really love to hear all that stuff, Dad. I have no doubt that you were an incredible missionary and were really diligent but other than that, I don't know a lot.
Well, I should go. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Elder Ross
Monday, March 24, 2008
New City (Cluj Napoca) and Exciting Changes
Hey You Wonderful People!
Wow, it was so great to get so much news from everyone back home. I love hearing about everything that is going on and what everyone is involved with. Thanks a lot!
So lots of new exciting changes for me and hopefully I can remember everything I want to tell you and can you a decent update. For starters, I am no longer district leader as I have become a zone leader. It's an exciting change and definitely a new role to learn about and to step into. Luckily, I have an awesome companion, Elder Rigby, who, if you remember, is from my MTC district. So my dream of serving with someone from my group has finally come true! He's a stud and we've had a great time already, even though it's been less than a week. Last, but not least, I am now in Cluj Napoca! It was an incredible city, I love it already. The branch seems to function really well and the members appear to be top quality, especially the ones I have visited so far. So you could say, I am stoked out of my mind about my new assignment, lol. This transfer will be incredible.
Elder Rigby is in his second transfer now as zone leader, so guess what that means...I'm junior companion again! Yay!!! It's the greatest thing ever. Of course our companionship is pretty equal, because we're both experienced missionaries, but he is the one teaching me new stuff and I can follow him. I can also pull the card, you're senior, it's your decision. Haha, of course I won't slack off or anything, it's just nice. Our zone is the smallest in the mission, just Cluj and Oradea. In Cluj there are 8 missionaries, 4 elders, 2 sisters and a senior couple. It is Elder Rigby and I, Elder Armstrong(the DL) and Elder De Guzman, Sora Runyan and Sora Thompson and the Haykes. In Oradea, there are 6 missionaries. The district leader there is Elder Valentine who was my zone leader last transfer. He's in his last transfer now. He is with Elder Manzione. Elder Davis is also there(he was a boboc in Iasi when I first went there) and he has a boboc now, Elder Anderson. The sisters there are Sora Petersen and Sora Ertel( a boboaca that played rugby for the University of Oregon). So that is the rundown of the zone, just so that you know who I am talking about in the future.
Oh man, we had a crazy time getting to Cluj. We were supposed to catch a train leaving Bucharest at 7:30, but we barely made it, because of bad traffic. Then we would have had to wait until 11:30 for the next one. We went down with the sisters to Oradea, because the train keeps going until Oradea after Cluj. So the train showed up at the station at like 7:10 and it was leaving at 7:24. The sisters decided to go to the bathroom and so Elder Rigby and I started to take my luggage to our car, way at the very end. Before we got there, he went back to help the sisters and I was able to get my stuff on by myself. After I put my stuff on, the train whistled and I was like, uh, is it leaving? Yep! I didn't have time to take my stuff again, so I just chilled there. I didn't have a phone and I didn't have anyone's cell phone number on me. I thought I was going to Cluj all by myself.
I learned something about myself, because I didn't freak out. I just chilled and was like, I hope someone is there to meet me, because I don't know where my apartment is. It turns out the others were coming with all their baggage and the train started moving, so they just chucked it all on the car next to them. Then after that they worked their way to our cabin. It was a crazy/funny experience.
On Thursday all the zone leaders had mission council with President and the assistants. I really loved it. The whole thing was an open discussion on different topics that President felt we should discuss. I just felt that that meeting and that group of missionaries was the core and brain of the mission and I couldn't but wonder how I ended up there, haha. It was super cool and it got me really excited for the transfer coming up. It will be incredible.
So Elder Rigby and I sat down and made goals for the transfer. They are the most insane goals I have ever set and yet I really believe we(really the Lord) will achieve them. We are going to get 7 baptisms. And at the end of the transfer we will have 3 baptismal dates.
After we figured those out, we sat down and made an incredible plan for accomplishing each of those. This transfer will require more of me than other one ever has and I can't wait! Because we set high goals and we know that we need the Lord's help so badly, we're looking for ways now that we can sacrifice so that we can show Heavenly Father that we deserve these things, that we care about these people. This new attitude is amazing to me and has really opened my eyes to the true purpose of goals. We're going to do it and the Lord is going to help us.
A little about our investigators, because they are the names behind the numbers. Catalin is our strongest one now. He is getting baptized on the 6th of April, good date, huh, E? He is 18 and super cool, participates in all the classes at church and everything. I am really impressed with how the youth members here befriend and fellowship the investigators. Ionut is another investigator. He is 17 and would be baptized tomorrow if his parents would give him permission. He told us that he is talking to them today,actually, about it and so we are definitely praying for him.
We work with the tightest family in the whole world(besides my own of course ;) The Militaru family consists of the two parents and three kids. With the exception of the dad, they are really solid and come to church. They also would be baptized tomorrow if their dad would let them. The kids are Gabi(14), Cristi(13) and Maria(8). They are the biggest miracle of the transfer and somehow the Lord will help them to get baptized. Also, we are working with Lilla, a girl about 25 who is working for her Master's in music. She plays the violin and piano, at least, maybe some other instruments, too. We had a cool lesson with her last night about getting an answer and so when she does her reading and prays, then she'll know. So that is how we are going to have 7 baptisms.
So there is a gym right by our house and we were looking at the different plans that you can get. One of them is for a husband and wife and since it's cheaper and the sisters live right by us and they want to join the gym, too, we figured we could "get married"(We weren't going to lie to save money, we would get a different plan). In order to figure out who is "married" to who, we gave everyone in the district the assignment to come up with a reason why each one of us should be married to each one of them. On Sunday night we had dinner at the Haykes' and shared these ideas and weighed them out. In the end we drew it from a hat, lol, and so I am married to Sora Thompson. It was pretty funny doing all of this.
Anyway, we went to the gym this morning and got memberships(not the marriage ones). It was so nice to be in a gym and work out. I definitely worked out too much, especially for not having worked out in so long and I felt kind of sick for a little while, but it's ok. I feel great now and it was way worth it. We'll be going every day, except Sunday of course.
Well, I need to go. I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to hear more from you. I love you!
Elder Ross
Wow, it was so great to get so much news from everyone back home. I love hearing about everything that is going on and what everyone is involved with. Thanks a lot!
So lots of new exciting changes for me and hopefully I can remember everything I want to tell you and can you a decent update. For starters, I am no longer district leader as I have become a zone leader. It's an exciting change and definitely a new role to learn about and to step into. Luckily, I have an awesome companion, Elder Rigby, who, if you remember, is from my MTC district. So my dream of serving with someone from my group has finally come true! He's a stud and we've had a great time already, even though it's been less than a week. Last, but not least, I am now in Cluj Napoca! It was an incredible city, I love it already. The branch seems to function really well and the members appear to be top quality, especially the ones I have visited so far. So you could say, I am stoked out of my mind about my new assignment, lol. This transfer will be incredible.
Elder Rigby is in his second transfer now as zone leader, so guess what that means...I'm junior companion again! Yay!!! It's the greatest thing ever. Of course our companionship is pretty equal, because we're both experienced missionaries, but he is the one teaching me new stuff and I can follow him. I can also pull the card, you're senior, it's your decision. Haha, of course I won't slack off or anything, it's just nice. Our zone is the smallest in the mission, just Cluj and Oradea. In Cluj there are 8 missionaries, 4 elders, 2 sisters and a senior couple. It is Elder Rigby and I, Elder Armstrong(the DL) and Elder De Guzman, Sora Runyan and Sora Thompson and the Haykes. In Oradea, there are 6 missionaries. The district leader there is Elder Valentine who was my zone leader last transfer. He's in his last transfer now. He is with Elder Manzione. Elder Davis is also there(he was a boboc in Iasi when I first went there) and he has a boboc now, Elder Anderson. The sisters there are Sora Petersen and Sora Ertel( a boboaca that played rugby for the University of Oregon). So that is the rundown of the zone, just so that you know who I am talking about in the future.
Oh man, we had a crazy time getting to Cluj. We were supposed to catch a train leaving Bucharest at 7:30, but we barely made it, because of bad traffic. Then we would have had to wait until 11:30 for the next one. We went down with the sisters to Oradea, because the train keeps going until Oradea after Cluj. So the train showed up at the station at like 7:10 and it was leaving at 7:24. The sisters decided to go to the bathroom and so Elder Rigby and I started to take my luggage to our car, way at the very end. Before we got there, he went back to help the sisters and I was able to get my stuff on by myself. After I put my stuff on, the train whistled and I was like, uh, is it leaving? Yep! I didn't have time to take my stuff again, so I just chilled there. I didn't have a phone and I didn't have anyone's cell phone number on me. I thought I was going to Cluj all by myself.
I learned something about myself, because I didn't freak out. I just chilled and was like, I hope someone is there to meet me, because I don't know where my apartment is. It turns out the others were coming with all their baggage and the train started moving, so they just chucked it all on the car next to them. Then after that they worked their way to our cabin. It was a crazy/funny experience.
On Thursday all the zone leaders had mission council with President and the assistants. I really loved it. The whole thing was an open discussion on different topics that President felt we should discuss. I just felt that that meeting and that group of missionaries was the core and brain of the mission and I couldn't but wonder how I ended up there, haha. It was super cool and it got me really excited for the transfer coming up. It will be incredible.
So Elder Rigby and I sat down and made goals for the transfer. They are the most insane goals I have ever set and yet I really believe we(really the Lord) will achieve them. We are going to get 7 baptisms. And at the end of the transfer we will have 3 baptismal dates.
After we figured those out, we sat down and made an incredible plan for accomplishing each of those. This transfer will require more of me than other one ever has and I can't wait! Because we set high goals and we know that we need the Lord's help so badly, we're looking for ways now that we can sacrifice so that we can show Heavenly Father that we deserve these things, that we care about these people. This new attitude is amazing to me and has really opened my eyes to the true purpose of goals. We're going to do it and the Lord is going to help us.
A little about our investigators, because they are the names behind the numbers. Catalin is our strongest one now. He is getting baptized on the 6th of April, good date, huh, E? He is 18 and super cool, participates in all the classes at church and everything. I am really impressed with how the youth members here befriend and fellowship the investigators. Ionut is another investigator. He is 17 and would be baptized tomorrow if his parents would give him permission. He told us that he is talking to them today,actually, about it and so we are definitely praying for him.
We work with the tightest family in the whole world(besides my own of course ;) The Militaru family consists of the two parents and three kids. With the exception of the dad, they are really solid and come to church. They also would be baptized tomorrow if their dad would let them. The kids are Gabi(14), Cristi(13) and Maria(8). They are the biggest miracle of the transfer and somehow the Lord will help them to get baptized. Also, we are working with Lilla, a girl about 25 who is working for her Master's in music. She plays the violin and piano, at least, maybe some other instruments, too. We had a cool lesson with her last night about getting an answer and so when she does her reading and prays, then she'll know. So that is how we are going to have 7 baptisms.
So there is a gym right by our house and we were looking at the different plans that you can get. One of them is for a husband and wife and since it's cheaper and the sisters live right by us and they want to join the gym, too, we figured we could "get married"(We weren't going to lie to save money, we would get a different plan). In order to figure out who is "married" to who, we gave everyone in the district the assignment to come up with a reason why each one of us should be married to each one of them. On Sunday night we had dinner at the Haykes' and shared these ideas and weighed them out. In the end we drew it from a hat, lol, and so I am married to Sora Thompson. It was pretty funny doing all of this.
Anyway, we went to the gym this morning and got memberships(not the marriage ones). It was so nice to be in a gym and work out. I definitely worked out too much, especially for not having worked out in so long and I felt kind of sick for a little while, but it's ok. I feel great now and it was way worth it. We'll be going every day, except Sunday of course.
Well, I need to go. I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to hear more from you. I love you!
Elder Ross
Monday, March 17, 2008
Transferred to ?
Hey Everyone!
So the big news is in.....and I am transferred. After staying four transfers in Timisoara and then another four in Iasi, it is weird to only spend one transfer here in the Cotroceni branch. I am excited to see what happens, because for now, I have no idea where I will go or who I will be with, if I will be DL or ZL. We'll see. In the district, Elder Valentine is transferred(he only has one transfer left) and Elder Divis is also transferred. So a lot more updates will be coming next week.
I can't believe it is Easter already! Well, actually, for us Easter is not until the middle of April so I probably actually will get my package in time. No, they don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day here. Yeah, Elder Mielke found out that his uncle will be mission president about 3 weeks ago. Elder Mielke is going into his sixth transfer now so he has been out on his mission about 9 months. I wonder if he will go senior this transfer. He speaks well enough and is a hard worker as well.
The activity was a good one that we had a little over a week ago. The sisters (mostly Sora Larsen, her mom's a caterer) made doughnuts for the push-up part. About 20 members/investigators came. No, President Ashby doesn't usually go to activities in Buch, but he can and is willing to sometimes to be a speaker and help out in that way.
The branch seems to be doing better and better every week. I am sad to leave it. Yesterday, everything went pretty smoothly and Victor and Doamna Petrescu(Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald baptized her) got confirmed. After church we had branch council. As district leader I'm supposed to be part of that. It was really cool, because the first thing that President Iachimov did was that he and everyone else made a list of all the people that were missing at church yesterday and then he made assignments for each of them to be contacted. Elder Hardman was talking to me yesterday and he said that from his outside point of view he can see that our branch has grown so much this last transfer and has gotten better. He told me that a lot of it is because of me, but I definitely do not buy into that, haha. My district has been so tight and they have made this happen. It just made me feel really happy to hear him comment on the positive changes in the branch. I love these people. I had an exchange this week that was super fun. I was with Elder Fitzgerald and we were in my area. It was pretty rough as far as the missionary work goes. Tuesday night we got bunged twice. Then on Wednesday morning we were going to visit a member and I got us lost, lol, took the bus in the wrong direction. I have definitely learned on my mission that one of my talents is not a sense of direction. We had a lot of fun and I love that kid.
Right after that exchange, we had another exchange. There was another exchange. We went to President's house to pick up Elder Roundy and Elder Letham who had a special missionary training. Selected missionaries from all over the country came into Buch for this two day training. So we picked those boys up and went bloc-knocking with them. I went with Elder Roundy and we had so much fun. We had some people say some crazy stuff and we just laughed way hard. We had a couple cool lessons, too.
So on Saturday was the baptism for Mariana Petrescu. It was a really cool event. No one from the branch presidency showed up so it fell on me to conduct the meeting. I was a little nervous, but I really enjoyed it so much. I also gave the warm welcome on behalf of the branch and it was tight. She is a really solid lady. Elder Divis got to do the baptism. It was cool for him, because it was his first one.
Well, I don't have a lot more to say. I am really excited for this next transfer and I can't wait to see what happens. It will be good times, I'm sure. Have a great week, all. I love you.
Elder Ross
So the big news is in.....and I am transferred. After staying four transfers in Timisoara and then another four in Iasi, it is weird to only spend one transfer here in the Cotroceni branch. I am excited to see what happens, because for now, I have no idea where I will go or who I will be with, if I will be DL or ZL. We'll see. In the district, Elder Valentine is transferred(he only has one transfer left) and Elder Divis is also transferred. So a lot more updates will be coming next week.
I can't believe it is Easter already! Well, actually, for us Easter is not until the middle of April so I probably actually will get my package in time. No, they don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day here. Yeah, Elder Mielke found out that his uncle will be mission president about 3 weeks ago. Elder Mielke is going into his sixth transfer now so he has been out on his mission about 9 months. I wonder if he will go senior this transfer. He speaks well enough and is a hard worker as well.
The activity was a good one that we had a little over a week ago. The sisters (mostly Sora Larsen, her mom's a caterer) made doughnuts for the push-up part. About 20 members/investigators came. No, President Ashby doesn't usually go to activities in Buch, but he can and is willing to sometimes to be a speaker and help out in that way.
The branch seems to be doing better and better every week. I am sad to leave it. Yesterday, everything went pretty smoothly and Victor and Doamna Petrescu(Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald baptized her) got confirmed. After church we had branch council. As district leader I'm supposed to be part of that. It was really cool, because the first thing that President Iachimov did was that he and everyone else made a list of all the people that were missing at church yesterday and then he made assignments for each of them to be contacted. Elder Hardman was talking to me yesterday and he said that from his outside point of view he can see that our branch has grown so much this last transfer and has gotten better. He told me that a lot of it is because of me, but I definitely do not buy into that, haha. My district has been so tight and they have made this happen. It just made me feel really happy to hear him comment on the positive changes in the branch. I love these people. I had an exchange this week that was super fun. I was with Elder Fitzgerald and we were in my area. It was pretty rough as far as the missionary work goes. Tuesday night we got bunged twice. Then on Wednesday morning we were going to visit a member and I got us lost, lol, took the bus in the wrong direction. I have definitely learned on my mission that one of my talents is not a sense of direction. We had a lot of fun and I love that kid.
Right after that exchange, we had another exchange. There was another exchange. We went to President's house to pick up Elder Roundy and Elder Letham who had a special missionary training. Selected missionaries from all over the country came into Buch for this two day training. So we picked those boys up and went bloc-knocking with them. I went with Elder Roundy and we had so much fun. We had some people say some crazy stuff and we just laughed way hard. We had a couple cool lessons, too.
So on Saturday was the baptism for Mariana Petrescu. It was a really cool event. No one from the branch presidency showed up so it fell on me to conduct the meeting. I was a little nervous, but I really enjoyed it so much. I also gave the warm welcome on behalf of the branch and it was tight. She is a really solid lady. Elder Divis got to do the baptism. It was cool for him, because it was his first one.
Well, I don't have a lot more to say. I am really excited for this next transfer and I can't wait to see what happens. It will be good times, I'm sure. Have a great week, all. I love you.
Elder Ross
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Changes in the (h)air
Hey All!
I have had a great week and I'm ready for another one, which will be the last one of the transfers. Next Monday I will be telling you all who is transferred. Really, anything could happen so we will see. I am excited to see what is up.
So by far the highlight of the week was Victor getting baptized yesterday. We did it a little bit after church, because Victor hoped less people would come. Church ends at 2 and the baptism was at 4, and his wish was fulfilled, lol. There were not many members there at all. President Iachimov conducted, my companion gave a talk. It all went well. I had some problems with the baptism, lol. Not really, but at first when we went in the water, we lined up wrong and after a second I realized, wait, I need to be able to raise my right arm. Then I started to say the prayer and I forgot to say his name. At least realized it before he went under and then we would have had to do it again. Which actually might not have been bad, haha. After I baptized him, he was kind of joking with me and he was like, "what, only once? I want to do it more. Are you sure we can't do it again?" I love Victor, he is a super good man.
Let's see...what else happened this week. Oh, yeah! Two weeks ago I got my hair cut and then last week I dyed it! It is now a brown with a reddish tint. I will include a picture. My companion and Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald did it, too. Elder Fitzgerald and I did it for each other and we did a pretty good job. His is dark brown. Elder Divis and my companion did it for each other and they kind of got each other's eyebrows a little too good, as the picture will show, lol. In any case, I like it a lot, it's something different to mix things up. What do you think?
Then the very next day we went to President's house for interviews, all of us wondering what he would think of our dyed hair. We know it's not against the rules, but we were just curious what he would think. And...he didn't even notice, lol. I had a good interview with President. I think now he kind of knows who I am. I asked him about when I will be going home, because of school and whatnot and he told me that that will all be up to the new mission president, who is actually Elder Mielke's uncle, Lundberg. It was weird to be in their house, because it was the first time I'd been there since when I very first was in the country, almost exactly one year prior. Definitely called for a moment of reflection.
One nice thing was just after the interview, chilling with Sora Ashby downstairs(the interviews are upstairs) and eating chocolate chip cookies and milk. Man, they were so good! It was just really relaxing to sit in a pretty American home and talk with Sora Ashby about whatever.
On Friday we had a branch activity thrown by us missionaries. It went really well and I was happy how it turned out. It was all on the Savior and His Atonement. We started out by going upstairs and we went through 3 different rooms, each one done differently. I believe the themes were Service, Charity and the Tree of Life(focusing on how it is the Love of God). Then we all went downstairs to the room my companion and I were in charge of. You know the story of the seminary teacher that had one of his students do 10 push-ups for each person in the room to receive a donut, whether they accepted it or not? Well, that's exactly what we did. My companion did about 200 push-ups and he was definitely dead at the end. It was really cool, though. I read a couple verses afterwards and then we watched a clip from the Testaments. To finish off the activity, President Ashby spoke on the Atonement and applying it. It was really good and I think this activity will stick in the minds of the members. I hope.
I think the branch is on the rise, though. On Sunday, all of the classes seemed to run pretty smoothly. Towards the end of sacrament meeting, the branch presidency had a surprise and gave all of the women flowers and broaches, because of Woman's Day(Mar. 1) and Mother's Day(Mar. 8). It was a really good gesture. Also, in priesthood President Iachimov was there(first time since I've been here) and he talked about making the lessons not boring, very needed! They set up a schedule and us missionaries are going to have a chance to teach once a month, which will be really good. It's something we've wanted, to be able to participate more in the branch. They also planned some really cool Elders' Quorum activities that they were all getting excited about. I feel good about the direction this branch is going in.
Thanks a lot for starting to put a package together and for getting the push-up things(I'm pretty sure they do not exist here in Romania). Much appreciated. My neck size is 16 I think, something like that.
To answer your questions, Elder Valentine is one of my zone leaders, along with Elder Suckow. Yeah, he is American, from Florida. He is super crazy and random, but a lot of fun to be around. I like him a lot. My companion, to tell you a little more, is a big sports guy. By far, his favorite is soccer. He lived in England for a year and since then wants to play professional soccer. He's a goalie. He went to BYU for a year before coming out and hopes to play for them when he gets back. He is a super hard worker and sometimes get down on himself when stuff doesn't go right. He is way good guy and it's been a good transfer.
It sounds like everyone back home is doing well. I love hearing from everyone.
We were not able to work with Relu all week long. He didn't answer his phone and he wasn't home when he stopped by. Then randomly, when I was on exchange with Elder Valentine, I ran into him on the tramvai. I talked to him for a minute and he said he had been out of town. So we said we would meet him in the morning(it was Saturday when I saw him) and go to church with him. We went there in the morning and he wasn't there. We called his phone and his wife answered. She said she hadn't seen him since Saturday afternoon. So I have no idea what is up with him. We've dubbed him, the "Mystery Man."
Ok, well, I am going to go now. I hope you all have a great week and I will hear from you next week. I love you!
--Elder Ross
p.s. we don't have DST until the end of the month
I have had a great week and I'm ready for another one, which will be the last one of the transfers. Next Monday I will be telling you all who is transferred. Really, anything could happen so we will see. I am excited to see what is up.
So by far the highlight of the week was Victor getting baptized yesterday. We did it a little bit after church, because Victor hoped less people would come. Church ends at 2 and the baptism was at 4, and his wish was fulfilled, lol. There were not many members there at all. President Iachimov conducted, my companion gave a talk. It all went well. I had some problems with the baptism, lol. Not really, but at first when we went in the water, we lined up wrong and after a second I realized, wait, I need to be able to raise my right arm. Then I started to say the prayer and I forgot to say his name. At least realized it before he went under and then we would have had to do it again. Which actually might not have been bad, haha. After I baptized him, he was kind of joking with me and he was like, "what, only once? I want to do it more. Are you sure we can't do it again?" I love Victor, he is a super good man.
Let's see...what else happened this week. Oh, yeah! Two weeks ago I got my hair cut and then last week I dyed it! It is now a brown with a reddish tint. I will include a picture. My companion and Elder Divis and Elder Fitzgerald did it, too. Elder Fitzgerald and I did it for each other and we did a pretty good job. His is dark brown. Elder Divis and my companion did it for each other and they kind of got each other's eyebrows a little too good, as the picture will show, lol. In any case, I like it a lot, it's something different to mix things up. What do you think?
Then the very next day we went to President's house for interviews, all of us wondering what he would think of our dyed hair. We know it's not against the rules, but we were just curious what he would think. And...he didn't even notice, lol. I had a good interview with President. I think now he kind of knows who I am. I asked him about when I will be going home, because of school and whatnot and he told me that that will all be up to the new mission president, who is actually Elder Mielke's uncle, Lundberg. It was weird to be in their house, because it was the first time I'd been there since when I very first was in the country, almost exactly one year prior. Definitely called for a moment of reflection.
One nice thing was just after the interview, chilling with Sora Ashby downstairs(the interviews are upstairs) and eating chocolate chip cookies and milk. Man, they were so good! It was just really relaxing to sit in a pretty American home and talk with Sora Ashby about whatever.
On Friday we had a branch activity thrown by us missionaries. It went really well and I was happy how it turned out. It was all on the Savior and His Atonement. We started out by going upstairs and we went through 3 different rooms, each one done differently. I believe the themes were Service, Charity and the Tree of Life(focusing on how it is the Love of God). Then we all went downstairs to the room my companion and I were in charge of. You know the story of the seminary teacher that had one of his students do 10 push-ups for each person in the room to receive a donut, whether they accepted it or not? Well, that's exactly what we did. My companion did about 200 push-ups and he was definitely dead at the end. It was really cool, though. I read a couple verses afterwards and then we watched a clip from the Testaments. To finish off the activity, President Ashby spoke on the Atonement and applying it. It was really good and I think this activity will stick in the minds of the members. I hope.
I think the branch is on the rise, though. On Sunday, all of the classes seemed to run pretty smoothly. Towards the end of sacrament meeting, the branch presidency had a surprise and gave all of the women flowers and broaches, because of Woman's Day(Mar. 1) and Mother's Day(Mar. 8). It was a really good gesture. Also, in priesthood President Iachimov was there(first time since I've been here) and he talked about making the lessons not boring, very needed! They set up a schedule and us missionaries are going to have a chance to teach once a month, which will be really good. It's something we've wanted, to be able to participate more in the branch. They also planned some really cool Elders' Quorum activities that they were all getting excited about. I feel good about the direction this branch is going in.
Thanks a lot for starting to put a package together and for getting the push-up things(I'm pretty sure they do not exist here in Romania). Much appreciated. My neck size is 16 I think, something like that.
To answer your questions, Elder Valentine is one of my zone leaders, along with Elder Suckow. Yeah, he is American, from Florida. He is super crazy and random, but a lot of fun to be around. I like him a lot. My companion, to tell you a little more, is a big sports guy. By far, his favorite is soccer. He lived in England for a year and since then wants to play professional soccer. He's a goalie. He went to BYU for a year before coming out and hopes to play for them when he gets back. He is a super hard worker and sometimes get down on himself when stuff doesn't go right. He is way good guy and it's been a good transfer.
It sounds like everyone back home is doing well. I love hearing from everyone.
We were not able to work with Relu all week long. He didn't answer his phone and he wasn't home when he stopped by. Then randomly, when I was on exchange with Elder Valentine, I ran into him on the tramvai. I talked to him for a minute and he said he had been out of town. So we said we would meet him in the morning(it was Saturday when I saw him) and go to church with him. We went there in the morning and he wasn't there. We called his phone and his wife answered. She said she hadn't seen him since Saturday afternoon. So I have no idea what is up with him. We've dubbed him, the "Mystery Man."
Ok, well, I am going to go now. I hope you all have a great week and I will hear from you next week. I love you!
--Elder Ross
p.s. we don't have DST until the end of the month
Thursday, March 6, 2008
A really good week
Good Morning All!
This week went by with record speed and I don't understand how, because I am sure just a couple days ago my district and I were getting pumped up for the best transfer ever and it is getting near to a close. Anywho, it was a really good week and my companion and I worked really hard.
On Wednesday we had zone conference, which was amazingly good. The zone leaders did the most planned, put together presentation that I have ever seen. There was a lot of talk on becoming more effective, using time more wisely and lot of good missionary how-to, from their presentation and from the other ones. It was a good day and pumped me up a bit.
Thursday, my companion had his birthday. I talked to Elder Valentine about doing a surprise party for him and that we would have a "district meeting" at a certain time. So we go to the church and our whole district is there(except for Elder Valentine) and the whole other distrist on our side of Buch was there, too, and every single one of them thought we really were having district meeting, because that is what Elder Valentine told them. So it was like the worst surprise ever, at least we had brownies and then later the sisters brought out a cake. It ended being pretty fun, but it sure didn't start out right. Lol, I have no idea what Elder Valentine was thinking. It was supposed to be a surprise for my companion not for everyone else. He did show up later and with some soda.
Our investigators are doing pretty well. Victor is all set to go for his baptism this next Sunday, he is pretty excited about it. We asked him who he wanted to baptize him and he couldn't decide. He was like, maybe Elder Mielke because he is more my height, but maybe Elder L, because it would look good getting baptized by somebody taller, haha. He makes me laugh. Relu was doing really well, but then he didn't come to church and he didn't answer last night or this morning. The same thing happened last weekend, that we couldn't get a hold of him for a couple days, so hopefully it works out and he is doing well.
The branch is still pretty interesting. We met with President Iachimov lachimov last Monday and it was super good. He is well aware of the problems here and basically the way that we can help is by meeting members and letting them feel the Holy Ghost. He taught us a lot more than we taught him and he gave us the idea of writing a 5 minute talk every morning making a scripture chain. I've been doing it and it is really effective and helps to know the scriptures a lot better. I try to focus on the Bible, because I know it the least.
In sacrament meeting, a member bore his testimony on how another member is possessed by the devil and that we all need to pray for her. So yeah, there are definitely still problems in the branch, many of them revolving around the membr that said that. After he said that, President Iachimov stood up and corrected it, which was really good.
I definitely do not get fed much here at all. It was better in Iasi and much better in Timisoara. It has been a downhill process, unfortunately. My apartment here is way nice, just because my companion and I have done so much cleaning. I really love it and it will be sad if I have to leave soon, because of all the hard work put in. There are a lot of differences between Buch and Iasi, but mostly with the language. People speak faster here for example. And generally, a lot more correct. They seem a little more closed off here, too, but of course there are friendly people everywhere. We found a couple new people that hopefully we can start teaching. I'll fill you in more next week as they progress.
Ok, well, it is an extremely beautiful day and I think I am going to go now. have a great week all!
Elder Ross
This week went by with record speed and I don't understand how, because I am sure just a couple days ago my district and I were getting pumped up for the best transfer ever and it is getting near to a close. Anywho, it was a really good week and my companion and I worked really hard.
On Wednesday we had zone conference, which was amazingly good. The zone leaders did the most planned, put together presentation that I have ever seen. There was a lot of talk on becoming more effective, using time more wisely and lot of good missionary how-to, from their presentation and from the other ones. It was a good day and pumped me up a bit.
Thursday, my companion had his birthday. I talked to Elder Valentine about doing a surprise party for him and that we would have a "district meeting" at a certain time. So we go to the church and our whole district is there(except for Elder Valentine) and the whole other distrist on our side of Buch was there, too, and every single one of them thought we really were having district meeting, because that is what Elder Valentine told them. So it was like the worst surprise ever, at least we had brownies and then later the sisters brought out a cake. It ended being pretty fun, but it sure didn't start out right. Lol, I have no idea what Elder Valentine was thinking. It was supposed to be a surprise for my companion not for everyone else. He did show up later and with some soda.
Our investigators are doing pretty well. Victor is all set to go for his baptism this next Sunday, he is pretty excited about it. We asked him who he wanted to baptize him and he couldn't decide. He was like, maybe Elder Mielke because he is more my height, but maybe Elder L, because it would look good getting baptized by somebody taller, haha. He makes me laugh. Relu was doing really well, but then he didn't come to church and he didn't answer last night or this morning. The same thing happened last weekend, that we couldn't get a hold of him for a couple days, so hopefully it works out and he is doing well.
The branch is still pretty interesting. We met with President Iachimov lachimov last Monday and it was super good. He is well aware of the problems here and basically the way that we can help is by meeting members and letting them feel the Holy Ghost. He taught us a lot more than we taught him and he gave us the idea of writing a 5 minute talk every morning making a scripture chain. I've been doing it and it is really effective and helps to know the scriptures a lot better. I try to focus on the Bible, because I know it the least.
In sacrament meeting, a member bore his testimony on how another member is possessed by the devil and that we all need to pray for her. So yeah, there are definitely still problems in the branch, many of them revolving around the membr that said that. After he said that, President Iachimov stood up and corrected it, which was really good.
I definitely do not get fed much here at all. It was better in Iasi and much better in Timisoara. It has been a downhill process, unfortunately. My apartment here is way nice, just because my companion and I have done so much cleaning. I really love it and it will be sad if I have to leave soon, because of all the hard work put in. There are a lot of differences between Buch and Iasi, but mostly with the language. People speak faster here for example. And generally, a lot more correct. They seem a little more closed off here, too, but of course there are friendly people everywhere. We found a couple new people that hopefully we can start teaching. I'll fill you in more next week as they progress.
Ok, well, it is an extremely beautiful day and I think I am going to go now. have a great week all!
Elder Ross
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