The Wedding Party! December 31, 2008

The wedding party was held at a very nice restaurant in Sibiu. There was lots of good food, dancing, and entertainment. Fireworks were set off at midnight to celebrate the wedding and to welcome in the New Year. A good time was had by all!

Luminiţa, Lucian, and their daughter, Casi! What a great family!
We had fun at the table eating, talking, and watching the dancing. We also played "Wink," where the person who is "it" catches the others by winking at them. It kept Joshua entertained for a long time!

President and Sora Dobrin serve as godfather and godmother at the wedding!

Elder Nightingale, Elder Roundy, and Elder Benson! Missionaries get tired early!

Joshua crashed as well! He was in bed before the New Year arrived!

New Year's Eve Wedding!

We had a very memorable New Year's Eve. President Carpenean and his wife, Luminita were married. The assistants joined President Lundberg, Joshua, and I for a trip to Sibiu for this fun evening. It was so much fun to see what Romanian weddings are like. We began at the home of President Carpenean's mother. Family members, friends, the missionaries, and us gathered in the living room where we were served food and drinks. There were musicians there playing the accordian and saxophone. We got acquainted and then a traditional departure was said by President Carpenean. His mother said some things to him in Romanian about loving him and raising him. He then thanked his mother for raising him and said it was now time for him to move on and create his own home. His mother teared up, and his little grandma and her sister cried (which was so sweet and made me cry, too) and then we all filed out for the next spot.
We then went to the hotel and picked up the Godmother and Godfather, which were President and Sora Dobrin. President Dobrin is the district president over the district in which President Carpenean serves.

After that, we went to Luminitza's home. That is the first that we saw her. Pictures were taken there and there was more food and drink. She looked beautiful.

Next we went to the church, where there was a religious devotional. Sora Dobrin spoke on marriage, President Lundberg spoke on eternal marriage, and I spoke on family prayer. Most the people there were non-members, so it was a good chance for them to learn a little about this new family that was created and what they believed.

The women at President Carpenean's home---first stop of the wedding celebration!

Musicians playing music at our first stop. These men actually came with us as we went from place to place, playing as they went. It was really fun!

Now, I absolutely LOVE these next two pictures. I asked Pres. C's grandma and her sister if I could take their picture. They both said yes. So, I got the camera out and they posed exactly like this. After I clicked it, I said in my very limited Romanian, "Acum, zâmbeşte!" That means, "Now, smile." They both burst out laughing and I got the next picture.

I love this! Aren't they great!!!

Elder Benson and Elder Nightingale, the two Sibiu missionaries, and Elder Davis, enjoy the fun at our first stop.

Christmas Day!

Joshua gets help from Elder Davis in putting together the ferris wheel K'nex that he received for Christmas from one of his sister Maren's family!

The missionaries in Bucharest were invited to come to the Mission Home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day if they wanted. On Christmas Day, we ate, played games, and watched the movie, "Forever Strong." It is a touching moving about Highland High School's rugby team. Elder Roundy and Elder Manzione were both members of that team and were both in the movie. Elder Roundy even had the line, "Thanks, Coach" which I think wore him out as you can see from the picture above!

We all played the game, "This is a What!" It is fast moving and a lot of talk. Still pictures do not do this game justice. However, you can see that everyone was having a good time with it.

More, "This is a What" photos.

Missionaries lounging around the mission home on Christmas Day.

Christmas Morning! December 25, 2008

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. Joshua was hopeful that Santa Clause would know for sure that he was in Romania. Some of the older boys on his bus had told him that Santa Clause was not real, and Joshua told them that wasn't true. When Joshua came downstairs on Christmas morning, he found a big pile of wrapped presents waiting for him under the tree. His first words were, "Tahdas (16 year old from Lithuania who rides Joshua's bus) was wrong. Look at this!" It is sure great to have so many brothers, sisters, and grandparents in our family who love and miss Joshua!

Joshua is glad to see that Santa Clause found him!

The assistants and office elders surprised President Lundberg with breakfast on Christmas morning. Not only was that a very kind thing to do, but they had been given permission to sleep in until 8:00 that morning. However, at 8:00 am, they arrived with an amazing meal!

Moms of Elder Davis, Elder Roundy, Elder Stromberg, and Elder Thompson---you should be proud of what good cooks yours sons are. I was amazed. They had homemade orange rolls, eggs, hashbrowns, big fluffy pancakes, homemade maple syrup, juice, and a fruit dish that could go on the pancakes. I was impressed---as was President Lundberg!! And they brought so much, we were able to eat it for a few days!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas traditions are an importart of the holiday celebration. Having a child with us in the mission field helps us to remember that there are some things that need to stay constant. And one of those things is having a Christmas Nativity Program on Christmas Eve.

The missionaries serving in Bucharest were invited to come to the Mission Home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day if they wanted. On Christmas Eve, we played games, ate food, and enjoyed a Christmas Nativity complete with appropriate Christmas carols. Sora Hansen brought the music and orchestrated the Nativity part of the evening. We all had a great time being together and thinking about that first Christmas so long ago.

Sheep, in standing position! Elder Thompson, Elder Roundy, Elder Stromberg

Wise men! Elder Miles, Elder McKinley, and Elder McBride! I guess Elder McBride was so wise he fell asleep!

Shepherds, sheep, Joseph, Mary, Star, Angels, and Wisemen!

A Christmas pageant never to be forgotten!

Christmas Service Projects!

We encouraged the missionaries to spend time throughout the holdiays doing service wherever possible. The missionaries came up with lots of wonderful ideas on how to make the holidays a little brighter for others. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of all those events. We are hoping to gather their videos and put them together to show at an upcoming zone conference. We do have one picture below that shows a wonderful project that was done in Cluj for an orphanage of 120 children, I believe. Vali, a member of the church, and Elder and Sora Jessee, senior missionaires, headed up this project. There were toys, pajamas, goodies, and much more for all the children in the orphanage. Friends and family of the Jessees back home donated the wonderful presents and money to make Christmas so special at the orphanage.

Joshua and his dad went on the Metro and around Bucharest on Christmas Eve afternoon wishing people a Merry Christmas in Romanian and giving them a candy cane. There were lots of happy, surprised faces on people when this young American boy approached them with his holiday greeting. Ladies at the flower shop were happy!

The street cleaner was surprised---and then had a big smile!

The guard at the Mission Home is our friend. He was a recipient of banana bread.

Good-bye, Dear Missionaries!

We had a wonderful, LARGE group of missionaries go home on December 23. What a special Christmas present for those waiting families!!! We gathered the day before for our traditional "last day in the mission" routine. These missionaries were faithful, dedicated, and loved! They will be missed!

Last group photo before heading for home!

Breakfast at the Mission Home!

Sora Runyan, Sora Petersen, Elder Kirk, Elder Williams and Elder Rose enjoy their last day together before they all head for home.

I absolutely love this picture and said that I needed to get a photo of these socks worn on the last day in the mission field. These socks, and feet, have seen a lot of miles. And with those miles, came stories, miracles, testimonies, disappointments, joys, lessons of life, and a deep understanding of what this gospel is really all about! Good luck to all you missionaries. You are ready to face the world!

Senic Heads to MTC!

Senic Sargsean is a wonderful young man that left Romania on December 15, 2008 to head to Provo, Utah where he will spend the next two months training to be a missionary. Senic is Armenian, lived with his family in Moldova, speaks Armenian, Russian, and English, and will now serve a mission in Ukraine, speaking Ukrainian. Senic will be a great missionary and we wish him well!

Brethren who participated in Senic's setting apart: Back: Elder Roundy, Elder Hansen, (Senic), President Lundberg, Elder Thompson. Front: Elder Stromberg and Elder Davis.

Documentary on the Missionaries in Romania.

A TV reporter in Romania wanted to do a favorable TV documentary on the Mormon Missionaries in Romania. The reporter followed Elder Campbell and Elder Miles around as they did missionary work. The reporter also interviewed a few other missionaries, President Doru, a district president in Bucharest, Elder Van Noy, one of our senior missionaries, and President Lundberg. We were pleased with the program and happy that many people in Romania got a better insight to the work we are doing here.

Elder Campbell and Elder Miles did a fantastic job on ProTv. They are both great missionaries who love the gospel---and it showed! Afterwards, many people on the street have recognized them!

President Lundberg was asked about missionary work, polygamy, and baptisms for the dead. The TV station had an Orthodox Priest respond immediately following President Lundberg's answers. Apparently, the TV station did not want the documentary to air without the Orthodox religion's views on things presented.

President Lundberg was recognized early the following morning at the airport when he was sending off a missionary. The lady checking in baggage said, "Hey, I saw you last night on TV!"

The 15-minute segment on the missionaries was played last on the program. The segment earlier, had girls immodestly dressed and with an inappropriate presentation. While we waited for the program on the missionaries, I threw my apron over the tv and turned down the sound, telling the missionaries to NOT look toward the TV. They all obeyed!

Christmas Gatherings with the Missionaries! December 2008

This year we had three two-day "zone conferences" during December. The first day began at 2pm, and we had a social where we played games, enjoyed dinner, had a gift exchange of ties and scarves, and ended with a Christmas Program. The districts were assigned a "Classic of Christmas" and each presented it in their own way on our Christmas Program. There was a lot of creativity shown and everyone seemed to have a great time.

The second day we had regular Zone Conference. It was a spiritual day and we focused on the Savior. I always come away from those meetings feeling uplifted and motivated to do more. I love being with the missionaries and feeling of their strength and testimonies.

I've tried to get some pictures of many of them at their zone conferences. Because I have posted so many, you may need to go into "older posts" to see more. If you haven't seen your favorite missionary here for a while, please let me know and I will make sure to get a picture of him or her. All the missionaries are alive and well, and I want to make sure you occasionally see that for yourself!

The picture here is a little dark, but there is always a feeling of light at our zone conferences.
The singing at our zone conferences is always so beautiful. Everyone loves the message that they hymns bring to our meetings.

More December Zone Conferences!

Zone conference in the west part of the country.

Senior couples, Brysons and Edwards, await zone conference!

Missionaries prepare for the spiritual uplift found at zone conferences!

Zone leaders, Elder Hardman and Elder Patterson, Lundbergs, Elder Davis and Elder Roundy

Joshua, with his good buddy, Elder Andersen

Christmas Party Fun!

Elder Loveland, Elder Jeffrey, Elder Kirk and a circle of missionaries have a fun game of Pit!
Elder Burrows enjoys a group game with the other missionaries!

Sora Smith and Elder Divis work on a Christmas puzzle.

Elder Platt, Elder Stromberg, Elder Foote, and Elder Thompson participate in a skit where they visit Santa!

More fun at the Christmas party! December 2008

Playing games at the Christmas party!

Around the circle: Sora Shepard, Sora and Elder Jessee, Elder Mielke, Elder Sumbot, Elder Rigdon, Sora Simkins, Elder Sorensen
Elder Rigdon in our "Clue Charades" game!

Elder Mielke acting out his clue!

Elder Grimmius had everybody in stitches with his acting!

More Christmas Party Pictures!

Elder Sorensen, Elder Sumbot, and Elder Rigdon act out a final interview with the mission president before returning home to become an RM! This was part of their skit!

Sora Shepherd, Elder Mielke, Elder Sumbot, Elder Rigdon, Elder Sorenson and Sora Simkins end their skit with a clever song!

Elder Smith, Joshua, Elder Cantlon , Elder Anderson, and Sora Richards doing their skit.

Elder Grimmius plays the guitar while Elder Bailey, Sora Runyan, Sora Peterson, Elder Wilde, and Elder Cantlon sing.

Elder Grant plays the guitar while his district sings.
Sora Ostler, Elder Horgmo, Elder Castro, Elder Garrett, and Sora Garff