Evening with the LaBarge Family! February 14, 2009

On Valentine's Day, President Lundberg, Joshua, and I went to dinner at the home of the LaBarge family. They are a great family who are members of the church and attend the Panduri Ward. Their father, Blair, works for the American Embassy, and their mom, Evonne, is the new Primary President. Joshua has enjoyed getting to know their children when we attend church in Bucharest. We had a fun evening visiting and eating an American meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chips, etc. The children had a great time playing video games together, also.

Brandon, Amanda, Alex, and Joshua turn from their Wii game to get their picture taken.

Blair, Brandon, Amanda, Evonne, Alex, Joshua, and President Lundberg

Vorbim Româneşte---puţin.

Sora Turner, Sora Lundberg, Sora Dillon, and Sora Hansen

Okay, I know this is pretty funny. Three of the senior sisters and I have Romanian language study classes twice a week, and I am teaching them. Go ahead and laugh. I'm sure you are wondering how one who cannot speak Romanian can possibly be teaching these classes. Well, all I know is that I teach them some of the things I have learned, and they like the class and say they are learning. When we sang "De Tine Am Nevoie" in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, I had to turn, catch Sora Hansen's eye, and almost give her a "thumbs up" because we both know how to sing this song from memory now.

Zone Conference in Braşov! February 7, 2009

It's always such a wonderful experience to attend zone conference. The missionaries are so excited to see each other and catch up on how everyone is doing. There is always a great spirit in our meetings as we learn about becoming better missionaries. This particular zone conference was really great as we got to take our daughter, Erika, with us and introduce her to many of our great missionaries!

Elder Roundy, Elder Harwood, Elder Nelson, and Elder Burch gather in the foyer to eat and visit.

Joshua, Elder Holmes, Elder Castro, Sora and Elder Van Noy, and Elder Davis enjoy nachos and cheese---something we rarely find in Romania!

Sora Taylor, Elder DeGuzman, Sora Smith, Elder Patterson, and Sora Howard pause for a photo!

Elder Letham, Elder Horgmo, Elder Rakozy, Sora Ostler, Elder Grimmius, and Elder Eyre

Elder Frew, Elder O'Connell, Elder McKinlay, Elder Carroll, and Elder Schwartz

One thing I think is really fun is when we have large groups of missionaries get together and you can quickly see that members of the MTC groups seek each other out. The missionaries generally develop a close comraderie at the MTC that lasts throughout their mission. It's great to see their love for one another and the excitement they show when an MTC friend shows up!

Sora Smith, wearing a blindfold, is trying to listen to the right voice to get her back to her hidden camera. Important lessons were learned about our needing to tune in to the spirit and follow it, always blocking out those things that would lead us in the wrong direction.

Sora Taylor and Sora Smith, companions serving in Brasov!

Erika Comes to Visit! Hooray!!!

Our beautiful daughter, Erika Banks, came to visit us on February 4. She was able to stay for a week. Erika is our fifth child, teaches 5th grade, and is living in our home with her husband, Justin. Erika and Justin are expecting their first child in May. While Erika's school class was off track, and Justin was still busy in school, Erika came to see us for a week. It was so great to have that one-on-one time with her, which is a rare happening with a lot of children. Erika was able to have lots of missionary experiences with us while she was here---riding the train to Brasov, attending zone conference, witnessing a beautiful baptism, attending language study classes with the office staff ladies and her mom, etc. We love you, Erika. Thanks for coming!

Mom and Erika enjoy a week together!

Joshua was thrilled to have Erika come. He made her a little valentine on scratch paper that said, "Erika, I love you dearly!" Joshua misses Erika a lot.

Erika, Joshua, and the pigeons in Brasov!


We bought flowers from a little lady on the street in Brasov for Erika!

Family photo at the center of town in Brasov.

Mom, Erika, and Oana.

Oana runs a tiny store which is 30 seconds from our front door. She sells a little bit of everything there. I walk over daily to get fresh bread from her. She is very sweet and we have become good friends. I made sure that Erika got to meet her.

Joshua makes bread!

Joshua's school class went on a field trip to a bread factory. A few days later, the class had to bring the ingredients to make bread to school (as well as a bowl to mix it in.) Joshua dropped the bowl at school, however, and it broke. He then told me it would be okay and said, "Haven't you ever heard of tape?" The bowl did come home, with pieces missing in it, and lots of tape on it.

The dough also came home so we could bake it in our own oven. Joshua wanted to put lots of designs in it---which he did. The bread tasted great, looked fancy, and was a fun experience. I quietly put the repaired bowl in the garbage!

Last, but not least! Number 18 arrives!

I wanted to make sure that I got a picture of Elder Allphin on the blog. He is part of our huge MTC group that arrived in January. 16 of the 18 arrived together, and the other two were a couple weeks behind the group because of medical delays. We have the entire bunch here now, and they are a great group. Elder Allphin is serving here in Bucharest and is a great addition to our mission!

He's Back!!!

On Tuesday, February 17, Elder Manzione returned to us from his surgery in Germany. It was SOOOO wonderful to see him again. He is now serving this transfer as an office elder with Elder Thompson. He is not to be in heavily populated crowds for a month, while his face continues to heal. We have to keep him from getting sinuitis! He has a tube from his forehead that goes down into his nose that he will have for a couple months. I told him that now he won't have to worry about people always staring at his missionary badge---he has another good conversation piece!


We had a testimony meeting the night Elder Manzione returned because it was Elder Pattersen's last night in the mission field. It was very touching when Elder Manzione bore a beautiful testimony about his experience. He said that he only remembered the car coming at him, and then finding himself on the ground. He then said, "When I was able to move my legs and arms, I knew that I would be able to complete my mission." Elder Manzione is so happy to be back and we are thrilled to have him. He is a daily reminder that the Lord answers our prayers!

Heavenly Father Blesses His Missionaries!

Doctor, Elder Manzione, and companion, Elder Hale in Romanian hospital

I debated at one point whether or not to put this story on my blog. I did not want to worry you mothers out there. However, I decided that it was important to let you know that we feel so strongly that Heavenly Father is watching out for our missionaries and that miracles truly do happen.

A few weeks ago, on a cold, dark night, Elder Manzione was hit by a car. He and his companion, Elder Hale, had been walking through the crosswalk, already having passed the lane of traffic that had stopped for them. Elder Manzione was about to step into the lane where the tramvai tracks run, when a car raced through that lane, impatient to stop behind the waiting cars, and hit Elder Manzione. Elder Hale, a step or two behind Elder Manizione, yelled to him quickly, and as Elder Manzione turned to face the car, the car ran straight into him. Elder Manzione's face was smashed into the windshield we believe, and his body was carried several feet before he rolled to the ground and the car sped off.

Elder Manzione was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Elder Hale followed in a police car some time later (he wasn't allowed to travel with his companion.) President Lundberg and the assistants headed immediately to the hospital as well.

X-rays were taken that night, and we were told that Elder Manzione had only a broken nose. He also had a few cuts on his face and legs. Elder Hale said that he was totally surprised that Elder Manzione didn't have every bone in his body broken, with the way the car hit him and at such speed.

Now, the first part of the miracle is this. A few days before the accident, President Lundberg had received an email from our son who works at the MTC. He said, "Dad, remind the missionaries how many people pray for them everyday. The whole MTC prays for the missionaries, the temples throughout the world pray daily for them, the church members everywhere, and of course, their own families." So families out there. know that the Lord intervenes and is watching over your missionaries. We have felt the Lord's hand several times in Elder Manzione's situation.

Elder Manzione was released the next day. He came to the Mission Home along with his companion for a couple days. On Saturday night, Elder Manzione said he was ready to go home. He went to church on Sunday, and to the internet cafe on Monday, but by Monday afternoon, started to not feel so good. He was extremely tired and had a dull headache.

I made many calls that afternoon to the doctor here, our church doctor in Germany, and the doctors in Salt Lake were also brought into the picture. We all felt there was more that needed checking. President Lundberg went late that night (after all our many conference calls and conversations) and brought Elder Manzione back to the mission home for a few hours and then put him on a plane to go to Frankfurt, Germany. One of our senior missionaries, Elder Hanson, accompanied him.

Tests were done in Germany and more fractures were found in Elder Manzione's face. Surgery was performed the next day. All went well.

The day after surgery, while lying in his hospital bed, Elder Manzione placed two Books of Mormon. There was a doctor from Korea that listened to Elder Manzione's message, and the mission office in Frankfurt happened to have a Korean Book of Mormon. Also, there was a cleaning lady from Romania who also listened to the message and took of Book of Mormon. This past Sunday, Elder Manzione was released from the hospital and needed to stay a few more days in Germany for follow-up doctor appointments. While waiting, he was able to go teach another Romanian that is living in Germany.

President Lundberg and I have checked on him every day or two throughout this ordeal. Last night, the news was that all looked well and Elder Manzione will be returning to us in the next couple days. He sounds great and is excited to return to Romania. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father who looked out for this faithful missionary. And, we are so proud of Elder Manzione. We have not heard one negative word out of him through this whole situation. With both eyes swollen shut, and a black and blue face, he always had a smile and kind words of gratitude. There has been no bitterness about his situation at all.

I'm sure the people who listened to this young man must have felt something different. I'm sure they wondered how could a twenty year old that had just had plates and screws put into his face want to talk. They had to have recognized the power of the message that Elder Manzione shared. Thanks for being such a great example to all of us, Elder Manzione. We love you and look forward to having you back with us. You are our miracle!

(I should have posted this on the miracle blog, but I wanted to make sure that you all saw it. Several of the daily miracles that happen in this mission are being posted on: romaniamissionmiracles.blogspot.com You can click up in the left hand corner of this blog to get there, or go directly to it. )

Joshua's Buddy!

This is Joshua with his best friend, Sunny Chen. Sunny is in Joshua's school class and they play together every day at recess. Sunny is from China. I had driven to Joshua's school one late afternoon to pick him up after a school party. (Thank goodness for Sora Rees who accompanied me and for the GPS to help us find our way through the scary Bucharest traffic). I was glad to finally be able to meet Sunny.

January Zone Conferences!

Zone conferences are always a wonderful time. I missed the first two this round, however. The first one was held in Chisinau, Moldova, and because Joshua does not have an extended stay visa, and his new Romanian passport had not arrived, we were not able to take him out of the country. President Lundberg said he wished I could have been there, however, for all that happened that weekend. A district was formed in Moldova that included the three branches: Chisinau, Orhei, and Iasi. President Vârlan, former branch president of the Chisinau Branch, was made District President. Elder Wondra, an area seventy from Germany, was there for the wonderful occasion. Zone conference was also held on Saturday, the day before the district formation.

The next zone conference was held in Bucharest. However, Joshua came home from school the night before saying he didn't feel well. The next morning, he had a fairly high fever. We both stayed in that day and spent time together. President Lundberg said the zone conference went well.

I did make it to the third zone conference, which was held in Bucharest as well. Joshua and I both went to the fourth zone conference, traveling through the night by train. We had our first experience on the vagon de dormit (sleeping wagon.) It was lots of fun. Joshua slept on the top bunk, and I was below him. I woke up several times during the night, and could hear the wind outside and see Joshua's blanket slipping further and further off his bed and down towards me. However, he slept great through the night and we were picked up early the next morning by "Dad" and the assistants in Timisoara. We then made the hour drive by car to Arad where the conference was held.

Our final zone conference was held in Brasov, where two zones combined. That will be a later post!

Joshua wakes up on his top bunk on the "sleeper train."

Joshua accompanied Elder Campbell and Elder Frandsen to do some missionary work in Arad. They immediately found a man on the street who took a Book of Mormon and said he would bring his wife to church on Sunday.

Missionaries prepare to head back to work after zone conference in Arad.

L-r: Elder Taylor, Elder Smith, Elder Bailey, Elder Anderson, Elder Platt, Elder Frandsen, Elder Ward, and Elder Jensen, with Joshua in front.

Companions, Sora Kiss-Maxim and Sora Gibbons, pose with Elder Divis.

Elder Cantlon, Sora Hanson, Elder Burrows, Elder Miles, Elder Zemp, and Elder Ellsworth at the completion of a great zone conference.

Elder Nightingale, Elder Richey, and Elder Andersen attend a Bucharest zone conference.

Elder Fromm, Sora Poulsen, and Sora Kimball enjoy time together at zone conference.

Elder Johnson, Elder Morgan, and Elder Burrows are missionaries serving in Piteşti.

Sora Poulsen, Sora Kimball, Elder Nightingale, and Elder Richey presented a beautiful musical number. I didn't know they all had such great voices! It was wonderful.

Elder McBride (center) just said something funny, I'm sure. He always does! Elder Ritz (l) and Elder Woodard (r) listen in! All our missionaries are great!

Missionaries in Bucharest!

Missionaries probably get their pictures taken more by me when they are serving in Bucharest. It's not that I don't love ALL the missionaries, it's just that I see the Bucharest ones more often. Those missionaries come to the Mission Home for interviews, to pick up water filters, for certain meetings, etc. I also see them at church when we are here in town as well as at the Mission Office on occasion.

Elder Hruska, Sora Thompson, Sora Jones, Elder Porter, Sora Staley, and Elder Bunting sing while Elder Thompson accompanies them and Joshua looks on!

This was a recent Sunday evening when Bucharest missionaries had come to our home for interviews. Some had just arrived, while others were on their way out the door. They pause to sing a hymn together. They almost sound like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It really does sound like angels to me!

Elder Eliason, Elder Harley, Elder O'Connell, and Elder Holmes stop in at the Mission Office on preparation day.

Sora Turner is a new missionary that arrived the first part of January. She will be working in the mission office. Welcome aboard, Sora Turner.

Missionary Gatherings!

There are always lots of times when our missionaries get together--zone conferences, mission council, interviews, etc. Sometimes the groups are small, and sometimes a little larger. No matter the number, we are always thrilled to be with the missionaries.

Zone leaders having lunch at the Mission Home!

We usually have two of the sister missionaries join for this meeting.

Elder Burch, Elder Letham, Elder Eyre, Elder Roundy,

Elder Campbell, and Elder Bunting visit while they eat!

Staff meeting at the office. This group works hard each day to keep the mission running smoothly. (l to r: Elder Roundy, Elder Davis, Sora Turner, Elder Thompson, Sora Dillon, Sora Nelson, Sora Rees, Elder Stromberg, Elder Rees, President Lundberg)

Elder Wyckoff finally arrives. He is #17 of his MTC group of 18 to arrive. He meets a few missionaries at the mission home before he heads with his new companion, Elder Grant, to face the streets of Bucharest! (l to r: Elder McBride, Elder Woodard, Elder Roundy, Elder Grant, Elder Wyckoff, Elder Davis, President Lundberg)

Trip to Ploiesti. President Lundberg and the assistants travelled to Ploiesti to have interviews with our great missionaries serving there. (l to r: Elder O'Connell, Elder Holmes, Elder Schwartz, Elder Patterson, Elder Roundy, President Lundberg. In front: Sora Howard and Sora Benson.)

Elder O'Connell and Elder Holmes meet with assistants for a companionship interview. This happens after their personal interview with President Lundberg.

Transfer Week--- New Missionaries Arrive Late!!! January 7, 2009

The first week of January brought great excitement to the mission as we anticipated the arrival of an extremely large group of missionaries. There were eighteen missionaries in the MTC group, with two of them needing to come a little later because of medical issues. However, a group of sixteen missionaries was still the largest group we had ever received. The office staff had worked for a few months to be ready for the big arrival--bus rented, appointments made for extended visas, temporary companions ready for the first night, etc. However, the group missed their connection in Paris because of bad weather in Boston. The group was then rerouted from Paris to Amsterdam, where they again were delayed, spending the night in the airport. Finally, after two days of travel, we received this tired, but happy group of missionaries. They are all amazing and we are thrilled to have them!

Sixteen new missionaries arrive!

New missionaries sing a musical number at their transfer meeting

(held a day after the rest of the mission's transfer meeting).

Another view!

Elder Morgan meets his first companion, Elder Fitzgerald.

Elder Carrell meets Elder McKinley before they head to Sibiu!

Elder Wilde prepares to head back into the cold after transfer meeting.

Two New Granddaughters!

Charlotte Laurie Lundberg

Born: September 27, 2008

Brynlee April Dalton

Born: November 3, 2008

One of the blessings of this past year that has happened since our arrival in the mission field was the birth of two beautiful granddaughters! We look forward to meeting them both someday! Welcome to the family, precious babies!