Friendship Friday!

Sora Turner, Betty, Elder Boyd, Elder Anderson, Cristian, Elder Campbell, Elder Bailey, Pres. L, Sora Dillon

We started a new thing this summer called Friendship Friday. The office staff, Pres. Lundberg, and I encourage each other to find new people for the missionaries to teach. We then invite them to the mission home on Friday night where we get to know each other and share testimonies about the gospel. The investigator gets the opportunity to meet missionaries who can teach them the gospel in Romanian. We've also included new members in our Friday night gatherings. The office missionaries are grateful for the opportunity to continue to teach the gospel in addition to performing their office duties, and the rest of us enjoy being a part of the missionary experience. We also enjoy eating good food!

Cristian, pictured above, came to our first Friendship Friday. He was baptized a few weeks later. He is a great young man, and we are thrilled that he is has found the gospel!

Mission Council--June 25!

Mission Council always follows transfer day. The zone leaders and two sisters come to the Mission Home for a several hour meeting. Ideas are discussed and council given on how to improve the mission and move forward in taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Romania!

Elder Zemp, Elder McBride, Elder Collier, Elder Nelson, Elder Barclay, and Elder Manzione

Elder DeGuzman, Elder Nightingale, Sora Staley, Sora Gibbons, Elder Stromberg, and Elder Bennett

June Changes!

One thing that is constant in the mission is CHANGE! The biggest changes happen every six weeks at transfer time. A group of new missionaries from the MTC landed in Bucharest on the afternoon of June 23. That same day, we had our "last day" activities for the group of missionaries flying home the next morning. This time we had 3 missionaries arrive in the new group and 12 missionaries leave.

We greeted our three new missionaries: Sora Vasileva (from Ukraine), Sora Gaughran (from England), and Elder Vogelsberg (from Texas). We're glad to have them here!

Another amazing group goes home: Elder Eliason, Elder Burch, Elder Letham, Elder Wilde, Elder Fitzgerald, Elder Miles, Elder Davis, Elder MacKinley, Sora Taylor, Sora McKnight, and Elder Thompson.

Our office staff made a great breakfast for the missionaries going home!

Sora Dillon, Sora Rees, and Elder Rees---with Joshua!

Thanks for the help and the great pancakes.

Elder Burch's family comes to pick him up!

Elder Burch and brother, Nate, are reacquainted!

The gang visit one last time after tesimony meeting.

Elder Eyre (left) visits with his dad and sister who came to see Romania and take Elder Eyre home. Elder Eyre's mom is hidden behind Elder Davis!

Elder Thompson and his parents! It was fun to see them reunited!

More June Happenings!

On our visit to Craiova, President Lundberg and I went on a Saturday evening walk. One of the many things I love about Romania, is the abundance of flowers. There are flower stands everywhere, and people often give flowers to each other. Here is one such beautiful sight!

President Lundberg, Sister and Brother Radalescu, Elder Grimmius,

Elder Bunting, Brother Spooner, Elder Ritz, Elder Jensen, and

Sister Spooner!

We attended church on Sunday with the small "group" that meets in Craiova. A branch has not been formed there yet. Afterwards, the Spooners, an American couple whose husband works for Ford in Craiova, invited us to dinner. We had a delicious meal and a fun visit. The Spooners were married on the exact day we were married--April 19, 1974! We all celebrated our 35th Anniversary this year.

Joshua's drama club had a year end performance. It was the story of a Greek myth, I believe!


Brother and Sister Bryson finished their mission and headed for home. They were both such a blessing to the mission and we miss them very much!

The office staff and a few missionaries wandering through the office at lunch time went to a

nearby restaurant for a final lunch with the Brysons.

Elder DeGuzman and Elder Burch enjoy watermelon after their interview!

Elder Morgan, Elder Eliason, and Elder Smith also take a few minutes to enjoy snacks before meeting with President Lundberg for their 6-week interview!

Elder Eliason and Elder Smith pose with Radu, a new member in

Bucharest! Welcome, Radu!!!

Joshua holds a new friend found in our backyard. Mr. Hoppy was to be Joshua's new pet, but somehow hopped away within three hours of his arrival.

Don't give Joshua warts, Mr. Hoppy!

Buzescu! June 6, 2009

On Saturday afternoon, President Lundberg and I headed out of town to go to Craiova. We try to get to the various branches throughout the mission, and it had been a while since we had visited Craiova. Sora Dillon offered to keep Joshua for the night, and Joshua was excited to stay with her. On the way to Craiova, we had to drive through a town called Buzescu. It is one of a kind. We learned while there, that the town had been featured the Sunday evening before on a TV program.

Buzescu has one main street that is lined with big, expensive, ornate homes. There is a lot of metal work in the decor of the homes (roofs, fences and gates, etc.) The yards were well-kept, and most homes had long driveways that led to big garages in the back of their yards.

View of gypsy homes!

Other side of the street!

Notice the metal roofs!

I commented to President Lundberg that these people obviously had a lot of money. We walked up and down one street and then had a good chuckle as we passed this house that had this emblem on the ceiling of the front porch!

There was a family out front of one home and we stopped to talk. We soon became friends. When they found out that we had seven children, the father said, "You are a gypsy!" I finally dared to ask them how they made their money.

The answer was.....whiskey! They make and sell whiskey out in stills in their garages. They invited us back and showed us their operation. They also make copper pots of all sizes. They tried to sell me one for 450 euros. (I think that's around $700) When I refused, they kept offering smaller kettles. I finally explained that we were missionaries and did not make money to spend.

I had thought at first that perhaps we could get a little branch started in this town, but when I learned about their careers, I figured they might not be quite ready for such a change! Anyway, it was an interesting experience.

Children's Day at International School of Bucharest

Joshua's school had a fun celebration in honor of Children's Day, a national holiday. It was an outdoor carnival-type event. There were many booths and activities available in which children could participate. The proceeds are to be used for new equipment of some sort for the school.

Joshua and friends discuss where to spent their next tickets.

Painting rocks looks like a good choice.

Being lowered from the third floor of the school in the main corridor was a popular activity.

Constanţa---here we come! May 30-31, 2009

After the Primary Activity (see next post), we packed our overnight bags and headed to Constanţa. We try to get around to the various branches throughout the mission, and we hadn't been to Constanţa for a long time. We had received a lot of rain the past week, and it poured buckets of rain as we left Bucharest. However, when we got to Constanţa during the late afternoon, the weather was cool but it was not raining. Our hotel was not far from the vila (church building) and was on the beach. We took the opportunity to go for a stroll along the beach and to eat dinner at a restaurant where we could look out at the waves of the Black Sea. We even got the name and phone number of the waitress to give to the sister missionaries the next day at church.
It was a great little outing for us!

View of the Black Sea from our hotel room.
Another view!

Joshua decided to do a little bungee jumping!

What goes up, must come down!

Primary in Constanţa!

The Primary in the branch that day consisted of five American children. The three girls on the left were there for their first Sunday and would be staying for the summer. Shelby Lynn, the little girl next to Joshua, has been in Constanţa for a year with her parents and little brother. Both fathers of the girls work for the same American company. Shelby Lynn was glad to have company.

District Activity for Children! May 30, 2009

The Bucharest District Primary held an activity for the children in honor of Children's Day, a national holiday here in Romania. Children of members and investigators came to the Panduri Chapel for a fun Saturday morning event. A clown was there with lots of games and activities for the children. There was also food and handouts at the end of the activity. The children had a great time!

Children are captivated by the clown and her fun personality!

Joshua enjoyed the activities, but was the last to understand since they were all done in Romanian.

There are some games that need no language!

Cooking with Sora Gorzo! May 29, 2009

I told Sora Gorzo several times that I wanted her to teach me how to make sarmale. She makes wonderful sarmale for the missionaries, ward parties, weddings, you name it. Sarmale is basically a cabbage roll with ground pork, ground beef, rice, tomato paste, and seasonings inside. They are yummy. So, one day at church, Sora Gorzo invited me to come to her home on Friday to learn the technique. The subway has a new stop right near her home, and I made it there myself. We had a great time together and I now have a new recipe. I still need to try it on my own! Thanks, Sora Gorzo!

Elder Kopischke Comes to Town! May 20-May 24, 2009

Elder Erich Kopischke, a general authority and counselor in the Europe Area Presidency, came to Romania for a mission tour. Zone conferences were held in different parts of Romania and Moldova, and were under the direction of Elder Kopischke. Elder Kopischke is a great man, with a great spirit, and he gave a lot of valuable guidance to the missionaries during his time here. We are grateful for his visit and instruction. We feel blessed.

Lundberg family with Elder Kopischke

Emily Burgeson (right, middle), and her sister, Ellen (left) spent a night with us during Elder Kopishke's stay. The Burgesons were with the Peace Corps and were living in Galati at the time. They had been on a trip to Italy and flew into Bucharest late one night on their return. We were glad to see Emily again and to get to meet Ellen! The Burgesons have since left Romania since Emily is now expecting her first baby and the Peace Corps does not allow children (or expectant mothers, I believe.)

Happy elders at the end of mission council!

Elder Smith, Elder Eliason, Elder DeGuzman, Elder Bennett, and Elder Burch!

Fred and Irina Get Married!

Fred Christiansen, a former missionary in Romania, and Irina Gembeasu, a faithful member of the church in Bucharest, were married on May 16, 2009. By law, a civil ceremony had to take place first, and a few days later, the happy couple went to Germany to be sealed in the temple forever! A fun reception was held at the Mihai Bravu chapel the afternoon of the wedding, where President Lundberg performed a ring ceremony for the couple. Many members and missionaries were in attendance. Congratulations, Fred and Irina! You make a great pair.

Joshua signs the guest book!

The beautiful and happy couple!

Ring ceremony--with a bit of advice and congratulations!

Wedding guests!

Great food was served!

Lots of people attended!

The cooks!!!

More Fred and Irina fans!

Members and missionaries visit.

Everyone was happy!

Elder Bernier in the middle of more members!

The Christiansens have lots of great friends!

A good time was had by all!