New Missionaries Arrive!

Transfer week is really unique. We have our final day with those going home, sharing breakfast, dinner, and an evening testimony meeting together. However, sandwiched into that day, President Lundberg, the assistants, (and sometimes the office elders), run to the airport to pick up the newly arriving group. What is really amazing, however, is that it is so hard to say good-bye to the missionaries that are leaving, but as soon as the new group walks through the doors of the airport to the waiting area where we are, we feel a great love for them! I think Heavenly Father planned it that way! You can never run out of love, and you can never have too many people to love!

This is our wonderful group of missionaries that arrived in September.

Front row: Sora Holden, Sora Owen, Sora Lundberg, Sora Olsen, Elder Layton.

Back row: Elder Bennett, Elder Toronto, Pres. Lundberg, Elder Brunner, Elder Gunter, Elder Boehme.

Missionaries Going Home, sadly!

I realize that it is always wonderful for families to have their missionaries, whether young or not as young, arrive home. However, it is usually very hard for us to say good-bye. We have grown to love and appreciate these missionaries and all they have done to serve the Lord. We miss them a lot but know they will all continue to serve faithfully throughout their lives!

Elder and Sora Van Noy, with Sora and President Lundberg. The Van Noys were Public Affairs missionaries and did a great job helping the people of Romania to become aware of the church.

Rosie, left, comes one day a transfer to put on a spread for the departing and arriving missionaires. She's an amazing cook that can put on a huge feast with one oven---and it is always warm and tasty.

Last evening with Elder Horgmo, Elder Campbell, Sora and Elder Jessee.

We had a great final testimony meeting with these missionaries before parting. Elder Horgmo and Elder Campbell served all over the mission, while the Jessees served in Arad and oversaw the leadership training. We appreciate all they did to strengthen the saints and help the kingdom to grow! We miss them all!

Interview time---again!

Missionaries serving in Bucharest stop in for their cookies, drink, and interview of the transfer!

Elder Zavala and Elder Fromm!

Back row: Elder Betteridge, Elder Zavala, Elder Moore, Elder Anderson, Elder Holmes.
Front row: Sora Gibson, Sora Howard, Elder Nelson, Elder Collier.

Josh and George!

We don't have any children that are Joshua's age in our neigborhood. We are very grateful, however, to have George as a neighbor. He is only 6 years old, but he loves playing with Joshua, and Joshua loves playing with George. George's family is from England and George's front door is 10 steps from ours. We're glad when George and Joshua's schedules work out that they can play together!

Sora Dillon--A great lady!!!

Sora Dillon is a Senior Missionary who works in the office. She has been a great friend to me and also very kind with Joshua. She has watched Joshua many times for us. Sometimes she has watched him for short periods while I've gone visiting teaching, but she's also had him overnight several times when President Lundberg and I have had to be out of town. Joshua always loves being with her! Sora Dillon has also been my "right-hand woman" in the kitchen each transfer on the day we hold Mission Council. We have a lot of missionaries to feed, and Sora Dillon always helps with the final preparations, serving, and clean-up. She's an angel!


Sora Dillon and I try to have an early morning walk most days to get some exercise. We've had lots of great talks and experiences. I will miss her a lot when she goes home mid-December. She's a special person!

Sora Dillon and Joshua outside Sora Dillon's apartment building.

Hats shop next to Sora Dillon's apartment. The shop was closed when I walked by, but I MUST return. It had some great hats in there! I could see through the window the machines on which they were being made.

Joshua's First Day of School! September 2, 2009

Joshua started school for his second year at the International School of Bucharest. There are children from over 40 nations attending his school, with Joshua being the only American. Joshua is picked up near the mission home each morning and taken across Bucharest to his school. His teacher, Mr. Martin, is from England. Joshua is in Class 6 (which is grade 5), and the language spoken is English. However, most the notes to parents come home in English, Romanian, and Turkish! The children line up outside the school to wait for their teacher to appear and take them in to begin a new year!

Joshua's Simple Faith!

I shared this story with our family a few days after it happened. I was reminded of the experience when I posted the Brasov Zone Conference pictures below. I thought I would share it with you who check this blog. I love miracles!!!


September 2, 2009

Two days ago, Dad, Joshua and I were traveling to Brasov for interviews that evening and a zone conference the following day. Brasov is about 3 hours from Bucharest.
Joshua had been drawing in the back seat for quite some time when he said, “I feel sick. Could you pull over, Dad.”
Right then there was a good spot in the windy, mountain road where we could stop. Joshua and I got out of the car where he was able to get some fresh air. In a couple minutes, Joshua felt better and we got back in the car. Dad was on the phone with a missionary, and we sat for a few minutes until the phone call was completed.
When Dad went to start the car, the engine would not start. He tried the key 2-3 times, with no luck.
Joshua said, “We need to pray. I read a story just like this in the Friend one time. I know it will work. Let’s pray.”
We bowed our heads and closed our eyes, then Joshua offered the prayer. “Dear Heavenly Father,” he said.
Joshua paused and a beautiful spirit filled our car. He then continued. “We are on our way to Brasov to do your work, and the car won’t work. Please help the battery to work until we can get to a gas station and get it charged. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Dad adjusted the mirror, put the car into gear, and turned the key. With no hesitation, the car started and we headed on our way.
Dad and I were touched by Joshua’s simple faith. A few minutes later, Joshua said, “We need to have our thank you prayer.” He then said, “Dear Heavenly Father, It’s us again. We just want to say thank you for helping us out. “And then he closed.
Joshua said, “People should never doubt what Heavenly Father can do.” This is a good reminder for us all.

September Zone Conference in Braşov

Elder K Jensen, Elder Despain, and Elder Davis enjoy the hotel breakfast before zone conference. Well, at least two of the three look like they are enjoying the breakfast!

Missionaries REALLY enjoy the lunch provided at zone conference!

Sora and Elder Lamoreaux serve in Cluj-Napoca. They have 14 of their own children, so they are as calm and patient as can be! They are a blessing to our mission.

Sora Campbell and Sora Karina enjoy Braşov!

Elder K Jensen, Elder Oberhanslz, Elder L Jensen, and Elder Taylor finish up lunch before the afternoon session of zone conference.

I'm not sure if Elder Harvey is performing or just got caught in the middle of cutting his meat! Elder Herrick, Elder and Sora Van Noy, and Elder Collier enjoy their visit. It was the Van Noys last zone conference before heading for home. We miss the Van Noys a lot!

Four zone leaders did great presentations!

Elder Thompson, Elder Stromberg, Elder McBride, Elder Sorensen

Ready to begin again!

Elder Ellsworth, Elder Garrett, Elder Porter, Elder Lainhart, Sora Campbell

The Price Family in Timisoara!

The Price family invited us over to their house so I could visit with Michelle, and Joshua could play with Erik while President Price and President Lundberg were at the church in meetings. President Price is currently serving in the Timisoara Branch as Branch President. They are from the states, but President Price is going to school here. Michelle and I had a good time visiting, and Joshua and Erik had fun together. Erik, 6, attends a Romanian preschool and speaks fluent Romanian! We love the Prices!

Michelle, Erik, and Jim Price

Way Out West! Zone Conference in Arad!

Missionaries delving into the scriptures to find answers---most of them anyway!

Sora Slaeman, Elder Boynton, Elder Martineau, and Elder Andersen check out Elder Martineau's letter and package!

Sora Smith, Elder Grimmius, Elder Smith, Sora Hardy, Elder Sandberg, and Elder Martineau prepare for zone conference.

Elder Boyton, Elder Mathis, Elder Wirthlin, Elder Marks, Elder Burrows and Elder Sullivan are excited to see each other!

Sora Smith, Sora Hardy, and Elder Andersen visit with Sora Kiss-Maxim, a former missionary who actually is from Romania. It was fun to see Sora Kiss again!

Zone leaders, Elder Zemp and Elder Sandberg, finish up paperwork after zone conference.

Elder Zemp cleans up trash. Boy, these elders will make good husbands someday!

PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED! RUSSIAN-SPEAKING MISSIONARIES ARRIVE! August 25, 2009

Sora Lundberg, Elder Smith, Elder Stapleton, and President Lundberg spend a short time together in Romania before the elders embark on their new adventure in Moldova and Ukraine!

Yes, it's true! We received our first two Russian-speaking elders, and the city of Balti, Moldova was opened for missionary work. We already had two cities in Moldova where missionaries were serving, but there were a few members in Balti, Moldova, waiting for the church to arrive there. While both Romanian and Russian are spoken in Chisinau and Orhei, the people in Balti mainly speak Russian.

So, after much thought, prayer, and meetings with the Europe Area Authorities, as well as approval from Salt Lake, missionaries were called to serve in the Romanian Bucharest Mission, trained in the Russian language. Because of the visa requirements that missionaries can only stay 90 days in Moldova, our missionaries will travel back and forth to Ukraine, where they will serve full transfers there. Our Russian-speaking missionaries' companions and trainers are missionaries from Ukraine. They are all great young men and pioneers in this new adventure.

Europe Area Mission President's Conference in Liverpool, England August 20-23, 2009

President Lundberg and I had the opportunity of going with the other mission presidents from Europe and their wives to a yearly conference which was held in Liverpool, England. It was a beautiful place to visit, deep in early church history, and the meetings were wonderful. We're grateful for the opportunity to be trained, motivated, and given new information and guidance on how to lead our mission. Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Ronald Rasband and their wives were there, as well as our European Area Presidency and their wives. It was a wonderful four days!

England was absolutely BEAUTIFUL with its rolling hills, green valleys, and stone walls!

Dear friends for many years, Lyle and Tracy Shamo, were newly arrived to the London South Mission where President Shamo now leads that mission.

President and Sister Ninow were in our MTC group and now serve in Frankfurt, Germany.

Hundreds of the early saints of the church were baptized in the River Ribble.

President Clark Hinckley, new mission president in Spain, shares the story of his father, President Gordon B. Hinckley, who lived in this home on his mission and from here wrote home to his father expressing how hard his mission was. His father replied, "Gordon, forget yourself and get to work."

Lundbergs with President and Sister Hinckley

The small village of Downham was where many of the first saints joined the church.

We had the privilege of attending the Manchester Temple. It was a very special opportunity to be in a session with Elder and Sister Perry as well as Elder and Sister Rasband. There was a beautiful spirit there and it was a joy to attend the temple again.

President and Sora Lundberg with Julie and Dave Colton, legal counsel for the Europe Area.

President Lundberg's parents and Julie Haycock Colton's parents have been good friends for 55 years!

Bucharest Zone Conference--August 2009

Assistants, Elder Anderson and Elder Collier, and Zone Leaders, Elder Nelson and Elder Holmes, gave great presentations to the missionaries at Zone Conference.

Dedicated Missionaries!

Back: Elder Blaga (mini-missionary), Elder Ritz, Elder Gulden

Front: Elder Boyd, Elder Guest, Elder Vandermark

More Great Missionaries!

Front: Elder Betteridge and Elder Moore

Back: Elder Gardiner and Elder Brian

Elder Rakozey is worn out after zone conference!

Elder Boyd, Elder Tilby, Elder Bernier, Elder Suppes, Elder Rakozey on table, Elder Fromm, Elder Zavala

Beautiful Sister Missionaries!

Sora Howard, Sora Gibson, Sora Benson, and Sora Gaughran

Relief Society at the Panduri Branch.

After Relief Society one Sunday, I had the ladies stand together for a picture. These are many of the faithful women who come to church at the Panduri Branch in Bucharest. They all have wonderful stories of their conversion.

Special Art from Special People!

There was some special art posted on our refrigerator for several weeks during the summer. It was from some special people on the other side of the world---our grandchildren. Thanks kids. We love special reminders of you and we love you all very much!

Joshua took a special interest in art this past summer. He would look at pictures, analyze them, and try to draw them. He spent many hours with a pencil in hand, drawing all sorts of things. Good job, Joshua! We love your art work!

Preaching in the Park!

After zone conference, Sora Gibbons invited me to go contacting in the park with her and Sora Vasylyeva. We had a great time and found this older gentleman who was very friendly. Sora Gibbons talked with him about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. She gave him some reading material and invited him to church. He shared some stories of his life with us as well. It was a fun experience. I enjoy my opportunities to go out with the sisters and do some hands-on missionary work.

Missionaries in Bucharest! August, 2009

Companions, Elder Sanchez and Elder Hale, visit Mission Home for their interview of the transfer.

Elder Frew, Elder Clonts, Elder Johnson, Elder Carrell, Elder Shillabeer, and Elder Frandsen
at Zone Conference!

Sora Kirayama, Sora Ostler, and Elder Horgmo find answers in the scriptures and in Preach My Gospel.

Elder Benson visits with Sora Vasylyeva, a new sister missionary from Ukraine.

President Ene, the branch president in Ploiesti and the church facilities manager, smile at the camera.

A picture taken of taking pictures! Elder Bailey, Elder Anderson, and Elder Campbell focus on the group!

Elder Johnson, Elder Carrell, Elder Shillabeer, Elder Frandsen, Elder Frew, and Elder Clonts.

A great looking group!

Elder Sanchez, Elder Hale, Elder Horgmo, Elder Manzione, Sora Kiriyama, and Elder Benson.

All smiles after zone conference!

Elder Bigu, Elder Campbell and Joshua.

Who teaches Joshua to do the things he does???

Joshua, Elder Horgmo, Elder Shillabeer, Sora V, and Elder Bigu