November 2009---WE ARE THANKFUL!

Elder Barclay pozing with Elder and Sora Rees outside Panduri building.

Sora Slaeman, Sora Gaughran, and Sora Dillon leave Mission Home.

President Lundberg, Elder Collier, Elder Shutze from Germany, Elder Brian, Elder Barclay and Elder Nelson smile together at the end of a special Mission Council.


Pres. Lundberg can't resist showing his "chicken" trick, made from a dishtowel.

Sora Runyan, one of our great sister missionaries, returned with her Mom for a visit to Romania. Elder Banu, a Romanian who also served in Romania right before we came, was there as well. It was great to see them!

Elder Jensen, Elder Carroll (front row) and Elder Jensen and Elder Vandermark (back row)

Elder Shutze and his darling wife came to visit and teach us. Elder Shutze is one of our area authorities from Germany. His wife always has on cute scarves and knows how to tie them in really fun ways. She said she learned it at Relief Society. She also can fold napkins really cute. I meant to have her teach me before she left.

Elder Grimmius gets a package while Sora Simkins and Elder Fromm are excited for him.

Elder Vandermark, Elder Garrett, and Elder Benson after meetings.

What do these missionaries have in common?

#1-They are companions in Alexandria.

#2-They have the same name---ELDER JENSEN!

(Now if that isn't confusing! Some people wonder why all our missionaries have the same first name "Elder" but to have the same second name is something else!!!)

Sora Gaughran, Sora Hardy, and Sora Ostler enjoy lunch!

The elders enjoy lunch as well!

Posing after the thanksgiving feast!

Elder Hale, Sora L, President L, Elder DeGuzman, Elder Bigu, Elder Smith, Elder Frandsen

Front: Elder Bailey

Zone leaders, Elder Bailey and Elder Frandsen, give a great presentation!

Elder Anderson and Elder Boynton leave Mission Home for the long trek back to Moldova.

Elder Burrows and Sora Owen received mail! Sora Simkins is in the background.

Favorite time----FOOD!!!!

Sora Dummar always is smiling! President Lundberg and Elder Dummar join in!

Great Russian-speaking missionaries arrive. They then head to Moldova and Ukraine.

Elder James, Elder Whiting, Elder Anderson, and Elder Jentzsch.

"Miracle 2010!" (2-20-200-2000)

Let me tell you about an exciting thing that is going to happen in our mission. We are going to have a miracle! We are going to get 200 baptisms in 2010! Yes, that is a huge miracle for us, because in recent years, we have gotten about half that amount.

When our elders passed away, we tried to make sense of the situation. We have been comforted in knowing that the Lord called them home. We wondered what we had to learn and do from this experience.

The leaders of the church have told us of their vision to have the church double its membership in Europe in the next ten years. That will take a lot of work by both missionaries and members. But we know it can be done. President Lundberg set a goal of 200 baptisms this year. It is a lot, but it is not impossible to reach. With God, nothing is impossible.

These numbers are significant to us: 2---20---200---2000! We have two missionaries who are helping us from the other side. This year marks the 20th year of the church's dedication of the land of Romania for missionary work. We plan to get 200 baptisms. We will use the 2000 stripling warriors as our example: they never doubted, they were firm and undaunted, and they obeyed with exactness.

After praying recently about this miracle, I opened the Book of Mormon to Moroni 7. I love this chapter. "Have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. "

"And Christ hath said, If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. And he hath said, Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name and have faith in me, that ye may be saved."

It is our desire to move forward with faith, finding those people who are prepared and wanting the joy and blessings that come through the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. We will be the Lord's missionaries, and bring the world His truth.