Buna Ziua

Among other things, Shane is learning to cook. He made this beautiful lasagna himself.  

Hey everyone, here we are, the start of a new week! Already going into the 3rd week of the transfer. Raul's baptism is in two weeks, and I just found out yesterday from the zone leaders that zone conference will be on the 28th, and will be in Arad again. I'm definitely looking forward to that! I love zone conferences because of the spiritual boost it gives me; I always get answers to my prayers there. It's also really nice to be able to see everyone and get some time to catch up with them. President Hill just announced in his weekly email that the mission name was just changed from the Romania, Bucharest Mission to the Romania Moldova Mission. Kind of random, but I definitely think having Moldova included in the mission title is quite appropriate. One of the strongest branches in this mission is in the capital of Moldova, Chishinau. I'm glad to here that Uncle Chris is making progress. I still can't believe how intense his injuries are!

Thank you everyone for your emails this week, they all really helped me a lot. Thank you for your advice mom, focusing on more selective things rather than stressing out over everything as a whole is definitely something I should be doing more. In his email this week President Hill shared some things that Elder David A. Bednar shared in a mission president's conference recently about Peter showing his faith when he stepped out of the boat to walk on the water towards Jesus, and how even though Peter's faith faltered after a few steps, the Savior reached out his hands and saved him from the waters. President Hill encouraged us all to think about ways in which we could be "stepping out of our boats" and some of the things he mentioned were the exact things that I have been struggling with, and allways have struggled with. Mainly things about contacting. He talked about how we should be talking to people everywhere we go. On the bus, on the train, and on the streets in between appointments. This is definitely one of my weak areas, and lately I've been struggling with getting myself motivated to talk to more people, and President's email along with you words of wisdom, mom, have helped me realize how I can set some goals to improve in this area.

Dad, your email completely inspired me! I've actually been wondering whether or not President Hill might be thinking about doing something along these lines. A few weeks ago he said in his email that he's realized that this mission has a lot of different talents in it and he told us all to email him about talents we have so that maybe the mission may be able to use these talents together. Also, as a mission we are putting more focus on re-activation efforts. The inactivity rate in this country is off the charts, and we're putting a lot of focus right now on just strengthening the branch. That way activity will increase and hopefully member missionary work will also increase so that many of our investigators will be coming from the member's part.

Grandma and Grandpa Linea, thank you so much as well for your words of love, encouragement and support. Since in this mission and especially in this city right now we have very few people to teach and prepare for baptism, success has to be measured in another way and has to come from within. And I could not agree with you any more in that the best way to do that is by having Christ-like love, and showing that love to those around through our words and actions. I really appreciate all the ways you support me, and your openness to my personal religious beliefs. Even though we all take part in different faiths, there is always a common thread throughout all Christendom, and that is, obviously, Jesus Christ. I want you to know from myself that everything I do here in Romania and all the people I talk to, I do it all because of the Savior's love for me. I know you must know that already, but really, being out here and doing the Lord's work has made me understand so much more just how much He loves me, and everything that he did and still does for me. I also want to thank you for also being exceptional examples of people who are trying to live their lives the way the Savior would want them to, and showing the love and light that comes from that lifestyle.

This week has been a definite improvement from last week. I finished the lyrics to the song, I only have to have it checked over by a Romanian to make sure it's good. I've also been taking any small moments I can to dink around on the piano at the church to get the music down. It's coming along quite well! We've had many different miracles this week, I can't really explain them all. The Lord has been shedding his grace and light on us as we have continued working with members to track down in-active members and as we've been talking to people in the parks and blocks and houses. We've had some really cool contacts and have a lot of potential investigators. I'm really hoping that we will be able to meet with all of them this week! The zone leaders are also coming on Thursday for exchanges so we will have some extra helping hands with the work. Yesterday in church the branch president announced that a new branch mission leader was called!!!! This is such a big step towards working with the less active members, and also for forming support systems for the investigators we will begin to bring into the branch. A change of attitude seems to have started to creep over the members of the Brasov branch. They are all starting to realize more and more how crucial it is that they forget about the wounds of the past and focus on the present and the future. There is a sense of urgency that is being infused to several of the strong members of this branch as they begin to put the past behind them and work together. It's all coming in small baby steps, but that's how anything is really. "By small and simple means are great things come to pass" ....or something like that....I don't remember where exactly that verse is.

And so, now reflecting back on this week and the transfer so far, as well as the time that I have been in Brasov, I'm seeing more clearly the progress this branch is making. Line upon line upon line, precept upon precept upon precept. I knew there was a reason why Nephi liked quoting Isaiah so much. Until next week then, give a big hug to Ember and Tristan for me! I love you all!!

Elder Myers