Welcome To Pitesti !!

Elder Cox, Raul, Elder Myers
Raul is the 8 year old boy from Brasov who is soon to be baptized.

Pitesti (pronouced pee - tesht) = Bacau + some more active members + some hills.

That pretty much sums it up. It's a pretty small town with a pretty small struggling branch, and we currently have no investigators. Do you ever feel like God gives you the same test over and over again and you never really know if your passing it or not? That's kind of how I feel right now. Last transfer my companion and his former companion had a baptism, which was awesome. I got to meet the man a couple days ago, but he just moved to England to find a job and the other few investigators they had dropped them right before transfers. 


So, it's back to base one, starting from scratch. We're really hoping that the English classes have a good turnout so we might be able to pick up some investigators through that. Other than that, we try talking to people and most people know who we are and see us all the time because the town is so small, and most of them don't give us the time of day.


My companion, Elder Ekins, is a cool guy, easy to get along with and pretty relaxed. He's in his third transfer total, and his third transfer here. The other Elders are Elder Martin from my MTC group, and his companion Elder Staheli who is in his 2nd transfer. Elder Staheli is actually from Elder Cox's stake!! They're all realy cool guys and it seems like they've all gotten pretty close over the past couple transfers. It's kind of weird coming as the new guy, just trying to get a feel for things. They all seem to have their own way of doing things here. But I'm excited to be able to work with them all, it's going to be a fun transfer! 



This week has proven to have some cool experiences. On Saturday we talked to this group of kids who all had guitars and I set up a time to meet up and jam with them all. I'm going to play them the song I wrote in Romanian, and hopefully they'll be interested in coming to church, or to the English classes, or just learning more of what we're all about! I'm really excited for that. They also said that they take free guitar classes from this one place and I'm going to see if it would be possible for me to do some volunteer work helping teach guitar. Elder Ekins plays the piano and they give piano lessons there as well, so maybe he will be able to help with that.

This Sunday was District Conference........and we didn't get to go...:( What we did do was hold a sacrament meeting at the meeting house just as us four missionaries. It was a really cool experience! The first church meeting I've been to that was in English for a long time!! We all shared our testimonies of the gospel and of missionary work, and it was a really good bonding experience for the four of us. Every one of the Elders here has a rock solid testimony of the gospel and are only out to do good.

Those were pretty much the highlights of the week...oh yeah, on transfer day I got to see one of the members from Cluj!!! Her name is Simona, I don't know if I ever told you about her before, but she's my age and was just finishing up serving her second mini-mission last week, and her experience as a mini-missionary has really made her want to serve as a full time missionary when she turns 21. It was really cool to be able to talk to her and catch up, after over 2/3 of a year being out of Cluj! Gosh, I miss that city so much. I think back on my time there with the best of memories, experiences, and feelings.

Well, here's a few more pictures for you, hope you enjoy them! I'll be sending the SD card down this week and you can see the video of my song. And for the package, actually there's a couple things I would like, if I can remember them....ummm taco seasoning. It does not exist here. Ranch seasoning -- also does not exist here. I feel like there was something else but I can't remember right now. Oh well, just send whatever you think I like haha. It doesn't have to be much. Thank you so much, I love you all!!! Until next week then!

Cu drag,

Elder Myers

The Beginning of Something New

And so it is. You and I were both right mom, my time here in Brasov has come to an end. We just got the transfer board, and I will be serving as district leader in Pitesti! My companion will be Elder Ekins, who I know nothing about. He's one of the missionaries who came in a few transfers after me. Elder Martin, who was in my MTC district will also be in Pitesti so it will be fun serving with him again! Right now I'm going to take some time and make sure that I answer your questions.


About the Romanian culture and the way people talk and communicate with each other --  from what you described of Italian people, it's pretty much the same. They are a very verbally expressive and animated people, and talk with their hands a lot. They also will just talk over each other and somehow understand what the other person is saying. It hardly ever seems like anyone listens to each other here. A lot of the times you will see two Romanians talking, and to an American it would seem like they were upset at each other by the tone of their voice and their hand movements when actually they're just having a normal conversation. That's something that still tends to throw me off. I'll find myself getting frustrated or defensive while talking to someone because it seems to me like they are trying to argue or be rude when they're just talking to me.


 As for Raul's baptism, yes it's been put off for a few more weeks, sadly. The other day Raul asked about when his journal will be coming in, and I couldn't remember if I had told you to send one or not. If you have already sent it, then I might be getting it at transfers in which case I'll just have Elder Cox give it to him, but if you haven't sent it yet I have their mailing adress. He's really exited to get it. He said he wants to keep two different journals, one for school, and one for church!


Oh yeah, and then the song! It went really well, everyone really really liked it a lot. I have recording of it on my camera. You can't hear it very well, but It's better than nothing. I'll send you the SIM card sometime this week. Oh yeah, and before I forget I wrote a letter to Sarah Woods but I don't know her BYU adress so I just mailed the letter to you. Could you forward it to her? Also, I got an email from Taylor today saying that he's moved down to SoCal but he didn't give me any mailing address so if you could get that to me as well I would really appreciate it! 

Whew, ok I think I covered everything. Now, yes, I'm leaving Brasov. I can't really believe it. I've pretty much known that I'd be leaving this whole transfer, mainly because I've been here for so long, but now it's starting to sink in. Once more change comes around and shakes things up. I'm exited to be going to a new city, with a new companion, a new branch, a new zone, new everything, but there are a lot of things I'm going to miss about this city. I've experienced and grown so much here that just like Cluj and Bacau, I feel like this city has become a part of me. I'm going to miss serving around Elder Cox, and Sora Bedebone, and serving around sister missionaries in general. It's going to be weird being in an all elders district!


I know that the next couple days I'll be looking back on the past 3 1/2 transfers and asking myself if I did everything that I could, if I represented the Lord in the way that He would have wanted me to, if I helped strengthen the branch of God's Kingdom here in Brasov. I think of all the seeds I've planted, all the people that I've met and grown close to, all the trials I've experienced and I only hope that I've made a difference. I definitely feel that I did everything that I could, that I put my whole heart, might, mind and strength into this city. 


The only thing that makes me sad is that I feel like my best is such a week attempt at fulfilling what the Lord expects of me. I truly know that I am nothing, just as one of the sons of Mosiah confessed in the Book of Mormon. My experience here has humbled me so much and has helped me understand even more how great the worth of an eternal soul is in the eyes of God. 


A lot of the times I feel like Nephi when he closes the record of his ministry in saying that his tears water his pillow every night because of the wickedness and hard-heartedness of the people around him. I don't know if I didn't find very many people who were open to this gospel because of a lack of faith on my part, or because of hard- heartedness on the part of the people of Brasov. I do know that I put forth my effort, and that God has promised me that I will see the fruits of my labor, whether it be in this life or the next. 

So, I now move on to the next chapters in my Romanian saga. I don't really know much about Pitesti, other than that it is in the South part of the country, West of Bucuresti, pretty small, and full of blocks. Here we go! I'm exited to be able to see other missionaries at the Gara and catch up with them. It will be interesting to see how long I stay in Piteste. I'm going to give it.......3 transfers. We'll see! 


That's so exiting that you're called back into the Y.W. presidency mom! And you are now a member of One Accord, that sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you both, mom and dad, for your continual words of wisdom. Good luck with the whole textbook revision, dad. I can relate to how it feels, being laden with a large work load that your not really sure if you're going to see the end results of. I'm sure your insights will be invaluable. Until next week then, I love you all and hope all goes well in Durham, California!

Love, Elder Myers

General Conference!!!

Hey all, it's now officially October!!! General Conference yesterday and Saturday was sooooooooo goood!!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to watch the priesthood session, both Sat sessions, and the Sunday morning session, which were transmitted here through satelite to the Brasov Chapel!! This whole week was just such a spiritual feast. We didn't have very many lessons, but it seems like people have been more receptive as a whole this week, and I've been able to have a much more positive attitude about everything. 


Zone conference was exactly what I needed. The things our mission leaders talked about were everything that I've been struggling with, and it helped me see the gaps that I needed fill in. President Hill talked more about Peter's experience of walking on water towards the Savior and addressed how we can all exercise our faith and step out of our "boats." He also shared something that really gave me a good perspective. He said that it wasn't until Peter started noticing the increasing wind and waves around him that he started to doubt and sink. And when he sank, the Savior was immediately there to pull him up back into the boat. President Hill advised us all to do our best to not pay attention to all the stormy "waves" around us, but to focus on that small percentage of souls that are out there and ready for us to find. He encouraged us all to talk to more people, and to invite more people to baptism, but he also comforted us telling us not to get discouraged when we do everything we can and the people we teach or talk to reject us and the gospel. He reminded us how everyone has there agency. We can do everything we can by working through the Spirit to help prepare people to make covenants with God, but in the end it's their choice to accept our invitations or not. It gave me satisfaction, knowing that I have been giving it my all here and doing the best that I can and it also gave me positive motivation to improve myself and keep working hard.

Then General Conference!! Man, even though I had to listen to it in Romanian, I was able to pretty much understand everything in the talks and the Spirit spoke to me just as much as it would if I were listening to it in English. Elder Holland gave a really really good talk in the priesthood session, admonishing all priesthood holders - but especially Aaronic Priesthood - to keep themselves worthy of their priesthood responsibilities. I also remember President Eyring's talk but I want to read it when the Liahona magazines come out because with the translation, the whole effect of seeing his face become so emotional, but not hearing that emotion in the translator's voice really threw me off and ended up being really distracting, so I didn't really get very much out of it. Then Elder Robert D. Hales' talk came. That was the first time when I've watched General Conference and felt like one of the speakers had written their talk specifically for me. I drank in every word he spoke, and the Holy Ghost was so strong within me. His soft manner of speaking and the comforting words of enduring through our trials with faith and hope gave me such a great sensation of peace and comfort. I actually have a pretty interesting experience to that goes along with this talk.

Shane's companion, Elder Cox, block-knocking

Last friday we were block knocking and about halfway through through this man started yelling at us. Nothing really out of the ordinary, especially since it was pretty plain that Jehova's Witness missionaries had been through sometime recently, because everyone thought we were JW's. However, this man was livid. He was yelling things like "what are you doing here? why are you coming knocking on my door, do I come over to your house and knock on your door?" and getting up in our faces. I tried to talk to him calmly and respectfully, telling him that we were just sharing a message about Christ with people, and that we weren't trying to upset him, but it wouldn't have mattered what I said. He just kept yelling at us telling us to get out of the block, and threatening to call the police, to hit us, you name it he said he was going to do it. This in itself is also nothing really out of the ordinary. Romanians, especially the males, in my experience are all bark and no bite. So we call the elevator, and I offer him a pass along card (probably not the smartest thing to do at that point, I know) which just sets him of again, so as we walk into the elevator I just toss the card on the ground. It was everything I could do to keep my composure and not start yelling back at him. Tossing the card down (also probably not the smartest thing I could have done) cut the fuse and he rushed into the elevator, got right up in my face, and held up his forearm like he was going to hit me. He ended up just giving me a little shove with his arm and then backed out of the elevator as quick as he could. As the elevator descended, adrenaline rushed into me as I processed what had just happened and I was then probably the most upset I've ever been. I was at the point where if I saw the man right then, I probably would have delivered a good beatdown. Now, you know me, I've never gotten in a fight in my life. This was probably the closest I've ever gotten, and probably if it was someone else there instead of me, it would have turned into a fight, but I've always been a pacifist. But that literally took me past my breaking point. Since being here in Brasov, I have been spit at, been called pretty much every offensive thing you can think of, I've been threatened at, and straight up persecuted more than ever in my life, and this thing with the guy was just the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the gigantic ice cream sunday. I was furious.

Inside an apartment "block" -- Brasov, Romania

view down a 10 story apartment block

The next day during my morning studies, I read in the Book of Mormon about Ammon preaching to the Zoramites, and how they completely rejected him and persecuted him. The prayer that he offers to God after that in Alma Chapter 31:26-35 expressed everything that I was feeling, exactly. Then I read another passage, somewhere in the New Testament I think, that talked about trials. It was one of Paul's epistles and he was addressing the people, saying that the Lord had chastised them so that their hearts would be humble and ready to receive the word of God. That made me think about how General Conference was coming right up, and I knew that there would be something shared there that would be specifically for me. I found it, in Elder Hales' talk. There were also many other talks that I got a lot of guidance from as well, but Elder Hales' had the strongest impact on me. I know that it wouldn't have had the same impact on me if I hadn't had all those trying experiences that brought me down on my knees in humble prayer, pleading with God to give me guidance, strength, and direction. It was just another assurance to me that Heavenly Father is always listening, and knows us perfectly.

So that was my crazy Romanian experience for now. Can't wait for the next one!! Thank you so much for the emails and pictures. Haha man, I cracked up when I saw the one of Eli. A lot of the guys here dress pretty similarly. Until next week then! I'll be finding out where I'll go; this week is the last full week of the transfer! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Myers

Vine Toamna!!!

Brasov, Romania

Here comes fall! The weather's coolling down, the leaves are changing colors, and everyone's stocking up on their peppers, garlic, eggplants, onions, cabbage and who knows what for their winter stocks. It's hard to believe I'm hitting my year mark in under a month!! There are only two more weeks left in this transfer, and I have no clue what's going to happen next. I'm 98% positive that I'll be leaving Brasov, but as to where I'll be going and what I'll be doing, I can't even guess. 


Right now, I'm just looking forward to a new week. A new week with new people, new possibilities, starting fresh on a new slate. To be completely honest, Elder Cox and I have been tried a lot this week. This whole transfer, really. We now literally have zero investigators. W------, our miracle block knock lady called us yesterday and said that she couldn't continue to have us over. Her son found out that she's been investigating our church and that if she changes religions he will completely dissown her and stop supporting her. She lives off a pension that is 2000 ron less than what just her monthly rent costs and so has no way of supporting herself. She was really sad when she told us about the whole situation and you could tell that she wished things were different. I was left speechless on the phone and didn't really know what to say or think. That is so backwards and cruel. Usually its the parents that threaten to disown their kids for joining the church but instead, an old lady's own children who are the only people that can help and support her threaten to cut her off? The same person who raised them and supported them their whole lives? If that's not the work of Satan, I don't know what is. 


Just a few days before we had a lesson with her and a member who came with us. We taught her about the five steps to the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- Faith, Repentence, Baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End, and really focused on the necessity of being baptized by the proper authority, which was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We asked her if she continued to find what we were teaching her to be true, if she would be baptized, to which she readily said yes. But now, of course, that's a completely different story.

On the bright side, we had a potential investigator come to church yesterday. His name is Andries and is friends with a former branch president in Timisoara, has a Book of Mormon and knows a fair amount about the church. He left after the 2nd hour, saying that we'd keep in touch. He didn't really say anything else and we're hoping that he wasn't turned off by something someone said. 


Raul's baptism is still on for this Saturday, and General Conference is this weekend!!!!!!!!! I can't wait! We're really hoping that we'll be able to bring a lot of investigators to it. It's the perfect missionary tool because the investiators get to see the prophet and apostles that we allways talk about, and they also get to see that there is much much more to our church than a group of 20 Romanians that worship together every week. There is such a power in the words spoken at General Conference. Then zone conference is this Wednesday and I'm looking forward to that as well. Zone conference has always been a time of encouragement for me, and a time where I can recieve more guidance and help on things that I could be doing better.

I'm sorry I don't really have very much to say this week. I'm really trying to think and focuse on all the positive things that happened, because there really was a lot of negative. This has been a really challenging transfer for me and Elder Cox, but we're both learning a lot about working hard, relying on the Lord, following the Spirit, and understanding the will of the Lord.

Brasov, Romania

Oh, a cool contact we had this week was with this guy named Virgil. He's in the Army and has done a tour in Iraq. We found him in the park just sitting on a bench and we both felt prompted to go talk to him. I asked him if he believes in God, and he said yes. Then I asked him what things make him listen to God's will. He thought about it, and said that no one has ever asked him that before. Then Elder Cox and I continued asking him qestions that eventually opened him up to talking a Book of Mormon and to seriously study and consider what we were saying. Some of the things that he said that really stuck out to us were how he doesn't agree with child baptism. He was born Orthodox and baptized Orthodox when he was a baby, and he doesn't think that's right because at that age you're not aware of the meaning of baptism and the promises to God that are associated with it. We told him how through modern revelation we know that someone must be old enough to make the decision for themselves whether or not to be baptized, and what church to be baptized into. He really liked that, and throught that common thread we were able to teach him a watered down version of the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. He seemed genuinely interested in it all, and took a Book of Mormon. I really hope we'll be able to meet with him again. I'm just not sure how long he'll be in the area since he's part of the military.

Well, I'll let you know how things go at zone conference with my song. It will be just me playing it on a guitar. I"ll get someone to record it on my camera and then send you the memory card for it. Thank you for all your constant love and support, and I hope mom's having an awesome time in Georgia with Nana! Oh and thanks for the money update on my account. I love you all, and look forward to hearing from you next week!

Love,
Elder Myers

P.S. I've attached some more pictures that I've taken just around the city. The last one is a shot down the top of the stairwell of a 10 story apartment block.

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

Thanks Everyone!!!!

Wow, I feel like I just stepped into the twighlight zone.....seeing those pictures of all my old high school friends was a very strange experience. Taylor would grow a beard wouldn't he, haha! That's so awesome to hear about the Mckeevers, to see them all, man it literally feels like a lifetime since I saw them. It felt like looking backwards in time seeing those photos. It's so weird to see how everything's changing so much. I never really knew what to expect with what would happen after high school, but right now I feel such a distinct separation between me and the people who were closest to me just a few years ago. A separation that comes from something more than beeing thousands of miles apart. It really made me see how right now I am in a very spiritually and socially isolated bubble. 


I feel like my whole life I had an immediate support system of my family, friends, and church members  to whom I could turn for the help and advice I needed. Now I feel like it's just me, the Lord, and my companion. Not to say that I don't get a lot of help and support from you all, these weekly emails are allways a huge spiritual boost for me, and I do get help and support from my other fellow missionaries. I just feel like right now I'm going through a one on one exchange with the Lord that lasts for two years. The type of friendships that I've formed here have such a different flavor than most of those that I made growing up and its kind of a strange thing for me to process right now.

But anyhow, life goes on and you just gotta roll with the waves. That was sooo awesome reading all those messages from Missy, Lyndsay, Erica, and Whitney. I'm so gratefull for the amazing cousins I have!! And unfortunately, I'm not allowed to email them all, so I guess this weekly email will have to suffice. If they want to send me their mailing address I can find some time and send them a letter! But I just want them to know that their words were a big strength to me, and that I love them all very much! I'm glad to hear that Uncle Cris is on the way to getting better. That sounds like a grizzly accident! I just want him to know that I will be keeping him in my prayers.

I'm sorry, I keep forgetting to ask Raul about the journal thing, but I'll be sure to talk to him about it this week. Things are still going well with him, but his grandma Elena said that her husband is against her getting baptized so unfortunately we won't be able to keep teaching her. She still sits in on Raul's lessons though. She's continuing to study the scriptures and the brochures we bring over. Raul is also continuing to progress well, and should be all ready for his baptism on the 24th. He still hasn't been to church, but we're going to keep encouraging Elena to bring him if he's at her house, and also talking to his mom, Cristina, about it. She's been out of the country for the past few weeks so she hasn't been able to take him.

This week's been pretty hard to be honest. This transfer we're putting a lot of focus on working with members and less actives to strengthen the branches and also to encourage members to be more involved in the missionary work. What that means for us here in Brasov though, is that we spend hours every day hunting down people that have been inactive for years trying to find out where they live, who they are, and hopefully to bring them back into activity. This branch is continuing to make slow progress though. I just have to keep telling myself that. It's almost indescernible, but it is progressing. But also with all this less active work means that we have to do a lot of contacting on the go, which is hard for me to do. I'm usually in all out contacting mode or not, and it's hard for me to find a middle ground and that's something I've been working on for a while. Probably it will be something I will be working on my whole mission.


 I remember what you said dad a couple weeks ago about how one of the most important things I could teach my boboc is how to pace yourself as a missionary and not burn yourself out. That's something I've been thinking a lot about and It's been kind of hard not to get discouraged when we read all these teaching records that are all about how people have fallen away from the church and no one really knows what's happened to them. Tender mercies get me through each day, and I'm doing my best to keep my head up and have a positive outlook on everything. I know that this city will be even stronger than it once was, and I know that I am in the really important stages of growth that will probably determine a large part of the branch's future and that helps me stay positive and motivated. 


Also, this last week I've started writing my first song in Romanian! It just started coming to me during language study several days ago, and I've been using my language study time to work on it. It's slow going partly because I'm trying to write poetry in a foreign language and also because I have do all the music in my head since I have no instrument to play it out on, but this has been an answer to my prayers. I've been thinking and praying a lot to come up with different ways I can use my musical talents for missionary work.


 At interviews last transfer I asked President Hill if it would be possible for me to get a guitar, and he said that he would think about it and if I could come up with ways that I could use it as a missionary tool than he would probably allow me to have one. After that, the more I thought about it the more I thought that having a guitar would be more of a distraction than anything else, so I abandoned the idea. But the thought still lingered. I have this God-given gift, there must be some way I can use it to spread His gospel. 


Then a couple weeks ago I was on another exchange with Elder Vekony and something he suggested was that I write songs for members and investigators. I had never really thought of that before. I had thought of writing songs in general but I never really could come up with a specific application. On top of that, every time I would try to come up with any kind of song lyrics I would immediately hit this block that told me I needed to be concentrating on other things. Then just this past week, this song just started coming out of me and I knew that it was inspiration. So I'm going to finish it and talk to President Hill about all this and hopefully something will work out. 

So, that's probably the most exciting news for now. I'll let you all know what the outcome is in the next couple of weeks! Thanks again everyone for all your beautiful words. Every week I feast on them. I love you!

Elder Myers

Quote of the Week

Litany Against Fear   
from the novel Dune by Frank Herbert                  

“I must not fear.

Fear is the mind killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to watch its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.”