This past week, we went on an exchange with the Deva Elders and it was a great time. I love both of those former companions. Elder Durand and Elder Mikolyski. Elder Durand and I were together. We had a great time together. I miss our transfer together, so young in Timisoara, and it was great in Deva. He is a great missionary and he has quite a full plate of problems and what not. But he is great and deals with it all with ease.
Here in Arad. Things are looking up. I love working with Elder Hyatt, we get along great and we help one another, and when I say we, I more mean he helps me every second of everyday. He is such a solid missionary and I am grateful to be with him. We met with a couple new investigators this past week, awesome people and curious about our message. English is going great. I love teaching it! I love the missionaries in the Zone. Thanks to Elder Mikolyski I love the game of "trucu" (for all you portuguese speakers, Chase did you every hear about that game?) The members here in Arad are the best.
I have loved being here and serving the people. We want to serve people, not get as many baptisms as possible. Had a lot of chats with Elder Durand and Hyatt about success on our missions. And I know we have all seen success. It all depends on work ethic, how much are you really dedicated and want to be here. I feel some days I have really wanted it at all. I couldn't care less if the baptisms come. Other days that's all I dream about it. I am called here to simply serve people and help them. To invite them and love them. I can't force anyone and if I don't get baptisms, I still know I had the best mission ever full of success. I hate how missionaries, some have not had a single baptism and think they are bad missionaries. I think of all the missionaries I talk to, go on exchanges with, the people I meet. The members. The senior couples. Everyone you talk to, remember to be yourself. Be honest and laugh and have fun. Don't be fake. If you love them, let them know that. Don't be secretive. Be honest! The mission is a tough thing, but you can't get down on yourself. You have to be happy, and enjoy the journey. To do that. Love and serve the people. I am still working on it. I am surely not the best missionary...but...i'm pretty close. Just kidding. I have learned so much about life, people, myself and I love to keep on learning. I love the mission. It's all mental.
Dad. Forgive me. I had your day all highlighted and colored in my planner telling me it was your birthday. Just for the last three mondays I always forget to tell you Happy Birthday. I know I have forgotten a ton of other birthdays. Forgive me. Be happy everyone!
I brought two pairs of shoes on this mission. Both still survive...but there are very multiple states of survivors. With less than two legs...I am not sure how to say, but it is safe to say that both pairs are on there last legs. haha Yesterday, it snowed and snow was on the ground, few inches...but 3 hours later, the clouds parted and nearly all the snow melted with only a few exceptions where it was kept in the shadows all day. For the past month I have only been wearing one of my pairs, because the other one, although they are still wearable, are leaking water. So yesterday, I didn't sleep very well and hence was not thinking all too well and decided to wear the bad pair of shoes. Oh man it was bad, I was complaining the whole way on the way to the church, thanks for putting up with me comp! And by the time we get to the church, about a 13 minutes walk or so. My socks, ankle down, both feet are soaked, we were at church early about a half hour, so I go upstairs, grab a pair of sandals, and put my socks and shoes on a heater for the next twenty minutes. Got some funny comments from the members, when I was walking around in flip flops, saying hello, and right before church started just went back upstairs and put on not-so-much soaked shoes and socks. Church was great! Leaving church, we went to a nearby piata(market) and said hello to a member who works there. And then we went home, with my shoes letting in water, and once again my socks getting resoaked. Luckily we weren't caught in a storm or far away from home where I couldn't control the situation, but instead it was my choice, coould have controlled it and simply I chose to be smart and adventerous. Just like I always do.
With another week gone by. Me and Elder Hyatt are doing so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Arad. I love him. I love the members. I love the people. I love the country. And I love the future people that we will be finding...once again this week with our hard work and diligence. It was a tough week, but it was awesome at the same time. Monday it snowed. Made brownies and gave it to some members. Had a good visit at my favorite member here, Edy. He is trying to share the gospel nearly everyday with his wife, but slow and steady wins the race. He is solid and I always love going over there to visit him. Tuesday, also snowed again and we spent some time trying to figure out street boarding and talking to the Primarie and getting all that sorted out, good thing I know Romanian. Also had our first English class, went well, had a good spread in Beginners class and hopefully they come back Saturday, I thought it went well....after doing it for a year and a half, basically got it down. Still don't know English too well speaking it, but I know how to teach it. Then visited new member Ghita. He's doing great. Found a new job. And I always love visiting him.
Wednesday. Snowed in the evening time. Had a good visit with Banatean family. Some knocking on doors. And also, had my first split here in Arad with a member. I went with Edy and Elder Hyatt went with Elder McFadden. It went well, we tried to visit his friend, but he wasn't home and Elder Hyatt and McFadden got let in on two doors. Then we drove to Timisoara on the nice new road they just finished. Super quick and it wasn't icy at all.
Thursday. Best exchange ever with Elder Martin. I loved it a lot. Oh man, my heart goes out to him. There is so much going on in that city, and I wish I could be there and try to help. He just got there and he has so much he has to do now. Like a lot! It was great visiting with some members. A former investigator, and getting a new investigator. I love that city. Then for Friday. It rained...just about all day! it was a good day, although not a whole lot happened. Had good visit with some members.
Saturday. English went well. Spent some time in the park, then finished the night in the blocs. And Sunday was a good day as well.
The members here are great and that is basically what we are focusing on and also finding those are willing to listen.
Today for Preparation Day, we had a super fun Zone Pday where all the cities came to ME! Here in Arad and we played some Paintball. It was super fun. I was aching and it was fun to shoot everyone...on and off my team. And awesome price too! Thanks so much Daniel, you are the best!
Yesterday, taught the Gospel Principles class and it was really great, got talking about God and his love for us. Why so much happens to me? Why now? Why me? And basically the answer. Don't worry about it. God knows what we need. We need to trust in Him - a very hard thing to do sometimes. In the end, everything will be ok, if it's not ok, it's not the end.
Take care everyone and know that God Loves YOU!
It was just the best week of my mission! As every week happens to be the best week. hehe Elder Hyatt has grown a love for smoothies (bananas, strawberries, ice cream, ice, some sugar, and milk, and vanila). We invited the McFaddens over last night to enjoy them with us and we only had them including last night three times last week. Very delicious and fast. But anyways. It was a great week, because I got to be around my fellow missionaries. I decided that with apartment checks (McFaddens deal with that) and also with District Meetings, how we need to do at least one in each city every six weeks. We knocked out all 3 rabbits with a single bullet as they say here (or 3 birds with one stone). Lots of driving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did it all, Monday morning last week, we held our District Meeting. Elder Hyatt is my District Leader. And then Tuesday. Down to Timisoara District Meeting and back up to Arad. Awesome because they just finished the highway two land road from Timi to Arad and killed the travel time in nearly half. Then Wednesday. Up to Oradea. Longer drive, but the District Meeting went really well. And then Thursday off to Deva and that was a long drive. So many villages where you have to slow down. And I drove a lot of kilometers. But it was so worth it. The Meetings went great and apartments were checked.That was our morning for last week and then we got back to Arad and had some good days of work.
We really don't have a lot going for us right now. But we are loving working together and visiting members and just trying to talk to as many people as we can. And just finding ways to serve the people. I love the people so much here in Romania. And I love to be among them and to serve them. Everyday is simply great, it just depends how we view our days. Be positive and happy, don't worry about the things you can't control...uh because you can't do anything about it. But never let the things you can control get you down. Be happy. It is a choice. I am happy.
And I hope you are too. I love Arad, if I haven't mentioned that before. It's a great city.
This past week was just great for me and my companion, Elder Hyatt. I love him so much and I just found out from my pops and also from Elder Hyatt's family that emailed him. That his uncle and my dad are two young men stake presidents and attend church at the same building in Katy/Richmond, Texas. A shout out to Herb Hyatt! You have a great nephew here in Romania! I love being with him and being able to serve side by side. He is a great missionary and I have lots to learn from him. I was his District Leader in Timisoara and now he is my District Leader here in Arad. :)
With it being transfers and with new missionaries getting their visas, I went down to Bucuresti to do that! Yay! Me and Elder Mikolyski were the only two that didn't get their visas about three transfers ago..maybe just two. But now we are finally legal. After getting visas, we didn't spend much time at all at the gara talking to people, although i really wanted to. Elder Hyatt and I went to a members home and had lunch there, took a nap actually there, we were so tired and not able to have sleepers (meaning we sat in chairs for the train ride and didn't have beds) for the train ride down from Arad. And took a much needed nap. haha on another more comfortable chair, not quite a bed, Elder Hyatt got the bed. And then after that we had a good visit with one of my favorite families I would meet with there in Bucuresti. And while I have been here in Arad, since leaving, missionaries after me were able to work with a part member family and completed the family with the father getting baptized last fall. And then another awesome visit with a family, little less active this past year and hesitant to let their son to get baptized. he wants to so bad and it was great to be able to visit with them and it was one of my most favorite lessons ever. And probably next year if the missionaries keep working with them, the little brother and older brother will get baptized. That was Wednesday. Then we slept the night at my future apartment. Then Thursday we had mission council and we had some really great discussions about working with the branch and of course being good examples for all the missionaries around the mission. I always love going to those, learn a lot, see lots of ways I can be better and try to give some input. Always my favorite day of the month for sure.
Then back here in Arad, Friday morning, it was a good day. Got some more sleep. Then visited a lot of members and cleaning up the branch list. It was fairly cold but not too bad. Saturday was a good day, English starting up again this next week, signs up this Saturday and a lot of the time we were giving out english cards and advertising for that. Had a really good visit with a few members here talking about missionary work and just seeing how they are doing. I love the members here in Arad and love visiting them in their houses. Had a good visit with a member, where we gave him copy of the Book of Mormon to give to a friend and for him to write a note in it before he gave it to him. He said he'd gladly do it. Probably my favorite member - Edy.
Saturday night the Assistants came over to spend the night here, they are on interview tour across the west side of the country and Sunday morning...two weeks late. Christmas SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A couple inches on the ground, but we didn't walk to church, assistants took us. Then me and Elder Hyatt shoveled and also swept snow. I had the broken snow shovel and elder hyatt was equipped with the well working broom. Reminded me of great times shoveling snow in Brasov with Elder Betteridge and Bateman. I bore my testimony in church and by the end of Sacrament meeting I thought I was about to pass out, during sunday school, I didn't teach thankfully, I was out the whole time, not quite asleep, but just eyes closed and resting if you know what I mean, and then during Priesthood, I was translating for Elder McFadden and my tiredness and aches went away somehow. But then after we got home, I was still dead, think combination, of being sick all this week, going to bed a little late, train rides, fasting, and working hard. Got more sick, but after lunch, had a much needed nap, felt better, then for the evening went back to the church (President and Sora Hill were both at church) and we had interviews with them and the Assistants. They went great. I love talking to President and Sora Hill. It was a great week. This week is going to be even better. I will be back to full health and I am still with the best companion ever.
I love you Family! Happy Birthday Taryn! Take care everyone!
So here in Arad, it has not snowed and stuck at all this winter! And not at all this year even (what the heck? two days in and no snow. I want snow!) For the past week it was pretty chilly, usually around freezing but today it warmed up to about 47-50 and being Sora Hickman's last Preparation Day here in Arad, we went and played Pickleball. And I say this humbly, I am pretty dang good at it. Sam, we'll have to play when I get back, I'll teach and then you'll become better than me, but that's ok. I'll still teach you. It was so much fun, feeling kinda sick, runny nose, and soar throat, it was good to get some movement and sports in. Elder Hyatt did pretty good. And Sora Cottam caught on quick and Sora Hickman did well. McFaddens are super good. I can't play anymore being comps with Elder McFadden because...ummm we dominate. haha I played two games with Sora McFadden....and uh we dominated. haha I love Pickleball. I am definitely going to keep playing back home and I'll start it up at...the University of Utah. And when I visit BYU I'll start it up there as well. (I love you Marissa. Just remember, friends close, enemies closer. My ways are not your ways.) Anyways. It was a great week for me and Elder Hyatt.
It is such a weird thing with getting him a week before the transfer that will happen this coming week. I feel like I have been with him forever! Can't believe Elder Olson is home! So for the transfer, I will be staying another here in Arad! Yay. 4 transfers. Crazy! December was a tough month for the zone but things are going to be plain sick this coming month of January. Got some great things planned for this zone and this city. Not a whole lot going for us right now, that doesn't mean anything for me! This transfer I'll be with Elder Hyatt. And a sister that left when I came to Arad, she'll be coming back to Arad, Sora Henrie, and she'll be with Sora Cottam. I was very surprised to see the McFaddens staying again here in Arad. haha (They'll probably stay here their whole mission.) It's going to be great. I am finally serving somewhat close to Elder Martin after 3 transfers, he'll be in Timi and Elder Mikolyski'll be in Deva (first time i'll be serving around him since arriving in the country)! I love transfer time. We do not have to go down to Bucuresti...oh but we do this week. I need to finally and officially be legal in this country. haha I'll be getting my visa and that is going to be a wonderful day, visiting members and hopefully former investigators, staying the night down there this wednesday and having zone leader council with the rest of the zone leaders, president, and sora, and the assistants. I hate that train ride (all I have to say) haha
This past week was great. New Year's was sick. With Elder Bateman last year, we just stayed inside almost all night, we were kinda out late visiting some members and investigators and as I remember, kinda lame, but had the best companion ever at new years time. haha, But this year, we were just at the McFaddens playing games and eating Hawaiian haystacks with the sisters, and then at midnight we walked over to the center of town and it was just gorgeous with the fireworks, and it was great because we were so close to the fireworks. about 15 meters away, maybe 10. And it was beautiful, I videoed it and hope it came out alright, took lots of pictures too. That was fun, crazy too with lots of crazy people out as you can imagine, but we all made it home safe and haha barely made it to church the next day for the hour. No way I was not sleeping in that day.
With the holidays, we have had some fun searching out some lost sheep and just cleaning up the branch list. Tons of members that have moved and don't come anymore with different reasons and luckily, nearly all of them have been home and we have had some success with it. YAY! We have been working on that a little bit. It's hard to contact people on the streets, houses, and blocs being the holidays, but now they can't use that as an excuse. I still love street contacting the most. I loved it in Timisoara, not so much in Bucuresti but I love it so much. I love talking to people and especially the message and topic I get to talk to people about. The Gospel is a wonderful thing. Keep learning everyday and progressing forward and upward. This past week, Elder Hyatt had his first exchange up in Oradea, I loved it so much with Elder Taylor and Elder Hyatt was with Elder Jensen. We had some great success up there and even a second visit with a man in the park that came to church! Hopefully he'll go somewhere and they can keep meeting with him.
Got a lot of mail in a package from Bucuresti. They needed to send some stuff up here to me and Elder McFadden, so they overnighted it.
Thank you so much for the letters and season's greetings Taryn * 2, my Family, Spencer, Wilder Family, Presidents Monson, Eyring, and Uchtforf (we write a lot), Laurel, Grandma and Grandpa Ross, Mom (rings made it), Jared and Kadee Ross, Katy Stake, Bachrachs * 2, and the Williams Family.
Thanks so much for the support and love. I love all of you and miss you. Take care of yourselves and be happy. And never forget it's a choice. Have joy!
