Saturday and Sunday...

November 20, 2010

Another Saturday. I cleaned the bathroom again. I feel like I have cleaned the bathroom every week since I have been here – but it’s actually just been by chance that the weeks we are really busy and don’t get our Saturday cleaning done are the weeks that I have the kitchen or the living room! Oh well, it may be my last week cleaning this little bathroom in Scala 1. (The name of our apartment).

I tried to get some work done on my research paper. I have chosen to do my paper on Autism because it is something that I feel like I know the least about and it is becoming a common diagnosis. It’s also been helpful working with V, because I understand more through just interacting with him, regardless of the journal articles I have been reading.

I spent a good hour writing and translating thank you cards for my workers. I’m excited to give the cards and pictures to them next week. I feel like it doesn’t even make up for all that they have done for me, but it’s better than nothing!

Tomorrow we have church, but only for an hour because they are watching General Conference after Sacrament meeting. I decided not to stay because it is difficult enough to have church in Romanian, let alone a few more hours in Romania, especially after I have watched all of the October conference sessions. I’m excited to come home and get a copy of the Ensign and actually read the talks. I feel like I get a lot more out of it than listening.

November 21, 2010

We went to our hour of church today. I have to tell you an amazing story. The mission here is trying to reach their goal of 200 baptisms by the end of the year. So far, I think they are at about 115 or so. In attempting such a lofty goal, they have decided to fast each week until the end of the year in hopes that they will be able to find the people that they need to.

Today, I talked to one of the missionaries who told me that they had had 25 appointments this past week – more than he has ever had! He also said that he has never felt such opposition and rejection either. On multiple occassions, people would yell at them, not let them in, walk by during an appointment and tell the person not to listen to the missionaries, etc. Just like the scriptures say - there is definitely opposition in all things, but it has also been amazing to see the power of prayer, fasting and missionary work go hand in hand. Just since we have been there, the branch is continuing to grow each week with more investigators. I’m so glad I have been able to be a part of this

I have to tell another story. There is an older homeless man that sits outside the Roman Orthodox church just down the street from us. Megan has sometimes dropped something off for him to eat. (She has a much bigger heart than I do!). I guess the missionaries have also been talking to him. The Elder who I was talking to earlier told us that the first time they approached the man, he would only look down and wouldn’t talk to them and was very shy. After a few weeks of stopping by and talking to him, they said that he began to talk to them and he would actually look up at them and seemed interested in what they had to say. Last week, they asked him if he wanted to come to church. He came with the missionaries and almost was too afraid to come in, but came in anyways. The missionaries only expected him to stay for one hour, but he came to all 3 meetings!

Today, I was leading the music in sacrament meeting and I could see outside the door (the entrance is at the front of the room). I looked over and saw him outside like he didn’t want to interrupt. I smiled at him and he smiled back. Then, I could see out of the corner of my eye the branch president behind me motioning him to come in. It was really cool. I could see that the missionaries hadn’t expected him to come again, because their faces were surprised and excited when they saw that he had come. I think they are going to put some money together and try and take him to the barber  and get him some clothes for Christmas(he has long hair and a full beard). It’s been neat to see a bit of a transformation in him in just a short time!

Well, I’m excited to be able to skype with my family again tonight. Just one more week from tomorrow and I’ll be on my planes home!