Last of Aug. first of Sept. 2016

 So I'm going to write below the picture instead of above.  It makes more sense but not for me when I'm writing it.  Everyone came to see Sora Savoie off.  Eugene, in yellow pants asked her to marry him.  She told him he would have to ask her father.  Robert, not a member also came to see her off.  He would sure be an asset to the church if he decides to get baptized. (one in center with pony tail).  Such a nice young man.

Tue. we were again at the train station to pick up Elder Swafford.  Everyone had their sun glasses but him.  Rand has in his new camo hat.  Elder Jardine was jealous.

 According to Sandu, this restaurant has been in business for the last 400 years.  We decided we needed to see what that was like.

 We wondered how many times it has been remodeled.  It was a lovely establishment.

 Next to our table was this stained glass window of the restaurant and the Episcopalian church above.

 I ordered lamb chops and Rand got eggplant cheese.  Very delicious

Better picture of the restaurant with our waiter walking in.

 Meeting with Alexandra at her place of work.  We're hoping to put together a Relief Society activity making scripture bags for the members so they'll bring their scriptures to church.

The sister missionaries volunteered their sewing machine.  "You have a sewing machine?"  "Well, sort of!"  It's a treddle machine with a tension that is too tight.  We'll have to hire a sewing machine specialist to get that straightened out before we can sew anything.

So happy to find an English speaking clerk at the fabric store.  We think we can make our scripture bags for under $2 each.

 After Rand had his cavity filled the dentist wanted to get a good match on his new crown.  She said we could just walk to the man's house who would be making it.  Not very professional but quite charming in my opinion.  The dentist is in the stripped dress.

Wife finds the closets color match and the husband takes a picture.  This should be a perfect match with outdoor lighting.

Gelato all fancied up.  Paula, you need to come over so we can check out all the yummy flavors. 

Rand's newest "kick",  to look like this.  He covered the man's head so this hair looked more like his to take this picture.  Now he's telling everyone it is him.

This weekend was the Freiberg German Temple rededication.  Sure brought back memories Sat. night as we got to see the televised Cultural Celebration.  I got out my pictures from Phoenix temple almost two years ago and relived for a few minutes that amazing affair.

 Pres. Uchtdorf was the one sent to oversee the dedication.  He will be coming to Romania Monday and we will have the privilege of seeing him in Bucharest Wednesday.

 Theme for the celebration.  As you will see the photos aren't the best quality.  They were taken from the projected image we were able to witness as it was telecast to Sibiu Branch.

 Yes, a lot of it was in German.  However Pres. Uchtdorf told the Youth to learn English.  There were 5 countries represented by the youth.  I can't even imagine how difficult that would have been for the directors to put together unless everyone also knew English or the director knew Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Romanian, Slovakian and of course Germany. 

 Does the format look familiar?  The performance was indoors with about 1/10 the number we had for the Phoenix Celebration but there sure were a lot of similar staging. 

 Each country did a traditional dance.

 The European goals were reduced to three topics with one line each.  The last half of the program featured skits and dances to depict the three lines which are "Be a Friend" written in all five languages.

 Become self reliant

 Temple work & family history

 Finally

Sorry that more in the branch didn't come to witness the celebration.  Games night preempted the young missionaries being there.  Toma enjoyed himself along with Rand and I.

We are enjoying this beautiful violet rose in our living room with home grown baby breath.  Nights are feeling extra chilly but we are enjoying lovely weather in our shorter days.

Rand and I finished the assignment our Mission President gave all the missionaries, to read the Book of Mormon together as a companionship in two months.  We started on July 4th and finished Sept. 3rd.  Oh how we love reading the Book of Mormon but we do actually enjoy studying it more than just reading from beginning to end.  I think this was the first time through when I didn't fall asleep in the "Isaiah chapters".  They seemed like old friends as we went through them.  

My favorite verse from 2 Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of christ, and endure to the end, behold, this saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.