This was the weekend that was so busy.  You wouldn't know it by this picture.  We took time to go out to lunch with the Sisters at the Uruguay restaurant.  We finally found it open.

 Rand wanted a picture of their cooking arrangement.  The fire box was above the grill.  Hot coals fall down from the fire box to cook the food.  Colorful veggies are on the right staying warm for later use.

Central road in Sibiu with the two main roundabouts are blocked off so that the annual car races can take place.  Of course the church is on the other side of the race track and seriously disrupted our travel to and from.

 Games night for the YSA was finally able to meet out doors.  This activity was originally started out doors.  Members set up to play volley ball and invited anyone who wanted to join in.  By the time winter set in there was a good group of non members who looked forward to the Sat. night activity and were willing to move to the church to continue with indoor games.

Sunday the missionaries, Mihi and Elena, an investigator did a Sora Treabes hand signal.  We sure miss the missionaries when they move on.

After Sibiu Branch meetings on Sunday we headed to Deva.  Deva used to be a branch but when the branch president had to move to Bucharest there wasn't enough activity to warrant keeping it going.  We were asked to drive there in the afternoon once a quarter to hold a sacrament meeting.  The drive is about 2 1/2 hours away.  Something yellow was absolutely stunning.

 This was our first sighting of a castle.  None of us knew anything about it.

 We had four members attend our sacrament meeting and one investigator.  Elder Brown encouraged them to do their missionary work in hopes of qualifying to be a branch again.  The Elders brought a sacrament water tray and the prayers but forgot the water, bread and bread tray and cloth.  After they realized one at a time each of the items they were missing the gentleman who's house we were meeting at quickly provided the needed items.  We now have a list.  Live and learn right?

 We're hoping to have a Relief Society activity in the near future.  The problem will be a place to meet.  Homes are tiny with little room to do an activity.  That is why they are so sad they no longer have a building to meet in.

 Elders had an investigator we planned to meet with after the Deva group meeting.  Turns out he works at a restaurant at the base of the castle gondola.  He suggested we drive up the back of the mountain instead of riding up with the rest of the tourists.  We'll have to come another day than Sunday.

 While walking around the parking lot waiting for the missionaries to finish their lesson with the investigator I noticed a row of statues.  Surprised to see they were mostly women and not some old king or royalty we were told that it was statues of the Romanian gymnasts that went to the Olympics the year Nadia Comaneci won her perfect 10 score.  The building in the background has the Olympic circles and was were the team trained.

 We then drove another 30 minutes to meet up with a member who was not able to attend church.  The Elders were interested to find out his story and see how he could be included in the Deva Group.  Turns out he wants to get a job where the church is better established.  Interesting meeting though.

Monday for FHE Camilia brought us her rendition of a Romanian waffle.  She had heard that we had waffle dinners and she thought we must really love waffles.  The Romanian waffle is a cracker.  Something you would eat with soup.

I gave my first talk in church Sunday the 16th. I used the theme from the Women's General Conference "I was a Stranger" and combined that with Elder Kearon's talk about the 60,000 refugees throughout the world.  He said "not that many years ago their story was our story".  I told about my Great Great Grandfather, William Cook Prows who as a refugee of sorts went as a member of the Mormon Battalion to California and that the money he made provided funds needed for his step Mother to get to Salt Lake City.  William's father decided he did not want to be a refugee and follow the prophet.  He abandoned his family and went back East where he had come from.  I felt inspired to tell the members that they were the refugees of Romania.  Many have been abandoned by their friends and families for joining the church.  I encouraged them to stay faithful as William did.  His posterity now honor him for staying faithful to the Gospel and helping to build the kingdom.  His father was not faithful and none of his posterity honor him.    My talk was translate by Elder Hellewell.  Lucky him.  He is usually the one that translates for Pres. Brown up on the stand so Rand knows what is being said.  Elder Hellewell is the first counselor and does all the conducting in meetings.  We thought we would lose him this transfer but instead are losing Elder Cochran.  So sad.  We've spent most of our mission in the same Branch as Elder Hellewell.  I told him there was something we needed to learn from each other before he could move to another city.  We just haven't figured out what that is. 

 Lots of Easter baskets with candy and toys being sold here,           same as at home days before the actual holiday.  Mika is everyone's favorite chocolate.  Carrefour retail store featured this full-size cow in their Easter display.

Our Family Home Evening is picking up.  Here we are three members to 6 missionaries to one investigator (Camilla plans to get baptized no the 23rd).

 Two letters mailed.  I've learned to write addresses small because the stamps take up a lot of space.

Hope the postal box doesn't tip over.

Taking a new way home we were intrigued with their gardens.  The vegetable beds are slightly raised with ditches for rain run off.  Not a problem we have in Phoenix

 Two days with a lot of rain made things pretty muddy.

 We'd like to find someone who could tell us what the plastic bottles of yellow liquid along the fence line were.  This wasn't the only farm that had bottles of something.  Some were smaller jars and some were much larger than these.  Now if we spoke their language we might have an easier time getting answers to our questions.

Ate dinner at Camilia's restaurant.  She is the cashier at a fast food restaurant.  She is so excited for her baptism in a week.  Hope her new job doesn't get in the way.  She doesn't have a set schedule yet and is a new employee.

Opposite angle from the above picture.  Interesting mural on the wall.

Shopping at the grocery store has been easy here and the produce excellent.  We hadn't worried about finding a local market.  Here is one we found close to the post office.  They are selling food in season so there were lots of radishes and green onions.  Everything else was shipped in.  Did buy some dry prunes that were delicious.

          Family trying to get somewhere on a very rainy day in a wagon.

April showers Bring May Flowers, except that it is still April.  The tulips are/were beautiful.   Today we had quite a wind and many tulip petals blew away.

Found a little extra time to climb the tower you see here.  It is the second tallest in Centru.

Entry to winding tower stairway.

Bumping your head was an issue.  We both had trouble cause the tendency was to watch your footstep.

Display on our trip up on one of the floors of the large and small centru.  

 We were told that all missionaries want to take home one of these bread mixing bowls.  There are much smaller ones that you might get in your suitcase.

Looking down on road that goes under liars bridge

 Looking down on where we parked our green car and I took a picture of Rand and the tower we climbed.

We have a busy weekend so wanted to do a post in case we run out of time.  A couple times I've done the post on Monday but we are going to Bucharest next week so that most likely won't work out.  I'm going to be giving my first talk in sacrament meeting.  I had to get it written so  Elder Hellewell could look it over and be ready to translate all the words as I give the talk.

I was assigned to do the spiritual thought this morning at the district meetings.  I took my thought from lds.org "how to Pray in a Way God Can Answer".  In combining what "I want" with "what God wants for me",  you come up with a way God can answer your prayers with this formula.  

My desire + "But if Not" + A Godly Desire = Praying for Something God can Grant.    

Example:  Dear Heavenly Father please bless me today to find those whom you are preparing to hear the gospel, but if not, help me to be patient and have a good attitude.  The whole talk is powerful and can be read at:

https://www.lds.org/blog/how-to-pray-in-a-way-god-can-answer?cid=HP_TH_14-4-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_&lang=eng

Lilacs are in bloom all over town.  Here the lilac bush is in front of an apple tree in bloom.  Citizens are praying that the weather doesn't turn cold and freeze the promised crops.  I'm hoping not to have to wear my winter coat again till next winter.

Highlight of the week was sitting in on several lessons and bearing my testimony when the Sisters taught Camilia.  She has been to church the last three weeks and is really wanting to get baptized.  We're praying that nothing trips up this wonderful goal.

Tuesday we all made it to Mihi's garden.  Sora Djahanbani is so happy for a beautiful day to work in our grubbies.

Mihi's human rototillers have arrived

 The Elder's are already at work in the background

 Renting a tractor probably wouldn't cost that much.  I think we should all chip in as Mihi didn't like us using the shovels we borrowed from our proprietor (landlord).

Last week's cherry tree in full bloom

 Goal of the week was to dig all the dandelions out of the grass.  A little work each day has paid off.

This is the drive that is visible from the front gate.  The grass and weeds have been impossible to dig.  Sat. we sprayed them with vinegar and they are dying back.  Hope they stay dead.  We've had a lot of rain this weekend so we'll see tomorrow. 

This weekend was another Romanian holiday.  Saturday after English was a beautiful day so we headed to centru.  The piazza was covered with tents.  This man is carving in wood.

Lots of fun traditional clothes on display for sale 

Red fabric draped in front looks like gypsy skirts

Father and Daughter who sell jewelry and clothes 

Central market with ancient buildings in background.  The round building on the right houses a visitors center.

 Rand talking to a basket weaver.  We didn't get a picture of the gentleman that looked very native american.  Rand asked him if he was from Arizona.  No, he was from Ecuador.  He was playing an instrument that looked much like the ones Uncle James has made.

Another visit to Johnny's parents.  Here Felicia is showing the Sister's her last email telling about his three days in the hospital where he serves as a missionary in Manchester England.

 Carnet's are becoming much more warm toward the church.  Johnny has been sharing his mission with them and they miss him but are very proud of his work.

 They live next to the river that flows behind their property.  There property reminds us of home with chickens, a fruit orchard and gardens.  They love sharing with us and tell us to come more often.  Sora Yost is the only one of us that knew Johnny.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.