Red Leather Scriptures

I just got my scriptures back from a book-binder and they are BEAUTIFUL! A common thing to do in this mission is to have your scriptures rebound in leather. Now, all I want to do is hold my scriptures close. They are beautiful inside and out and I love them! Next week when we'll be in Cluj, it will be Denny's turn to transform his. Stay tuned.

Spending 24/7 in the service of our Lord has been a humbling and rewarding experience...and we have changed. Last week we noticed a new resident in our neighborhood, a homeless man sleeping on a park bench directly below us. The evening air finally fell below 80 degrees and we noticed he was using a piece of cardboard for a blanket. Last night we gathered a blanket, pillows, a hat and scarf, and some food and Denny took it down to him. He was startled when he first woke up and then he thanked Denny profusely. Tonight he is back and he still has his blanket and pillow and nightcap! I think we will take him some food every night. This is a blast and we wouldn't have known the pure joy this simple act of giving brings had we not decided to serve a mission. For some reason, we have always looked at the homeless and downtrodden in a disgusting way. We have now come to accept the fact that people are people--all God's people, and they need our help, not our disdain. Try helping someone down and out this week and see how you feel.

WATERMELON RECIPE AND OTHER DELIGHTS

Mind you, we're not complaining! Warm weather is a blessing and without it, there would be no flowers, and grass and yes...longing for the snowy days of winter. Proof, we're delirious with the heat! Denny keeps, at the ready, handkerchiefs to blot his beading, hairless scalp and I have had my first experience with running sweat burning my eyes! It's dang hot, but mind you, we're not complaining!

Enter...the simple pleasures of summer...WATERMELON!

Romanian watermelon is famous in Europe. They are cheap, delicious and everywhere! Recently, on one of our humanitarian assignments, we found ourselves in a hotel room, far from home, yearning for a slice. We had a paring knife and a small cutting board (salami/cheese/crackers) so we were set. Here is our watermelon recipe for happiness:

First step. Pick out a good one without climbing in. We have mastered the art of "thumping".

Chill the watermelon.

While doing a balancing act, cut it open with the biggest knife you have.

Dive in! (We ate the whole thing!)

Clean up is easy!

Another day, another watermelon feast. We always have one chilling in our fridge and this time, we shared with three of the best Soras in the world who spent the night in our "sauna" before a Zone conference.

We also had watermelon after this District meeting but the major attraction was the main course. The week before, the missionaries were discussing the simple pleasures of the MTC and they started raving about biscuits and gravy. I decided to surprise them and now I'm famous! I'll do anything for these wonderful missionaries!

This is a Zone meeting, where missionaries teach and inspire all of us.

And...this is why we're here. Alin was baptized on Saturday night by Elder Bennett. This is a picture of our entire District. Powerhouses all!

The Church continues to grow in Romania and we are thrilled to be a part of the miracle.