Linerud Mission

A Gallop To The Finish

2011-03-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that we are leaving Romania in a week. Our Ministerial Visa's expire on March 15th, along with soles of our shoes and the linings of our coats. We are tired yet still energized, if those two words can be used in the same sentence. Through phenomenal people, we have experienced amazing things--some heart-warming, some heart-rending. We have traveled by train to the borders, through the mountains, and through the most beautiful countryside anyone can imagine. But...all good things must come to an end and that is good because we are SO EXCITED TO GO HOME!

In January we submitted a project that has become one of our favorites. We wrote it through tears and when it was reviewed in Germany, our Area Welfare Manager was so touched that he booked a flight to Romania to visit Noreen O'Gorman and accompany her on her daily nursing rounds in the villages near Slobozia. Just when we were breaking out the Bon Bons, we got a call telling us that John Mulligan, our supervisor's, supervisor was on his way! He is the man at the top who has the final say in whether a project is approved...or not. We love this man but his timing was a bit inconvenient! We cleared our calendar, put our suitcases away, and made reservations for the hotel, rented a car and arranged a driver. We spent one day visiting two families and returned to Bucharest with a heart-full of stories that we will never forget.

This is John Mulligan, learning first-hand about Romanian wind and snow.

Knowing we would be visiting very poor families, we gathered food, cooking pots, clothes, blankets, and toys and came bearing gifts. In this modest house, in one heated room, a single father is raising three young children. Since he is poor, he is in danger of having to place the children in an orphanage, as that is the only help offered by Child Protection.

The children loved the toys.

We wrapped them in hats and scarves and blankets and they were so happy.

The father cares for the children and cooks on this stove. It is also the heat source for the house.

The next stop was a modest home where all three of the children have been diagnosed with Leigh Syndrome, a rare progressive neurological condition that causes deterioration in the brain, muscle wasting, difficulty breathing and swallowing and eventually leads to death at a young age.

The clothes on the line tell the story.

This little boy can no longer walk or sit unaided or talk.

Noreen examines the five-year-old. She cannot walk or sit by herself.

This little boy is almost three and now developing signs of the disease. He walked at 1 year and now cannot take steps.

This is really a bad picture of Noreen but I wanted to share what true compassion looks like. She is a 'Mother Teresa' to these families. Here, she is quietly explaining the progression of the children's disease. The parents are being told that their children will only live until age 6 or 7. Flori is a social worker who accompanies Noreen on her home visits.

This picture captured the worried look of a loving father.

I couldn't get over the lines of laundry produced by this family.

Noreen regularly visits 300 people who are sick or need help to survive. She is an angel that we will find hard to leave.

Now you know how bitter-sweet this last week will be for us.

The Hat Parade

2011-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

We have loved our mission in Romania! Our experiences have changed us and we will never be the same. We have gained an appreciation for another culture, another way of life, and another part of the world. Eighteen months ago we had to look at a map to locate Romania and now we feel like we ARE Romanian! We counted up our hats the other day and found we own nine. Buying at least one hat in Romania is a must, since letting your head or your ears go uncovered in the winter is an invitation for sure death. If we ever leave our bloc without a hat, well-meaning strangers will usually remind us of the riskiness of our behavior.

About two weeks ago, I began capturing photos of great hats. My photography was sometimes unknown to the models. Enjoy the fashion show.

These hats were purchased in Chisinau, Moldova. Mine is sliver fox and Denny's is mink.

Elders Frandsen and Betteridge make these hats look fun.

Every little child wears a hat. This one is just cute. Others are more functional!

This hat is just covering for the top.

This is not a hat (duh!) but it is a Romanian head covering. Most women wear scarfs.

Romania!

The Maidenform models also wore scarfs.

This man is wearing an Igloo hat. Different!

Beanie Baby.

This is a typical Romanian hat, always worn by men over 50. It is made from baby lambs.

Elder Van Wagoner models his Davy Crockett hat.

This hat has ear flaps that fold down when the need arises. Don't laugh. These hats are not only functional, they are very warm.

This is just a crazy hat!

Sometime you wonder if there's an animal alive under there! This is definitely home-made!

This man was very proud of his beaver hat. It has to be combed!

Another beaver!

This nice Romanian modeled his traditional lamb hat. (I don't think they really call them that!)

Another lamb hat!

This man is wearing an elderly lamb hat. Don't ask!

This picture was taken today, February 23, 2011. With yet another snowstorm to brighten his day, Elder Linerud is cheerfully working hard to the end! Thank goodness for a warm hat!

A Visit To Slobozia

2011-01-28T07:55:00.000-08:00

We had no clue, when we exuberantly walked through the doors of the MTC almost 17 months ago (but who's counting?) that we were in for a life-changing experience. There is no way to adequately put into words what we have experienced while we have served our mission in Romania. Having never met Mother Teresa, we feel fortunate that we have met others like her and we have been inspired and moved beyond words.

This week we ventured to Slobozia, a small town in southeast Romania. We had been told of a wonderful foundation and a director who had devoted her life to helping the poor, the dying, the neglected, and the disabled. Before our mission ended, we wanted to meet this woman and possibly fit in one more project. Little did we know that the trip would be our greatest travel trial we would endure.

The first train left Bucharest at 5:15 a.m. The train was decent but it had been sitting at the station all night in below freezing temperatures and the chill never left the air (or the seats we were sitting in) for the first 2 hours of the trip. We had to change trains in the middle of nowhere and that required a 30-minute wait standing outside on an icy platform since there was no train station. The temperature was 10 degrees. Finally, the train lumbered in and we excitedly climbed the 2' step. This was what the locals call the "P" train. It connects villages and is the cheapest and only form of transportation for the common folk. We have seen these trains before. In the summer, they are hot and crowded and you will see people literally hanging out the windows just to get some moving air. In the winter, it is different. There is no heat and people sit stoically, bundled up as if they were riding a chair lift. We endured this for more than an hour before we reached our destination. We couldn't feel our feet.

We asked someone to take our picture and even managed to smile!

Pictures never do justice! The seats were Naugahyde and the windows were completed frosted over, on the inside!

We finally got to our destination and unloaded onto more frozen turf.

Next came a 2-hour white-knuckle car ride which was arranged so we could visit yet another foundation. Five of us were crammed into a Dacia, a Romanian version of a Gio (only not so luxurious!) All we can say is that we lived to tell!

This is Lina. She is a fireball who began a foundation to aid autistic children. We were impressed with her dedication and will write a project that will provide play equipment to be used if the snow ever melts.

Imagine monkey bars and swings.

Lina began this foundation when her own son (right) was diagnosed with autism. This is the only facility for autistic children in the area.

We posed with the other care-givers before we said good-bye.

Back in the car . . .

When we finally arrived to meet Noreen O'Gorman, we had been going at it for 12 hours. As we talked, we realized she had also put in a day more exhausting then ours. She started a foundation to rescue and care for terribly disabled children. She is an RN from London and has devoted her life to these children and also travels to the surrounding villages offering assistance in a home health program.

As we visited, we watched in awe as Noreen interacted with the children.

They love her. . .

. . .and she loves them.

Each one received hugs and kisses.

By now it was 6:30 and time for dinner. Noreen whips up blended soups and other delights in this cracked blender. It is on the project list to be replaced.

At 8:30 pm we met Noreen for dinner in our hotel. She is an amazing woman and we totally enjoyed becoming acquainted with her. We collapsed in our hotel at 10:30 and she went back to her center where she did the nightly rounds and slept in her office so she would not have to use precious funds to hire a night nurse. She is amazing!

The next morning we decided to scrap the return train and take a bus back to Bucharest. It was a step up (if you would call a 15 passenger bus with 21 people, UP!) We stopped 13 times and the trip took 2 & 1/2 hours. At least it was warm!

This weekend we will write two projects. We've finally reached our fill of train excitement and we're pretty sure we can fill the remaining 6 weeks (but who's counting?) of our mission staying close to home.

Things We WON'T Miss

2011-01-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

As we continue our free-fall to the end of our mission, we have days when we "well-up" with the thought of leaving Romania and this mission that we have loved so much. To deactivate those emotions, we sometimes mutter about the things we WON'T miss. For our blog followers who have experience living in a foreign country, you realize "It's not Kansas, Dorothy"! Lest you think we're being negative, think again. We call it 'therapy'!

In no particular order, these are some of the things we won't miss in 49 days:

Living in a city.

Stepping off a bus into six inches of slush containing whoknowswhat!

Our "Easy Bake" oven. If it weren't for Denny, we would call it our "Easy Burn" oven!

No-dryer laundry day.

Carrying groceries home.

Mystery meals.

Not being able to help everybody.

Water problems. Sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's brown, sometimes it's off!

Working out in our classy attire...

...with the classy gym equipment!

Just look at the muscles!

Honey-do Hair-do's.

Tripping impediments everywhere!

Look down, Denny!

Duck, Denny!

Romanian overnight trains

I only LOOK grouchy!

Making each other laugh!

My companion lights up my life but I'm pretty sure I'll be ready for a transfer soon!

(To balance out, there will be a 'Things We WILL Miss' entry soon.)

January Blahs Brightened

2011-01-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

Being from the Northwest, we thought we knew grey! Now that we are seasoned Bucharestites, we are sure there can be nothing grey-er than Bucharest in winter. The sooty block buildings, the greasy streets, the grimy cars, the mucky sidewalks, not to mention the cloudy sky, all combine together to produce a colorless view out our window. There's a newborn baby in the apartment just below ours and when we hear the wailing cry, we are reminded that life is good and there's no time for melancholy. Our work continues and in the past week we met with two NGO's to officially sign donation agreements that will bring another 650 wheelchairs into Romania this spring. We also did something we have wanted to do our entire mission...attend a concert in the beautiful Athenium. We gathered all the senior couples together and had a wonderful time forgetting all there is to do!

This lady didn't get the memo about spring being right around the corner! Romanians have a hard time smiling, even when you ask them to! Sometimes when I see these faces, I hum to myself the song, "Smile through your heart is breaking, smile even though you're aching, while there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by...." It makes me smile, anyway!

This is the Athenium. It was built in 1888 and it is a European masterpiece.

We snapped this picture right inside the gorgeous lobby.

L to R: President and Sora Lundberg (SLC), Elder and Sora Linerud (Spokane), Elder and Sora Van Orman (Provo), Elder and Sora Dummar (Heber).

The Athenium underwent a total restoration immediately after the revolution.

A fun time was had by all.

The program was performed by the philharmonic orchestra and included the works of

Williams, Bernstein and Gershwin.

Later in the week we traveled to a wheelchair partner, Motivation Romania to inspect the shipment of 370 wheelchairs that had just arrived.

Each wheelchair has some assembly involved and we watched while these employees masterfully worked to assemble them.

15 down, 355 to go!

And now for the highlight of the week! If you ask a missionary a fast food they miss most from home, the first answer is always, "Subway"! We have McDonalds, KFC, and BurgerKing but we don't have a Subway!

For our District meeting lunch, we made hats (I downloaded the logo and just printed it!) and reconstructed a Subway shop right in our kitchen! As you can see, we covered every detail, right down to the gloves, wrapping in paper and stuffing the footlong into a plastic bag. The missionaries loved our idea and we had a blast pulling it off! We are going to have to work on a soda pop dispenser with free refills but we have to leave some ideas for the new couple replacing us in 57 days (but who's counting?)!

Spreading Christmas

2011-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Last year on Christmas Eve we decided to give cash to unsuspecting Romanians who appeared to us as needy. Our only rule was that the receivers could not be beggars. Our beneficiaries would be ordinary people we came upon while walking down the streets of our neighborhood. The unbelieving smiles and thanks we got warmed our hearts.

This year, we wanted to expand our giving so we came up with a brilliant idea. We would buy the meager goods from one street vendor and give to other people we met who looked like they could use some Christmas cheer. I snapped pictures along the way.

The Romanian elderly have been hit hard by the economy and, in a recent decision by the government, their pensions were cut by 25%. Many have taken to the streets, selling fruits and vegetables they raise themselves. This little man stood by his meager bag of apples, hoping someone would buy one or two.

Elder Linerud asked him to put some apples in the bag we provided and then the little man would look up to get the sign to stop. Elder Linerud motioned for all of them!

You can feel his delight!

The little scale said we owed 12 lei--$4. Elder Linerud tipped him another 10 lei.

He shook Denny's hand and kissed mine and said "Multimesc!" (I thank you!) about ten times!

He then gathered up his empty bag and went home for Christmas.

Onward. We found this man, gathering "things" from the street. He was dumbfounded that he would get something from a stranger.

We gave three or four apples at a time and everyone returned our gift with a smile.

These people are waiting for a handout from the other people who are waiting in line to buy pastries. As the "rich" people exit the pastry shop, the "poor" ask for some of their goods. This is a common sight at the doors of a grocery store, as well. As you can see, Elder Linerud was very popular! We hope the people in line took note and reacted with some "giving" of their own. We are trying to be good examples in a dog-eat-dog culture. There are generous Romanians but too few of them.

This man is our neighborhood schizophrenic. We have named him "Skirt Man" as he always dresses like this, carrying a purse and a doll. He appreciated the apples.

When the apples were gone, we did the same thing with a load of carrots. We had a blast!

This "look" made our Christmas giving complete.

Next year on Christmas Eve, our challenge is to come up with something as meaningful to do for the down-hearted people of Spokane. Our mission has changed us and we will not be found buying last-minute Christmas gifts!

Missionary Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas in the mission field is oddly incredible. Missionaries are well aware that their commitment to serve will take them from home and family for two Christmases yet, they are fine with it! They teach harder, sing carols louder, eat heartier, and in the end, say it was their best Christmas ever! It's a Christmas Miracle!

This is our District on Christmas morning. We ate a traditional American breakfast of Grandpa's hotcakes, ham souffle, hot chocolate and fresh oranges.

Always searching for a creative pose for the classic District picture, these Elders opted for the pyramid. (top: Elder Johnson; middle: Elders Schanck & Frandsen; bottom: Elders James, Simmons, Betteridge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About a week before Christmas, Sora Lundberg asked us if we could arrange for all the Bucharest missionaries to visit an orphanage on Christmas Day. You would think a simple phone call to the orphanage would be all it would take but we soon learned that every visit needs the approval of each Sector's mayor. Emails went out to all six Sectors and after 4 days, we received no responses. Why wouldn't they want us??? We promised small gifts for the children and entertainment for their dull lives provided by 25 smiling missionaries!!! Finally the break came as one of our wonderful members helped us gain permission.

Traian was raised from the age of 2 in this orphanage. He was educated in Bucharest and attended a university here, obtaining a Masters degree in music. He is an absolute genius at the piano. A little over two years ago, he noticed two missionaries on the street and stopped them to ask why they were so happy. When he heard their answer, it rang true to him and he wanted what they had. He is one of our favorites and one reason we will find it hard to leave in March.

Traian and missionaries getting ready to spread Christmas.

This is Sora Lundberg, our Mission President's wife. She is telling the children (through Traian's interpretation) that "No matter what, your Heavenly Father loves you. Never forget that". She told the children that we wanted to have fun with them and invited them to share their talents with us. Without prodding, some jumped up and sang and danced and played instruments. It was a wonderful experience to watch them perform.

This couple did a ballroom dance number.

This boy sang an opera piece.

Missionaries performed as well. Elder James is holding his rugby ball which he gave to one of the little children.

We're pretty sure the little children had never seen anything like this! Elders Simmons and Frandsen did a Beat Boxing routine, complete with crazy dance moves!

Sora Lundberg roped me into a skit where we pantomimed going to the movies. It was a huge hit! (What's a "movie"?)

This little girl won our hearts as she wore the scarf and hat we gave her and played with her new Barbie doll.

She held her "treasures" with such care and ate everything in her baggie.

The missionaries were remarkable. Wherever I pointed my camera, I saw missionaries loving the children and giving them small gifts.

Elders Mathis and Boehme were super heros to these little boys.

Soras Olson, Mullen, and Fraser shared their joy.

You can't buy this excitement!

Our "good sport" President Lundberg speaks into a toy cell phone, to the delight of this little boy.

This is a picture of jubilation. Our missionaries will never forget visiting an orphanage in Romania on Christmas Day. We hope the children will never forget that they were showered with love by the missionaries and that their Heavenly Father will never forget them.

On a more frivolous note... This is the gift I gave Elder Linerud for Christmas. As luck would have it, it can't be shipped to America. A boat that can't be shipped?? Think about that!

Romanian Cuisine

2010-12-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

WARNING: The images in these pictures are larger than they appear.

Holiday eating in Romania is not for the unenthusiastic! It's also not for Vegans! Since we are tons of fun to have as dinner guests, we had our share of dinner invitations during the holidays. As you look at this blog, feel fortunate that you only had to LOOK at the food. We had to EAT it!

Last Sunday, we were invited to this nice home in the suburbs of Bucharest. The Brinaru's live in a real, free-standing home, not a bloc building! Brother Brinaru owns his own printing company and is very successful.

Once the food is brought out, the serving begins. There is no such thing as asking for a small portion--you can ask but it's not what you get!

Mamaliga is a cornmeal mush that is served with Sarmale. I stopped Gabriella after the first and got two more scoops! Sarmale is a cabbage roll--sour, pickled cabbage stuffed with minced pork and rice then cooked in a pot for hours. It is delicious! Also, to round out the plate, you need more pork, in the form of a chop!

While this looks like "Fritos", (only in our dreams), it's really pig hide. When the pig is butchered, the hair is burned off with a blow torch (you can't make this stuff up), and then the hide is cut into strips and placed in a brine. If you chew it long enough, it becomes tolerable! We can't believe we ate it!

Bro. Brinaru reminds us of Keven Campbell but instead of holding up a King Crab, Bro. Brinaru shows off a pig kidney!

You can only imagine the size of the "donor" pig!

As if we were meat-deprived, we also have a vat of curing sausage. Luckily, this was not on the menu! It was being prepared for Christmas.

Continuing "show and tell", we have pig stomach and other "parts" in brine. Yum!

Now, this was on the menu and we were all given a big slice of LIVER encased in intestines! Bro. Brinaru was so very proud of this dish and he explained it was not only pig liver but also onions and livers from assorted birds. Don't ask.

Elder James (left) is new in Romania and you can tell he's less than enthusiastic about what he has in his mouth at the moment. Elder Johnson eats everything! (Notice the bowl of fruit!)

Finally, something we recognized! Dessert! Amazingly, it was disappointing.

We love the Brinaru family. They were so generous to invite us for dinner. They are wonderful examples of how keeping the commandments and embracing the gospel brings joy and prosperity.

__________________________

Today, after church, we were invited to the Viaduva home for some home cookin' (since we are starting to look emaciated!).

Elena Oroz (on the left) was also invited and we were happy to have her along as she speaks English and could translate when we got into a bind.

First course was ciorba de curcan--Turkey sour soup! It was delicious, if you could avoid the arteries and pin feathers!

Then came the Sarmale and Mamaliga, which I found impossible to eat. Talk about rich!

Luckily, Denny helped to "dispose" of what was left!

Just when you think you can feel a Sunday nap coming on, this plate is placed before you. We summoned all our will to eat at least a portion of this fare. Seriously, do we really need all this meat? Here we have more pork, sausage and something so terrible I have blocked the name for it in my memory. It is pieces of chicken and a layer of chopped garlic suspended in a very salty and garlic laced gelatin. The question I wanted to ask was, "Why so much?". Eating food like this brings missionaries blessings!

Finally, it was time to sit around the table and chat...in Romanian, my least favorite activity. It fits somewhere between getting a root canal and riding a night train with drunk people. The bread in the foreground is Cozanac--a Christmas bread with a swirl of cinnamon and nuts.

As you can see, we are having a great time learning the customs and developing our tastes for Romanian delicacies. Although the gelatin dish will never be in the running for one of our favorites, we have come to appreciate most foods, in moderation! What we crave is a tossed salad or fresh broccoli or a veggie tray. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, it IS too much to ask! Don't mess with Sora Florica!

(She's actually the nicest lady--just not real photogenic!)

This is the last Christmas we will spend in Romania. Next year, another missionary couple (the Wolsey's from Edmonton) will enjoy the cooking of these wonderful Romanians.

(We intend to clue them in on the Gelatin thing!)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

It's early Christmas morning in Romania and as a surprise to us, Steve hijacked our blog and posted this video of all our fourteen grandchildren sleeping. Although we are thousands of miles from these children, we feel like they are right here with us. Thank you all for filming these angels and, thanks to Steve for making the video. Christmas morning tears...you can't beat that!

Silent Night from Steven Selden on Vimeo.

Turbo December

2010-12-15T23:47:00.000-08:00

Our mission continues to be a challenge and a blessing. A CHALLENGE because we're shuffling about as fast as we can go and a BLESSING because ...we're a part of the great army of 52,000 Mormon missionaries who serve all over the world. Our clothes are starting to fray and our shoes are wearing thin, but we wouldn't have it any other way. This post represents all we did in just one week.

Our final project for the year benefited a special AIDS intensive care unit. We went shopping to IKEA with the social workers and trusted partners, Mary Veal and Ana. The project called for soft comforters which would keep very critical patients warm and cozy. Humanitarian funds bought 40 of these.

Our taxi driver assisted in the stacking and delivery back to the hospital while we caught another taxi back. The logistics involved in a simple shopping trip make our job very grueling.

A week later, we stopped by the hospital and we were able to snap this picture of one of the comforters spread over the bony body of a very critical young adult.

She looked so peaceful and we felt money had been well spent.

This is Nina. We were able to spend some year-end money to buy this sweet woman a walker. We found her six months ago when we delivered a wheelchair to a neighbor and she asked if we also had a walker. Ummmmm no, but... and we finally just went to a pharmacy and bought her one. We jumped in another taxi and with a partial address and our good memories, were able to find her again. Imagine her surprise when we appeared at her door! She was flabbergasted and immediately started to cry and hug us. Denny adjusted it to fit her and we kissed her good-bye. This is why we love our mission. We have experiences like this almost every day or, at least every week!

Then...

Denny turned 64! We had a party with all the senior missionaries and President and Sora Lundberg at Ruby Tuesday and had a real American hamburger!

A few days later...

A container arrived from the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City. We called on the army of young missionaries to help us with the unloading. Hundreds of boxes of hygiene kits, school kits and home-made quilts were unloaded in under 2 hours--a record! We all have bruises from flying boxes but it was great fun to work side by side with these exceptional missionaries.

Two days later...

We jumped on a train and took an 8-hour ride to Timisoara to meet with an NGO. Luckily, our wonderful friends and missionary couple serving with us in Bucharest also had business in Timisoara so we made the trip together. (That's our story, and we're sticking to it!)

The Dummars.

Here we are in Timisoara.

The week ended with another great baptism bringing the total for the year to 129. Iulia is a medical student and decided to be baptized as a Christmas present to Jesus Christ, to herself, and as a surprise to her mother, who was baptized almost a year ago. Sora Holden and Sora Olson are great missionaries. Sora Holden just completed her mission this week and is now home in Redlands, California (my stomping ground!). Sora Olson is in her last transfer.

And finally...

As Elder Ferrin's last learned missionary skill before returning home...he mastered popcorn catching! Elder Ferrin, WE MISS YOU! Transfer week is always exciting and very busy. This week, we said good-bye to missionaries we have come to love like our own children (almost!). Eleven more arrived in Romania and the work continues. We love being missionaries!

Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving...

2010-11-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand are the pictures of this year's feast preparations. Denny took position in front of our Easy Bake oven, flashlight in hand with the ever-important job of keeping the temperature constant. Someone in Romania needs to invent an oven thermostat!

Denny also doubled as the Director of Quality Control. It's a job, but somebody has to do it!

As you can tell, I love this holiday! Baking is something I truly enjoy and watching the missionaries devour these rolls made my day!

Denny kept the dishes under control. He is such a wonderful guy and I'm lucky to have him as my husband and missionary companion.

THANKSGIVING

2010-11-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

Humanitarian Missionary Conference

2010-11-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

Last week we flew to Frankfurt, Germany to meet with the other European humanitarian couples for a conference. All of us spoke the same language (English) and used the same vocabulary (Humanitarianeze) as we compared battle wounds and war stories from our countries. Represented were: Albania, Cape Verde, Croatia, Macedonia/Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia, and Romania. Frankfurt is the Church headquarters of the "Europe Area" and we were so fortunate to be able to stay in Friedrichsdorf, just steps away from the beautiful Frankfurt temple, where we were able to attend a session. (At the top of the long list of "Things we miss most" is living close to a temple.) The conference was wonderful and we returned to Romania with great enthusiasm and new friends who share what it's like to eat chicken gizzard soup and get stuck in elevators and on and on. It was so fun to laugh at our follies!

Here we are posing in front of the Frankfurt Temple.

This is Friedrichsdorf. It is about 20 miles from Frankfurt.

We look great, don't we?

After the conference, we spent Saturday walking around Frankfurt.

I took this picture to show the old with the new. Frankfurt is a very wealthy city--the banking center of Europe.

I took this picture to show typical German architecture. This is the real thing!

This is a first (since leaving the good 'ol USA)...a real public drinking fountain!

And finally, I couldn't resist taking this picture of a true entrepreneur who has a very self-contained frankfurter business in Frankfurt! To watch him walk around, making hot-dogs, carrying propane on his back was entertainment at it's best. Watch out Costco!

NRT - Saving Babies

2010-11-11T08:31:00.001-08:00

This past month we have been totally absorbed in mobilizing a major project known as NRT.

It is one of the five "Major Initiatives" that the Church's humanitarian department promotes, the others being: Clean Water, Wheelchairs, Vision, Food Production. Neonatal Resuscitation Training projects are only done in developing countries where the mortality rate for newborn infants is above 16 in 1,000 births. In Romania, approximately 23 out of 1,000 babies die at birth simply because they fail to breathe on their own. It is the #1 reason babies die at birth and as a mother, that thought makes me emotional. The memories I hold most dear are the ones when I heard those first welcome cries of my three children.

Click on the video below to watch one of our doctors explain the NRT in Africa.

Our project took us to Targu Mures and the largest hospital in Romania where 45 doctors and nurses assembled from neighboring cities to learn and practice skills taught by two doctors from Salt Lake City, Dr. George Bennett and Dr. Donna Dizon-Townson.

This is the hospital. After all we have heard (and seen) regarding the dire conditions of hospitals in Romania, we were pleasantly encouraged by this one. The most critical cases are life-flighted here. Here they do heart transplants and kidney transplants.

In the weeks that led up to this event, resuscitation kits were shipped to Romania from America. Each kit is packaged in a duffel bag and contains a newborn-size manikin and other medical supplies that will be used to train doctors and nurses. Each hospital represented will take a kit back to their staff where training and practicing will be ongoing. Also given to each hospital are additional supplies to actually be used in delivery rooms for resuscitation.

These "babies" are newborn size and are filled with water to make them life-like. The tubes and bulbs are managed by the instructor to simulate breathing and pulse. As the baby is given air appropriately, the chest begins to rise and the pulse can be felt through the umbilicus. It is very life-like and our Mission President's wife cheered when she witnessed a "baby" start to breathe!

I took this picture because I was impressed at the rapt attention of this class. They were mostly women--doctors and nurses all who have all had experience having or delivering babies. By their attention you can see there are few things in life more important than saving babies at birth.

Dr. Bennett is a retired Anesthesiologist from Salt Lake City. He and his wife volunteer their time to travel the world giving these classes. This week, 90 doctors and nurses from 40 hospitals were trained in sessions in Targu Mures and Bucharest. At the end of the week, we were exhausted and the Bennetts flew to Sarajevo for one more week of this! How do they keep going?

A huge part of this training is hands-on. Practice makes perfect.

Every practice table was managed by a doctor who had been trained previously. Having Romanians train Romanians is very important.

Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Dr. Donna Dizon-Townson is a practicing Neonatologist from Salt Lake City and assisted Dr. Bennett in teaching the skills.

As you can see, everyone took mastering these skills very seriously.

For me, I suffered a lapse in taking things seriously when I was enraptured by this hair-do, right out of the 70's BYU yearbook!

The Team:

Dr. George Bennett and Dr. Donna Dizon-Townson.

Meet Dr. Bennett's wife, Marcia. She was the driving force behind this project. From her home in America and through Skype, we collaborated on this project. She is now a good friend and one of the nicest and most delightful people we know.

This is Dr. Roxana Iliescu from Bucharest. She is a practicing Neonatologist and works in a NICU in Bucharest. With her, we facilitated all the details for the two hospitals. She is fabulous and we are better people for knowing her.

Here we are posing in front of Ramos as we left our first city, Targu Mures. We traveled by a rented van for our 7-hour drive with Mr. Toad, Sorin Stanciu, our Romanian driver. We lived another day!

Sorin, our driver, interpreter, baby filler, entertainer. He is a member of our Branch in Bucharest and we hired him for the week.

This is a picture we took after dinner of the staff of doctors who helped with the teaching in Targu Mures.

The team of teachers.

All participants were given certificates of completion. Our course is recognized by the Romanian Neonatal Society and each graduate is given continuing education credit.

This is why we loved this week. Roxana took us on a tour of her NICU.

This couple had their first baby while we were involved in the training. They gladly posed with their doctor and new baby boy.

Final note: Sometimes we are overcome with amazement and indebtedness that we are humanitarian representatives of such a generous and giving religion. What other organization in the world would send retired couples into developing countries, teach them a language, put up with their lack of computer skills, train them in pulling off important trainings that will change lives and then shower them with encouragement and blessings they can hardly imagine?

We feel so honored to be here and to act as "His hands".

Strengthening The Feeble Knees (D&C 81:5)

2010-11-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Our mission has taken on a frantic "rush to the finish" flavor as we have been scrambling to complete projects before the Winter and Christmas craziness sets in. A few weeks ago we wrapped up a project we enjoyed developing in which we made life a little more comfortable for senior citizens. Through our resources, we learned of an organization in Galati that cares for the homeless elderly. We went to visit them and on a tour, we were appalled by their moldy bathrooms and showers and the condition of their beds. Our project called for the demolition of the bathrooms with new tile and fixtures AND replacement of the old mattresses. Little did we know the fun was just beginning.

These are old futon-like pads, complete with lumps and bedbug colonies.

They were replaced with the best innerspring Romanian money could buy.

This is the old bathroom. The moldy floor was too disgusting to photograph.

The new and improved bathroom.

As a little surprise for the management of the shelter and the residents, we also wrote into the project the purchase of mattress pads, sheets, pillows and cases which we would deliver when we made the trip to Galati for the celebration.

This picture is proof that you can take the man out of furniture but you can't take the furniture man out of the missionary!

We were lucky to have a wonderful taxi driver who patiently stuffed all our purchases into his taxi and then helped us deliver it all to the home.

We assembled all the missionaries in the area. On the left is Elder and Sora Van Wagoner who live in Galati and helped us with the shopping. Elders Allphin and Lyon and Soras Mudge and Hupp also serve in Galati. Finally, Elder and Sora Dummar serve with us in Bucharest and wanted to spend the weekend with us and share in our humanitarian experiences. We descended on the "home", each of us hauling in all the bedding we could carry.

We were welcomed by the foundation president and we were asked to speak to the residents.

This is called a "Hand over ceremony" and it is customary at the conclusion of every project.

We were treated royally with a lunch of chicken legs, bread and vegetables.

We sang "As I Have Loved You" and "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" for the residents.

As you can tell, they were excited about the singing.

We explained that we had a surprise for them and if they would help, we would outfit their beds with new sheets and pillows.

Hospital corners were planned but didn't actually happen!

The mattresses still had the noisy plastic bag covering so we replaced them with protective mattress pads. Elder and Sora Dummar not only made the beds but gave everyone a "high-five" at the completion! We were tickled by the "treasures" we found under the mattresses which included toast from breakfast wrapped in napkins, underwear, magazines, letters. Those old people can move with lightening speed when the stash is uncovered!

The Van Wagoners were a great help. . .

. . . as were all the young missionaries.

Denny was in heaven.

These men wanted to pose on their newly made beds.

This lady cried as she expressed her gratitude.

The beds looked very inviting and after our 45 minute workout, we were ready to try them out!

We're not sure when this man slipped into his jammies but he was ready for bed when we left. His smile will be forever in our memories.

As we left, we felt so warmly thanked. Humanitarian funds, sent to Romania to relieve suffering, were well spent.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:

"We are to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all, whenever we find them...to do good unto all men". (Times and Seasons, 15 March 1842)

This is our mission and we love being here. Now you know why.

My Sister, My Friend

2010-10-29T06:54:00.001-07:00

A mission is filled with many highlights and as soon as you say, "This is the highlight", another one comes along to unseat it. I'm pretty sure nothing will unseat the highlight week we just finished with my sister Sally and her husband Doug. It's pretty cool when your sister will come all the way to Romania to visit you. I love you, Sal!

We traveled by train and rental car and visited some very quaint places. Here, Sal and Doug aren't even aware they are being watched by the "Eyes of Sibiu"!

We toured Peles Castle in Sinaia.

We stopped in a little village and visited a sculpturist in his studio. Sally bought a nativity set and I bought a sculpture of a Romanian woman. I'll ask "why" later.

No road trip is complete without a wrong turn and we made more than one! We found ourselves on Pot Hole Lane going through village after village at milking time! Luckily, the cows were equipped with headlamps!

What are THEY staring at? Ever seen a tourist? It was all eye-candy for us.

We climbed many a clock tower to see the sights of the city and to be in a tower built in the 1500's with a clock that still ticks!

130 stairs and it's worth it! This is Sibiu.

No trip is complete without Kurtos--a delicious bread rolled on a wooden spool and cooked over coals then rolled in sugar and nuts.

This is Bran Castle. Smells like Dracula. We were interviewed by the NBC Today show for the Halloween special.

Sally smiles before disappearing into the secret passage. She's so brave!

We couldn't resist visiting this 13th century Rasnov fortress. We climbed about a zillion steps to get here and it was all worth it!

Just wondering around something so old is fascinating. It was built by Teutonic Knights! Imagine!

These steps went on forever. Luckily, it was a beautiful Fall day and the colors were in their prime.

We walked down the mountain on this cobblestone lane. It doesn't get better than this! Watch out New Hampshire!

The happy hikers.

Romania is so amazingly diverse. We're pretty sure Sally and Doug enjoyed the tour. We, for sure, enjoyed our week-long P-day! We needed the break and we loved sharing our beautiful country with our favorite traveling accomplices.

Sally brought the Rook cards and train time just flew by. Thanks for coming to see us, Sally and Doug!

Misionarii

2010-09-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

It has been another whirlwind week in Romania and we have 'girded our loins' to accomplish all we can in every waking moment. We are currently juggling 8 projects which I will list for those of you who think we're on vacation.

1) Rebuilding showers and bathrooms in a retirement home.

2) Rebuilding showers and bathrooms and providing bedding in a family shelter for abused woman and children.

3) Providing mattresses and bedding for a retirement home for homeless elderly.

4) Providing tables for a daycare center and repairing a van used by children with severe disabilities.

5) Awaiting a container from the Humanitarian Center filled with hygiene kits, school kits, quilts. We expect it sometime in October.

6) Awaiting a container of 370 wheelchairs to arrive in October.

7) Organizing an Neonatal Resuscitation Training in two cities in November.

8) Providing educational supplies for impoverished youth in Constanta.

After our mission, we will write books. We think of new titles every day:

"Multi-tasking...it's in your genes and I'm not talking Levis"

"Sticky Notes Can Be Man's Best Friend"

"The 'To Do' List Can Be Liberating"

"Imagine Twenty-four/Seven!"

"Living Without Football"

"Bad Haircuts"

As you can see, we've mastered the art of list-making! We do it every few days and it keeps us on task.

As mentioned, one of our projects involves buying 24 mattresses for a home for the elderly. Anyone who knows Denny also knows that he is the absolute authority on mattress virtues (his motto: "You're not buying a mattress, you're buying a good night's sleep.") When it came time to put the money on the table, he couldn't stand not knowing exactly what we were buying so we jumped on a train and took a quick 4-hour ride to the Danube Delta city of Galati.

Here we are posing in front of the picture window of another senior missionary couple's apartment. They are fortunate to have this view every morning (of course, not of us, the water of the Danube!)

The Van Wagoner's are from southern Utah. They live in this great apartment and are dynamos as they fulfill their missionary duties. They are also tons of fun!

Every hour of the day brings a different view. Here, a barge is getting a push up the Danube. If I lived here, I would have to put ghetto tin foil in my windows so I could get something done!

On to the mattress shopping....

Denny tries out a bed. I think he likes it! We bought 24 of these.

The sample was a little small but a tad larger than our current bed!

Back in Bucharest... It was transfer week where we said good-bye to 4 out of the 8 in our district. They will serve in other locations in the mission. It's always hard to say good-bye.

The District!

Elder Bateman gets a farewell kiss from Sora Gorzo. She is a favorite of all the missionaries and they put up with her kisses. After he endured this, the mission president opted to leave him in Bucharest for another 6 weeks. There will be more Sora Gozo kisses!

If you are reading this and you are a mother of one of these fine missionaries, know that they are well and happy and "...As the Army of Helaman"! We're on our way to Ruby Tuesday for a real American hamburger!

Our Next Big Push

2010-09-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Our humanitarian mission in Romania continues to amaze us as we add new experiences to the long list of what we have titled, "Can you believe we did that?". After the wheelchair project, we took a few days off and slept in past the 6:30 a.m. normal wake-up time. We are now fully immersed in the next big push, another Major Initiative, NRT (Neonatal Resuscitation Training) which will take place the first week of November. Dr. George Bennett and his wife, Marcia have been pulling the project together from their home in Salt Lake while we have been doing the footwork here in Romania. They will arrive with another Neonatalogist, Dr. Donna Dizon-Townson at the end of October (Halloween to you!) and we will all travel by van to two cities where the training will take place. Forty hospitals will send doctors, nurses and midwives to be trained. It is humbling to know that what we are doing will really make a difference here in Romania. Saving babies is pretty darn important.

I stumbled on to a neat story about a doctor in Utah who helps with NRT projects in Africa and South America.

Utah pediatrician shares his talents in humanitarian work | Mormon Times

In other news...we burned more clothes this week as we celebrated our one year mark. Don't worry that these items had any life left in them...they are missionary clothes...once great and now totally worn out! Six months to go. We are spinning out of control!

Giving Wheelchairs

2010-09-11T02:45:00.000-07:00

We have been busy lately, bringing to fruition a wheelchair project started in late February and culminating just last week. We have been so engrossed that even blogging took a back seat! For those faithful followers with twisted nighties, I hope this post (with 37 pictures and the video) redeems me!

Soon after entering the Missionary Training Center a year ago, we were taught how the Church uses it's senior missionaries to carry out humanitarian giving throughout the world. In 2 weeks we removed the label "Retired" from our vocabulary and learned a new business, the business of helping the poor and others who need us. Couples like us are all over the world, in developing countries where there are huge social needs. We spend our days traveling around this big city or to small villages finding community organizations who aid schools, hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes, etc. We spend our nights at the computer, submitting proposals for approval. I have blogged about some such projects--giving Braille writers, goats, computers, rebuilding bathrooms and more. Currently, we have 8 projects decorating our dining room table in differing stages of completion. In addition to these small, manageable local projects, the Church also trusts us with huge projects we call 'Major Initiatives' which include 5 areas of focus: Clean Water, Neonatal Resuscitation, Vision Care, Nutrition, and Wheelchairs. Different areas of the world receive different projects and Romania's this year has been all about Wheelchairs and in November, Neonatal Resuscitation.

The Church is amazing and wonderful. There are 51,000 young missionaries all over the world spreading the Restored Gospel as Jesus taught, to all corners of the Earth. They are having great success as they find people who are prepared and ready to hear. Senior missionaries are all over the world as well, with differing assignments. As humanitarian missionaries, we work to alleviate suffering and promote self-reliance. What other business or organization would hire people in their 60's from various occupations from farmers to CEO's to Realtors, train them on the job, trust them with thousands of dollars to distribute, and send them to developing countries to get the job done in 18 months? The young missionaries teach who we are, why we're here, and where we're going. The joke among the senior missionaries is that we wear a name tag to remind us WHO we are, and if we don't have a ready map, we're not sure WHERE we are or WHERE we're going or even WHY we're going!

Since we've been in Romania, we have imported 875 wheelchairs. There are more on the way! The project just completed in Cluj involved much more than ordering and delivering wheelchairs. I will explain with pictures.

There are 250 wheelchairs stacked in this gym awaiting distribution.

Last March, the Jacksons traveled from their home in Draper to Romania to help us write the project. They became our good friends as we were in constant contact with them over Skype for the last 6 months. They are missionaries themselves who travel the world kicking off projects. They are wheelchair 'experts' and they have 5 projects in the works for this year alone.

A laptop, nourishment and papers galore...and it was just the beginning.

With them, we traveled 300 miles north of Bucharest to Cluj where we met with Sally Wood-Lamont, the president of a foundation that champions the disabled. In this picture, Doug is explaining the virtues of the RoughRider wheelchair. Sally's role will be to gather 14 people together from different locations throughout Romania who will get a portion of this shipment. They will attend a 3-day course presented by physical therapists from the USA to learn how to properly fit and adjust this new rough-terrain wheelchair.

The team arrived a few days before the training. Here, Lara and Doug are installing the banner.

Tires are pumped and so are we! Now, all we need are the students.

After short opening remarks, t-shirts were presented and this picture was taken.

We were fortunate to have two of the best teachers...Lara and Misha. They have years of teaching and hospital experience and they were tons of fun, to boot! Calin assisted as an interpreter as their 'Romaneste' was limited!

Many of the students were wheelchair users which made them very attentive.

Also a bonus a bonus was that Lara was a former Utah Jazz dancer!

Lara and Misha taught well together. As you can see, all eyes are riveted on them. They were (to use a Romanian term) 'fetching'!

Our 2 translators were indispensable. President Iupure (standing) is the President of the Cluj Branch and Calin (background) is a young student in medical school.

Testing the equipment on a field trip.

The wheelchairs were met with wide acceptance, especially from the 'experts', regular wheelchair users.

These wheelchairs were developed for rough terrain areas of the world--African sand, Romanian land-mine sidewalks etc. Their wide front tires can plow through almost anything.

As part of the course, the participants were taught to adjust each chair to fit different needs of the rider.

Everyone got involved with the adjusting.

At noon, we had lunch. It was a time to chill with friends.

Lara, Misha and Calin with a star of the class. Smiles abounded!

Finally, it was time to put new skills to practice when new recipients arrived to get their new chair. Some came on crutches, some in borrowed wheelchairs, and one came being carried by an older brother. Teams worked together to measure and adjust and watch the smiles on faces.

As this man is being assessed, the whole process is being observed by Elder Colton, our Area Welfare Specialist who came from Germany for the final day.

Following are pictures of some of the recipients.

Finally, it was time for celebrating. In the crowd was President Lundberg of the Romania Bucharest Mission, and other dignitaries. It was filmed by a TV station from Bucharest.

President Lundberg speaking to the assemblage.

Denny presented a crystal plaque to Sally, our great partner. She is from Scotland and came soon after the revolution in the early 1990's and has been a champion of the disabled ever since.

Certificates were awarded, along with a kiss from Lara, to all the class members.

The picture of success!

As we closed the gate to the 100 year-old School for the Blind, our training location, we took one final picture.

These two made it all happen!

It was a ton of work to pull this all together but having this crew made it so much fun.

So, I hope this explains why this blog is 3 weeks overdue. Stand up, untwist your nightie...

Don't miss the video in the next blog!

The Wheelchair Project

2010-09-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

Red Leather Scriptures

2010-08-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

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.

A Good Week!

2010-07-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our wheelchair project was submitted for approval in April and last week, 250 wheelchairs were delivered to Cluj, Romania--to the location where they will be distributed the 1st week of September. We were traveling when the word came that the truck was on it's way so we rearranged our appointments to meet the shipment. We announced the need for muscle-power and the missionaries and members and other volunteers made up the crew of 10 workers. It took 3 hours of intense labor, made difficult by the heat and humidity. Each box weighed more than 50 pounds. As always, the missionaries stayed cheerful and upbeat to the bitter end. How we love working with these fine missionaries!

The site of the unloading...a busy 3-lane road. The School for the Blind is in the background.

The only way in was through this courtyard. It got longer and hotter as the day progressed.

The gym...uncluttered.

Senior missionaries, the Lamoreaux's and Denny. I took all the pictures! Someone had to do it!

Elder Bernier

Elder Ott (Spiderman)

Elders Ott and Bernier had a teaching appointment later in the day but they managed to keep their shirts clean for the 1 1/2 hours they worked. That's dedication!

Elder Marks

Elder Frandsen

The Elders plus two helpers celebrate the last box! Elder Frandsen cut his hand early but worked to the bitter end. Next time, I'll bring more than 5 band-aids.

250 wheelchairs, organized and ready for distribution.

No sweat-fest can be complete without pizza and ice cream!

250 Wheelchairs Delivered to Romania

2010-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

WELCOME KATE ILENE SELDEN

2010-07-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

Almost right on schedule, our newest granddaughter, Kate was born in Salt Lake City on Wednesday to Steve and Barb. We got the news as we talked to Steve on Skype on a train in the middle of Romania. The reception was poor but we heard the words, "Kate is here. She and Barb are doing great." We cried.

Kate is our second grandchild to be born while we have been serving here in Romania. We are so very grateful to a kind, loving Heavenly Father who has blessed our family with these precious spirits. Do we miss these new babies and all of our 14 grandchildren on the other side of the world? Of course. But, we want these grandchildren to know that we are a missionary family and that we love Heavenly Father and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will be home soon enough and the "holding" will begin!

New baby Kate

Kate and Barb's mom and cute Izzy.

Jon...not so sure about another sister!

Izzy will be a great helper. She's a natural.

The Heartland of Romania

2010-07-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Romania is a knock-down beautiful country! This week, we took the train into the heartland visiting NGO's in Sibiu and Arad. We also attended a celebration of a completed project where the Church donated 6 computers to a career center. As we traveled the countryside in the hottest train in captivity in first class accommodations, no less, we took pictures to share.

This old train did not have air conditioning so we stood next to the windows like real Romanians, for 6 HOURS! But, oh, the pictures we snapped!

Every 20 minutes or so, the train picks up passengers, and lets some off. If you're not standing by the door, the train takes off without mercy. The name of this station is "Huedin Banffyhunyard". Honestly!

Steaming along the countryside we saw villages with temple-like churches dotting the landscape.

This Orthodox church dwarfed the houses around it in this village.

We passed miles and miles of sunflower fields. Sunflower oil is a main product of Romania. Romanians love to eat the seeds and you see piles of shells near every park bench.

Baling machines have not been invented here. The farmers rake the hay and straw into piles around long sticks. It is very picturesque. Notice the horse and wagon on the left and, the porta potty. Ahh Romania!

The spring rains have made this countryside lush.

This is a view of the city of Deva. We have 4 missionaries serving here.

Cornfields, a church, and houses make a village.

Entering Sibiu.

Sibiu

Sunrise from our hotel

Meandering through the streets of Sibiu is fascinating. These houses line the wall of the city and date into the 15th century. There is a restaurant on the left that has been in business since 1561. You just can't find this kind of "old" in America (but you can find a bathroom and a drinking fountain!). The colors in this picture are in every home decorating book.

Sibiu is famous for these little windows in the attics of old houses. They look like eyes and if you look at them long enough, it gets creepy.

What did I say about creepy? A crane family resides on the chimney and doesn't seem to care.

We paid 1 lei (31 cents) to tour this Lutheran church. It houses the largest pipe organ in Romania and the organist was practicing as we walked through.

A better view of the church, built originally by the Catholics in the 14th century.

When you think of Europe in the summertime, you think of eating in an outdoor cafe. That is because Europeans love this! We loved it too!

The architecture in this city is amazing. This is the city hall and sits in the most famous square.

A treat for us was watching a rehearsal of the opera "Carmen" which was to be held 2 days after our leaving. This is Sibiu's Grand Square and it was fun to watch the production take shape. It is considered by specialists as the biggest show of this type to be held in Romania this year. The music reverberated through this square.

The dancers are from Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Belgium and Romania.

This is another view of the the square or "Centru" as we call it.

and another view. Europe is like this...point your camera in any direction and shoot!

We wondered around until we found the old wall.

Soras Ausen and Olson. The hardest-working missionaries we know!

We love Elder Martineau! He is the Zone leader in Arad and a great missionary.

I snapped this pictures as these missionaries walked toward us in centru. From left:

Elder Jensen, Johnson, Wirthlin. The Best!

After a hot 5-hour train ride, we arrived in Cluj just in time for a baptism of Macdonald, a medical student here from Uganda. He is with wonderful Elder Bernier who helped teach him.

Elder Ott baptized him.

The Church is growing in Romania!

POFTA BUNA!

2010-07-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Our mission continues to be a tremendous experience. Each week is filled with challenges that stretch our capacities. Sometimes we dream about boating on a northwest lake, grandchildren huddled around us, smores waiting. When we gain consciousness, we realize what we are doing now, at this time of our life, is so fabulous that we wouldn't want to be anyplace else. Our children (former missionaries themselves) told us that there would come a time when a white shirt and tie felt as good as a t-shirt and a skirt felt as comfortable as peddle-pushers and life as a missionary would feel "normal". Why do we love this quirky lifestyle? The answer is in the name tags we wear. We love being missionaries, proclaiming the restored gospel, helping people, and growing in our own faith.

And, growing we are! We have put on the "freshman 15" and are now in the throes of shedding it! You would think that a mission where you walk your shoes into oblivion, one would actually lose weight! This is Romania--land of carbs and delicious bread (also carbs). So, since this past week has been a relatively dull one, we thought we'd share our excuses for our weight gain. Romania has wonderful food and even better cooks. We are living proof that if you eat everything on your plate, your clothes will shrink! Lest you are worried, we are working on shedding it.

This is Sora Wilson from Australia, eating her first Romanian Sunday meal since arriving on Tuesday.

It is called Musaca and it is actually a Greek/Turkish dish made with beef, potatoes, other vegetables and...OIL! It is delicious.

This is a typical Sunday spread--Schnitzel and Sarmale (cabbage rolls).

...sometimes there's more. These are pork chops and sausages.

Add to that...a spread for your bread made out of eggplant and onions.

No meal is complete without a blob of Malmaliga. This is a cornmeal mush formed in a bowl and then dumped onto a plate. Romanians love it!

Romanians are wonderful cooks. Sora Ene is serving stuffed peppers. So far we've eaten stuffed zuchinni, peppers, grape leaves, cabbage until we're...stuffed!

Sarmale, Mamaliga, pickles, peppers...TRADITION!

Sarmale at the Branch party. It was delicious, really!

This is Salata a la russe or Salata de beuf, depending on who corrects you! It is made with boiled potatoes, peas, carrots, mystery vegetables and then "frosted" with mayonaise and decorated by the cook. It is delicious!

This cook flunked art decor.

Whenever we travel to visit a charity or NGO, we are fed. Here, sandwiches were provided as we talked.

When we complete a project, we have a celebration provided by the NGO. Since we are the guests, someone usually makes up a heaping plate just for us!

This was the most amazing feast! All the children in the schools in this village were assigned to bring something for this banquet. Some brought chickens, fish, eggs, ducks, duck eggs, homemade cheese, fruit. Eating this food almost made us emotional because it was so gladly given to us to thank us for helping them.

Since we are out and about a lot, we eat out! This is such a typical Romanian meal that is prepared for a group of four. It has a little bit of everything--sausage, chicken, veggies.

If you're lucky, you discover the one Mexican restaurant in town. This is Fajitas, in case you couldn't tell! Don't quit your day job! (nothing to write home about!)

The first day in Romania, we were treated to Romanian fast food by the office Elders.

These are Shaormas. Pita bread with chicken, cabbage, tomatoes, pickles, onions.....sauce.

Eight months later, we were forced to try another one. This one was actually very tasty!

And then there's bread! People sell these pretzels on street corners and in little shops. They are called Covrigei and they come 6 or so connected by a string.

This picture was in our blog last week but worthy of a second glance. Delicious.

As if the Romanians don't have the bread cornered, Sora Dummar makes her own!

So. If anyone has a suggestion on how to avoid eating this, let us know.

On to desserts. Lily and Beatrice are the masters of cakes. This one was served yesterday!

Sora Doru made this cake, layered with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Then you have desserts from bakeries. They look delicious but they are NOT. Every missionary agrees that there's something wrong but we're not sure what!

Don't waste your calories on this. Trust me!

Don't be fooled!

So, there you have it...the reason we're fat! Now that we've discovered that the desserts have no taste and the breads have all been tasted and now can be avoided, we are on our way to losing the pounds. What we really need to do is to eat more in the villages. You can lose your appetite in a hurry!

These goat cheese pastries were whipped up next to the dead flies in the poison. Yummy.

Soup anyone? This is Ciorba, made with fat meat and sour cabbage.

This is Tripe Ciorba. Tripe is the stomach of sheep!

A missionary shared this picture with us. Luckily, we were not invited to this dinner appointment!

This is a Romanian salad bar. We relegated to this sentence until the pounds come off! Promise!

Next week should be a fabulous blog. Steve and Barb will add a new baby girl, our 14th grandchild to our family on Wednesday. If you can't stand grandma pride, you might want to skip reading!

Also next week we will be on the tracks, visiting three cities and NGO's. There will be no food pictures!

Buzescu, Romania

2010-07-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Last week we took a little excursion to Alexandria to inspect missionary apartments. This required a 2 hour Maxi-Taxi ride, stopping 27 times on the way to pick-up or drop-off riders. Add 90 degrees, high humidity, quaint smells, temperamental A/C and you have the makings of a memorable trip. To make the memory indelible, we took the "taxi" one more stop to a little village named BUZESCU. This is the heart of gypsy country and we had been told it was a place "not to miss". We walked down the main street, camera in hand, and jetted back up the other side. It was eerily quiet and a little creepy. The pictures tell the story.

There are several classes of gypsy even within Roma (as they like to call themselves) society. Buzescu is home to one of the more affluent groups. These homes were built with money "raised" in the procurement of metal. If you collect enough metal, you can build mansions like these. The gypsy wagon in this picture is a common sight even in Bucharest.

This woman was one of a hand-full of people on the street so we stopped to ask questions. She was delightful. Her teeth were magnificent!

We were not sure what these ladies thought of us but we were pretty sure Maidenform could make a killing in this town.

Most of the cars were Mercedes or BMW but a gypsy wagon is a natural here.

Notice the empty streets.

The metal roofs are works of art. The more ornate they are, the richer the owner.

We were starting to look conspicuous!

Every house was behind an ornate iron fence.

This house was built to look like a courthouse. The owner said if he won his case in court, he would design his house like the courthouse. He won.

This fence was stainless steel!

There is no doubt these people worship the mighty Euro.

. . . and the mighty dollar!

A lot!

We had a great time visiting this little village with our good friends and fellow-missionaries, the Dummars. Here, Elder Dummar is getting directions for "getting out of Dodge".

We have had so many adventures here in Romania that we're starting to rank them. This one was definitely near the top of our adventures list although the welcoming committee must have lost our itinerary. It's a "been there, done that".

Goats, ducks & pigs, OH MY!

2010-07-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Who knew? When we decided to take the leap of faith and serve a mission for the Church, the absolute furthest thing from our minds was that we would go to Romania, travel the country, spreading sacred funds to poor people. Someone told us last week that we are "Disciples of Christ" and although that's pushing it a bit, we are humbled that we can be His hands, sharing His love and His comfort and His gospel for this short 18 months. Besides giving birth, it's just about the most awesome experience I've ever had! Denny says it's better than scoring the winning touchdown that sent his team to the finals! Truthfully, we can't compare these experiences to anything.

The basic principles of the Church Welfare Services are simple. We strive to follow the Savior's admonition to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. (Matthew 25:35-36) We talk daily about helping people to help themselves and to help them to be self-reliant. When people learn to use their own resources and see themselves achieving results with their own efforts, there is a sense of self-esteem and dignity that is self-perpetuating. This is our challenge and when we succeed in developing a project that teaches self-reliance, it's a home run!

Last week we traveled to the countryside near the Black Sea to meet the people who are benefiting from what we consider our pet project (no pun intended), "Goats For Poor Families". Simply, with help of a charity worker who facilitated the project, we provided goats and pigs to five families, each of which has an HIV infected child. The goats are herded during the week by a village goat herder who milks the goats and saves the milk (don't ask) for pick up by the families. The families have an income from the milk and cheese they make. As the goats graze, the Nannys and the Billys become frisky friends and soon, the family has a herd of their own! It's genius! The pigs are kept close to home and provide bacon. This is the second year of this project and the families have truly become independent.

We took a 4-hour train to Constanta for this adventure. We were driven in a van by Mr. Toad (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride) nearly a hundred bumpy miles to villages and spent the entire afternoon in the rain and mud visiting families and their goats. It was crazy and we loved it.

The welcoming committee.

Luckily, lunch wasn't ready.

Kittens were everywhere!

Romanians are so generous and to thank us for our visit, Violetta scooped up handfuls of leaves and blossoms she was drying for tea. Alrighty.

We learned after we arrived that the goats were in the field so we just enjoyed looking around. The family offered us juice and cookies (and tea leaves).

Fifty miles later, we pulled up to this house. By the time we made it to the front door, we were wet and muddy.

The steps into the house were doozies! Of course, I didn't think to wear pants and Denny was in his suit. Everything went to the cleaners when we got home!

I tried to get a picture of the running water and mud but you "just had to be there".

Fresh feed just in from the fields.

Fine goats!

This bread was just being brought in from an outdoor oven and was delicious! The cook sells it in the neighborhood, along with goat milk and goat cheese!

Fifteen people live in this house. We had a hot bread party!

Denny, enjoying the bread. It was crusty and a lot like sour dough.

The grandma and grandpa of the house with a grandson. They walked us out and thanked us.

And there you have it. The perfect project!

We love being here and helping where there is need. Romania is such a poor country and everywhere, there is need. We constantly remind each other about the "Starfish Story". To these people, we made a difference.

Romania's Got Talent!

2010-06-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

"Wicked" Talent

2010-06-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK

2010-06-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

Missionaries have a name for it. It's the day when you realize your mission is exactly halfway over. It's HUMPDAY and we're there! From now on we'll be sliding down, picking up speed!

This past week we stayed close to home---no train rides, no visits to orphanages, no jaw-dropping excursions. Instead, we worked at our computers, answered our 100 emails (our average for a week), wrote yet another project, attended our Zone Meeting, had some medical tests, almost went to a concert, toured a museum and enjoyed every minute.

Here are the pictures to prove it!

A "Zone Meeting" happens once a transfer (every 6 weeks) where the missionaries of 2 or 3 zones (50 or so) get together to receive encouragement and instruction. It's a great time!

Sora Hardy and Sora Slaeman are in their last transfer. President Lundberg couldn't resist stepping in the picture.

As we mentioned in our last post, Denny had some eye concerns that needed further testing. Our trek across the city to this hospital took an hour. Like a lot of experiences here, it was like stepping back 50 years.

Before entering the land of high-tech-ness, I took this shot down the corridor.

Never trust an Opthamologist who uses binoculars duct-taped to a tripod to do your exam. Of course, she washed her hands in the sink in the background and DRIED HER HANDS on the sanitary towel! Denny's eyes checked out fine. City dust is probably the culprit.

One of the members invited us to a symphony concert in this magnificent concert hall. Tickets were sold out so we took a few pictures and went to dinner.

This is a glimpse of the interior.

We will be back...next time with tickets!

Walking is what we do most. Here, Elder Linerud and Elder Van Orman mortify their wives at a street corner as they do the "stretch".

....lest we become old and...

giddy!

This is a common scene we see every morning on our way to the Metro (subway). Romanian women sell herbs, vegetables, flowers, anything they can.

Some Romanian women drown their sorrows with bottles of beer.

And now....for the picture of the week! When you think you have too much on your plate, and you can't possibly do it all....

you see someone doing the impossible.

There really is someone pulling this wagon. Luckily, he's licensed!

THE GHETTO

2010-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

For the past month, we have spent most of our time working out the details of ordering a 40-foot shipping container. A container is like a moving van and contains 20 pallets of goods. Our order is for 5,500 hygiene kits, 2,100 school kits, 480 handmade quilts, and 8 children's wheelchairs. If you have ever donated school supplies or packaged 2 combs, toothpaste, 2 hand towels, 4 toothbrushes, and 2 bars of soap into a zip-loc bag, this is where it goes! As humanitarian missionaries, we are committed to finding trustworthy community organizations that share our values. We network with a variety of organizations and usually, one will lead us to another. Friends trust friend's friends!

With a list of 10 possible recipients from a trusted NGO, we have spent the last 2 weeks finding them (no small feat) and interviewing them. A director of one organization told us where to meet him so he could take us to his headquarters which, he explained, was in a rough part of the city. YOU THINK? We are told that the missionaries are banned from this neighborhood known as the "Ghetto of Bucharest".

On our drive through the neighborhood, our jaws dropped as we saw piles upon piles of garbage. Why the city doesn't take care of this problem is a mystery except for the fact that these "residents" are squatters--they don't pay rent, or taxes. They pirate electricity to watch satellite TV (the dishes are everywhere) but they don't have running water. Thievery is rampant. Young girls become prostitutes at 12, selling themselves for food. It is a different world and we came away sobered and thankful that we could help in some small way.

We're not sure what this girl was up to but when she saw my camera, she ran.

A gypsy wagon in the "hood".

Imagine sending your children out to play in this!

Everywhere, piles of garbage.

Everywhere!

We got out of the car to walk closer to this block building but we were turned away by the stench. How can anyone live here? They do!

The satellite dishes!

Meet the hero, Ovidiu Fillipescu in front of a kinder garden and daycare that he organized. He and his wife are teachers and love children. Since they were not blessed with children of their own, they organized this foundation to rescue the children that come from across the street.

The young children come here in the morning where they play on grass and have a hot meal. Unfortunately, they have to go back home in the afternoon.

The teenagers come here also in the morning where they can have a shower and have their clothes washed before going to school. This is a classroom that they come back to in the afternoon to get help with homework.

Since dental care is a luxury here, Ovidiu added this dental office where once a week, a dentist comes to donate his/her time. Next to this, there is a doctors office as well.

Ovidiu told us the story of this 14 year-old girl and then had her join our meeting. When she was about 7, she was noticed living in a stairwell being kept warm by dogs. The dogs would bring her bread, which kept her alive. She has no family and Phillip found her a place to live. Before she goes to school, she comes by the center to help with the children. She is smart and cute and told us she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. She loves dogs. They saved her! Really, Ovidiu saved her!

These cute girls were clean and smiling and having a bowl of rice stuff.

As much as I tried, I couldn't get a real smile.

Precious!

We came away thankful for what we have and what we know. "I am a child of God" rang in our ears. Phillip House will receive 560 hygiene kits and 420 school kits. It's not much but it will make a difference in these lives, as long as we have people like Ovidiu Fillipescu.

After leaving the ghetto, Denny attracted some dust in an eye and after some "doing", we found ourselves headed for a clinic to check it out. Hospitals in Romania are experiences in living in the past. Horror movies are made here!

We found a nice Optometrist and she went through the motions of checking Denny's retina. Here, he is giving the "hand". Touch each finger and say,"You're in Romania now, friend!"

No eye exam is complete without reading the chart WITH YOUR GLASSES ON!

The good news is, Denny's retina is intact!

Piata Obor---Pick-pocket Paradise

2010-05-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

Atypical Shopping

2010-05-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

They say that just when you think you've seen it all, something more astonishing occurs. That's exactly what happened Saturday when 5 senior missionaries went shopping at an outdoor piata in Bucharest. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that we're different--we look different, we speak different, we act different, WE ARE DIFFERENT...we are American Mormon missionaries, and you can't get more different than that! Whenever we're in public, we are dressed in "Sunday best". "Sunday best" in Romania is loosely translated into "semi-clean jeans" so we feel a bit overdressed about 99% of the time. That said, you can imagine the stares we get in a crowded outdoor market that would put Istanbul to shame! We were having a blast buying skirts and shirts (you can never have enough), and spoons and strawberries and tomatoes.

Sora Turner needed spoons for gifts. She is going home in 3 weeks! Sora Van Orman got "caught up" in the spoon frenzy!

As we were making our way out, Sora Van Orman seized the opportunity to give a Pass-along card to a gypsy woman who was staring us down. It started with one and it snowballed as a crowd of 6 or more huddled to see what she was giving away. Missionaries love this kind of thing and we fantasize that hordes of people would genuinely be interested in our message. As fast as she could pull one out of her purse, another hand would come forward. I took a picture because it was such a great moment.

It was about that time that I felt a little more than a nudge from behind and noticed out of the corner of my eye that a man was making his way past me tucking something under his t-shirt. At that moment I remembered something I had been told about gypsy skirts...that they had a secret pocket in the front, made especially for the purpose of tucking away pick-pocketed items. I strained to watch him as he fled but I was blocked by another man who wouldn't let me pass. I turned to warn the others but it was too late. Sora Van Orman's wallet was gone, along with her passport, visa, drivers license, credit card and about $45. I was the only one who saw "the man" and Denny and I went on the hunt to find him. It was hopeless. Now what?

We decided that this crime should not go unreported and as laughable as it seemed to call the police after we had just been "had" in the den of thieves, we would report it. What could it hurt? After a short wait, two policeman came and listened to our sad story. They had heard it all before and reiterated what we already knew...we were targets in the wrong place at the right time. If, by any miracle, this wallet would be found and returned, a police report would need to written at the police station. The Van Orman's agreed and while one policeman left to get the car, the other stayed with us. Out of the blue, he said something in English that floored us. "While we wait for the car, tell me something about Jesus Christ."

Elder Van Orman began by telling the story of Christ that is taught in the Book of Mormon...how this book is a second witness of Christ, along with the Bible. Elder Van Orman pulled a copy that he had tucked in his belt, and gave it to him. Sister Van Orman promised him that if he would read it, he could know for himself if it was a true story. She quoted (by heart) the scripture known as "Moroni's Promise" found in Moroni 10:4. He listened and said he would read it. She asked if he was married and he said he was engaged and would be married in October. She told him he could be married for eternity and then asked him how he felt about loving his soon-to-be wife for eternity. I have watched Sora Van Orman play the piano like a master but I have never seen a more masterful explanation than what I witnessed on that curb facing "the den" that hot afternoon.

Later that evening I called to see how the "reporting" went. I was still frustrated that the thief worked right under my nose and I couldn't stop him. Sora Van Orman was happy and calm and she explained that before they left home that morning, they prayed that they would find someone who would listen to the message of the gospel. She was not concerned about her wallet, just happy that a prayer had been answered. We can learn many things by hanging out with the Van Ormans!

Now, for the rest of the story. This morning three policeman walked to the door of the mission home. Sora Lundberg watched them in her pajamas and was terrified that they were bringing bad news. When they handed her Sora Van Orman's wallet, she was relieved and surprised. The only thing missing was the money! Someone had found it in a garbage can and returned it to the police. When Sora Van Orman called to tell us the good news, we could hardly believe it. This is Romania, land of the pick-pockets! Who would ever think that a wallet would be returned? Sora Van Orman explained that Sunday they fasted and prayed that someone would find it.

We can all learn from the Van Ormans. With faith, miracles do happen. Stay tuned for the young policeman's appraisal of the Book of Mormon. This story can only get better!

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS

2010-05-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

Numara binecuvantarile. Count your blessings.

Recently, we traveled to Cluj where we officially presented five Braille writers to students in the third grade in the oldest school for the blind in Romania. It was a thrilling experience to be among these 9 and 10 year-old children who, in spite of their handicap, are happy and thriving. They live together in this school, sleeping under quilts made by Mormon women in the United States. They are smart and sensitive and very appreciative. When we entered their classroom, they were typing away, proud of their new skills. For the first time, third graders have their own Braillers! If you have ever donated to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church, consider yourself a hero. This is an example of where your money goes. We are ever aware that these are sacred funds.

The school is more than a hundred years old!

This little boy was writing us a thank-you note.

Proof-reading!

The concentration level is amazing, especially for a 9 year old.

The teachers are very patient.

This is the Principal of the school, Vasiliu Vanda. He is totally blind.

After the closing ceremony at the school, we traveled to Brasov to inspect missionary apartments. Just knowing we were coming spurred these guys into action. You can tell by the shining floor that their apartment was immaculate! We are proud of you Elder Marks and Elder Guest. You rock!

The sister missionary apartment was pristine as well! Way to go Soras Mudge and Owens!

No trip is complete without a walk through the old part of a city. Could our smiles be any wider? We love our mission!

The train ride home was spectacular. As you can see, the rain has nourished the lush growth.

The cows were having a feast!

Romania is knock-down gorgeous right now. In fact, we've decided to live here . . .

until March 14, 2011.

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

2010-05-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Last week we attended a track meet and a wheelchair basketball tournament hosted by the Organization for the Disabled. It was an amazing day and we are constantly awed by how these brave people meet their challenges. We were given this watercolor painting of us, to thank us for being their champion. If they only knew...these disabled people are OUR champions and our friends.

We're not sure who this coulple is but we ARE sure we're not that fat and bald!

The event was covered by the media. This was the awards ceremony.

We were invited to ride the bus to the next event which was the basketball tournament. It took about 1/2 hour to load this bus with wheelchairs and their riders. We just hopped on! We felt very blessed.

These basketball players are very skilled. Imagine a "fast break" in a wheelchair!

Elder Linerud giving some coaching advice. Some habits never die!

After the game, we were invited to take a "walk" with the team. They boldly weave in and out of traffic and it doesn't even phase them. We were nervous wrecks!

The train!

Posing for a picture in downtown Bucharest.

My Companion

2010-05-17T03:21:00.000-07:00

My companion is a computer whiz! Last week he noticed particles of who-knows-what in the keyboard crevices so we went shopping for a bottle of compressed air. He was out of my sight for just a minute and then I noticed 15 screws on the desk! Oh my!

These are direct quotes:

"If they didn't want you to get into it, they would have put rivets."

"I shut the computer down."

"But, I got a bunch of stuff out of it!"

It's a good thing I have a handyman for a companion although his toolbox contains one tool: a Leatherman! It's also a good thing that the keyboard still works! It's really a good thing that my Mac has rivets!

ZONE CONFERENCE

2010-05-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

In addition to learning enough (to get by) of the Romanian language, we also have learned "Missionspeak". For example, when you are assigned to your first area as a new missionary, you are "born" there. Likewise, your last area is where you "die". Your trainer is your "father" unless you are a sister missionary, in which case, your trainer is your "mother". If you are a sister serving as a senior companion in a district and a new Elder is "born" in your district, he is your "son". If you are a sister, your first district leader is your "dad". You can have brothers and sisters if you share the same "dad" (da). New missionaries are lovingly referred to as Boboacas (sisters) or Bobocs (Elders). The root word is "Boboci" and it means "duckling". The ducklings are "green". If you spend much time with missionaries, you hear random words like, "weefy"--flakey, "bunged"--stood up, "noshed"--initiated your first day, and of course, "trunky"--thinking about home. There are AP's and ZL's and DL's. One word that is constant is "President". Don't abreviate! And we thought Romaneste was difficult!

Last week, on two consecutive days, there were Zone Conferences for 1/2 the mission at a time. Along with another couple, we served lunch to 100! The missionaries love being together and we took pictures to prove it! If you are a parent of one of these missionaries, this blog post is for you! Just know we love these servants! They are happy and bright and oh so hard-working.

Elder Lyons is just a boy in a tie who loves licking the bowl!

This is Cristina who taught us Romanian ON THE PHONE before we left Spokane. She teaches at the MTC and came home to visit family in Bucharest. She came at the end of the zone conferences both days to see her missionaries and you can imagine the mobbing she got! She is the reason all these missionaries know Romanian and they all love her! We love her too!

I love this picture. This book belongs to an Elder who loves his scriptures!

Sometimes, just for the fun of it, we will sit around a piano and sing.

Elders will join us until we have a choir...

or until one of us makes a lasting impression!

THE BLUE DANUBE

2010-04-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last week found us in Galati (pronounced Ga-LATZ), a small city situated on the eastern border of Romania where the Danube River flows into the plain called the "Danube Delta". Galati is known for its shipyard and for a gargantuan iron and steel factory built during the communist era and now privatized. When we first noticed it, we thought it was another city on the other side of the river. Our driver told us it is the second largest steel factory in Europe. It makes Geneva in Utah or Kaiser in Spokane look like vegetable stands.

Our trip was planned to meet with four deserving NGO's who are doing what they can to help the underprivileged. It is always a rewarding experience for us to visit with kind and giving people who have organized foundations to deal with desperate needs. They are the cream of humanity.

As we pulled out of town, we snapped this final shot of the Blue Danube. It really isn't that impressive but it is the BLUE DANUBE, for heaven's sake!

This picture was taken in the living room of another senior missionary couple who serve in Galati. Their apartment is new and they have a beautiful view of the water. We pay the same amount in rent but we are not jealous! Why would we trade this boring view for ours? We have the benefit of watching our neighbors shaking rugs n' things and hanging out their colorful laundry!

This is the staff and some of the patrons from a Sports Club for the handicapped. They will be distributing 100 of our wheelchairs.

The handicapped come to this center to learn skills, receive physical therapy and to socialize. This woman is a Para-Olympics world champion power lifter.

Our next appointment was to visit a home for the elderly. They have been limping along with limited funds and need our help to refurbish their deplorable bathrooms. Upon first glance, it doesn't look that bad but then...

On the other side of the wall, there's wet, and mildewed and crumbling plaster. We will step in to help before the government closes this place and sends these people to an institution.

There are 10 women and 10 men who live here. They sleep in these lumpy beds, lined in a row.

Outside, we met them. The guys on one side...

...and the girls on the other side--just like a Stake Dance!

Shoes lined up so orderly.

These shoes were outside for a different reason. They belong to teenagers in a group home and placing the shoes outside helps with "odor abatement" (if you get my drift)!

On to a home where severely mentally disabled children are cared for by 5 compassionate "mothers" who take turns spending night and day doting over the children. The "children" are actually 20-23 years old with the mental age of 3 years.

This girl wanted to hold my hand and was so afraid to touch me that she would not let go of her caregiver's had for mine. Then, she started to cry. After a few minutes, we were friends.

In contrast, this girl came running to us and literally climbed me until her caregivers could un-peel her.

This boy did the same and our driver carried him around like a toddler. All these children have been rescued from institutions where they were neglected and bedridden. Our project is to build a shelter for them in their own backyard (where they cannot climb on people) and where they can sit in the shade during our HOT Romanian summers.

This van was actually a donation from our mission 10 years ago and it is held together with band aids and duct tape! Doors don't close, the driver enters from the passenger side...you get the picture! We were transported in this to the different organizations. (Next time you step into your late-model car, think of us in Romania!)

We noticed this scene from the window of our church building. It is an abandoned open-air theatre where Communist indoctrination took place. It is totally walled off and inaccessible. In fact, it is so tucked away in a neighborhood that, we're sure most residents don't know it exists. Seedlings are growing between the rows. Just being here is amazing. In our imagination, we thought we could hear Russian marching music! There is great history here!

Imagine this place filled with saluting Marxists.

This is the immense steel factory.

And finally, the "This is Romania" picture of the day...

Denny is holding a baggie full of eggs, placed conveniently near the chicken! Everything is tough here...the meat, the people, the missionaries, the egg shells!

CASTLES AND CAMARADERIE

2010-04-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

If we had to choose a week of our mission that we have enjoyed the most, it would be this week.

It started with the approval of a major wheelchair project that we have been working on for two months. Our proposal made it through committees on two continents and we got the go-ahead that will keep us bustling until September, and beyond. In addition, we also got approval for three area initiatives. We'll be buying computers for an employment training center, Braille writers for a school for the blind, and goats for poor families. Our life is a Primary song, "When We're Helping We're Happy..."

Work aside, we left for a "Bucharest Mission Senior Conference" held in the little city of Brasov in the Transylvania Alps. We spent three days with six other couples and enjoyed classes and workshops and a heavy dose of sightseeing and levity. As we got acquainted, we realized that we had many common threads among us. It is a small world, after all! Bragging about grandchildren was a common topic. We totaled up the numbers and among all seven couples there are 57 children, 153 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren! That's a lot of righteous pride!

After enjoying the old city center of Brasov, we headed for the castles of Transylvania. The countryside of Romania is breathtaking, especially in the spring. There are rolling green hills and farmhouses teetering on snow-capped and jagged ridge tops that remind us of the beautiful Cascades in Washington State.

Peles Castle is a magnificent centuries-old castle tucked away in the mountains. If you have an imagination, (we do) you would think you hear the soundtrack of "Beauty and The Beast" as you walk the reception halls and elegant dining rooms.

In contrast but just as enthralling is Bran Castle. We got the heebie-jeebies touring this spooky place since this is Dracula country and the setting of Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula". This is big business here and Vlad Tepes' enthusiasts come from all over to tour this castle and some ruins of his real castle not far away. "Vlad the Impaler" was the character that contrived "Dracula". He was really a ruthless and cruel ruler who had a creative way of punishing his enemies. Quoting from our Lonely planet tour book: "A wooden stake was carefully driven through the victim's anus, to emerge from the body just below the shoulder in such a way as to not pierce any vital organs. This ensured at least 48 hours of unimaginable suffering...." You think?

Here we are standing on a "lookout" in Bran Castle with the beautiful Romanian countryside in the distance.

We really did do some "work" at the conference.

We all had an assignment. Here, Denny is explaining what we do as humanitarian missionaries. Sora Lundberg looks very impressed as the President stares into Space. Everyone else was excited! I had to speak on the culture of Romania and how we can love and serve the people.

This is Peles castle. It is furnished and decorated to the nines. It's magnificent!

The king and queen in a rare appearance.

This is our group of senior missionaries.

This picture hangs in Bran Castle and it portrays Vlad the Impaler's favorite torture method. Notice the little figures impaled.

The walk was a tough one but the castle was within view.

The happy bunch. What's on your tie, Denny? (Gets him every time!)

13th Century Bran Castle

Bran Castle

Denny entering the secret staircase

This was spooky!

Four of us stopped to rest and take pictures.

Our mission president and his wife--Presidentele si Sora Lundberg.

Our group and some missionaries in Brasov after church today.

And finally, a view of the beautiful Romanian countryside taken from a castle turret.

Now that we are back in Bucharest, we feel rejuvenated and ready to go back to work. It was so nice to "get away" and enjoy some different scenery and sit at the feet of our mission president and some amazing couples. We feel so blessed to be in Romania. We wouldn't want to be anyplace else (except maybe with our grandchildren!).

Senior Couples

2010-04-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Along with the 86 or so missionaries in Romania, there are also six "senior" couples like us with various mission duties. Three couples serve in Bucharest-- one in the mission office, one heading up the Young Adults and the Institute program, and of course, we are Humanitarian missionaries. Luckily, we have a lot in common and we get together whenever we can to celebrate birthdays, or other events we can think up. This week we celebrated Sora Dummar's birthday by going to an out-of-the-way restaurant that turned out to be a real hit...until the end.

This is the specialty dish Elder Linerud and I ordered, for 2. It had a little bit of everything...German sausage, steak, chicken, grilled vegetables, pickled vegetables, baked potato, cheese balls. It was delicious but we couldn't eat it all so we asked for a "doggy bag". The waiter told us he would pack it up and he took the platter. About 6 steps from our table we heard a tremendous crash and saw our sausage rolling on the floor and the platter upside-down near the door of the kitchen. Two waiters scrambled to clean it up, one even kicking the sausage further into the kitchen. A few minutes later, a take-home box was delivered to our table, complete with the rolling sausage and the scrambled vegetables! Wearing name tags that say we are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ tempers us in situations such as this. Looking into the box we all broke into wild laughter and said the one word that explains it all: Romania! We left the box balanced on a fence and smiled at the thought of a homeless person thinking he had struck gold!

As we waited for the bill, Elder Dummar had a little problem getting out ONE toothpick. The entire container exploded onto the table and floor. The trick was to try and stuff the toothpicks back before the waiter noticed. This is a new party game you can try at home! (No, we didn't stuff the toothpicks from the floor back in. That would be gross!)

The night before Easter Sunday, throngs of people crowd the streets about 11p.m to walk to their nearby Orthodox church to celebrate the Resurrection. At midnight, after some chanting and some singing, a large flame appears and candles are lit in turn until everyone in the crowd is holding one. The flame signifies the light of the Resurrection of the Savior. It is a nice tradition and Romanians are very earnest. After the lighting, we all walked home and watched the throngs of people from our apartment. The mission president gives the missionaries special permission to attend this celebration, as long as they're in by 1:30a.m.

You buy red candles on the street and bring your own. The sea of red candles is impressive.

We had the other Bucharest couples over for dinner and to watch General Conference on Saturday night. We can get all the sessions on the Internet. This was Saturday morning session, live.

Chinese Haystacks, Romanian style!