Monday, February 9, 2015

25th Year Anniversary of the Dedication of Romania February 9, 2015

This week we had an amazing English class!! We have been trying to get the class started up here in Bacau for about 6 months and finally we had a class!!! And all of our students are really awesome and not crazy... I love it when they are not crazy.  They also stay for the spiritual thought which makes them a golden class. On our first day our only dry erase marker died, so the next class one of the students shows up and she says, "I have a gift for you." And hands us this beautiful brand new marker!! So nice!! Then we write the word garlic on the board because we were talking about food and when I try to erase it, of course it won't erase.  She had bought us a permanent marker!! It was hilarious!!
This year marked the 25 years since Romania was dedicated.  Elder Nelson dedicated it just a year after the fall of communism. We had a live broadcasted event from Bucharest Romania and Elder Nelson filmed himself giving a talk for the people of Romania and they played it for us.  Sadly the quality was a bad quality and none of us could understand what he was saying or what the Romanian translation was.  What I got out of it was really interesting.  He speaks at one point about the history of Romania and the promises found in the dedicatory blessing.  He told us that the future history of Romania lies in our hands and how we fulfill our callings as members here. He said that in order for the church to grow the members here would need to make sacrifices.  He ended with a powerful testimony. "Remain strong.  I testify that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives." It was super cool and even though no one understood most of it the spirit was super strong!! When he talked about sacrifices I could just see the different families and the hardships that they have and how if they just gave up something small to the lord (Such as tobacco or something) Their life would be better and their contribution to the church here that much stronger.  The people here really dedicate their whole lives to the gospel.  It isn't just a church it is a life style, and holy cow it is a real battle for these people.
At one point we were squeezing past some members one of which is blind.  She reached out to pat Sora Merkley on the back as she passed.  When she reached out to do the same to me, I was considerably taller and she patted my bum a good 4-5 times. It was great:) During the whole broad cast the little kids here in the branch were having a hard time paying attention so I pulled out some colored pencils and some paper and they got to work drawing stuff and every 2 minutes they would pop up and point to a new specific scribble on their paper and explain what it was in unidentifyable Romanian. So cute!!!
Here is a Selfie of us headin' home with Dan, he is cool!!
And a picture of the Balaseis She is blind and he is deaf.  Seriously so cute!! Yes she is the one who grabed my bum:)
Love you all!! Wish I could pat your bums!! But alas the bum pats will have to wait.





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