Peles Castle in the Carpathian Mountains

We will be coming here to Peles Castle for our next Zone Conference. I will be sure and take lots of pictures for mom to post. And you all worry about me being so far away, and homesick? What do you think?

Pray for the Church in Romania

So, I have a favor to ask everyone. I know you all pray for me and I really am thankful for it. I know want to ask you all to pray for the Church in Romania as well. Overall, it is not going good at all. More than half of the members are inactive or less active. For example; in Timisoara we have 80 or so Baptized members and only 20 come on a good Sunday. We really need to fix the Church here because we are just putting new members into a bucket with holes in it. The problems that I've seen are that the members don't have a true love for each other. There are some members that have strong personalities that have offended many and those offended people said that they won't come back until the people that have offended them are gone.

Another thing is that many people have moved to other Countries for different jobs and such. So, that hasn't helped the situation either. So, I'm asking for us all to put our prayers together and pray for the Church to grow and prosper here and for the members here to gain a true love for each other and for God. I think that this will really help the situation with the Church in Romania at this time. This would be the best Birthday gift you could give me at this time.

Well, sorry to end on such a sad note. But, it's how it really is here and I want to help it change and get on the path that it needs to be going. If you look up the dedicatory prayer of Romania on Sora Lundbergs blogspot or lds.org. It says that Romania will be a beacon of light to the countries around it. The Romanians need some help to get to this point. So I'm asking for everyone to pray for the Church in Romania. Pray for it's members to gain a true love for each other and for them to build up their own Zion here.

Elder Zach Jensen

"20 Reasons Why We Love You!"

Happy "20th" Birthday Elder Jensen

Rachel and I are blowing Birthday Kisses to Elder Jensen for his 20th Birthday on September 18th, 2010. We sent him a package of "20" items that are either his favorite snacks, or items that are difficult to get in Romania, like Taco Seasoning, Beef Jerky and Red Vines! Happy Birthday Zach,  "Lipseşte o mulţime, şi vă iubim."

Blowing Up Eggplant

My companion is Elder Schwartz. He is originally from Bosie, ID, but his family just moved to Saratoga Springs, UT. So, now he'll be living in Utah County. He is at the end of his misson and goes home in just 2 weeks. It has been fun serving with him and he likes to cook too! We have had fun making stuff together we've even tride some Romanian dishes. We made Salata de Vinete (Eggplant Salad) It's more like a spread, you eat it on bread. I'll have to make it for you, along with all the other things I've learned to cook. Well, you have to bake the Eggplants first, then you mash them up and mix them with mayo and a little salt.
So, when we where baking one of the eggplants, it exploded in the oven! It was pretty funny, it was everywhere! Thank goodness for tin foil to catch the spill!

The LDS Branch in Timisoara

Meet Our Friends in Timi

Riding the Trams and Metro in Timi

 

 

Yes, There is Bowling in Romania!