Hello

Hello

I'm in Arad right now.

 

I just want to start by giving my condolances to the family and expressing how Frank will be dearly missed. He was a great man and brought much joy into the family. My prayers are with all back home.

I'm doing well out here. I feel like I'm doing pretty okay as a District Leader. Haha it's kind of a weird situation because I'm one of 2 new people in a 6 man district, and they're all already really good friends, and I'm supposed to be the leader of all of them. Kind of. Haha I mean they're all really cool people and I'm stoked to be in this district but it's still an interesting situation. It's still the beginning of the transfer though so I'm sure we'll all get closer as time goes on. We have the ZLs in our district, both of which are some of the coolest people out here, and we also have some of the coolest sisters out here in the district. So everyone's super cool I just am still kind of in that "newcomer" mode. But it's still super fun.

So this last weekend we had District Conference (i.e. Stake conference when you only have branches) in Oradea and it was really cool! There was an area 70 there from Germany and he gave a really good talk, haha unlike the last district conference I was at where the temple president said a lot of things that got people upset, namely saying things about Romania that either weren't true or he just assumed things without knowing what it's actually like here.

But this guy didn't do that haha. He was really good and he actually talked a little bit about how to not stress about things that aren't in your control, and to leave your trust in God. Oh also little point to mention about district conference was that I had to sit backwards the whole time haha. Also with my back to a wall. So I really couldn't see anything the entire time. But the talks were all really good.

Me and Elder C are doing really well together and I think we've only got upwards to go! That's pretty much it for this week! Not too much going on!

 

Once again just want to say that you are all in my prayers, especially in this time of loss. That is one of the best things the gospel offers us, is the knowledge that we can be with our loved ones again.

 

I love you all and remember that Jesus loves you too!!

 

Love,

 

Elder DeGraw

I'm leaving Transylvania!!!

Okay so we've been freaking out lately. Me and Elder Cr are getting whitewashed out!!! Elder Cr is going to Brasov and I'm going to Arad to be the District Leader with Elder Co as my companion! I've met him before a few times and I'm excited to be serving with him. He's a bit like Elder Cr so I know I'll really enjoy next transfer.

The district is going to be super cool as well. We have the ZLs in our district and they are both from the same MTC group and both are super cool and fun guys. One of them was one of my godfathers! And I've never met either of the sisters, but they are both going into their 3rd transfer and I've heard they are both super fun. So even though it'll be hard to compete with this transfer, I'm sure I'm going to love Arad and my new district. Haha this was seriously my favorite transfer ever.

Me and Elder Cr are pretty sad that we are both leaving. Cluj was freaking amazing and me and him both thought we were going to stay another one together so when we looked at the transfer board we kind of freaked out a little bit. We were screaming and jumping around like "I'M OUT!! WAIT YOU'RE OUT TOO!!! AHH!" We were so surprised. And not only are we both out, two other people from our district are leaving. So only two people out of the 6 who were here this transfer will be here next transfer. We were a really close district and got a lot done and had a lot of good things happen so it's really sad that we're all leaving haha.

 

We also had my best session of english classes ever in this transfer. Me and Elder Cr taught the advanced class and only had 2 students, but they were both super cool and participated and we had great classes. One of our students, who's been coming to english classes for a while, said that we were his favorite teachers since he's started coming, because we made the classes fun. The sisters who taught the beginner class had more than 50 people at pretty much every class. The other Elders had like 15-20 people at every class.

Every spiritual thought was just golden and they all went super well and we gave out so many Book of Mormons and a lot of lessons came out of it. The last spiritual thought went super well. We sang God Be With You Til We Meet Again and read the scriptures associated with it. People were crying, one of the older ladies that's come for a while starting singing with us at the end, it was super emotional. Some of the sisters' students bought us all pizza and just gave it to us to eat, as well as some candy bars, everybody was super sad to see us all go, and some of the goodbyes were really hard.

 

Then don't even get me started with saying goodbyes to the members. This branch has so many really cool members and we became good friends with a lot of them and even after just 6 weeks it was pretty hard to say goodbye to them.

The worst one for me was with Fratele Salvatore, a member from Italy, who is the Elders quorum president and we had become good friends because he's awesome. Anyway I was talking with somebody and he came up behind me and gave me a kind of behind the back bro-hug and asked what was happening with the district for transfers. I told him that I was leaving and he was just like "Wait you're leaving?! But you just got here! You can't leave!" It was awful.

Then I was talking with the Branch President who is pretty much one of the coolest guysout here and asked if I was leaving and I told him, and he reacted similarly like "You just got here! I wish you could have stayed longer. But it's okay I know you have treaba..." (meaning like I know you've got stuff to do) Then there were all the little kids in the branch that always reminded me of home and of the cousins and church in America. I'm really going to miss this branch.

 

I hope everyone's doing well back home, and had a happy Least-Applicable-Holiday-for-Missionaries-Ever day!!

I love you all and miss you all but I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm so grateful that I can be out here serving the Lord.

 

 

Have a fantastic week!!

Love,

-Elder DeGraw

It was really cold but now it's getting warm!

Yo! Everything's still doing pretty great here! Other than an awful haircut, this week went pretty well! The weather has been getting warmer so it's been better being outside for longer. We've been doing a bit of guitar contacting lately as a district which has been going really well!

Our English classes have been really awesome lately, specifically the spiritual thoughts. They've all kind of flowed together really well and been very powerful. We've given away a lot of Book of Mormons and the other classes have gotten a few good lessons/investigators out of it.

We've only had 2 students in our advanced class but the classes have been going well and one of our students who has been coming for a long time told us that our classes have been his favorite. So we're pretty happy about that.

Me and Elder C were able to give blessings this week, both to members. I gave a blessing in English to a less active member and one in Romanian for her son, and Elder C gave her daughter a blessing, as well as last night we were called over to an active couple's house to give a blessing of healing. Elder C annointed and I gave the blessing. So in the course of a week I gave my first 2 blessings in Romanian. I wasn't really nervous to give them, but I was a little worried that I would mess up words or something. But I gave the blessing of healing, and messed up actually a lot of words, but the spirit was still there and strong and it was a good blessing regardless. Giving blessings is a very sacred privilege and every time I give a blessing I feel really honored and really rely on God to help me say the right words.

Oh I also got my books leather bound! It was really cheap and they're super good looking. Now whenever I read the Book of Mormon in Romanian I'll do it in style ;)

Haha so lately it's been pretty cold, and snowy. But the last couple of days have been really good weather. It's been in the 40s lately! I've barely even needed to wear a sweater! Honestly today with the sun and the temperature, I'd feel fine in just a shirt! I'm loving it! The sun's also out for more of the day, so the days feel longer too. I can't wait for summer to come! It's already starting to feel like spring! When the days are longer and brighter I just feel better and feel like more is getting done haha.

But yeah still loving Cluj! I hope everyone is doing well, I love you all!

 

-Elder DeGraw