Sibiulicious

Heyall!! So this week was pretty great! We had MLC in Buc and exchanges in Sibiu so we weren't in Ploiesti too much, but it was great because MLC was good and the exchanges were great and we were able to help out a bit up there. 

MLC. MLC was actually pretty good this time. All of my MLCs since I've been a zone leader have honestly kind of sucked. It got to the point where we mostly just had the ZLs and the STLs in the zone have a Skype meeting and President just told us some stuff and we were done.

And even when we did it all together in Buc before, it all just felt like another Zone Conference, which isn't a bad thing, it's just not what MLC is supposed to be. The C stands for Council, which is what we actually got to do this time. We each had a presentation about something, and President just kind of sat in the back until the end. And there were some new policies and old ones that needed clarification, and instead of just telling us what to do, he actually asked for our input and we came to the decision as a group. So I actually felt this time like we were doing something. And there were a couple of other cool things that happened this time that I liked, but yeah it was just better than how it had been. 

And our exchanges were super cool because I got to go with Elder C again! Needless to say it was a really fun exchange. Love that boy. It was really cool this time because we actually got a full day of an exchange as opposed to last time where they had to leave at like 2. So it was really nice to serve with him for a full day again. He showed me some cool places in Sibiu, which is commonly accepted as the most beautiful city in the mission. It was fun.

Well, that's about it! Have a great week!!

 

-Elder DeGraw

 

 

 

100 Days

Hey everybody!!! Hope everybody had a great New Years!!

Last year President H let us stay out for new years which was awesome but this year President I didn't want us to be out on the streets that late this year for safety reasons.

Luckily for us, we have access to our roof :) So we got to watch the fireworks from our roof and it was amazing! Here everybody lights off fireworks from everywhere around us. Like people were shooting Roman candles out of their blocks, blowing things up in the parking lots, they had those fire lanterns, it was crazy!!

New Years is the BEST in Romania. Things just explode right in your face all around you. I wish you could all see it. People are just starting to come back from their holiday vacations, so we should be able to meet with more people soon.

This new year is going to be great. We should all take this great opportunity to look within ourselves and become what we can be. To let go of the things within us that are keeping us down, our negativity, grudges or blame bottled up inside, any of our personal stumbling blocks that are keeping us down, our weaknesses and shortcomings, and change them through Christ and his atonement, which is the only thing that can. To become positive, peacemakers, to forgive others even when it's hard, to open ourselves up to acknowledge our shortcomings so that we may overtake them. Only when we fully open our hearts to the Lord and his Atonement can we be free from ourselves.

My biggest resolution for this year is to not let the actions of others affect me as much, and to forgive when I could blame and condemn others. In the past it has been sometimes all too easy to put blame on others for my bad situations. And even when I have every right to feel offence, unless I forgive and forget, I've realized that I just can't move on, and it circles around my heart and mind constantly. One of the biggest points of emphasis of our mission right now is to be positive. So that's probably my biggest non mission-specific resolution.

I was just made aware of the fact that I now have 100 days left. Mildly freaking out. But they're going to be the best 100 days of my life. I just rounded the last turn of the 2 miler and we're in for the 100 meter dash. Sprinting to the finish baby!!

We have MLC this week so that should be fun.

Well. Hope everybody has a great week!! Make this new year the best year of your life!!

 

Love you all!!

 

-Elder DeGraw

LA MULŢI ANI!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!

Christmas was so great here! We got to spend time with one of the coolest families in Romania! They fed us and we got to watch The Lego Movie with them! Such a good movie. Definitely should go see it.

We got sarmale which is a super good traditional Romanian food that is usually served on and around Christmas. Basically Christmas was just great. I was able to meet with a few members this week. The members here are so great. I love them so much!!!

Sorry I don't really have that much to say, we basically got it all out on skype. But I wish everyone a very very Happy New Years!!!

 

-Elder DeGraw

Merry Christmas!

So last week we had a super cool concert here in Ploiesti. It was really fun because I played a song with Elder B and Elder C from my MTC group who's one of my favorite people ever. It was really fun. I was kind of running around the whole time making sure that it would all work because I was basically in charge of the missionary side of it but it all ended up working out well.

We've been able to meet with our investigators and we had a member there for one of the lessons which was a good help. Elder S and I have been getting along great and working pretty hard. We're going to try to do a lot of less-active work this transfer.

Haha last week we met up with Nana's friend again. It's so weird that he has seen you guys at home so recently! This time he just popped up out of the blue and we were able to meet up at KFC. He brought your letters and stuff which were so great to read. And nana that CD is so cool! It's such great spiritual music and also just good music! I love it thank you so much.

Also thanks for all the packages I've gotten for Christmas they make me so happy! It's weird that this is the last Christmas away from home! I hope you all have a great one!

Love you all!

Merry Christmas!!

-Elder DeGraw

Romanian Megastars at church

Howdy doody. Well, as you know we sang at the embassy last monday, which was fun. Then last Saturday we had a Christmas concert at the church in Bucuresti. We had a special guest. There is a super famous Romanian singer/model named Antonia I. Her family joined the church when she was very young and then moved to Utah. She later stopped coming to church for whatever reason. But her father at least is still active, and she still considers herself a member I think. Anyways, she came and sang at the Christmas concert! She also brought her boyfriend, Alex Valea, who is also a huge celebrity here!

It was really cool. It was kind of interesting to play in front of celebrities for some reason. It's been a long time since I've had those pre-performance butterflies but for some reason when they walked into the room I suddenly felt like I forgot how to play guitar. But it went well and it was really fun.

Then we have zone conference and our concert here in Ploiesti this next Saturday, so we're excited for that.

Also, I got so many packages recently! I got the ones from Grandma and Grandpa DeGraw, and from Gramz! Thank you so so so SO SO much!

I also got one from the ward with a big poster signed by who I'm assuming are mostly the primary and some other families. My favorite note  just says "You are impotint". It made me so happy! And Gramz the peanut butter fudge is amazing!!!! Could you send me the recipe for that? My companion is basically begging me to get it so he can make it too haha.

Oh also Grandpa thank you so much for the check but they don't really use those here... I don't think I can cash it. But thank you so much for that and the rest of the package!

I'm going to get so chunky this month with all the candy I have now haha!!

Other than all that stuff, I'm super stoked for this transfer. Me and Elder S get along really well, and we have similar ideas about missionary work and stuff. We've decided we're going to have a sort of ZL renaissance. As in, ZLs now are a lot different from how they were when we were young. And we don't like it because we feel like we do nothing as ZLs. So we're going back to the old ways; lead by example and help motivate others. It's going to be a great transfer I can feel it. Thanks for everything everybody!! I love you all and wish you all a merry merry Christmas!

Remember Christ! He is the Gift!!!

 

Love,

Elder DeGraw

 

 

Apartment all Christmas'd out.

 

Great burger from a newish place in Buc.