Russell and Eileen's Church Missions: GREETINGS FROM TRANSYLVANIA

This past week we spent some time getting caught up after our trip to Cape Verde. We are currently in Romania training a new couple who are serving in the western part of Romania - Transylvania. The Biehns will be based out of the city of Cluj. If it seems like every week we are traveling it is because we have been. Our travel schedule is based on new couples coming in requiring training and we also travel when we have special requests, such as visiting the hospitals in Moldova. Russell has laid out a tentative travel schedule up until our departure. We pretty much know which weeks we will need to travel and which ones we will be able to stay in Frankfurt. The first few months of 2017 have had an especially heavy amount of traveling.

Elder and Sister Biehn have been in Cluj just a couple of weeks. It has been fun to get to know them and try to help them understand their role as humanitarian missionaries. It is a little bit of a challenge for them because they are not replacing a prior couple here in Cluj. This is a new position that we opened due to the large geographical area of the country and the many needs. They have been basically starting from scratch with their apartment, working with the branch and their humanitarian efforts. They will need to do a lot of research to locate quality NGOs to work with in this section of the country.

As is typical with our training, most of our time is spent working in their apartment. There are some beautiful historical places to see in Cluj but as of yet we haven't had the time or good enough weather to go see them. Yesterday while walking back to our hotel, Russell was stopped by a young adult who said “Hey Elder.” It was cold and rainy and we didn't stop for long, but this man was from Idaho, visiting Romania for the European gymnastic championships which are being held in Cluj this week. He was with a very petite woman who appeared to be in her 30s. He told us she was a very famous Romanian gymnast. We were wishing afterwards we had asked for her full name so we could look her up and see when she had participated in gymnastics and if she had won any medals at the Olympics.

Sunday, today we went to the Cluj branch. Sister Biehn wasn't feeling well and stayed home. The members were extremely friendly towards us and asked if we were going to be new missionaries. I think they are disappointed that most of the Biehn’s time will be devoted to humanitarian work rather than working with the members. In Relief Society one of the sister missionaries was trying to get a hymn to automatically play on the electronic piano. I offered to play which the members seemed very appreciative for. After Relief Society I was asked if I could play for the choir while they learned a new number. I played the song through for them several times while they practiced. It was a song I had never heard before. However, one of the investigators visiting said that she was familiar with the song because they sang it in her church. I was impressed that even though this young woman hasn't had any of the missionary discussions yet, she was coming to church and participating in the choir.

Tomorrow morning we have a very early (7:30a.m.) meeting with a friend of one of our NGO partners in Bucharest. We are hoping that the Biehns will get some referrals to local NGOs and ultimately potential humanitarian projects they could do here in this area.

One project that was recently approved that the Biehns will be working on is with an organization called Love Light Romania. This NGO was started by a couple from the UK. They have been here in Romania for 17 years helping those in need. Initially they started working with individuals, primarily children infected with HIV. Now they are working with Roma families, trying to help them become more self-reliant. During last winter LDS Charities funded a project to provide some basic food supplies for Roma families who had little. Last week another project was approved with this NGO. LDS Charities’ role will be to provide sewing machines and woodworking tools as part of a project to help teach Roma children to learn skills which will help them become self-reliant. I have attached a video link to the winter vegetable distribution.

We went from the heat of Cape Verde to the snow of Romania

Transilvania bank-across from our hotel

Eileen working with the Biehns on the computer

Sister Biehn showing me some washable feminine hygiene supplies made by the sisters in her Relief Society back home. These kits are provided to girls who have to stay at home due to the lack of necessary monthly supplies. Please look at the website daysforgirls.org for more information about this project.