Bye Bye Brasov!

Hey Guys,

Today, the city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business 

centers in Romania. Among other institutions, it hosts the country's largest university, 

Babeș-Bolyai University, with its famous botanical garden; nationally renowned cultural

 institutions; as well as the largest Romanian-owned commercial bank. According to the 

American magazine InformationWeek, Cluj-Napoca is quickly becoming 

Romania's technopolis.

Wow, so I have some news! I am leaving Brasov and going to Cluj! I am finally leaving my first area. This is really weird to me because Brasov just feels like my home away 
from home. I'm a little nervous and excited for what's to come. I'm sad to leave Brasov, but I know that this new area is where I need to be. I've heard that this city competes with Brasov for the most beautiful city in Romania, and I heard that they have the largest branch there out of all of Romania. 

I have some pretty crazy plans on how I'm getting there: On Wednesday, I leave to go to Bucharest with my companion at 4:50 in the morning. I'm then going to stay there all day in Bucharest until 6:40 at night. Then I will take a 10 hour train ride, overnight, and get into Cluj at 4:13 in the morning. 24 hour trip, Let's GO! haha 

On Sunday, I said goodbye to all the members and grabbed as many pictures as I could. I hope to come back and visit, after my mission for sure!

We also had 2 baptisms this week! An 8 year old girl and a 9 year old boy were baptized and confirmed this weekend! It was a great experience. I had the opportunity of being one of the witnesses for both the baptisms.

This week was great and now that change is coming, it will be even more of an experience! I'm thankful for all your love and support and I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Houk 

Sunrise from our window

Frost on half of the mountain. Getting cold!

Frate Croitoru

Frate Jenica

Levi

Mihai- 13 year old brother to Ovidu who was baptized.

Emma

Elder Weaver and Sora Miron - Emma's mother

Branch President Mesco

Mesco's baby

Ovidu and Raul

Michaiel, He's visiting from Spain with Emma's sister.

And of course, The Bairs

Brasov district bowling joined by the Miron sisters and friend Michael.

This is my good luck bowling shirt!

Batman and Hulk

And the winner is...

Fall is the Air

Hey guys,

We moved our P-Day last week to Wednesday so we could go to Peles. And while we were there we visited the Sinaia Monastery and Pelisor Castle. It was a lot of fun and got to see a lot of things. This was my second time going to Peles. I went again because I've been here so long. My whole district has never been and I was the only one who had, so I was happy to go again, especially because of the changing of the fall leaves. So beautiful! 

Sinaia

electric light pole

Sinaia was the first electrically lighted city in Romania.

Sinaia Monastery

The Sinaia Monastery, located in Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino in 1695 and named after the great Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. As of 2005, it is inhabited by 13 Christian Orthodox monks led by hegumen Macarie Bogus. 

It is part of the Bucharest archdiocese.

Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914.

Heavily art nouveau in its decor, and about 100m uphill from Peleş Castle, the German-medieval Pelişor Palace has a hard time competing with its neighbour. King Carol I planned this house for his nephew (and future king) Ferdinand (1865–1927) and wife Marie. Most of the furniture was imported from Vienna. Marie died in the arched golden room, the walls of which are entirely covered in gilded leaves.

I don't have much time to write this week, unfortunately, but Rebbeca came to church and said that she liked it and would want to come back! She also told us a story about how when she met us she just saw the CLM [Cartea lui Mormon (Book of Mormon)] pop out to her from the streetboard and that something was pushing her towards it. So cool! 

We went to Sapte Scari today. This was my 3rd time. Haha, it is still great being here though. 

The Seven Ladders Canyon is a mountainous canyon carved
by the Șapte Scări Brook in Romania in the county of Brașov.

Thanks for everything guys! Have a great week!

Elder Houk

Elder Bateman writes, "We are working to begin a course to help people stop smoking this week. 

It will hopefully begin in a couple weeks, and it's a 15 step,10 day course that will hopefully 

help a lot of people in this area. We are currently making posters and soon, we will distribute them around the city." 

Cel Mai Bun Săptămână

Buna Ziua! (Hello!)

I had the cel mai bine (best) things happen this week.

When we were traveling on the street we met an old man, who was so thankful that we gave him a Book of Mormon. I think he would be a great Old Man Disney character.  He would look at us and hug the book and look up towards the sky as if he was praying and then shake his body with glee. He did this several times and even gave us a picture of himself, when he was 18 years old! Dont ask me why he had a picture of himself when he was 18, or why he gave it to us, but he did. He also explained to us that we need wives and not...each...other. hahaha. Needless to say we explained that we were, well, straight and that we are just friends. haha It was the most interesting "contact" I ve ever had! haha

Brasov sign in distance

We also met with a lady named Rebbeca. When we were streetboarding she noticed the Book of Mormon on the board. She gave us her number and we met with her. She said that she had gone to church once before and met with the sisters, but somehow lost contact. She was so thankful, she said, that she found us again. The best part of the lesson was when she expressed to us that whenever she went to church and met with the sisters, she never felt the need to smoke! And she said she smokes a lot. She said, "Look, even right now, when I am with you guys, I don't feel like I need to go smoke! I'm not thinking about when this meeting is going to be over or when the next chance I will get to go and smoke. She said "Look, I only drank one cup of coffee and and that's it! This is such a weird thing for me, but I like it!" It was by far the coolest lesson that I have had with someone. All I can say is that I know that it is the Spirit that teaches people and not us!

Beautiful fall colors!

Our President has told us "Let's do it with Gusto!" So that is what we are going to do. Put your heart into your work and know what you want! If you have the faith, it will happen!

Love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Elder Houk

       

I got to chop off a CHICKEN'S HEAD!!! hahahahaha it was great!
 I even caught it in my hands! 

I'm not the first missionary she had cut off a chickens head. Apparently at one time they had a
bunch of missionaries come over and cut like 30 of them or something haha.

 Sister Miron finished out the task of plucking and cutting for Sunday dinner.