More adventures in Romania

10-27-2014

You guys are hilarious!!! That is the funniest costume I have ever seen. I can’t believe you guys would do that without me.

Well I don’t know where to start. It was a very bittersweet week this week. So I’ll start off with the big news. My Cluj days are coming to an end. Transfers are this Wednesday and I will be going to Pitesti, a city south kind of by Craiova. It should be good there and I’m excited but I am really sad to be leaving Cluj. I think Cluj has been the hardest city to leave on my mission because I’m so close with all of the members and I feel like we were so involved with them as a branch. It was very sad at church yesterday and all the members were like you stink that you’re leaving us. ha I gave a little goodbye and testimony in Sacrament and I will be visiting a lot of the members for the last time tonight and tomorrow.

So its been getting a lot colder this week and winter is coming really fast. I remember last winter here and I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. It will be interesting and we’re going to freeze. Elder Bushe and I went to the mall this week and got him a new winter coat.

On Wednesday of last week we finally were able to do home teaching with one of the members in the branch. Her name is Sora Constantin and we had Fratele Sas there too. It was nice. Just a little home teaching visit and we talked to her about praying in faith.

On Thursday we had our activity night with the branch. We watched another movie. This time Tangled in Romanian. ha it was really funny. We had another non-member family come and we were able to talk to them.

On Friday we had another lesson with Vasile and it was a really good lesson. He is actually progressing a lot and is really happy that we are taking the time to visit him. He was really sincere. I saw him on Sunday during church and he was really sad to hear that I was leaving. I told him I’ll see him again so we might be going to his house for a bit when you guys come and we visit Cluj!

Saturday we had a very long day. We had our last English class in the morning and then after that we cleaned and set up all day for a really big branch activity. It was a Fall Festival party and it was open to everybody. We ate Sloppy Joes and played games like doughnut on a string and apple bobbing. ha It was a huge success and had around 40 people show up. It was legit.

That’s about it for this week. I have to get offline because I’m going out to lunch right now with a few members but I love you all!!!!! Have a great week.

Go online and search "Ramura Cluj Napoca". Its a face book page and it has a lot of pictures of some of the things we have been doing with the branch.

P.S. We are gong to be getting I-pads in the next month!! So stoked!

Elder Mayans in Cluj, Romania

10-20-2014

What Up pops!!! haha That’s so sick that you guys are in Florida and then going to the Bahamas. I'm super jealous and make sure to say what up to all the Cubans for me. One thing I miss is wearing my Cuban gold chain. haha I'm putting that bad boy on right when I get home.

Well It was another great week here in Cluj. I'm loving every minute of it and we are doing a lot. It doesn't really show that much in numbers but I've been extremely tired every night. It's great and it makes me fell good to know that I'm working hard.

The main thing we did this week was do some more less active work. The missionaries and the branch planned a huge activity this Saturday and we are putting a lot of time into it and making sure everyone comes. We made invitations this week and then just yesterday we went around and visited all the less actives and invited them to the activity.

We are still meeting with Vasile once a week. The lessons have been great but he's not progressing too much. The problem is that he knows too much but he doesn't want to make the decision to be baptized. Well he does but he wants to move very slowly. English classes are still greater than ever. Our class loves us and they get so excited for English. haha I try to make them feel good by saying they speak English like a native. haha They're so funny.

Also this weekend we went with the branch up to Oradea again for a fireside. The temple President from Germany talked to us and the members in this part of Romania. It was a really good fireside and he had a lot of crazy stories.

Well everything is going well and Busche and I are still getting along very well. We are sad that we will probably be splitting up next few weeks because it's not very likely to be together for more than 2 transfers.

I love you and miss you all. Have a great week!!

Elder Mayans

This is my boy that I pet every day on our walk to church :)

Teaching the gospel through chalk art

10-11-2014

Hello Family!!!

This letter might be a little short because not a crazy amount went on this week. I have also had a little cold all week which has been really annoying. Nothing serious but I’m glad its almost gone now. This week we had another amazing activity on Thursday night. This time we made brownies and played games. We had a good amount of investigators show up along with a few members. We just started these activities 2 weeks ago and they are already a lot better then how they were before. The branch is getting more and more united which makes me feel good because I feel like most of my work has been focused on helping the branch.

Also this week we got to finish up watching General Conference! Wow it was amazing. You can just tell how much they have the spirit with them and that what they are saying is directed to help us. I learned a lot from it. Speaking of Conference we had another lesson with our boy Vasile on Friday night and he wasn’t able to come to the church to watch conference so we went to his house and talked to him about prophets and apostles. We also showed him how to watch conference of the Internet and then we watched Richard G. Scotts talk. He loved it and we talked about that for a while. He’s been around for the past 12 years so we are just trying to support him and remind him of why progressing is so important.

Last night we did zone chalk contacting at the park again. It got dark really fast but we talked to a few people and had fun with that. We will be going to Oradea again this Saturday for a fireside up there. That’s about it for this week. English is still going very well and our students love us! haha They have been staying for out spiritual thoughts which have been great. We have a few potentials with some of them.

I love you all!! Have a great week. Pet Chester for me!!!

Elder M

Elder Mayans in the CIty of Cluj.

9-14-14

Hello family!!! It was another great week and I am very excited to tell you my week.

Before I want to start off by saying it’s hard to hear the passing away of Uncle Nadal. It’s nice to hear that Dad was able to visit him before he passed. One of the greatest things about the gospel is that we will be able to be together forever with our family and love ones after this life. All the hard ships and trials that we face on this earth will be given back to us. Dying is just another step in life and I am so grateful that because of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can be eternally happy and live with our families forever.

One of the hardest things that I have experienced on my mission while trying to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is trying to tell people here in Romania that the Gospel provides us with a sense of hope and peace. More than once I have had people say my wife passed away 5 years ago, my children are starving and living on the streets, I don’t have a job, how can you possibly walk around and tell me that I have a Father in Heaven that loves me and cares about me. Or how can you say that God wants me to be happy when everything that has happened in my life has made my angry or sad? I think what makes it even harder is that I have never had to worry about any of these things. It’s a really hard thing to explain and I don’t think I would be able to unless I really had a strong testimony that God is there. He really does love us and we will realize shortly that our trials or the things that we experience in life are very small compared to all the other things God has in store for us. Every single person who truly has a desire to follow and be perfected in Christ will be happy And live with our Heavenly Father again.

So this week has been filled with a few big changes and events. First off about next transfers!! Elder Busche and I are staying together here in Cluj for another transfer!!! We are so stoked and are really happy to stay here for another 6 weeks. I love Cluj I don’t want to leave. haha Also our entire district will be staying the same except for one sister. Sister Pouni the Tongan will be leaving and Sister Honey from Tasmania will be coming…. both epic sisters.

This weekend we had zone conference, a district activity, and District conference. Crazy weekend and so many meetings. We had all of them up in the city of Oradea and we were there for 2 nights. We got to stay in a Hotel for those nights and it was so nice!! It felt just like America! ha It was a lot of fun. Zone conference we decent. President Ivory is making a lot of changes that I don’t quite agree on but whatever. He’s a really good public speaker and reminds us on our purpose and makes us want to work harder so that is good. Every time Sister Ivory gets up she starts balling. It is sort of ridiculous but also funny. She’s a very emotional woman. Then that night we had a big district culture night activity where we heard people sing songs and do dances of the country that they are from. We had a bunch like Poland, Finland, America, Mexico, Australia. Then Sora Jamabsu heard that I was half Cuban and she was like you have to do something. haha And I was like I don’t even know Spanish I cant do anything. Well she made me so I sang like only a tiny Spanish song that I know that I like that dad taught me a long time ago and everyone loved it. haha It was so dumb and I don’t know why but the Romanians were dieing they loved it so much. haha

So yeah that’s my story of the week. We visited a few members and less actives this week but we didn’t have too much of the week because the meetings took 3 days. Anyways I love you all and I miss you. You should all come to Romania. It’s a great country and really fun. And Dad would be happy too. There is a massage salon at every corner and pastery shops every 15 feet! Have a great week!

Elder Mayans

PS I haven’t been taking any pictures lately. Sorry, maybe next time.

Mission life in Cluj, Romania

8-22-14

MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a very busy day you guys had this week with school starting and a lot of work. It’s good to hear all of you stories and everything that’s going on back at home. It sounds like everyone is going pretty good.

Well things are going great for me. I’m just livin the good life out here in Cluj-Napoca and I can’t be any happier. Its been an extremely long week but also filled with a lot of things. Elder Busche and I are loving each other and I haven’t been this busy in a long time.

So last Monday night we went to another Universitatea Cluj futbol game for P-day. I love watching soccer and even though its only college soccer they’re pretty good and it’s a lot of fun.

Tuesday we had English start up which I love. It’s fun to teach and meet new people. We don’t have a lot of students but we have a few new younger students so that makes it fun. We are teaching beginners this transfer too so that’s nice. The people going to beginner classes are always a lot nicer and more friendly.

Wednesday we had a long day all the way to Sibiu. Sibiu is a city about 3 hours away where we had Zone training meeting. So all the missionaries from Sibiu, Brasov, and Cluj were there. We talked about some new things we are going to be trying to do as well and talking about how everything has been going. It was a good meeting and a lot of good presentations. I realized when I was there that I was the oldest missionary in my zone!!! What the heck!!! I couldn’t believe it. It’s really weird to think about. I don’t feel old but I guess I’m getting there. Wednesday night we had a long drive back to Cluj. I was singing some random song before we got on the bus and this guy turned around and said what is that song. And I was like I don’t know just like a general popular song and he was like oh yeah?!? And you’re wearing a badge that says Jesus Christ on it? Then he started screaming at me to get out of his conutry and that I’m going to go to hell. ha Yeah it was a little crazy but I was just like ok...

Thursday we had district meeting. We also had a lesson planned with our man Daniel but he didn’t show up and then ignored our call. That kinda stank but he actually came to church this week. He was a little rude with some of the members but we are still trying to work with him and we’re not giving up yet. Also on Thursday we had a district fast because Cluj has been extremely slow recently. Well that fast definitely worked and we saw a little miracle. So that very same day we got a call referral from another missionary. So there was this Romanian man who had been living in England for the past few years. He ended up running into the missionaries over there and got baptized. Well just last week he moved back to Romania for the summer in a city called Turda which is about 20 minutes from here. Since he has been here his mom and a few of her friends are really interested in the church that her son joined!!! So long story short, We are going to have a very exciting lesson with his mom and some other friends this Wednesday!! I talked to him a few days ago and he was really excited to hear from us and is looking forward to us teaching his mom. So pray that she is receptive to the message because she has a lot of potential!! I’ll tell you how it goes next week!

Friday we did some service with some members and then that night we did a member visit at Familia Condurachis house. They are a great old couple in our branch and know a lot of things. We had a really good lesson with them about revelation and it was the first time I’ve been over to their house so it was nice to get to know them more. They like to talk very fast so my companian was a little lost. ha He’s learning though and is doing really good. I remember when I was in those awkward situations when I couldn’t say anything. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

Saturday we had English class which went well. Well I’m getting kicked off the internet right now so I can’t write anymore. The Church is true and I love it so much. I love you all and I hope that everyone is going great!! I miss you all and have a fantastic week!! Love you guys!

Beautiful city of Cluj!!!

8-18-2014

Hey everyone!!!

You lost Chester!!!!!! Oh my gosh I was so scared when I was reading that story. I though it was going to end bad!!! I’m very happy that he is OK and spent a night in another house. haha Chester does whatever he wants!! Tell him I miss him sooo much. As you can see by the picture I sent today, I am meeting a lot of Chesters friends from Europe. I pet a lot of dogs every day but they are never as good as my Chester.

So this week was another GREAT week!!! I am loving it out here. Everything has just been perfect. I could stay here in Cluj for the rest of my mission and I would be happy! Also Elder Busche and I have been having so much fun together!!! He’s a great guy and I’m sure he’s loving it too. We’re super excited to be together and we have been having a lot of success too.

So last Tuesday we had another lesson with Daniel our investigator. He’s a great guy and we have high hopes for him. He doesn’t like too much infomation at one time so our lessons have slowed down in pace and they are more broken down. He loves the missionaries and is really grateful for us so we are happy. He is progressing right now and reading the Book of Mormon.

This is the last week before English class starts so during our open hours we have been talking to a lot of people on the streets. Its been a lot of fun and we are thinking that our English class is going to be massive this transfer.

Also this week it was Domonics birthday so he invited us over to celebrate. We had a few members come with us and it was a lot of fun in his tiny apartment. It was good to support him though because I don’t think he has a lot of family and friends around. We also did some service at the church with the members by pulling weeds and cleaning up the building.

On Sunday yesterday we had a great Sacrament Meeting. We had a few families out of town so it was a little smaller. I had to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting on a short notice which is always fun. I think I did a pretty good job. It was about 20 minutes long which I really don’t know how I did but its in the past now. haha I talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it can bring us close to Christ.

Tonight for P day we are going to a Cluj vs. Brasov soccer game!! We are super excited. Soccer is so big here it’s cool to see the whole city talk about it.  ha

Love you all. Hope everyone had a great week!! Stay safe. I miss you all!

Elder Mayans

Sorry I forgot to respond to the story about Abuela!!!! That’s crazy!! haha I can just imagine right now Tia driving and screaming out the window. haha I’m glad everything is ok and im sure that cop was a little confused with all the |Cubans screaming. haha

oh also this week we have zone training meeting in Sibiu!!! Sibiu is one the the prettiest cities and I haven’t been there yet so I’m really excited about it!! It should be a good trip. I’m also giving another little presentation so we will see how I do. haha They always pick on me to do things!

Well I love you MOM and Dad.

Elder Mayans

7-21-2014

Hello Family and friends!! It’s been a wild week with a lot going on so hopefully I remember everything in my e-mail today. I don’t know if I will though. We went on a really awesome but really long hike today so I’m pretty wiped out now. I’ll send some pictures of it don’t you worry. 

So to start of I’ll talk about the conference that I mentioned I was going to last week. The conference was held in Brasov which is another beautiful city with really tall mountains that surround it. Cluj, the city I’m serving in right now is about 7 hours away so it took a long time round trip. We left Tuesday and got back Thursday. On the way back we took a sleeper train through the night. My body does not do well with those sleeper trains because I woke up and could barely walk my back was hurting too bad.

At zone conference, a lot of changes were made in the mission because the new President has some new ideas and some things he wants to try. So before we were mostly doing contacting and trying to meet with as many investigators/people as possible. Now we are going to try something that they are calling the Balance which is that we focus 1/3 of our time with members and visiting them, 1/3 of our time meeting with less actives, and 1/3 of our time with investigators. It is a pretty big change but I think it is good for this mission. I think helping to strengthen the branches as they are right now will be really great and have a better relationship with members and less actives. The only thing that is a problem is that a lot of members and people we call are either too busy or don’t want to meet up with us. So we will see how everything turns out in the near future. 

This week we actually meet up with a less active, Vasile, who actually served a mission in France. He lives with a wife who isn’t a member in Cluj and is really busy with work. We went over there with a member and talked to him and shared with him a little lesson. He wasn’t too fond of going back to church but he liked us and was grateful for the visit. Other than that we have been calling soo many people and a lot of them are saying they can’t meet up. 

Church yesterday was really good. We had a full room of people and the branch is so funny with all of the little kids running around and screaming. It was also the first time I have seen a baby blessing out here. Familia Sas had a baby a few weeks ago so it was a big day for them. Then second hour, three minutes before the lesson started, someone walked up to me and said that I was teaching the lesson. haha Yeah so I didn’t have anything prepared. We go in order with the lessons so is was on Enduring to the end. It actually went pretty well I was proud of myself. 

English classes have also been really good this week. This class is a lot more talkative than before so it make it a lot easier to teach. One lady got a little mad at us because she wanted up to teach her English a certain way. It got a little out of hard because then the whole class started arguing. I eventually had to raise my voice a little and tell everyone to calm down. then I told the lady that this is a conversational English class and this is how were going to do it. ha And I guess it worked because they started listening to us after that. haha They are a little needy sometimes. 

Today we went to Turda and then on a really crazy beautiful kike through a canyon. It took all day and was really long but it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of hikers and tourists there so it was a little odd. It’s always weird to hear some Americans talking because I’m not used to people talking like that. ha That’s the most for this week. I love you all. I’m so thankful to be a missionary and serve the Lord. I’ve got about 9 months left and I’m really trying to make the very best of everyday. Have a great week everyone and enjoy the summer!!!

Elder Mayans