Hervezchrgen Moldova (Cubby 8/19/2019)

So this week has been a good one... I think.

I can't really remember it, it went by fast.

So two weeks ago, President Foster came, which was alright, had interviews and whatnot. I think he posted some stuff on his personal facebook, so ask questions is you wanna know stuff about that. 

So something interesting happened, I'll share the story.

So we have an investigator  that has a very firm testimony that the Book of Moomon is true etc, but she just kinda refuses to come to church. So Me and Eder Geertsen just decided to try and come with a more stern approach in one of her lessons. Long story short, it did not go well at all. I tried to stick to our lesson plan (which stunk) and it just kept going terribly. Anyways, we talked about it afterward, and we basically figured out that it stunk because we didn't do it out of love, but out of frustration. I guess this kind of applies to how we treat people all the time. If we act out of love, only really good things come out of it. If we act out of selfish desires, usually things don't go well.

Anyways, send questions, love you all

Elder Cubby

 

By the Power of Grayscull!!! (Ben letter 8/12/2019)

Buna ziua dragi frati si surori. 

This is Varstnicul Stanfield in Moldova here.

This week was pretty good, Elder Cromar and I are going hard on the contacting. We got rejected a lot this week, aka people yell and us and swear. But I love that because that means there are more people that want to listen. Its like Karma or something. For example this week we were in this block and got yelled at my various grandmas that we are a "sect". And then the follow up door we get boarder-line attacked by a drunk guy. But right when we want to go home we know on a door and this guy named Tudor just lets us right in before we even speak a word. Says he's been looking for the truth for a long time, but hasn't been able to find it. We stayed for  while and taught him all the good stuff and now we get to go back. Anyway, things like that make a weeks worth of rejection all worth it. Also, you guys would love the USSR style blocks here, they are awesome. However the elevators are kinda sketch. Like really Sketch. But things are going well, I can finally communicate almost all the way. I'm not completely fluent, but I can understand words I don't know by explanation. Also I know the city very well now which is nice. Chisinau is the shape of an octopus, not anything like a grid system like what Richland has. So to know all the various trollybusses and maxi taxis and where they go is nice.

 

Well to share a little of the fire in my bosom, look for the goodness in things. Maybe I have shared this before, but sometimes when I feel discouraged, I read about what people in the scriptures did when they were discouraged. For example Joseph Smith has a pretty bad time in prison, and asked why God had left him. But then God replied and told him about how Job had it was worse. And then Jesus added even more and said that both of them combined aren't even close to what He felt in His atonement. It reminded me of how good I really have it, how good pretty much all of us have it. My mom gave me an idea that I have used in lessons. She gave people in a lesson a donut. The simple lesson is that we should be happy for the donut, and not worry about the hole in the middle. I did this with some kids in our branch with covrigi. I told them to eat the covrigi, and tell me what they liked about it. And if they told me the right answer, that there was a hole in it, then I would buy them donuts. They all said why they liked the covrigi, and none answer the hole. However I told them the answer, and gave them a 2nd chance. The next time they guess that what they liked was the hole in the middle. The lesson I taught them was that if they focus on the good, then they will taste the good, but if you focus on the bad, you cannot taste the good part. No man can serve 2 masters. When we serve, and live life, look for the good and cast the devil out!

Va Iubesc pe noi

Varstnicul Stanfield

 

His new 'Moldovan' ties

 

Cherub ROCK (Ben letter 8/5/2019)

Man I love a good Cherub, even though nobody on earth knows what they look like. But we do know they are angelic, so I'm going to guess they look like a wombat. 

Everything is going quite well here in Moldova. Some days its very hot, then it rains, then its not so hot, then it gets hot again. Weather is just a freak of nature. Anyway, my comp and I have been trying to meet with some more less active members, which is quite fun. We travel a lot more, so we get to see more of the city. Chisinau is pretty large for its population, and very spread out. So if we try and contact on center on the main street, most people know who we are.But it is fun to go to the outskirts and talk to somebody who has never met a missionary, or an American. Every single time they ask how I like Moldova, and I always assure them that it's very good. 

 

This week we met this older Bunica and she had her 2 grandchildren with her. We met with them and it went well so we will meet again. She lives super close to us, just one block bldg away. The next day we were outside coming home, and we saw her with all her friends. We proceeded to talk to them, and they asked me if I liked the girls here. That is a very normal question because I'm a young American boy, and they take a little pride in their girls. But after that the asked me about having multiple wives, due to the fact we are Mormons and they saw a film about it. A very normal convo. But then one of the Bunicas said that we should bring home multiple moldovans for wives. I laughed it off, but I really do think she was serious. Anyway just another normal convo in Moldova.

 

As for a spiritual thought, I love the fact that nothing is impossible with God, and that He will be the same yesterday, today and forever. For some reason it hit me hard this week that if this Church is the true Church, then why wouldn't there be heavenly visitations? Why wouldn't there be golden plates? Why wouldn't we have a leader of the church who communes with God? Thats the way it was in the Bible, why wouldn't it be that way now. This is something I have known, but really it just made more sense to me this week. Anyway, nothing is more powerful and great then the fact that Jesus Christ can help us overcome anything. This is the greatest miracle of all. My cousin Riley reminded me of that this week. Cheribums are cool and all, but the fact that Jesus suffered and died so that we can become better, become PERFECT is absolutely remarkable. I love Jesus Christ with all my heart, and can say without a doubt that He is the reason for hope and happiness in my life.

Va iubim pe voi

 Varstnicul Stanfield

 

 

Defence of Anacreon in Heaven (Cubby letter 8/5/2019)

Kam na mauri.

Definitely an interesting week this week. A lot of our friends decided that they've had enough of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so we increased (even more) our finding efforts. I actually really enjoy contacting, especially here. Since there isn't 3 million people in my area like there is in Ben's, contacting kinda means going into random people's houses, sitting down, and getting to know them. And then afterwards trying to share the Gospel, it's actually really fun. 

There is actually a funny story about that.

We went on splits this Saturday, the zone leader went to my area, and I got to work in Banana. So one of our lessons fell through, so me and elder Strauss (from my intake) decided to do a little bit of contacting. So we came to a house, and kinda took the slow approach, had a nice conversation for awhile, until they actually brought up the Gospel, which is always nice. But during this process, they offered us a drink. They told us it was Karewe, a local special and a personal favorite, so I was happy. Weird thing was they only gave the two of us one cup, and it was only half full. We didn't think anything of it, and I let Elder Strauss have the first drink. He only had a couple sips, and I figured it was because he wasn't a fan of karewe, which is common among elders here. So I finished the rest in one gulp. So this story is funny because that one gulp of karewe became my first ever drink of alcohol! Yeah so apparently it was sour karewe, which is commonly used to get drunk here, but these fellows were using as "te moi ni mwakuri" or "the drink of work" so I guess they thought we needed an extra boost for our day. What great guys. 

Anyways, I tangiringkami and don't cut hair at night.

Elder Cubby

Mens Wear (Cubby letter 7/28/2019)

Mauri my fans

It's been a good past two weeks as always, but I can't say I remember everything that has happened. It's weird that since I do the same thing every single day, everything just starts to blend together. 

Well here is something interesting, which  isn't necessarily exclusive to this week, but for awhile now, everyone we contact is either from the SDA, the son or daughter if a missionary of some other religion, or already a member of the church. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is just has a very low probability of anything happening. 

Another interesting thing, We met this dude who korokarewe s (cuts toddy) on 12 coconut trees every day. I thought that was pretty cool, because it entails climbing up in the morning, cutting a branch for the sap, and then returning in the evening to collect. That's a lot of climbing, the dude has clout.

Anyways, for a spiritual thought.

So yesterday we had a large botaki for an elder's 21st birthday (which is a big cultural thing here), and a new sister missionary was assigned to give the spiritual thought. Well, she was pretty bad at the language, like everyone is when they first come. It just reminded me of how bad I used to be and how far I've come in the language. It shows to me how willing the Lord is help us learn and grow. And then I realized that I've grown in other ways too, spiritually, intellectually, etc,. The lesson here is that if we apply ourselves, the Lord is willing to help, so I would invite everyone to give it a try.

Anyways, I tangiringkami

Elder Cubby

In The Time of Chimpanzeez I was a Monkey (Ben letter 7/22/2019)

"Hello my friend"

"hello"

"my name is Boris"

"hello Boris, how are you"

"fifty-fifty" or "from time to time"

(This is every english convo I have had in Moldova)

So yeah I'm still alive, just like Pearl Jam. Things are going well. I'm still talking to a lot of people, and all that missionary stuff. I don't know if I already said this last week, but I got a smartphone and its easier to study, and look at maps and all that stuff. 

But as far as missionary work goes, we have a similar problem that Jackson has time to time with the bus system. The trolly bus system in how people get around here, and if it shuts down, then its really hard for people to get to church. So they have like fun runs, or bike races, or anything like that on Sundays RANDOMLY. Nobody knows or advertises the fact that the buses wont be running. So then nobody shows up to church and its lame. But yeah I love the trolly buses. They are scared of wind here, so instead of air conditioning they have like holes on the roof of the bus that suck air out. And let me tell you it doesn't work at all, its pretty much a sauna in there. And the smell is... fantastic. And then they cram as many people as could possibly fit in there. You know that game in highschool where you get two cars and see how many people can fit? Exactly like that. I actually do enjoy it, and trying to contact at the same time, its like a challenge. Also I'm planning on getting a Gold chain and cross this week. So that will make the JWs mad because Jesus was actually crucified on a tree. I went on an exchange with Elder Robinson this week, and it was quite fun. He is my MTC comp, so it was pretty cool to contact together and speak with each other in Romanian. We have a lot more to go, but we have come a far way, so its rewarding.

This week I have been thinking of gratitude. We ask people on the street if the believe in God, or Jesus and they say yes. But when we ask how God has helped them in their life, they say He has not. They cannot see how God has actually blessed them, with everything they have. No matter where you live, there can always be excuses or reasons as to why God has not blessed you. Here it is that they have no money, therefore God has not blessed them. In America, people don't get free money. In the church, people don't get some extravagant sign from heaven. However, in all of these cases, God has blessed us so much! Everything denotes there is a God, the fact that we are alive, and have the chance to live and talk and learn and grow is just amazing. And that's just the basics. We have so much to be grateful for, and thank God for. And when people deny this, they are being prideful. I could go on why I think that, but that would take too long. 

When Joseph Smith was is jail and his life stunk, Jesus reminded him of Job. And then after that He reminded him of His own sufferings in Gethsemane. To deny that you have been blessed or helped is rejecting the Atonement of Christ, repentance, and so on. I could go on but I will actually stop now.

va iubim

Varstnicul Stanfield