May 4, 2020
Field Trip #2 ~ Brasov
Last night we dropped off Elder Lee at the AP's apartment here in Bucharest since they had to get up really early and do all of their transfers; the first being to drop off Elder Lee in Galati with Elder Valentine. Elder Firth stayed with us in our extra bedroom; we got home so late from our travels last night that we had a lite dinner and off to bed ~ it was a fun, exhilarating day 😀😅😴💤.
I found my seashells from Constanta the next morning in my pocket ~ they were all so pretty and unique!
We have a very excited young woman who is ready for her transfer to the beautiful town of Brasov! Sora Gaskin, of course, is sad to leave Sora Teuscher, but she has been in the Bucharest area her whole mission so the change will be welcomed! Before we picked up Sora Gaskin, Elder Matthews and Elder Firth dropped me off at the church, went and picked up Sora Cleveland and Sora Phillips from Mihai Bravu and dropped them off at Sora Teuschers apartment. The three of them will hang together while we do transfers. Then they brought Sora Gaskin back to the church and got me!
Sora Gaskin and I got in the backseat and got comfy. All of us talked and visited together then Elder Firth and Sora Gaskin would start speaking in Romanian so Bill and I would listen quietly. Sometimes they would laugh and I'd ask them what they said then we'd all talk in English for a bit but for the most part they would talk in Romanian and "exclude" us 😜. We got used to it and were happy just listening to their sweet bantering. It wasn't until much later that we learned that when the Elders and Sisters are together they are only supposed to talk to each other in Romanian (this would have been helpful to know so I wouldn't have felt left out 😂😂😏)!
The drive to Brasov was beautiful, especially as we began going through all the mountains (big hills 😉)! It is so green and lush. The region of Transylvania takes in 16 counties; we have 7 sets of missionaries in 4 of these counties: Arad, Brasov, Cluj and Sibiu. All of these areas are so gorgeous!
We had to make a few stops cuz many of the addresses to the apartments were incorrect so a few phone calls were necessary. We, of course, all stayed together but it is so sweet how the missionaries always have each other's backs. It is like one big family of brothers and sisters looking out for one another. It is truly precious!
Since Brasov is so close to Dracula's Castle we couldn't resist having a drop by! There is so much rich historical information (and much mythical information as well) regarding Bran Castle a.k.a. Dracula's Castle.
The website below, along with many others gives you an idea of what is real and what is not. "This character (Dracula) is often confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler 🗡🗡🗡😳 [emojis added]), sometimes known as Vlad Dracul, who was a Walachian Prince with a castle, now in ruins, located in the Principality of Wallachia. Because Bran Castle is the only castle in all of Transylvania that actually fits Bram Stoker's description of Dracula's Castle, it is known throughout the world as Dracula's castle. Chapter 2, May 5 of "Dracula" describes the Count's castle as ". . . on the very edge of a terrific precipice . . . with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests." http://www.bran-castle.com/dracula.html
The website below, along with many others gives you an idea of what is real and what is not. "This character (Dracula) is often confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler 🗡🗡🗡😳 [emojis added]), sometimes known as Vlad Dracul, who was a Walachian Prince with a castle, now in ruins, located in the Principality of Wallachia. Because Bran Castle is the only castle in all of Transylvania that actually fits Bram Stoker's description of Dracula's Castle, it is known throughout the world as Dracula's castle. Chapter 2, May 5 of "Dracula" describes the Count's castle as ". . . on the very edge of a terrific precipice . . . with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests." http://www.bran-castle.com/dracula.html
^^^ An Excellant Description ^^^!
We were unable to go inside the castle but we certainly hope to get back there soon for a tour (and hopefully take as many missionaries, in the area, with us on their P-day)!
We can't begin to express how much fun we have with these amazing missionaries (I think we need to encourage SLC to let Kobe come out here instead of going back to Mexico when he returns back out on his mission 😁😁😏)! The spirit is so strong with these young kids and they are mature and responsible and show forth such Christ-like love to everyone. We are truly blessed to be able to associate with them!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transylvania
Romania has been chipped at quite a bit (like most countries) and you'll hear different stories if you talk to others outside of Romania. But keeping any part of the Northern and Western part of the country has been such a blessing and I feel it is some of the most beautiful parts of the country!
We were given a schedule and approximate pick up times from the Hungarian Mission Office. Unfortunately, they sent a different one to the Sora's in Brasov so they waited outside in the cold and didn't call us until they had been waiting 45 minutes. We had stopped and had lunch with Gabriel and Catalina Petcu. They are the Institute leaders/teachers over the YSA's so we had a few items to discuss with them (and a most scrumptious lunch ~ let me tell you the Romanians have a wonderful way with food 💕😋💕). When we arrived Sora Perry and Sora Bell were pretty much frozen. Next transfers we will make sure and verbally speak with them and let them know of our arrival time 😮.
Elder Matthews, Elder Firth, myself and Sora Perry jumped in the car and raced over and dropped Elder Firth off with Elder Truscott and Elder Chandler for the night (the AP's will bring Elder's Firth and Chandler back to Bucharest tomorrow)! 
Then Sora Perry (who is an absolute delight to be with) and Bill and I had a glorious rainy ride home to Bucharest!
We picked up Sora Cleveland and dropped her and Sora Perry off in Mihai Bravu! If that wasn't confusing enough I'll give you a RECAP:
Elder Matthews, Elder Firth, myself and Sora Perry jumped in the car and raced over and dropped Elder Firth off with Elder Truscott and Elder Chandler for the night (the AP's will bring Elder's Firth and Chandler back to Bucharest tomorrow)! 
Then Sora Perry (who is an absolute delight to be with) and Bill and I had a glorious rainy ride home to Bucharest!
We picked up Sora Cleveland and dropped her and Sora Perry off in Mihai Bravu! If that wasn't confusing enough I'll give you a RECAP:
When we are with these beautiful young women and see their spirit shine so bright it reminds me of when Marcie was on her mission in Brazil. She would share so much of her "Mission Life" with us but we truly could not understand all of her experiences. We are just getting a tiny glimpse into the joy and some of the hardships that all missionaries have. Both with Marcie and our son's there are many things that we were unaware of but they were all obedient and great missionaries just like these kids!
Needless to say Transfers ROCK! In most instances the Elders and Soras will take the train to get from one city to another so we feel especially blessed to have had the opportunity to actually travel with these kids! Many wonderful things have happened during the Pandemic and this was one of them, especially having the opportunity of seeing so much of Romania. During our actual travel we saw many miracles 💙😇💙 as time after time we were flagged through road blocks or went through at just the right time when the police had taken a break from checking each car for papers and reason for travel. At one point I thought our car must have looked invisible as it was the only one not stopped . It was a fun day of travel and not once did anyone ask, "Are we there yet?" 😂😅😉 Missions Rule!
Needless to say Transfers ROCK! In most instances the Elders and Soras will take the train to get from one city to another so we feel especially blessed to have had the opportunity to actually travel with these kids! Many wonderful things have happened during the Pandemic and this was one of them, especially having the opportunity of seeing so much of Romania. During our actual travel we saw many miracles 💙😇💙 as time after time we were flagged through road blocks or went through at just the right time when the police had taken a break from checking each car for papers and reason for travel. At one point I thought our car must have looked invisible as it was the only one not stopped . It was a fun day of travel and not once did anyone ask, "Are we there yet?" 😂😅😉 Missions Rule!
Monday: (9:30- 13:00) You will take Sister Phillips and Sister Cleveland (from Mihai Bravu Bucharest) and drop them off with Sister Teuscher (at Panduri, Bucharesti). You will take Sister Gaskin and also Elder Firth to Brasov. (13:00-16:00) Drop off Sister Gaskin with Sister Bell. Then drop off Elder Firth with the elders in Brasov. Then with Sister Perry, you will head back to (Panduri, Bucharest) You will pick Sister Cleveland up and drop them off in (Mihai Bravu, Bucharesti).
Addresses: Mihai Bravu (Phillips and Cleveland): STR. BAIA MARE 2, BL. 4, SC. B, AP. 83 Panduri (Teuscher): Strada Cpt. Ion Garbea, Bloc turn, Scara A Apt. 24, Sector 5, Bucuresti Brasov (Bell): Strada Carpatilor 44, Bloc B1, Apt. 71, Brasov Brosov (Elders): Str. Piata Teatrului Nr. 9, Sc. A, Apt. 18, Brasov Mihai Bravu (other apartment): Strada Dristoruliu 91-95, Bloc E, Apt. 433, Sector 3, Bucuresti
