Embrace Each Day with Enthusiastic Welcome

Last night I met Livia Ciuc. Her family is friends with Ken and my mom is friends with Ken's wife. Ken emailed Livia telling her I would be in Iasi and asked her to meet me. So last night, Katelyn, Sarahy and me met Livia and her husband at Palas. They took us to a restaurant. It was also kind of a bar. Sarahy called it a hook up bar. All I know is there was a ton of drinking and smoking. They were very considerate though. They asked if it was okay and they knew from Uncle Ken that we don't drink or smoke. They are very nice people. It is always good to talk to people from Romania. It allows me to understand more the people in Romania. Life here is hard and I have so much respect towards the Romanian people. They were the first younger people I have met that wanted to stay in Romania. Everyone else I have met wants to leave. Livia and her husband say this is their home. They travel a lot and know a ton of places in Iasi. They said once the weather is better they will show us around.

Today was a very good day! Sarahy, Katelyn and me had a long discussion yesterday. We talked about how we were feeling, what we were struggling with and just everything. I think that helped so much. The three of us also started watching a show- Gilmore Girls. It is something that we can look forward to and watch together. I am so glad that today was so well. At the orphanage I was able to play with the kids. We colored, played with blocks, had fun with bubbles, played with some play dough, and even sang a little. I know Heavenly Father answers prayers. Friday felt like a little too much. I wasn't quite sure I could handle it. But I know I can, I won't have anything I can't handle. Plus I know I am not alone when I go to work in the orphanage. The hospital was just so great too. I felt so good and I had more energy than normal. Andreea had heart surgery and she was back in her crib. I'm glad the surgery went well. I was happy to see that cutie. I also found out that she is from the orphanage too which is great news! The orphanage will allow her progress developmentally. Of course I did some dancing with Eliana. That girl just loves music! She is always so happy when she sees us walking into her room. Her smile makes me smile. I also saw the cutest little boy ever, I call him stud muffin. There is also a little girl in her room. She is just adorable. She loves when we come. She gets so happy and smiles the cutest smile ever. Overall a great day at the hospital and orphanage!

That night I went to family home evening. I played the game jenga and phase 10 with katelyn and one of the branch members. I also talked to other branch members that were there for family home evening. I like getting to know the branch members. They are all very nice. I am happy that some of them speak a little english too. That always helps!

I am going to make one of my goals to embrace each day with enthusiastic welcome. I want to have a better attitude and outlook on my days. I only have a short time here and I want to seek out the good all the time! I want to embrace each day with welcome, a smile, and the thought, "it's a good day." I want my days and thoughts to be positive. I know my experience will be better if my attitude is better!

4 Weeks

Where did the time go! I can't believe I have been gone for 4 weeks. I have been working in the orphanage for 3 weeks! It is crazy how fast this internship is going. I don't like it! I want time to slow down. Today I gave part of a relief society lesson. Sarahy, Katelyn and me all taught the lesson. It was on life long conversion. We talked about how most of the time our testimony isn't gone it just needs to be rekindled. Sometime enduring to the end can be one of the hardest principles. I took a leap of faith coming here and in helping the children. I do not know how to help all of God's children. But with his help and faith that I can do it, it will become possible. Like my mom told me, "I know you can do this. It will be one of the hardest but most amazing things you do! It will impact your life forever. What you're doing is pure love."

"There is a marvelous story of a man who once stood before God, his heart breaking because of the pain and injustice of the world. "Dear God." he cried out, "look at all the suffering, the anguish and distress in your world. Why don't you send help?"
God responded, "I did send help. I sent you."

God is a God of infinite possibilities. We are never done. We are never finished. And He's there every step of the way. To quote another intern, "Romania strips life down to what it is really suppose to be -selfless service. It show you the purpose and potential that you have to affect another life." One of the past interns described an experience she had in the hospital. She walked into one of the rooms and was holding a baby. Many thoughts can run through your head while you look into the eyes of one of those children. Sometimes you think of your own future babies, you think about how hot and sweaty you are, you think of God. You ask God questions. Sometimes those questions are bitter but other times they are out of genuine curiosity. The intern was sitting there, her two hands cradling the tiny sick body of a motherless baby, maybe she was thinking of God, maybe not. But the thought came to her in a small whisper: "You were made for this." I truly believe that. This work may be hard and difficult but it's so great. I need those children. They are teaching me what is most important in life- love and relationships.

Aislynn, a past intern, wrote something in response to the interns experience. Reading what she said made me look at what I'm doing in a whole different perspective. "It is not often that you receive a witness like that but when you do it is very humbling. You realize that you are God's hands. For intents and purposes, us interns are those children's mothers. It feels too much like heaven for it to be any other type of love. Because it feels like heaven, I also believe that we are the physical hands of angels. We are His angels. God works through us. God accomplishes a lot of his miracles through the hands of His mortal children. It is us, through Christ, that will make change. That is why it is so important to love. It is a heavenly errand that we are on when we put on those scrubs and walk into our room at the orphanage or the hospital. To do the work of angels- albeit angels in sweaty blue scrubs- is a breathtaking thing. It is a humbling thing and causes you to stand back in awe at the power of God."

I need to forget myself and go to work. I've been reading a past interns blog and she has some great stuff in her blog. Her words have been so inspiring and helpful. I realized I haven't been looking at this experience the way I should be. I need to seek out the good. I need to embrace the work and throw myself into it. Working with these kids will bring me more joy beyond measure. Also being here in Romania and working with these children is going to require a lot of faith. I can't speak the language well and I am not as qualified as I should be. The only thing I know how to do is love. I think it is time I take a leap of faith and throw myself into this work. By doing this I know I will grow and develop in so many ways possible. This experience will allow me to change for better. I have come to realize that I do have limitations. We all have them. I think it is time to accept the limitations I have here. The language is going to cause some limitations. I can't express myself like I can english but I can do enough to help these children.

I already feel so much love for these children. Every morning in the orphanage when I walk into my room and see those children, I feel so happy. They are always so happy to see me and I love seeing their happy, smiling faces. At the hospital I hold so many babies and I love all of them. All these children have a special place in my heart. I imagine the love I feel for these Romanian children is somewhat how mothers feel. And like Aislynn said above, I am like a mother to these children. Mothers do so much for their children. All the little day to day stuff adds up! Like what I am doing on this internship. All the things I am doing with these children will add up. It may not show a dramatic difference now but it will. My whole life my mom has done everything for me. I don't think it really showed until I went away to school. It was then she and everyone else could she what I have become, the grown up daughter I had become. The huge impact she made in my life was more visible than ever before. I like to view what I am doing like that. Every intern is building and helping that child little by little. We all are making a difference that will affect that child's life forever. That difference may be as simple as holding a baby. But for that brief moment, I helped relieve that baby of suffering. For that moment I could bless that baby's life.

Pictures from today

Aurelia and Florentina

Aurelia did my hair 

Singing in Romanian at church

After meeting Livia this is what we walked outside too. The pictures aren't even that good. It was snowing a ton!

I also got to talk to my family! Today is Alex's 1st birthday and tomorrow Ashley will be a teenager. It is always so good to talk to my family. I miss them and love them dearly. 

A Day in Romania

Sleeping late! Very relaxed day! Yummy breakfast and great mexican food for dinner! My day also consisted of grocery shopping and getting some homework done! I was so proud of myself for actually doing some homework. Most days I don't but I'm really glad I did today. I really need to stay caught up on homework! Aurelia and Andrea were at our apartment most of the day. Aurelia and Sarahy playing music most of the day and danced. Then that night we all made some mexican food. Homemade tortillas with some chicken, beans and corn to go inside. It's a short post but I don't really know what else to say!

Hard Day, Long Week

I don't really know how to express what I was feeling today. Today at the orphanage I felt so inadequate. The kids were being such stinkers today and I just felt so overwhelmed. I had no clue what I was doing and wondering what the heck I was doing here. I was almost in tears and wandered how it had come to this. Teo was climbing on the table and into the window sill. Denisa, Mirela and Andrei were all running out the door over and over again. I almost lost it. I was so frustrated. I just don't know what I am going to do. These kids are a handful. It doesn't help that I can't communicate everything in Romanian that I want to be able to. As soon as the worker leaves the room, the kids go crazy. I tell them "Gata" (stop) or "Lasa Acolo" (leave there) and they don't listen. They all start laughing and do it over and over again. But if the worker is in the room and one of the kids start going out the door and the worker says something the kid stops and listens. For some reason it doesn't work for me. I just feel inadequate. I do know that Heavenly Father is aware of me. While this was all going on, I said a quick prayer for help. Not long after that Teo and Mirela calmed down. I asked them if they wanted to color and they said "da." I was so relieved to see them sitting quietly at the "masa" (table). I also got Denisa playing with some toys too. What a tender mercy that was. Heavenly Father really does hear our prayers.

The three of us took an afternoon off from the hospital. We were all so tired and rested this afternoon. That night we were meeting Andrea and Aurelia at Palas for dinner. Before we met them we cleaned our apartment. It looks so nice. I love having the whole apartment clean. Aurelia brought a friend, Monica, with her. We ate at the food court. I had my first Doner Kebab. I really liked it. It might be one of my favorite foods here! After dinner Andrea came back to our apartment and slept over. We watched Pitch Perfect and had ice cream to go along it!

Thursday

So I have been trying lately at the orphanage to paint Teo's finger nails. Every time I ask the worker if I can, they all say no. I know Teo would love it! All little girls do. Finally today the worker let me paint her thumb. You should have seen Teo's face. She was so happy! After I finished painting her nail, she showed everyone that walked in the room. She was just thrilled! It made me so happy that I could bring so much joy to a little girl.

The hospital today had less children than normal. We went to all 8 floors within 2 hours! We finished an hour early and just called it a day. We were all so tired. Normally it ends up taking us over 3 hours to visit all the children in the hospital on all the floors.

There was a good turnout for insitute. Mihai, Alexandra, Andrea, Florentina and the three of us all came to institute. Monica was the teacher. She is one of the young single members in the branch. She is around my age and just applied for BYU! That is so exciting for her. She did a great job teaching. She is very knowledgeable and wise.

Little Kids Can Cheer You Right Up

It stinks to be sick! This morning I still wasn't feeling too well. I did't sleep well last night and I stayed home from the orphanage again. Yesterday and today have been somewhat boring. I have spent to much time alone and in this apartment. I was feeling a lot better around lunch time so I decided to go to the hospital. It was great to be outside and be doing what I came here to do. I had such a good time. The kids in the hospital cheered me right up. Sarahy, Katelyn and me sang little kid songs to two little kids for about 30 minutes or so. It was a ton of fun. I miss being a kid! I danced with Eliana and Florentina for a long time too. These two little girls only let me and Katelyn hold them. They wouldn't go to Sarahy. It was kind of funny. We played with bubbles and danced to music. The dancing part was a work out! I was so tired after. It was a lot of fun to play with these sweet little girls. Florentina is 6 and Eliana we think is 4, maybe 5. They loved having us there and dancing with them.

The little baby boy that has casts on both of his legs

These are the two kids we sang to for about 30 minutes. The little girl is so happy and adorable. The little boy we call stud muffin. He has the prettiest eyes.

That night Katelyn made dinner and the three of us tried to make a video. It's us singing 'Old McDonald Had a Farm.' It took about 40 tries for us to get it right. I have never laughed so hard. Just watch it and you will understand.

Thanks for the Support

You guys are all so sweet

Grandpa: "I am so in aw, of what you are doing. You're unselfishly giving of your life to bless the lives of other's... this is typical of my precious Megan, as you understand and live the gospel of Jesus Christ! You are truly one of my HERO'S... We love you."

My mother says stuff all the time! She is such a big support and always is.

Shauna: "I'm sure you are perfect for those kids and they need/ adore you. You are such a sweet, compassionate individual... I can only imagine the great things you are accomplishing."

Oh How I am Going to Miss this Girl!

I can't believe Chelsea left today. I am going to miss her so much! A couple weeks ago when we were having dinner Chelsea told us if her headaches don't get better she will have to go back home, to America. She had them last semester and she went to tons of doctors and none of them knew what was the matter. She did find a medicine that helped dull the pain and they decided it was okay if she came to Romania. Well since we have been in Romania the headaches have gotten worse. BYU, her parents, and Mario all think it is best if she goes back home. I am really sad and so is she. I hope they can figure out what is the matter so the pain can go away.

Having her here in Romania has been so great! She has been such a great help. Chelsea has made the transition easier. She showed us everything and taught us well. I really enjoy having her around too. She is so nice, sweet and funny. It's going to be weird not having her here with us. She said we can still have our weekly meetings on sunday together. We can skype her. Chelsea said she is here for us whenever we need her. She is amazing and I am so sad to see her leave. I am so grateful for her and everything she has done. She made London and Romania amazing!

This morning I woke up feeling kind of sick. My stomach just felt really strange. I went to the orphanage and didn't last very long before I came back to the apartment. When I first got to the orphanage the older kids were at the tables doing an activity like they normally do when I come and the younger babies were still in there room. There were only 2 out of the rooms. Teo was coloring and I went and joined her. She was so funny! She pretty much stopped coloring and told me exactly where to color and with what color pencil. She would point and say "acolo (there)." We made a very pretty picture! After some coloring, I started playing with the kids and realized I did not feel so hot. It wasn't long after that, that I left for the apartment. I must of ate something last night that my stomach did not agree with. The rest of the day I spent watching some tv and resting. Later that night after dinner, Alexandra stopped by. It was nice to talk to her and have some company. I also got John's present today! I think you will really like it John.

Face o Poza

Means to make a picture. Here in Romanian they say make instead of take. Because Chelseas is leaving to go back to the US, Teo came into all the rooms of the orphanage and took pictures. Sweet little Teo posed so cute! She is just adorable. Apparently she loves the camera!

Me and Denisa are in the background on the picture in the left. Andrei and Cami, the worker is in the background on the picture on the right.

 Big Florin, who went to a foster home is in the background wearing a green and gray jacket holding a red toy

Teo loves posing for the camera

Mirela posing for the camera 

Chelsea and Mihai

This morning I got to talk to my family! It was so nice being able to talk to them. Austin told me all about his special day on saturday. I also read about his baptism day on Alicia's blog. It is so great that I can be on the other side of the world and still be able to talk to my family! Technology now days is amazing. I also got to chat with Nana too. It was great to be able to see her and talk to her. I love you all!

Today went well at the orphanage and hospital. At the hospital on the sixth floor there was a little girl who I just love. I was rocking her back and forth as I was holding her and she fell asleep! I love holding little kids when they are sleeping! They just look so peaceful and perfect. I could of held her all day. That was such a precious moment for me. As I was holding her while she was sleeping I could feel God's love for her. She is a precious daughter of God and I was blessed with being able to hold her.  She looked so peaceful as I was holding her. I'm sure it was also a treat for her too. She probably doesn't sleep in anyones arms that often.

That night we had a farewell dinner at Palas. We invited Teo and Mario to join us at dinner. It was very nice to have one last night that the four of us were together. I was glad Teo and Mario could come too. It was a lot of fun. We all had shaorma. It was delicious of course. After dinner we had ice cream at Betty Ice and met up with Alexandra and her friend at Auchan, a grocery store. Katelyn bought the four flavors of fanta and some gogoshi. Before we left Palas we stopped and told Andreea, a girl in the branch that recently served a mission in England, happy birthday. She was at Palas having dinner with her family and we decided to find her and say hi. Alexandra came back to our apartment with us. We talked and drank some fanta. Once she left, Sarahy spent the next 30 minutes showing us funny videos on youtube. I have no clue how she knew so many! We had some good laughs. We called it a night not too long after that.

Sunday Will Always Come

Sunday was really good! It was great to hear the testimonies of the branch members. The church is true everywhere you go! Sarahy and Chelsea bore their testimonies in Romanian. They did a great job. I think I'm going to make it a goal to bear my testimony in Romanian before I leave. Since it was Chelsea's last sunday we took a lot of pictures at church. Here is a couple!

Litia, Sarahy, and Chelsea

Mihai and Elder Slemboski

The Relief Society

Mihai, Chelsea, Monica, Me, Katelyn, Florentina, and Aurelia (she is on the ground holding the dog)

Aurelia and the Soras

Us and the missionaries. They really are so great!
Sora Moulton, Sora MacDonald, Elder Slemboski, and Elder Whitehead

Chelsea posted this quote from Gordon B. Hinckley on facebook. I loved it! "We know not all that lies ahead of us. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith."

I also really like this one by Gordon B. Hinckley too. I have this one on my computer screen. I read it whenever things seem tough and I need some motivation. This quote always seems to help me. "It is so easy to get discourage while you're here. It seems so natural a thing to drop out or to give in. The way seems so long, the road so steep... My dear young friends, never lose faith in yourselves or in your capacity to do worthwhile things. And call upon the Lord for help that your minds may be enlightened and your understanding quickened. Then go to work with that assurance inside of you that somehow you can do it."