Mia was born and raised in Romania and escaped to the USA in 1980, arriving here with nothing but one suitcase and a talent for art restoration. In Romania she worked for 20 years as an artist painting in Orthodox cathedrals. Two years after she arrived she joined the LDS Church. Her first LDS Temple art restoration was the Alberta Temple. Next, she worked on the art in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. The work in the Laie, HI Temple is her seventh and last Temple to help restore. Each assignment has taken from 13 to four months to complete.
She tells of being invited to meet with President Hinckley after the Alberta assignment. She was nervous and shy. When she was introduced he broke into that wonderful smile of his and warmly welcomed her, saying he had heard so much about her great talent and the wonderful work she had performed for the Church. He said the Church was so grateful her..."we prayed you here," he said.
One day President Howard W. Hunter asked her to come to his office. He welcomed her most warmly and asked if she could restore and repair a painting hanging in the President's office. She said of course (who would turn down the Prophet of the Lord). She remembers him as being kind, soft spoken and gentle...a gentleman in every way. As she left his office he gave her a hug, bringing chills to her body (repeated tonight as she shared the experience of 15 years ago). [In Hawaii they would call the experience "chicken skin."]