December 2, 2013

Hello from Craiova!

It feels like forever since I last emailed home! I don't even know where to start. 

We went to Bucharest on Wednesday and we got to see all of our mission friends again! We didn't stay long though because the train to Craiova left around 5:00 pm. That's the earliest I've ever had to leave from transfers!

But we got into Craiova around 9:00 pm, and out elders were there to meet us at the train station. They even made us "Welcome to Craiova!" signs. It was awesome.

Our Apartment here is AWESOME. It's definitely older, but it's so cute and homey. The Elders put up Christmas lights inside our apartment for us. AND it has two bathrooms. so we can't complain!

Our Thanksgiving was super, but it didn't turn out how we planned. We'd planned on cooking a dinner together at the church, but the lock on our door broke when we'd come home to start cooking that evening... so we called the Elders, and they came over to try and help. They couldn't get it open, so we called the landlord but he was out of town!!! So, we spent a good portion of the evening looking for a locksmith. HA! we never found one. but eventually the Elders just forced the door open... it was awesome. Afterwards we just ended up drinking hot chocolate at the church. It wasn't how we'd planned... but I really did love Thanksgiving :) It absolutely made me grateful for an awesome mission district!

On Friday, we met the Spooners. The Spooners are AMAZING!!! Aunt Vivian knows them!  They're from Michigan, and President Spooner is the manager of the Ford plant here. He also makes sure the little branch here functions. We went to their apartment, and they had dinner for us. Being in their home felt like AMERICA.  They even had ranch dressing for us! I haven't' seen ranch since the MTC.

Sunday was super cool. Since there are only 4 branch members we all got to go up and share our testimony. MAN IT WAS AWESOME. The church here is tiny. It's only 3 rooms... oh and half of the building is a club... Club Ludi. Ha ha:) Church here also only lasts 2 hours... since there aren't enough people to split into Relief Society and Priesthood. 

It seriously is such a blessing to be here in Craiova. One of the first things the Spooners and the other branch members told us is that they've been praying specifically to have sisters in Craiova for years, and that they were thrilled to have us. It makes me think of how many people all over the world are having their prayers for missionaries answered during this wave of missionary work. I feel so blessed to be a part of it!

Let's seeeee what else....

Sora Smith is amazing! I love her so much. She's so funny, and she loves to tell stories. Her birthday was 2 days ago! So that was fun. We all went out and got Chinese food to celebrate!

OH I almost forgot! We found a new Investigator! Her name is Dorina. We met her at a branch activity... what's interesting about serving here is that the branch is much smaller than Arad's, but  the branch activities have SO many more people that come. So, we met Dorina at the branch activity. She even came to church on Sunday! But about half way through Sacrament meeting she turned to me and said "I want to leave." So, I ended up walking her out.She just said she had other stuff to do, but we're meeting with her again on Friday!

So, basically Craiova is just awesome. Everything here is just awesome.

I'll attach some pictures of the city and apartment!

I love you all!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sora Ralls