March 31, 2014

Salut!

WE HAD FOUR BAPTISMS YESTERDAY! We still can't believe everything worked out the way it did. We took the bus out to Feldiora every day this week, and then after took the bus to Rotbov so we could meet with Monica and Larisa. We've been doing 4 lessons a day in 3 different cities, so as you can guess, we had absolutely NO downtime this week. It felt like we'd have a lesson and then immedietly we would run as fast as we could to catch the next bus. We would eat all of our meals while traveling. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT ALL. It was insane. It was the most exhausting and most rewarding week of my entire mission.

Sunday was an absolutely perfect day. I wish all of you could meet all of these wonderful people!

So many people came to see the baptisms!

Little 8 year old Larisa was the first to be baptized. She was so nervous. But she couldn't stop laughing afterwards. :) When she got up to bear her testimony, she said "I just want to thank God that He showed me the path back to Him."

Raluca was second. This 13 year old girl is going to make a perfect sister missionary someday :)

Monica was third. We've never seen her happier in her whole life. She told us after her baptism "It's like I've forgotten all my problems today".

Nicoleta was last. She was so worried about Leve having enough strength to bring her up out of the water. He did it with no problem. After her baptism we asked her how she felt and she said "Now, I feel better." (Sorry it's blurry!)

 Seriously. Yesterday was amazing. I don't know what else to say other than that. It's amazing. These people were all prepared before we got to them. We are so grateful we were able to work with them! 

Oh! And transfer board came out, and Sora Barrera and I are staying together! :) We're so happy.

Here's to another amazing transfer!

I love you all so much!! Thank you for your prayers! We can feel them.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxxo

Sora Ralls

March 3rd, 2014

Buna, Buna!

Seriously, the only word to sum up this week is Success.

This week we've had the highest numbers I've had my entire mission. We've gained more new investigators, had more lessons, and more baptismal dates than I ever thought I could have in one transfer.  Last night the zone leaders even had to call us to make sure they heard it right!

As of this week we have 4 baptismal dates. All for March 29th. And yesterday we had 8 investigators at church! Am I still in Romania?

Let me tell you about the amazing people we've been working with.

First, Monica and her 8 year old daughter Larisa. Our amazing member missionary, Sora Pavel, met Monica, and began talking a bit with her about church. Then, Sora Pavel gave her a restoration pamphlet. Monica took them pamphlet home, studied it, and Immediately felt that she needed to be baptized. Later that week when we met with Monica, she went right to it and asked US when she could be baptized.  Solid.

Maria- I talked a little bit about her in my last email. She's Elena's (our recent convert) daughter. We've continued to meet with her this week, and at the beginning of the week she was so hesitant on accepting a baptismal date. Her little girl, one of the 3 year old twins, became very ill and had to go to the hospital to be on an IV for a few days (she's almost finished and home now though!). 

We talked with her on the phone about her little girl, and she seemed very distraught and overwhelmed by the situation. She knows about priesthood power, and we explained to her that if she would like, we could bring a priesthood holder with us, and he could give her a blessing. She accepted.

We went over the next day with our incredible ward mission leader, Marius. After we talked about blessings for a little bit, Marius gave Maria a blessing of comfort. 

After the blessing, Maria had tears in her eyes. She explained to us that during the blessing, she saw a path. The path was white and illuminated. She knew that it was the path that she needed to take her life. Maria accepted the baptismal date of March 29th.

And Raluca. Our 4th baptismal date. Raluca is DARLING. She's 13 years old, and very, very, very, into the gospel. She knows so much, It's so impressive. She started coming to church with Elena Dumitru and loved it from the beginning. Raluca is SO excited to be baptized. At first we were worried because her mother said she could be baptized, but she still needed to get permission from her dad. When we went back over  on Friday, she said her Dad told her she could be baptized She understands everything so well. Her mother agreed to sit in during our last lesson with her, and during the lesson, Raluca taught her mother how to pray. It was the best thing I've ever seen.

All of these people by the way, are in Feldiora, the little sot we work next to Brasov.  Speaking of which.... FELDIOARA IS GETTING THEIR OWN BUILDING!  It's insane.

When I first got to Feldioara, there were just maybe 10 people. Now we have to get a whole new building because we don't fit in the room we're renting out anymore!

Brasov is doing well too!! Yesterday was my favorite Sunday yet because Adriana, Ion and Beatris ALL CAME TO CHURCH. We waited for them in the foyer until church started, but they didn't show up. I was sitting in the chapel, near the door, when I saw the reflection of a green stroller in the window. I walked into the foyer, and sure enough, there they were :) Man. It was good.

They all really enjoyed church. And I have to say how grateful I am to this branch here. They are the most loving, and welcoming group of people. They made that family feel so welcome. 

Sora Bararra and I are feeling so blessed to be serving here at this time when missionary work is just booming. MY GOSH WE''RE SO BLESSED!

Sora Bararra is loving it all too. I love it because she doesn't know any different. She is definitely starting her mission out on the right foot :)

Thank you for all of your prayers! As you can see.... they're working.

I love you all so much!

xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxox

Sora Ralls