Aug 11, 2014

Buna from Constanta!!

Let me start off by saying... I'm in paradise. Constanta is absolutely beautiful and the people even more so.

Our apartment here is on the beach. Can you believe that? We walk outside, turn the corner and BAM. Beach. This is the view from our apartment. I see this every morning as I study.It's so nice. And in the morning we just go downstairs to the boardwalk for work out.

This morning as we were studying, we thought we saw two dolphins  in the water. We've heard you can see dolphins from the widow sometimes. So, we ran down stairs to get a closer look. Sora Long took a picture and then zoomed  in... turns out they were just two people swimming.. :) but it was an exciting morning!

My companion, Sora Long is AMAZING. She is absolutely hilarious. Our district is fun too. We half the district is being trained right now, so everyone is full of lots of energy. It's awesome. Today we had mici at the church for pday.

The branch here is very small, the members are VERY powerful. I love all of them already.

Right now Sora Long and I working on gaining some new investigators. We've done so much contacting in my first few days here, and we've seen a lot of success already. We've already gained 2 new investigators! One of which we found because we were lost and asked her for directions. We had a great conversation with her as she led us to where we needed to go. We talked about the Book of Mormon and then left her one as a thank you gift :) We went over to her home the next day and had a lesson. She was so good to us! She made us cheese scones, and gave us cookies. 

We had another wonderful lesson with another woman, Aura. We taught her the plan of salvation on the beach near our apartment. It was so cool.

I just felt so blessed. Sitting there on the beach, listening to the waves, feeling so good. We have a good life. Aura is really sweet too. She is very orthodox but is open and willing to hear what we had to say. She said the prayer with her own words. I love hearing people try that for the first time. It's one of my favorite parts of my entire mission.

Leaving Brasov last week was rough, but I'm so happy to be here with these people. I'm also happy because President Ivory told me I can call my cute Brasov member sisters when I want to. They've been calling me too and I love it. I love knowing that even though I'm not in their area anymore, I'll always get to keep them as my friends.

Going to Buc was a lot of fun too. I loved seeing all the missionaries! On the train ride down, I got word that president Ivory wanted me to do another presentation, but this time it was for all the new incoming missionaries.It was SO much fun to be there with all of them. They are a really good group. And Sora Newell (another sister in the mission) and I got to take the only new sister (Sora Black) contacting on her first day in the country. It was so much fun. It started raining really hard though and the only people we could really contact were the people huddled under an awning  with us. haha

Things here are going so well, and I am loving it. Life is so good!

I love all of you so so so so much!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Sora Ralls

August 4, 2014

How do I sum up this week?

It's definitely been amazing, and full of surprises. 

I loved serving with Sora Stewart this week. We were in Brasov from Wednesday to Friday while Sora Honey stayed in Bucharest doing visa work. All went well with her visa by the way! After a long struggle she finally is legal!!  Sora Stewart is going home on Wednesday morning! I can hardly believe it. I am so glad we get to be roommates back up at school this winter :) 

So transfer board came out on Saturday... and it finally happened... they transferred me out of Brasov. When I saw the board I was just in shock. President was so sure just a couple weeks ago that he was going to keep me in Brasov. But he did also say that he needed to fast and pray about it before making a final decision.. I guess revelation told him otherwise.

So now it looks like I'm heading  South East! On Wednesday I leave for Constanta. It's right on the Black Sea. Our Apartment is literally on the beach:) I'll be second transfer training 22 year old Sora Long from Utah. I am looking forward to serving with her. :)

Oh man!! You know what though. When Sora Stewart was staying with me here in Brasov, I woke her up in the middleof the night because I was talking in my sleep. She woke me up and I just told her "Sorry I was dreaming I was contacting in Constanta."  We just laughed it off. I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD BE SERVING THERE THE NEXT WEEK!

I don't know a lot about Constanta other than the branch is amazing and the city is beautiful. I did meet some of the members a few months ago when all the members and missionaries were in Bucarest for district conference. One little 14 year old girl I met (I forgot her name!) Told me she was going to pray that I get sent to Constanta... and I guess she had great faith because it worked!

Sunday was hard. It was hard saying goodbye to everyone. I can't believe how much I've come to love these people in such a short amount of time. I was doing okay with my goodbyes until a few of the branch members started tearing up. Then I lost it just a little.

As we were leaving the church though, I really just felt this calm and comfortable feeling of knowing I have done all I could for Brasov. I did the best I could here. I gave everything I could. I am just so grateful I got to serve here.

As hard as it is to go, I know there are new challenges to meet and people to love in Constanta. 

Oh! Our branch president there has a"I"m a Mormon " video. :) http://suntmormon.ro/mormoni-din-romania/ He's the last one- Alin.

We head to Bucharest on Wednesday Morning, and I'll stay the night because we have the trainers meeting early Thursday morning.

Next time I write I'll be in my new city!

I love you all so so so so much! You've all been amazing examples to me. You're always in my prayers!!

xoxoxoxoxox

Sora Ralls

ps- Today we went to Strada Sforii. One of the narrowest streets in Europe!

July 28, 2014

Buna from the classy internet cafe in Buc-

I don't really know even where to begin... It's been a good week and a crazy week!

On Thursday we got a call from the office elders letting us know that Sora Honey's visa had been approved and that she needed to go back to Moldova to pick it up. We were gearing up to go, and we get a call from President Ivory. We talked about how the work was going in Brasov, and then he suggested that rather than staying in Bucharest, I bring Sora Hebden to Brasov with me so that we could "avoid losing momentum ".

So, On Saturday, after  English class we jumped on the 3 hour train to Buc. Our train arrived in Buc at 6:40 and Sora Hebden and I had a train back at 6:45... So we booked it all through the train station, met up with the sisters, and jumped on the train back. I still can't believe we made it!

Serving in Brasov with Sora Hebden was so much fun. I am so glad President suggested that she come up there because we got SO much done.

It was a really cool experience to serve that short time with Sora Hebden. During our first lesson we taught together I just kept thinking back to the MTC, when Sora Hebden and I struggled so much just to speak the language and didn't understand 1/4th of what our teachers/ "investigators" were saying to us. But 1 year, and 3 months later, there we were again... teaching for real, and actually understanding. I loved it!

The Bairs were also so good to us while we were there in Brasov together. They made it their personal responsibility to make sure Sora Hebden got to see all the good stuff there is to see in Brasov.  They even made us dinner :)

We were planning on being back in Brasov by now, but last night we got a phone call as Sora Hebden and I were on the train to Bucharest. It was Sora Honey and Sora Sayre letting us know that Sora Honey found out she has more visa work to do here in Bucharest on Wednesday. We were surprised

So now, the plan is... I'm taking Sora Stewart back with me tonight to Brasov, while Sora Honey does her visa work here with Sora Bastitas. It's been  insane! But I am so glad We have flexible missionaries and a President who's willing to let this happen :) Brasov is kind of on a roll lately, and we've got lots to do!

We got a couple new investigators this week by the way! One of them is Carla. We met her on the bus. She is very open and told us "I think you have just the right message". We had our first lesson with her in the city square over oreo milkshakes.  It went really well. She agreed to come to church, but something came up. We'll be meeting with her later this week.

Transfer board is coming out on Saturday! I can hardly believe I've been in Brasov for 5. We'll see what happens on Saturday!

Sorry this email is so short! We've got a few things we need to do before we head back to Brasov this evening.

I love you all so much! So so much

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Sora Ralls

July 21, 2014

Buna!

I can't believe it's only been a week since I last wrote home!

So Sora Hebden and I spent a couple more days together in Buc which was amazing. It was so cool just to have that time together to talk about all we’ve learned since we were in the MTC together. On my last night there  we ended up staying up a little later than we should just pillow talking. That morning  I prayed and I asked for help staying awake for the zone conference that day.  Well, let me tell you. I wasn’t tired for a second... this is why- The assistants came over at  about 5:45 that morning to pick us up, then  take us to President Ivory’s then to Brasov. We’d been in the car for a while and just talking about nothing, and then assistants looked back and said „” Oh, Sora Ralls, by the way, you’ve won yourself a presentation at zone conference.” I laughed.. Because in all honesty, I thought it was a joke. But then they explained that  the night before President wanted to change things up a little and switch the presenters a bit.  Okay so that woke me up.

When we got the the mission home, we met the Ivorys for the first time! They are hilarious. They are your typical American family. All of their children were there, but only one Ellis, who’s 11 will be staying with them.

The first thing President Ivory said to me was „”Did the assistants tell you about your presentation today?” I said ”yes.” He said ”Good, I”m going to have them record it so I can show it to other missionaries”.  I couldn't help thinking "...who the heck doesn President Ivory think I am?" And then we got into his range rover and drove back to Brasov with President Ivory, Sister Ivory, and their oldest daughter Abby.

With not much prep time, I really had to rely on the spirit. I asked Sora Honey to go back into one of the classrooms with me when we arrived in Brasov to say a quick prayer.  The spirit took care of it all. The presentation went better than I could’ve done on my own, even with loads of prep time.

And I want you all to know PRESIDENT IVORY IS AMAZING. He is on fire. He is a champion. AND he speaks Romanian.  He seriously makes  us feel like we can take on the world.

My interview with him was awesome. He is really intense, and when we sat down in the interview room, he looked me right in the eyes and asked,  ”What do you have to say to me?” The intensity of it made me want to confess things I’ve never done. But seriously, he is so cool. He told me that that I remind him so much of himself when he was a missionary.. which made me really happy to hear .

So bottom like, President Ivory is super cool.

 We’re changing things up in the mission a little too. So before most of our time was spent looking for new investigators and teaching them, but now it’s divided into 3 equal parts. 2- Finding and teaching. 2-Working with less actives and 3- Strengthening members  and preparing them for the next ordinance.  It all makes so much sense! Some of the sisters and Sora Honey and I were all talking about it, and we feel like what we did with President Hill is build a strong foundation. Many of us found many investigators and introduced the gospel to many. Now that we’ve got that foundation, we’re going to go out and focus on teaching. Solid.

This week we’ve begun trying to organize our plans in that way. It’s been fun to talk to some of the members about the temple and the importance of the temple covenants .. It really makes me excited to go back to the temple when I get home... how we miss it!

So some other exciting news, a giant  fish jumped out of its tank and right at us at the super market. We had to jump to get out of the way and we got fish water on us. I love this place.

Thank you so much for all your support, and prayers! Remember remember you're always in mine!

xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxo

Sora Ralls

July 14, 2014

Buna Buna!

Sorry I'm sending a late letter again! We just got out of a lesson with Carmen. Oh my gosh, let me tell you everyone, she is amazing.

We brought Cristina Mesco with us (also amazing) and Cristina just stayed there after we left because they're THAT good of friends already. Between Carmen, Adriana and Cristina, Brasov is gearing up for a VERY powerful relief society. All of them have very young families too.

So things are going well! 

Yesterday we had a really amazing lesson too. We drove out to Rotbov with the Bairs to meet with the Pavel family. They have a couple babies in the family  who were getting baptized in the Orthodox church the next day, so they had a lot of visitors staying with them. One of the visitors actually came in during the lesson and stayed for the whole thing. This visitor's name is Elena (of course). Well, Elena has muscular dystrophy and is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.  She wanted to know more, so we just had a restoration lesson right then and there. She soaked it all up, accepted a Book of Mormon and promised to read and pray about it.

The only problem with all this is- She lives in Sighisoara which is about 100 and some kilometers away from us. The Bairs said they would love to take us out there any time to teach her, so hopefully we'll get permission to do that soon. She gave us her phone number, address and everything. We just need to talk to President about it all before we head out. Speaking of the Presient, we've heard President Ivory is just awesome. We haven't met him personally yet , but everyone keeps talking about all the energy and drive he has. He also is making some pretty dramatic changes in how the mission is run. We'll be meeting him next week for Zone Training in Sibiu next Tuesday. Oh, and get this. He wants to go on a hike with our district on Wednesday. Cool huh? :)

So Sora Honey's criminal record came in this week! So we're off to Moldova for a few days.  We're leaving right after zone training. We've heard some pretty crazy stories about the Moldova over night trains... we're excited to experience it for ourselves. Aparently controllers come in at like 3 or 4 in the morning, wake you up and check your passports and information and sometimes will go though all your bags. Coooooool. :) Hopefully all goes well with her visa over there. The office elders made it sound like it will be pretty easy, so that's good. 

We've been talking with the Bairs about serve projects we can start doing over here, and specifically in Feldiora. Sora Bair is suggesting some kind of basic health classes we can teach at the chapel over there.  So hopefully we'll get rolling with that soon!

It's been yet another great week! And they keep getting greater.

I love you all so much! You're always in my prayers!

xoxoxoxoxxo

Sora Ralls

July 7, 2014

Buna Buna!

Sorry I'm sending a late letter again! We just got out of a lesson with Carmen. Oh my gosh, let me tell you everyone, she is amazing.

We brought Cristina Mesco with us (also amazing) and Cristina just stayed there after we left because they're THAT good of friends already. Between Carmen, Adriana and Cristina, Brasov is gearing up for a VERY powerful relief society. All of them have very young families too.

So things are going well! 

Yesterday we had a really amazing lesson too. We drove out to Rotbov with the Bairs to meet with the Pavel family. They have a couple babies in the family  who were getting baptized in the Orthodox church the next day, so they had a lot of visitors staying with them. One of the visitors actually came in during the lesson and stayed for the whole thing. This visitor's name is Elena (of course). Well, Elena has muscular dystrophy and is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.  She wanted to know more, so we just had a restoration lesson right then and there. She soaked it all up, accepted a Book of Mormon and promised to read and pray about it.

The only problem with all this is- She lives in Sighisoara which is about 100 and some kilometers away from us. The Bairs said they would love to take us out there any time to teach her, so hopefully we'll get permission to do that soon. She gave us her phone number, address and everything. We just need to talk to President about it all before we head out. Speaking of the Presient, we've heard President Ivory is just awesome. We haven't met him personally yet , but everyone keeps talking about all the energy and drive he has. He also is making some pretty dramatic changes in how the mission is run. We'll be meeting him next week for Zone Training in Sibiu next Tuesday. Oh, and get this. He wants to go on a hike with our district on Wednesday. Cool huh? :)

So Sora Honey's criminal record came in this week! So we're off to Moldova for a few days.  We're leaving right after zone training. We've heard some pretty crazy stories about the Moldova over night trains... we're excited to experience it for ourselves. Aparently controllers come in at like 3 or 4 in the morning, wake you up and check your passports and information and sometimes will go though all your bags. Coooooool. :) Hopefully all goes well with her visa over there. The office elders made it sound like it will be pretty easy, so that's good. 

We've been talking with the Bairs about serve projects we can start doing over here, and specifically in Feldiora. Sora Bair is suggesting some kind of basic health classes we can teach at the chapel over there.  So hopefully we'll get rolling with that soon!

It's been yet another great week! And they keep getting greater.

I love you all so much! You're always in my prayers!

xoxoxoxoxxo

Sora Ralls

June 30,2014

Salut!

So big news first! We're going to have a baptism on JULY 12th! Carmen is getting baptized! 

On our second lesson with her, we committed her to the date. She said she needed to pray about it and everything to get confirmation for herself (perfect). We called her the next day to see how it went and to set up another appointment. When we asked if felt like she'd received an answer she said "we'll talk about it when you come". We were nervous a little bit.

We came over the next day, and we brought the new senior couple (the Bairs) with us. Carmen then told us "I prayed, and I counseled. I'm prepared". Ahhh we were so happy. SO happy. Carmen is amazing.One of the most amazing parts of all this is that her father is a member, and he is going to baptize her! He is so excited. Everyone is excited. It's just a good time!

We also had a lesson with the Filip boys this week that was really wonderful. We brought the Bairs with us this time, and they were so well behaved... We talked about the Holy Ghost and how he speaks to us. We did an activity at the end where we set up a course and we blind folded one of them, and then we had another boy whisper to the ear of the blind folded one and guide him though the course. It went surprisingly well.... until the end. Then they just started running each other into the walls.

The new couple, the Bairs are amazing. They spoil us rotten over here. They made us all a wonderful Sunday dinner last night, with homemade bread and everything. We did our language study yesterday at the Bairs home. They just joined in while Sora Honey and I reviewed past and future indicators and conjugation. Oh man, they are actually pretty good with the language. And I have to say, Sora Honey has been doing amazing this week with the language. She even gave a talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday!  She's amazing.

We have a new mission president now! We are now under the leadership of President Ivory. We're excited. Man we're going to miss the Hills, but we're excited. We'll be meeting him soon too, it looks like. Within the next few weeks probably. The Bairs told us the Ivory's are almost fluent in Romanian already... crazy right? They already speak Italian, and they've been meeting with a private tutor very often. We keep hearing "President Ivory is a fireball" from everyone who met him already. It sure sounds like it!

Tomorrow we're going to Peles Castle! That's also part of the reason we're emailing so late. We had to split our p day in 2 halfs in order to make it work. We are going with the Ploisti district which means I get to see Sora Barrerra and her trainee (my "granddaughter"!)

Well, here's to another busy, wonderful week!

I love you all! Thank you for being amazing :)  You're always in my prayers!

xxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

Sora Ralls