September 23, 2013

Buna Buna!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!! I think I actually do have the best family and friends in the world. My birthday here was seriously, awesome. The entire morning was just filled with phone calls from missionaries I've served around, and others who sang "La Mults Ani" to Sora Stewart and me. That song's been stuck in our head since. Then we did some chalk contacting with some of our district.  I love chalk contacting so much. It's the best because people are so curious as to what we're drawing so they come to US.  Later that evening we got permission from President Hill to go out to dinner with our district. The Assistants also came because they were on an exchange with the Zone leaders. It was a party! The elders also gave me "The Birthday Tie". It was honor because I'm the only sister to ever receive it. I even got to add my name to the back of it and everything. I'll add the picture:)  I'm going to have to figure out a creative way to wear it I guess....

This week we also got to move into our NEW APARTMENT! no more falling ceiling, no more roaches, no more sparky outlets... score. We're loving it. It's a super nice apartment too. Everything is brand new! We're loving it.

Hey, I remembered to bring my notes from Elder Powell's talk at district conference on the Book of Mormon! So basically his talk was on the truthfulness of of the Book of Mormon. He talked about some studies that had been done to prove it was a fares, but how each one of these studies ended up proving it was more true than false. He shared some interesting things that I'd never realized or even knew before, and now I'll share them with you!

-Okay- So he pulled out some specific verses like 1 Nephi 2:4.  "And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness" the word "and" is used more than 10 times in this verse. Which was a common in Hebrew.

-In 1 Nephi 2:6, The verse mentions a "river of water"  Why river of water? Because they had dry, waterless rivers in Israel. They called those types of rivers.... Wadus or something like that. Joseph Smith... he probably had no idea.

-Alma 2:34 

"And thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain into the waters of Sidon, that thereby his people might have room to cross and contend with the Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon."- Elder Powell pointed out that the words "or rather" were used here to correct a mistake in writing by Alma. You can't really erase what you've written on plates so you correct your self with terms like "or  rather" If it was Joseph Smith writing this book, he could have just erased this mistake, and started over more easily.

Okay so those were just a few of the many many many awesome neat things he shared with us:)

I'm running out of time and I still have to email, President Hill so I better run! I love you all so much! Thank you so much for everything you do! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

Sora Ralls

September 16, 2013

Buna Buna!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes!! That was so great to see:) 

This week has been seriously awesome. We've done a lot of traveling this week and it's been so neat. First, on Tuesday we went back to Timisoara for Zone training. That was pretty fun. But we had to leave a little early because we had a lesson back in Arad. 

Then just yesterday we got to go up to Oradea for the Romanian district conference! Oradea was SO beautiful. That place is more Hungarian than it is Romanian. Everything was so gorgeous. And clean. And classy.  The conference was seriously amazing. It covered Cluj, Oradea, Arad,and  Timisora . We went down for the Saturday session on Saturday night, and stayed through Sunday Afternoon. 

During the Saturday afternoon session Elder Powell (one of the Senior missionaries here) gave like the neatest talk about the Book of Mormon. I meant to bring the notes I took so I could share them with you in this email, but I forgot them:( I'll bring 'em next time though. He shared some really neat things about the Book of Mormon that never even occurred to  me before. (this is your teaser for next weeks letter) :) But seriously, the conference was amazing and Oradea was beautiful. I also got to see Sora DeRuvo and Sora Hebden again! I loved it.

So this week we finally FINALLY got a hold of one of our potential investigators, Tamara. When we called she told us she was in the hospital. So, we asked if we could visit here there. She said yes, so we went to the hospital. We couldn't find her, so we called her again, but unfortunately neither Sora Stewart or I could understand what she was saying ... Romanian is hard enough to understand in person. So we just hung up and told her we'd call her back. Then we just panicked for a minute. Okay, so then immediately this guy turns the corner of the hospital. And he spoke English! He agreed to talk to her for us and then he explained where she was. Turns out she was in a tiny sub woman's hospital on the other side of town. So finally, we get there. She's in a room with 5 other patients and her friend. Tamara was so happy to see us! And so were the other women in the hospital! We were actually able to teach all of them. It was amazing. All of them wanted a Book of Mormon at the end. We only brought two, so we had to go back the next day with more. We're going back to the hospital tomorrow. Being a missionary is awesome.

Other than that and a couple lessons with Anca,and the Costros we've just done a lot of contacting. Contacting, contacting, contacting. We've actually had a lot of success with our English contacting this week. A lot of people told us they'd be there. We're hoping for a much bigger english class this   transfer! Things are lookin gooooood!

I love you all so so so so much! Have a wonderful week!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Sora Ralls

September 9, 2013

Buna Buna!

Alrrriiighht so I'm officially no longer a greeny! I'm a full fledged missionary now. 

On Tuesday we took a night train to Bucharest. My gosh those things are so crazy. There were no more first class rooms left so we had to share with the Elders again. That's a fun time. We just ate bananas and Milka bars and played Taboo. 

We got to Buch at 5:30 Wednesday morning. My gosh that was Such a looooonggg day.  But it's always so much fun to be there and see all the other missionaries who've come down for transfers. I met my new lovely companion, Sora Stewart. She's from Las Vegas and she's super funny. She actually kind of reminds me of Kiley a little bit. She laughs just like her too! Saying good bye to Sora DeRuvo was super hard. My gosh, I love her so much. I was blessed with seriously, the perfect trainer. Our train that night left at 12:00 midnight. 

So, Thursday afternoon we met with 2 of the members of the branch. Sora Florita fed us lunch, and for the first time her husband was home and willing to talk with us. He's not a member. He really actually probably said like 5 words to us total. But he said he would come to church this Sunday! 

Then we met with Cristina. Cristina is the one we have mission prep classes with. She leaves for her mission to France in about month and a half.

Friday and Saturday were pretty much all contacting. We actually ran into a lady we contacted a few weeks earlier when I was on an exchange with one of the Coordinating sisters.. She welcomed us so warmly to sit with her. We talked with her for about 20 minutes before she had to leave. She invited us to come talk to her again this Thursday.

Hey, hopefully next week we'll be able to move into our new apartment! it's almost finished actually! It's so great. Sora DeRuvo and I actually got to pick out the colors of the walls. We're super excited to move in! We need to move in soon too. The ceiling in our bathroom is starting to fall down on us. haha:)

Sora Stewart and I are super excited for this next week. We've been able to get a hold of some of our potential investigators we haven't been able to talk to in a long time. We have pretty much our entire week already planned filled with appointments!  

If anyone of you hasn't read the talk "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit" . (A BYU devotional) I highl, highly suggest you read it this week! I've read it a few times already this week. I can't get over how great it is.  

I love  you all so much! Thank you so much for all your prayers and support!

Love love love,

Sora Ralls

August 13, 2013

More pictures....

August 13, 2013

Buna Buna!

I have just a short time to write today! We are going to look at some apartments that we might be moving into in just a little while.  And I am sorry I couldn't write yesterday! We've been pretty busy around here.  Yesterday President and Sora Hill were in town and we had interviews. Afterwards they took out our entire district to dinner. We went to a place called "Restaurant Ratio" It was so good. Since we're so close to Hungary, you can get a lot of Hungarian dishes here. This restaurant makes the BEST Goolash (Spelling?). 

So this week we had exchanges again with the coordinating sisters. Exchanges are so much fun. I went with Sora Stapely and she's from Mountain Green, Utah so pretty close to home!  We did a lot of contacting that day as well as have a lesson with a less active member. 

This week we also went to go visit a member of the branch who is in the hospital. She suffered what they think is a heat stroke. She is home now, so we're happy about that. The hospitals here are... so not what they're like in the US. There were 6 people with Sora Crista in her hospital room. They didn't even have curtain to separate them. The halls didn't have lights and the walls were starting to crumble down. There was no type of front desks or security and people can just walk in and out of where ever they want. I have never appreciated United States health care more than I do now.

As far as lessons go, the lesson we had with the less active member was our only one this week. We were dropped by a couple investigators this week so that's kind of sad. We still have Isabela but she is kind of taking a break from us right now while she tries to work some things out. We are still trying to keep in touch with her and hopefully she'll let us know when we can come back and talk to her and teach her more.

So that's the more gloomy part of the week, but HERE is the good stuff. Since we've had a little bit more time this week without our lessons, we've had more time to do contacting. We've been able to teach the first lesson multiple times in the park with people. And now we have a couple new investigators as well as a bunch of new potential investigators.

Just today we were contacting in a park, and we passed this lady who was eating on a park bench. I felt like we needed to talk to her so strongly. Sora DeRuvo suggested we wait until she's done eating before we talk to her because Romanians do not like it when you interrupt their eating. So we sat on  a bench were we could keep an eye on her ( my gosh, missionaries = Creeps sometimes!). But as soon as she finished we  nonchalantly walked passed her again and explained to her we're missionaries and that we'd like to share a message with her. At first she was stand offish but after a few minutes she invited us to sit down and talk with her. As we talked she became more and more open with us. She was all covered in dust and in work clothes and she explained to us that she was on a break from work. GET THIS- She works on old building to restore them! Okay  cool. She does restoration... Yes. Let's talk about a restoration! As we talked she listened so intently and when we gave her a Book of Mormon she was so happy and grateful. She asked us for our phone number and then she asked if we had missionaries in Bucharest because she lives there some of the time, then she asked for THEIR number too. We gave her ours and theirs and then we got hers. Solid. Botez. This is why we love contacting. There are so many people who are so ready to at least begin to understand this Gospel.

So that is this week!
Now we're off to look at apartments!

I love you all so much! Thank you for your prayers. You're in mine as well!

Love,
Sora Ralls

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

July 22nd, 2013

Buna!

Transfer one is over! I can't believe it. I've completed an entire transfer already! Time goes by so fast on a mission. And guess who's going to Bucharest tomorrow! Our entire district. We're taking the over night train again, but this time we get our  own sleeper car! The elders are going down because Elder Adams is getting transferred. We are so sad! We have such a small and close district. Sora DeRuvo and I are not sure why they are having the two of us go down to Buc, but they asked us to. We figure it's probably for visa stuff. We leave her tomorrow night, arrive in Buc on Wednesday morning, and then get back on the train to come back Wednesday night. Everyone loves going to Bucharest on transfer week because you get to be with so many other missionaries!

I am so glad I'm not being transferred and I am SO glad Sora DeRuvo isn't being transferred. I really could not ask for a better companion or trainer. We just laugh all day long.

This week we were able to meet with a member of the branch, Sora Lydia. Oh, it is so funny here because almost everyone goes by Fratele or Sora and then their first name. I love it. But anyways, we met with Sora Lydia and she made us these amazing crepes with more of that perfectly divine Romanian chocolate cream and whipped cream. I love the members here more than I can describe! This branch is like one big family.

We also were able to teach Isabella the plan of Salvation. She loved it so so so much. Everything just seemed to make sense to her. Even things that are usually difficult here for people to understand. When we talk about the fall of Adam, people usually have a hard time understanding that the fall was necessary. But when we explained it to Isabella she just soaked it in and put it all together so well. When we began talking about eternal families, she couldn't stop crying. She has been through so much. Her family is the most important thing to her, and it shows. They live in  a tiny, tiny apartment with only one small room and a tiny kitchen on the side. They don't even have a bathroom in their apartment. But they are the happiest, most polite family. Her 5 children are always so happy and they are SO smart, and well behaved.

We also had our first experience at a Romanian Doctors office this week! Sora DeRuvo has had a little bit of a difficult time breathing. Nothing too too bad, but  she was sick a couple months ago, and her lungs haven't fully recovered. Sora Hill suggested we go to the clinic, so we did. It was nice, but kind of how I imagine a doctors office in the 70's to be. The Doctor was kind though, and gave her some herbal remedies to help her breath. She seems to be doing better too!
Now for my favorite story of the week! This was... Tuesday I think. Sora DeRuvo were on our way to teach our English class. The Tram was so full that day, and people were all squished together. This woman sat right next to me. She had the kindest, most tender face and smile. She looked right over at my face and smiled to me more than once. I wanted to talk to her so badly. I kept searching in my mind for something I could say to her. I wanted to say something... ANYTHING! But I couldn't formulate any kind of sentence that I would be able to say. So I was just going to hand her the Book of Mormon in my hand, but as I looked through it, our phone number, nor the church address had been stamped in it. So, regretfully, we just got off at our stop without saying a word. That night I felt so terrible. I kept wishing all day that I had talked to her. I felt that I should've, and didn't take the opportunity. That night I prayed and apologized to Heavenly Father and promised Him, that if he would bring us to her again I wouldn't let her get away with out talking to her. The next day, we were returning from teaching a lesson and were waiting for the tram to come.... and guess who we saw!! That same lady from the day before! Not only did she look at us too, but she waved to us. A big, happy, excited wave. She was waiting on the opposite side of the station. We ran over to her. A few seconds later the tram came, so we jumped on the tram with her, (going the opposite direction we intended) and immediately told her that we were missionaries and we wanted to talk with her and meet with her. She agreed and gave us all her information! Her name is Argentina, and she has 7 children. We are SO excited to meet with her. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father allows us second chances!

And Finally, I would like to mention that every other person here is named Mihai. I've never heard this name in my whole life until now, and everyone has it! There is one less active/ part member family we teach. The Dad's name is Mihai, the mom's name is Mihaiella, and their son's name is Mihai as well. I love it!

I love you all so much!  I hope everyone is so well! Thank you for your letters, love, and support!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Sora Ralls

July 15th 2013

Buna Ziiiiiiua!

Remember last week when we had like, NO success with anything or anyone?  Would you believe me if I told you this week was nothing BUT success? It was amazing! Where to even start? Last week I wrote just a little bit about a woman who came to church on Sunday and wanted us to teach her family. We taught her family on Tuesday. They are the most adorable little Romanian family! They live in a small apartment with a room and a small kitchen.  There's the mother, Isabella, and she has 5 children ranging from 19 years to 3 years. Her husband left a long time ago. We taught them the first lesson, and they just loved it. They especially loved attending church. She said it's only place that's she's gone that she feels people are actually live what they preach. I have to say that the members here are the warmest, most welcoming people to investigators. They instantly just take them in and love them as if they've always been there.

We also went back and taught Claudia this week. We watched the Restoration movie with them and talked a little more about that because we realized there were a few gaps in her understanding of it.  She loved it.  It was such a powerful lesson, and at the end of the meeting we asked her son Alberto to pray. He used the "Our Father" memorized prayer first, but then we invited him to do it with his own words and he did.  It was such a perfect prayer! He Thanked the Lord for his home, for the missionaries, for his family and for his home. It was so tender it brought Claudia to tears. This week Claudia also called to tell us she'd started reading the Book of Mormon. Something we've been inviting her to do for Weeeeeeks. and She did!

Okay and here's another one! 3 weeks ago, we met a lady on the tram. She was only about 3 feet tall and was carrying some large heavy bags. We helped her on off the tram. I was holding a Book of Mormon at the time, and she asked us about it. We explained a little and then we offered the Book to her. She took it, but called us the next day to tell us she wouldn't be able to meet with us ever really. 

 But yesterday, about halfway through sacrament meeting, she walked in!!!  Sora DeRuvo just looked at me in absolute shock.  We had no clue she would come! She found the church address and time stamped in the Book of Mormon we gave her and came just out of curiosity. We met with her for a little time after Sacrament and she had so so so many questions. She's orthodox but has been attending other churches as well. Now she is willing to meet with us and take the lessons. She is amazing!
This week we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of The Romania/Moldova mission! We watched the fireside that took place in Bucharest via internet with some of the members here in the branch. I attached a picture:)

I love you all so much! Thank you for all your love and support!