SIX MONTHS!!
Oh my goodness gracious, what a week!!! It is crazy how my days and weeks continue to get more and more crazy, busy, and full!
First off let me just say, I LOVE MY COMPANION!!! Oh my goodness I have been so spoiled in my mission thus far! The fact that I have been able to be in the same area my whole mission so far. . Lucky. I have had three amazing companions who are patient, understanding, and each have amazing testimonies that I have learned so much from . . .Lucky! The members of the Cluj branch are some of my most favorite people in this entire world and they treat me like family. . .Lucky! I have 2 amazing and solid people on baptismal date who have crazy strong testimonies and teach me just as much as I teach them. . . . . .Lucky!! Those that know me know I usually have the worst luck but oh my goodness!! I have been so blessed! And back to my current companion, we are laughing all the time!! (also for those that know me you know I love to laugh!)
One thing that has been pretty hard for me on the mission so far has been the fact that I can not talk and interact with people the way I want to because of the language barrier! It has been so hard because I just want to ask them how they are doing, how is work, how is their family, how is life, but with how my language is right now, even if I did ask those questions I would not be able to understand the reply and respond with an answer based on their reply. The reason why I am sharing this is because my companion has that same desire to converse and get to know the people we are teaching! So I get to live through her and it makes me so happy! She has only been here in Cluj for a week and she already has such a love for everyone we meet and that just makes me soooo happy!! So happy because I love the people of Cluj with my whole heart and I know that once I leave they will be in great hands! After every lesson Sora Doru talks about how she loves the person we just taught so much and that just makes my heart burst!! SOO HAPPY!! haha
On Tuesday of this week we had one thing planned for the day and it ended up turning out totally different than what we had planned! We were going to go teach one of the Ukraine refugees English but her kids ended up being sick. Coincidently, one of our members who lives in Baia Mare called us before lunch letting us know that she was in town for the day and wanted to meet. Because of our cancelled plans we ended up having enough time to meet Sora Faka'osiliea for lunch. She was so sweet and bought lunch for us and then told us that she had a few more hours in Cluj before she had to leave and she wanted to spend some time with us and do missionary work with us! About 13 years ago I think she said, she served a mission in the Phillipines and she misses her mission so much so she was so happy to be able to spend some time with us! It made me so happy because her and her family also live 2.5 hours away from the nearest church so her family of 8 (6 kids) always join over zoom. My heart always aches for them not being able to be closer to church and for the kids not being able to grow up around other kids of the same faith, but their testimonies are still so strong!! They are a huge inspiration to me!
On Wednesday, we had a lesson with Mihai and it went so well!! He also lives two-ish hours away from the nearest church and his faith to still take lessons and learn more about God's plan for him is so inspiring to me!! Even though I could not understand everything, it made me so happy that Sora Doru was able to have such a natural and engaging conversation with him and he just opened up so much! We talked with him about how he really needs to make coming to church a priority in his life and that he will be blessed for his sacrifice. This Sunday he made the 2 hour trip to church!! SO HAPPY!
This Sunday was also such an amazing day for Maria!! SHE IS SO AMAZING! She was having a little harder day today, satan was definitely trying to ruin things, but she was so strong! Her faith amazes me and her love for the branch and all the members in it is so beautiful! Sunday, in a lesson that we had with her right after church, we talked about missionary work and how you don't have to be called as a missionary to do missionary work. She then shared with us that this morning when she told her taxi driver the address of the church, he started saying all these bad things about "mormons" and the different theories people have about our church and she said, "No, you are wrong, these people are amazing, they have been nothing but kind and helpful to me. Instead of spreading rumors, you should come to church and see for yourself how they are." She also talked about how she thinks that the members of the church (including herself in this statement) should be doing more to share the gospel with those around them. She pretty much was preaching about the importance of member missionary work! ahhh Her testimony is so strong and she is just so cool and I am so excited for April 2nd when she will get baptized!! She is going to be such a strength to the Cluj Branch and also to the people of Cluj!! I am so lucky and blessed that I have been able to work with her!
Also, this Saturday we got to spend some time with the Lepure family who I just absolutely love and that was so much fun! We played soccer and also just enjoyed the beautiful spring weather on Saturday!
DOUBLE ALSO, we had a lesson this week with our little friends from Zagar and have made plans to go visit those girls and their families again this coming Saturday! I am so excited!
Anyways. . . This week has been crazy and I'm sure there are many other things I didn't even cover in this letter! There have been too many great experiences this week to remember/write them all down! I am just continuously grateful for the abundance of blessings I continue to receive here on my mission!
I love you all sooo much! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! I hope you are able to have a very happy week and remember to put Christ in the center of your day every single day! I know that by keeping your focus on Him, you will be able to see the good in others, the good in yourself, and the good in this amazing life that we have here on earth!!
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