New Companions

This week we were able to help an older gentleman in his garden on two occasions. His name is Mihai and he's an investigator. Sora Lund and I went out there with our branch president and got to work. There were a lot of weeds around his plants, and the ground was all dried up and hard, so we got to attack the ground with hoes for a couple hours both days. Even though we were dying in the sun and had the hardest time telling the difference at time between long grass and the garlic that was hidden among it, it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of laughter going on between Sora Lund and I, so much that our branch president kept looking over at us to figure out what was so funny. Pretty much, we just like to be happy and laughing when we work. One of the best moments was when our branch president came over and took a picture of us working. He then said, "Never in my life did I think I would see two American girls working in an old man's garden in Romania. I have to take a picture or my mother won't believe me." We discovered yesterday that he actually did share those pictures with family. Apparently it's quite the sight.

                                                             (This is the garden we worked in)

I did something new this week. I sung in the park as a means of contacting. We were trying to advertise our English classes which start tomorrow so we were singing songs in English and handing out little English cards with information about our classes. We made signs that said "Want to understand what we're singing? Come to English!" And then we had the times written down. We had some good contacts that way. I also discovered that it's more awkward than it was in my head! Sora Lund put it well when she essentially said that she's come to find that most of missionary work includes awkward situations, but that's okay. Just embrace it and move forward. My lesson for the week--embrace the awkward.

We gained a new investigator this week. She was a referral. We were only able to meet with her once last week, but she came to church yesterday, and we're working on setting up a time to meet with her again. She really seems interested and has a copy of the Book of Mormon, so hopefully things will continue to progress. Also, did I mention we taught someone the stop smoking program last week? As of yesterday she hasn't smoked for three days! We'll be meeting with her again on Wednesday.

Yesterday, the second counselor in the mission presidency and his wife spoke in sacrament meeting. The counselor, Elder Henniger, said something that stuck out to me, mostly because it's something I'd been thinking about for a good portion of the week. Essentially the thought was this, "We become who we think we are," or "A man is as he thinketh," or to quote the Iron Giant, "You are who you choose to be." We've been told more than once that thoughts lead to actions. If we are constantly beating ourselves up in our minds or continually tell ourselves that we can't do something, it becomes true because we believe it. Remember that you are a child of God, that He has provided a way for you to return to Him and be with Him forever, that we can be forgiven of our sins. All this is true. Write those truths on your hearts and become the person He knows you can be. We do not change instantaneously. Change takes time, but Heavenly Father will mold us. Seek His guidance. He will never lead you astray.

Have a great week.

Sora Adams

                                                                       (Our lost sole was found!! ;-)    )

Festival

                                                         (Another "Lost Sole"?)  Ooo that was bad- That was Mom's joke!



Greetings from Sibiu! It is so beautiful here! The branch is great and very welcoming. Also, I am now serving with Sora Lund who is amazing. I love her already. Plus it helps that's she's just as much as a nerd as I am. 

Last week, I had to say goodbye to Timisoara and some pretty awesome people. On Tuesday night right before we were getting ready to leave, I got a call from a former investigator who still comes to a bunch of activities and such, she just doesn't take lessons. She wasn't able to come to FHE that night so she called so she could have a chance to say goodbye to me. I wasn't expecting it, and as I thought on it later I thought how sweet it was and how grateful I am for the time I had in Timisoara. It also occurred to me how small things really make a big difference. I think that many times we think that we don't do much at all or that we don't have an influence on people. Saying those goodbyes showed me that we aren't always aware of our impact. Those people definitely had an impact on me. I hope I had a positive impact on them. I can't think of the right words to express all the thoughts I had, but I'm learning that it really is through small and simple things that great things are brought to pass and the Lord uses weak things to perform great things. He can make us strong in our weakness. For that I am extremely grateful.

I can't remember if I've talked about this already. Hopefully not. Anyway, something else I've been thinking about is how Heavenly Father helps us to overcome those weakness and to achieve our goals. Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts. He wants to help us succeed, to become more like Him, and to return to Him. As we come to Him with our goals and concerns, He will help us to reach those goals. We need to strive to hear those promptings of the spirit. They are so easy to miss at times. But those quiet whisperings in your mind and heart is how He will guide you to become more of the person you want to be, the person He knows you can become. Change takes time. In general, we're not always patient people with others or with ourselves. Heavenly Father helps us change step by step Not all at once. 

Remember that with Heavenly Father and our Savior, you can conquer any trial, overcome any weakness. We don't have to go through life alone. They want to help us, and I have every confidence that with them and through the infinite sacrifice of our Savior we can live with them again with our families and have eternal happiness. When times are hard, remember to turn to your Father in Heaven. He will be your strength. Press forward. Keep the end goal in sight.

I hope you all have a great week!

Sora Adams

PS: They had a festival going on this week.  Look!  Pipers!!  The acrobats and everything were fun!

Hello friends and family!

Here are some things I thought of this week:

A thought I heard in a Mormon Message that comes from President Eyring: "Family teaches us how to love as He loves." I thought that was awesome. Families truly are a blessing from our Father in Heaven. The older I get, the more I'm convinced that families help us learn of Him and how to become like him.

There's a woman in our branch who has had cancer for pretty much her entire life. She was having a rough time this past week. We went to visit her, and we sang for her, which I think she enjoyed. She was having a hard time that day so we asked her if she would like a blessing. She responded in the affirmative, so we called the elders. When they came and they began to give her a blessing, the spirit entered the room so strongly. I don't feel like I can adequately describe it, but it was a huge testimony to me of the power and blessing of the priesthood. I'm so grateful that power and for the worthy priesthood holders in my life. It truly is a gift and power from God. I've seen it do miracles, and I am extremely grateful.

At another point in the week, I had the random thought come to mind of how we are never alone. Even when we are in far away places or away from family and friends, no matter the circumstances we always have our Heavenly Father and Savior with us. What a comforting knowledge that is. They are aware of us. They love us. I was talking to Sora Heim and I told her, "I know I say it all the time, but it's true. Without Christ we can't have Eternal Life. Without Christ, we can't be with our families forever. Without Christ, we cannot be forgiven of our sins." It really is true. He lives. He paid the price for us and paved the way to eternal happiness. Both our Heavenly Father and Savior want to be a part of our lives. We have to allow them to be.

We've started to have a Book of Mormon class after we teach English on Saturdays. People have been staying for that, so hopefully we can get some good contacts that way.

I hope everyone is doing well!

Love,

Sora Adams