Just Call Me Sister Training Leader!

Exciting news!  

Transfer boards are out and . . . . . . . 

I have been assigned to be a Sister Training leader in the beautiful city of Iași!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO EXCITED!  STL's (Sister Training Leaders) are responsible for traveling to the different cities in their assigned zone (I'm in the Iași zone) and going on exchanges (which is where we switch companions for a day) with the sisters, and ask them how everything is going and offer our help if needed.

In the Iași zone I get the opportunity to go into the country of MOLDOVA for my exchanges!  I get to travel to Bacău, Galați, Orhei and Chișinău!  Better brush up on my Russian!

THIS WEEK:

This week was very very busy.  We have tons of investigators that we are working with and we have several that are progressing and it has been such an incredible experience! Two of our very best investigators, Tatiana and Ecaterina moved out of the country so we transferred their records on to their new countries.  It was so sad to see them go but we are so grateful for the opportunity that we had to teach them!  Sora Peterson and I have also been working with a lot of less active members and we have really placed an emphasis on building up the ward.  It has been such an incredible transfer of WORK!

MIRACLE:

Sora Peterson and I have been really praying to find someone new to teach, someone who was really interested in our message.  On Tuesday while teaching English, this woman walks into the church so we start talking to her.  Her husband's sister is LDS and served a mission in TEMPLE SQUARE.  Yup.  So we ask her is she is LDS. The woman, Lilliana, says, "I'm not LDS YET".  UMMMMMMMMMM SCORE.  She wants to meet with us!  And her family wants to met with us too!!!!!

GOODBYES:

We all bade farewell to Elder Stinson who is "dying" tomorrow.  "Dying" means a missionary is going home after their mission.  He also turned 23 this last week and he didn't want to have a birthday party, so we threw him a "funeral service" instead!  The Alston's took us out for dinner one night and we got to say goodbye to Stinson.  We also made sure to take some very appropriately district photos of his "funeral". Hahaha.  I have attached one below.  

I also had to say bye to some of my best friends in the mission.  I had to say goodbye to the lovely three girls, Edina, Damaris and Elida who have left such a strong impression on my heart that I will never be able to forget them.  I also said goodbye to Andreea, who is a young woman with the most loving and happy personality.  These girls will always be my Romanian sisters and the love that I have for them is more incredible than I ever could have imagined.  

Yesterday was my last day of church in Timișoara and it was bittersweet.  I love the little branch here in Timi and the ward members made me feel so loved when I came into the country.  I had the opportunity to bear my testimony because I was leaving and it was so hard to do.  I have never felt the presence of the Holy Ghost that strongly on my mission before.  Being there in that little Villa surrounded by 11 Romanians, 11 incredibly faithful and loving Latter-day Saints, testified to me that this gospel is true.  It is Jesus Christ's church and I have been set apart by God to serve these people in Romania.  

I might not be perfect with the language but there is a lot you can say without saying a word.  

I know God loves ALL of us.  We are all his children.  We can have happiness in this life when we choose to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.  

The next chapter of my mission is beginning and I am so excited to see where it will take me.  

Loving my mission, loving these people and loving the Lord,

:) Sora Lee

Farewell from Nedaya!  We teach her kiddie English and are teaching her mom!

Stinson's funeral

Gettin' Bummed

​Loredana and Me!

​My colorful knee bandages!

​Cute mini van! Haha love it!

                  I don't have a lot of time to email this week so here we go!

This week all but 3 of our lessons bummed us and didn't show up.  It was a bummer but hey, it happens!  

We had three really incredible lessons this week though and these investigators re progressing!  Whoohoo!  

This was my last week of physical therapy for my knee ( I injured it in the MTC and then re-injured it in the field).  It was bittersweet.  I loved my physical therapist Loredana and I had been meeting with her every morning for a few weeks now.  For a going away gift I gave her a little present with a jar of Nutella (her favorite), a necklace, and a Cartea Lui Mormon.    Inside, I had written my testimony in Romanian.  I had been talking to her about the church and what we believe for the past few weeks and I invited her to era the Book of Mormon!  Fingers crossed!

On our way to said appointment, Sora Peterson and I hopped on a tramvi (a mini train type of thing) to go to my appointment.  On that day, the tramvi took a weird route but I had figured that it had just been put on a new course for the day.  Well before we know it, we are the last ones on the tramviand we are pulling into this sketchy little warehouse.  YUP.  Scary.  Well we try and get out and the doors are locked.  So we start yelling out of the little baby window.  It's about 100 degrees in that hot tramvi car and no one can hear us.  Finally, this man finally hears us and opens the door.  

Then, we had to walk out of the warehouse shamefully. Everyone was looking at us like "Wow, stupid Americans".  So then we hopped in a taxi and the taxi driver was being SUPER CREEPY.  Yup, that's Romania for you.  

We had Zone Conference in Arad!  It was President and Sora Hills last one, I am so sad to see them go!  It was a very inspirational conference and it was exactly what I needed!  

I'm really learning why it is so good to be obedient.  I am so grateful for a companion that really inspires me to be the best I can be.  She is such a great role model for me and I love her so much!  Sora Peterson is from Washington, she is 23 years old and will be going home in 6 weeks!  Ahhh! Crazy!  I hope I can be with her next transfer and "kill her"!  

TRANSFO BOARDS COME OUT SATURDAY.

Everyone thinks that I will be training a new missionary.  Scary scary scary!  

Lots of love!  

Te pup, pa pa!

-Sora Lee

3 HOURS STRAIGHT

Wow.  This week was so amazing.  Where do I even start?  

We received 5 new investigators from our English class.  Um yeah, and they are all super interested!  We have meetings with them next week!.  

A NEW CONTACTING STRATEGY: 

I like to call this contacting style, "Hi, I'm from America, can I practice my Romanian with you?"

I usually start it off with hat phrase and then explain to them that I am a volunteer missionary here in Romania and I need help with learning the language.  Most people are quick to say yes!  Then, I ask them if I can share a scripture with them, either from the Book of Mormon or the Bible and then I ask for them to correct my pronunciation.  

Works every time.  

Then they usually ask who we are and why we are here and what we do.  It is a great opportunity to teach people about who we are and what our church believes.  People here know about "the Mormons" but they don't necessarily know anything about us, or anything correct that is.  This is my favorite way to contact and talk to people here!

RANDOM INVESTIGATORS:

So Sora Peterson and I went to get lunch.  Anyways, she brings us desert, it has coffee in it and we tell her that we don't drink coffee and we politely ask for another dessert, if it is available.  She comes back with fruit for us and our waitress just out of the blue says, "Who are you girls.  Where are you from, why are you here?" 

So we told her. 

She wants us to come back so we can talk to her. 

Deal.  

Today, for Pday we had the chance to go to Deva and see the castle in Hunedoara.  It was SO BEAUTIFUL.  I love this country.  This mission is beautiful.  I am so lucky to serve in such a beautiful country.  

I SAID BEAUTIFUL THREE TIMES. Build a bridge and get over it. Ha!

Coming back, it was a 3 hour MaxiTaxi ride back to Timi and I sat next to this young woman.  Anyways, long story short.  I managed tot all to her for 3 hours straight.  Yup, all in Romanian.  

And now I would like to share a verse from the Book of Mormon:

 "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." -Alma 26:12

The language is coming along so well.  Oh my gosh.  I know that Heavenly Father is helping me every single day out here.  It is incredible.  

And now one from the Bible:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

The work is going great here and I have never been more happy.

Thank you for ALL of the love and support!  I don't have enough time to respond back to all of my emails every week so be patient with me!

Love and smiles!

-Sora Lee

PHOTOS BE POPPIN' THIS WEEK (but I will put up more next week because we have like no time today):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124181655@N06/

The Best Birthday Week

AWESOME PHOTOS THIS WEEK!

TUESDAY: SERVICE AND STARTING ENGLISH

We gardened for almost three hours today in preparation for our English class.  We pulled weeds in front of the church so it would look beautiful for English.  

After, we ran home so we could freshen up because we had two lessons that day.  

Two lessons later and it's time for English.  Sora Peterson and I teach Beginning English ad I love it!  We have a class full of girls!

After, it was time for Family Home Evening.  We had 5 investigators there, it was awesome.  I taught the lesson on the Plan of Salvation and it went really well.  I really have a testimony of the Gift of Tongues, it is a real gift.  Words come out of my mouth that I didn't even know I knew.  It is amazing.  

WEDNESDAY:  SURPRISE PARTY, FREE SODA AND SIX INVESTIGATORS

While Sora and I were at lunch, we got free drinks!  The waiter was honored that we were Americans eating at his little restaurant.  #prettygirlsgetfreestuff Hahaha.

We taught three lessons today.  Sora and I are really on fire and I love it! 

Today was Edina's birthday so we made sure to make it a great day.  We bought her a bouquet of flowers and made her a charm bracelet so she could remember us.  I have never loved someone so much as I have loved my investigator Edina.  She has such a hard life and I just want to give her everything I can.  It isn't enough but I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ can give her so much more.  

We told her that we couldn't see her today (lie) but we arranged a fun surprise party for her that night.  We decorated and brought her yummy treats.  She walked in and we totally surprised her!  It was so great.  She looked so happy.  It was fantastic.

THURSDAY:  ALL DAY CONTACTING

That's about it.  Long day of work.

FRIDAY:  SKETCHY FOOD, SPILLED SALT, SUPER SLEEPY  

Sora and I ate the sketchiest food this day.  The location was even sketchier.  10 lei food.... freaky!  We took photos.  The food tasted....gross...so I tried to spice it up with some salt.  So I started to shake the shaker...nothing came out.

So I shook the salt shaker harder.

Nothing.

Then an explosion.  Haha salt flew everywhere.  Hahaha and the cap landed somewhere in my soup.  Yum!  

Lots of contacting followed this excitement.

Kid English was tonight and we have 3 new students!  Those kids tired me out!

SATURDAY:  I'M FREAKING 20!

Wake up to a decorated apartment and a cake baking downstairs!  Sora P gave me Tarzan, dubbed in limba Romana for my birthday present!  We finished our studies and then we headed over to teach English.

After English, I got showered in birthday presents from our English students!  They are so kind!  After, I headed over to the Alston's house for a birthday dinner and a movie!  We got to watch "The Other Side of Heaven", it's one of my favorites!

SUNDAY:  HOLDING TONS OF ANIMALS

After church we had a lesson with Familia Crap.  

I GOT TO HOLD THEIR PET RABBIT AND THEIR TURKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They even named the rabbit "Sora Lee" ahaha yes!

This was my favorite birthday by far.  I loved being able to spend my birthday with the Romanian people.  I love living here and I have never felt so much happiness.  

LOTS OF LOVE! THANK YOU ALL FOR THE BIRTHDAY EMAILS!  

I wish I had more time to individually respond to each one of hem!

Lots of Love!

:) Sora Lee

SICK PHOTOS THIS WEEK!  CHECK THEM OUT, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124181655@N06/