I went down to Bucaresti to pick up my new companion who arrived on Tuesday. I am still recovering from the nasty bought of Laringitis, singing is a no go for me:) When we were in the Mission home and the announcement was made for new missionaries and their trainers I was announced first and received as my companion Sora Mckell Cutler from Draper, Utah. Who just happens to be the very best friend of Sora Draper the first sister I trained here in Romania. Pretty dang right right? (Eyebrow lift)
We took a night train from Bucaresti at 12 am and arrived in Arad at 11 am Thursday morning and hit the pavement right off the train. We haven't even had time to let Sora Cutler fully unpack, I know I am a horrible trainer but really we are seeing some great miracles here in Arad.
We went to Mariana's house and taught her the restoration, it was a powerful experience. There with her at her house was her son and his girlfriend so we were able to teach all of them the restoration. We taught Mariana the importance of having a question for God and then asking it. We asked her if she had a question for God and she said, "No." It was so frustrating for her to say that. We have committed her so many times to ask God if she would be baptized and she never does. So we asked, "Have you ever asked God if you need to be baptized?" She said,"No," that God would tell her if she needed to be baptized because it would be his will. Then her son popped in and said, "Mom, you have to ask God first in order for him to tell you his will, were you not paying attention to what happened to Joseph Smith?" And her family (None of who are members or have heard much about the gospel) committed her to pray about baptism:) It was great:)
We went to a member lesson and she gave us a referral for one of her neighbors. The next day we went to her neighbors house to teach her a lesson. When we got there she ushered us into the kitchen were the bible laid open on the table. Next to it was the Book of Mormon. As we started the lesson she told us her story. She had met with the missionaries here in Arad quite some time ago and loved the doctrine of the church. She opened the Book of Mormon and showed us that she had read the whole thing. And when I say read the whole thing I mean ALL of it. She has underlined and cross referenced the entirety of the book; from Mormons Introduction to the last page of the guide. She told us her husband had not allowed her to continue having lessons with the missionaries or to be baptized so she hid the Book of Mormon and read it when ever she could. She has read it several times and watching her testify of the truth it contained was beautiful. She told us that she wanted to be baptized as her husband has officially given her permission to do what ever she wants to do with the church. We shared with her the restoration and Sora Cutler did such a great job for one of her first lessons!
Then we were on a Tramvai headed home for the evening and we were practicing introducing the Book of Mormon in Romanian. As we spoke a man sitting next to us could not stop listening. So I started was reading Book of Mormon verses in Romanian and Sora Cutler would translate them or guess which ones they were. After reading Helaman 5:12 He leaned over to me and said, "Is there anyway you can tell me and my family more about that book?" Cool right:) So we are meeting with him later this week with Elder Smith.
Another crazy miracle that happened (I know literally I am only speaking about 4 days after we got back from Bucaresti.) . ... We had a lesson with our investigator Elena who invited her friend to come and meet us. When the friend saw the back of the Book of Mormon where it says, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she snatched it out of Sora Cutler's hands and had a look of disbelief on her face. She told us that two young boys in white shirts ties, slacks and badges with that churches name found her in her time of need and saved her life. She had never before connected that church and the Mormon church as the same church. She had had an issue where her ex-husband obtained custody of her son and the son was taken away. She was brought into such a depression and sadness that she was driven to the want to kill herself. She sat on the road and cried and cried. But the Elders found her and spoke with her. Whatever they told her brought her enough peace and she changed her mind. "Those Mormon boys, " She said, "They saved my life."She is our new investigator and we are very excited to teach her, she was excited about the Book of Mormon she couldn't stop reading it in front of our faces. Two new miracle investigators. Pretty cool week:) The mission is changing and I am pretty excited about that.
Us on the train, I look dead, yes. It is like 1 in the morning.
-Sora Long
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