Am fost o sora pentru mama mea, si acum sunt o sora pentru dumnevoastra

It is becoming harder and harder to write about what I did every week!! I don't really know why...

But this week was amazing!! I just got back from the town of Barlad today.  We went with the senior couple Elder and Sister Soelberg to deliver some laptops to an orphanage over there.  When we got there we played some "night game" games with 12 kids ages 15-24.  They were so surprised when we got there and my companion and I opened our mouths and introduced ourselves in Romanian.  Usually they have a bunch of volunteers that go to that orphanage but they are from Utah and cannot speak Romanian. When I looked at the walls they had pictures of icons on the wall and right next to them were small Simon Dewy paintings or other Mormon artist depictions of Christ that I knew they had gotten from Utah somehow!! So we played, and talked and they were really great kids!! They headed off to school and the director of this center asked us if we wanted to see another children's center for younger children. So we headed over to the equivalent of a battered woman's shelter in Romania and it was amazing.  We meant the kids over there and walked into each class room and every teacher stood up and tried to talk to us in English and once we responded in Romanian they were so shocked!! The kids really loved seeing us just for a few minutes.  I really think that young children can recognize the light that as missionaries we carry with us.  It was heart breaking to see these children who were brought up in such hard circumstances, but also it filled me with hope because these places were places of refuge for these children and women.  There was one mother I met with three children ages 4, 2 and 1. The one year old walked right up to me and grabbed my finger and would not let go.  Just walked with me as I toured the floor of the shelter. Her mother followed close behind and, to her surprise, I spoke with her in Romanian and got to know her a little bit.  

This week we have been battling the gossip here in the branch.  I was assigned to give a talk in an attempt to address the need to respect one another in the branch. I have worked on this talk for a good 2 weeks and I was able to get up and hardly look at any of my notes and somehow speak with power as I taught the simple principles that we are all children of God.  I started my talk with a little word play.  In Romanian Sora means, nurse, and sister:

"this week my mother had an operation, usually I am her Sora (nurse) but this time I am in Romania to act as your Sora (sister/nurse)"

By the end of it the spirit was so strong, and all the woman in the branch were in tears as well as I.  The spirit works in really strange ways and I honestly think that it was the best talk I have ever participated in.  One woman came up to me and told me thank you and that I had really pierced her in her heart and I said to her, "Nu a fost eu, a fost spiritual Domnului." (It wasn't me, it was the spirit) I used a lot of quotes from everywhere, but one talk I used is one of my favorites Walk in the Light by Henery B. Erying. He closing quote was only some of what I shared:

"When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did."

It was a really great moment.  I really hope that it pays off and the gossip ring will be rooted out of Bacau. This talk is one of my absolute favorites, whenever I get discouraged or find time to listen to a conference talk, this is the go-t for me.  I will tell you why.

It seems like almost a year ago (because in truth it was almost a year ago) that I had first come into Romania and had found myself struggling to know why I was here in this strange land.  I was in a small bus speeding at a deathly pace towards the city of Bucarest watching out the windows as thousands of sunflowers growing over rolling hills passed by.  I had put my head phones in and left my gaze in the blur of yellow to listen to this talk by Henery B. Eyring.  I had been questioning in my prayers what my purpose was in coming on this mission, more specifically in this land, and I heard his words speak these simple words and they struck me to my heart and I knew that these words were written for me in this moment of my life:

"You know from the scriptures revealed by God through prophets that there was a rebellion in the spirit world when the plan for our journey was offered to us. Those who rebelled did not want to accept and to depend upon a Savior nor run any risk that they might not return again to Heavenly Father. Every one of you was among the brave, the faithful, and the true in that conflict. You accepted the Savior and the plan for this journey to return to the joy of our Heavenly Father’s presence.You are remarkable, even among those who chose right in the contest in the spirit world. You qualified to come into mortality and to make this journey at a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ was on the earth. And among the billions of Heavenly Father’s children now living, you were privileged to find the gospel of Jesus Christ and His true Church. Even more than that, the fact that you are listening tonight means that you have chosen to make the journey of life walking in the light.
But the spirit who led the rebellion in the world before still opposes the plan and wants you to be miserable. He wants you never to find your way home again. That enemy of your soul knows you and your goodness. He knows that if he can turn you away from walking in the light, he can both capture you and stop you from helping others along the journey. He knows how good you are and your power to teach and influence hundreds of Heavenly Father’s children in this life—and thousands over the generations that will follow your path. If he can get you to wander away from the light on your journey, he can do harm and bring misery to many.
The fact that you are listening now is evidence that God recognizes your great importance and that you have chosen to walk in the light He offers you...
 I testify to you that you have been one of the valiant ones to reach the point where you now are in this journey of life. Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith."

 I knew at that moment that my calling here in Romania would be hard, harder than I ever thought. But I had something of great value to deliver to my fellow brothers and sisters who had all been at the beginning brave, faithful defenders of the truth before this life.  I was sent here to remind them of who they were children of God. Teaching that concept to all I come in contact with has been the most fulfilling occupation of my life.  I love this gospel and I am grateful for it. I love you all so much!! And I pray for you often every day.  The work is moving forward in Romania, more rapidly than ever before. And I am so grateful to be serving these great and remarkable people who need only be reminded of the light they once followed.