How is everything in the States? Is everybody still eating Halloween candy? Romania is wow. That is really all I have to say. I
have truly began to develop a love for the people here. Each day, I try
and find and find one interesting thing about the culture here. One of
them is that Romanians are very passionate and have absolutely no qualms
about P.D.A so that keeps things interesting.
This week I saw
the hand of God work in my life so visibly. I learned two very
important lessons the first is about fear. Fear is the Devil's strongest
tool. We have an investigator that has read the entire Book of Mormon,
that has the felt the spirit and love of God but will not get baptized
because she is afraid of being rejected by friends, and family. She is
afraid of trying to quit smoking, she is afraid of change. I understand
that these are all very real fears but these fears are keeping here from
eternal happiness. These fears are keeping here from experiencing the
power of the atonement. The Devil knows that and he uses fear to
paralyze us. I know that fear is not of God it is a tool of the Devil
that will keep us from accomplishing our divine potential. I need to
work on eliminating fear from my life because we do not have to fear
when God is on our side. So many times in the gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John does Christ say "Fear not" or "be still". I know that when
we are following our Savior fear does not have to be apart of our
lives.
Okay now for my second lesson God answers prayers and
He is preparing people for this work. I don't know if I mentioned it
but last week Sora B told me about this lady that had a baptismal date
but then stopped progressing because her husband wouldn't let her. We
decided to pray for her in every single one of our prayers this week
(and we pray a lot) that her heart would be softened and she would meet
with us again. On Friday night, we had this long pray on our knees for
her and we called her. Her phone was off super anti-climatic. BUT we
called her on Saturday and she was super happy, we met with her on Sunday and she is now preparing for baptism!!!!!!! She told us she had
started reading from the Book of Mormon again earlier this month and her
husband who is actually her boyfriend of 25 years (Sora B forgot that
small detail) is in Germany working. So yes we have some things we have
to work through with her but wow was the spirit strong in that lesson. We are super pumped about that. I know that God is working
miracles in each of our lives. Sometimes we are too high up to see them,
but is when we brought down into humility that the miracles are
sweetest.
Okay one more awesome story, we met with this member
on Saturday night in her home. She lives with her daughter and
granddaughter and they are way strong and active super great. Their home
is literally a room. They have a bathroom and a room with two beds, a
desk, a fridge, and a shelf with pots & pans. Then they have a community
oven and stove for their whole floor. I was so humbled. She
made us this delicious yellow cake with apples in it and gave us half to
take home. The members are so so strong here. We have some inactive members
that we are working with but wow is this branch in Ploiesti incredible.
It was one of the strongest in Romania and we are going to make it even
stronger.
Okay so random thoughts
We have gone for a
run every morning, it isn't super cold yet. We found a great park with
an 800 meter pathway going around it so I run about 3 miles every
morning. I just really miss my running buddy Sister Allen
Oh
funny story Irina (the one getting ready for baptism) calls her
missionaries by their first name. When I told her my first name she said
" ühhhhh okay Bertney!" hahaha I literally almost started looking around
for Graham Allen. More funny stories I almost got maimed by a bus door
the other day and these two Romanian dudes thought it was the funniest
thing in the world. It like swung open and nailed me in the back, but all
is good.
The food here is great. The fruit and vegetables are
incredible! I have had the best apples I have ever eaten in my whole
life here. So Luke you better get pumped to serve in Romania! Life is
good. Everyday I am amazed by the circumstances of the people here. But
even more amazed at the love that God has for each and every one of
them.
Hope everyone is doing well back in the States!
pa-pa
Sora Armstrong
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