February 3, 2014
Hello again,
It's been another week... now that's weird. What's even
weirder is I hit my year mark this week. That's super weird. Changing subject.
Well, I officially am not a winter person. Just kidding
it hasn't been that bad in the last couple days but this week and especially
since we live right on the sea it has just been HORRIBLE. Contacting was not
fun and more then anything I got chastised again and again for wearing a skirt.
Goodness. Haha.
I guess I'll start with the beginning of the week. Monday
was so busy.
It was really hard to get around because of the snow. A
lot of snow was just building up so it was really hard to get around and the buses
took literally FOREVER! So a lot of our time was taken by buses. We went to the
store and even the trucks hadn't gotten there so we bought what we could and we
decided to just grab a taxi because we had to be in another town in an hour. We
had a lesson with one of my favorite families here in Romania the Olteanu
family. They are AMAZING! I had given a talk about 2 weeks ago and Fratele
Olteanu wasn't there and Sora Olteanu because they have a brand new baby wasn't
able to hear it but she heard me mention Satan hahaha so she really wanted me
to share it again for FHE. She's so funny. So I did but I turned it more into a
discussion obviously. It was really good and the spirit was there.
They made us some AMAZING Apple placinta it was so good.
I love there family. They try so hard to do everything they can. And then they
ended the night by showing Sora Letinu and I pictures of them last year when
they were married in the temple :) So special. So wonderful.
So much love.
Tuesday. It finally stopped snowing but it had snowed all
night long so Elder Myler called us to ask if we would like to do some shovel
contacting. Hahah heck yes. I was so excited. I mean I've never shoveled snow
before and I know most of the time people hate it but it is something other then
block knocking so I was so excited! Well we get all together and we have 2
brooms and only one shovel. So lame. We go to the elder's area because it isn't
so far from the Church and well the elders will be elders and there was a huge
hill and it was completely iced over so they took advantage of that and went
"snowboarding" on the ice. I guess I shouldn't really even call it
snowboarding. But they would run and try and stay up without falling on their
faces. It was a really great laugh though for me :) And they were able to do
service because most cars couldn't make it up the hill so they went all four of
them and pushed cars up over the hill. Well the shoveling trying to serve
people wasn't the best since people either one kept trying to pay us or 2 told
us to go away and not bother them. It was really fun though and I'm glad that I
was able to help out the people we did help.
Wednesday we were supposed to have lessons but a huge
storm. And I mean like a huge storm came in. It was so cold and we had our heat
on.
We made a bunch of calls and I mean a bunch. Like 2 and a
half hours just of phonecalls. Dang storm. It even ruined phone calls. the
people that we called kept telling us that they couldn't meet because of the
weather. I didn't mean to meet with them in that moment unless they wanted to
of course. We'll be calling a bunch of them again though since it's warmed up a
bit. Still really cloudy but otherwise hasn't snowed a ton since.
Thursday. Had district Meeting and our zone leaders were
there. It took them 10 hours to get to Constanta that's how bad the storm was
on Wednesday. What is normally a 3 hour train or maxi taxi ride turned into an
11 hour ride for them. They left at 5 o clock on Wednesday and didn't get in
until Thursday morning around 4. They were so tired I felt so bad for them. We
were all asked to think of a time when we were completely out of our comfort
zones. I feel like my mission has been a huge uncomfortable thing. Yeah I mean
there are times when I am comfortable doing things but most of the time I just
learn so much of what I need to do and change to catch up to feel like I am
comfortable in everything I am doing. Comfort zones are such a funny thing.
Because we can't really grow in them. I mean I guess we
can fill our comfort zones but if we stay in them we can't grow in any other
way.
Just a random note while I am talking about this I've
been studying a lot in the new testament lately. I never really payed so much
attention to the story of Saul/Paul I mean I knew his story duh, but I never
really payed much attention to it. Let's look at his story a little bit though.
He was there when the disciple Stephen was stoned to death bearing testimony of
the Savior Jesus Christ. And we know how he lived after. And we know what
happened on the road to damascus.
"Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?" Something
that the Lord had revealed to Anannas (probably did not spell that right) was
that Saul was CHOSEN to bear his name and to reveal things to kings and priest,
I love the next verse though when he says "For I will shew him how great
things he must suffer for my name's sake." I am sure actually I am
positive that it was so uncomfortable for Saul to have changed into Paul. It
was amazing I'm sure and I'm sure he had the comfort he needed to continue to
grow and change from the atonement of Jesus Christ. But I'm sure that it wasn't
easy how he had to grow he had to become better he had to turn his back on the
things he was doing and completely change.
He had to leave his comfort zone. As I've continued to read about his
story and his teachings and when he has proselyted in different areas and it
was hard. He received that comfort from the Lord. He received what he needed
and then continued to do things that were scary. I mean he was arrested so many
times and yet that didn't stop him. And all of this was so worth it. At the end
of his cities when it was time for him to leave he cried with those people. He
loved them. It was so worth it. All the pains and aches everything. Every
uncomfortable moment was so worth it.
Well back to district Meeting Elder Myler challenged us
to do one thing that scares us everyday. Whether it's knocking on another 5
doors or one. Whether it's talking to one person about the gospel.
Whether it's inviting a friend over to listen to the
missionaries do one thing that is scary to you everyday. Look at how we will
grow.
Look at how much it will be worth it.
We had a great lesson with Andreea and we talked about
the law of chastity :) I thought it was great. I thought it was so much fun.
Sora Letinu was so awkward with it and even Andreea was too. Hahaha I just
though it was so funny. We more so after talking about all the little
"awkward" things we more so talked about virtue and how we can be
more virtuous every day. I love virtue. Seriously such an amazing thing to
study!
We also had another lesson with one of the families in
our branch Familia Constantin. And they have the cutest 3 kids. Haha it was
crazy. We talked about the temple though and the importance of going and the
spirit that is there. Since there family isn't sealed yet we really tried to
testify of the power and blessings that will come when they will be sealed. And
they are actually planning on it in Mayish!
SO EXCITING!
Friday was more contacting and then we went and saw a
play that was put on by one of the members here. He was the director and
invited the whole branch and so we were able to talk to a few people there. The
play well... was a little different... but I loved the little things that I
could see that he put in there. The play was put on by Youth and so they did it
the way they wanted to. At the end people died and so Tibi asked don't you
believe in an after life? The Youth hadn't even though of this and so Tibi put
this in. All the Youth were in White clothes and they were all embracing each
other. That was really beautiful. The little influences that can be brought
about. :)
We also went over to Familia Contantinescu's for a
birthday party. It was there daughters 3rd birthday.
Saturday: More contacting and English class. We also had
Correlation and then we cleaned the Church. Lots of salty foot steps all over
the Church.
Sunday: Fast Sunday. I really really really want
Constanta to change.
So I've been really really praying and I decided that I
need to put an even extra effort and fast for Constanta. Fast for them that
there hearts will be opened and that they will be able to receive us. That is
my hearts desire and I just need Constanta to see that I am willing to put in
everything I have. Even if it kills me ;) So I fasted for constanta. Fasted for
the people here for the elders, for the branch, for our investigators and for
those that will be put in our paths. And well...
Today: We went contacting earlier and we found someone :)
Haha don't know where it's going to go but it's a step. We went block knocking
and about the fifth door that we knocked on a Young girl opened and when I told
her that we were missionaries and we had a message about our savior she
actually didn't shut the door in our face. :) HOORAY.
She stood there and listened as we talked about the book
of mormon and how we can have peace. We asked her if she was interested to know
more and she said yes and wants us to come back. I am so excited. So excited!
You don't even know!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you all. Wish us look and pray for Constanta! Pray
for us missionaries :)
Love you all!
Sora Stewart
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