Buna Buna,
This last week has been a blast! Me and the Surori (sisters) all get along so well, and we are constantly laughing at ourselves. My district is also THE BEST and we have a great time together. We've had some epic snowball fights and I brought a small soccer ball, so during almost every break in class we do a juggling circle. We also have been playing a lot of volleyball, which has been fun, but arms are starting to look like my companion beats every night. The meals here are not too bad, some of the fruit is questionable though.
The language learning is coming along pretty well, but Limba Româna (Romanian) is a beast for sure. On top of the regular verb conjugations we have an extra gender (I guess the language couldn't decide), adjective declination (basically conjugating adjectives to match nouns), definizare (instead of using normal articles, Romanians thought it would be fun to put them at the end of words), dative and accusative phrases, and most of the words we use in everyday life are "irregular" so they don't follow the rules listed above 😂 so fun!
Saturday: First full day of classes!! Nothing too interesting, just lot's of work.
Sunday: Sacrament meeting was amazing!! The speakers were amazing and I felt the spirit so strong. We also had this personal study "experience" which was so good too. Our district went to choir practice as well which was super fun too! Also, Surori and I memorized "Our Purpose Statement" in limba Româna!!!
Monday: We had service, which was cleaning other sisters' bathrooms. It was kind of gross but at least they gave us fire outfits to wear while we were doing it.
Tuesday: We had a devotional with Elder M. Russell Ballard. After the meeting we had the opportunity to reflect as a district. We all mentioned how cool it was to hear from an Apostle. A lot of what he shared were principles we had already heard, but hearing them directly from an Apostle was a really special experience.
Wednesday: Sora Post and I had to teach our first lesson in limba Româna to someone not in our district! It was only 15 minutes and it went surprisingly well! I even was able to share the Book of Mormon with her and invite to read it, even though we had not prepared the Romanian to share that. The Surori and I decided to all wear pants too so that was fun.
Thursday: My mom surprised me and sent packages!! My district and I were very very grateful for her! (she's the best!)
Spiritual Thought:
I've been reading in Helaman this week and I was on the story of Samuel the Lamanite. This story is already amazing but reading this as a missionary brings a whole new light. I'm inspired about how Samuel was literally kicked out of the city, and on his way home, but turned around to preach to the Nephites again.
The state religion of Romania is Eastern Orthodox. Most people families have been a part of the church for generations, and because of that many will probably not be interested in my message. But like Samuel the Lord has asked me to go, because you never know who will listen.
I also really liked these verses in Chp 16.
Hel 16:2-3
2) But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.
3) Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized.
These verses made me realize the power of God's miracles. I know that I'm here to bring others unto Christ for 18 months. But the effects of my mission will not just last 18 months. The miracles that I experience on mission will be a tool I can use to bring others closer to Christ for my whole life. I am so so grateful for that.
Love you all!!
Sora Hansen
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