Week one... CHECK!

FAMILY!!!

Buna dimineata! (Good morning!) Well.... where do I even start??? It has been the longest but shortest week of my life. I have learned so much that I feel like I've been here for months, but it seems like just yesterday that I said goodbye to ya'll.

I've already taught my first four lessons in Romanian.... they've actually gone really well all things considering. We are teaching a guy who they told us was from Bucharest.... but I just found out the other day that he's just a return missionary from romania... I felt so lied to!!! Seriously.. it took me a few days to get over it. Anyway, it has gone really well. I don't have much time so I will give you details in the letter I write home today. Embarassing story first... so after Traian (the "pretend" investigator) finished saying his first prayer with us, I meant to say "that was beautiful" in romanian which is "Este frumos" but I said "Tu frumuasa" which is 'you are beautiful'. He just looked at my funny and say "mustimesc??" which means 'thank you'. So embarassing. I also kept saying "please" instead of saying 'sorry' and he was like "please what??" Also embarassing. And as far as I know, those are the only embarassing things I've said to him during the lessons. But our last lesson with him is tonight and we will invite him to be baptized. I'm pretty excited for that. Truly, the language is going swell. I'm learning lots and it's hard, but I can definitly feel the spirit and the gift of tongues working in my life.

Sora Ewell is incredible. We laugh a lot together and have a blast and I learn so much from her. She has such incredible insights. It is just her and I in our district, which is nice. I think Heavenly Father knew if I was in a big district, I would spend more time socializing and less time focusing. So I like it that it's just her and I. We find ourselves migrating to other classrooms though to socialize during breaks. There is another district that is 6 weeks ahead of us going to Romania as well. Sora Modzelewska (don't try to pronounce it) who is from poland and Elders Brady and Eckert. Elder Eckert is from La Grange which is between houston and austin so we have lots to talk about and everyone gest annoyed of us talking about our obsession with Texas/Austin. Hahah. But Sora Ewell and I get along great. Random people come up to as ALL THE TIME and say "Are you the Romanian sisters?!" and introduce themselves. We're not really sure why. But it's funny. We can count on it happening at least 2 or 3 times a day. haha

Russell M. Nelson spoke on tuesday and Stephen B. Allen spoke on sunday. both were amazing.

Guys, we can't dance here. Do you know how hard it is to refrain from breaking out in dance?? Now I know how the main guy in Footloose feels. It's awful.

Our teachers are incredible...Brother Boynton, Brother Irion and Brother Jepson. I am loving the way the teach us. 

Thank you for those who have sent letters and packages. Please though, no more food!!! I love you and I love that you sent me food, but no more! Just send letters instead!:) go to dearelder.com and you can send a letter for free and I will get it THAT day. I can't tell you how much getting letters help me. It encourages me and helps me focus more, strangly. When I don't get letters, it is really hard to focus. I know that's a little backwards, but it's true. It's not easy to be here. This is definitly the hardest thing I've ever done. Not because of the language, not because of my companion, not even because of my lack of phone,.... but because I am terrified of being forgotten. And when I get letters through the week, it reminds me that I'm not. Nights are the hardest. When I am not focusing on anything and lying in bed. Makes me homesick and a little hard to sleep through the night. But I find myself singing the line from 'Lead Kindly Light' where it says "the night is dark and I am (kinda) far from home, lead thou me on" It brings me comfort.

But I am doing well. Keep the letters coming, or for some of you, WRITE ME!! :) Seriously, much appreciated.

SO MUCH to tell. I'll write letters today.

te iubesc,

Sora Cook