When In Romania: Sora Cook loves you ALL!!! Even the ones who don't write me...

Hey-o Family,

As always, lots to tell with so little time. I got called as coordinating sister on Sunday for our zone. However, there are no sisters in our zone as of last Tuesday and only Sora Ewell and I in our district. We should be getting some sisters in our Zone next week. Im keeping my fingers crossed!

Sora Modzelewska, Elder Brady and Elder Eckert left monday morning. It''s been sad without them. I am glad I get to see them in less than a month. I'm still loving our teachers. Our permanent teachers are Sora Petricor and Fratele Sandberg. Things with our investigators are also going well. I hope last weeks questions didn't make you think I had an doubts in those two things, just thought I would invite everyone back home to study what I have been studying and to hear your insights. I have been thinking about it lots still and this is what Ive concluded. So in 2 Nephi 31: 5-21, 3Nephi 11:11-41 and 3Nephi 27: 13-20 it talks all about the Godhead and what I feel like is the connection between the Holy Ghost, the Savior and our Heavenly Father and why it's important that we know that they are three seperate beings. Basically a summary of those scriptures is this... Christ paid the price for our sins, which was the will of the Father. He is the merciful and God is the just. But it is through the Holy Ghost that we receive the Atonement. We can only be sanctified and benefit from that sacrifice through receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost but it is because of that sacrifice that we can stand spotless and sinless before our Heavenly Father. (I also have a whole different rant about the differences between spotless and sinless, but we can save that for another time I guess.) In 3Nephi 11:32 it says that the Doctrine of Christ is given by the Father. I don't know. Maybe that isn't a very good explanation on why I feel like it is important to know that the Godhead are three seperate beings... but that is what I concluded after my hours of studying the topic. Also, I love how well the missionary purpse (to invite others to come unto christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) is perfectly encompassed the the Doctrine of Christ... (2Nephi 31) Amazing chapter. Thank you to those of you who responded with your insights. It was cool to hear your thoughts. I learned lots from it.

So, after listening to the talk "The Charicter of Christ" by Elder Bednar (read it!) I decided to buy a paperback book of mormon and read the whole thing just marking the scriptures that teach about patience and then when Im done with that one, I will buy a new book of mormon and do it again with a different topic. It has been such a cool experience!! I am only in 2nephi but it has been awesome. It has been a completely new experience reading the book of mormon this way. I would totally reccommend it to everyone. Such a neat experience.

Sister Ewell and I are getting along great. Obviously difficult moments, but what companionship doesn't? I am so blessed to have her as my companion. She and I are so alike but so different that it's a perfect combonation. She sang a duet with one of the sweedish Elders on sunday at the Fireside. They had to audition and it was a pretty big deal that they got it. She is amazing though, so I wasn't surprised! They did great!!!

Elder Christopherson came and spoke in the Devotional tuesday night. It was pretty awesome. He opened it up to a discussion and passed around mic's and asked us questions and left us with his Apostolic blessing that the spirit will magnify and enlarge us and the through the power of the Holy Ghost we are equal to him and will reach the hearts of many. It was pretty neat! At the end of his talk, he said "We (the Apostles) hope you are as proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, as companions, as we are with you." That gave me goosebumps when he said that. It is incredible how much my testimony builds of the Apostles of God each time I get to hear one speak. We are so blessed.

How is Grandma Holyoak doing? She has been on my mind recently. I hope she's doing well. Give her my love.

I met an Elder here who knows Aunt Ilene. Apparently he is best friends with David's oldest son, Brayden? Small world.

The other day in class, we were talking about covenants and the word for covenants in Romanian is "legamente" which comes from the word "a lega" which means 'to bind'. I loved that. When we receive Him, we bind ourselves to Him and He binds himself to us and promises where we go, He will go. What He is we can become. He will not break that covenant if we fully receive him and take upon ourselves those covenants. 'To bind'... I love that so much.

Our investigators are going well. Maria and Gheorghe have said they will be baptized, but won't commit to a date and Maria won't pray yet. We're working on it though. It is insane how much I learn and how much I feel the spirit in the lessons with these "investigators"... even though I know they are just my teachers pretending to be investigators. The situation isn't real, but the spirit is still there and I learn so much every single time. The language is coming along. The teachers keep saying they're blown away by how quickly we're picking it up... but I don't really feel like that. So maybe they're just trying to flatter us!!

Marissa gave me this good idea to start keeping track of who send me the most letters, and whoever sends the most in the next 18 months gets.... something really cool. Now, I won't say who is winning...but I'll give you a hint, if you haven't written me yet, it isn't you. :)

To my mom and all my sisters, Happy Mother's Day!! I wish I could give you a big hug...or at least call and tell you myself! I love you!!

I'll try and write as many letters as I can tonight, but class starts in 10 minutes and I probably won't have much time after that. I love you all though and I promise I will write as many as I can!! Thank you for all your love and support. I am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. You are all in my prayers.

Te iubesc,

Sora Cook