When In Romania: Bon Voyage MTC!

Hey Family,

I'm going to make this quick because I have so much to do before my departure date on MONDAY!! Look out. I'm so excited. Well, actually I am a whole slew of different emotions. Excited to get to Romania and meet President and Sister Hill, nervous to talk to the people and so sad the leave the friends I've made here at the MTC. It will be hard but I'm very excited for the adventure ahead.

This week has been an exciting week. A lot of "lasts"... last prep day, last time going to the temple for 16 months, last service day, last classes, last fireside, last devotional, last lessons with investigators... it's all very weird. I kind of feel like it's the last week of school and I don't really want to go to class. Our teachers have been awesome and take the first hour of class to talk to us about Romania... which is nice. And makes me even more excited to go.

I really don't know what to say. It has been an emotional but amazing week. Sister Ewell and I had a much needed heart to heart on Sunday night and she helped me learn so much about myself and ways to improve and because of that, it has made this week go by so much better.

So I found out on Sunday that the day after we leave, the entire first presidency and twelve apostles will be here at the MTC for mission president's meeting and to set apart the new MTC mission president. I'M SO MAD!! hahaha. okay, not really. Just a little though. How cool would that be? Ugh, so jealous of the missionaries that get to be here for that.

We taught our last lessons with Nelly and Daniel the other day... it was so sad. I definitely shed a few tears at the end. It has been such a neat experience.

I cannot tell you how much I love our Romanian Elders. They are amazing. My heart is full of gratitude both for these elders and for our teachers and all the missionaries I have come to be such great friends with. Goodbyes never have been my strong point... you would think I would be used to this by now. I'm not.

Can I share a poem that has been coming to my mind this week that I memorized a few years ago?? It's beautiful and puts into words exactly how I feel as I am preparing to leave for Romania...

If I Can Stop

By: Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking

I shall not live in vain

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again

I shall not live in vain.

Beautiful, yes? This is truly my goal; to help just one person return home to their Heavenly Father. I cannot wait to meet the people I already love. It's a strange feeling and I'm not really sure how to describe it... but I feel like I already know these people I am about to go serve and that I already have a tremendous amount of love for them that I'm sure will only increase. I am so glad that Heavenly Father has called me to serve the Romanian people. President Monson said "There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire and souls to save. Are you doing your part?" I love that.

Okay, I'm sorry this is so short and not very detailed, but I plan and giving more details when I get to talk to you on Monday:)

I love you all so much. I hope you are all doing well and that you are growing closer and closer to our Heavenly Father as much as I am! Although, let's be honest, you're all way ahead of me... I'm just catching up:)

Miss you so much,

Sister Cook

Happy birthday wassa!!! A card is coming your way:)

And to all the dad's in my family, but especially MY daddy, Happy Father's Day on sunday!!! I love you all and am so grateful for you... you truly have no idea. I wish I could give you a Father's Day hug...