This one time, in Arad...

Good afternoon family... I guess for you, good morning!!

I never know where to start these emails because it seems like it has been years since I last wrote you just because of how much happens in a week! It's crazy. But I guess I will start with today. It was wonderful... and SO exhausting. Our entire zone jumped on a train super early this morning and headed to Lipova which is about an hour outside Arad and we walked and hiked up to this old castle that really is just a bunch of walls still standing... It was really cool though. So as all of you were still all nustled up in your cribs, I was out walking and hiking in the 110 degree sun. It was awesome! I think I just loved socializing with the other missionaries. The train ride to Lipova, although was pretty unbearable, was not as bad as our 11 hour sleeper train from Bucaresti to Arad (which was nothing like the Harry Potter trains, by the way). However, it was definitely a new experience! I loved it:) All 11 hours (with no air conditioning) of it!!

This week has been exciting and discouraging. We've had like 7 cancelled appointments, but we have 4 new investigators:) All from contacting and bloc knocking. We love contacting! One of them isn't quite an investigator yet...  but he will be:) We ran into him on the street and started talking to him and invited him to church and he showed up yesterday and afterwards, he said he loved it and he already knew the church was true! We haven't even met with him yet... He got along really well with our relief society president and we plan on taking her to our lesson with him this week.

Also, remember how I told you about that lady that Sora Ewell and I taught a lesson to in the park on our first day here?? Sora Ewell called me the other day and it turns out she has been coming to church and he grandpa is now investigating also. How amazing is that?! I love it. Her name is Monica. She is 21 or 22. We seriously walked away from teaching her knowing that we were supposed to talk to her and that sooner or later, she would someday be baptized. I had no idea how soon though:)

Our branch here in Arad is awesome. I love the members here. They met yesterday an hour before church just to sing hymns together. And they went back and forth between two hymns... Lead Kindly Light and Onward Christian Soldiers. They loved both of them and sang them both with more power and conviction than the tab choir could have ...all 12 of them. It was so cool. However, if I don't hear those two songs for a while, I won't be disappointed.

This week we visited one of the less active members named Florita and she is beautiful. I will attach a picture of her in this email. She has terminal cancer and has already outlived well past what the doctors expected. But every time we go over there, she cooks us lunch and makes sure we are well fed and taken care of. I'm pretty sure she is my new grandma. I love visiting with her. I couldn't tell you what the food was that she served us this week... Lamb, I think. And milk... straight from the cow. I could only drink it one sip at a time, but more than that made me gag a bit. But I drank it... all gone. And I ate the mysery food... all gone. I know, bless my heart, right?:) I love her though. She is so patient with me with the language and just wants to help me as much as possible. And as we leave, she tells us to be sure to drink lots of water and to have a glass of milk for dinner and to eat lots of vegtables. I told you... she is my new grandma. I love it.

Sounds like the fires in Utah are pretty wicked. Yikes. I will definitely keep those affected and the firefighters in my prayers. So sad. I remember last year when I was living in Austin and just being so close to those affected by the Bastrop fires... it was heartbreaking hearing the stories. I'm glad that our family has yet to be affected an will pray that that will continue to be the case. (Is that seflish of me?)

Alright, family. I love you. I hope you are all doing more than fine!! Thank you for those who emailed me this week. Your words were very much needed. I appreciate them. and Jerrica, I knew it was a boy from day one:) Congratulations!! I can't wait to meet him! Should I just start calling him 'Jack' right now like I did with Lance?? Love you baby Jack.

I'm not sure what else to write, but usually right after emailing, I think of about a million things I wanted to say. Dang it. Hopefully that doesn't happen this time.

Va iubesc fuarte mult,
Sora Cook

lingo:
bloc knocking: going into bloc's, or apartments, and knocking every single door! 

Sora Florita

Lipova