Transfers... yet again!

Well family, transfers are this week and here's the scoop. Moldova has a few areas, one Romanian speaking and the other two are Russian speaking. President Hill is opening up one of the Russian speaking areas to sisters and has asked that I go serve there. He said to just pick up as much Russian as possible and that all will be well. Wish me luck.

Ooooookay... glumesc. (I joke). I'm staying in Arad with Sora Smith!!! :) I'm funny.

I'm so excited to be staying here!!! I don't have to say goodbye to beautiful Arad yet. So happy. You know how I am with goodbyes. However, we did have to say goodbye to Elder Myers yesterday. He heads home tomorrow. Wish him all the best. I'm so grateful for his example and leadership my first three transfers.

It was a wondferful week. We had interviews with President and Sora Hill and yesterday, we had district conference with the four branches in the Transylvanian District in Oradea. It was so good to see the missionaries from those districts and so good to hear the wonderful talks. It was a powerful meeting. President Hill told a beautitful story of a member who lived outside of Brasov (central romania). The senior missionaries had a strong impression to go outside the city to visit an inactive that hadn't been seen or contacted in over ten years. So he got the Elders and drove about 30 km outside of Brasov to find this sister and when they got there, they found out there were eight members living in this town (all in the same family) and two were melchezedik priesthood holders. This family has been living the gospel as much as they could in their little town and had prayed that the missionaries would find them the week before. Two of the family members (a husband and a child) have been baptized and two more will be baptized soon. They will be starting a group in that town. (A group is smaller than a branch). So exciting. And on top of that, President Hill wrote home to his family about this story and the husband of a girl they raised, who also served in Romania, taught and baptized that lady in 1997 and never knew what had happened to her and assumed she had fallen away. And now look. Because of it, there are generations being effected and a group being started.

Another story he told was a story a few missionaries had a few weeks ago when a man stopped them on the street and explained he had learned about our church 10 or so years ago, but hadn't accepted it, moved out of the country and has always known he made a mistake in not accepting the gospel. He recently moved back into the country and has been praying to find the missionaries. Those missionaries ten years ago have no idea the impact they had on this man or the seeds they planted. For all they know, he was just one more person who didn't accept the message of the restoration. Such a testimony to me that we never know the seeds we are planting for people to accept the gospel in the future. It's beautiful.

We visited a member who lives in a sat (small town) outside of Arad. Her name is Sora Krnacs (pronounced cruh-nawtch -it's hungarian) and she is incredible. She is the most faithful of saints. She's going to the temple for the first time this week and I could not be happier for her. Although everyone deserves to go to the temple, no one deserves it more than she does in our Arad branch. She travels by bike, train and tramvai to get to church. She wakes up at 4am in order to get there at 9am for choir practice. That is, assuming she has sold enough of her craps that week to purchase a train ticket. And to her, it is a small sacrafice compared to the blessings she receives in return. She truly understands the law of sacrafice and that what we are asked to do is small in comparison to what the Savior did for us and what we are promised if we do all we can. Some of us complain about the three hours church takes from our day (a day to honor the Lord) and this remarkable woman sacrifices 13 hours each sunday to come and worship her Heavenly Father and renew her sacred baptismal covenants. What an example she is. I'm so grateful. Someday, I want to have as much faith as she has. She inspires me.

Family, Natali is getting baptized. Unfortunately for me and Sora Smith, it will be in Utah where her boyfriend's dad can do the baptism. However, she will be confirmed here in Arad. I'm so excited for her. She is truly remarkable. I hope the parents will be able to go to her baptism. She is so excited to meet you. She was so excited when I asked if I could invite them to her baptism. As of right now November 11th is the day. I'll let you know if it changes.

We've taught the plan of salvation a lot this week and it always surprises me when we ask people here if they have ever wondered where we lived before this life or where we will go after and seeing the surprised look on their face that tells me that these questions have never entered their mind until now. They are so concerned about getting through that day that they never stop to think about anything but the here and now. My heart breaks to see the circumstances of some of the lives being lived here. When I see a child no older than 11 smoking a cigarrette or a women in her 20's, who looks to be in her 30's, stammering down the street with a bag of paint in one hand and the hand of her child in the other. Or looking into the eyes of the people on the tramvai and seeing, for a second, into their souls and realizing all their hope is gone; seeing the big responsiblity of raising a family placed on the young shoulders of a 16 year old girl because her parents have either emotionally or physically abandon them. I know these people are so loved by their Heavenly Father. I have felt His love for them and I hope and pray that, someday, they too can feel it. Until then, I hope to be an extention of His love and do all I can to serve and love them and bring them to the knowledge of the eternal spectrum of life and where they came from and that one day, we will rest from all of our trials and challenges if we endure them well, with faith and hope in the Atonement of our Savior.

It's been a rewarding week. Thank you for your emails, pictures, love, support and prayers. You also are in my prayers. All of you. James, I hope all is well with your infection. Why that wasn't included in your email and I had to hear from the parents, I'm not sure. Please take care of yourself. However, thank you for your email.

I had to print out most of your emails. I never have time to read them. But I'm sure their beautiful and I'm so excited to read them. :)

Miss you all dearly.



Alexandra and Sebestian (my favorite children in all of Arad)



















Sora Krnasc thought I was leaving, so she embroidered this beautiful piece for me. I watched her do some of another one and she is incredible. She has such a talent. I also tried to embroider and it was difficult. The machine she sows on is quite antique... It was beautiful.

She is so talented.

Embroidering... not my forte.



**Ian Falkner, you're married!:) Congratulations!!!! (well, I think you're married... either that or you will be soon! Either way, congrats!!)

**Jenny, tell Morgan welcome home and to and write me! And be good:)

**ABBY!! Good luck in your mission!! I want your address. I love you.

**Everyone else, you're amazing. :)