Ceau Family,
Well, this week, a lot of time was spent in my bed, unfortunately. I've been sick all week and sadly couldn't do as much as we would have liked. Poor Sora Smith has been so patient with me. Bless her heart.
Unfortunately, that means I don't have much to report on din cauza (the negative form of "because") my health... or lack thereof. Being sick is quite a frustrating thing... especially when the last thing I would like to do is "rest". The times last week when I decided not to rest and to just put aside my health and go to our lessons, all our lessons fell through... every time. So there we were... lesson-less and me not feeling the greatest (and without a voice -not sure how I thought I would give a lesson with no voice, didn't think that one through.) But I was determined to do missionary work despite my health. I said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me know how i cand do missionary work that day and I felt I needed to ask for a blessing.
*Just a little sidenote of my gratitude for the priesthood and it's powers. I'm so grateful I grew up in a home where the priesthood resides. Now that I don't have the opportunity to be surrounded by the peace that comes from being around one who holds the authority of God on a consistant basis, like I did growing up, it makes me that much more grateful for any opportunity I have to be around the holders of the priesthood.*
Anyway, we had a lesson scheduled at the church, so the Elders came to the church to give me a blessing. I'm so grateful they were so willing to put aside what they were doing and come give me a blessing. I felt a lot of peace and Heavenly Father telling me to take care of my body and go rest so that I could recover quickly and sooner get back to dedicating all my time to missionary work.
And that day my prayers were answered and Heavenly Father gave me an opportunity to share the gospel with a sweet lady on the tramvai on the way home from the church. She was sincery intrigued and was excited to receive a copy of the Book of Mormon. We have a lesson set up with her tonight. Her name is Mona. Beautiful, no?
So, I took the advice I received during my blessing and I rested to get myself feeling better and I'm happy to say that I am feeling a lot better. Which makes me happy for more reasons than one.. I told Sora Hill if I wasn't better by Monday I would go to a doctor. I was praying and praying I would be better for that reason... but mostly so I can get back at doing missionary work again. :)
This week is Zone conference and this time it is in Bucaresti. Every six months a general authority comes and we do a multi-zone conference. Elder Stephen C. Kerr from the seventy will be coming to speak to us and I am so excited. I love any opportunity to learn, grow and improve myself and the way I do missionary work. I especially love learning from other missionaries and my leaders. It's always a little exhilerating and refreshing to be surrounded by so many others who are involved in the same work as you. I draw strength from being around them and whether it's intentional or unintentional, they teach me how I can better myself and improve. They teach me from their strengths and from their weaknesses; from their obedience and maybe their lack thereof. I guess this is something that happens every day with the people Heavenly Father surrounds us by. Every situation, every person you meet in as opportunity to grow and learn if you allow it to be. Asking ourselves "What can I learn from this situation or person?" can bring greater understanding and allow us to grow and learn even more about ourselves and who our Heavenly Father wants us to become. And then, after learning more about ourselves, it is an opportunity to apply what we learned and be an example to those around us. How exciting. So, in short, I'm excited for Zone Conference.. even if it is taking 4 days out of our schedule.
Yep, 4 days. Zone Conference is only one day but Sora Smith is taking part in a musical number (playing piano) so we are going a day in advance to allow her to practice with the sister who will be singing, then thursday is Zone Conference and the day after Zone Conference is Zone Leader Council with all the Zone Leaders and Sora Smith and I have been invited to present. President Hill has asked us to present on the importance of using members in missionary work. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. This is a subject I have just recently become pretty passionate about and I hope to properly express what Heavenly Father would have us express to the leaders of the mission in order to help the missionaries understand the importance of using members in our missionary work. All that plus 24 hours of travel in total takes out about 4 days of preselyting time in Arad. I'm trying to be okay with that.
Thanksgiving. It should be a universal holiday, yes? Why wouldn't giving thanks be something the whole world celebrates? Unfortunately, it's not. But that doesn't mean we can't have a branch activity celebrating Thanksgiving. :) On Saturday, we will be having a Thanksgiving Dinner/talent night giving thanks for al of the wonderful talents God has given us. I think it's an adorable idea, if I do say so myself. All the members have signed up to show off their many different and wonderful talents. Should be great.
And on top of that, today we got voie (permission) to do a zone preperation day and do a turkey bowl with all the missionaries in the zone. Sadly, I didn't play much. Flag football was not worth getting more sick and being out another week. No thanks. So.. I took lots of pictures. It was fun.
Natali still hasn't returned. She extended her trip and is staying there for Thanksgiving. I have mixed feelings about this. I am so glad she is having a good time, but it is so important that she comes back and receives the Holy Ghost and is confirmed a member of the church. Preach my Gospel teaches us that baptism of water without the baptism of fire is useless. I'm excited for her to return, whenever that will be.
Well, life is great. It is oh-so-great. It's hard, but that is what makes it great. The fact that we have the ability to stand tall during times of hardship is what makes life great. How beautiful is that? Satan will attempt to bring us down in every way possible, but by holding on to who we are and remembering to turn to our Father in Heaven during thos times is the greatest blessing of all. We just get to remember the greatness inside each of us - don't let Satan take away that rememberance - and remembering that everything has a purpose. Even though we may not see that purpose right away, the key is to just be patient. Eventually, we will see how everything falls into place perfectly. It always does. It works out just as it is supposed to. And I love that.
Heavenly Father is aware of us and desires to bless us. I've come to learn that my Father in Heaven is so intricately aware of me and my desires and my needs. He blesses me far beyond what I deserve. The least I could do is give Him my time serving Him. The wonderful thing about that is I dont ahve to be done giving my time to Him after these short 18 months are over. I can give Him a lifetime of service. Missionary or not. However, I'm grateful for the time I have not to give my full attention to that service. That is, of course, as soon as I am no longer bed-ridden. :)
I love you all family. Every single one of you. Your emails mean the world to me. I am terribly sorry that my lack of time does not allow me to respond individually like I would want to... but I hope you know how special your words are to me and how much I love hearing from you. As I read your emails I feel a sweet, peaceful feeling much like I feel when I am in your presense. It makes my heart happy.
You are all in my prayers by name and I trust Heavenly Father is blessing you in abundance!
1-4-3,
Sora Cook
ps, skyping will be happening on Christmas. Plan on it:)
*Sora Petrisor, I'm not sure if you read these emails, but if you do, I want you thank you for the love you have given me for the Romanian people. I see your face in so many of the people here and my love for them grows instantly. I am so honored to be here among "your people". Thank you for all you have taught me and continue to teach me through the memory of your example and love. Te iubesc :)
Well, this week, a lot of time was spent in my bed, unfortunately. I've been sick all week and sadly couldn't do as much as we would have liked. Poor Sora Smith has been so patient with me. Bless her heart.
Unfortunately, that means I don't have much to report on din cauza (the negative form of "because") my health... or lack thereof. Being sick is quite a frustrating thing... especially when the last thing I would like to do is "rest". The times last week when I decided not to rest and to just put aside my health and go to our lessons, all our lessons fell through... every time. So there we were... lesson-less and me not feeling the greatest (and without a voice -not sure how I thought I would give a lesson with no voice, didn't think that one through.) But I was determined to do missionary work despite my health. I said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me know how i cand do missionary work that day and I felt I needed to ask for a blessing.
*Just a little sidenote of my gratitude for the priesthood and it's powers. I'm so grateful I grew up in a home where the priesthood resides. Now that I don't have the opportunity to be surrounded by the peace that comes from being around one who holds the authority of God on a consistant basis, like I did growing up, it makes me that much more grateful for any opportunity I have to be around the holders of the priesthood.*
Anyway, we had a lesson scheduled at the church, so the Elders came to the church to give me a blessing. I'm so grateful they were so willing to put aside what they were doing and come give me a blessing. I felt a lot of peace and Heavenly Father telling me to take care of my body and go rest so that I could recover quickly and sooner get back to dedicating all my time to missionary work.
And that day my prayers were answered and Heavenly Father gave me an opportunity to share the gospel with a sweet lady on the tramvai on the way home from the church. She was sincery intrigued and was excited to receive a copy of the Book of Mormon. We have a lesson set up with her tonight. Her name is Mona. Beautiful, no?
So, I took the advice I received during my blessing and I rested to get myself feeling better and I'm happy to say that I am feeling a lot better. Which makes me happy for more reasons than one.. I told Sora Hill if I wasn't better by Monday I would go to a doctor. I was praying and praying I would be better for that reason... but mostly so I can get back at doing missionary work again. :)
This week is Zone conference and this time it is in Bucaresti. Every six months a general authority comes and we do a multi-zone conference. Elder Stephen C. Kerr from the seventy will be coming to speak to us and I am so excited. I love any opportunity to learn, grow and improve myself and the way I do missionary work. I especially love learning from other missionaries and my leaders. It's always a little exhilerating and refreshing to be surrounded by so many others who are involved in the same work as you. I draw strength from being around them and whether it's intentional or unintentional, they teach me how I can better myself and improve. They teach me from their strengths and from their weaknesses; from their obedience and maybe their lack thereof. I guess this is something that happens every day with the people Heavenly Father surrounds us by. Every situation, every person you meet in as opportunity to grow and learn if you allow it to be. Asking ourselves "What can I learn from this situation or person?" can bring greater understanding and allow us to grow and learn even more about ourselves and who our Heavenly Father wants us to become. And then, after learning more about ourselves, it is an opportunity to apply what we learned and be an example to those around us. How exciting. So, in short, I'm excited for Zone Conference.. even if it is taking 4 days out of our schedule.
Yep, 4 days. Zone Conference is only one day but Sora Smith is taking part in a musical number (playing piano) so we are going a day in advance to allow her to practice with the sister who will be singing, then thursday is Zone Conference and the day after Zone Conference is Zone Leader Council with all the Zone Leaders and Sora Smith and I have been invited to present. President Hill has asked us to present on the importance of using members in missionary work. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. This is a subject I have just recently become pretty passionate about and I hope to properly express what Heavenly Father would have us express to the leaders of the mission in order to help the missionaries understand the importance of using members in our missionary work. All that plus 24 hours of travel in total takes out about 4 days of preselyting time in Arad. I'm trying to be okay with that.
Thanksgiving. It should be a universal holiday, yes? Why wouldn't giving thanks be something the whole world celebrates? Unfortunately, it's not. But that doesn't mean we can't have a branch activity celebrating Thanksgiving. :) On Saturday, we will be having a Thanksgiving Dinner/talent night giving thanks for al of the wonderful talents God has given us. I think it's an adorable idea, if I do say so myself. All the members have signed up to show off their many different and wonderful talents. Should be great.
And on top of that, today we got voie (permission) to do a zone preperation day and do a turkey bowl with all the missionaries in the zone. Sadly, I didn't play much. Flag football was not worth getting more sick and being out another week. No thanks. So.. I took lots of pictures. It was fun.
Natali still hasn't returned. She extended her trip and is staying there for Thanksgiving. I have mixed feelings about this. I am so glad she is having a good time, but it is so important that she comes back and receives the Holy Ghost and is confirmed a member of the church. Preach my Gospel teaches us that baptism of water without the baptism of fire is useless. I'm excited for her to return, whenever that will be.
Well, life is great. It is oh-so-great. It's hard, but that is what makes it great. The fact that we have the ability to stand tall during times of hardship is what makes life great. How beautiful is that? Satan will attempt to bring us down in every way possible, but by holding on to who we are and remembering to turn to our Father in Heaven during thos times is the greatest blessing of all. We just get to remember the greatness inside each of us - don't let Satan take away that rememberance - and remembering that everything has a purpose. Even though we may not see that purpose right away, the key is to just be patient. Eventually, we will see how everything falls into place perfectly. It always does. It works out just as it is supposed to. And I love that.
Heavenly Father is aware of us and desires to bless us. I've come to learn that my Father in Heaven is so intricately aware of me and my desires and my needs. He blesses me far beyond what I deserve. The least I could do is give Him my time serving Him. The wonderful thing about that is I dont ahve to be done giving my time to Him after these short 18 months are over. I can give Him a lifetime of service. Missionary or not. However, I'm grateful for the time I have not to give my full attention to that service. That is, of course, as soon as I am no longer bed-ridden. :)
I love you all family. Every single one of you. Your emails mean the world to me. I am terribly sorry that my lack of time does not allow me to respond individually like I would want to... but I hope you know how special your words are to me and how much I love hearing from you. As I read your emails I feel a sweet, peaceful feeling much like I feel when I am in your presense. It makes my heart happy.
You are all in my prayers by name and I trust Heavenly Father is blessing you in abundance!
1-4-3,
Sora Cook
ps, skyping will be happening on Christmas. Plan on it:)
*Sora Petrisor, I'm not sure if you read these emails, but if you do, I want you thank you for the love you have given me for the Romanian people. I see your face in so many of the people here and my love for them grows instantly. I am so honored to be here among "your people". Thank you for all you have taught me and continue to teach me through the memory of your example and love. Te iubesc :)
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