A week of learning

Family,

Sadly, another week has gone by. Don't get me wrong... I miss you all dearly -especially as Christmas approaches, but the fact that the day that I will no longer be a full time missionary in Romania is coming closer and closer with each quickly passing day just make my heart a little sad. Is there any way I can combine the two worlds of being a missionary and having my family close? If so, please, sign me up.

Although I'm sad another week is over, it most certainly was one that I am grateful for. Quite the adventure, really. So much change from this monday to last monday. I could go into great detail of all that happened and I'm sure it would actually be pretty entertaining to do so, but rather, I think I will just write to all of you what I have learned from those experiences. After all, what we learn from our situations is much more valuble that the experiences themselves.

Is it okay if I do it bullet-point-style?

• President and Sora Hill are exactly who i am supposed to be serving under. I saw a different side of both of them as I spent the evening at their home with my district waiting for my train to leave Bucuresti. They are quite incredible -this I already knew. My love for both of them grows with every weekly email, every hug (or handshake), every bit of advice and counsel, and with every "va iubim!" they give us. Although there are many wonderful mission presidents and mission president's wives in the world, none are quite as wonderful. I'm sure of it.
• Heavenly Father continues to bless me far beyond what I am worthy. As I recognize this, I attempt to give even more to repay Him and in return, He blesses me even more. I will always be indebted to Him. As He blesses me with more, He expects more of me. My greatest desire is to give my whole heart to Christ, holding nothing back.
• I have so much to learn from the people around me. This isn't a new realization. It's something that I've always known. It just gets reaffirmed with every new companion.
• As we are called to do things that sometimes we feel like we can't do, Heavenly Father and our Savior are there supporting us and sustaining us and giving us strength to fulfill what they already know we can do. As we give ourselves to Him, He makes us enough. 
• I happen to love snow. It's cold. It's wet. It makes my nose read and my hair a mess. It is beautiful. There's something that is so serene and calming about watching the snow fall to the ground. Especially when you are doing it from inside your apartment, curled up in a blanket, with a hot chocolate in your hands. It's times like this that my heart is full of a feeling that can't be described in words. It's a feeling that gently reminds me where I came from and who I am. That I am not from this earthly existence.
• There are so many wonderful things we get to experience in this life. So many sensations and so many feelings that we wouldn't have the opportunity of enjoying were it not for the wondeful bodies that house our spirits. Including some sensations that may not be so exciting -freezing fingers and toes being one of them. However, I am grateful for it all. As I am walking down the street with the cold wind blowing in my face, I try to remind myself of how wonderful it is that I get to experience all the experiences of this mortal life. 
• The Holy Ghost speaks Romanian, who knew? I received many promptings in the Romanian language this week. So neat. Sometimes a word comes into my mind that I don't know, and as I look it up, I find that it was the spirit whispering to me that word as an answer to my prayers. 
• Train rides are fun. I love riding trains in Romania. I will be sad when I go back to America and have to take a car everywhere.

Christmas spirit is in the air. Although this is a Christmas unlike any other I have ever experience, and probably ever will, I can still feel the light of Christ and the rememberance of His birth and the feeling that Christmas always brings to my heart.

Although far away, I feel a deep and sincere connection to all of you. I pray that I will continue to feel that connection, especially as this week approaches and all the memories and reminders of eternal families that this weeks brings. I pray that you will all feel my love this Friday as you are all in my thoughts and as I express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for our eternal family. Jared is oh so close. So much closer than we could possibly realize. I'm so grateful I have my older brother watching over me. Not many missionaries get to say they serve their mission alongside their brother, but I know I am. I know he is alongside each one of us. Our family is so blessed. I love you all so much more than I could possibly describe in words. Who am I that I am this blessed? I am very humbled at the blessing of my family that God has given me. 

Thank you for your examples and your prayers. I have felt an overwhelming amount of peace from my Heavenly Father this week and I am convinced that is because of the prayers from my loved ones. Va multumesc pe voua.

Remember our promise,
Sora Alyson Cook

ps...I know I said I couldn't write until tomorrow, but they changed the schedule and our Christmas Party is actually tomorrow, so preperation day stayed the same.

pps... Happy Birthday yesterday Bekah. I love you and I hope you had a wonderful, cake-filled day!! Sa cresti mare!!!

Goodbye to Sora Smith was a hard one. I love her and all that she is. So grateful I had the opportunity of serving with her for those short twelve weeks.

My new, beautiful companion. She has so much desire to do missionary work. I am so grateful for her.