28 May 2012

Ciao!

This week has been full of different activities which has made the time go by so fast. We had a missionary activity where we went with the members to visit less-actives, investigators, and other members. It was so fun to have a different companion for a couple hours. I have become so used to having my companion next to me 24/7 that I am not quite sure what I am going to do when she isn't around.

We got permission from the President this past week to go find less-active members who have moved out of the city. We met a family who were one of the first people baptized in all of Romania. They were baptized in 1989, before I was born! They are so awesome and they have such strong testimonies, but have fallen away because of relationships created between them and other members. Such a powerful lesson to me that we need to always be strengthening those around us. Always helping and being a positive influence on the lives around us. Just a kind word, a smile, a small act of kindness can change someone's day.

We also got to watch conference. We watched all 4 hours, in Romanian. It was wonderful. So uplifting. It seems that the leaders of the church are really pushing the importance of families. Families are the basic social unit of society and the place where we learn the most. As we go out and share the gospel and help others to change their lives, it is so fun to see a family grow and learn together. To strengthen, to uplift, and to encourage them.

How blessed I am to have grown up in a strong familiy that understands the importance of families. May we all recommit to doing the things necessary to strengthen those we love.

I'm sorry this is so short. The time just seems to run away from me.

I love you all and have a wonderful week.

Love

Sora Remsberg

14 May 2012

Buna Ziua,

I am going to apologize for the shortness of the following letter. I just got to skype with the family. What a blessing technology is for us as missionaries. I got to talk to them face to face.

After getting to Arad on Thursday morning, we were pretty exhausted. We took a sleeper train back. Arad is so pretty. There is a lot of Hungarian influence and just a lot more old architecture. The pace of life is slower and I have a feeling I am going to fall in love with this place really quick. I'm excited to start this week. They are really focusing on strengthening the members here and I am excited to help and make a difference. Also, there are a lot of less-actives and I am so excited to meet them.

Just a short spiritual thought. It is found in Alma 20:4 (I will let you look it up :])

We can do anything in life. If we really put our minds to it we can succeed. However, it is so much easier to work alongside the Lord. To ask for his help and to grow while in the process. I know that we can do all things, but I know that we can acheive and learn much more when we use the strength of the Lord. Christ's grace is sufficient to transform us.

I love you all.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sora Remsberg

7 May 2012

Buna Ziua!

I am going to be transferred on Wednesday. I don't feel ready to leave Constanta, but I know that is where I need to be and that is where the Lord can use me the best. I am excited for my new companion, new experiences, and plenty of new opportunities to become what the Lord wants me to be. I am going to be going to Arad. It is on the complete other side of the country. Basically as far away from Constanta as I can get. I am so excited to go. I hear it is absolutely beautiful, a different pace of life, and a strong branch.

This week was good. It was slow, but full of tender mercies. We have a new investigator. She was a referral from a member. She has been to church and we started teaching her the lessons. I can't tell you how much we love referrals as missionaries and how much easier it is for them to ask questions and to see how the gospel truly works in our lives. Sora Cottam and I were listening to an old conference talk this past week by Elder Bednar where he said that "missionaries are full-time teachers, but members are full-time finders." As I have been here I have realized how important and what a powerful role we play as members of the church to share the gospel with those around us. We don't have to do something drastic, but simple invitations to ward activities, an invitation to church, an invitation to read the Book of Mormon, and most importantly living what we believe and not being afraid to share it.

I love you all. I am strengthened by all of your examples.

Love

Sora Remsberg