Ceau!
We have been in Sibiu for 2 weeks now. The weeks continue to go by so fast. Sora Sam and I are still trying to adjust to Sibiu. Fall has definitely come. It is no longer hot and has actually rained a couple of days. We are still living in a hotel because we haven't found an apartment to move into which means we are still living our of our suitcases and feel a little like we on a permanant vacation. It takes up a bit of our time looking, but we know we will find one soon.
I have started teaching piano lessons to a young woman in the branch. I remember learning to play when I was younger and I'm so greatful that I did. I never thought that it would help me here on my mission, not only with being able to play for sacrament, but also for teaching and finding people. This particual girl that I am teaching was actually introduced to the church through free piano lessons given by sister missionaries over 5 years ago. When we were there giving the lesson, one of Casia's friends stopped by and we were able to talk to her. She has been to church before and she is going to start coming to our English classes. English is starting again this week and we are hopeful to find more people to teach through that. There are so many ways to introduce our friends, family, and others to the gospel.
There is a young girl named Alexandra who is a member here. She has been baptized for a year and is absolutely wonderful. We were able to meet with her and get to know her. She was so willing to give us referrals. I think this is the first time in my mission where I have seen and felt such a desire from the members to invite their friends to be introduced to the gospel. We are so lucky to be here and to have the help of the branch.
We have also met an inactive family that was baptized in 1991 in Germany. They are so sweet, but have forgot a lot about the church and the things they learned as they were taught and baptized there. They live in a cute little house right off of Centru (downtown, I have attached a picture of their front door). They have not had contact with the church in a long time and we are excited to start teaching them with the help of members and to helping them become active. Their daughter-in-law also lives with them and is not a member. We have a lot of hope for this wonderful family.
Yesterday in church we had a discussion that led to the conversation that baptism is not the end goal of missionary work, the temple and continued membership in the gospel is the end goal. How easy it would be if baptism was it, that we didn't have to do anything else, that we didn't have to come to church each week and partake of the sacrament, that we didn't have to continue to live worthy or to have another goal to work towards. We know that there is more and it takes a lot of continued work on our part. Baptism is just the first step. How lucky we are to have temples and blessing to make covenants there to continue to help us endure and succeed in this life. The temple must always be our goal. I miss the temple. I miss the peace, the reassurance, and the love that is felt as I attend the temple. I cannot wait to go again and to feel the power and strength that comes from going to the temple.
Va Iubesc,
Sora Remsberg
