Riding Solo

June 19, 2013

It's Wednesday! And that means lots of new missionaries and my pday!

I hope that no one is freaking out because I haven't gotten to write yet, but I am definitely alive and well.

So, it's been a pretty crazy week, but nothing really that I wasn't expecting...well most of it. When you go to the MTC the first thing you do is go get your name tag. I got mine, they put it on me and explained to me that I was a solo sister! Soon after I found out that meant I was the only sister in my district. So that was kind of unexpected and kind of difficult to get used to, but honestly now I wouldn't have it any other way.

Because I'm a solo sister I have companions who are going to Italy. they are Sister Carter and Sister Smart! I absolutely love them to death! They're always super happy and we laugh a lot! During class I just stay with the Elders. There's only three of them in my class, but then there's another district of another 4 Elders. They're all super fun and I get along with them really well. They're all short though, well at least all the Elders in my class are =). I'm the tallest one! haha that seems to happen to me often, though. But they all have amazing testimonies and I really enjoy discussing the Gospel with them. They have an amazing love for people. It's truly inspirind for me.

So, the first day in class my teachers only spoke Romanian...actually, everyday they only speak Romanian. It can get very frustrating when you don't understand, but they're usually pretty good at acting out what they're trying to get across. One of my teachers, Fratele Sandberg (Fratele=Brother), has the most amazing hair I have ever seen...haha that's  not very important, I just thought I would mention it. Romanian is such a beautiful language. Well, at least I really like it. It doesn't sound as good coming out of my mouth as it does others, but hopefully I will soon get better at speaking.

This week I've learned so much about patience! Mostly being patient with myself. I kept having to remind myself that as long as I'm diligent and try my best and pray a lot that Heavenly Father will bless me! I know that there is obviously some reason that I have been called to Romania at this time. I mean, it could've been easy for the First Presidency to let me wait 6 weeks and have me leave then so I could have another sister going to Romania with me, but they didn't. They called me to leave on June 12. I know there is some reason for that. Maybe it's so that I could have Sister Smart and Sister Carter as companions, or maybe it's because I'm just supposed to be in class with a whole bunch of Elders. I'm not really sure why. But I know I am supposed to be here now. That's why when why I didn't write to the Presidency to give me a later date to report. I know that you're not only sent to where you need to be, but you're sent when you're supposed to go.

Anyways, moving foreward. When we have our pratice teaching I teach with one of the Elders in my class since I don't have a Sister with me. I teach with Elder Crane. He is an amazing person and really listens to the spirit. We teach a fake investigator named Cristian...well sort of.Since we can't really speak very much we use a whole bunch of simple phrases and then try our best to respond to his questions. Before our last lesson we taught, I was praying so hard that I would just understand somethings during the whole lesson. I am having a pretty hard time understanding anything so I've been getting frustrated a lot, so I was just praying so hard that I would understand at least one thing. we were teaching about repentance and baptism. Elder Crane was teaching the part on repentance and Cristian kept asking how we could obtain a remission of our sins. And as hard as Elder Crane tried Cristian just kept asking, "Cum?"--"why?" and then it just popped in my head! I knew how to answer it! so I did! I said, "Prin Botez, Demneseu ne promite iertarea pacatelor." "Through baptism, God promises us a remission of our sins!" And that's pretty much all I said through the rest of the lesson...haha. But Heavenly Father answered my prayer! and because I followed the spirit we were able to commit him to being baptized! It was amazing! Heavenly Father answers your prayers! I mean, I always knew that, but now I know it even more!

So, other stuff going on. You know that huge missionary broadcast thing the First Presidency is doing on the 23rd? Well, I'm going to be in it! My companions and I got into the choir, so look for me! It's going to be awesome! All the first presidency and quorem of the twelve are going to be here! So I might run into some of them...well...maybe. I'm not sure. I'll be in my classroom most of the time.

I've seen quite a few people I know here! I've saw Ashley Nelson, Daniel Poaletti, Jake Lewis, Zander White, Marlee (sorry I forgot her last name), John Akagi, Kyle Hakes, Julissa Wilcox, and probably a couple more people I'm forgetting about. Most of those people are from my BYU ward. It's so great to get to see all of them preparing to go on missions! I love it!

My companions and I have an obsession with the sharing shelf in our hall. It's pretty much just a shelf that people leave their unwanted food on when they leave for their missions. The sharing shelf actually supplied my dinner the other day because I wasn't going to be able to go to dinner because I had to teach and then right after go to devotional because I was singing in the choir. So my companions brought me these really good raspberry sticky bun things they found from the sharing shelf! They were great! and I haven't gotten sick yet, so I'm pretty sure they were safe to eat =).

On to a more spiritual note. Today in my personal study I was reading in Alma 26:27 (26 is pretty much my favorite chapter ever, so if you need something to read...read that). It says:

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamenites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

That scripture touched my heart. I have seriosuly had probably one of the hardest weeks of my life. I'm not complaining, I absolutely love the MTC. But being here has shown me so many of my weaknesses. I've learned that when it comes to other people, I'm a super patient person, but when it comes to myself, I'm probably the most impatient person I have ever met! I just want to be able to say whatever I want in Romanian right now! But obviously, that's not going to happen for a while. But I know that the Lord comforts those who stand in need of comfort. he strengthens our weaknesses. If we are patient and do our best, He will give unto us success.

Another scripture I found today was Alma 28:14. This scripture pretty much just reminded me of why I'm here and why so many people have responded to the call to serve:

"And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing--sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."

Christ is the light of the world. He is the reason we can have joy in this life. He is the center of the plan of happiness! I know it! When we repent and come unto Him, He gives us joy and fills our hearts. I know I'm going to have hard times on my mission. Most of those hard times will be caused because people won't want to listen to the message we have to share. It's seriously the saddest thing in the world! The message we share is love and happiness through Jesus Christ and His Gospel!

There's another scripture I read that touched my heart, but I don't have much time left, so I'll just tell you it and you can read it for yourself =). It's alma 29:6-9. Read it! It's good!

Thank you all for your support. I was hoping more people would send me dearelder letters. They're the best because when you're having a bad day, sometimes a letter from family and friends just cheers you up! and if you don't know what to say, just tell me about what's happening in your life! Or tell me a scipture you really liked! Or just whatever comes to mind!  

Well, I hope everyone's doing well! letters and dearelders really are the best way to contact me. I don't have much time to email. Thanks again for all of your support! I love you all!

Pa pa!

Love,

Sora Merrill