Ceau Ceau Arad!!

Ceau Ceau Arad!

Well... It's official. I'm leaving Arad. As of this coming Wednesday I'll be serving in Constanta, which is quite literally the opposite side of the country. I've served here in Arad for 6 months! Wow! It surely doesn't feel like it. I admit I'm absolutely heart broken to leave my baby duckie, Sora DeRuvo! She's the most incredible person. I adore her! I'm also so sad to leave this precious branch. I've seen so many miracles here, just in seeing the branch grow in unity. I've seen a couple members return from in-activity and regain their testimonies. I've seen investigators change and grow in their faith. I may not as of right now, have seen much of the fruit of my labor here but I know that I've done my best and I don't have regrets. I hope that a few of the seeds I've helped to plant will grow. I'm very excited to go to Constanta. My new companion's name is Sora Caruso. I've only met her once but she was super awesome! I’m also nervous because I've now become very accustomed to the relaxed, western Romanian, and now I've off to the east! Yikes! Hopefully I'll get myself out of my lazy language habits, and I'll adjust quickly to saying "Pa" instead of "ceau" and "tare" instead of "fain".  so right now are feelings of nervousness and also excitement!

Update on the Costros Family... So this week we visited the Costros family twice. Sebi, the 9 year old boy, has a huge desire to be baptised and we even set a baptismal date for the 1st of June. Also the Dad, Mihai, actually stayed for one entire lesson with them which was super exciting. Usually he leaves, but we made a huge effort to talk to him and include him and he ended up staying. He didn't really listen to the lesson, but who knows, next time he might listen a little more and really start to feel the spirit and want to change. Alexandra, the 10 year old daughter, was present at the lessons. She still doesn't want to get baptised but she does really want to come to church. I will continue to pray for them, and I know that Sora DeRuvo and he new companion, Sora Ewell will take wonderful care of this precious family. I love them with all my heart and I know the Lord will take care of them all.

Sora DeRuvo's birthday!! ...so it was my ducky's birthday this week and we had such a cool day. She was super nervous because it was her first birthday without her twin, so as a district we tried to make it super duper awesome! I got up early and blew up a ton of balloons then ran in the room at 6.30 and threw them on her yelling Happee Burfdaee!! Then I made her pancakes for breakfast. We then had a lesson with a member. Next, we went out for lunch with the Elders and secretly we'd bought her these new shoes that she'd been wanting. I'd done my best to describe them to Elder Adams. Sadly they bought the wrong ones, but it’s okay because they gave us the receipt and we went and exchanged them. Then in the evening we made a cake and brought it over to our lovely Costros Family and had cake and talked about the Joseph Smith and the restoration. The previous time we'd visited we'd made a calendar/stick chart so that every time they pray as a family they can put a sticker on the calendar. And it was super awesome when we went on Friday because they'd been praying everyday as a family!! YAY! And then right after that was when we established a baptismal date for Sebi. So.... yay! How wonderful?! The day was fantastic.

 Random things.... The SUN is soooooooooooo beautfiul here every day! The weather is amazing. And right as it starts to get hotter and hotter I'll be in Constanta by the beach where apparently there's a super nice breeze :) I also have super bad tan lines already hehee :)

Anyway!! Next time I'll be emailing, I'll be in my new city, with lots to tell. I love you all and thank you for your prayers and support!.

Keep the Faith

Sora Rivera