Last Email of 2013

Little Miracle

Me and a Bird

So a few weeks ago, I accidentally lost the Book of Mormon I was carrying in a Xerox. I thought I'd just left it at the church building but a few hours later we got a phone call from a lady who wanted to read the Book she'd found at a Xerox. The man who owned the Xerox wouldn't let her take it, so we agreed to meet so we could give her, her own copy. Well... normal... she bunged us, twice. She seemed really flakey on the phone and very suspicious, not even telling us her name.  So we weren't very hopeful when she called us on Monday wanting to meet that evening. We decided to give her another chance and sure enough she showed up! She turned out to be a woman from here in Bucuresti who was actually raised Muslim, but is super open and free in her beliefs. We took her on a chapel tour (first time I've ever done that!) and she loved it! She asked questions non-stop and wanted to take home every manual/hymn book she saw. We limited her to the pamphlets and the Book of Mormon. She then called us the next day to thank us and she wants to meet again! Yay... so that should be fun :D

Update... I'm still sick :/ meh... but on the bright side we have hot water again. It came back on Christmas day. Now it's switching between 5 seconds of scolding hot to about 20 seconds of freezing cold, but that's better than 100% freezing. We went on a mini exchange on Thursday so Sora Heim could still go to our lesson. She went with Sora Stapley and Sora Polatis chilled with me in the apartment. I was bored, so we got permission to watch Anastasia, which we watched in Romanian. It was hilarious! :D 

Us and President and Sora Hill

Christmas was great! We got to play games in the morning with the Elders, then we headed off to the legendary Sora Gorzo's apartment for lunch. It was.... well it was edible, but then afterwards we went to President's house for games and dessert. After which, we went to the Internet cafe and we got to Skype! yaaaaaaaaaaay! It was so fun to see my lovely family. 

The Hobbit Dragon in front of the IMax

Carolling: on Tuesday we went caroling all day, i think it was about 7 hours in total. We caroled to the public and then went around visiting members, less active members, and their neighbors. It was exhausting but so fun! Even President and Sora Hill came with us for about 2 hours. :D

Oh my, I can't believe 2013 is over! My "black year" as it's nicknamed on the mission. The full calendar year on the mission! It seems like just a few weeks ago, I was with Sora Cook and Elder Groberg and Elder Benson in Arad on New years eve... and now.... well, here I am in Bucuresti 1 year later. Time flies!

love you all! Keep the Faith! and Happy New Year!!!

Love Sora Rivera

photos, me and a bird, us and president and Sora hill, and the hobbit dragon that's in front of the imax :D