End on a good note

I've been avoiding writing this email. Saving it for when I had nothing else to write about. Since I wrote just a couple days ago, updating you on our Iasi and Moldova travels, I really have nothing else to say. So here it goes...

us at the top of the water tower

Confession: I am the Relief Society piano player!

I know what you're thinking, "Jessi, since when do you play the piano?" 

Sora and mee

Okay, well many, many years ago as a 9 year old I took some piano lessons. I learnt to read music but I decided that I didn't really care for piano and so I quit. Now skip forward about 12-13 years to summer in Constanta with Sora Polatis. She plays piano and has permission to practice piano during the week for Sunday slujba (job). As she was practicing one day I thought, hey, wouldn't it be fun if I learnt to play the piano. She retaught me some basic piano, and I too began practicing, just using the simplified hymns. From that time onward every time we got bunged on a lesson, as we waited for the person to show up, we would practice piano. 

Going to Iasi, they had pianos that could play themselves. They have all the hymns programmed in them, so all anyone needs to do if press a button. But coming to Panduri was a different story. Last transfer, Sora Heim would play for Relief society. But this transfer, I, with my poorly played simplified hymns, am the best pianist in the room. It's kind of embarrassing sometimes when they ask me to play ones I've never tried before but I'm definitely improving.

Now, I again know what you're thinking, "Jessi, don't you wish you'd kept up with the piano lessons and practiced?" 

us by the Port

Answer: Yes and No. I had no interest at the time, so I probably would've ended up hating the piano, but of course I wish I could play any old hymn they threw in front of me. Also, if I knew the piano, I'd lose the hilarious story of being asked to play the piano every week...:D

2nd Confession: We now teach piano lessons! That’s right! The branch president has decided that the all the missionaries teach piano lessons as a way of finishing new investigators, and inviting less actives and part member families to come to church. It's a genius idea really, the only flaw in the plan is that I neither Sora nor I play the piano... my simplified hymns is the extent of my skill. We've received a number of referrals already though, so I gotta get practicing!

us by the snowy castle

It's amazing the skills one learns on their mission! I've not only learnt how to teach the gospel and speak Romanian and play the piano, but my other new found skills include: juggling, crocheting, teaching English, milking cows, reading Romanian Cyrillic, moonwalking, cooking, baking, origami, rapping, beat boxing, and talking to strangers!

We're going to Craiova and Severin this week! I'm so excited! I love this work! I love the Lord. Jesus is the Christ! 

Keep the faith!

Sora Rivera