Let them eat cake

English classes are going fantastic! We already have a bunch of lessons set up from them. We're really excited about it. For our first class with our advanced students we had them build towers out of gummy bears and toothpicks whilst only speaking English. Then right after our first class we had FHE and only one member showed up but 14 of our students from English stayed. We did bowling, using bottles and a football. It was hilarious :D (see pictures)

bowling for FHE

a few of our english studetns and their gummy bear/toothpick tower! :D

We then went to Moldova for 3 days for our exchanges up there. It was the craziest couple days! It all started at 2.30am in Iasi, on Wednesday morning. Since both Sora and I get carsick, instead of taking the maxitaxi we decided to get the train from Iasi to Chisinau. Sadly, the only train that goes to Moldova leaves at 3am, so we went to sleep for a couple hours then got into our cabin. We lay on the train for another 30 minutes when we arrived at the border. The border took about 3 hours, then we slept for about 2 hours before for some unknown reason they cranked the heat up on the train and we were suffocating and super nauseous upon arriving in Chisinau. Since we were so sick, we sat on a bench at the Chisinau gara for an hour eating a cake we'd brought with us. 

us in Orhei!

Once we were feeling better we went to call the Orhei sisters to see how to get to Orhei, but it turned out our phone doesn't work internationally, even though we'd asked the office to fix it for us. 

A string of pretzels! Romanian tradition :D

So there we were, stranded, with nothing but cake and spare clothes. Thankfully, I remembered the Chisinau sister's address and ho to get there, so went to their apartment. They weren't expecting us though, since we weren't supposed to be with them until Thursday night, so we terrified them by banging on their door at 9 in the morning during their studies. We used their phone to call the office and we managed to sort out a means of communication by using one of the senior couples' phones. 

Next we headed to do our studies and to eat lunch. We also sat on a bench in the mall and ate more of the cake we'd brought. We headed up to Orhei in the evening, but upon arriving at the tiny Orhei gara, there were no missionaries there to meet us. Now, 8 pm at night, we sat and waited for an hour and finished off our cake. The elders and sisters finally found us and took us home and we had the exchange the next day. 

It was womens day, every girl  wears broaches with red and white string. We got given 2 sets of flowers and 2 different broaches each and a bunch of chocolates :D

The exchange was great! I got to go with Sora Caruso! We also had district meeting and Elder Danielson gave us another Russian lesson (I've got a few sentences down!). Then for lunch we went to this pizza place. It's in a hotel room that's been converted into a mini restaurant. It was amaaazing pizza! Sora Caruso and I went villa knocking and block knocking in the afternoon. Thursday evening we went back to Chisinau for our exchange there. Friday, we had our exchange with Sora Sayre and Sora Case. We all went street contacting and for lunch we went to this awesome American restaurant called Okey Dokey. The guy that owns it is from New York but his wife is from Moldova. They were an awesome couple and they even want to come to church this Sunday.

us in Chisinau at Okey Dokey!

So apparently this whole trip was all about the food.... but what can I say? :D

I can hardly believe I only have 3 weeks left! We're going to Bacau today for an exchange and then we're going to Chisinau again for zone conference on Thursday. I have to give my dying testimony. It'll be very interesting. I love it here. I love the people, I love being a missionary, It's going to be hard to leave. 

Keep the Faith!

love, Sora Rivera