THIS WEEK WAS DEFINITELY A BOASTING WEEK

HI FAM

THIS WEEK ROCKED

HERE ARE SOME SCRIPTURES TO EXPLAIN:

Alma 26:11-12, 16, 35-37

Moldova is definitely a strange land where Heavenly Father is SO MINDFUL of His children. Christ is counting His sheep here. FLIP I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. BOASTING. MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST. HEAVENLY FATHER ROCKS. 

Super cool week. Opening your mouth and talking to literally every human brings some serious blessings. We got 18 numbers this week! EIGHTEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING HAPPIER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ATONEMENT. Flip. Good stuff. 

One of those people who is interested is a super cool girl named Ana. We were talking to her on the bus after a super creepy bloc knocking experience (I will spare you the details mom hahah but don't worry. I am fine ;) always protected #blessup). And she said this to us, "Yeah, I'm searching for myself to know to the truth." All of her family and friends are baptist, but she hasn't been baptized yet because she can feel something lacking........THAT IS AN ANSWER TO ANY MISSIONARIES PRAYERS. We got her number. Then later that night, our phone BROKE. STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. WE LOST HER NUMBER. So sad. BUT THEN WE RAN INTO HER LATER ON IN THE WEEK AND APPOLOGIZED FOR NOT CALLING HER BECAUSE OUR PHONE BROKE AND SHE GAVE IT TO US AGAIN. Heavenly Father, dude. He is mindful of His children who are SEARCHING (!!!!!!!!!!) for the truth. I love this work. I love these people. 

BAPTISM. Dudes. Arti. One of the Elder's investigators was baptized on Saturday. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. THE SPIRIT. It was so strong. Our investigator Mihaela came. She was feeling the Spirit super strong. She loved it. I loved it. Heavenly Father loved it. Arti loved it. Everyone loved it. After the socializing and what not, Sora Schow and I had a short lesson with Mihaela about baptism. We invited her to be baptized. She said no, BUUUUUT because she wants to be prepared and know more. Fair. We've taught her two lessons. Hahaha. But she did say that she knows that it would be a path that God would be proud of. And she wants it eventually (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) :) :) :) :) she is so cute. I will attach a picture of her teaching us Korean haha :) I will speak 9 languages by the time I come home (IN A YEAR?!?! WHAT)

Just like Ammon says in verse 12, I "will praise His name forever" for letting me have this opportunity to change and for softening my heart. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel" :)

xoxxo
Sora Idiart 

PS read Matt. 15:22-28 if you want extra AWESOMENESS IN YOUR WEEK. I want to be like this woman. 

Say hello to my new comp, Sora Schow! Us last week when it was sn*wing :')

An animal was killed in the making of this picture . . . 

b/c this is an animal hat. Not sure what animal. 

Also it is one of the Russian elder's. But don't worry. I

 will purchase one shortly. Too cold here. 

Animals figured out how to survive. Just tryna survive out here fam

This almost fell on my head :-)

Broke out the boots. Will be wearing them for the next 2 months. Lolz. 

"Sledding" hahahha

THE BOIZ OF CHISIZZLE. Notice the halo around Arti? 

YEAH THAT IS THE LIGHT OF CHRIST MY FRIENDS. 

Mihalea teaching us Korean. . . 

Video of a Preparation Day Adventure. . . Sledding.  40 Lei is about $2 (for all those buckets!)

Action Scenes from Moldovan Bucket Sledding Adventures

RUSSIA BABY OR BABY RUSSIA IDK

HELLOOOOOOOOO FAMILY. Hello. 

Moldova is baby Russia. I have been inside for almost an hour and my toes are still frozen little baby piggies. Hahahah

OKAY SCRIPTURE TIME. I started reading the New Testament. MAN IT IS PACKED WITH GOODNESS. I really really really loved two verses in particular. Matthew 9:37 and 10:16. Also 2 Nephi 22:2. Flip. The scriptures are filled with GOLD my friends. 

Okay so more about Chisinau! It really is baby Russia here. When I talk to people on the bus, I have about a 50% chance they will speak Romanian......so. I am learning Russian. Haha :) also it was a sold -25 degrees FAHRENHEIT the other day. I thought I was going to die. Because also sn*w. Ew gross. But because it is baby Russia, most of the people celebrate Christmas on the Russian Christmas day, Jan 7th! So I got two Christmases. My new companion, Sora Schow is so cute. She filled a stocking for me and everything :') We also got to do some DOPE carol contacting. We got on a bus, all 10 of us Romanian speaking missionaries, and just sang our little hearts out. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. Met some really dope people doing it. Meeting up with them later this week :) SUPER STRANGE to be in a city where there are 20 missionaries.....coming from a city with 4 hahaha BUT IT ROCKS. Dope humans here.

Two super cool other experiences:

1. Claudia and Co. Met this dope family (mom, dad, two little girls - 13 and 8) bloc knocking my first day here in Chis. Last floor, last door. LOVE THEM. We help their daughters with English and teach them about what we believe. Super promising. Their 13 year old daughter Ana is sharp as a tack. 

2. We had a lesson with a recent convert, Adriana, and her kid brother, Chiriel. We were talking about our future plans/how we can involve Christ in them. I asked Chiriel, "Ce vrei pentru viata ta?" (What do you want for your life?) and his response was H U M B L I N G. Eye opening. Wowza. "As vrea Isus Hristos sa fie langa mine." (I want Jesus Christ to be by me) This kid is 9 years old. Flip guys. Is that your immediate response when asked that question? It's mine now! Why has it taken me almost 6 months to figure that out?!?!?! I swear. I'm pretty sure the reason why Heavenly Father wants me on a mission is to help and change me. I'm not sure if I even can help these people! Little 9 year olds putting me in my place!!!! I LOVE BEING HERE!!!!!! 

If we put Christ at the center and focus of everything we do this year, our lives will be full of purpose and love. I can promise you that. I've seen it happen this past week. HE IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE. He is the only one who can help you figure out why you're here. I'm working on it! 

I LOVE YOU ALL. HAVE A GREAT WEEK. STAY WARM. Wear some wool socks. 

xoxox
Sora Idiart 

ps sorry for no pictures. I need to buy a card reader....didn't have time today. Went sledding. Have some dope videos and pics of me wiping out. Will send next week :) basically still look the same. Just colder. With snot frozen on the inside of my nose. And some frostbite. Hehe jk abt the frostbite

What I learned this Transfer: MOLD

Hahahahha hello family. I'm laughing because my title. I realized it is a pun. And I didn't even mean for it to be..... ANYWAYS LETS CONTINUE. 

Scripture of the week! Helaman 5:12. I think I've already shared this. BUT DANG IT IS POWERFUL. Foundation. On Christ. Do it. 

Alrighty. So the subject. This past transfer Sora Purtchert and I learned that mold grows. On everything. In our apartment. Hahah. Who woulda thought?! 

Also. I'm being transferred. TO MOLDOVA. Hahaha. So that's why I laughed :) I fly there tomorrow morning. More adventures await! Very excited, but also so so so so so so so sad to be leaving Arad. And Sora Purtschert. Mostly Sora Purtschert :( BUT Sora Schow *new companion* is going to be dope. Really excited to serve with her. I'll also be in the same district as Elder Lemon from my MTC group again! Yeet! 

Sora P and I were both pretty under the weather these past few days :( way bummer to end our transfer like that, but all is well! We served a great one together. Sorry this email is short! Still not feeling super hot/have to finish packing/getting rid of things so that my bags don't weight over 50 pounds.....yikes. 

I LOVE YOU ALL. HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT START TO YOUR YEAR :) 

xoxox

Sora Idiart 

Poor turn out at English Class . . . equals hang man. 

Hahaha it was actually a blast. Shout out to Elder Ditto for snagging these pics!

From Sarah: Here is a photo of Emma as she was about to board her flight from Timisoara, Romania to Chinisau, Moldova.  She had to drive 90 min south to the airport to catch a 3 hour flight.  The Days (Senior Couple) told me she had been very sick for the past few days, so the mission flew her, rather than have her take a 22 hour night train.  Part of the reason the train takes so long is that it stops in each city for up to 2 hours.  Plus, at the Moldovan boarder, the train must change wheels, which necessitates a 4 hour layover!! Soviet train tracks aren't the same as Romanian tracks?!?!  Poor thing. I hope her ears don't hurt on the flight!

Also from Sarah: Emma saying goodbye to friends in the Arad Branch before her transfer.  The lady on the far left in each picture is Ana Mogoş.  Sora Mogoş sends me FB messages and photos of Emma, keeps me updated on Branch events.  I will miss having the inside scoop on my girl!

HELLO, I LOVED SEEING YOUR FACES YESTERDAY!

HELLO!!!! I JUST TALKED TO YOU ALL LIKE 24 HOURS AGO. FACE TO FACE. THAT WAS GLORIOUS. 

But first. Let me start with the weekly scripture: Moroni 9:25. May Christ lift you up this week. Dang. He doesn't even lift me up anymore. Pretty sure I've been riding piggy-back for the last 5 months hahah. But really. I read this verse the past week. POETRY. 

This week was FULL OF MIRACLES. Can I get a Christmas miracles shoutout or WHAT. We had zone conference up in Cluj for all the missionaries out here in the west #westisbestBABBBY. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. But first. On the train ride up Tuesday night....I gave out my first Book of Mormon to a stranger! His name was Draco Malfoy or something like that haha jk not Draco Malfoy. But Drancu. Oricum. Really dope. He was super chill. Sora P pushes me to be bold. Flipping love this comp of mine. 

OKAY SO AT ZONE CONFERENCE I GOT TO SEE SORA STANLEY !!!!!!!!!! REMEMBER HER?!??!?! MY MISSION MOTHER?!?!?! YEAH. IT WAS AWESOME! Also I got to see Sora Dusenberry (MAH GIRL), Elder Trottier, AND ELDER PERRETT!!!!!!!!!! Shoutout to the best 6 weeks of my life <33333 What a blessed day. Also, I love the Ivory's. Best mission president (President Ivory) + real mission president (Sora Ivory) hahah. People. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE. GET TO KNOW PEOPLE. Christ ministered one by one. We should to! New Year's resolution #98263865872463. 

Not sure if I've talked about how much Sora P and I love kurtos kalacs yet ???? Probably. Oricum. We learned some Hungarian carols and sang to Eni (our BFF who knows our kurtos order) AND gave her a Book of Mormon in Hungarian! Sora Mogos helped us translate our testimonies from Romanian into Hungarian for her :) a lot of people here know Hungarian. Very fun. I know how to say yes, no, hi, and what's up. Who knew that my mission call would also include learning Hungarian? hahaha 

So one super fun Christmas tradition/thing that Romanians do=CAROL. The 23rd was actually like the national day of caroling. But they do it ALL NIGHT LONG on Christmas Eve. So we did too. Literally. 5 hours. DOPE. And then 4 hours yesterday. I've realized that I do a lot of singing in this country. . . I feel very bad for them. But hey. Some guy gave us a huge bag of oranges. And also tried giving us 50 lei. Maybe I could make it a career? Or at least be able to afford all those chocolate santas hahaha

I LOVE THE SAVIOR. I'm so grateful for everything that He is in my life. I'm grateful for the strength and comfort that He offers me on a daily basis. I'm grateful for this time of year. CHRISTMAS ALL THE TIME. 

I love you all. Have a great week :) 

xoxoox Sora Idiart 

MY HOMIES from the MTC :') frick I love these humans. 

hahahahha My Companion, Sora P is so cute 

This was the elders xmas present to us.....hahahhaha love them 

Punk Rock will never die 

Me and my boyfriend

TALKING TO YOU !!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!! BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Freaking cold dude

These were taken off daysmission.blogspot.com  The Senior Missionary Couple in Arad hosted all the missionaries and Branch members for lunch after Christmas Services.  The top pictures is Sora Ana Mogos talking about making a special Romanian dessert and the bottom picture is a quartet singing to everyone.

CRĂCIUN FERICIT!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLO FAMILY!!!! 

HOW ARE YOU!!??!?!? I hope your week was awesome. My week rocked. 

Scripture to check out: Ether 12:18-19. Is your foundation FIRM in Christ? It needs to be before anything else! 

OKAY SO THIS WEEEEEEEEEEK! Many things happened. Twas a good week. Sora P and I just ran ourselves to the ground. And it was great. First off, DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THE CHRISTMAS VIDEO THE CHURCH MADE?! It's been a huge tool for us. People love light. And they typically love Christ. And they all love Christmas. And generally people like to help others. SO THE VIDEO IS MAGIC. HERE is the link in case you haven't seen it :) 

Here is a funny language story...these seem to keep happening. Lol. Okay so Sora P and I were on the tramvai on our way home for lunch...I hear this super cute family speaking French. So I go, "Hey, I'm 1/2 French. Let's see if they also speak Romanian".....So I ask the mom if they're from France. She replies yes. I tell her that my family is from France. THEN SHE WHIPS OUT SOME MAD FAST FRENCH. I don't know French. At all. So I tell her, "Nu, nu, nu. Nu vorbesc Franța" aka I told her I don't speak France....not French. Hahaha. Pretty sure she also could tell that I don't speak Romanian ;) learning! 

We have this cute friend named Mada. She's great. We were walking around with her, speaking in English (she likes practicing with native speakers mwuahaha). Sora P has a stroke of GENIUS and we showed her the Christmas video. She opened up to us about how one of her friends was recently diagnosed with cancer. Bore simple testimony about the Plan of Salvation, and kept walking. Later as we were waiting with her for her mom to pick her up, I was like, " Mada, I can't stop thinking about your friend who has cancer. That can be a super scary thing because there is so much uncertainty in the world about life after death. But we believe something super cool. Would you be interested in learning more?" She said...YES! Yeet.

Also we met this super cool girl named Laura. With green hair. She's dope.

AND I learned how to make Sarmale. So good. Making it every Christmas from now on. 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! KEEP GOING! Praying for you. Merry Christmas :) stoked to talk to you on Christmas! 

Xoxoxo,

Sora Idiart 

(Emma sent pictures without captions and one can only GUESS
what she is thinking about these photos?!?!? . . . Sorry!!)

(And a funny video about the icy conditions in Romania!)

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ETERNAL FAMILIES

HELLO FAMILY! 

WOW. This week was a long one! Lots happened! BUT FIRST . . . 

. . . scripture hehe okay. So Mormon 9:21 & 27. DANG FAM. I love these verses. Especially verse 27 when it says "...come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation". YO. IT TAKES WORK. And it can be really hard. It can be hard to start. But you can do it. Whatever you are on the path. You can do it. It's easier when you have a real love for the Savior. PLEASE KNOW. HE LOVES YOU!!!!!!!!!!! x3984758495 more (!!!!!!'s). I promise. I know. I have felt His love for myself, for the people of Romania, and for you. Just do it. You've got it :) 

Alright so! More about my week! It was hard! But I can do hard things . . . all through Christ and His sacrifice and love for me :)

One DOPE thing that happened: our cute mom friend who we help with English, Irina, gave us some DANG GOOD homemade zacusca. Spelling? Not sure. But it's this way good Romanian vegetable spread thing. Flip. I think me and Sora P. ate like half of the can in one sitting. So yum. Way yum. We had a great spiritual thought with her after our English lesson. She asked if we could pray together at the end (she's very Baptist), and MAN. Her words were sincere - so heartfelt. Inspired me to do better. Am I really making my prayers with my Heavenly Father a conversation? I am from now on! 

You guys. I am SO GRATEFUL for the Plan of Salvation/Redemption/Happiness. This weekend less-active member who I've spent a lot of time with the past 3.5 months passed away Friday morning. Hard! Her name was Elisabeta Sabou - 70 years old! Sora P. and I spent probably a total of 15 hours with her over the past two weeks in the hospital, when her daughters/granddaughters couldn't be at the hospital. One of the funniest, most witty old woman. Sora P. and I had to talk with the family - in the best Romanian funeral terms we could muster - for a good chunk of the morning. My heart literally broke seeing the sorrow in their eyes. 

DEATH IS NOT THE END MY FRIENDS. I KNOW THIS. Which reminds me of another verse that I really loved this week in Mormon 7:5. Because of Christ, we WILL see our family members who have passed on. The sting of death is swallowed in Christ. Yes the sting is still there, but we can turn to the Lord. We can turn to Jesus Christ. We can find strength in Him. I find strength in Him everyday. 

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I love Arad. I love my companion. I love my Heavenly Father. I love Jesus Christ. I love their teachings. I love being in Romania. FLIP it's hard. So hard. BUT I LOVE IT! I am praying for you all! Thank you for your prayers and love and support!

Cu drag xoxoxo

Sora Idiart 

love this companion of mine

still rly love her

sometimes (all the time) i imitate "Miranda Sings" . . . 

and also we got Kürtőskalács everyday last week, hahahhaha whoops 

?????? Romania doesn't know how to speak English very well hahahaha

Christmas Concert in Oradea
(From Ana Mogos, a woman in Emma's Branch)

Flyer for the Christmas Concert in Oradea.  
Can you believe Emma can speak this language?

NOTE FROM SARAH:  These things remind me of Robert Stebbins Camping Treats:

Kürtőskalács are cakes baked on a metal tube/spit specific to Hungarian-speaking regions in Romania.  In past years, they were considered a festive treat but they are now part of everyday consumption. (oh good, Emma is doing something normal by eating these daily, even if her "Miranda" impersonations are anything but normal.)

Kürtőskalács are made from a strip of sweet, yeast dough, which is spun and then wrapped around a truncated cone–shaped baking spit, and rolled in granulated sugar. It is roasted over charcoal while basted with melted butter, until its surface cooks to a golden-brown color. During the baking process the sugar sticks on the kürtőskalács and caramelizes, forming a shiny, crispy crust. The surface of the cake can then be topped with additional ingredients such as ground walnuts or cinnamon. (I guess I will be visiting Romania to try these bad boys next year!)

Hahahaha I found out what "fur" means in Romanian

HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

How are you?!?!?! I am great! Thank you for your continued prayers and love and support and WOWZA. Really. I really do feel ultra loved. I hope you know how much I love you! 

Scripture POWA: Okay so this week. Tears. I've been reading in 3 Nephi lately. SO I GOT TO MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN ALL SCRIPTURE!!!!!!! And this time one verse really stuck out to me. WAY HARD. 3 Nephi 22:11. I LOVE THIS VERSE. Flip. Okay. If you feel like Jesus Christ has abandoned you, read this verse. If you can't feel Him there, IT IS BECAUSE HE IS LAYING YOUR FOUNDATION. And He's laying a dang beautiful one. Keep going. Keep praying. Keep trying to feel Him. You will. He is there. HE LOVES YOU. Man. This scripture. Hit me like a ROCK this week. Hopefully this helps you, reader of my blog<3 

Okay also one more thing. Something that Sora Purtschert said this week. Trials=bring us closer to Christ. Because we have to rely on His atonement to get through them. If you're going through something hard right now, keep going and rely on Him. He who is might to save. He knows you! BY NAME. Ugh. You guys. Can I just. BLAH. I LOVE MY SAVIOR. I have felt His love for me and for you and for my companions and for these people here in Romania. It's real. 

Okay so now I know all of you are wondering what "fur" means in Romanian hahaha (refer to last week's email if you are confused and don't know what I'm talking about). SO "fur" means "I steal". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I now understand why that girl was so annoyed/concerned. 

It snowed here . . . it has begun. We went running in it. Wished I would have not been lazy while in Utah and practiced running in snow hahahaha but it's okay. I only slipped 900 times :) 

Okay that's all I have time for! I love you all! Sorry this email is so so so short! But I need to go buy some warm clothes. So I don't freeze to death<33333 fun fact. Every morning when we go running, an old person yells at us. Because Romanians believe that the cold has an ability to freeze your eggs. As in future children. So. I need to buy "fatter" clothing (also a Romanian thing haha). Anyways . . . culture lesson over haha PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU! 

xoxox

Sora Idiart 

Sora Purtschert<333 and Ashley Tisdale<3333 hahaha

The Elders apparently have a set of keys to our apartment . . . 

so what do they do when they know we're out of town with the Senior couple? 

TP our apartment and leave us MY FAVORITE chocolate santa's hahaha 

New country, Same me. hahahahah 

WIND and my Cute Companion 

We wanted to go grocery shopping this morning after running . . . 

but you have to be in proselyting clothes. . . . 

so . . . this was our solution. W

e ended up not going shopping looking like that. Hahahaha