Cleaning a Lot

Sora Heim, Sora Stapley, Elder Lybbert, Elder French

It's morning and we don't have time for any studying or exercising. We are going all the way across the city to pick up trash. That's right! We are going to help clean Bucuresti, if it is the last thing I DO!

It was great manual labor. We spent morning in a vacant lot that people use as a short cut, and apparently a garbage basket. We filled many, many plastic garbage bags full of clothes, cigarettes, bottles, and paper. It's a lot cleaner now, but we might have thrown away a couple of homeless people's homes. I feel a little sad about that, but the stuff they were living in was disgusting and infested with things. We were really doing them a favor.

What's more? We all got to wear those great yellow vests that identified us as Latter-day Saints. I've never worn one before. It was fun, and a good change of pace.

All roads lead to Timisoara

Piata Unrii

Who would have thought Timisoara would see so much of Sora Kendra Heim? I certainly did not. However, this past week I found myself there again, walking the familiar streets. 

I don't really understand it. If I believed in some fate or destiny running our lives, like in a novel, I would think that perhaps this city calls me to it and my business there is not yet complete. But, I believe in God! 

What is it about me and Timisoara? I may never know. But, I do know it was kind of like an out-of-body experience. I have been in Timisoara during almost every stage of my missionary life. I was there exactly one year ago. I couldn't wrap my mind around the situation nor can I express how I felt about it through writing. The good news is there is still the best hot chocolate I have ever had in that city. 

One book closes

I have been in Romania for more than a year now. In case anyone was wondering, I finished the Book of Mormon in Romanian. It was very fulfilling. I felt the same as I did when I closed book 7 of Harry Potter, and when the finale of House aired a couple years ago. I just didn't know what to do with myself.  So, I took some pictures of the end of the book and lay down on the floor for awhile. I also took time to interrupt my companion's personal study time because I felt like there was no more to be done in my life. I just needed to express that to someone. Things are better now and I have new goals to reach and new purpose.

Brasov Sign

This week we traveled to Brasov. It is gorgeous! I have missed mountains. We also were able to have some cool experiences on the train ride, including standing for the first couple hours until enough people got off so we could sit down. Good times, good times.