The Best Two Years: Elder Alex Ditto: Thankful and Joyful

Buna buna!!

I gotta say, I have a lot to be thankful for after this week! Elder Jacobson and I have been focusing on learning and using the scriptures better this week. We find a reference each day and try to use it in a teaching scenario. I have really enjoyed diving in a little deeper into the scriptures and I have also realized how much more knowledgeable I am in the scriptures than a year ago. Many people tell me that reading a book can't help you increase your faith and that they would rather find God themselves, or that they just act how they think God wants them to, and pay no attention to the stories found in the scriptures.

Arcul de Triumf! Commemorating the three parts of Romania uniting together.

I love the passage in 2 Nephi 25:23

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Anteneul Roman... where they hold some fancy concerts or something

I love the architecture!

A great way to spend a pday

Of course! God gives us guidance through the scriptures. He commanded the prophets to write the revelation that they receive so that they might know to what source they can look to for salvation... and to teach us what "all we can do" really means. This is the same reason as to why God has commanded us to worship him at church every week... to learn about the Savior, to feel of His love, and then to receive inspiration as to how we can improve our lives and come closer to Him.

D&C 19:23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.

I truly do feel this peace that the Lord has promised us as I try to do my best to live the way that he has commanded through heeding the voice of his holy prophets. In President Hettinger's [mission president] email this week he talked about being a consecrated missionary, and how often success comes after a trial of our faith, or after "all that we can do." This is a pretty cool principle because we do our part, and the Lord will always do his. We can always do more so this permits a plethora of blessings that we can receive!

Yesterday we had our weekly zone contacting activity, and we decided to do it at the entrance of Cismigiu Park. It was by far the coldest day so far, and not too many people were out. Elder Jacobson and I did our best and met some cool people as our toes were freezing. Just before leaving, Elder Krieger asked if they could join us for the rest of the evening. We decided that we would do some block knocking and then have sweet and sour pork for dinner.

Amazed by how big this thing is and how little they use the inside.

As we traveled on the metro, we challenged ourselves to talk to at least one person on the metro about the gospel, and that ended up with us giving away two copies of the Book of Mormon. After that, we went home, grabbed some more copies, and set out for a good one hour to find someone to teach. Elder Jacobson and Elder Ward went out and ended up finding a roommate of an investigator who was super interested in strengthening his faith of Jesus Christ. Elder Krieger and I went out together just like old times. We first tried to visit a guy that I had met a week ago, but to no avail. Our back-up plan was to carol, so we got right to it! The third door that we knocked was a nice lady who allowed us to sing to her. We sang Angels We Have Heard on High. I had just learned the alto part so I was giddy to sing! The lady loved it and we introduced ourselves and quickly refused the money that she offered us. (In Romania, it is tradition to give the carolers money or food). We continued to talk, and she opened up about her religious beliefs and how one of her sons had just converted to the -Seventh-day Adventist church as he learned that the Sabbath day should actually be on Saturday... and that she wasn't really even sure what to think! By some miracle, she let us in to her home to hear our message. Elder Krieger and I were speechless!

Thankful that I am serving around one of my best friends!

Smecher

We walked in and there were her two other sons (28 and 29 years old) and her husband. They were all so welcoming, and we chatted for a little. They were so impressed that two boys could learn Romanian so well and that we would spend two years here away from our family. We asked if we could begin with a prayer and turn off the soccer game. They quickly did so and we began to teach them the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were listening so intently and as we showed them the verse that Joseph Smith read in their giant bible that they were so proud of, they pondered deeply. They were beginning to understand that this verse in James was indeed to persuade them to believe in Jesus Christ. In fact, it was an invitation to act! Oh how humbling it was to see this family having their souls awakened to the fact that God still loves us, and has revealed more truth to us in this confused world! I could tell that the parents truly raised their children with love and the God inspired them. What a marvelous opportunity to bring this prepared family the gospel of Jesus Christ... the exact thing that has brought our own family so much peace and hope in our own lives.

Potato on a stick is what I like to call it.

Notice the giant Cathedral they are building next to the Parliament Building... crazy!

This experience came after not just a long and cold day, but after much fasting and prayer and hard work. I know that the Lord is preparing his children here in Romania to accept the blessings that come from taking upon themselves the name of Christ. My joy comes from being apart of this great and marvelous work!

Spending some time with Fratele Gabi and his friends Cristi and Iona

Teaching them how to play Rummykub

Thanksgiving with the bros!

So, yes Thanksgiving was incredible and I had the opportunity to eat two feasts with great people.

Daniela graciously received us for a thanksgiving meal.

Enjoying some incredible homemade pumpkin pie!

We even had sweet potatoes and marshmallows!!!

Making the peach cobbler

Missionary Thanksgiving feast!

And yes, we spent all of pday exploring Bucharest and enjoying each other's company, and yes our house is all decorated for Christmas and it is exactly how I was imagining, but my real joy comes from helping others strengthen their faith in Christ and His atonement. I love being a missionary!