The Best Two Years: Elder Alex Ditto: I Would Walk/Hike/Drive 450 Miles

Hello my family!!!

This week was pretty dang awesome... in total we traveled over 450 miles including a trip over to Craiova with the Hettingers to visit the branch... more about that later!

Photo shoot fun

The week started with transfers, which also meant that a few missionaries were going home. Elder Forsyth, who was my companion in Alexandria and Otopeni way back when, had arrived to the finish and I got to bid him farewell.

Gonna miss these guys!

Elder Parrett...sad to see this man go!

It was a bittersweet moment- each of my companions have taught me many lessons, and I have so many great memories with each doing the Lord's work. Elder Forsyth was no exception to this list. I couldn't help but wipe away a tear when we hugged for the last time in the mission field.

After transfer day, our schedule freed up a tad, and we were able to get some good lessons, member visits, and contacting sessions in.

Sora Stoica and I

Sora Stoica spoiled us with sarmale and mamaliga (a personal fav), and we got to have a great lesson with an investigator that we are teaching from Craiova about the priesthood. I felt the power of the Holy Ghost witness to me and to Petru that the priesthood- God's power and authority- has been restored to the earth under the direction of Joseph Smith.

Us and Petru... phenomenal guy

I had another really cool experience while contacting in Piata Romana. I stopped a guy who was initially not interested in religion because he had a lot doubts about God. After talking for a little, I started to ask inspired questions and then after talking about how I know God is real, something clicked in his brain and started to become curious in how a belief in God could help him in his life. By the end he had accepted a Book of Mormon and was on his way. I stood there a little shocked, reviewing what had just happened. The moment when he became curious about how a belief in God could help him, I was able to teach to his need, and testify with power. It reminded me a little bit of Ammon's experience in the Book of Mormon.

Alma 1834 Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true;

35 And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God.

Pretty cool verses that I can say are TRUE! We can have the experiences that the great heroes from the Book of Mormon and the Bible have.

We had been planning a trip to Craiova for about two months, and all this week we prepared and helped the members prepare in various ways. I had the thought that I should see if I could locate the old area book for Craiova, as there are currently no missionaries in that city. The DeSpains (Senior couple that are serving in the office) helped me find it and I was able to look back at all of the past people that I had met and invited them to church.

Early Sunday morning we took off with the Hettinger family and made the long journey to see our fellow brothers and sister in Craiova. The church building had just been remodeled and looked amazing! I honestly felt like a super star... everyone was so excited to see me and I was excited to see them. In total we had twenty-four people at church, and eleven of those were investigators... that is definitely a new high for that branch! During sacrament meeting, I played the guitar just like old times. After finishing "I'm trying to be like Jesus," the whole room got quiet, and then burst into applause! Super funny, and I loved feeling their energy. The best part was singing "Eu cred in Hristos," as we started singing I felt a great love for the people here, and for their desire to learn about Jesus Christ. This branch, like most branches in Romania, have a lot of work to be done, but I know that God is mindful of each one!

A walk in the park with the crew!

After church, we had a lunch all together and got to visit for a while. Mirela is doing well, sure do love my Romanian mom! Craiova has a special place in my heart!

We finished this crazy week with a P-day hike and added a couple of miles to our total for this week.

Super duper foggy today

Capra neagra

I love spring hiking

Pioneer club in Romania!

ET si ED

Elder Jacobson and me

Band of brothers

This is what a classic communist Romanian city looks like.

I don't know if it was just super humid, if I was out of shape, or if the Ditto genes caught up to me, but I was a sweaty guy! I feel refreshed and ready to go for another crazy and busy week.

Love you all!

Elder Ditto