2 Brothers, 2 Missions, 2 Stories: I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love (Ben letter/pics 3/25/2019)

This week was yet another lovely week in Moldova. On Monday we took that maxi taxi, which is pretty much like a mormon 15 passenger van but with 30 people, to Orhei, a city about an hour north of Chisinau. On the ride there, I got to meet some interesting people. So first I let a man sit down in my spot so I stood the whole time which was good balance practice. I ended up in the back by these two guys who were really having a good time. It was one of their birthdays and, so long story short, they didn't know where they were. Also, the one guy was telling me that it was cold, trying to help me because I wasn't wearing a coat. However it was probably 80 degrees in there and he was dripping sweat so I just thought that was funny.

After we got there we spent the night in one apartment and spent the next day looking for people to teach. We came back that night and taught English so it was a good day. I found this ghetto old English book on the street and it has some good content so I'm trying to teach some of the lessons in there to our English class.

Also this week we went to the piata, which is a giant market place, and has everything you could ever dream of. So I'm excited to go back there and check out what it has to offer for 15 lei. Also this week Petru drew a portrait of me, and it took him all of 20 mins, and it looks really good. Petru is a member we meet with every week to read the Book of Mormon with, and pray, and he's cool. Other then that the Curent is still deadly and the buses are still full, and there are plenty of people to try and teach.

For a spiritual thought, remembering with what your are blessed with is important. I see lots of people everyday,and some of them look lonely, sad, begging for money etc. It is very hard for me to see all these people suffer with whatever problem they have, and I just want to go up to them and give them all my money, or be their friend all day, or whatever they need. But I can't. Its impossible. I physically cannot go help every person with money, sickness, sadness etc. So I got to thinking about something that I have already known, but it just makes a lot more sense to me now. And it is that God sees us all in the same manner. He knows what all of us have gone through, and what we have problems with. That's why he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins, to know how we feel in our worst times, to enable us to get through those problems. God cannot come down to earth to help us with every little thing, and dwell with us while we are not perfect. So when He sent Jesus, Jesus formed a church, and taught His gospel to bring happiness to all mankind. He didn't go through the streets giving people money, or give them freedom from a corrupt government. He gave us reason and purpose for our lives, and how to be happy. He taught us and gave us a way we can overcome the things in our life that we cannot control. So what is important for me to remember is that I have a message that can help all these people. It won't necessarily fix all their worldly problems, but it can bring them a better happiness then anything worldly can give you. So anytime you feel down, sad, whatever it is, feel blessed that you can know the most important thing, and that is that through Jesus and His Atonement, we can overcome these things. Make sure not to get too caught up in the stuff that doesn't matter, and always remember the things that do matter, the joy the Gospel will bring into your life.

If any of y'all have questions or want a friend to email every Monday, feel free to email Cubby.

Te iubesc pe tine yall

Varstnicul Stanfield