Welcome winter!!
That's right, it's winter here on the island and it's so
cold we have no idea what to do with ourselves....and it's only going to get
colder :) We are just counting down to November 16, the day the city turns on
the heaters in our house! Then we can at least be warm somewhere.... but until
then we will hover in front of our little baby space heater and do our studies
mummy style- wrapped in blankets!
Our apartment |
One highlight from this week was that when we went to visit
Stefania, she said she has gone to institute the past 2 weeks! And she said
she's been reading the Book of Mormon!!!! Sorella DeMann has been here for 6
months and this is the first time she's heard Stefania say that! Woo hoo!!!!!
There's a phrase Italians like to say, "piano piano" which means
"little by little". Piano piano Stefania will be back to church. We
are praying so hard for her to make that step! She's coming for institute and
reading the Book of Mormon :)
We got a new ward mission leader this week........*drum
roll* Jonathan Tavernari (he's a BYU basketball legend, and now plays
professionally for the team here in Sassari!). Sorella DeMann and I were lowkey
fist pumping when they announced that change in sacrament meeting. He is so
awesome and has been such a help with Pietro. It's going to be great working
with someone that is just as motivated to be a missionary as we are!!
We had a lesson with Gift this week (she is still on date
for baptism, December 16th!). We invited Matia, she's a convert in the branch
that speaks english really well! She came to help out and bear testimony of the
word of wisdom!! And when Gift arrived, suprise! She brought a friend to the
lesson!!!!!!!!! This girl is on fire. She brought her roommate, Blessing, to
come to the lesson and learn about the word of wisdom. When we asked Gift if
she would live the word of wisdom she said, "I already do all of those
things" YES!!!!! And Blessing was asking us some questions at the end, it
was so awesome :) Gift came to church yesterday too! She is really so strong.
She comes to church by herself every week and doesn't have any friends really
because she doesn't speak Italian. But she still comes every week with no push
from us. It's incredible. Yesterday she tried to pay tithing AGAIN! This time
we had to explain to her that she can't pay tithing until after her baptism so
she can just keep the money or make a donation (fast offering). So she just
paid the money as a donation!!!!!!! WOW. She blows us away. Ah being a
missionary is so rewarding, I don't know how I got so lucky to be able to
witness her conversion and diligence in keeping the commandments but I am so
thankful.
We also technically have a new investigator, Theresa, I
think I mentioned her a couple weeks ago but she's known the missionaries since
1973. She's a tough cookie that's for sure. But for some reason, we really feel
like now is her time. She's ready, she knows, but she's scared and hesitating.
So if anyone has suggestions, I'm ready!! Sorella DeMann and I are ready for
the challenge though, because when we are sitting in her living room bearing
testimony of the gospel truths we know, every single thing about it feels SO
right.
Eggplant lasagna |
Last night we were planning to go out and do some video finding, but then decided to call Fulvia, a member and see if we could come visit, although it was late and there probably wasn't a bus. When she answered the phone she said she wanted to call us and invite us over but thought it was too late to catch a bus!!!!! So of course, we hunt down a bus. We may have gotten a little lost and missed our stop, but we got to talk to a really cool dad and his 2 little sons! They were super interested in coming to english course so we are praying it works out for them to come. It's so amazing how the Lord puts us in situations He knows we need! If we wouldn't have missed our stop, we never would have talked to that man :) Fortunately, the bus driver was nice and dropped us off in the general direction of Fulvia's house. Thank goodness for technology because we were able to use maps to wander around the streets in the dark until we found her house :)
Fulvia told us a really cool story of a girl she met over a
year ago, Monica. Fulvia prays every day for the chance to share the gospel
with someone. One Monday she did just that and felt that she needed to go to
the grocery store. She didn't know why, because she never does grocery shopping
on Monday, bad produce, etc. But she went anyways and loaded up her cart with
water and a few other things. When she went to check out, she met Monica, who
was working at the grocery store. Monica asked how she was going to carry all
this water to her house. Fulvia told her she lived alone but that she had some
angels that would help her, the missionaries (well played, Fulvia, well
played.). And from that, stemmed a beautiful friendship between Fulvia and
Monica. Monica has 4 children, Fulvia has given her a Book of Mormon and I
think she has read some. Fulvia has been trying to get her to meet with us but
she's busy. Last night when we were at her house, she called Monica (on
speakerphone). She said, bold like an Italian, "Monica, why don't you come
meet with the missionaries? You need the gospel in your life. Everyone needs
the gospel. Your family needs the gospel, etc. etc." OH it was AMAZING. I
turned to Sorella DeMann and said, "dang, we need to bring her finding
with us!" hahaha but seriously! Members like Fulvia >>>>>
. Fulvia has also been friends with Theresa for a very long
time, they are like sisters. Theresa came to Fulvia's baptism 20 years ago.
SO.....vediamo!
Found matching hats while sorting clothes |
We also met with Kiri (Tavernari) one day this week.....
there is a huge clothing stash at the church that we didn't know about until
she showed us! Apparently members have been bringing clothing donations to the
church and they've been building up for a while. So we sorted them into
categories. We are trying to think of what we could do with all of these
clothes because there are so many refugee camps in need for this winter. (if you
have ideas please let me know!) Kiri got approval from the Sassari basketball
team that they are going to make this their winter community outreach event. So
now all the members of the basketball team and their families are sorting
through their closets too! Kiri even went around her apartment building
knocking doors asking people for donations. She's awesome. We are just
brainstorming a way to incorporate the gospel into this amazing project!!
Other than that, our week was full of english group finding!
We are trying to emphasize it because the most recent baptisms in Sassari are
results of english course students! I think we handed out 400 or more cards
this week just traveling around with our giant sign!! It's a lot of fun! :)
Quote of the week: "Testimony is not a destination; it
is a possession for performance." (from "What is your
Destination?" by Marvin J. Ashton). This is something I've been reflecting
on a lot this week. Obtaining a testimony isn't a destination!! There are thing
we can continue to learn and parts of our testimonies that need to be
strengthened! But when we do have a testimony, we are more able to share the
gospel with others :) A testimony really is a possession for performance!
That's something I've really come to learn as a missionary and is something I
invite each of you to do this week. A testimony doesn't have to be verbal, but
can also be demonstrated through our actions!! I have a testimony of the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for Him, my Savior, and His atoning
sacrifice for every one of us. I am grateful to be His hands in His work here
nella bella cita di Sassari.
Vi voglio bene! Alla prossima!!
XOXO
Le Sorelle Missionarie
Corso Giovanni Pascoli 25
Sassari, SS 07100
Italia
Corso Giovanni Pascoli 25
Sassari, SS 07100
Italia