The GIFT of Christmas

Christmas came early to the Sassari Sorelle! Gift was baptized on Saturday and I couldn't have asked for more this year. I don't have tons of time today so this is going to be very brief!!  Gift showed up to her baptism an hour and a half before it started so excited and happy. She brought her roommated Blessing, and the little boy she babysits, Unity and his mom! What a good missionary :)  The program ran so smoothly and the spirit was felt by everyone in attendance, I don't know if I have any tears left it was just so happy. 

Gift's Baptism

When it came time for the actual baptism, we all gathered around the font and Fulvia (a member) was nudging someone toward the front- TERESA! Teresa came to the baptism! She was there! This was one of the biggest miracles of the week. We had a lesson with Teresa during the week and Sorella Zapata broke her boxes hardcore (she needed it) and then we invited her to the baptism and Christmas party! She politely declined but fortunately changed her mind :) 

We decided to do round 2 of caroling and visit some more less active members and contacts! A few people we got to share the SiiUnaLuce video with and invite the Christmas spirit into their homes :) I love this time of year that we have to celebrate Christ! I am so blessed to be a representative of Him at this time. I know that His gospel brings us peace, comfort, and true joy. 

Yesterday during the 3rd hour of church we watched the Christmas Devotional as a branch! It was incredible. If you haven't seen it, maybe read or listen to some of the talks!! I want to share my favorite quotes from it with y'all.

"It’s not how much you have but how much you love." -Elder Uchtdorf.  I opened my scriptures to this chapter and came across this note (see picture) on a day I really needed it.  It brought me to tears.  Thank you Claire, I love you!

Elder Duncan, reflecting on his mission said, "If Christ had left His heavenly home and come to earth to suffer and die for us, I could certainly leave my home and put up with a few little discomforts to share His wonderful message. That Christmas taught me the pure joy of helping people obtain Heavenly Father’s greatest gift of all, His glorious plan of happiness—and happiness, I discovered, was the one thing that everyone wants most, not just at Christmastime, but always." This really hit home with me. These past couple weeks have been difficult for me, but these struggles are nothing compared to what Christ suffered for each one of us! I am so thankful for His atoning sacrifice and for the knowledge that I can overcome anything because of Him. Christmas as a missionary really does help me feel the pure joy that comes only through sharing this great gift of the gospel with others. I know that He truly does have a plan of happiness for every one of us if we will simply put our trust in Him. ❤ I am so thankful for this Christmas season and the opportunity to remember Christ and celebrate His birth! 

Sorry this email is so short. No time plus I'll be talking to the family in 6 days! I love you all hope you have a Merry Christmas! I would love to get an email from you for Christmas (to whoever is reading this)! 

Can't wait to see the family in less than 1 week ❤❤

Buon Natale a tutti!

Ilaria and Stefania

Sorella Carley Neuberger
Le Sorelle Missionarie
Corso Giovanni Pascoli 25
Sassari, SS 07100
Italia

Ciao

Sorry no actual email this week because we had 0 time, 

Here are some great pics from today's pday: Golfo Aranci!!

I love you all!❤❤❤❤

Ci sentiamo!

XOXO

What Golfo Aranci looks like in the summer.

Made some Southern fried chicken.  mmm..mmm..goood

Sorella Carley Neuberger
Le Sorelle Missionarie
Corso Giovanni Pascoli 25
Sassari, SS 07100
Italia

Kinder & Kebab

Two of my favorite Italian things that are apparently now legal in the U.S.???!!!! Woo hoo!!!

Emailing late this week because we had zone conference in Cagliari yesterday, sorry mom and dad, we didn't know our pday was getting moved until later in the week. That being said, I've been to Cagliari and back not one but TWO times this week..... (like 15 hours on a train hahah) because....transfer calls! I was heartbroken that Sorella DeMann had to leave, we were praying to do a 3rd together but she got moved to Cagliari (other side of Sardegna) to be the STL so she's not too far away! Thank goodness. 

Zone Conference - Sardegna

The 3 of us that got to the Sassari district 2 transfers ago, we all got new companions! My new companion is.....Sorella Zapata! She was companions with Sorella Hess! She was born in Equador but has lived in Rome for the past 15 years. So her first language is spanish, then italian, then english. She speaks all 3 perfectly, it's super impressive and I know I'm going to learn tons from her this transfer! Already it's been amazing how quickly she is able to connect with the people because she is one of them! The new Olbia Anziano is... Anziano Fuller!!!!! The one that's best friends with Chase's trainer in Korea. Small world, fun miracle this week.

Carley and Sorella Zapata

Shoutout to Uncle Todd and Aunt Lori Lee for the package this week! It's seriously a miracle I got that thing.... we were walking home one day and a man came out from the panificio next to our building asking if we had a pacco! He came back a few minutes later with a USPS box and I was like yupppp this has to be mine hahah. Thank you guys so much for that! Yes, the M&Ms are already gone...whoops. No regrets. 

We had several cool miracles this week, which is awesome for the amount of time we spent in our city! Here goes...One night it was dark and rainy and cold but we decided to do a giro in centro anyways. The piazza was completely empty except for 2 girls about our age. Turns out they are sisters and were adopted from Russia when they were little! We got to show them the new Sii Una Luce video and they loved it. Then we exchanged facebook information and we are hoping to meet up soon and volunteer at an orphanage here in Sassari!!

Stefania came to church (how many weeks in a row are we at?!?!?)!!!!! She was there on time, stayed for all 3 hours and it was beautiful getting to see her help out with her new calling as the relief society secretary!

Gift couldn't come to church on Sunday because she had a "runny stomach" (that's a good way to put it, Gift) but she wanted us to come see her anyways that night! We got to do her practice baptismal interview and she is so ready AH it's amazing. She will interview with President Pickerd on Friday and then her baptism will be on the 16th :)

On Monday night, Sorella Zapata and I got to do a little bit of finding in Cagliari! We were on our way to the bus stop, but the bus we needed pulled off right as we were walking up to it! And then, standing outside a restaurant near the bus stop was Luna! I asked if we could share a video with her, we got to show her the Sii Una Luce video and talk with her about this beautiful time of year and our Savior Jesus Christ. Turns out she also speaks spanish!!!!!!!!! SO cool to see her and Sorella Zapata speak spanish and she also spoke english. And guess where she was from?! Argentina where my dad served his mission!!!!! WOW.

Just a few minutes ago......we are sitting at the church typing up emails and Sorella Zapata has a facebook video chat pop up from the Anziani in Napoli.... they said "Sorella Zapata we need you for a spanish lesson we are doing right now. We were walking down the street and this lady that went to church for 4 years in south america came up to us saying she wants to be baptized" SO I just witnessed Sorella Zapata doing a practice baptismal interview in Spanish and reading the scriptures in spanish with this lady. It was so special and when she prayed she thanked Heavenly Father for sending a special "hermana". :)

We have been having lots of fun participating in the Light the World advent calendar! On Sunday we made brownies and took them to our next door neighbor who lives by herself and wrote her a little note. On Friday we were trying to look for someone to serve, we stopped an older lady carrying her groceries and asked if we could help her carry them! She said "Go to hell, you and your friend!!!!!!" wow....haha it was kind of awkward and definitely one for the journal hahahaha.

Zone conference was more than incredible, I'm blessed to be part of such a great team here in Italy! I love being a missionary. This week I invite all of you to participate in the #LightTheWorld initiative! Or at least watch the videos..... www.mormon.org

Hope to hear from each of you soon! Vi voglio bene!! 

Sorella Carley Neuberger

English class

Christmas lights

Angel and Wise Man for Nativity

DeMann and Zapata playing the wise men

Acting out the Nativity at zone conference

Long train rides

Le Sorelle Missionarie
Corso Giovanni Pascoli 25
Sassari, SS 07100
Italia