Not sure if I've explained panzerotti yet. Here goes. A
"panzerotto" is basically a fried pizza....I need to take a picture
to send so you can have a visual of how heavenly the food is here. Panzerotti
are unique to this zone! You can get them with cheese and sauce inside or with
meat, or ricotta, they even make nutella panzerotti! Blessed.
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| Cuttlefish (same family as squid or octopus) Not as tasty as the panzerotto |
So the best panzerotti place in Taranto is called "Casa
del Panzerotto" and Sorella Barnes took me there this week since I was in
Taranto for a scambio! It was so much fun being on exchanges with Sorella
Barnes but also weird because the last time we did a scambio we were both
greenies! So it was kind of cool to see the progress we have both made. We saw
tons of miracles in those 24 hours! We had a lesson with one of their african
members, Analisa, she was so cute and totally reminded me of Gift which made me
kind of sad and missing her haha. And then we did some finding with a twist:
whiteboarding! We took a small whiteboard and wrote "Do you believe in
God?" and had a column for yes, no, and maybe. Then we walked all around
the city with this whiteboard, handing the marker to so many different people
having them mark their answers. It was a really awesome way to find because the
people who want to talk about religion will stop! One girl we walked by looked
right at me and said "Why do you believe in God?" And the way she
said it just really struck me and that's kind of where my thoughts have been
throughout the week. Why do I believe in God? Why do YOU believe in God? I
believe in God like I believe that there is wind! I can't see Him, but I can
feel Him, I can feel His presence in my life every day, which is truly
something beautiful. I believe in God because I know He hears and answers my
prayers! Maybe not on my timing or in the way I'd like, but He always
does.
In terms of big news.... Antonella came to church again
yesterday!! So I guess that answers the question of whether or not she liked it
:) We were so excited that she wanted to come back. She also really loves the
hymns so this past week we got her a new hymn book and wrote her a dedica and
gave it to her! She was so happy and immediately started singing "I need
thee every hour". Wow. We also helped her download the gospel library app
on her phone this week, she loves it!!!! We went to visit her the day after she
downloaded it and she was so excited to tell us about the talk she read
"Three Sisters" the one by Elder Uchtdorf. Ahhhhh Antonella is so
amazing and just living proof that everything is in the Lord's hands and His
timing because she's been an off and on investigator for about 7 months or
more!
Sacrament meeting yesterday was nothing short of amazing, it
was almost like it was planned specifically for Antonella! All of the talks
were given by members who were converts and they told their conversion stories
and how they decided to be baptized. It was so perfect!!!! And then Bishop got
up and told his too, which was extra personal for her since she grew up with
him! He talked about how he had member friends and when he went to their houses
he could feel something different and he wanted that in his home. After
sacrament meeting, Antonella asked him "When can I come to your
house?" We are planning FHE for this week. :)
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| Sorella Moses and daughter Gioia |
Also at church yesterday: Sorella Moses brought her husband!
Sorella Moses is the only african member of the ward here in Statte but she's
lived here for about 8 years and speaks italian really well! She also has 2
really cute kids. Her husband isn't a member and I don't think he's been to
church before, we asked her how she got him to come, she said: "I took the
keys and locked the door so he had to come with me!" Savage. But it was so
great to meet him and see their whole family in church together :) And it was
also great getting to translate gospel principles for him, felt like I was back
in Sassari!
Unfortunately, Giuseppe and Elvira didn't make it to church
yesterday, but their 25 year old son, Enrico did! He stayed the whole time,
asked tons of questions, it was really great. So hopefully he talks it up to
his parents and they all come together next week! We visited Giuseppe and Elvira last night at their house and
Giuseppe promised us he would be in church next week so I'm already looking
foward to that. Also we took them zucchini bread and they loved it so much that
they put the recipe in their recipe book for the Panificio!! Last night we
talked with them more about the Restoration, watched Joseph Smith the
Restoration and then I asked Giuseppe to be baptized when he receives his
answer that these things are true. His response: "Assolutamente."
(absolutely). We told him that we had prayed about April 7th and he said he
would pray about it too. He said "I know I need to read my Book of Mormon
every day by myself, not just the days when you come to the panificio to read
with me. And I need to be more sincere and specific in my prayers".
Giuseppe. He knows. I just love he and Elvira with my whole heart!!!!!!!! They
are going to be the ones I save up for to fly them to America so they can stay
at my house for a week (if that's okay mom and dad..!)
During the week we felt prompted to stop by and
ex-investigator, Monica. Well, she was home! (we've stopped by their house
probably more than 10 times this transfer and they've never been home). Monica
is this cute young mom with 4 really cute daughters and they just seem like
they are already mormon hahaha. We talked about the family, read a few parts of
the Family Proclamation, and are going to go back this week!
We also saw a cool miracle with our investigator Rosa this
week! We stopped by her house one morning and her granddaughter was over
visiting!! Her granddaughter is 23 years old and her name is Daniela and she is
our newest investigator she's the cutest thing and we are such good friends
already!! They invited us back on Sunday, so yesterday we went for pranzo and
got to talk more about the Restoration! Daniela just ate it up, asked for our
phone number (plot twist..) and asked when we're going to see each other again.
Statte miracles people. I love this place. And I love these people even more.
I'll leave yall with a quote this week, something my mom
sent me "the harder you fall, the higher you rise". Yep it's true!
Sometimes it takes a fall to get us on our feet, to give us our motivation back
but we can always rise! And when we do fall, we have our Savior Jesus Christ to
help us get back up. I don't think there's anything in the world that gives me
greater comfort than that knowledge. And I love sharing that with the Italian
people every day! I love being a missionary and I love you all!
Buona settimana a tutti!
XOXO
Sorella Carley Neuberger
Editors note: The following pictures are from the town of Matera where Carley went for p-day. This link explains more about Matera. Copy and paste in your browser to learn more. https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/sassi-matera-italy/
