Happy spring a tutti!
 |
| Gift and Sorella DeMann |
Even though it's still pretty wintery in Statte haha
hopefully spring is coming, we are ready for sun and warm weather! So this week included a very exciting trip to......SASSARI!
Can you believe it? I got to go back to the beautiful island of Sardegna for a
few days last week, I had an appointment for my identification card. I flew
into Cagliari and got to take the train up to Sassari with the one. the only.
Sorella DeMann!!!!!!!!!!! Oh wow it was great to see her. Seriously I've been
so blessed with some of the best comps I could ever ask for! She is so so
awesome and it was great getting to spend a few days together and revisiting
the city where we were companions! That's rare in this misison.
Being back in Sassari was incredible, especially because I
got to see my favorite person ever: GIFT! And guess what?!?! She's preparing to
go on a mission herself! She is learning from Kiri how to read and write so
that she can go on a mission. That's the best news I could've ever gotten.
:)
Also, let it be known that this week I ate the best gelato
thus far on my mission. Yeah, I've become a gelato critic. At Intenso gelateria
in Cagliari. (just recording this so I can remember forever). The cone was
filled with warm nutella. Do I need to say more? Oh, and while we're on the subject of food, we ate lamb at
our pranzo with the Castaldo family this week. Lamb. That was a first! It was
buono.
 |
| Intenso Gelateria |
On Thursday morning we went to follow up with one of our
investigators, Tonino. He wasn't home, but his wife, Enza, was and she invited
us in to share a message! It was really sweet and we are excited to go back
this week to talk with them together!!
We met with Anna this week and got talking about her
baptism. Her husband is having a hard time finding work here right now and so
he is leaving in 2 weeks to go work in Germany until September. But he has a
break in June, so we moved her baptism to June 23rd because it is really
important to her (and us) that he's there for it! We'll continue working with
her but that's the update! It was really cool when we met with her last night,
she pulled out this wedding invite (she pulls it out like once a week) from an
Anziano that served here in like 2012 that she loved. We got the idea to look
him up on facebook and then we sent him a message from Anna's account! She
called us this morning to tell us that they had an hour-long video chat last
night and he still speaks italian perfectly. Technology helping us out in the
work! Little miracles.
And now for the big miracles! aka Giuseppe. Dino came in to the panificio this week and asked Giuseppe
"I think I want to quit smoking, can you help me?" yesssssss. Giuseppe couldn't come to ch urch yesterday because he had
something with work, but his son Enrico came! The ward just fellowships like
crazy no matter who comes, they are incredible. Also, per my dad's advice, we
had the bishop invite Giuseppe to start briging the bread for sacrament
meeting! He was so excited to tell us that he's going to be bringing the bread
for the sacrament on Sundays, it was really special.
We had a great lesson with Giuseppe and Elvira last night,
Fratello D'apuzzo and his wife (from the Taranto ward) came too! We talked a
little bit about the plan of salvation, had Brother and Sister D'apuzzo share
their conversion stories, and then we bore our testimonies. The spirit in that
room was so powerful. Sorella Geertsen and I started crying, Giuseppe too. Then
Fratello D'apuzzo said "The reason they're crying is because when they
were in the premortal life, they knew you. They knew they would come here on
the earth to find you. And here we are". Whew it took everything I had not
to bawl my eyes out but I LOVE this family and I love this work. It is so good
and so beautiful to watch conversion and see the gospel work miracles in
peoples lives.
OH and Frederica!!!! We stopped by the panificio one night
this week and we met her! 17 years old, she was an exchange student in Michigan
for 5 months and speaks perfect english and wow we just all clicked and are
best friends. The best part? She asked about our beliefs and was really curious
because she's Christian but knows the catholic church isn't super correct. So
we were more than happy to introduce the Book of Mormon, give her a copy, and
exchange phone numbers!!
Other than that, our week was full of casa in casa sharing
the new easter video, #CiSaraSempre or in english I think it's called Always
There. I love this Easter season and getting to share the message
with everyone that He lives! Our Savior died for us but He lives and because He
lives we are here today :)
 |
| The Sorellas from the Taranto Zone |
Love yall!
Ciao ciao ciao ciao ciaooo.
XOXO
 |
| Rome Temple grounds (Includes Temple, Visitors Center, Stake Center and living quarters/hotel like place for those traveling to the temple) |
 |
| Taranto Zone |
