"From the beach"
Because this email is coming @ ya live from the beach in
Sardinia, Italy! Yes, it's excatly what you are picturing in your head right
now: crystal clear water, no one in sight. Me and Sorella DeMann laying in the
sand typing up emails :) Wow- can't complain at all. It was like a 20 minute
bus ride, and when we got off, the silence was literally deafening. I could
feel my ears ringing because it is so quiet out here! Just the sound of
crashing waves....... Because even in our apartment, the sounds of the city are
unavoidably loud. So today is a beautiful day of R&R :) Sun, sand,
Sardinia.
But really, we've been blessed by mother nature because the
temperature has been in the 70s the whole time I've been here. I hope winter
never comes because I could get used to pdays like this!
OH and Chase made it to Korea!! Whoop whoop! I loved getting his email and seeing pictures of him so happy :) Not many people can say they served at the same time as their brother!!!!!!!! My heart is so full, this work is good.
This week we faced tons of rejection: Sabrina never called
us back or responded to our texts, we got more than 1 bidone (appointment
cancel) from less actives, members, everyone, and our english course did not
increase in size (yet?).
All of that aside, we did see miracles and had a great week
I'm excited to share everything with y'all.
We did a little bit of casa in casa and knocked into a man
that comes to the Caritas (the place where we do service on Saturdays). His
name is Toni and he was so sweet to us. We couldn't go in but we shared a video
with him and he loved it. It was super humbling to see his apartment. You could
see everything from the front door but he kept it so clean and neat. When he
came into the cafeteria on Saturday I couldn't help but smile :)
We also knocked into an 18 year old boy who stepped out of
his house to watch "Grazie a Lui". He told us he was atheist but we
talked for a while and definitely saw the wheels start turning. It was a
beautiful thing to see and to leave him pondering!
We spent a day inside our house this week, waiting for my
permesso renewal packet to be delivered. We made a ton of phone calls and even
stood on the street outside out apartment building holding our english course
sign! People would roll down their windows and stop just long enough for us to
give them a card. There was one lady who pulled over, parked her car, and came
running down the street towards us! I love it.
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| Fish egg pasta |
Another really cool thing happened during the scambio.
Sorella DeMann was with Sorella Greer. Well Sorella Greer's dad served in
Sassari and had someone he wanted her to track down (not a member)! So they did
just that but she wasn't home, so they left a card with our phone number. The
lady called us! She wants to meet Sorella Greer because she loved her dad so
much. We already have plans for next scambio!!!!!!! Assuming Sorella Greer
doesn't get transferred..... but still. It was way cool.
We decided to take our gesso to the next level this week and
do it on an actual chalkboard instead of a sheet! Sorella DeMann is very
artistic and she killed it. We asked the question "What is the
restoration?" And stopped people asking if they've heard of it! Not going
to lie, I was struggling a little that night, it's hard to stop people by
yourself (Slla DeMann draws) especially because I don't feel comfortable enough
in the language to do so. But the mission pushes you out of your comfort zones!
After like the eighth rejection of the night, a lady stopped me (plot
twist!!!!) asking what was the restoration! She and her husband talked to me
for about 15 minutes just about the restoration, why we are here as
missionaries, english course, everything. It was definitely a tender mercy for
me, those 2 people. When I told them this message brought me so much happiness,
she said, "We know, we can see it!".
We also met a man who is a professor here in Sassari, speaks
english flawlessly. With a british accent. He could've told us he was from
England and I don't think a single one of us would have doubted him for a
second. Anyway, we exchanged phone numbers with him, he does private english
lessons and wants his students to talk with people who are native english
speakers! More to come on that hopefully!!
After, we had dinner with the Marras family. They are probably the most en gamba family in the ward! Joy, Jeffery, and Aniyu were there too. We had pasta carbonara (my favorite). And we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. I got to bear testimony of its truthfulness! I know that as we choose to read from this book every day we will be able to make better decisions every day :)
Sister Marras told us about a big event that was going on
(no idea what the event was or where it was) but she told us we could catch the
shuttle in centro and it would take us straight there! So, always down for the
adventure, we went. Last night we found it. It turned out to be a HUGE expo
type thing with lots of booths and a wedding dress fashion show and free
gelato! SO. We positioned ourselves right at the entrance with our sign
"Trova la felicita" and went at it. We probably handed out 400 Jesus
cards to every person walking in! And then when we ran out of Gesù cards, we
flipped our sign over and handed out 400 english course cards. We met a guy who
I guess was someone of importance at the expo, he was really interested in
english group because he spends over 750 euro a month for his daughter's english
lessons (with a native english speaker) hahaha wow. I know what I want my job
to be after the mission. I'm moving to Italy to teach english lessons! But
seriously. And then he invited us to the after party! to "eat and
drink" hahahah man we were so down but the bus would've gotten us back too
late. So the only rejection of the night was us declining the afterparty
invite. I'd call it a very successful sera. Thanks for the idea, Sister Marras!
Yesterday our relief society lesson was from the Gordon B.
Hinckley book and we talked about chapter 20. I loved every part of that
chapter but one part really stood out to me: "Let us be true disciples of
the Christ, observing the Golden Rule, doing unto others as we would have them
do unto us. Let us strengthen our own faith and that of our children while
being gracious to those who are not of our faith. Love and respect will
overcome every element of animosity. Our kindness may be the most persuasive
argument for that which we believe". I know that our actions and our
kindness demonstrate our testimony, the things in which we believe. I am
thankful to be here in Sassari, inviting other to come unto Christ. I challenge
all of y'all this week to remember the golden rule. To share the gospel, not by
saying anything, but through your actions. I am so grateful for the opportunity
to serve and be the Lord's hands for this short time. Life is good! Forza
Italia!
Transfer calls are tonight. I'm staying. (Probs)
Until next week!
Love you all! xoxoxoxo
Sorella Carley Neuberger
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| with Stefania at the manifestation |
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| Rome temple is coming along |
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| Playing piano at Marras family |
