Sent from my iPadThis week started out with the realization of blessings! It is really
cold and windy here like all the time. It's weird because every week
the weather goes through these cycles of being really warm
Tuesday-Thursday then really cold/windy/rainy Friday-Monday. We don't
understand...also a lot of the times it'll be cold in the morning, hot
during the day, then really windy at night. but anyway, I realized
that I don't get as cold as I used to back home! I was so worried that
I wouldn't be able to handle going out and working in cold weather
because I hate it so much. But here, it just doesn't affect me as
much. Like I can feel that it's cold, but it doesn't bother
me..blessing of the mission! Also, last Monday night I saw the most
beautiful sunset that I'd ever seen in my entire life. The whole sky
was pink! I tried to get pictures but it would not do it justice. Ahh
God loves us.
WEDNESDAY:
We went all the way out to Dolianova- a piazzino almost an Hours Anas
from Cagliari by bus. We Went there to teach Lecca (the scarf lady if
you remember.) We talked to so many people on our way out there, they
were practically coming up to us in the bus station it was hilarious.
We invited like 5 autista's (bus drivers) to church. I think they were
more interested in us than our message...Hahaha..but hey if we can get
them in church that's all that matters right? We told them that we
have some Anziani who would love to talk to them more about our church
and they said nah, we'd rather talk to you guys 😅😂
Lecca (the only woman who gave my companion her scarf)was so happy to
have us over but sadly I think she wanted us there as friends rather
than to learn. She got so upset when we said we could only stay for 45
minutes, she was planning to make lunch and even dinner together and
just spend the whole day. Her daughter was also there though, and she
was very interested when we talked about the Book of Mormon. She said
she'd loved to read it so we'll see what happens with them, we're
hopeful.
We planned to have a lesson with Daniela (the girl who quit smoking)
at the home of the Famiglia Sanna but she texted us like an hour
before and said that she was tired and couldn't focus so we had to
cancel. Then about an hour later she texted us again and said
something like "I don't think I can return to you anymore. Something
has changed inside of me, please don't insist. I will never forget
you, thank you for everything. I will always love you." We were in
shock. Just a day ago everything was totally fine! She quit smoking!
She was texting us scriptures she liked! She was studying the bible
and the Book of Mormon! We don't understand. We tried to call her and
even went to her house to talk to her but we haven't been able to. We
were absolutely devastated and I'm still sad when I think about it.
She was so ready for baptism, but Satan was about to fill her with
doubts and disable her spiritually.
This week was actually pretty tough for us because our 3 most
progressing investigators (Maria Cristina, Sebastiana, and Daniela)
all dropped us within a 3 day period. It happened kind of like it did
with Daniela, where everything was fine then one day they say they
can't see you anymore or stop answering your calls. Satan is real.
After talking to a Sorella who lives in my house and is a convert, I
realized that every person who is investigating the church goes
through some kind of low point belfry they are baptized. They have
some kind of doubt or fear or trial that could keep them from baptism,
and they don't have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to
help them understand what's from God, and what's not for instance,
Daniela didn't feel worthy to pray. it's the rare few who make it past
those things who end up getting baptized. I pray that all of these
wonderful women will find their way back to the church when the time
is right.
THURSDAY:
We had two wonderful lessons with Eleonora and Monica. Eleonora is a
student in her 20s who Sorella Clark met at a gesso a while ago. She's
been too busy with school to meet with us but then We called her like
two weeks ago and set up an appointment to give her a church tour and
a Book of Mormon. The only problem was, it was during English course.
Luckily enough then Sassari Sorelle were here because one of them was
getting transferred so we did a split where I taught English course
with Sorella Moro and Sorella Clark did the lesson with Sorella
Littlefield.
So this is the first time I met her, and she is so cute! She sincerely
wants to know Christ so she really ponders the scriptures.
Monica seems a little bit more interested in the knowledge of the
world right now. She wants to read this book for knowledge rather than
the spiritual aspect of it. But she really is with it, she was able to
summarize everything she read and she knows what's going on with the
story. But we challenged her to look for ways that these things could
apply to her life. Then we showed her a video called Mountains to
Climb. if you haven't seen it I recommend you do so (it's on gospel
library.) I love this video, I cried the first time I saw it, and so
did she. It was perfect for her because she told us about how she had
polio as a child and because she overcame it, she hikes mountains
every Sunday (we'll change that to Saturday ;) ). I know that she felt
the spirit and hope that she reads this book with real intent and a
sincere heart.
SUNDAY:
Do you remember Ilaria? We found her on the bus a month ago and taught
her the restoration that next Sunday. She has been so busy with work
that we haven't been able to meet with her until yesterday! As well as
her boyfriend! She was so excited to introduce us to him and he said
that she told him all about the lesson we had with her before and the
Book of Mormon. She's read 10 chapters! She is very Catholic and he
doesn't believe in God so they are complete opposites but both of them
hung onto every word we said. We invited him to pray at the end of the
lesson and he did!! Ilaria was so happy. It was a beautiful prayer,
and they are just so with it! They are both going to read and pray and
can't wait for us to come back!
I always try to make sure I have a funny story in here somewhere but I
can't think of anything specific from this week right now so I'll just
share this:
We have an African lady in our ward and she the sweetest person but
maybe just not all the way there if you know what I mean..she's a
little crazy. She speaks Nigerian as her first language, then English
and Italian not super well, but well enough for people to understand.
In fact the first thing she said to me my first week was "how's your
black president doing?" Hahah who knows. So anyway, she loves to give
comments in church and participate in the lessons and bear her
testimony on fast Sunday and stuff like that. Everyone reacts
differently when they feel the spirit, for a lot of people, including
me, we cry while we baring our testimony and stuff like that, but for
her, SHE LAUGHS. Every time she feels the spirit she can't hold back
her giggles to the point where she can't even get out what she's
trying to say 😂 so just imagine someone bawling while bearing their
testimony and substitute that for laughing. It is the funniest thing
and always spices up the meetings a bit haha.
Cathedrals are literally everywhere
This is from last week with our baby food. Sorry I don't look happy the sun was in my face
