you're at. It's still really cold here in Crotone and it's been super
windy the past few days to the point where no one will leave their
houses, but hopefully this week we'll see some warmer weather.
This week my companion and I got the privilege to do the addestramento
(training) for our district during district meeting. We talked about
the need that our cities have for miracles and how through our faith
and diligence, we can see those miracles.
After visiting with Rina from what I understood, she doesn't feel like
she can come to church because she smokes. She didn't come say it to
us directly like that, but that is how it seems. She did not read
everyday from the Book of Mormon but she did read a little. We want to
try to help her quit smoking because she wants to, but does not have
enough will power to do so. I think that we'll try this one last time
to invite her to let us help her quit smoking by first of all
receiving a priesthood blessing. If she continues to not progress
though, I also think it will be best to let her rest for some time.
As I told you last week, Precious came back to Crotone to stay! So if
everything goes well with her interview tomorrow, she will be baptized
on Friday! We don't have a baptismal font here since our church is
just in an apartment, so we can either set up this different
tub-looking thing, or do the baptism in the ocean. The beach is really
close to our church so she decided to do that! Our members got on
board and one offered to let us use her bungalow on the beach so that
she can dry off and change. We have been seeing her almost every day
to finish up the lessons with her. She is doing great! Our branch
President asked her to bear her testimony in sacrament meeting and she
shared an experience that helped her to come to know that this church
is true. She also shared this with us early in the week during a
lesson. We had asked her to sincerely pray to know that this is the
only true church of God on the earth today. When we followed up on her
prayer she said what she usually does, "I felt good, I know it's
true." Then she paused and said, "do you want to know how I know
that?" She proceeded to tell us that she had a really bad pain in her
stomach the night before and so she prayed to God, asking him to
relieve this pain if the church was true, and if her baptism was
right. She said that after that, the pain was gone, and she never felt
it again. We were able to testify to her that she received that answer
because she had put in the work by reading The Book of Mormon that
night, and by asking with faith. We are excited for you to meet her
tomorrow.
We visited a member who hasn't been able to make it to church for a
few weeks. At the end of our spiritual thought her 50 year old
daughter comes running in to show us this song about the Holy Ghost
that some catholic Italian group made. Then they proceeded to saw us
probably every song on YouTube about Jesus until we were finally able
to get out of there. One of my personal favorites was a song that goes
like this "non si va in cielo, in a minigonna, perché se vai in cielo,
c'è la Madonna." (One does not go to heaven, in a mini-skirt, because
if you go to heaven, there's mother Mary.)
I got to do an exchange with sorella Rhoades this week which was super
fun even though it was kind of a rough day... haha we had to drop the
queen and our finding was a little hard because no one wanted to talk
to us, but we ended the day with teaching Precious & Vittoria. It was
super fun and they loved sorella Rhoades. They stayed for English
course then we went and ate gelato together afterwards.
On Sunday we went over to each lunch with one of our English course
students named Rosa. She is the sweetest lady and she absolutely loves
us. She has the most perfect family, it was a really enjoyable pranzo.
They are very catholic and not very interested but they were still so
nice. She said that she wanted to invite us over so we felt like we
were at home in a family for a day because she knows we don't get
those family dinners anymore. How sweet is that?!
Today we went to a city in Calabria called Tropea as a district. It's
a cute tourist city. I got tons of cool pictures but they're all on my
camera because my iPad decided not to work while we were there. But
maybe next week I'll send you a few!
Sister Taylor and I are doing great. We love Crotone and have loved
these past two transfers together. I really am grateful for the time
that we have spent together. I know that we will be lifelong friends.
I love you guys!
Exchange with sister Rhoades + vittoria & precious
On the train this morning
This is a church
