For after much tribulation come the blessings

This week we did lots and lots of finding. We didn't see very much success unfortunately. We met some really cool people but none of them wanted to give us their numbers.. they did the whole: yeah, we're always here, if you see us again we'd be down to talk for sure. 

We working to help our less-active members as well and hoping to help them grow their testimonies of the Book of Mormon in order to remember what's most important in life. 

We had some appointments set up with new investigators but then they didn't answer when we went over so that was sad. 

Precious is doing really well. She wants to go on a mission! 

On Saturday our members that we were going to see cancelled on us so we went out finding all morning in all of the parks. We talked to lots of families but they're all "too busy" for us unfortunately. We went through all of the parks without any luck then went to lungomare... still nothing. Then as I was seriously about to give up for the morning because it was almost time for lunch, I went up to one more family and asked if we could show them our video....the man just stared at me...so I proceeded to tell them who we were and he goes "I know who you are.. one of you called me a month ago." We realized that he was a potential that we called when we were going through our phone. He invited us to come to his gym but we couldn't ever find it then we gave the number to the elder and I don't really know what happened after that. We talked for a bit and he said that he's been taught by the missionaries in the past. He stood up and was probably the tallest man I've ever seen! He played professional basketball and now owns a gym and trains people. He explained where we could find it so next week we'll try to see him and hope for the best! He was super nice and even said that our elders can come and play at his courts whenever they want. 

We also had a tall evangelist guy who walked up and stopped us and just went off about all of these scriptures and whatnot and it was pretty strange. He invited us to his church and we invited him to ours. He said he is convinced in what he believes in and we said that so are we. That experience helped me realize that I can't just walk up to people and start telling them about all of this crazy stuff like a robot. When we find (and teach) we need to ask questions and listen to be able to really help these people. I remember a quote that I heard in the MTC that I've always loved "instead of dispensers of information, we need to be offered a of salvation." 

We went to a less active member's house that night and took our high councilman with us. He's from Taranto and came in for church the next day and wanted to help with missionary work because he's also the ward mission leader in Taranto. It went really well and he even helped us to understand her needs better. 

Sunday we had a lesson with our friends who own the new pizzeria by our house. It was a little weird because she has some strange beliefs about reincarnation and such. She's reading the Book of Mormon and praying though. She opened up the Book that day and in ether 12 which really helped her a ton that day.  I don't know if she understands everything about the restoration and such and getting her answer rather than these meetings just being a good thing for her but hopefully we'll get her there. 

That night we were doing some more finding..haha of course..and sorella Zapata felt like we should stop by and see a member that was in that area. We went to her house and she was putting African braids into this 16 year old Italian girl's hair. This girl's 18 year old sister was there too. We started talking to them (because they obviously couldn't go anywhere) and actually had a great conversation. They were super interested to know what we believe in. The older sister told us that she doesn't want to even know what happens after death or try to find out because it gives her anxiety. Usually I don't really know what to say to people when they tell me that they don't care to know but I just said, "but i think that if you knew you'd find more peace rather than anxiety." She goes, "you know, I think you're right." We asked if they'd like to know and they said that they would. By then we had to go but we exchanged numbers. They're very promising, I said that I'd call them tomorrow and they told us that they'll wait for our call. We're praying that we can start teaching these two curious girls who are the golden age to accept the gospel. That was probably my biggest miracle for the week. 

I read this scripture last night and it helped me a tons, maybe one of you needs it too! 

D&C 58:2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

Have a good week! I love you! 

We took a hick picture last week 

Gelato after lots of finding! 

Anziano lamereux's first calzone 

I love Africans so much. 

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The Albino African

Ciao a tutti! Here's my update for the week. 

Tuesday: some of our appointments fell through that morning so we
really felt like should go visit an older sister who lived in the area
that we were in. We went over without calling and she answered telling
us that she was very sick. Every morning this sister speed walks down
the beach at like 6 AM then goes to the cemetery where she says hello
to her late husband. That morning she was waking on the beach and
suddenly fainted. She woke up lying on the sand with 2 men trying to
help her up. Luckily there was a doctor nearby that they called over.
They wanted to take her to the hospital but she asked them to just
drive her home. Once she was home she threw up then laid down until we
arrived. We were able to help her out by making her a tisana and some
food (she never really eats so that's why she fainted.) I was so
grateful that we listened to the spirit that morning to be able to
help out this sweet sister who is all alone. She told us that she
prayed for help and knew that we were an answer to those prayers.


Wednesday morning we took a train to Taranto and spent most of the
Zone conference always seems to be exactly what I need. Every single
After the conference I got to do an exchange with Sorella Rhodes.
Yesterday we got to eat with our african friend Bob. He's from Gambia and made us some of thier traditional food- Cuscus with chicken and this spicy peanut butter sauce. He gave us forks because he didn't think we could do it like they eat it (with their hands) but we told him that we were all in. We removed our rings, put our hair up, and washed our hands the way they do. He told us that we looked like we were going to war. He told me that I eat just like the africans, he was really impressed haha. He said that I take my food seriously and because I can eat fast with my hands just like they do, it means that I am a responsible adult who can take care of children hahaha. So basically I'm known by his friends and him as the albino african. 

week there for zone conference and exchanges. That night we did a
gesso asking people the question; "what happens after death?" I was
surprised at how many people not only had no idea how to respond, but
didn't care to know. They said things like, "I don't even know what
I'm doing in this life, how am I supposed to worry about what happens
after" "I prefer to not ask questions and see when I get there" and
"absolutely nothing." These poor people don't how any idea what is
waiting for them after death, and therefore don't know their purpose
in this life. It became so clear to me how the knowledge of the plan
of salvation affects every major decision that I take in life, and a
lot of the minor ones too. We were able to share the light and truth
of this plan with those who would listen and I just hope that those we
at least left those who wouldn't listen pondering about these
questions of the soul that we miraculously have the answers to.

one of my questions was answered and I even received answers to
problems and questions that I didn't realize that I had. I am so
grateful that the leaders of our mission are guided by the spirit in
everything that they do for us. Sorella Pickerd gave a beautiful
training about being anxiously engaged in this good cause without
having anxiety which was much needed. We learned to be joyful in doing
all that we can to bring forward this work and not worrying about the
things they we can't control. President Pickerd went over the
importance of being "all in." He helped us understand that when we
accepted this call, we accepted to go anywhere and do anything for to
serve the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs. He helped
us realize that rather than having one foot at home and one foot here,
it is much easier to be all in.

She's so cute and calm but works hard. We got to do teach the advanced
class of English group together. Their students are so cool we all
became instant friends. Apparently my English teaching skills has
gotten good over the year haha because they all were like "did you
study Latin? I like how you teach." There was one student who just
graduated in engineering and after he found out that I want to study
math he came up after and just started talking to me about calculus
hahaha it's been too long since I've studied that stuff... It was
super fun. The people in Taranto are so nice and friendly I love them!

Yesterday was the biggest holiday in Crotone since Christmas. It was La Festa della Madonna! (Mother Mary Day) The city is covered with lights so it looks like Disneyland and there are tons of mercatini (little stands of traditional candies and treats) everywhere. They've been having parades and a fair all week the celebrate then yesterday they went full-out for the final day. We took advantage of the loads of people on lungomare (the seaside) and did a gesso (we basically draw/write something on a sheet with chalk so that people will stop and talk to us.) I really under estimated this holiday because I'm pretty sure the entire city of Crotone was out there, it was packed! Then when it got dark they did a firework show right on the ocean. I was really grateful to see that because I'll miss my favorite American holiday again this year. 

The gesso wasn't super successful because the amount of people made it a little chaotic, but the biggest success for me was when a man came up to me near the end and said, "hey! Do you remember me?" I had talked to him on 2 different occasions already. He seemed interested and the last time he said that he'd come to church, but he never did. We had a really good long talk where I was able to summarize the Restoration, expalin how the Plan of Salvation answers the questions of the soul, and we even talked about the spirit. He said something really cool. He told me that when he talks with me, he feels good, and he sees everyone around him in a loving way. But sadly, those feelings go away when he leaves. He said that after talking to us last time he had the intentions of coming to church, then the next morning he just didn't feel the same and didn't have that motivation to come. He asked me, why do I feel so good when I talk to you? I explained to him the fruits of the spirit, and how the spirit testifies of truth. I was able to testify of the truthfulness of our message and of his need for this gospel in his life. I was very bold with him which is something that I am striving to do because it doesn't come naturally for me. In the end I was able to help him schedule an appoinment to meet with the elders tonight. He said, "you convinced me." I was so grateful to be able to see the spirit working through me to convince this man of his need for the gospel in his life. I know that even in that crazy commotion going on around us, as I testified of truths and listened for what God would have me say, this man was able to feel of that spirit and see the fruits of those feelings. 

Today we had a lot of fun! We went to Le Castella this morning. It's the castel in the middle of the ocean that I went to 2 transfers ago. We actually got to go in the castel this time and climb to the top of the tower. We didn't have tons of time though because they opened late and we had a bus to catch so we didn't see all of it, but that just means that we'll have to come back together to see it! 

Then at we met an english course student at the bus station who took us to Capo Colona. There we were able to see this famous pillar that is the last standing of an entire temple structure and pithagorus' school also used to be there also. This pillar was built more than 500 years before Christ's birth. Nearby there's an old church that was constructed for that painting that they supposedly found of Mother Mary. Apparently there's this legend that these muslims stole one of the greek's ships and tried to burn this painting but it wouldn't burn. That's why they built the church and have this Mother Mary Holiday down here. The ocean was absolutely beautiful today, we were able to see it in both locations. It's getting warm here so the water is a beautiful deep blue. 

Life is good here in Crotone. I love you guys! Have a great week! 

Love, 

Sorella Bonzo

Homemade focaccia (typical food in Puglia -region of Italy where Taranto is)

We forgot to take scambio pics so we took pictures of each other eating our pizze

Street art of mother Mary 

African meal 

Madonna week 

Gesso 

The show on lungomare 

Pics from today

The old Column
 

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x

The Field is White All Ready to Harvest

Hey friends! Happy P-day!

Monday we did a district Pday in Cosenza. We went bowling! That night we all stopped by a ward FHE where they fed us tons of food. They were throwing a surprise party for an older sister who will be leaving soon to serve a temple mission in Germany. We had this lasagna with eggplant and eggs and I don't even know what else but it was really good. Then we blitzed the city. We wanted to do a gesso but by the time we got to centro there weren't as many people so we all just split off into our companionships and went finding. We talked to this really cute mother from the philipines with her cute little 4 year old son. We showed them "Because of Him" then told them about eternal families. We got her number for the missionaries in Cosenza. Her son was sooo cute I really hope that they can meet with her husband and her. 

This week was really great in regards to our member work. We were able

to do role plays with 2 of our strong members to help them be prepared
to invite their friends to learn about the gospel. Both of those
lessons went really well, and surprisingly, the members loved doing
the role plays! We will follow up with them this week to see how their
efforts are going. 

We also got to see two less active members who were very open with us.
It has been hard for me to get them to trust us enough to open up and
tell us their concerns, but this week both of them talked very openly
to us and helped us understand better what we can do for them. My companion said to me, "sister, it must be because we have the spirit with us." I think she's right.

We are finding out that here in Crotone people are particularly
skeptical when it comes to religion. It's easy for us to have street
conversations, get numbers, and set up appointments, but the amount of
times that they actually follow through with these appointments and
become investigators is hardly ever. To the best of our abilities we
have been focusing our finding efforts on more natural encounters. We
are seeing success this way. Obviously we all know that the best way
to find is through our members (and we are hoping to get them involved
as much as possible) but this week we were able to get two new
investigators through our finding efforts because we have become
friends with them. They just opened a pizzeria close to our house and
so we stop by often to say hello and even did some service helping the
daughter with her English homework. We left them with a spiritual
thought showing the video "Because of Him." This week we asked them if
they would like to hear our message to know why we're really here and
we set up an appointment. The mom told us, "that video you showed us
last week really touched me, I would love to hear about what you
believe." We taught them the restoration this week. We're praying that
they can take our invites seriously and receive a testimony of our
message. They have already been an answer to my prayers as I have been praying more fervantly than ever in these past couple weeks to find people who are ready to accept our message and make covenants with God. We are kind of starting from the ground up in these days because none of our investigators whom we were progressing. But don't worry, we're building it back up! I know that our decision to spend time finding those who are truly rather than continuing to meet with those who aren't may have been a little difficult, but it was what God wanted. I know that He will bless us for it.

We ate some african pasta this week, that was a first. We went over to have a lesson with Precious but she was getting ready so we talked to Juliet while she was finishing to prepare lunch then she fed us! She is so generous. It was super good. She didn't put sauce on it, just tons of vegetables and meat and spices. It was really really spicey. I have developed a whole new tolerance for spicey foods here in Calabria (the part of Italy known for it's peperoncino.) 

After that we walked out to do some finding and the streets were full of Australian tourists (a cruise ship from australia had docked for the day.) There weren't tons of Italians around so we spent our time giving directions more than anything haha. They were so surprised to find people who spoke English. I was surprised to find out that even little Crotone has a tourist side to it. 

Saturday we did a Primary activity. We started working on Faith in God with the girls to bring a less active 11 year old back. We did one of the activities to write a letter of gratitude to someone and had the girls make cute cards for their moms for Mother's Day. 

That night a sister who served here in Crotone 2.5 years ago was back touring Italy and she asked us if we'd like to go with her to see some people whom she was working with while she was here. We went to see a woman named Graziella who used to come faithfully to our english course but now hasn't been since January. The sisters worked with her a little bit before but mostly just formed a really great friendship. The x-sister missionary told me that she wasn't ever really ready to seriously take the lesson. She made us some tizana and we sat and talked with her a little bit and somehow the subject of a friend of hers who passed away recently came up. We got to testify about the Plan of Salvation and the Book of Mormon as a way to undrestand this plan and find comfort. She loved it. The sisters had given her a Book of Mormon in the past but she said that she was never able understand it. We asked if we could come over and read it together and she said she'd love that, and she also promised us as we were leaving that she'd see us at english on Tuesaday. 

We also went over to a pizzeria and met some people who they were really good friends with but never taught. This couple just had twins so it could be a great time to introduce the gospel to them. It was super fun getting to talk to a sister who served here in the past and now we have some great potentials. I'm so grateful for her help and how she continued to be a missionary even though her full time service has finished. She planted some really great seeds while she was here that are hopefully ready for us to harvest. 

That evening there was this huge parade to celebrate the the finding of this black portrait of mother Mary or something like that. They said that they found it at the beach and now they do this huge parade every year with lights all around the city like they do at Christmas. They walk from the center of the city, down the beach, and end at the hospital where they present the painting to an official who receives it which happened to be graziella's husband. She said she was supposed to be there too, but she thinks that worshipping these kinds of things is dumb so she didn't go haha. The whole time they walk they throw all of the confetti that says stuff on it like "ave Maria" so now all our streets are just covered with the stuff. I guess it brought some color into Crotone at least! 

Sunday after church we ran over to Damiana and Catherina's house to drop off some brownies and say goodbye. I'm so sad that they are leaving tomorrow but they will be back in July and want to continue the lessons with us then. 

It was good to see you guys on skype. It's weird to think that that's the last time we'll talk. Love you guys! I'm glad that you're doing well! 

Have a great week!

Love,

Sorella Bonzo

This was from last week haha we got creative 

Cosenza

We played monopoly with a member's son, his friend, and their babysitter for a few minutes while we were waiting for the mom and sister to get home. This kid is such a goofball

African pasta

Crotone Chillin'

Cari miei, buongiorno!☀️

We were so excited for this week because we had scheduled tons of appointments with a lot of really cool, young potential investigators, but unfortunately every single one of them stood us up 😔 It was really sad, but we're going to try to contact them again this week, and if not, we'll just hope that the next time that they talk with missionaries, they'll take that step of faith to meet with them. In the meantime we'll keep doing our best to look for all the people that God has prepared for us here. We've freed up our time by dropping some investigators who aren't quite ready to make covenants with God right now so we have plenty of time to find those who are!

Monday: 

We got to do family home evening with the Africans again. Although African food is really different, so far I had liked everything that she fed us--or at least was able to stand it--until Monday when she fed us the nasty stuff she called porridge. It was spicy mashed up beans with all kinds of crazy stuff inside including some kind of fish, beers, and these little dry crunchy shrimp type things. Every time I got one of those in my spoonful I felt it poke me all the way down my throat. Haha anyway, eating something that makes me a little nauseous is not my favorite way to get super full, but I can't complain because she's always so good to us. 

For our lesson we showed the children's bible video who is Jesus? Juliet loved it and we all talked about our testimonies of Jesus Christ. We then invited her to share this testimony with her friends and invite them to learn more about him from us. She goes okay, turns around to the man sitting behind her and says, "my brother, you want to be closer to Jesus? Meet with them, they can help you." Then she turned to us and said, "you can come and do lessons here in my home with him whenever you want." It made us laugh because it really is that simple! I love Africans because they just tell you like it is and they also love God so much. 

We got our transfer calls Monday night and we're both staying 😊 Crotone has definitely become my little home and I can't imagine leaving it. 

Tuesday: 

We had to spend most of the day traveling to and from Cosenza for district meeting. My district covers almost the entire regione of Calabria so it takes about 3 hours to travel from Crotone to Cosenza. We did our last meeting with this district before two of them got transferred, ate some good kebabs, and got back on the bus for another 3 hours. After English course that night we went to wish our friend Bob (an African who I found that the elders are now teaching) a happy birthday. He invited us to his party which was supposed to start at 7, but we were running on Italian African standard time which means it didn't end up starting until like 10:30 I think they said. So unfortunately we couldn't stay for the party, but he was grateful that stopped by. 

Wednesday: 

We got to see Caterina and Damiana our new investigators. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation because their husband &a father had recently died and they are really suffering because of it. The lesson went beautifully and we actually found out that Damiana has a Mormon friend in Bergamo (where she lives) who comes and visits her to talk about religion once a week. We feel that in this way, she has been prepared to receive the gospel. We used scriptures  from the Book of Mormon to teach each point of our lesson and at the end we gave her one and invited her to read a chapter that talks about the Plan of Salvation. She said that she's never read to Bible before, but that she would start this book that night. 

Thursday:

We went finding on lungomare at like 12 which wasn't my first plan because usually at this time everyone here is already inside getting ready for lunch and the younger people haven't gottenout of school yet. But our plans hadn't worked out like we wanted them to so we went with this which was our for that morning plan D. We were getting rejected pretty badly by all of the peoples hurrying to get home to cook lunch but then we saw this girl sitting on the little wall smoking and looking at the ocean. We walked around to face her and introduced ourselves and our church and say "they call us Mormons." And she goes, "why?" So I pull out my Book of Mormon and explain it to her a little bit. We talked about what the Book of Mormon does for us like helping us understand the plan of salvation. She told us about how she feels lonely and empty inside because her dad died when she was 4 and she doesn't know where he is. We got to testify that we know god's perfect plan for us and we can meet and explain it to her. She agreed and we set up an appointment. 

We also met another lady who told us that she was too busy to meet with us because she has a 2 year old child. Then sorella Zapata goes, "do you want your family to be eternal?" I was shocked at how bold she was but it made her stop and think. Then we got her number! Wooo! It was sorella Zapata's goal to be bold this week and she did well! 

Saturday:

We taught Damiana and Caterina again and extended a baptismal invite but they're going back to Bergamo next week and aren't sure when they're getting back. They will come back for the summer though so there's still hope. 

Sunday: 

We had very little members in church because all of our usual members were sick. We visited a member later and she told us her whole conversion story. She was the first member baptized in Crotone so it was an absolutely amazing story. I admire those missionaries who worked with her so much because it would not be easy. 

Things are good, we love Crotone and are working hard to find that one who is ready for us. 

Love you, 

Sorella Bonzo

African food

Last district pic

Out of the window this morning coming to Cosenza

I was way too excited for that sandwich

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