This week we saw many miracles because we followed the promptings of the Holy Ghost. That has probably become my biggest desire as a missionary: to recognize and follow the promptings of the Spirit. I have come to understand that that is honestly the best way that we can be successful in this work. I know that this knowledge will also bless me after my mission as I try to live my life in line with God's will and make my decisions with the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Alright, I'm going to apologize in advance because this email is going to be quick and I probably won't have time to respond to any of your emails. I'll explain why...
On Tuesday morning we took a train up to Catanzaro for district meeting. While on the train I was using my iPad to study The Book of Mormon, then I got super tired so I set it down and fell asleep for a few minutes. Then when I woke up it was time to get off. I grabbed my bag and got off all chill and everything. Then as we were waiting for the calabro (another little train thing to get to the church) I looked for my iPad and......I bet you can pretty much figrue out the rest. We ran back to the train station and talked to some people and eventially talked to the police. Luckily the train hadn't left the station and was just parked. They went and looked for it on there but didn't find anything so they assumed that someone must have seen it after we got off and taken it. It was unfortunate. It sadly made my proselyting a little more difficult this week because I have everything on there from addresses to lesson plans, But it's all good. In the end, like President Pickerd says, "it's just stuff." All I really need to is the spirit and my Book of Mormon and don't worry, I'll make sure to not lose either of those!
(so the reason I won't have time to email is because we're leaving in about 20 minutes to go and see the cool mountain range that's famous here in Calabria called Sila and I won't have an iPad to write emails while we travel like usual.)
We spent tons of time in the Questura this week because my green card to live here in Italy expired after a year and I had to renew it so we did that last transfer, but then they rejected my renewal request!! haha apparently I'm not welcome in Italy anymore. We sadly had to spend tons of time trying to figure that all out and still haven't gotten it completely resolved (we have to go back this Wednesday.) I hate doing legal stuff in Italy because it always takes FOREVER. But at least we get to talk to cool africans while we wait!
On Wednesday it was one of the elders' birthday so Sorella Zapata and I made them lunch. I made that super good lasagna that sorella taylor and I learned how to make together and sorella zapata made a cheesecake. Quoting sorella zapata, "I've lived in Italy for 15 years and that is the best lasagna that i've ever eaten!" Her cheesecake was super good too. It's kind of funny because I made the italian dish and she made the american dessert and they both ended up to be delicious!
Later that day we had planned to pass by a member but on our way there we walked past a street that would take us to a less active's house and I had the smallest impression to go there instead. Mind you I haven't seen this less active since before sorella zapata arrived. she stopped answering our phone calls and wouldnt ever let us in. We went and rang her citofono and there was no answer. We rang again, then without saying anything, the door buzzed open. We went up to her house and when she saw us we could tell that she was expecting someone else. My companion really needed to use the bathroom so that was our excuse to get in haha. We came to find out that this sister had just had a surgery the day before and was now recovering. She was happy to see us and pretty open as we sat and talked to her. Then a few minutes later her aunt and cousin (the people she was actually expecting) came in. We started talking with her cousin Nuncia and found out that she has read some of The Book of Mormon, been to church, and took the lessons a long time ago. She told us that The Book of Mormon really helped her through a hard period in her life that she was passing through and so did some of our members that she became close friends with. We asked if she would like to meet with us again and she said that she would. After she left our less active member told us that once she gets better, she'll take us to her cousins house and we'll do the lessons together! I'm so grateful that we followed my prompting that day!
Thursday we got to see our nonnina sorella siniscalchi in the morning. As we were talking, she told us about how she really wanted to go and visit her husband in the cemetary that afternoon, but after what happened a few weeks ago, she was a little scared to go alone. She used to go on a long walk every morning before the sun came up from her house, down by the seaside, and to the cemetary to say hello to her husband but a few weeks ago she fainted while on her walk and ever since she hasn't been (keep in mind this lady is 86 years old and she doesn't just do one of those little granny walks, she's a speed walker.) We told her that we'd love to come back to do the walk with her that afternoon so that she could go. We met up with her after lunch that day and took the long walk to the cemetary where we were eaten alive by mosquittoes. Every time we looked down we saw 20 on our legs no joke. Cemetaries here have always kind of freaked me out..they're interesting.. but it was all worth it for her of course! When she got there she walked up to his grave and said, "I'm here, I'm here." Then she sat on a bench next to him and just smiled. On the way back she insisted on buying us a gelato and while we sat and ate so that she could regain her strength to walk home, she told of their love story. They met when they were 12 and have loved each other ever since! How cute!
We saw how much she missed doing her morning walks to see him, and decided that we would start going with her every morning during our exercise time to do that walk. So Friday and Saturday morning we left our house at 6 and ran to her house then walked with her down lungomare to the cemetary and back. She looked so cute when she came out of her house wearing her little jumpsuit, hat, and sunglasses. Everyone that walked past us was so impressed with this cute little 86 year old that is about a head shorter than me, speed walking down the peer. The walk takes about an hour and a half total, so we have to sacrifice some of our time to get ready in the morning, but it's so worth it. I love my nonnina here in Crotone and would do anything for her. We're going to continue to do it as long as she feels up for up for it. These kinds of things are what really make me feel like a missionary. She told us, "I don't want to bug you guys or be a burden to you because I respect your calling as missionaries." We told her that we as missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ, so we're suppose to do what He would do. And I assured here that if Christ were here, He would also walk with her to the cemetary every morning.
Also, my cooking skills are on fire these days apparently because our bananas were about to go bad so I made banana muffins Thursday morning and brought them to english course and everyone said that they were the best muffins that they've ever eaten. Who would've thought that I'd ever get good at cooking? Look mom! I'm finally learning!
Friday we went to see a some less active family that lives in Cutro. When we got there the dad was starting a barbecue and invite us to stay and eat dinner with them. It was really really good but holy cow they made me eat so much meat. Usually I'd eat 1 piece of meat and the grilled vegetables and everything, but he made me eat FIVE pieces of meat!!! We had rabbit, fiorentina, chicken, sausage, and chicken & onion kabobs. I definitely gained a testimony of the Word of Wisdom after that meal.... I felt sick for the entire next day.
I didn't eat anything that next day because we had a dinner appointment scheduled for the next night and I was still super full of all of that meat. There we ate the spiciest pasta I've ever had and to wash it down he offered us non-alcoholic beer.. I don't know why anyone would ever drink that stuff. Then on Sunday one of one of the counselors from the stake presidency and his family came for a visit so we did lunch in church as a branch like always...In total we had 4 meal appointments this week and we have one with the africans tonight as well. Calabria has wrecked my stomach with all of this african food and peperoncino.T his region in Italy known for its spicey peppers- it's really the only region where they eat spicey food at all..and if you know anything about african food, you know that it's even spicier. I'm pretty sure my tastebuds were forced to change here.
Other than that, this week we saw a lot of cool miracles that we're hoping will lead to some new investigators in this upcoming week. Including an ex-investigator coming to church, staying all three hours, and even staying for lunch after! We're going to start teaching her again on Tuesday and really feel that this might be her time!
I really loved Presidente Conforte's (counselor in the stake presidency) talk that he gave in sacrament meeting. He told the story of when he was a boy, and his grandpa helped him plant an aprocott tree. Every morning following to his dismay, nothing had grown. Then years later when he was an adult, he took his grandfather back to that place and found a tree that was fully grown. He had forgotten about it, and didn't know that in the meantime his grandfather had cared for the tree until it was fully grown. He compared it to our little branch saying that it starts out as a little seed, but with time, patience, and work, it will someday be a big, beautful tree (or ward.)
Love,
Sorella Bonzo
sorry, no iPad= no pictures
Alright, I'm going to apologize in advance because this email is going to be quick and I probably won't have time to respond to any of your emails. I'll explain why...
On Tuesday morning we took a train up to Catanzaro for district meeting. While on the train I was using my iPad to study The Book of Mormon, then I got super tired so I set it down and fell asleep for a few minutes. Then when I woke up it was time to get off. I grabbed my bag and got off all chill and everything. Then as we were waiting for the calabro (another little train thing to get to the church) I looked for my iPad and......I bet you can pretty much figrue out the rest. We ran back to the train station and talked to some people and eventially talked to the police. Luckily the train hadn't left the station and was just parked. They went and looked for it on there but didn't find anything so they assumed that someone must have seen it after we got off and taken it. It was unfortunate. It sadly made my proselyting a little more difficult this week because I have everything on there from addresses to lesson plans, But it's all good. In the end, like President Pickerd says, "it's just stuff." All I really need to is the spirit and my Book of Mormon and don't worry, I'll make sure to not lose either of those!
(so the reason I won't have time to email is because we're leaving in about 20 minutes to go and see the cool mountain range that's famous here in Calabria called Sila and I won't have an iPad to write emails while we travel like usual.)
We spent tons of time in the Questura this week because my green card to live here in Italy expired after a year and I had to renew it so we did that last transfer, but then they rejected my renewal request!! haha apparently I'm not welcome in Italy anymore. We sadly had to spend tons of time trying to figure that all out and still haven't gotten it completely resolved (we have to go back this Wednesday.) I hate doing legal stuff in Italy because it always takes FOREVER. But at least we get to talk to cool africans while we wait!
On Wednesday it was one of the elders' birthday so Sorella Zapata and I made them lunch. I made that super good lasagna that sorella taylor and I learned how to make together and sorella zapata made a cheesecake. Quoting sorella zapata, "I've lived in Italy for 15 years and that is the best lasagna that i've ever eaten!" Her cheesecake was super good too. It's kind of funny because I made the italian dish and she made the american dessert and they both ended up to be delicious!
Later that day we had planned to pass by a member but on our way there we walked past a street that would take us to a less active's house and I had the smallest impression to go there instead. Mind you I haven't seen this less active since before sorella zapata arrived. she stopped answering our phone calls and wouldnt ever let us in. We went and rang her citofono and there was no answer. We rang again, then without saying anything, the door buzzed open. We went up to her house and when she saw us we could tell that she was expecting someone else. My companion really needed to use the bathroom so that was our excuse to get in haha. We came to find out that this sister had just had a surgery the day before and was now recovering. She was happy to see us and pretty open as we sat and talked to her. Then a few minutes later her aunt and cousin (the people she was actually expecting) came in. We started talking with her cousin Nuncia and found out that she has read some of The Book of Mormon, been to church, and took the lessons a long time ago. She told us that The Book of Mormon really helped her through a hard period in her life that she was passing through and so did some of our members that she became close friends with. We asked if she would like to meet with us again and she said that she would. After she left our less active member told us that once she gets better, she'll take us to her cousins house and we'll do the lessons together! I'm so grateful that we followed my prompting that day!
Thursday we got to see our nonnina sorella siniscalchi in the morning. As we were talking, she told us about how she really wanted to go and visit her husband in the cemetary that afternoon, but after what happened a few weeks ago, she was a little scared to go alone. She used to go on a long walk every morning before the sun came up from her house, down by the seaside, and to the cemetary to say hello to her husband but a few weeks ago she fainted while on her walk and ever since she hasn't been (keep in mind this lady is 86 years old and she doesn't just do one of those little granny walks, she's a speed walker.) We told her that we'd love to come back to do the walk with her that afternoon so that she could go. We met up with her after lunch that day and took the long walk to the cemetary where we were eaten alive by mosquittoes. Every time we looked down we saw 20 on our legs no joke. Cemetaries here have always kind of freaked me out..they're interesting.. but it was all worth it for her of course! When she got there she walked up to his grave and said, "I'm here, I'm here." Then she sat on a bench next to him and just smiled. On the way back she insisted on buying us a gelato and while we sat and ate so that she could regain her strength to walk home, she told of their love story. They met when they were 12 and have loved each other ever since! How cute!
We saw how much she missed doing her morning walks to see him, and decided that we would start going with her every morning during our exercise time to do that walk. So Friday and Saturday morning we left our house at 6 and ran to her house then walked with her down lungomare to the cemetary and back. She looked so cute when she came out of her house wearing her little jumpsuit, hat, and sunglasses. Everyone that walked past us was so impressed with this cute little 86 year old that is about a head shorter than me, speed walking down the peer. The walk takes about an hour and a half total, so we have to sacrifice some of our time to get ready in the morning, but it's so worth it. I love my nonnina here in Crotone and would do anything for her. We're going to continue to do it as long as she feels up for up for it. These kinds of things are what really make me feel like a missionary. She told us, "I don't want to bug you guys or be a burden to you because I respect your calling as missionaries." We told her that we as missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ, so we're suppose to do what He would do. And I assured here that if Christ were here, He would also walk with her to the cemetary every morning.
Also, my cooking skills are on fire these days apparently because our bananas were about to go bad so I made banana muffins Thursday morning and brought them to english course and everyone said that they were the best muffins that they've ever eaten. Who would've thought that I'd ever get good at cooking? Look mom! I'm finally learning!
Friday we went to see a some less active family that lives in Cutro. When we got there the dad was starting a barbecue and invite us to stay and eat dinner with them. It was really really good but holy cow they made me eat so much meat. Usually I'd eat 1 piece of meat and the grilled vegetables and everything, but he made me eat FIVE pieces of meat!!! We had rabbit, fiorentina, chicken, sausage, and chicken & onion kabobs. I definitely gained a testimony of the Word of Wisdom after that meal.... I felt sick for the entire next day.
I didn't eat anything that next day because we had a dinner appointment scheduled for the next night and I was still super full of all of that meat. There we ate the spiciest pasta I've ever had and to wash it down he offered us non-alcoholic beer.. I don't know why anyone would ever drink that stuff. Then on Sunday one of one of the counselors from the stake presidency and his family came for a visit so we did lunch in church as a branch like always...In total we had 4 meal appointments this week and we have one with the africans tonight as well. Calabria has wrecked my stomach with all of this african food and peperoncino.T his region in Italy known for its spicey peppers- it's really the only region where they eat spicey food at all..and if you know anything about african food, you know that it's even spicier. I'm pretty sure my tastebuds were forced to change here.
Other than that, this week we saw a lot of cool miracles that we're hoping will lead to some new investigators in this upcoming week. Including an ex-investigator coming to church, staying all three hours, and even staying for lunch after! We're going to start teaching her again on Tuesday and really feel that this might be her time!
I really loved Presidente Conforte's (counselor in the stake presidency) talk that he gave in sacrament meeting. He told the story of when he was a boy, and his grandpa helped him plant an aprocott tree. Every morning following to his dismay, nothing had grown. Then years later when he was an adult, he took his grandfather back to that place and found a tree that was fully grown. He had forgotten about it, and didn't know that in the meantime his grandfather had cared for the tree until it was fully grown. He compared it to our little branch saying that it starts out as a little seed, but with time, patience, and work, it will someday be a big, beautful tree (or ward.)
Love,
Sorella Bonzo
sorry, no iPad= no pictures
