Once again we spent a lot of the week traveling through Calabria and Puglia (2 regions of Italy.) Wednesday morning we left Crotone with the Zone Leaders and headed up to Catanzaro to do their apartment inspection and they fed us lunch. Then we headed off to Statte to do an exchange with the sisters there. I had the opportunity to do an exchange with Sorella Keglovitz. It was fun to reflect with her about all of the things that we have learned in the mission and how we have grown since out days together in the MTC almost a year and a half ago. She has done a great job in Statte, using her organization skills to leave the area better than she found it. We passed by a lot of different addresses and were able to see some of their investigators. We were able to follow the spirit and really help an investigator that they have who hasn't really been progressing and only continues with the lessons because her husband is interested and her daughter is a member. She is still firm in her catholic beliefs so we were able to us the Bible (something she already believes in) to support our message which I think helped a lot. That night we went to a pizzeria owned by some of their members. They are so sweet. Because they are so busy with the pizzeria, they aren't able to invite the missionaries over to eat or help in lessons so they let the sisters eat free whenever they come (and they expect them to come at least twice a week.) After stuffing ourselves with pizza and gelato (they insisted,) we went home and made a Tiramisù (with orzo instead of coffee.) Things got a little crazy and I somehow ended up with it in my hair and all over my face... exchanges make me miss having a four sister house sometimes.
Thursday morning we took our favorite 6.5 hour bus ride back to Crotone then when we got back we spent our time buying groceries and cleaning the house for the new senior couple in Crotone! A sister in the office called and asked us to make sure that they were taken care of and felt welcomed. They got in late Thursday night so we ended up meeting them on Friday. Anziano and Sorella Heyman are from southern California. Anziano Heyman served in Italy when it was all one mission but mainly served in the north. Sorella Heyman is already working on learning Italian and did a great job bearing her testimony in church on Sunday. They are wonderful and are exactly what Crotone needs.
The highlight of my week was on Friday when the Heymans arrived and came to our branch activity that night. The members had no idea that we would be getting a senior couple. They were ecstatic when they found out that the Heymans would be serving their mission in Crotone. The entire mood of the branch has gone from one side of the spectrum to the other. In the past month going to church has been a bit of a somber and depressing experience. Yesterday joy and cheer once again entered the chapel as we welcomed in the Heymans to the branch. I now feel a lot more secure about leaving Crotone in the hands of people who will care for it as much as I do.
With all of that joy the branch activity went wonderfully. We even had a little branch intervention led by our branch president to help the members rerecognize their duty as member missionaries. We watched the Restoration film and heard the testimonies of some members including the powerful testimony of President Sarcone, I have grown to love and appreciate him so much. Afterwards we ate Tiramisù (don't worry, again, no coffee,) gelato inside of a briosche bread, and the banana bread with chocolate chips that I made. If the mission talk me nothing else, I have learned how to cook well enough that Italains are asking me for my recipes and taking the leftovers home to their families (totally joking--but I'm not kidding about my bomb banana bread.)
Saturday morning we went out to Isola again to teach Precious and her boyfriend. She was really sad to find out that this is my last week in Crotone. I love her and will miss her a lot. The lesson went well as we boldly bore our testimonies of the principles of the gospel, hearts were more open to change.
Right after that we quickly grabbed some stuff for lunch from the grocery store by the station the hopped on another bus to Cosenza. That night we got to be apart of 3 african baptisms. That morning I was asked to play the piano and during the ceremony I was asked to go to the pupit and translate because the talks were being done in english for those being baptized. Serving in Calabria for so long has taught me how to just roll with everything and do whatever is asked of me even if I'm not necessarily comfortable doing it.
The spirit was sweet as we heard the testimonies of the 3 newly baptized members; Bismark, Kingsford, and George (all from Ghana.) They are such a prepared people. Each one bore witness of the spirit that they immediately felt on their first Sunday in church and they are all anxiously engaged in missionary work with their friends. The Anziani have been preparing their friend Francis for baptism next month and are trying to prepare these three to have the priesthood and be able to perform and be witnesses for his baptism.
As I mentioned before, the members warmly welcomed in the Heymans to the branch on Sunday. After sacrament meeting we asked Sorella Heyman if she'd like to join us for primary. It may not have been the best way to welcome her into the branch.... Let just say that by the end of it, Xixi (the 4 year old) was play "I've got your nose" with me and it got a little out of hand... As Vittoria (the 10 year old) was ripping out half of my hair while trying to put it in a ponytail, Xixi was violently grabbing my nose and the next thing I knew she had ran to the kitchen and brought back tongs that she had planned to use to "rip my nose off." When those were taken from her she escaped once again to the kitchen and came back with a giant serrated knife and attempted to cut my nose off with it! She ran around swinging it everywhere while all three of us chased her then she finally threw it over a wall outside. This my friends, is just a typical day of primary in Crotone...
In all reality though, words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the opportunity that I have had to serve here in Crotone. All of the hardships and trials that I have seen here make the good things so much sweeter, and the goodbyes so much harder. Although it may not always seem like Crotone is worth all of the missionary efforts that are sent its way, there are some really great people here who are doing their very best to worship their savior and follow him, (one of these people being President Sarcone who I have come to admire and love.)
As my mission comes to a close, I have had many opportunites to look back and reflect upon the many miracles that I have seen helping other people change for the better, and all of the change and growth that I have seen in myself. The biggest thing that my mission taught me was how to become more Christlike. I have learned who I am, and understand so much better who I am trying to become. I have gained this beautiful knowledge by coming to know my savior Jesus Christ by studying his words and the words that are writting of Him. I love Him, I love His work, and I love the people here in Italy. I have done so much personal growing during this year and a half that God has given me, and I cherish every moment of it. I love you all, thanks for following me on this adventure. See you soon!
Love always,
Sorella Bonzo
Exchange
Primary with Sorella Heyman...at one point they were outside making a castle with the cardboard boxes...
Sister pic. I love my sorella Walch. I'm going to miss her tons.
Thursday morning we took our favorite 6.5 hour bus ride back to Crotone then when we got back we spent our time buying groceries and cleaning the house for the new senior couple in Crotone! A sister in the office called and asked us to make sure that they were taken care of and felt welcomed. They got in late Thursday night so we ended up meeting them on Friday. Anziano and Sorella Heyman are from southern California. Anziano Heyman served in Italy when it was all one mission but mainly served in the north. Sorella Heyman is already working on learning Italian and did a great job bearing her testimony in church on Sunday. They are wonderful and are exactly what Crotone needs.
The highlight of my week was on Friday when the Heymans arrived and came to our branch activity that night. The members had no idea that we would be getting a senior couple. They were ecstatic when they found out that the Heymans would be serving their mission in Crotone. The entire mood of the branch has gone from one side of the spectrum to the other. In the past month going to church has been a bit of a somber and depressing experience. Yesterday joy and cheer once again entered the chapel as we welcomed in the Heymans to the branch. I now feel a lot more secure about leaving Crotone in the hands of people who will care for it as much as I do.
With all of that joy the branch activity went wonderfully. We even had a little branch intervention led by our branch president to help the members rerecognize their duty as member missionaries. We watched the Restoration film and heard the testimonies of some members including the powerful testimony of President Sarcone, I have grown to love and appreciate him so much. Afterwards we ate Tiramisù (don't worry, again, no coffee,) gelato inside of a briosche bread, and the banana bread with chocolate chips that I made. If the mission talk me nothing else, I have learned how to cook well enough that Italains are asking me for my recipes and taking the leftovers home to their families (totally joking--but I'm not kidding about my bomb banana bread.)
Saturday morning we went out to Isola again to teach Precious and her boyfriend. She was really sad to find out that this is my last week in Crotone. I love her and will miss her a lot. The lesson went well as we boldly bore our testimonies of the principles of the gospel, hearts were more open to change.
Right after that we quickly grabbed some stuff for lunch from the grocery store by the station the hopped on another bus to Cosenza. That night we got to be apart of 3 african baptisms. That morning I was asked to play the piano and during the ceremony I was asked to go to the pupit and translate because the talks were being done in english for those being baptized. Serving in Calabria for so long has taught me how to just roll with everything and do whatever is asked of me even if I'm not necessarily comfortable doing it.
The spirit was sweet as we heard the testimonies of the 3 newly baptized members; Bismark, Kingsford, and George (all from Ghana.) They are such a prepared people. Each one bore witness of the spirit that they immediately felt on their first Sunday in church and they are all anxiously engaged in missionary work with their friends. The Anziani have been preparing their friend Francis for baptism next month and are trying to prepare these three to have the priesthood and be able to perform and be witnesses for his baptism.
As I mentioned before, the members warmly welcomed in the Heymans to the branch on Sunday. After sacrament meeting we asked Sorella Heyman if she'd like to join us for primary. It may not have been the best way to welcome her into the branch.... Let just say that by the end of it, Xixi (the 4 year old) was play "I've got your nose" with me and it got a little out of hand... As Vittoria (the 10 year old) was ripping out half of my hair while trying to put it in a ponytail, Xixi was violently grabbing my nose and the next thing I knew she had ran to the kitchen and brought back tongs that she had planned to use to "rip my nose off." When those were taken from her she escaped once again to the kitchen and came back with a giant serrated knife and attempted to cut my nose off with it! She ran around swinging it everywhere while all three of us chased her then she finally threw it over a wall outside. This my friends, is just a typical day of primary in Crotone...
In all reality though, words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the opportunity that I have had to serve here in Crotone. All of the hardships and trials that I have seen here make the good things so much sweeter, and the goodbyes so much harder. Although it may not always seem like Crotone is worth all of the missionary efforts that are sent its way, there are some really great people here who are doing their very best to worship their savior and follow him, (one of these people being President Sarcone who I have come to admire and love.)
As my mission comes to a close, I have had many opportunites to look back and reflect upon the many miracles that I have seen helping other people change for the better, and all of the change and growth that I have seen in myself. The biggest thing that my mission taught me was how to become more Christlike. I have learned who I am, and understand so much better who I am trying to become. I have gained this beautiful knowledge by coming to know my savior Jesus Christ by studying his words and the words that are writting of Him. I love Him, I love His work, and I love the people here in Italy. I have done so much personal growing during this year and a half that God has given me, and I cherish every moment of it. I love you all, thanks for following me on this adventure. See you soon!
Love always,
Sorella Bonzo
Exchange
Primary with Sorella Heyman...at one point they were outside making a castle with the cardboard boxes...
I promised them my famous lasagna and they promised me chocolami
Yeah, we did this hike again for my last pday and ate Chinese food with the Heymans
Sister pic. I love my sorella Walch. I'm going to miss her tons.
