Heather's current home address:

Sorella Heather Hastings
Via Giacoma Quarenghi 8
20151 Milano, Italia (Italy)

 Sept 17, 2014

You see that cute little girl in the corner? That is Priscilla's six year old daughter. Just look at that face! There is a story behind it but I'm not going to tell it. Priscilla is amazing, though. The baptism went well and her testimony is so strong. 

These are all the people we are teaching right now:

Priscilla, Sabrina, Diego (the 8 year old kid from the crazy Italian family), Mercedes (we found her! She has cancer and is going through radio therapy right now and doesn't want to come to church because she needs to get through this, but we are going to keep visiting her. Yes. She's so sweet!), Rosa (teaching English/gospel), Precious or (Oufre) from Africa, Julia (a 16 girl who went to FSY here in Italia, Romeo (husband of Lidia, Filipino and amazing- attached is food they always give us.) I think that's it.

Also, here are the photos from zone conference!

And, do family history. It's so important!

I've got a scripture for you! Hebrews 13:24-25. yeaaah :)

OK. So this week is transfer week, I probably didn't tell you. But no worries, we are both staying here together to finish training. However, not only is Sorella Carter still training me... she got called to be a sister training leader! So this next transfer is going to be crazy and super stressful a bit. We will get to do five exchanges with companions, where usually the younger companion will come here to Milano with Sorella and I will go there with the other companion, and she can practice training me and Sorella teaches the other younger one here. Which means I get to visit some other cities in our zone, that will be fun. But Sorella stresses easily and I get overwhelmed... so certainly this transfer will be a crazy one. We got this though. She's pretty much amazing. 

They have specific shops... gloves, ties, shoes, watches, etc.

We found peanut butter at a South American store... Sorella carter loves it. We've made some milkshakes by hand with it. I miss milkshakes and smoothies...

And stuffed peppers! We try to eat healthy.

Fun facts: an American company bought Barilla, the pasta here. That’s kind of sad. Also, there are a lot of JW's here. Everywhere. We were given one of their books from a contact and it was very interesting and sad to read... the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, without a doubt. 

That's about it. We are so busy but I don't know what all to tell. Keep being awesome, peeps. Heavenly father loves you, it's true! 

I love you. Write me letters, emails, send me pictures and be happy!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

La mia carissimo famiglia e amici,

Guess what? That woman who walked into church and said she wants to get baptized, is getting baptized THIS SUNDAY! The 14th. She met with the vescoco (bishop) and that's what he said. So, this week has been super duper ooper busy. Yesterday was Zone conference and it was amazing. We got to see other missionaries, learn good stuff, and we had taco salad for lunch! The office couple truly loves us :) It was great. But, last night we also had that special women’s broadcast from Germany, but it was in Italian and I really didn't understand much. As a result of all this awesomeness, we are scrambling to teach all of the lessons to Priscilla before Sunday as well as teach everyone else and be in three places at once!

Our work here is the work of the Lord, and it is progressing.

And we're exhausted. But that's Ok :)

Some funny things: SpongeBob in Italian is hilarious!!! Because, it is an American TV show but the actors speak Italian and have accents. It's just so funny!

On Sunday in Gospel principles, the ward mission leader brother Lauriola asked me to read Abraham 3:25. We were talking about obedience.

Certo.

So I turn to the pearl of great price, verse 25, and start reading... and they were both naked... (in Italian) then Sorella Carter shouts, no, wrong book! Mama mia, I was reading from Moses not Abraham!!! SOO embarrassing! Phew. Fun times. Verdina mistakes... 

Well, we are super busy like I said. But what do we do as missionaries? Our purpose is To invite others to come unto the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through faith in Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. This is what we do in all things.

Daily: wake up sat 6:30am. Pray, exercise (except Sunday and Wednesday) until 7:15. Shower, eat, and get ready.

8-9 is personal study. Book of Mormon, scriptures, how to teach, talks from the prophets and stuff. 

9-10 is companion study. Sing, read three pages in the handbook, pray, share what we learned, practice teaching for our lessons and share how we can help those we teach.

Monday: District meeting from 11-1, then lunch, then an hour of linga study and another hour of new missionary study/training. Then we go teach and find people on the way to teach!

Tuesday- we go out and visit people right after studies, then lunch and everything else at 1ish.

Wednesday- Same schedule, but after companion study Preparation day starts and we have until 6pm to do all we need to for the week. Then we go teach and visit more people.

Friday is weekly planning. We we take two hours to sit down and plan our lessons and plan everything for the next week. This is super important!

Sunday- We don-t usually study but we have church from 9-12, then usually we eat lunch with the Lauriola's or another family. Then we visit people and good stuff.

Every night we are to be home at 9 and plan for the next day, then review our day and update our records of everything and everyone we have taught. From Then on, we prep and get ready for bed, then lights out at 10:30pm. 

This is my beautiful, wonderful life :) It's so great! This work is the work of the Lord, and truly without the help of him and the spirit I would not be able to press forward every day. We all need the atonement to touch our lives and guide us through each hour of every day. We are children of God. He wants to help us and that is why we have Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon is a powerful book. It testifies of Jesus Christ and with the bible, there is great strength. I want to challenge all of you to read this book! There is a promise in the introduction that says if we will pray about it, we will know the truth. We have to read it and work to know the truth, too.

SO, I invite you all to pray for help or for truth about the scriptures but also about something in your life. Get down on your knees and plead with the Lord to help you, ask him how you can change, ask him for the spirit, ask him to help you. He will, he truly will! Pray with all your heart then do your best and God will bless and help you.

How can you come closer to Christ and share his love?

I love you all. I am grateful for my life and for you! Smile, be happy, and be good.

Oh, and send me letters. Letters=happy missionary. Thanks!

Vi voglio bene!!!

The computer won't accept my camera this week. So, pictures next week. Sorry. LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

​​

3/9/2014 The people are back

Heather Hastings

Augosto is over, the people are home from vacation, and the buses and metro are PACKED. It makes it fun to contact people when your faces are shoved up against each other. Ok, it's not that bad at all. But sometimes...

SO much happened this week! We are seeing a lot of miracles and have met some wonderful people. I am learning to love this place so much. the first ten minutes of the morning are the hardest part of the day! but then, I'm happy I get over myself and we start exercising. Life is good. 

So we had a friend from Roma come on Friday last week and she came out with us for the day. Alessandra, and she wants to go on a mission. She's pretty much awesome. We are also teaching a boy in a family right now so that he will want to be baptized.

Some background: Italy has some law that you have to wait 3 years until a divorce can be final. Well, many people get excommunicated as a result of that... this family is great, though. Two cute kids Alex (5) and Diego (8). The Mom used to be a member and the dad is not a member, and they are not actually married. So the mom wants her son to get baptized. If they get married, then she wants to get married. Passo per passo. Step by step. 

Also, Italians eat four course meals, Pasta or rice, bread and salad, meat, fruit, dessert. They eat this fun lunch. Then have a snack around 5. Then they eat dinner at 8pm or 9pm. Well, we got fed by italiani three times this week. This family with the boys I just mentioned, they fed us dinner one night. We went over to teach Diego and then the mom was cooking dinner. So we ate super fast then hurried home. Let me just say, it's super fun to go to bed with a plump and full belly :) 

Our old bap date ditched us. Literally, she moved across town and won't contact us. But we have a new date with this super awesome Donna Priscilla! She is so amazing, I can't believe it. 21 September. We are also working a mom and son from Peru. Laura e Dani, and they are very sweet also. 

The big miracle this week: we got a referral from the Anziani  to teach a girl at English course. She got lost and came late to the class, but we ended up teaching her three days in a row to prepare for her English test on Monday. I will just say that when I get home, there's a lot I need to learn about English because I don't know why we do anything! Beside the point. So, we helped her dictate and read and conjugate English, and we taught her in the church, and left a spiritual thought all three times. The first time: she cried. The second time: she wanted to pray, and said she needed that. The third time: she talked her heart out, cried, we gave her words of hope and watched Grazie a lui and then she wanted to pray again. I don't know what all to say, but she was just so cool! Some people are lost and hopeless and have boyfriends who tell them they are worthless, but I know that is not true! 

We are children of God and he loves us so very much. If you're reading this, you are worth the world! You are worth the life of our savior, Jesus Christ. Isn't that amazing? That is why I'm here, and I love it!

So sorella carter is giving me singing lessons. We sing a hymn every companionship study. It's fun...

Oh, and that adorable kid Diego? He said I have a French accent. Well, at least I have an accent! I'll work on that :)

Well we went to Como lago last week and the weather was perfect! The hike was basically all steps, but it was bellisimo! So pretty.  I think that's about it. Next week, I'll tell you what a typical week is like with all those details. So much happens. I'm always so tired, but today are taking a p-day rest to sleep and enjoy ourselves and scrivere letters. It has been good.

On Sunday both missions are fasting for the temple because it has been halted again. but, we  got five new investigators this week and we have a bap date September 21!

I am excited. We get to listen to it in English because there are enough members here (Filipinos) who speak English. Score.

Lingua per la settimana:

The gn sound blends together, like in lasagna. So here's a phrase for you: 

l'Angnello di Dio. (Lamb of God)

whereas l'angelo is angel, and sounds like angel.

See the difference?

la mia famiglia: This week I want you to get onto familysearch.org and make sure your name and info is on there. I know people are moving and stuff, that's cool. At least think about it :) I want all of our family to get connected and be accurate on that site. BUT, more importantly, I need information on people. Write me a little story about yourself, brothers and sisters, mom and dad, grandparents and great-grandparents. What's your story? Just a few sentences. Please MAIL them to me, you can type it and use dearelder. Thanks! You have until the end of October.  Friends and others can use the website, too! It's good stuff. Grazie!

Well, I love you all! You're so great. I am so happy, life is good, and I'm in Italy! What?! Where has time gone? I've been here for a month! Anyways, enjoy the photos, be happy, love everyone, SMILE, and remember you are loved :) have fun and enjoy ya'lls week. Send me mail today if you have any, because next Tuesday is zone Conference which means... awesomeness! other missionaries! And... mail :) Oh, and there is a super cool broadcast for le sorelle that we get to watch that night. I'm excited!

Vi voglio bene!!!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved