10 giugno

Heather Hastings	Jun 10 (5 days ago)

10 giungo 

Well we have had a very interesting week in the sense that, it wasn't all that interesting...

Thursday we met Giovanna in the park, our sweet little friend and we had a really cool prayer lesson with her. We were just doing some park finding because our other appointment fell through and after we talked with two old atheist ladies, we found her. She is studying here for a short time, and we were able to sit down for a solid 45 minutes to talk about God being our Heavenly Father, other points in the restoration and prayer. It was really cool, just sitting in the park in the shade and she was really interested. It's a bummer she will be returning home to her country within the month. I love meeting such a diverse people here.

Friday was weekly planning as usual. Again, all of our appointments really fell through. We went to visit Evelyn, she's so sad and sick :( she has been in the hospital for a while and we just aren't sure how to help her, but she loves us coming to keep her company. We had an evening planned with the Dwomoh family and it went well! We were able to watch and listen to all of the talks from the funeral of Elder L. Tom Perry and then we shared a message, and ate together. From Ghana, one of the cooler people I know. I love them. I want to have a family like them one day! They have four kids, and two of them are twins. I will have to get pictures with them for the future.

Saturday we didn't get any lessons in which was a bummer, because we had plans but they all fell through. Starting in the morning we went to Parma and were pumped for an awesome member presence, but only the member showed up... Max and his mom, really cool people though! So we came home to Reggio Emilia and unsuccessfully did the Mostra display with the Anziani... It got up to 39 degrees!!! Which is like 100 Fahrenheit plus humidity. Side note, the Africans keep complaining because it is hotter here than Africa.  I wonder if it's true. 

We just don't know what to do differently for this city... We then went out to find Anna, our past bap date, unsuccessfully. The saddest part of the day was that we went to find our investigator Natalia from Ukraine, the one sick with radiation poisoning. As we get to the hotel where she was leaving the man tells us that she isn't there anymore... He then explains that they found her Wednesday morning in her room and she had passed away, so that kind of was a really big shocker for us. I've never had an investigator... Die before. We stopped and said a prayer and I felt the spirit really strong. We are putting things together to get her name to go to the temple, we just don't know all of her information. We were not super close and had only taught the restoration and met one other time. Then as we were walking down the street we saw the concert, and the market, and we felt like we were living the dream for a good five minutes. We ended our day making a bunch of calls to set this week up for us.

Sunday we had lunch with a very interesting family. Croatia and the Philippians. They are really cute though! Have I told you all the strange things about my companion? Like she hates casseroles and cheese, but she will eat pizza. She doesn't eat meat off the bone. Other such things... We have some fun times deciding on food. She is very simple when it comes to food. And the other day, I made guacamole! I hope someone in the family will be proud of that.

Monday and Tuesday we went searching for Natalia's info, finding, being hot.man Italian moment? We were at the police station and while waiting outside there was someone in a nearby building with the window open playing the violin. It was beautiful, perfect. So we had to pause for a minute and we just sat to listen to it.  FHE!!! We had with The Nsondi bishop family. I love them so much! They are the ones whose kitchen we cleaned. I just love them so much. I will definitely bring the family back to meet these people, and he knows what's up when it comes to missionary work which is what we need. Tuesday we spent all morning just calling people on the ward list and from the area book whom we didn't know. We have a lot of hopefuls now set up and tonight we even have a new old investigator FAMILY to go visit. Sweet!

Finding ideas!!! Anyone got any? Let me know returned missionaries... This city needs some new thoughts. Hearts here are just very closed. 

Here is a hymn I love in Italian:

"Che gioia allor, nel dì del Salvatore,

quando la terra acclamerà Gesù.

Mi prostrerò ed in adorazione

dirò: “Signor, oh, quanto grande sei!”

I am getting tan! Did I mention how hot it is? Today though, it is starting to thunder and lightning while we are emailing with the iPad's outside... Covered, of course. It's finally beautiful :)

Here's a cool scripture Sorella Montagnoli found.

D&C75:24-27 duty of the church!

I just want you all to know that my commitment to be a full time missionary has not changed. It's great! It's tough. It's dumb. It's cold. It's hot. People talk way too fast and too much sometimes. We are always tired. But we feel the spirit, we feel joy. There's nothing better to be doing, and I am in Italy! We are surrounded by families who take care of us, and I know that one day I will be with my Father in Heaven again. Every drop of everything is worth these long short eighteen months that are slowly flying by. Vi voglio bene, sempre. 

Tomorrow is zone training meeting and we go to Bergamo, then on Friday to Saturday we are doing companion exchanges. Good things planned. Be good. Write me. Letters, emails, I love them all! It is more distracting to NOT get mail then to get it so don't hesitate to send it! 

Love you all!

Word of the day:

hummingbird=colibrì

Sorella Hastings 

Love and Be Loved