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 8:57 AM (8 hours ago) |
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If you always do what you've always done you'll always get what
you've always gotten... I'm pretty sure this is a quote from a general
authority but President Dibb says it all the time. It's true. We need to change
things up sometimes, we can't always do the same things if we want different
results. As a missionary, when we change cities or companions, sometimes it is
like completely starting over, flipping over the paper and starting new. In
real life we can't necessarily do that so easily, but we can do it in a
different way... One choice changes everything, so there's a thought to
think on.
We had a busy week! My companion is Sorella Francesca
Distante, she is Italian and comes from Rome. She is an amazing missionary! She
is only in her fifth transfer (I am in my tenth out of 12) and she has good
fire and energy. Her dad is Catholic and her mom is a convert form when she was
little. She has two sisters and is 19 years old. She is short, so very sweet.
She has studied psychology and such and so she is a thinker... she thinks and
analyzes people in that way which is perfect for this city because there are
some very interesting, particular people that we meet but she listens and knows
how to treat their needs.
Our first miracle was meeting these kids our first day together!
On the bus coming home, we started talking to them about English class, not
expecting them to listen at all (they looked like punks) but as we kept talking
to them turns out they were all three super interested to learn English AND to
know more about our church. Score! So we got home late because we stayed on the
bus but it was so worth it.
An approach to meet and talk to people that my companion used is
to just walk up to people and extend your hand, say hello my name is, I’m a
missionary, and sometimes they will tell us their name. It's great because it
makes them interested in why we want to talk to them and then gets their
attention. Why had I never done this before? Work is improving a lot, just in
this last week we have talked to so many people! We are meeting people who
listen... It never happened before. We have been pretty busy. Based on
our faith I believe and the spirit is a huge factor. With faith, anything can
happen.
Weekly planning took forever on Friday... My brain is fried
and I feel unusually tired these days, but I think it's just old age. We speak
soooo much Italian... it's great, but a bit exhausting for the brain.
Sunday we made some calls and did some casa, which would be
knocking on doors (what do you call that in english?), it rained all day, but
one man let us in! He was Chinese and spoke English. He said that we can come
back the next Sunday. What! Then we went to the family Furia, again as a
miracle. They are the ones who have a daughter serving down south in my same
group. They talk about her all the time. It's kind of hard to forget about
going home when you have that reminder, but I love that family. I haven't
laughed that hard in a long time, it was fabulous. He told us about his mission
stories, about his companions, things that happened. Being American and having
an Italian companion now I feel like sometimes I am left out, but I am grateful
that I understand and speak well enough to be a part of the conversation.
Laughing is so good for you.
Monday was a blessing to be inside teaching and not out in
the rain. We were late all day from the first lesson which is frustrating, but
it worked out for the best. So we called a potential
investigator that has been on our board since I arrived, not really knowing
much about her because she was in vacation. She invites us over and we go with
the restoration lesson. We get there, and she had invited a friend to listen,
plus we find out that her son (who needs to have heart surgery-what a
coincidence, seeing as mom just had heart surgery) her son is a member and was
baptized 20 years ago but is now inactive. He has such a strong faith and
helped us teach the lesson. So, we found him and found two new investigators! Marisa and
Marco. Then for lunch the Sassi family invited us over, and then we went to the
Tribastone family for correlation... where she made us Focaccia! Go look up
that up. It is a delicious type of bread/pizza/Heaven! I have some recipes but
I hope to be able to make it when I get home.
On Monday we had a meeting with Luana, a girl we met this
weekend. She has lots of questions but is ready and searching. We were able to
testify and answer them all! We taught a solid restoration lesson, then went
through her questions. She wants to come to church and she is like 23, a really
good person. Then we had hamburgers at the Gallo's for lunch... A member
family. Young. He is in the bishopric and she is young women’s president. A
good juicy hamburger... it's been a while. Then we went to visit Sorella Cappa
an older lady, and she is sweet, just kind of blind and so she has some
difficulties. She told me that when her son met me the first time (he is older,
married) he thought I was a good missionary and complimented me for how I try
to get to know everyone. It's good to hear that because sometimes you just
never know how much good you are doing. Seriously though, Sunday's in
church can be stressful because there are so many people we have to talk to and
get appointments, etc. If only our investigators would come... Then, a huge
miracle.
You ready?
Meeting Antoinetta and her husband just when they needed it. So we
were walking through the park, saw this couple on a bench. We walk through the
grass and walk up to talk to them. We introduce ourselves and she asks
"Are you Jehovahs witnesses?" No, we say. "Ok, then you can sit
down," she says.
Um, no one ever invites us to sit down? OK! So we sit, we talk.
Her husband has problems of health and has two tumors. She is hardcore catholic
but asked us for advice on how to help her children follow Christ. She needed
"a word of peace and comfort" in that exact moment and we were there
to give it. It was amazing, I'll tell you. We talked about the atonement, about
Christ, about the Plan of Salvation. We talked about things I wrote in my
journal but won't put in an email. They need the gospel and are ready to
receive it. She gave us her number and address and invited us back over! At the
end, we prayed. While praying the wind was brushing through the trees and
afterwards there was a just a peace with all of us. As much as I know that
the wind is there but I can't see it, I know that God is real, He is our Father
and His spirit is so very near and we can feel that Love, that comfort, but we
have to seek for it and accept it. The presence of
the Lord is here, and I testify of the strength and power that I receive from
Him. That I cannot deny. Miracles, blessings, are real! After that lesson the
spirit was so strong neither of us wanted to talk to anyone else for fear of
rejection and losing it, but we talked to people and it turned out ok :)
On that note, I will leave you to go be awesome. I love you dear
family, I love you friends (even though I never hear from anyone...ahem). I
know that God loves us, I know that Christ lives. The Church is true, the book
is blue, and we have the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have the priesthood
authority, and it comes from God. Our mission tour with elder Kearon
is tomorrow in Milano, I will tell you all about it next week. Love
and hugs!
Also, where are my little people?? I would love letters from
them...just sayin.
Fotos: Our church building
there were slugs? I think the other day when it rained
My companion studies english and I study italian, so we learned about the body together
And this is my companion sorella Distante
Sorella Hastings =)
Love and Be Loved
