Like the wind
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Sep 9 (6 days ago)
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Today was a lovely
Pday. We took the train about a twenty minute ride to Avigliana and we thought
we were going to hike to an old church, Sacra di San Michele, but we got off a
stop too soon and hiked up this mountain to a castle. We look over and see the
church, and realize we weren't where we thought we were, but it was beautiful
all the same. I love these old cobblestone, steep-hilled towns. I don't think
you can find them in the states. We also sat and ate Kebap at the top.
I'm not sure what to
share with you all this week. We have been busy, we have done a lot. When I
first came in to this city, we had three investigators. Now we have a handful,
but none really have committed yet. True repentance and true commitment is
hard.
A huge miracle we had this week was true inspiration. Three weeks ago this man stops us on the bus and asks us where we are from. We stop, we chat, we try to exchange information but he says no. The next week we are doing casa in casa and a man on the other end says to come back at the end of the week, so we do. Well this week we get to his house and guess who the man is? The same one we met on the bus! Knowing we needed to be in that area to do casa (house to house proselyting) we found him. So we taught a brief restoration lesson, and passed him to the elders. Andrea. He's ready for the gospel and searching for answers. Sorella Distante kept telling me she felt that we needed to find someone in that area, so finally we went. After we rang a few names we were losing hope, but then this one name stood out to me and so before finishing the others, we rang it, and it was him. It's amazing how we can be guided in such a little way. You recognize the promptings of the spirit by the fruits of the spirit...
Also, Liz, he's
single, so if you want to come out here and meet him I approve. Just sayin.
Sorella Distante has family
that lives here in our area. Her mom grew up in our town. Well we went to visit
and taught her aunt and family last night. It was interesting. I was thinking a
lot about our family, what it would be like if I taught family. How would they
respond? How would I take it? It was interesting. Of course, we got fed yummy
food too.
We are breaking out to
new areas, trying new ideas, looking for new people. I can't tell you much
about our people because we don't know much. So many restoration lessons. This
city is ready for a baptism, I can feel it. The last ones were last year in
November, the Sassi Family (mom, dad kid) and a man Alessandro. We're gonna
help someone, we'll get there! We talk to lots of people, we are busy teaching,
and we come home exhausted at night... And we get fed lots of food. The family
Furia with a daughter serving in Rome? We ate with them again Sunday
night. Pizza. After Francesco's birthday party. After teaching Berta and her
son from Peru. We think they will get baptized. They knew the missionaries
there.
Well Luana, our
investigator who came to church two weeks ago said she doesn't want to meet
with us for a while. For some reason in our first lesson we had both forgotten
bring a Book of Mormon. Church was crazy and we forget then too. The Book of
Mormon is key... Praying Wednesday night I felt really bad that we
might not see her again and she not have it. Well, Thursday God answered my
prayer! We got on the bus and there she was! So we were able to give her a copy
and she accepted.
Well here is my thing
of the day. I have been thinking a lot about the atonement, repentance and how
these things come first before anything else... After we have faith. We live
and have and believe in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. President Holland said the
gospel=good news. “The good news was that everyone’s tomb
could one day be empty, that everyone’s soul could again be
pure, and that every child of God could again return to the
Father who gave them life.” (Missionary Work and the Atonement) we met a lady
from another religion the other day. We were half bible bashing/half teaching
by the spirit (sometimes it's really, really hard) and it was so sad because
she believes not everyone will be saved. But I know that we all have equal
opportunity based on our actions and our desire to repent. We are
God's children thus of course he wants us back. And repentance makes it
spiritually and physically possible thanks to our savior, Jesus Christ. So I
invite you to ponder your relationship with God and figure out what you need to
do to be clean. And I promise you that you be stronger, you will find strength
and peace.
A ton of pictures to
come next week because the church computer is not working.
I love you all
bunches!!! Be happy. Until next week con amore,
Sorella Hastings
Love and Be Loved
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