I have crossed the Rubicon 13/5/2015

Heather Hastings		May 13 (4 days ago)

I love my family! I hope you all know that :)

Sometimes life at home becomes a blur so even though Skype time goes by so fast, it is good to see your faces and remember your voices and know you are still real people! Last week, my companion bought a talking alarm clock in Italian. That has been nice because it happily wakes us her (she is a very sound sleeper) and it also tells us the time/temperature every hour. I might bring one home. How would you feel about that Liz? Beper. She talks in Italian! It's so cool!

Anyways...

I guess being a trainer is kind of stressful. Who knew? My companion is wonderful and but there are lots of things for BOTH us to learn. We had another slow week, we had two appointments Sunday after Skype but they both fell through. This week is consecration week and we are shooting for 21 lessons, and so far we've got a really good start and a line up. Last Thursday night we had an FHE with the relief society president and her non-member husband. We shared about baptism and about those Kukumba boxes where they trap monkeys. You put your hand in to grab the banana, but unless you let go you can't get out. So we made one of these boxes and used it for an example lesson, what are we holding onto that we need to let go of to be free and receive blessings?

Friday we helped a member make a sweet cake for the relief society Karaoke on Saturday. Pictures included of that. It turned out great, and we were able to make some good relationships with more members. Italians are so fun and so loud, open. I love them! They make everyone love, and they love to joke-some of them. On Monday we had to move district meeting because a plumber came to our house. We have had a leaky shower so he fixed it. We stayed inside all morning until the end of language study, but we made calls and got somethings done. That afternoon we had an appointment with a new investigator. She was late so we were able to talk with and contact 4 people! One girl was super interested on what we believe about marriage, and she's like 22, so hopefully we can meet with her. At our appointment, our investigator was distracted the whole time. The whole reason she met with us is because she wants a passage way or a trip to go to America. We can't help with that! So that was interesting. Also Weston, I still don't know how you do it. I think Africans change as they come to Italy. "The bible is from Genesis to revelations" which if you know the history of the bible that is not true. They just don't accept it as scripture, only as the word of God or as a testimony, which they can write their own testimony too. It's a struggle here. Maybe I'm just not a pro yet.

With our investigator Anna, we reset a bap date with her. She is really wanting baptism and is so close to stopped being smoking! Our new date in the 6th of June. We can make it. She is feeling down just about life in general, and so we are working through that together. This lady is so sweet and golden though, she always asks us for things to read. She has read up past 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon already. If you read that book, you will know it's true. Try it out! It's true!

A miracle: our less active came to church this week! 

I love having a schedule, it's great. I do really well with structure but sometimes it drives me crazy too! Like on pdays, can't we just go with the flow? Take it as it comes? Go on adventures and see who we find? I love being surrounded by the Gospel, being able to study the scriptures every day. That is something I want to bring home because there is never enough time! Even though we have a good 1-3 hours for study every day. Morning scripture study and reading is so wonderful. How can you have spiritual moments often at home? I’ve been thinking about that. We do what is called POPP charts every day, where there is a scripture to go with a principle and we are supposed to teach  the principle, read/recite the scripture in Italian, ask a question and testify. Three times a day and there are two-three scriptures for every week. I love that, because it helps us know the scriptures and also we can find others that connect to them, but in down moments it brings the opportunity to teach our companion or someone else in a simple like two minute role-play. And then we have to spirit. So, maybe you can do that at home- find one good scripture and just share it throughout the day with the kids. Maybe. I love just being able to simply bear testimony often throughout the day.

Well, I have crossed the Rubicon and I ain't goin back. I love where I am and though I miss you sometimes, the life of a missionary if incredible. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Alma 26. Ammon's (return home talk) I second that. But I'm still here and we're still going strong! 

So che questa chiesa è la vera Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi Degli Ultimi Giorni e che Dio ci ama cosi tanto per avendo mandato il suo figlio per noi, affinché noi possiamo vivere con Lui per sempre nel'eternità. 

Buona giornata, buona settimana! 

Vi voglio un mondo di bene! 

Fotos: 

A sweet trail we found to ride down

The cake

My companion eats an apple every day

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

A Prophet of the Lord 29/4/15

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Heather Hastings	Apr 29 (5 days ago)

Buon girono a tutti! What a marvelous week we have had. Well, in reality we have had a very slow week and we still are struggling with people to teach and having our lessons go through. But, we had a miracle Monday and I will start by telling you all about it.

Sunday first- no investigators in church. That was sad, but we did have some less actives come, and they changed up the bishopric so that was interesting. Sunday after we visited a less-active with her sister and we made some progress! She wants her son to get baptized next year, after he turns ten. So that was a good lesson and we talked about our baptismal covenants, what they mean. Then we got to come home early, plan as normal and then prepare for bed- we were asleep by 9:15 because Monday morning we woke up at 5am, took the 6:13 train and headed to Milano for the Anziano Bednar mission conference!

By 9:20 all 242 missionaries were there in the chapel, the sisters in the front five rows. Around 9:30, Elder Bednar walked in with his wife, Elder Teixera and wife and Brother James Allen and Wife, with President and Sorella Dibb. Smiles all over my face, I was so happy! After we sang an opening hymn, we all stood up and sang the mission together. As we sang the words in Italian with meaning and sincerity, I teared up a bit- the spirit being so strong. Man, it was so cool! And it was only the first ten minutes! After that, Elder Bednar got up and we were all expecting some sort of prepared talk, a training on how to use the iPad, etc. He gets up and introduces some things, then starts out a discussion by simply stating "It's not about the iPads" and then asks us to share our thoughts and responses. 

We talked all together, a discussion, him guiding our responses by his comments and questions. Best example I have ever seen from a teacher on asking good questions. We talked about our agency, how we are agents in life not objects. The ipads are objects, like a pen, and will just be another object or tool to enhance the missionary work. With being agents, we talked about agency. We do not have "free" agency, but we do have moral agency. We talked about how we can be life-long missionaries and not just be returned missionaries. Everything we are doing now will prepare us for the future, for marriage, for families. They seemed to talked about marriage a lot... 

The whole conference was just incredible! The spirit was so there, so calm, so powerful all at once. This man, this prophet called of God just having this discussion with us. We covered some basic doctrine and some deep doctrine. We talked about covenants and what they mean. A covenant is determined by God, and like baptism for example we agree with Him to follow his terms, do our part (obey commandments, serve him) and he'll do His. That being said, we don't have the option to brake our covenants because we already said we would follow it! But we have the choice still, and should we chose wrong we are breaking our end of the covenant. We talked about our mission purpose- everything is centered on that! To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel by faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism for immersion, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.

The pattern of the Gospel is one eternal round. What are the first principles and ordinances, the most important, that Jesus teaches us? Both in the bible and the Book of Mormon? You think they might be important, yeah? The whole thing was just a super spiritual, guided learning discussion together. The gears in all of our heads were cranking like crazy, and it was so cool, so much a testimony of the power of God. We learn by our heart, not by our logic. We learn as we feel it though the Holy Ghost. Our knowledge is never complete, it is ever perfect, but it "grows brighter until the perfect day" and we just keep learning, keep climbing up. My companionship with a companion now is great prep for the future. Faith: ACTING on the teachings and principles of Jesus Christ, which then gives us the power from God. But we have to make that first step. 

We learn step by step, "line upon line, precept upon precept." We were promised some great blessings of power and knowledge by Elder Bednar if we would study specific things, like we talked about the connection of understanding to the heart and stuff. It is very brief, but those are some things that stood out to me. We had a bit of training on technology, but really we just focused on the spiritual aspect. I made a comment once, and (with all humility, and shyness) I stood up and said what I learned, then Elder Bednar said wow that is really great, and only knew how to express his impression with a German word. So that was cool! 

God calls prophets. This man, Elder David A Bednar, is a prophet seer and revelator of God. I was there, and witnessed his representation of Christ! He is funny, he is way too intelligent, and he loves to joke and loves the other apostles. His wife is just as great. It was so wonderful, such a great opportunity. He left his testimony with a special blessing upon our mission for success. He truly is a servant of God and holds the keys of the power of God. What a miracle!

About these iPads, we are in the waiting period now. They have not yet arrived, but we should have them within the next few weeks. We have some initial training to do to make sure we use them as representatives of Christ, and to be safe in all aspects with them. So, I'll give more updates in the coming weeks.

As for skyping on Mother's day: I only just realized yesterday that mother's day is in two weeks! I don't know our plan for that. I would like to chat with just mom and dad for a bit, and maybe just Lisa and Becca for a bit, and maybe Liz for a bit, then everyone together. I don't know. As long as we can talk I'll work with it! The very soonest I would be able to get on is 1:30pm my time. It's possible we could do it at night, but I just don't know.

Well, some other events this week: There was a baptism on Saturday! It went really well for the Anziani, aside from the fact that one of the speakers spoke for 30 minutes instead of 3-5 minutes... We made banana bread that day, and it wouldn't cook so we kept checking it. Well, one time pulling it out my arm hit the oven and I got a lovely burned, which now I have a nice scar from that. Thanks to my companion’s family for sending her with Doterra, we put oil on it and it helped. 

We were doing some door knocking last week and we are not allowed to enter the homes of Muslims, but we met one and ended up teaching a lesson through the door. Then her husband came her and we gave his a pamphlet. That was a first. Monday night we had FHE with our new bishop, and on the way the buses went on strike, and it was raining, so a random man offered to give us a ride. We so went with him and met his wife and two children, from Ghana. We are going to meet with them on Sunday, so that's a cool double miracle! Yesterday, we met a group of American on study abroad- that was really exciting. They are so nice, so happy, so kind to us, are interested in who we are and what we do. Why aren't all people that friendly?

On Friday, we had three solid appointments- but as weekly planning went on, every hour we basically had a cancellation. So that turned into an eventful day. Well I will try to remember to tell about that next week, because time is up. I've got to do some technology training!

I am loving being a trainer, by the way. Sorella Montagnoli is pretty much awesome. She full of all kinds of new ideas and spunk. Things are going well. I love you all, I hope you are happy.

Your homework: study the atonement. Scriptures, preach my gospel, conference talks, just study it. It will bless your life. Have a fantabulistic week!

Pictures: Friday was Italia’s Independence Day

We have some intense language studies

Baptism

We found a waffle maker like what we have, I think

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

The Italian way

Heather Hastings

Counting down the days until the conference with Anziano David A. Bednar of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Josè A. Texeira, and Anziano Steven B. Allen on Monday April 27th... five days!!!

Yeah, so life here in Reggio? I think you are dying to know how goes it being a trainer. As I'm typing I'm not quite sure what to say as all the thoughts are coming out at once. Last Wednesday night we slept over in Pavia. Thursday morning, get up, I say my parting farewell to sorella Pavich and I go with the STL Sorella Gluck to go pick up our trainees. This group only had 11 missionaries. 9 elders and 2 sisters. So we got to go chill at the cool President Dibb's house. We sat for about an hour and he kind of gave us like a training/advice for training, more like a pep talk than anything, but I guess it was helpful. Then we went across the street to the mission office (we don't know who our trainee is yet). The mission is nice, a cute little place. We all sit down in the packed conference room, trainers and trainees with the assistant’s, office elders and President Dibb and wife. We chat for a bit, kind of get another pep talk that didn't say much about how to actually be a trainer. They start calling up the elders, match up their companions. They did the sisters last. So they call me up (and I kind of had the feeling that my companion would be who she is) and I introduce the city. As I stand up I get really shaky and nervous! Why? Who knew? Then they match us up, and she starts crying. Sorella Montagnoli. She is 19 fresh from Utah. Yep, she is very much Utahn. Both of her parents served in the catagna mission and her sister served her, in this city. She lived in Rome for a year during high school, she studied Italian for a year. We get on our second train and we couldn’t talk to people because we had to sit by our luggage, so we sit down and she says "well let's make the most of this time and start to get to know people." 

She's all business. I had a plan to introduce her to everything and everyone, but she comes in like ten steps ahead of me and wants to jump right in! So, we changed things a bit, She wants to do all these activities to get people involved, and she really will be great for Reggio. She is definitely pre-trained. Kids these days, what are they teaching them now? It works.

Well while we were at the mission home we got to see President Dibb's office, too. That was really cool! He has a map and a board with all the missionaries, where we are serving and our names and info. I wish I got a photo. I would love to work with the President! If sisters get to work in the office ever, I want to be the first one. I know it takes away from proselyting though, so maybe not.

Any who, yeah! So my baby is really cool. She's bold, she likes to talk... a bold country girl, Italian, a hard good worker, doesn't like cheese or dairy! Sleeps very easily. She is organized, so that's good.

This Sunday night we get to come home early and go to bed early to get 8 hours of sleep, because Monday we wake up at 4 and take a 6am train to the Bednar conference. We are SO EXCITED! This past week, we saw some cool miracles. We did a lot of finding work. As far as I know our baptismal date Anna is going well with smoking and she is still set for the 9th. The anziani have a baptism this Saturday in church. Last Friday we got in to teach Maria Cristina, a lady we haven’t seen for a while. We shared Perchèeglivivi with her and we hope to keep teaching her, she is just busy. We met a couple of miracle people: like they came up to us and asked who we are.

Sunday, we ate lunch with the relief society president and her less active kids and a non-member husband. Such a cool family. My favorite: Lasagne, Italian type meatloaf and potatoes, then gelato. Mm. And Focaccia, homemade. So yummy, so much food! Sorella had a hard time.

Monday we looked up the address of an x investigator. Because her sister served here before, she wants to go back and find people that she taught. Well it turns out we looked up the wrong address, and we ended up doing a pass by to someone marked on the map. We got to the house and she had moved out, but we got to talk to her little sister and then we contacted their neighbor and set up an appointment, so that was cool! We took a photo outside the apartment to remember it. House number 2. 

Unfortunately I am out of time because I had to buy train tickets online today. But, we contacted an entire bus yesterday and that was fun! I talked with a man who used to be a pilot, retired. He’s basically traveled the world. Then we took out our pile our trash from two weeks and met our old man neighbor, 90 years old, who told us he was married to his marvelous wife for 70 years and then God took her from him and now he is alone. We talked about the plan of salvation. I wanted more than anything to hug that sweet old man. He said he'll read the pamphlet and we can pass by another time.

Ok, got to go. Those are some miracles, here are some photos. Ya know, I'm not stressed out too bad... just go with the wind, be happy, pray, trust God and do all I can to love and act like Christ. Life is good. Pray for us for Bednar! We are SO EXCITED! Also, here is poem I wrote inspired by being a trainer.

Vi Voglio bene!!!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

Heather Hastings	Apr 15 (2 days ago)

So here's the thing: it has been a busy week but this keyboard is driving me nuts, it doesn't type easy. If I withhold informatino I blame the keyboard. Also I've been chatting, so there is not much time left.

Anywho, we are counting down the days until we have the Bednar conference! 12 days.

Last week we had zone training In Bergamo, another all day trip. We are just preparing spiritually and physically as missionaries to be at our best for when he comes. We won't get iPads I believe until after he leaves. That night we did a scambio, (companion exchange) and that was fun! Went well.

Ok, I will just get straight to the good details. We were waiting around On Friday night getting ready for bed, talking about our predictions for transfer calls. Usually president Dibb will call trainers and sister training leaders and zone leaders first thing Saturday morning, but because he was coming to our stake conference saturday/sunday, he called ME FRIDAY NIGHT! When we saw "President" on the phone, my heart jumped and sorella pavich screamed. It was pretty funny. Sorella Hastings, how is your health? Then we talked for a bit. Well, I need to make sure you can work full time because I have work for you to do, I want you to train a brand new missionary! 

Oh, mamma mia! Ok.

Ok.

Ok.

So he gave me the details. No, I don’t' know who she is! Tonight we sleepover with the sister training leader in Pavia, then tomorrow I go to Milano and we have a little training, then meet each other and yeh! So, I’m going to be a mom! I am in my 7th transfer but I am pretty excited! I could be more anxious, but I do feel pretty good about it. It's what I need and what God needs right now, so there we go. The house is all cleaned and ready for her to come. I am excited and I guess ready enough. I just will do that which my trainer did for me, with some of my own wisdom.

Sunday we had stake conference. We went as a ward in a big bus to Verona! Elder Kleen and my mission president where there, and it was a really good experience. Our investigator Anna came, and she brought her friend Christina too. Anna is preparing to stop smoking and is just so happy! She loves the book of Mormon and is reading right along. She calls us her angels who brought her Jesus. She is sweet, this lady. 9th may. We're gonna make it.

Also Sunday, oh boy. Weston, seriously, how do you  handle these Africans? Guess I haven't got the touch yet. We go to teach Anna a lady we met on the street and she told us she would have a friend for us too. We show up and she lives in an open multi-family open style home. I don't know how to describe it. A lot of Africans and foreigners get those in share them, cheaper. So there was her, and THREE other Africans. But they weren’t just her friends, they were members from her church! They kind of set us up. Ready to hear us out, we teach then the Restauration. It started out great! Christ is the center of our church, god loves us. Then... we got to prophets. We got stuck. They confused themselves and we probably did a bad job explaining. I left feeling very frustrated and so on. We have been doing some good studies and are going to go back with a member from Ghana to re-teach the resto. Me with my brand new sorella...

 Today this morning we went to pass by the Catholic Church next to our grocery store. As we enter, the grounds keeper church keeper man takes us in, we chat about our name tags, then he gives us a personal little tour explaining everything. SO cool. We even discussed our different views on baptism at the baptismal font and he said he'll come to our church sometime. It was pretty cool, and pretty. Cheisa di San Pietro and San Prospero.

Then, Sorella Pavich and i got our last Pizza from Mister Pizza together, and inside a dad says to his boys, "hey you two come talk to these girls, introduce yourselves, they're American."  So they did, and they start flirting with us. Cute, if I can say. But remaining professional (you have NO idea how many times a day we get boys/men hitting on us here in Reggio!) we told them about English class and invited them to meet with the anziani. Ok, so there's hope. Mario and Marco. We'll see.

Fun times dear family. In the past, now and to come. I am happy, spring is here and I am well, no worries. Yu can expect a detailed letter next week about week one with la verdina!

Vi voglio bene! Grazie per il vostro sostengo e tutto ciò che fate per me. Davvero vi voglio bene. Buona giornata, buona settimana!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved

La pasqua in italia

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Heather Hastings	8:54 AM (5 hours ago)
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​Good morning! I don't have too much to share today, I don't think. Our work here is starting to pick up and we are running into all sorts of people to talk to. For example, last Thursday we got on an early train to Parma to take a bus out to Noceto. On that bus (a 40 min ride) we passed a huge castle with a huge garden around it! If I am here another transfer i might try to go visit it. But anyways, on that train we sat down next to a lady and begin to talk with her. Her name is Pamella, and she was heading to the funeral of her daughter. She is from Nigeria, and is here by herself. Three years ago she had baby, and the baby died young. She just had this baby in February (premie) but she did not hold out. We talk with her, talking about the Plan of Salvation and the peace we get from it. the Love of God per her. She said she feels like God doesn't love her anymore... but we prayed with her, she showed us fotos and she was happy to talk with us. She does not live in our area so we had to pass her, but meeting miracle people like her are a testimony of why we always need to share the gospel because we never know who we will meet and what they need.​

Easter! Saturday we got to watch some conference and the women's session. We sat at the computer in the church with the Anziani and ate popcorn. I loved it. I loved all of the talks about the family.

Sunday, we had a fabulous Easter meal with the bishop who invited us over and their family. Lasagna (my favorite!) and chicken, veggies, bread, good stuff. They have the giant chocolate Easter eggs with a surprise inside that we cracked for dessert. I like the Columba better, a holiday cake. Yum.

Here were some of my favorite talks from conference: 

Quenton L cook. about the Sunflower

Brent H Nielson who talked about Luke 15 at the beginning

Wilford W Anderson who talked about the need to hear the music and be able to dance to it

Dale G Relund who talked about A saint is a sinner...

Bednar, who said to fear God completely is to love God more prefectly.

Henry B Eyring both times, the law of the fast and finding rest and peace through our savior.

These prophets are so sweet. I love conference! I downloaded all the talks so now i can go back and listen to the Sunday afternoon session which i didn't get to hear. if you didn't listen to conference, take the time to listen to some talks every once in a while.

It's worth it.

Our bap date Anna is progressing well! She is sharing the gospel with all of her friends at work and  that's super cool. We have stake conference this week, and we are going in a bus with the ward to Verona and Elder Teixera will be there, and he wants to meet us and our investigators. Cool stuff! 

Bednar countdown: 3 weeks!

Also, I bought the book on discount today Romeo e Guiletta. I was pretty excited.

So, that's about it. here are some photos, and my companion using time effectively while walking clipping her nails, and some Duomo fotos from Parma today. 

ALSO! Last night we had a sleepover! To change things up. We moved our mattresses into the living room, slept on the floor and chatted as we fell asleep. it reminded me of my sisters. And we ordered a stuffed crust "american" style pizza last night. It was good. Good times. 

I Love you all!

Give me some lunch/breakfast ideas. No one told me what you eat.

Fail.

But I still love you. :)

Look up Alma 4:13-14, thinking our baptismal covenants being for Christ's sake. I read that today, and it was cool.

The church is true, life is good, and next week I will tell you transfer news!

Sorella Hastings =)

Love and Be Loved