Week 11 -- Mission Conference

Buongiorno!!!!!


This week didn't exactly go as planned. So you may or may not remember, but last week I was struck by the stomach flu. This week my companion was struck by the stomach flu but wayyyyy worse. This always happens with Dad, too. I get sick and push through, I'm fine, and then Dad gets sick and is in bed for days. Same thing here. She had a super bad fever for like 3 days!!!  Poor girl!  It was hard because there isn't really anything I can do with my language skills. I did a lot of basic area book stuff. And in the middle of her having the flu we had mission conference!!! It was so awesome. We went up Tuesday night and stayed with the Caserta Sorelle in an apartment with a senior couple in Rome. We slept all in the living room on little mats, lol. Then we went to the stake centre in Rome and we got to listen to Elder Massimo de Feo of the Seventy. It was so awesome. He is from Taranto which is in our mission, served in the great Italy Rome Mission, and was called to serve as stake president for the Rome stake, so the same building we were in. He is the first general authority called from Italy and we are his first mission tour!!!! How cool is that!! I forgot my journal so I'll send you @mom my notes if you want them. Two questions he told us to ask ourselves: 1. What can you become and 2. Do you believe? 

We met with E. again.  She asked us to meet and we prayed about what to talk about and all I could think was baptism. And then I started laughing because totally not right... So we went with it but tailored it how we wanted as in this is our purpose as missionaries. And we get in and the first thing she says is if I want to see if this is the right course for me then I have to be consistent. And she was literally a completely different person. She was happy and not anxious. It was incredible. So we just taught and she literally in the lesson pulls out her Book of Mormon??? And she was going out with her friends later?? So awesome!!!  She carries it around with her. And she gave multiple awesome experiences she has had with the Spirit. It was incredible.  We were shocked. Then we got pizza at this super good place super close to our house (yikes). 

On Sunday she came to church and everyone loves her so much it's incredible. And she invited us over for pranzo and it was so good. Like a seafood (mussel and clams solo) pasta and it was incredible. And they actually let us clean up afterwards which doesn't happen here. So there is a cute pic of her in her slippers, lol. Also her Mom told me that I was too skinny the first time she saw me. How much weight had a I gained? And that I need to stop eating because I'll be fat if I gain anymore weight. I want to do Whole 30 in the house. I need to just stop snacking and only eat when I am hungry but I need it for my emotional levels, ya know. And part of me is like, ahhh, who cares -- I'm in italy!
 
I've gotten lots of questions about Thanksgiving. We helped translate (except for me and Sorella got the English table -- score) for a member's party.  She invited all her neighbours. The food was so good. Best stuffing -- it was the BOMB. We tried every pie and there were like at least seven.

Sorella says I need to share spiritual thoughts so here is one... our mission leader shared it with us and it's so true. We are in a boat. And we have two oars -- faith and works. And if we only use one we go in a circle. And he taught it like we need to have works with our faith but I think the other has been applying more to me lately. We have to have faith that God is mindful of us and we will be rewarded for our works. We work really hard all the time and it's easy to forget that miracles happen, but my goal for this week is to have that faith that we will be led to the elect (back to the question -- do I believe? Do I believe that there are people her for me and I will find them and God will lead me to them?).  And more of a positive attitude. Sometimes the gospel feels like a chore and we are doing all the things but it feels heavy. It should never feel heavy because the gospel literally can carry us through hard times. So make sure to have the faith that good will come from our works. 

We use our smartphones to e-mail and so I don't get e-mails right away when you send them because I don't have wi-fi all the time.  But keep sending e-mails and letters!

Also -- light the world, y'all!!!  Actually participate in the Light the World campaign! The videos are out and up (I don't know the link). It's an awesome opportunity to strengthen our faith and strengthen those around us!!! Sii una luce!!!  (be a light)

Please pray for me that I can learn Italian really well. Apparently 20 sisters are being pulled to go work at the temple and I really want to be one of them but things against me. 1. Language 2. My companion is leaving so they would have to whitewash Pozzuoli but I just want to go at some point, ya know. Open house would be awesome but really any time. It depends how I feel about leaving based on how our people are going. I just really need prayers that I can learn the language.

1.  How was church yesterday?  

Church was fine. I still can't communicate but that's okay!! We have an African sister coming to church which is awesome and also E.!!! I am always so tired after church, though. Like cannot understand any more Italian.

2.  Tell me about something that made you happy this week.  What was the funnest/funniest thing that happened this week?
The best part about this week for sure was finding the pizzeria/going to the pizzeria near our house.  It was so good. Also today for P-day we went to the ampitheatre by our house (the third biggest in the Roman empire) with our district and the Burns who are a senior couple in Caserta on the military base. And then they took us out to lunch -- so cute!

3.  How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life this week?
It's super hard for me to keep a positive attitude, especially when finding, I know it's not me who has that attitude. But we went out a few times at night this week and the entire time I was just positive and so happy because I could feel God's love for me and for his children we were trying to talk to. Even when they lied and made up an excuse why they couldn't talk. Still loved 'em which is incredible because it's something I'm working on.  Also got approached by my first TJs today (Jehovah's Witnesses).

4.  Did you try any new or unusual foods this week?  Is your kitchen fixed yet?
Nope. We made a goal to try new foods though and so we tried crochette? And those were good and mozzarella incarico or something like that but it's all good and normal. We tried a funghi pizza today and it was super good. And then the seafood pasta that E made for us was so good.

5.  How has the weather been?  Does it feel humid there?
So humid. It's not that cold -- like 50-60 maybe -- but it feels so cold especially because of the wind.

6.  Did you see anything interesting this week?
I am not exactly sure what this question means. We went to Rome and I don't know idk if we were just in a nicer part of Rome but it is SO MUCH cleaner than Napoli. lol.

7.  What did you do for P-Day today?
Ampitheater
♤♤
8.  How has someone shown you kindness this week?
E. is so cute. I usually do okay with my Italian, but on Sundays I am fried.  So we went over there for pranzo and her parents mostly speak Napolitan, not Italian, and then they keep the TV on so I really could not understand anything. And she was like you just need fresh air so she went out on the balcony with me and was trying to use the little English she knew with my Italian even though I know a lot more Italian than she knows English. I just need it slower, lol. It was cute and then when we were leaving she said next time study more Italian so we can talk, okay? Which like, ouch, I know my language skills aren't the best but also she just wants to talk to me and have a relationship with me and it's the best thing ever.

9.  What stood out to you in your personal or companionship studies this week?
In our companionship studies this week we have been studying a few things... Mostly member missionary work and how to work with members and I just think that Paula's story is awesome and I wish I would've been more present for that so if you want to send more information to me about that I would love it. (from Paula's words!!!). Thank you, Paula -- love you! Also I need crock pot recipes. Crock pot dessert recipes also. Thank you.

10.  Do you know how much I love you?
Yes

11.  What was the spiritual highlight of your week?
Mission conference was super cool. There was another thing I wanted to talk about but I can't remember. One interesting thing -- the key indicators are changing for our area -- they are adding returning members contacted and returning members at church which is super cool. Retention is just as important as baptism, folks. Maybe even more. 

Vi voglio bene!!!!! Miss you all for the holidays!  baci baci baci  (I love you all!!!!  kisses, kisses, kisses)


Your fav sorella 

The vegan meal we had last week

Waiting at the train after mission conference. Our train from Napoli was later and then one got cancelled so it was super later.

This pizza is so good. My face every time I eat Napoli pizza.  Don't worry -- I split it with my companion but I can crush it by myself also.

Also croquettes?  I don't know how to spell it but like potatoes and cheese and fried.

The Thanksgiving party.  It was actually Friday, I think, but we helped translate for an American member's party with her neighbours and she is such a good cook.

E in her cute slippers.

She actually let us help clean up!

Week 10 -- It's Not Fun to be Sick

Ciao ciao ciao ciao.

So bad news, I totally got food poisoning this week (I think, but maybe it was a stomach flu?). I've been super tired so we got some energy vitamins. But we ate at a member's house on Monday. It was super good and they sent us with leftovers. They sent some really good ham and cheese and bread so of course I ate bread and ham and cheese that night and the next night. Maybe the next one, too. But on one of these nights I found some mold on the ham. Oops. I stopped eating, but then the next 3 (4?) mornings I got super sick in the morning. Thank you, Mom, for sending me with medicine. Anyways, Saturday the same thing happened but I felt better and then was fine for the day but Saturday I was sooooooo tired. We went area book finding (so like went to houses of people that used to be taught) and my whole body started aching. So for pranzo I just napped. Tried to study and couldn't. Dead. So we called the mission nurse and she said rest, so I slept for like 20 hours that day. It helped a lot and I'm feeling better now. 

Another cute thing. We had district meeting and took pics for our ward Christmas card and also our Anziani made us pranzo because we still don't have a kitchen!!!!!!! Cute!  It was delicious and we are it out on the balcony -- so cute -- awwwww!

This week was super frustrating for us. I have just been so tired all the time but we still haven't had a lot of success. And then getting sick just really put me over the edge. And I was literally exhausted. And we still had zeroes for every indicator. It was a super frustrating week. The standard of excellence for us is 3 new people a week that we are teaching so we are going hard all the time, and we had 0 new people we taught. Doesn't make sense why and Sorella says this has never happened to her before. But I was feeling better on Sunday. Then we had pranzo with a less active couple and the wife has lost her memory (her daughter married a missionary and went to the US) and the husband, since the wife has lost her memory, is not into the church, and he told us he would never read the Book of Mormon. Ouch. Just another blow. But of our investigators came to church. Anyways, that day in church we talked about how small and simple things build your testimony but also not doing the small and simple things ruin your testimony and literally the thing that did that to this brother is that he started helping his friends with work on every Sunday every once in a while (fishing) and not going to church. 

ANYWAYS, GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK -- so Sorella met this couple like a month ago street finding and they wanted to do a church tour and miracle ** we randomly ran into them on the street. So we gave then the tour and then taught them the restoration and THEY ARE SO COOL, like the word investigator is so Tre. They are actually investigating the church and like asked really good questions.  And they asked all the right questions and we wanted to leave them with a Book of Mormon, and they were like no, I'm not ready, I need to decide if we have real intent. Which like sucks they didn't take it but it is so legit and I appreciate it. 

So yeah, that was my week. Now today for P-Day we are going to Christmas Street in Napoli and will pick some things up. If you gave any requests, too bad, I already asked for them (just kidding, send them).  (added later -- Christmas Street was fun --  it's literally just so many vendors selling the same thing basically but I got some cute things -- it's like mainly traditional things).

So I've been here only a little time and I didn't eat for 3 days really this week and still somehow I broke 140 lbs!!!! And Sorella wants to do a quick 3 months to sexy so we are going healthy.  Stay tuned.  It probably won't work -- I'll let you know when I break 150!!!!! So WHOLE 30 IT UP WITH ME!  I WILL BE SUFFERING -- SUFFER WITH ME!!!!!!!  Send me easy and cheap Whole 30 recipes...right now we have a cooktop (1) and a crockpot.

Answers to questions...I'm very tired and don't have a lot of time...but here you go...I'm doing these on a train....

1.  Are you able to use your kitchen yet?

No. No one has come to inspect it or anything like that so we still can't cook in it.  They also told us not to touch anything but we already cleaned up the food.  If we hadn't cleaned up that food it would have be wretched by now.  But they told us not to touch anything.

2.  What was the funnest thing that happened this week?

This week we had a zone "Amazing Race", so like every day we get a text and it says "do this challenge," like give out three Proclamations on the Family, talk to two people at church that you haven't talked to before, stuff like that.  So then you send in something after the challenge, like a video or something.  They're just fun.  One of the videos (I don't know if it uploaded to my drive)...I fell asleep early so Sorella sent a video of me sleeping.  Wow, so fun.

3.  What was your happiest moment this week?

It was a really frustrating week and it really sucked but yesterday we had that lesson and church tour with that couple I mentioned earlier and taught them the restoration and it was really good and they asked really good questions and that was good.

4.  What stood out to you in your studies this week?

I mentioned how we talked about small and simple things that can build or break your testimony, and that less active couple -- it was really interesting how you could see that the small thing of him helping out his friends and working on Sunday instead of going to church, and now he has no testimony and refuses to read the Book of Mormon.  

5.  Did you try any new or interesting foods this week?

Not really.  We had something at that family's house called bufmoz (sp?) which is a giant mozarella ball made from water buffalo milk. So it's basically this really good mozzarella ball but the inside is squeaky and the outside is super salty.  Super good, super good!

6.  How was church this week?

It was good.  My dear companion has to translate everything 'cause I can't translate anything.  So she had to translate for Sacrament Meeting and then second hour we were supposed to be in the English class but then one of the people we're teaching showed up so then Sorella had to translate our English class into Italian for her and then she also had to translate in Relief Society. One of the ladies in our ward in the middle of the lesson yelled at Sorella from the back of the room that she needs to study verbs!  

7.  What did you do for P-Day?

We went to Christmas Street in Napoli and got some little trinkets to send in some packages.

8.  Have you been involved in any service projects?

No.  We tried to start a drive because there's a huge problem with dogs and cats on the street so there's an organization that takes them in and spays and neuters them and puts them up for adoption.  So we were trying to get involved with them but then our ward council just shut it down.  Our main service is just teaching English.

9.  How have you felt the Savior's love for you this week?

I definitely felt the Savior's love for me with that lesson on Saturday.  I was super frustrated and like bawling on Friday and apparently so was Sorella and she said that she said a prayer and felt that God was aware and I also said a super mad and sad prayer and felt that God knew what we are going through and how hard it is and that lesson was seriously a miracle to both of us.

10.  Do Italians start decorating early for Christmas?

I have seen zero Christmas decorations.

11.  How are you feeling?  How is your health?

I got sick this week and I'm tired but we got some vitamins.

12.  What can we do to support you?

Just love me, pray for me.

13.  Is there anything we can pray for specifically for your investigators?

Just that we can find the elect.  That's our struggle right now.  I feel like we're finding people but they're not truly interested and so it was super nice to teach that couple because they actually were listening and asking questions and trying to understand.

14.  Do you know how much I love you?

Yes.

15.  What is Italian fashion like?

People just literally wear black and also they wear their scarves on the outside of their hood.

16.  How is your Italian?

My Italian is so bad.  The accents here are so thick.  When people are from the north I can understand them, LOL.  The people here don't speak Italian as their first language.  They speak Napolitan which is a dialect of Napoli, and so they speak with an accent an often use a lot of Napolitan. 

Love you all xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo 

Sorella Gisseman

With the bread and cheese and ham that made me sick...  We also painted shells.

Taking pictures with the Anziani for our ward Christmas card

District pranzo made by the anziani -- we ate on the balcony

A candied cannoli

First Italian hot chocolate - it's super thick but really good

Something Italian that we saw in Napoli today...

Week 9 -- Baby Miracles and Going to Pompeii

Oh hey friends!!!!!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAYA that Dallin finally proposed to Caitie!!!  And can you send me pictures of Jake's cute dog?

This week was a tough week but we are chillin'. We have so many potentials but we just can't seem to get appointments with them. Like we found this lady like last week. Asked US to come over and share more with her. And then we can't get in the door. But that's okay. It's just frustrated because we are working so hard but then have horrible numbers. Which don't matter but they do at the same time. There were lots of cute baby miracles that I am super grateful for. For example, we were having a super rough time finding people to teach and everyone was saying no, and it was super bright -- like I got a legit sunburn -- and then on our way home we talked to this lady who was super sweet and cute AND WE GOT TO STOP COMPLETELY IN THE SHADE. Incredible. And then one day was super hard.  We weekly planned and then studied and we tried to get food for pranzo and literally everywhere was closed and we were headed up to the church. So we spent so long trying to find food. And then we did the area book, so literally were inside until like 8 pm, so we just went on giro back home and we talked to this group of ladies -- we didn't do an approach or anything and totally got a phone number and she asked for our phone number which never happens! And then we also saw on the way home one of our investigators who has been not able to see us because she is so busy. Little things that aren't super significant but at perfect times to my spirits. 

We did a good amount of casa in casa (house to house) which is rough because the buzzers are outside so it's super easy to just be ignored. But I like doing it because it sucks so bad that I figure we have got to be blessed for it. We said a prayer with a lady at the door. That was cool. 

We went train finding one day and met this super cute girl, ended up teaching the restoration to her on the way and accidentally riding the train into Napoli. Oops. But she works with Scouts and said her purpose in doing that is to help them learn more about God even though it's not a religious group. So cool!

We had pranzo with a super cute couple in our ward. We had lasagna (my first!!!!) and some super good meat (it was veal :( ) but good. And then they do veggies (but Italians just oil their veggies like covered in oil. Weird) and bread which is incredible. And then some weird spinach pizza (but more like a pie thing) delicious and then DESSERT was incredible. I need to take pictures of all the food. Every time I eat Italian food, though, my body gets a little weird. 

We also did scambia (exchanges) this week which was like, wow. It made me appreciate my companion so much. She is so good about tying gospel topics back into the conversation but the Sorella I went out with is new and so am I so it was hard. I went out with a sorella who is serving in Caserta which is kinda a more ritsy city so no one talks to them so she loved Pozzuoli and was like "wow, I never actually get to talk to people I don't know what to say". And so it made me more grateful for how beautiful my city is (I mean literally on the water beautiful and people are like polite when they say they aren't interested, lol).

Today we are going to Pompeii for P-Day so I will be sure to take and add lots of pics to my photos! 

This week has been super super tiring but I am good. I had my first breakdown which is probably healthy because right now we are just doing a lot of finding and building up. No one has come to do anything with our stove, kitchen or anything and who knows why. But we aren't allowed to clean it until they do inspections so for now it's just a mess. Mom, have fun with your friends! Hopefully Temple Square will be good. 

1. What was the funnest/funniest thing that happened this week?

Eating Napoli pizza. Always.

2.  What was the spiritual highlight of your week?

Other than miracles...One day we were just sitting in the car and I don't understand what is going on so I was just thinking about how the Spirit has made me learn so many things with out me realizing it. I don't know if that makes sense. But in the MTCI was really thinking about and studying out the difference between God and Christ specifically in prayer, and I never read anything that gave me the answer but I learned it anyways. A new kind of learning. 

3.  How was church this week?

Good. Poor Sorella has to translate all the time and it's super hard for her. I just chill. Lots of Italian and it almost makes it harder that English is there, too.

4.  What was something interesting you did or saw this week?

Pompeii 

5.  What did you learn during your scripture study this week?

I've been reading in the war chapters in the Book of Mormon and one thing that has stood out to me is the boldness of Captain Moroni.

6.  Have you eaten anything unusual this week?

Yes, gross. We went to this lady's house who is less active and she was talking about how for dinner they made tripe, but in Italian and we were tying to figure out what it was and I knew from the beginning literally and then she brought some out for us to try. Her sauce was amazing. The tripe itself terrifying. They said I looked like I was gonna throw up so they didn't make me eat it, lol.

7.  How has someone shown kindness to you this week?

My sweet companion every minute. After I broke down we decided we needed to find more joy in the work and so we have been watching movies and doing back massages (because we both have wrecked backs) every night, lol. 

8.  What did you do for P-Day today?

Pompeii and pizza 

 

9.  Is there anything you would like us to pray for specifically for your investigators?

Just that we can get into these people's homes. We have so many incredible potentials that we need to start teaching but they are so busy. Same with the people we teach. Everyone is so busy.

10.  Do you e-mail your mission president each week like Alyssa had to do?  Does he respond?

Yes. 

11.  Do you do your P-Day activities with the other missionaries in your district?  Or your zone?

We did with our district and the Caserta district today but once we got there we split up because we're not supposed to be in huge groups 

12.  What is the train like?

Sometimes ok, sometimes nasty, depends on the train, but mostly always covered in graffiti. 

13.  Do you know how much I love you?

Always 

Pompeii -- I was expecting it to be like America where you show up and things are labeled and you have placards telling you what things are or the map gives you a little bit of history about it.  Nothing of the sort.  I don't even know when Pompeii happened.  So you can get a free map from some of these tour guides so that's what we did.  It had things labeled but it's a literal city, so like a lot of it is just houses.  There were certain things we were looking for and we just couldn't find them.  Like a third of the city is under excavation.  So instead of things being left in their original states, like obviously preserved and leaving the bodies there, or leave whatever was there in place, they didn't do that.  But that's what I was expecting.  Instead it's still really cool and you get to go in the houses but a lot of the frescoes have been taken out, and taken to museums I think, so there are some places that have really cool frescoes and you see how the houses are mainly.  There are cobblestone streets but I expected that.  There are a couple of statues.  And we only saw one temple and a couple of theatres.  The theatres were cool.  We saw one temple -- the temple of Apollo where they did human sacrifices.

Love you all and are praying for you always!!!

Sorella Gisseman  

On the way to Pompeii

Pompeii -- they had some of the bodies in this greenhouse-like building before you go in.

Map of Pompeii

Frescos

Sorella and I get along so well -- it's such a blessing.

With the sorellas from Caserte.

A street in Pompeii with so many houses.

Mosaic floors

A super cool room with frescoes.  I don't know what it was -- no signs.

A kitchen.

Mosaic floors

I don't know what this was but it looks like a hot tub.

Maybe a bath?  Or maybe a sacrifice table.

Ceiling

Statue of a centaur in the center of the city.

Temple of Apollo where they did human sacrifices.

In Pompeii -- there is a dog in the glass case, and the other things are household items that were found in the excavations.

A baby in the glass case.

A theatre

I bought this ring today like Grandma's. But these are famously from Napoli. I wanted one that was orange like Grandma's but they didn't have any in my size. I got the price down from 40 to 20£ and he also gave us some corn thing which is the good luck charm of Napoli, lol. LOL at the Nutella on my finger!