Sorella Gisseman: Week 18 -- We Went to the Rome, Italy Temple!

Hello!!!! Happy saldi!!!!!!! (Everything is on sale and it's called saldi so we are shopping all day)

This week started off a little rocky. Sorella B was a little sad and I feed off of other people's energy so then I got a little sad. But we got to meet with some people and yay -- good fun.

Then on Thursday WE GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!!!!!!!! We left on Thursday night to go up to Rome so our week was strange for normal work, but we got on the train like 6 pm and we were on a fast train but it just like stopped in the middle of the journey and we were 100 minutes late!!!! So we didn't get to Rome until like 9 pm (should've been 8 pm) and then got to stay at the villa with 28 sorelle -- it was crazy. We didn't get to sleep until like 12 (and then wake up at 6.30 am) so the next day I think everyone was exhausted. But we ate and then headed off to the chapel and the director of temples and our area 70 were there and spoke to us and then took us through the temple for a tour. IT IS INCREDIBLE. Everything is so incredibly beautiful and the Spirit is so strong. I walked into the celestial room and literally every hair on my body stood up. President Pickerd talked to us in the sealing room about how this is his goal for all of us and how Heavenly Father is proud of us and our parents are proud of us and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Everything about the Rome Temple is perfect. The bride's room is blue, there are a lot of ovals because the whole temple is an oval, and the first instruction room is muralled, I think with the Amalfi Coast. And if that wasn't enough then we got to go to the Visitor's Center!!!!! Also there is a incredible stained glass mural at the Visitor's Center and the artist was there and talking about it. There are so many interactive teaching booths (that can teach 839493 times better than I ever could) and around every corner there is something incredible! I am so excited for so many people to come to the open house and feel the spirit of the temple. Then we practiced our talking points and how to guide people through when they first get there and then off we went. I am so excited to do a session in the temple because my testimony is growing so much so I am sure my outlook and ability to learn will have also grown.

And I ended this incredible day in maybe the worst way ever... We got to Roma termini and we both didn't feel well and wanted healthy food so we found some place that looked healthy and the guy like didn't show us a menu, only talked to us so like ok, whatever. We sit down and get our food. It is not good. Like the worst salad I ever had. It tasted like hand sanitizer. There were a lot of things I could get into but I won't because I don't want to think about it a lot. So then we go to check out and it's $27.50????????? Are you KIDDING. For two little terrible salads (and we only ordered one and thought they split it) and little cups of juice.. So we are like whatttttttt and anyways one thing turns to another and I was arguing with this guy about how expensive it was (it was because he was like, oh well, if you would've said something before I printed the receipt I would change it but I can't now that I have which is a lie and that's what triggered me) for WAY TOO LONG (pro -- it was mostly in Italian). And he was being super rude to me about it. So whatever... we go to the board and before we thought our train didn't leave until 640.. But we were looking at the wrong train and ours was leaving now.
So we rushed down and missed our train and then had to buy new tickets and our new train didn't get in until like 10 to Napoli so our Anziani had to come to Napoli at 9 pm and pick us up. It was just like a wake up call to me that (1) I need to listen to the Spirit in normal things, too, not just missionary work and (2) I've still got a long way to go. I'm very grateful God is forgiving -- that's all I will say.

Also we have E. on baptismal date for the 19th. And M. asked us when her baptismal date was so she could ask for the day off work and said every time she comes to church she can feel her testimony growing so that's INCREDIBLE.

Questions...

1. How was church this week?
It was kind of sad and stressful because E. wasn't there, and they were announcing her baptism... The meetings themselves were good. One of the Relief Society counsellors is 19 and just got called and she taught her first lesson. It was so good!!!!

2. What do you think about the new Come Follow Me curriculum?
LOVE IT, NEED TO DO IT

3. What was the happiest moment of your week?

Being inside the temple. Side note - when we were in the celestial room (also it's crazy that you can feel a difference and it's not even dedicated yet) the Spirit is so strong and I don't know if this will make sense... But the temple has a different type of spirit, especially in the celestial room, and its incredible.

4. What was the funniest/funnest thing that happened this week?
Being with all the sorelle in the mission at the temple

5. What did you do for P-Day this week?
Saldi shopping! Spent like 45 euro and bought 2 skirts a sweater and tights. #score

6. Did you see anything unusual or different this week?
We are at a train station right now and couldn't figure out how to get in, opened the door and there's just some homeless people living there. And it's the only entrance to the station. That was new.

7. Did you eat anything new or unusual this week?
We had dinner with a family yesterday and I had my first gnocchi. It was incredible -- nothing like America.

8. Have you gotten any more information about working at the temple open house? We are so excited that you get to do that!
Just got some training but still don't know when.

9. Do you know how much I love you?
Yesssss

10. What have you learned about yourself this week?
I have got a long way to go.

11. How has someone shown you love or kindness this week?
I just love Pres. and Sister Pickerd.

ok love you all xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sorella Gisseman

This is the scarf that I got in the zone gift exchange (it was an accident -- it's a scarf made for an anziano, oh well) and Sorella B's hat that she got.