Week 25 -- It snowed....

HELLO EVERYONE!

Literally writing emails is so hard because I don't remember what happens ever. We are headed out to the Amalfi Coast as a zone today.  And it's cold so let's get ready to freeze the little butts off!

So this week maybe some highlights --

We had an appointment with a returning member who went to the temple with her husband and she said it completely changed how he has been acting (and he is not a member) but that a sealing sounds like a long time to them, lol. But they said they would pray nightly as a family!!!! And the best part of this story is that to get to this appointment we waited for a bus for 1.5 hours and then we accidentally sat on a garbage outpost while we studied the scriptures and then we got chased by some wild dogs on the way. YES.

Our friend R. choose her own baptismal date. The 25 of March. A Monday. We are working on it.  Also something we are preparing to teach her about is based off the talk "The Blueprint of Christ's Church" (it's a BYU devotional - on gospel library so don't worry) and I HIGHLY recommend it.

We also had a scambio so I went to Caserta with Sorella Rowberry which was really fun! She is in her 2nd transfer and I'm in my 3rd so we literally booped around the whole time and found but actually GOT TWO NUMBERS AND HANDED OUT A BOOK OF MORMON which is a big deal. It was fun.  She does a really good job about keeping a positive attitude and I really learned a lot!! 

I've gotten like three emails in response to my comment on how to use technology and how I did good -- thank you (@Papa).

I feel better -- just a little stuffy and coughy.

I'm SO EXCITED for the temple dedication and hope that I will be able to go a do a session soooonnnnnnn. 

Now there's no time for questions -- sorry -- love you!


Like a strawberry sfoglietella tree -- incredible. Our post scambio snack.

Healthy foods in our fridge!

Convincing everyone when they come on scambio that the pizzeria next to our house is the best in Napoli.

With M.  She's such a cutie.

Some cracker thing for carnival from an English group student. I love it.

Got to our appointment early so we found this place to sit. A man told us it was where they take out the garbage. Yes. Also then we got chased by wild dogs.

It snowed.

Cleaning the church.

Did a sewing activity for RS (#domestic) to make handkerchiefs for the dedication I need to send a pic because they are so cool!!!

Week 24 -- M's Baptism!

Hello, hello, hello all!

 
So this week was kind of tough but also awesome -- tough because I was pretty sick and we were without a phone but so good because M got baptized!! 

We didn't get our phone back until Thursday and now I just have a sim card in my phone so I have to share my personal phone which is helping me be patient and happy and sharing and loving.  It was kind of hard to do work the whole week because we didn't have a phone so we couldn't contact people and it's also hard to go finding then you can't squillo them to see if you got the right number, and then on top of that I was sick.  I was not feeling well -- like a cold -- the reason it was so bad was because my body was so exhausted.  I ached so bad.  When we would walk places I would walk so slow.  Poor Sorella S, because she got a renewed sense of urgency about the work and then she just has me as her companion who can walk at like -4 miles per hour.  

So basically on Tuesday we called the nurse via FB messenger because we didn't have a phone, lol, and she said don't leave the house until you feel better...this is a nasty sickness...don't get other people sick. (And I think I also got Sorella Pickerd sick at the villa because on Sunday she wasn't feeling well.)  And then the next day we had 4 appointments and correlation with our ward mission leader so we left the house at 11 am and didn't come back until 9 pm. Oops....  But it's worth it if you can have four appointments and teach four people in one day then you teach four people in one day.  Sorry Sorella M!  It's kind of a bummer that we lost our phone because the week before we went to Rome we did what's called a phone flush where we called all the old potential numbers in our phone and said, "Hi, we're the missionaries, can we meet?" And we had a lot of success with it.  We had a list of probably 14 people we were going to call back and we didn't even finish the phone flush.  So it was hard when our phone got stolen because we lost all of that work.  So when we planned on Sunday when we got home from Rome we were so excited for the week because we were going to have so many appointments and so many new people and then the phone got stolen and it didn't really happen. But that's ok because then we got a phone back and on Saturday M got baptized!

Good thing that happened, though, is M's baptism! Some fave quotes that Sorella S. reminded me of M are 
1. I feel like a new woman
2. I've never felt like this before (after getting the Holy ghost)
3. I'm free
4. I made it
5. I am so happy 

She is super cute.  So she's just been a rock the whole time.  She's been to church 14 times!  She started coming and she hasn't missed a week.  The gospel is great, y'all!!! Something hard for me is that now that she is baptized there is so much more pressure that she needs to stay on the path and her knowledge of the gospel isn't super huge yet. I mean honestly neither is mine. We need to keep working with her to make sure she really understands the principles and the importance of this covenant.  She understands that but doesn't fully understand the gospel yet in the sense that none of us really fully understand the gospel yet.  But notwithstanding that she was able to instantly recognize the 1. Power of baptism and 2. Gift of the holy ghost. We also want to try to start teaching her family via Skype (she has a brother in New York) or send the missionaries to her mom in Kenya, because that would be incredible and they were so happy for her baptism.  We had an awesome turnout for her baptism, and a bunch of potentials and a bunch of people we're teaching, too (for both the anziani and us), which is so awesome.  And they came to church for the confirmation, too.  She was so cute -- she got baptized and then she came out of the water and she was smiling so big and was like, "I feel so happy!  I feel like a new woman!" she did a little shoulder dance and it was so cute.  And then she got confirmed the next day.  That's been our week.

Today we're going to a mini Versailles in Caserta so we'll see how that goes.  It's where they filmed one of the Star Wars movies.  We're also doing scambi.  I'm in charge of the training section of district council this week so I need to prepare for that. 

1.  Are you feeling better?
Yes! My body feels better...my brain and cough and stuff is still sick but I'm not incredibly exhausted all the time! 

2.  What was the funnest/funniest thing that happened this week?
For Valentine's Day we split a pizza and then made crepes with strawberries and Nutella. 

3.  Tell me about a time you felt joy this week.
M's baptism 

4.  How was your zone conference at the temple?
It was good! President talked to us about dedicating ourselves in the work, and our individual zone leaders talked about goals (but it was a short addestramento) and so I've been trying to get hyped about goals and I am doing the addestramento for district council this week so I am doing more about goals. 

5.  Are you going to get to participate in the temple dedication somehow?  Like it being broadcast out to your church building or something?
It will be broadcasted, so we are allowed to watch all three sessions on Sunday. But I might not be in Ppozzuoli so we will see. 

6.  Besides Sister Trimble, how has someone served you this week?
SISTER TRIMBLE IS THE SWEETEST!!!! I figured that you had asked her to do something but just to check on me, and then she went all out!  I got frustrated one day because I felt like I was doing all the cleaning (I'm not used to living with people and I got used to how me and Sorella B did it so I'm still adjusting) and I said something and Sorella S is so awesome because she had already started to try to do better (also note -- the problem is NOT her -- the problem is definitely me!). But just the fact that she was so willing to try to do better meant so much to me.

7.  What stood out to you in your studies this week?
Goals. They are important. Write them all. Make the plans. 

8.  How do you feel you have grown in the past few weeks?
Yikes. Honestly I feel like I have taken a few steps back (it's literally always like that -- you get good and then you are humbled) but I think one thing is in being more active in the work. I feel like one thing I've really been able to do is teach to needs (which I for sure learned from Sorella B) and play my part and be a leader in lessons. One thing that I have noticed recently also is how much love I have for the people. Which is something I prayed for a lot in the front end of my mission and it's crazy how much love I have for these people. 

9.  What was the best thing you ate this week?  Anything new?
Nothing super new. We had a meal appointment but it was just normal Italian food. We did go over to K's house one day and it was the birthday of her son so she invited us over for cake and it was sooo good. It was super simple too -- just like a bundt cake (but not American) with condensed milk caramel on it. So good.

10.  How was church yesterday?
Good!!!!! M was confirmed!!!!!

11.  How often do you think you'll get to go to the temple?
No idea but hopefully soon!!!

12.  Have you had any opportunities to give service to others this week?
We went over to the Wagner family's house and got to help them unpack because they recently received shipments from America. 

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

14.  How can we best support you and the people you're working with?
Pray, pray, pray. But like really mean it, too. 

Also I will comment on the whole missionaries can call on pdays. I am undecided how I feel. I regret to inform you that I do not think I will call you anytime soon. I don't want to be distracted or sad that I'm not at home. I chose to sacrifice this time and I need to been devoted completely to this work. That's why I don't email a lot either. No offense but I'm not in Italy giving my life to the Lord to be focused on what is going on at home. I wasn't super excited with the announcement also because I already feel like other missionaries email too much and now it will be even more. But at the same time it makes sense to get also your families in on the work and how that could be a motivation but I do not think I am a good enough missionary to utilize the video calls in the correct way. Vediamo. 

Okay xoxoxox still love you so much!  Sorry if that broke your heart, mom. 

(Note from Brie's Mom -- Brie did end up video chatting with us for a little while on Monday and it was wonderful!  I don't know how often she will call us but we are so grateful that she can call if she wants or needs to on P-Days.)

With her zone at the Visitor's center

The sister missionaries at the villa

At the temple

Our Valentine's Day dessert

With M!

On our way to church...

With M

P-Day today at La Reggia de Caserte where Star Wars I was filmed

Week 23 -- Open House Pictures....and Sick

Hello, hello! I apologize in advance -- I will probably be very short because I am a sick girl today :( 

The temple was great but the first night I woke up with a sore throat and it has gone downhill pretty fast after that. It was hard to be sick and be at the villa when all the other sorelle just want to talk and be loud all the time so I am definitely glad to be home! Hopefully I will rest up fast fast and have lots of energy for this week! 

Some highlights of this week -- we got to Skype teach M. before her baptismal interview with President. She is the CUTEST (even President said so) and she totally passed so she will be getting baptized this Saturday! We are so excited and have a lot to do.

Basically how the temple worked is that 1/2 the sorelle are in the video rooms presenting and 1/2 are in the Visitor's Center talking to people and answering questions. I got to do 2 days in the Visitor's Center (which I wasn't expecting because I am so young in the mission) and then got to do the rest in the video room (a big blessing because I got so sick, was nice to be able to sit down every once in a while). So many people filled out comment cards and asked for missionary visits which is awesome!! Rome missionaries especially will have a lot of work to do soon! 

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to work in the Visitor's Center and that so many people had the chance to feel the spirit of the temple (like 7000 people came through on Saturday!!!!). I am so excited for this country to have a dedicated temple, for the members who have waited so long and also for everyone to feel the power of a temple close to them! 

It was so awesome to meet some of Mom's friends who were there for the open house!!

That's all I gave the energy to type right now -- love you all!!! 

Update of the day:  Our companionship phone got stolen in the Napoli train station....we love Napoli....I don't know how we're supposed do work this week without it.  This is super frustrating.  I was super frustrated last night and prayed that I would be able to see God's hand in my life this week and feel Him near and then this happened.  *Sigh*

Pictures of some of my (Stephanie's) friends with Brie at the open house --  I absolutely LOVED receiving these!

This is Barbie, a dear friend from my mission moms group.  She is awesome!

This picture was sent to me by my friend Kelleyn -- this is Buffi with Brie.

This picture was sent to my by my friend Nadja, another wonderful friend.

This picture was sent to me by my friends Lori (who was in our ward when Brie was very, very young) and Jacqueline, another friend I met through missionary moms.  I am so grateful!

These are pictures Brie uploaded today...

Heading to the temple...

Sorella T from the ward gave us these candies and a dried pepper (for luck) -- she's so cute.

Showing off our matching outfits for zone conference and all our stuff for Rome on the seats

Our zone leaders made the cutest sack lunches for us to break our fast.

The temple!

With Sorella P. -- we got to be reunited but I cried again when I had to say goodbye.

Temple at sunset...

I am so sick today so I told everyone this would be my weekly e-mail. We went to Ercolano, basically a smaller, cooler Pompeii, and I brought a Diet Coke with me because I feel like death and the hand signal means there are thieves around after our phone got stolen.