Week 29 -- My First Full Week in Catania

So I am pretty sure this is the first full week I have actually been in this area.  That could be wrong.  Oh well.

Some highlights of this week--

First, one day this week we got to go to a nearby elementary school to do service and help these kids with their English.  It was basically just them asking us questions because they were practicing the verbs "have" and "are" and us trying to think of answers that they would actually know. LOL

Second, we had a really incredible scambio this week and I definitely learned a lot about my finding and how to be natural even when we are on the street.

Third, I had my first real language mistakes this week. That's fun. After 6 months I get 2 laughs in one week. We. Love.That. The first was in a prayer that I said with a lesson with a new convert. At the end I was trying to say like we are thankful for this time that we have spent together but instead of saying that I said thank you that we have neglected this time together. And then I guess I used a little bit of an inappropriate word for the word "mess"in English group. Good. 

Third, we also did all you can eat (like Italian food but you could also order sushi) and ate so much and then after that had a meal appointment that I got to go with Sorella G (a cute sister in my house) and we just booped around.  Cute. 

Fourth, I gave a talk in our ward and then the same talk in English with my Italian notes in the branch on the base. We had sloppy joes with the branch president's family. So cute. I love the sacrament.

Also, I am not gonna lie...I was ready to actually write a good group email but then I talked on the phone for the birthdays and now I am just out of it...no questions. Sorry, I had lots of spiritual insights and then we went inside another religion's church this morning that drained a little of the Spirit from me, and then we got approached by this CREEPY man saying INAPPROPRIATE things to us on the street, and then had to walk 45 minutes to get a pizza for our pizza kebab challenge 2 hours later than we expected and I like literally can't thing of any of them. 

Love you guys anyways, though. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo

Sorella GIsseman 

My first cannollo and granita in Sicily

Sunburn from last P-Day...boy, are we looking forward to summer...

 We did service at a school and afterwards the anziani played basketball with the students and teachers.

We decided we needed to take pictures and this was all we got...

The buffet we had after district council...all you can eat plus sushi.  It was so good.

 Scambio.  We got a few looks and a lot of eyes.

The toilet doesn't work so we use this bucket of water to flush it.

Our tiny bathroom, literally outside in the hall.

Ok sorry I crushed the can but I wanted to share because this I think that this is that gross drink at World Showcase that is bitter at the end. Yeah it's here.

The university...BYU better step up its game.

Piazza Duomo

Another church

An embalmed body of a saint...

Week 28 -- Catania, Napoli, Catania

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This week was interesting and still not like a real missionary week but that's okay -- this transfer officially starts this week, I guess! So Monday night we had our first appointment (kinda) -- the sorelle got a call from a "potential" saved in their phone but really she just uses the missionaries to translate so she can talk to her grandkids about how they need to pay their bills... but we taught the restoration and she said she would take the lessons so we will see, I guess. 

Then Tuesday we found a little (but on a weird scambio because of appointments and meetings and stuff) and then after I left to GO BACK TO NAPOLI FOR PERMESSO!  (permesso is like my green card to be here). So I got in super late and then the next morning me and Sorella N went to the permesso office and were there for like 4 hours. Then I decided to attempt the pellone challenge for sorelle (which -- fun fact -- I made up but everyone in the Napoli zone is new so they think it's a real thing).  Basically two (three for anziani) pizzas but they are huge. I ALMOST GOT IT. It was bad. Hurt so bad. Finished everything but like 2 crusts. Would've kept going but I threw up in my mouth. Maybe when I go back to pick up my permesso we will try again. Also I discovered cherry explosions (like Italian SweetTart ropes -- pretty good, not quite as good but it's ok). They couldn't get me a flight out that day so I was there until the next night. Cute -- fun -- I miss Napoli. 

Then we have just been doing a lot of finding. We are getting a lot better! More updates to come! Lots of growth going on.  I think I might be learning how to enjoy finding! Also read a scripture that says if you don't open your mouth your talents will be taken away and I don't have a lot of talents so I need to keep everything I have. 
The ward here IS LITERALLY INCREDIBLE. We have had two member appointments and shared thoughts about member missionary work and THEY ARE SO DOWN. The ward's goal is 15 baptisms off of the efforts of members. WHAT.  Plot twist -- that scripture I just referenced (it's in D&C 60 if you wanna check it out) doesn't just apply to us missionaries.  It applies to ALL of us. We have this incredible knowledge, hope, faith and WE HAVE TO SHARE IT. I invite everyone to read (also have been studying Chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel -- wow) a talk by President Hinckley called (hopefully) Find the Lamb, Feed the Sheep (May 1999, I think). Really good. One thing I'm realizing being out in the streets every day, which don't get me wrong I'm growing to love it, it's a chance for me to show my love for God. But it's not the most effective. The most effective is to harvest the seeds that have already been planted by US as members. Get planting y'all! 

Questions....

1. Did you get a phone???  


Yes, finally! I picked it up from Napoli when I went there. 

2.  How was your first full week in Catania?


Lol. I wasn't actually here for over 48 hours. 

3.  How was church yesterday?  Are you in a ward or a branch?  Are the members friendly?

Ward conference! It was really good and also my first all Italian church meeting. It's an incredible ward. 

4.  What was the spiritual highlight of your week?

My studies have just been really good this week. Because we aren't teaching anyone (yet) our studies are like for us which is fun! This week I've been studying self-discipline (because like literally the only way to put off the natural man is to be self-disciplined) and Preach My Gospel a lot.  IT'S INCREDIBLE -- wow -- lots of good stuff. 

5.  What tender mercies have you experienced this week?


Little miracle. Last night I had the feeling we should do bus finding. We were talking to a man already and this woman comes up, and she is like pretty destroyed. She was gone for a week and everything from her house was stolen (like even all the food she had bought for her kids) and she was having a rough time. So we talked to her and she was pretty focused on the negative but we tried to lift her spirits, shared a scripture, and bore some testimony. And I told her, these probably weren't the conversations you would have expected to have tonight, but everything happens for a reason. And she gave us her number and said she wanted to meet up when thing are more calm and read more of the Book of Mormon together. WHAT. Miracle. Also just the fact we got to provide her at least a little peace or hope. 

6.  What was your happiest moment this week?


I just love Napoli, honestly. 

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

Like painful but eating two pizzas. 

8.  How is it going living with another set of sisters?


Pretty good. We each have a day to cook and Sorella K made us lasagna this week -- it was so good. 

9.  Do you notice your Italian improving since you have an Italian-speaking companion?


Yes. I would say we mainly speak Italian, but the other problem is that when we are with other people I don't feel the need to speak because she does so well so that's something I need to work on.

10.  What are you doing for P-Day today?


Going to the beach! We can only go from October to April so we have to get it all in while we can! 



11.  Have you tried any new or unusual foods this week?  What was the best thing you ate this week?
Not new still. Still need to try cannoli and granite from Sicily so stay tuned. But I did find the best sfogliatella place like ever. So when we go back to Napoli we can go there. 

12.  Do you know how much I love you?


Yes.

13.  What can we do to help you with your missionary efforts?


Just prayers -- it's all you can! 

Ok, that's all love you all,  Ciao, ciao!

P-Day views

This was the pizza...and then I ate the pieces at the bottom.  I said I was done but I kept going...

 That's Vesuvius out the airplane window...

A wrapper from the bakery with the best dolce in Napoli

Pile of shame from eating all the cherry explosions.  Napoli ruins me.

Lassagna

P-Day at the beach

First picture of me and my companion together in Catania

These cute members after church were like "Come here, missionaries, we want pictures!"  LOL -- So cute!

 

Week 27 -- Temple Dedication and Catania!

NOTE:  Brie's e-mail address has changed to brienna.gisseman@missionary.org.  Please note the changed e-mail address and keep sending her e-mails!  She loves hearing from everyone!

So today we are in the church (my first P-Day ever in a church and using a computer to write emails), so maybe this will be a better email. Let's be honestly, though -- probably not. Also I am using an Italian keyboard stay tuned.

So on Monday we got our transfer calls (I had already started packing, lol), and I was super excited to being GOING TO SICILIA!!! But we had lots and lots and lots to do. We got to salute a few people (K., what a cutie, gave me a random baby angel statue.. love that; E. didn't respond to the text but messaged me on FB; I talked to M. on the phone; and I got to bear a little peace out testimony to English group). All cute things. Since we had found a lot of people the past week we needed to have lots of appointments but we also had lots to do.  Yikes. So the whole week was spent packing and doing all the things that we had to. I honestly can't even remember everything because it feels like it was years ago. BUT anyways, so I packed up and peaced out and hopped on the train to go to Sicilia! Maria from English class gave me some cute treats so I shared them with the missionaries that were on the train with me when we were on the ferry part going to Sicilia!!!! So cute!!! I also talked to this man who said that Jesus went to India when he was 13 and he wanted to send me the book, so I said, "Hey have you heard about Jesus visiting the Americas after the resurrection?" and he said no and I said, Hey, I have a book for you, too!!!"  LOL

 

I got to Catania, had English course...it's a little crazy, lol. Then the next day we literally have no work and no phone and basically are just stranded in the city with no directions or maps so that's good so we just booped around and found a little, and then that's basically all we have been doing the whole time because, like I said, we have no work and we don't have a phone to set up appointments with returning members or anything...so, yeah, any time we have we just go finding which is all the time because we have zero people that we are teaching. I was doing so well about managing the stress but it's starting to take me over only because no one knows anything and everything is inefficient right now and it's ok...please pray for me. 

On the up side, after English course we were super hangry and the other sorelle in our apartment went and got us bombe (like a giant donut filled with stuff but like FILLED with stuff, whether pistachio or Nutella or crema or something I don't really know) and arancini and that was so sweet of them!  Also the place that sells all that is SO CLOSE to our house it's dangerous. Uh oh! ALSO my companion is INCREDIBLE like in every way. Wow. And she is very patient with my Italian and we play off each other's strengths.  Like I am good (like not good but I know how to do it but it's still super awkward) at street finding and she is super good at being smooth and natural and metro finding. I am excited for that aspect of this transfer. Stay tuned to see how much we SYL (because she is Italian), because we basically have been speaking Italian all the time. 

Today we went to a castle.  Catania is beautfiulllllllll.  Apparently they haven't been doing fun P-Days here like we did in Pozzuoli but I am about to change that.  Stay tuned!!!

Okay, TEMPLE THINGS!!!!

1. We got to watch President Nelson's devotional to the youth and it was so good! Also a cute thing is that one of our APs is the grandson of President Ballard and so President Ballard said, "and now my voice" and waved for him to come up and Anziano H got to translate for him!!  It was really cute. Some interesting things from that one is that Sister Nelson talked really in detail about the process for President Nelson to receive revelation and something I have been thinking about a lot is how truly we are living in the FULNESS of the dispensation of times and revelation is HAPPENING NOW!! GOD IS SPEAKING!!! In relation to the 9th Article of Faith, he will yet reveal many great and important things. 

2. Temple dedication!!! We got to do two sessions in the Catania chapel (also the Catania chapel is so beautiful) and it was really cool. For one of President Nelson's talks he talked about the timeline of the church in Italy and these saints are just incredible.  That's all I have to say. They are all so cute and candid. Also all 12 apostles and the first presidency is HERE in ITALY, out of America, for the first time in HISTORY!  So cool. Elder Rasband talked about the dream of Ezekiel and how there was a river flowing out of the temple and this represents the blessings and the healing power of the temple. (And it's incredible because there is a river-like water fountain going from the temple to the visitor's center here) and something he said was how the healing power of the temple has the power to mend broken families here. And I just thought of how many part member families there are here and if the members take advantage of the temple, I just felt so strongly that their families will be mended. My tip is, if you are not going to the temple regularly DO IT. IT WILL BLESS YOUR LIFE!!!! 

Also questions...

1.  How did you get to your new area?  Train?  Plane?  Ferry boat?  Car?

Train!! And then the train gets on the ferry but you can go above.

2.  What is your apartment like?

Interesting. I'll be sure to send a video. The sorelle we share the apartment with did a great job getting things ready for us. And there is a family downstairs so in our part of the house we cannot make noise or even walk loudly before 8:30. We have already gotten complaints.

3.  How is your new companion?

INCREDIBLE.

4.  Have you had a chance to meet any of the members in your area yet?  How are they?

A little but not really because it was the temple dedication! We did have a pranzo with a member couple from the base and she is from Puerto Rico and the food was SO GOOD.

5.  How was the temple dedication???????????????  Are the members there so excited about the temple?

Incredible!!! I don't know about the members since we don't know them yet.

6.  What are the handkerchiefs like that you made for the temple dedication?

They are embroidered and then we sewed lace.

7.  What's the weather been like in Catania so far?

Beautiful. No need for tights. I wore them today and then took them off because it was too hot (at night a little less obviously).

8.  Do you need me to send you more Dramamine?  (I bet the elders were so grateful you had Dramamine with you and they were probably very sorry they teased you!!)

No! I have more.

9.  What did you do for P-Day today?

Saw a castle thing and ate and that's it

. 

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

Eating a bombe.

11.  What was the highlight of your week?

The youth temple devotional.

'

12.  What did you learn or what stood out to you in your studies this week?

I've really been studying finding because it's all there is right now.  I need Paula's email again because I never emailed her but I need more info about her story because it's incredible and I didn't realize it until now.

13.  Was it hard to leave Pozzuoli?

I was excited to leave...I have to go back to do travel/residency paperwork , i have to go back for permesso travel and I think THAT will be hard to leave that time.

14.  Have you tried any new or different foods this week?

Yes! Bombe, arancini, still not a cannolo, stay tuned.

15.  How did someone show love to you this week?

The sorelle getting things ready for us and getting us food when we first got here. 

16.  Do they speak an entirely different language in Sicily/Catania?

I haven't heard siciliano yet.

17.  Do you know how much I love you?

Yes.

18.  What can we pray for specifically for you, your companion, and your new area?

All the prayers!

19.  What have you learned about yourself in the last few weeks?

I have grown a lot and definitely have a lot still to go. One fun thing, though -- my goal this transfer is self-discipline and it's been so much better already in this area. Stay tuned. 

Love you all!  Please pray so hard for us!  We need all the prayers.

Sorella Gisseman 

A carnival....

Saying goodbye...This is a sweet sister from English class.

The anziani didn't clean their house and a greenie is coming so we cleaned their house and left face masks and chocolates on the pillows.  :-)

Saying goodbye to K, one of the people we're teaching.

The little angel K gave me.

Peace out, Pozzuoli!

Saying goodbye...

On the ferry....

My new companion -- she is so awesome.  And bombe!

Bombe -- life changing!

Sicilia is INCREDIBLE.

Week 26, part 2 -- Pictures

The Amalfi Coast

I ate a little bit...

This view.....

District leaders made cheesecake....

Scambios....

We made real lasagna!

It was amazing...

They can't come in our apartment but we shared our lasagna because Elder L is going home...

On the way home from stake conference....E fell asleep on me.

Packing for transfers...

Buying cameo rings...

I bought a classic Napoli nativity.