Sorella Gisseman: Week 30 - Zone Conference

(Sorry this is late -- I was out of town for work for the last two Mondays)

On Wednesday we had interview with President (I think he just looks into our souls, like questions aren't super necessary), With him I am sometimes a broken record because it's hard for me to keep faith in the results and the efforts of what we are doing, so for the past two interviews it's been like, ok President, when is it coming and how can I keep my faith up. He and Sister Pickerd were both so cute and sweet and encouraging and like, yes, we know you are working hard, and yes, we know this mission isn't easy, we are a finding mission and you are still doing so well and we know that. That type of thing.

That night we did some scambios so I got to go finding with Sorella C from Ragusa. And we had some really good conversations, got a cannolo, but then the best part wasn't until later. So we got a text a little later saying whoever (because our entire zone was in Catania finding) wants to come get gelato meet at this place at 8.15.. so we were like, duh, we'll get a second dolce (dessert) for the night. So we bused out there again and then had a little time before 8.15 so we were doing a little street finding. And we walked past this bench with these two girls, got about 10 feet and I felt like we should have talked to them so I said, do you feel like we should have talked to them and she said, um, yeah, so we awkwardly turned back and asked for directions and then ended up talking to these girls for a little and then some of their friends came up and we showed them all Grazie a Lui, and that video BRINGS the Spirit, let me tell you. And then I probably bore the strongest testimony I ever have on the Spirit. Hands down the strongest spirit I have ever felt while finding. IT was INCREDIBLE: and then the girl said that she was kind of far from the church right now (Catholic) and this is exactly what she needed. Follow the spirit, my friends!

With that also I realized that I have gotten very routine in my missionary work, and one thing that I have been trying to work on is really listening to the Spirit because ultimately this is God's work and if I don't do it in His way then what really is the point. If I am not showing to Him constantly that I will follow the Spirit why would He trust me to say the right things to His children? So today I bought a little notebook that I will be tracking promptings of the Spirit. Stay tuned.

Then, of course, zone conference was incredible (pizza was so bad but everything else was so good), and then on Saturday we did a service project. So every quarter the American branch (who we are also technically over) does a service project and there is some guy who coordinates it there, BASICALLY there is a archeological park (everything in Italy is archeological, though) that they are trying to work on, so we thought we were going to clean up the park (awww, literally so cute) and we cleaned up trash for like 20 maybe 30 minutes (but there really like wasn't any trash) and then they gave us a tour of the entire site and fed us (SO WELL). It was super fun.

So that's the week.

Questions --

1. How was your zone conference? What did you learn? Was it good to see Pres and Sis Pickerd again?

Good -- very good. One thing I definitely took away is the stronger our testimony of the atonement is, the easier life will be in general but also the mission. I'm working on that. As you very well know i am not a good sleeper girl nor have I ever been so before bed while I am waiting to fall asleep I have been trying to figure out (because I understand it but I want the patterns in my brain to also comprehend it) the vastness of the atonement of Christ. Any insights would be loved. (PAPA!)

2. What was your happiest moment this week?

After talking to that group of girls.

3. What made you laugh this week?

Me and Sorella D have been laughing a good amount. I can't remember at what for anything, though.

4. How have you found joy in the journey this week?

There is joy in testifying.

5. How have you seen the Lord's hand in your life this week, or what tender mercies have you noticed?

We are finally starting to get appointments set up. A tender mercy is last night we had some awkward time so we did some area book and got like 3 appointments out of like 5 calls ???? They might not come through but, wow, that's some good stuff.

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

I was reading in Helaman this week and there is a chapter that talks a lot about Satan which is interesting because the Book of Mormon doesn't really talk a lot explicitly about Satan. But I was thinking about the difference between like really giving in to the temptings of Satan and then giving into our natural man. And I think there is a difference. There is a difference between being a "good person" (or a not bad person) and putting off the natural man AND becoming a Saint through the Atonement of Christ.

7. How was church this week?

Good!!! So much Italian and then after we had a meal appointment with 3 Italian couples. Wow!

8. Do you know if you'll be able to listen to General Conference in English, or will it be in Italian?

Depends on who shows up.

9. What is granita?

Like gelato but lighter.

10. Have you tried any other new foods this week?

The best olive oil of my life, and a broiche (gelato in bread basically).0

11. What did you do for P-Day this week?

Bowling, centro, food

12. Have you been good about exercising this week?

Yes. I am excited because our neighbors complain about us making noise nonstop but I think that means we will go outside every day which means I can run everyday!!!!

13. How do you feel about your calling as a missionary? Have your feelings about it changed since the beginning of your mission?

This is actually an interesting question because it's something I had a wake up call to this week. We are told to be natural (like when we find) but there is a difference between being natural and being normal and we are not normal. Even in normal life we shouldn't be normal -- people should be able to tell a difference in us. I think in the past when people say, oh, are you in giro for proselyting I'm like, um, yeah, we do that sometimes but right now we are going to an appointment, but it's like, YEAH, that's what I am doing -- a PROSELYTING mission -- I am here to CHANGE your life and TALK ABOUT JESUS CHRIST and how his church is HERE again and we have a PROPHET and you can feel a joy and peace with you constantly. Like that's not a normal world thing, but it is a thing that we do and its an incredible thing.

14. Do you have investigators we can pray for? What specifically can we pray for for them and for you?

No. Opening up a new companionship is really hard. Pray that the appointments we have set up come through this week

15. Do you know how much I love you?

Yes

Also a quick plug for general conference. One scripture I shared in my talk last week is Amos 3.7 (a classic) that God reveals his secret through his servants the prophets. AND WE HAVE A PROPHET. So let's get ready to hear some secrets!!!! But really I am so excited to listen to general conference, and I have been studying last general conference to prepare myself and LITERALLY every talk speaks to me and I learn something new. The words of our modern day apostles and prophets are literally scripture for our day. And like President Nelson said, buckle down and take your vitamins, and I would like to add prepare yourself spiritually to be uplifted because if you are prepared you will receive answers and you will feel the spirit.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

Sorella Gisseman