Week 38 -- Transfer Calls.....

This was our last full week of the transfer which I feel like is always a little strange because we know calls are coming, ya know. BUT calls came. I AM TRAINING. Maybe. They got a message yesterday saying my baby was reassigned for visa problems. We will see what happens. They don't really have any information still. I might be in a trio and we might be doing the work for two cities for a bit or, if she is not coming this transfer, I will get a sister from Rome. We will see. Stay tuned for updates next week.  My companion is going to the temple...Dang.  The temple would be so easy...you get to go to the temple, you get to be on the temple grounds every day, and you get to work in the temple every other day...you're just surrounded by the Spirit.  But that's ok -- I'm ready to work, I'm ready to become more brava, I need to channel the same hype I had in the beginning of the transfer and now I know how to do it with love, I think.

It's been a good week.  It's been tiring, like always.  Are you guys doing a barbeque or anything for Memorial Day?  Probably not since Dad's not there and you didn't say anything about it in your e-mail.  For my coming home meal I want a barbeque roast, your good potato salad, and watermelon.  Yes.  And fruit pizza.  The best things in life.  Also fun story -- this morning we went to go grocery shopping and we went to the little fruit markets and my companion doesn't have any money.  She's leaving this week.  And she watermelon so we got watermelon but the guy wouldn't break my 20 bill and so we had to go to a different fruit vendor.  I'm being really good -- don't worry.

I want to get into family history work and temple stuff and it's sad that I can't do any of that right now.  It would be so fun, y'know?  I'm uibnerested to see in normal life how all the things of life fit into my life again.  I don't know if that made any sense.  I love that Sadie is on a diet.  What a cutie.  She does need a diet, it's true. 

I made voice recordings for Erin and Melissa last week....and Erin sent me one back and it was so cute.  And Melissa sent me one and they were so sweet.  I love it.

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


It has been very calm. We have just been boopin' around the city for Sorella E's last P-day here. Eating the food, getting everything ready for transfers. We freaking walked sooooo much trying to find comp items. 

2.  What was a moment that brought you joy this week?


Ok, gonna take this one a little everywhere. So in Sunday School the branch president was teaching (I send a lot of his quotes -- he is just so legit), and the topic was the talk from conference "Feasting Upon the Words of Christ" and we talked about how gratitude is also an aspect of feasting, and he asked for an example of when we have felt this gratitude when feasting. BUT I started thinking about how the joy that I feel in the gospel really comes from the knowledge and the understanding that I have of it. I am so grateful for the clarity that the gospel brings into my life, and I was able to reflect over specific moments in my studies when a prayer was answered, something just made sense, or I read something and it was exactly what I needed. 

3.  Tell me about a tender mercy that you experienced this week.


We were in this zone and knocking doors which we rarely do, and some man gave us nespole which is like this super good fruit. Didn't have interest but definitely a little miracle. 

4.  What was the most interesting or beautiful thing you saw this week?


One day the sunset was just so beautiful and we were near a park looking out at the ocean. 

5.  Did you eat anything new or unusual this week?


Panelle e croche (I don't know how to spell) -- it's like this weird sandwich they do here and the stuff inside is made out of chickpea flour. È buono.

6.  What was the funnest thing that happened this week?  The funniest?  Something that made you laugh?
Good quotes from this week of times that we laughed 


First, a woman we are teaching said she would come to church and then didn't so we asked her why and she said that she didn't have time (and she lives like 5 mins from the church walking) and after we left I turned to my comp and said basically like, um, you think I had time to stop my life and serve an 18 month mission? No, but I'm here. And that has been a little joke for this week.  Second, a fun thing Sorella E has inspired me to do is when men yell at us in English which they always do, tell them that they don't speak well and need to come to English course. We tried it out.  Also fun story -- we have gotten so many calls from men on the streets (like normal) but then also some little kids walked by and tried to lift up our skirts. Luckily mine was pretty tight, my companion wasn't so lucky. 

7.  Have you experienced any Italian holidays that we don't celebrate in the US?  What are they like?


The holidays of the saints, pasquetta (day after Easter), women's day was a big one, bufana (after Christmas stocking witch).

8.  How was church this week?


Good. We did a musical number and it was actually really good. Also something our ward mission leader said in his talk is that he related our nose to God. And how our nose is always there but we can't see it, and often the reason that we can't see it is because it's closer than we realize. And God is the same way. Always there. Always close, almost so close He is hard to detect. 

9.  How is your reading of the Bible in Italian going?  What are you learning from reading it in Italian?


It's going well. It's hard to read but I am learning past remote grammatically so that's fun.  I just finished Matthew and I read the story of Zaccheus and he's in a tree.  One thing that I will say -- here's my insight for the week -- in Luke when Jesus has done the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and then they go back to the boat but Jesus isn't with them and then the storm and then He walks on the water, y'know...one thing that I thought was interesting is that they've already forgotten about the miracle of the loaves and fishes that they just experienced.  They had already forgotten.  We don't know how long it had been, but not that long and they had already forgotten about the miracles He had done that they had seen.  And I thought about that and about how often I do that -- I see something incredible, I receive so much strength and so much help and then I fear, I see something scary ahead of me and I fear, because I'm so quick to forget.  And then He tells them not to fear.  I think it's interesting that they looked out and saw this figure and they were afraid.  And the whole time it was Jesus -- the whole time it was the person who could save them.  And I think that's applicable because, like, how many times do I look at something I have ahead of me and instead of seeing my Savior in it and how He is in my life to help strengthen me and help me grow, I look at it and I see fear.  For me right now, like, this week I just didn't do a good job.  It's hard because I don't know if I'm actually not doing a good job or if I'm just hard on myself.  I just didn't feel good about it.  And I've been feeling a little bit of anxiety which is not like me. That's not, you know, like me.  And I got the call this morning about training and I just started to cry because I'm so freaking scared.  I don't know.  And now I'm sitting in a chair about to cry again.  Sorry.  Like seeing how this can help me grow and how I have this incredible opportunity to help someone, to not only learn and grow for myself but help someone else grow, and like shape the mission.  I feel like it's such an incredible opportunity.  This is something Sorella B tells me all the time -- she says, "honestly I didn't have that much success on the mission but YOU are my success.  I raised you and I know that you do good."  And I feel the same -- even if I am not having all the success that I want, or whatever, I have the opportunity to raise someone who will be obedient, who will know how to work hard, who will know how to follow the Spirit, who can have success.  I need to look up instead of fearing the thing that's in front of me and not recognizing it as a gift from God to learn...  I'm such a mess.  I'm literally sitting on the train crying and talking about Jesus.  I love it.

10.  How has someone served you this week?


This week as part of our comp unity we did an act of service ever day. It definitely helped. 10/10 recommend. If you are struggling to love someone but also if you want someone else to love you just serve 'em.

11.  What can we pray for specifically for you and your companion and your "friends"?


I think that I can be ready to train and have the strength to be an example at all times. And then for my friends, real progression. 

12.  Do you know how much I love you?


Always 

I love you, I love you, I love you!

The fruit a random guy on the street gave us.

Random bar with lots of license plates.

Virginia!

Cute kid from our English group brought us chalk because we ran out

The sunset over the beach

Sorella E let me cut her hair!

Gelato!

 Oops -- accidentally had the rum flavor

We finally found cherry explosions!

Cutting my comp's hair

The bishop's family

Looking for comp gifts

Gelato!

The last zone gelato

Week 37 -- Applesauce Just isn't the Same as Gelato.....

Ok, just a brief summary of this week. I died a little bit. Got pretty sick. Like still was going to appointments and working everyday but, like, not on my game. 

For P-Day today we had zone soccer and then we ate and then we went to go try to run errands because I need a new diary, like I will run out of my diary in the next week, but everything was closed so that was a hard bummer. But it's ok because I bought some eyebrow dye and some peanut butter so stay tuned. I'm very sad that your computer died but it's a good thing that mine is there, so yea! It's been so cold...like not so cold here, but it's been like 70 degrees or below. I've been wearing jackets and long sleeves...still, it's MAY, so I guess that's a good thing for the summer. I mean, I like it...the weather right now is pretty almost perfect.

I'm sorry that you have to travel so much with your job 'cause I know that it's hard on you and that's it's not like you're going to fun places, really, like Ohio?! We do have washing machines, but no dryers. We have little dryer racks. Have I had one of those days when I want lots of chocolate? That's literally every single day, seriously every single day I want chocolate but I purposely don't buy it because I then I eat it all. 'Cause I just eat all the time! Mamma mia! I'm like, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! I mean, gelato is everywhere!!!!

Because I was sick this week I didn't really need to buy any groceries because I haven't eaten anything, but today I bought some apricots and I bought like 3 peppers and then I bought a colomba which is like...I think you you had this cake for Christmas but it is a little bit different for Easter - I don't know if you ordered a panettone or what... But if you ordered the one with the little candy things in it, it's the same thing -- like cake with candies in it but it's only candy oranges and the top is coated in sugar and almonds and cute little candies -- so good. And during season when it's time to buy them, obviously they're expensive but now it was like 2 euros, so that was naughty thing that I did, but that's OK.

We just got some gelato. I asked the guy, "what's your favorite?" He's like, "nutella and chocolate, hazelnut and chocolate", and then served it for me...and I'm like, ok, I didn't really waqnt that but whatever. But it's really good. I was just feeling fruit flavors, y'know? We ate so much for lunch when I wasn't even hungry.

Lots is always happening but too much to write about it all so I will just do questions. LOL

1.  How was church today?  What stood out to you?

Church was good as always!! Something that stood out to me is something our Branch President (who is incredible, like a convert of 3 or 4 years and carries this branch) said, is that the gospel is about sacrifices. And he says it pretty often and it makes me sad because I can feel that he has sacrificed so much. But it's true at the 

same time.

2.  Did you try any new foods this week?

So this week I got pretty sick so I was on the BRAT diet. Bananas. Rice. Applesauce. Toast. Yum.

3.  What did you do for P-Day today?

We had zone calcio (soccer) and then tried to look for some things like a diary but everything was closed so we got gelato and now we are here!

4.  Are you still doing your nightly gratitudes?  How are those going?  I really like doing them....

Yes I am and I think it's something that I want to keep doing like long term.

5.  Tell me about a moment you felt joy this week.

Last night we stayed up late talking (we were in bed so I don't think its apostate) and I am just realizing how far I need to come and we like learned a lot about one each other and I think for the first time I have felt peace completely in this area.

6.  Have you experienced any tender mercies this week?  Tell me about one.

I was sick every day this week basically.  But the miracle is that it would only happen in the morning before 10 and then after 10 when we needed to leave the house I was fine, like my stomach still hurt but I didn't have any issues.

7.  Tell me about the people you're working with.  What specifically can we pray for for them?

It is an interesting group. One funny story from one this week is this woman names R, we taught her the restoration as like our 2nd or 3rd lesson with her and we were talking about Joseph Smith and she told us we explained so well that we must be Joseph Smith's daughters. LOL.

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

I have started the Book of Mormon over again recently, and the thing that is stressed so much is IF you obey the commandments you WILL prosper. Also we studied power and authority in our calling as a companionship, and the greatest power that we can ever have is the Holy Ghost with us.

9.  What strengths or talents have you discovered in yourself that you didn't realize before your mission?

Sometimes it is a lot easier to see weaknesses. Definitely not a talent but something I have had to do a lot of is music. Like musical numbers for zone conferences, I have to lead (and I mean basically sing for) the African branch every Sunday, and we will do another musical number this Sunday. Mamma mia. I still can't really sing.

10.  What's your current favorite scripture?

A scripture that I think just summarized my feelings for now (the whole chapter honestly), 2 Nephi 4. If I have to choose one, specifically verse 19 - "And when I desire to rejoice my heart groaneth because of my sins, nevertheless I know in whom I have trusted. 

And recently I have been feeling the weight of my shortcomings more than ever, I would say. My weaknesses have been made very apparent, but I know in whom I trust. I trust in the Lord and He has trusted in me to do this. And if a man like Nephi feels this way sometimes, then I think it is okay for me to also feel like this.

11.  Do you know how much I love you?

Yes

12.  What characteristics do you love about the Italian people?  And what's your favorite thing about Italy?

They are very laid back and are okay with doing nothing and it's a thing I am trying to learn about. Favorite thing about italy - I am sorry but it's got to be the food. Its incredible. Fresh fruit and veggie markets everywhere and then also all the dolce and gelato you could imagine, I meannnnnnn....

Love you!!!!

Died this week and we had to do area book and I accidentally smacked out

View...

When everyone else gets gelato but you eat baby apple food because BRAT diet...we love it

This couple were investigators for a long time a while ago but for some reason never had a Book of Mormon in their native language and we have it and they were so happy and excited and wanted to take a picture with it.

Communion night fireworks...

P-Day breakfast!

Gelato!

Zone Soccer

Week 36 -- Zone Conference and Stake Conference

Buondì!

I need to go on a diet like Sadie because I just want to eat everything.  So send help and prayers for that.  If there's a cookie I just want to eat it.  I just want to eat all the cookies.  I think for me it's a stress reaction because I've been really stressed this last bit...it's just a natural reaction.  This week has been better so don't worry.  Things that happened...I can never remember.  I got so sunburned when we got locked out of the house so that was rough. And I'm still sunburned.  But it's ok.  I know that getting outside of myself will help me do better and be better.  I just need to stop thinking about myself.  And that goes along with forgiveness that they were talking about at stake conference, like who cares if your feelings are hurt?  No one.  You're not the center of everything.  That's a hard one for me!  Like, I need to get over it.  In zone conference it hit me how incapable we are as a bunch of 19 and 20 years olds running around.  We did a bunch of role plays and I realized how bad we are, but it's like, that's fine.  It's not our job -- it's our job to try as hard as we can be to be the best teachers we can but at the end of the day the Spirit is the real teacher and that's a hard one for me, really being submissive to that and not trying to do it on my own. Not trying to rely on myself and if things don't go perfectly perfect how I want them to go, it's fine if I was trying to follow the Spirit.  But that's a hard one for me because you know I'm a control freak...so yeah.  

Also I did not get packages which I was really sad about.  I wanted to cry.  But I did get an email today saying that I have to fill out customs forms to receive packages so maybe I will get them next transfer.  I got letters, though, so thank you, thank you for those.  I got the hug letter that you bought with MaryKate and just the texture of the paper made me, like, awwww cute!

Ok wow, che week. This weekend we had zone conference and also stake conference which were both incredible!!!! But the week was crazy! We had all 8 sorelle staying in our apartment. Wow. I don't even know where to start so I am going to start with questions this week.

1.  How was stake conference?  What was the big message that you took from it?


It was really good. The main idea of the conference was forgiveness and it was exactly what I needed, and what I am trying to work on is turning outward, and when we don't forgive we are being so selfish and it doesn't even do us any good. 

2.  I appreciated the pictures Pres Pickerd sent to me -- it looks like you guys set up for a Mother's Day meal or something?  What was that?


Ok no, it was the cutest thing ever. So that was after we called for Mother's Day, and Sorella E had to practice piano for zone conference and they had a huge feast for all the leaders that came for stake conference (the Area Seventy, stake president, temple presidency, the Pickerds) and we were ready to go home and then they were like you HAVE to come eat with us, we prepared a feast because we want everyone to taste the good food of Palermo. Sooooooo sweet! Soooooo good. The little miracles.

3.  How was zone conference?  What was your biggest takeaway from that?


It was really good. President talked about the need for all of us to repent. The thing that just keeps sticking out even if they aren't talking about it is that I need to forget myself and look outside.

4.  Has the weather gotten any warmer?

Yes, a little, and also not today. 

5.  How is Mother's Day celebrated in Italy?


I have no idea. We had stake conference and then all the sorelle in our zone came over and slept at our house and we made everyone pranzo!!!! Good headstart to patience and looking outside myself!

6.  What is the most interesting thing you've done this week?


I don't know if it is something interesting but a story that I haven't told yet. Sooooo, Sunday night we did a huge zone scambio in Palermo because all missionaries were here and I got to be with my Sister Training Leader Sorella M who is incredible. And we talked a lot and she gave me some good advice, but as far as finding people was going it wasn't so good. So we were on this street and she got a call she needed to take from a member so I was just chilling and there were some little kids playing around so I started talking to them. And honestly we were counting conversations and Books of Mormon given out so I was like ok, hmm, there aren't people on this street and we are running low on time, maybe if I talk to this girl about Jesus Sorella M will let me count it. So I told the girl that we were missionaries and we talked about Jesus and she interrupts me and says "insegnami", like teach me... and Sorella M finished the call and I didn't understand exactly what she said because kid accents are hard, but she asked us again to teach her and we were like we have to ask the mamma. So this girl takes us to her mom and her mom is so welcoming, lets us in the house and we show Grazie a Lui and they invited us back over. Wow, scambi miracles. God for sure puts us in the right places at the right time. Sorella M had been trying to reach that member all evening. 

7.  What was your happiest moment this week?


We found three new friends to teach! And each lesson there was a little miracle that I didn't expect.  One of our friends met with the sisters a while ago but has been in Rome and returned and told us that she wants to be baptized, that she is just waiting for God to confirm the timing. Another one, we were waiting in the station for her to come, and we had been waiting for a long time and were getting sick of it, were going to just leave but decided to call her (and she had never responded to our calls but her WhatsApp wasn't working because it only works when they are in the house with Wi-Fi) and she answered and told us she was coming. We waited for close to an hour and were frustrated and were like, ok, we can spend explain a little and leave her with the pamphlet but we don't have time. And she came and apologised and explained that she lives an hour away and travelled just to meet with us. Definitely a humbling moment and we taught her the full lesson, don't worry.  The third is a friend that lives near the church that we have been passing by and seeing on trams, but thought that she just liked us because we are American and had no real interest, but we passed by last week and she started talking about how her brother passed away and asking us where he was. So we left her with the plan of salvation pamphlet because we had to go to English group, and we showed up for the appointment and expected her to not have done anything and she had totally read it and understood it and we were able to have more of a discussion with her. Miracle. 

8.  What was the funniest thing you did this week?  Or the most fun?


Something a little fun that we did, was got locked out of our house on Friday. Yikes. I was pretty stressed out because we had an apartment inspection by the Pickerds coming up and had to get everything ready for zone conference and stake conference and a ward activity and I was pretty angry -- I cannot lie. But my companion was like, ok, hey, let's make the best and so we went and got some cookies from the grocery store and did weekly planning outside with a view of the ocean. Wow. I am so blessed, and made me realize how much I need to calm down because things will be fine. It was kind of a forced calm down moment and I am super grateful because Heavenly Father knew that I wouldn't take it on my own.  Also I got so sunburned.

9.  What is your favorite hymn right now and why?


I am not sure. I have a few. But one that we sang for stake conference and the stake president bore testimony about is Keep the Commandments but in Italian it's called Live the Gospel. And he talked about how simple it really is and in the Italian version it says that only if you do this you can have peace in your heart. And I know that's true. That only through the gospel of Jesus Christ can we have true peace in our hearts. 

10.  Do you know how much I love you?

Always.

11.  What was the most beautiful thing you saw this week?


his P-pday we went to Monreale (so pretty), and there is a view that looks over all of Palermo and it was beautiful. Sicily truly is so beautiful. Also something that stuck out to me that one of our Zone Leaders said is how the view was kind of overwhelming. There are 8 of us missionaries that are in charge of teaching all the people in this area the gospel. And I loved it. Because there are so many people here and maybe the 20 people that we talk to today don't want to hear our message but there are SO MANY and there must be some out there that are ready. We have been promised that there are. 

Ok maybe I will start doing emails like this -- I think I got out all of the good stories. I'm excited for the week I have ahead of me to work hard and to try my best and follow the Spirit and forget myself. That's a lot of goals -- we will see how it goes. Stay tuned. 


Vi vogliamo un mondo di bene 
Sorella Gisseman 

Kebab....

Cookies outside while we were locked out of the house

Our view for weekly planning....

Our zone after our big finding activity.

Got lots of letters this week -- thank you all!

What a view!

Monreale....

The cathedral

There was so much gold and mosaics and one showed baptism by immersion.

Gelato in brioche!

One of our English class students who is always here and loves us brings us (the sorella) food.

With Sister Pickerd this weekend at stake conference

Food after stake conference