My first kinda surprise!!! Yea!!! And an American twist on salad :)
Ciao tutti!
I hope you're all doing well!! Just know that I love and miss you! I've been thinking a lot this week about all my friends from BYU like the Quinns, Yvette, Kelsey, Karin, and of course my Vivint girls :) Just know that you're always in my thoughts and prayers :)
This week has been amazing! It's hard being a missionary, I have so much more respect for those who've served than I ever did before! But we are so lucky! Every day that we're out there working, out there trying is a success in my book :) As most of you know, mornings have never been my strong point. Last week I made a goal to be out of bed by 6:31. I am happy to say the latest I've been in bed in over a week was 6:33. That's a big deal for me haha. And doing this, aiming to be strictly obedient, has affected me in more ways than I can count. It has lead to so many amazing changes in my attitude towards missionary work, studying, exercise, planning, caring for a ward, and so much more! My companion and I have changed our style and system for planning as well and it has truly changed my mission. I feel so motivated, dedicated, and inspired. Goals truly show the righteous desires of our hearts! There is no greater victory than accomplishing a goal! We have been visiting all of the members-- active, less-active, and inactive alike. I love it! I have seen so many miracles from these experiences. Yesterday we went out to a place called Peseggia to visit someone who hadn't been to church in years and years (like decade status). He had so many questions when the "mormoni" (mormons) randomly showed up. He didn't think he was considered a member anymore and asked why we came to see him. We told him that he was on our ward list and we didn't know who he was. We prayed and knew we needed to come visit him. He then asked where we came from. We told him we rode our bikes from Mestre. He was shocked. He was so touched that we would ride our bikes for an hour just to come see him. We reminded him that he was one of God's precious children and God never forgets His children. We are here to find and remind people of this love. We had a beautiful lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ and we talked about his baptism. He just kept telling us he was so happy when he was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. He wants that happiness again. Needless to say we're going to be best friends and can't wait to go back and see him next week!
This past week I also had my first Italian dinner! Party, party, party, party! (Rebecca O'Brien that's from you:) For those of you who know me very well you should all be proud. It was a 3 course dinner (just a casual thing. Yes, that's how they do it casually...) of sardine skewers, cous cous with squash, tomatoes, and celery, and then salmon. (Just know it took me a solid 2 minutes to figure out how to spell salmon...) It was great! So of it I just scarfed down really fast so it would be over soon but I was surprised! I've changed so much haha!! The dinner was with a sister from our English class. We walked in and before we had the chance to sit down she brings a Book of Mormon from her back room. We haven't ever really talked about church with her but we had planned to share a little message but we were a little caught off guard to say the least. I opened it up and inside it said Gen 2000. January 2000. That's 13 years ago that she was given this Book of Mormon. That was the last time there were sisters in this area until this year. Crazy!! Talk about planting seeds! Love it! She had the proclamation, too, and a really old pamphlet. It was awesome! I read the pamphlet right there I was so fascinated... We gave her a Restoration pamphlet in English and Italian and she said she was going to read them all that night. So awesome!
We also had another lesson with an investigator about the plan of salvation. She is from Chad so we brought a Book of Mormon in from for her this week. The spirit was so strong and Sorella Morley was really inspired to read so great verses together. And she asked her to read all of them! Haha it was so great! We just loved hearing her talk :) At the end we ask her if she would read and pray to know if it was true. She said, of course! Almost as if she was hurt that we even doubted she would! Presh. Loved it!
With our members we have been focusing, like I said last week, on Charity and Love. It has truly blessed my life. My heart is just full of love for those around me. Every person around me is a child of God and so of them don't know that or realize how important that is. I am here to help understand and feel that love! I'm so lucky!!
So I have officially been in Italy for 5 weeks. How is this possible!? Next week we have transfers and I can't even believe it. Ahh.
I love you all! If you have some extra time this week I suggest reading Mosiah 18. It's so great! Verse 22 is what I'm calling my ward vision :)
Vi voglio bene!!
Sorella Jarvis
No comments:
Post a Comment