Cosenza

Week 12

Ciao everybody! 

I hope y'all have had a fantastic week! This weeks been kinda crazy for us. We were in Crotone on Tuesday and Wednesday for a meeting and to do some work with the sisters there. It was a really good time and we got a lot done! 

Thursday we were back in Cosenza and had a great rest of the week. Between three days, we hadfour meal/pizza appointments, so that was rough, but we survived and had a pretty good time doing it :) 

My favorite was the Pranzo we had with Sorella Spadafora. She is a widow in our ward who LOVES to cook. We had planned to just go over and share a little message with her and see how she was doing, but when we showed up, she had already started to make food and told us we had to stay so she could teach us! It was really sweet. She dressed us up in cute aprons and made sure to walk us through each step and share her kitchen wisdom with us. 

Cooking with Sorella Spadafora

Thursday we also had corso d'inglese again, and it was nice to see all of the students we had missed on Tuesday! 

Saturday a Sister in the ward invited some members over for pizza and invited the missionaries as well. Our ward is tiny and a little bit crazy, but they are all really awesome. I had a really fun time just being with them! We played Jenga with the Anziani and Michele, ate way too much food, and continued to build some really awesome friendships. The apartment was pretty small and there were about 15 of us there...everybody was talking really loud (normal for Italians ;)) and with all the food on the table, it reminded me of one of our large family craw fish boils or something in Alabama with the Carver fam! Fun times... :) 

Best news of the week: Transfer Calls!!! (Every six weeks we get a call from the mission president telling us whether we will stay in our area for another transfer or if we are moving to a new location.) Both Sorella Pinnegar and I are staying!!! It was kinda a given for me, but seeing how Sorella P has been here for 7 months already we were skeptical she would stay! But we're both really happy to be finishing my training together in the beautiful city of Cosenza! 

(By the end of this transfer though...she will have spent half of her mission in Cosenza!!!! 😳) 

And right now we're on a train (...going right along the beautiful oceanside 😍😍❤️ Italy is so so beautiful...) to Crotone once again! One of the Sorelle's companions finished her mission this transfer, so she is comp-less right now and we will be spending the week with her there until transfer day on Thursday. Once again, it's going to be a crazy week!! 

On the train to Crotone

Funny for the week: If there are two things Italians have a hard time saying, it's "Carver" and "Florida". I might not even be able to say my name right by the end of my mission. ;) "CaaaaaaveRR" Hahaha. And when someone asks where I'm from, and I say Florida, they're reaction is ALWAYS, "Florida?!?...Miami!!!!!" I've learned not to explain that my hometown is actually as far away from Miami as you can get, but just to agree and say, "Yes, I live close to Miami...." ;) 

Spiritual thought for the week:

This week I was reading in Mosiah Chapter 2 of the Book of Mormon. In this chapter there is a king, King Benjamin, who is very old and about to pass away wants to leave his people with a final message. 

Verse 30 says:

"For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you"

This reminded me of President Monson at the past couple of general conferences, who despite failing health and has still spoken and testified of the the Savior and the importance of His message. What's really cool, however, is the similarities in the messages of both King Benjamin and President Monson. Both speak of choices and keeping the commandments. 

In verse 22 of that chapter, King Benjamin says:

"And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."

President Monson's past talk is titled "Choices." In it he says, "The choices we make determine our destiny." How simple yet profoundly true?! 

He goes on to say, 

"May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of the adversary--a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With it, we can accomplish our goals."

"Although it is imperative that we choose wisely, there are times when we will make foolish choices. The gift of repentance, provided by our Savior, enables us to correct our course settings, that we might return to the path which will lead us to that celestial glory we seek.

May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.

As we contemplate the decisions we make in our lives each day--whether to make this choice or that choice--if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice."

The chapter about King Benjamin ends with this:

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

I am so grateful for the words of the prophets, modern and ancient. I know that these things are true. As we strive everyday to make correct choices, we will receive blessings, we will be happy, and we will have peace. It is not only avoiding the bad decisions, but making the good ones: to take time each day to study the scriptures and communicate with our Heavenly Father through pray, to serve one another, and to strengthen our families. It is the simple, seemingly small choices we make daily that determine our destiny. Like President Monson said, may we choose the (sometimes) harder right instead of the easier wrong. 

I know the Savior lives. He loves us, and has provided a path for us to follow in this life. By following his example and keeping his commandments, we can have peace during our life on earth and return to live with our Father in Heaven one day. 

Love and miss you all! Thank you for your love and support!

Love, 

Sorella Carver 

Cosenza

Week 11

Hello y'all! Again, I still can't believe it's already Monday. Time
needs to slow down.

This week has been super great! Spring has sprung here in Cosenza,
although it already feels more like summer haha. The flip was huge,
one day I was wearing tights and a winter jacket, and the next it felt
like 100 degrees. The nights and mornings are still nice and cool, but
during the day it gets very sunny and very very warm... And that
means... sunscreen!! Yayyyy. Sorella P and I are both on the fair
side... So we've had to add this step to our usual morning routine
before we leave the house most days haha.

This also means crazy beautiful wild flowers everywhere and the best
fruit I've ever eaten in my life. My favorite right now is the
pears.... We have a fruit stand underneath our apartment and I swear I
wish I could eat 10 of those things a day haha :/

Today for PDay we took a train to Paolo and had a picnic by the beach.
It's was BEAUTIFUL. Sorella Pinnegar was laughing at me, as we walked
closer to the waters edge I got all excited and yelled, "It's smells
like home!!!" Haha it's true. Nothing beats the smell of sand and salt
water. (And sunscreen because it was necessary today haha...)

This week we had a great Pranzo appointment with Sorella Spizzirri and
her daughter, Sorella Sicilia. Sorella Sicilia lives in a piazzino (a
small city that branches off of Cosenza) way up in the mountains. It
was a really beautiful view and we had a really good visit with them.

We also have started visiting with a sweet older lady who owns a
flower shop (smells like heaven!). She and her daughter in law are
interested in our message and see how it could potentially help their
son/husband who is facing some challenges right now. We haven't
started teaching them, but we plan to keep visiting and sharing
messages with them.

On Friday, we celebrated Sorella Pinnegar's one year mark as a
missionary! Our day was busy with a few less-active lessons and
appointments, but we managed to still celebrate with lots of delicious
food (of course!) I made breakfast for her, we got a gelato after
Pranzo, and then had a pizza from Mimmo's for dinner. It was
delicious, and Mimmo is doing well ;)  His little restaurant was empty
when we went in (around 8pm) because dinner here is so much later.
Haha but we had to go that early so we could be home by nine
(missionary curfew!) and so we had lots of fun talking with Mimmo and
the workers. Our kindness goal is working well! :)

Today I have been in Cosenza for officially a month!! Which is crazy
because the days have all blurred together and something we did four
weeks ago feels like yesterday. I have come to love this city and the
people here so much.

The biggest news for this week is: I gave my first Sacrament talk
yesterday IN ITALIAN.
In our church, our first meeting on Sunday is Sacrament Meeting, where
we take the sacrament and members are asked to give talks each week,
usually based on a topic, to the rest of the congregation. Our branch
here in Cosenza is REALLY REALLY small....like 15 people on a good
week. So we go through the members pretty fast haha.

On Monday of last week we were at the church and the leader who is
over assigning talks comes in, shakes my hand, and says, "Sorella
Carver, I have some news for you. I'm really happy!" *oh boy....*
"You're giving a talk on Sunday!!"
Me: "No.....Davvero??!"
Haha it was pretty funny and everyone was laughing, but the greeny
missionary inside of me was about to pass out.

Anyways.... All is well, I didn't pass out, and I managed to speak for
about 10 minutes yesterday in Italian and somehow relay a message
that was kind of understandable.

I was asked to speak on a talk from general conference a couple weeks
ago that inspired me, and I chose "I Am A Child Of God" by Elder
Donald L. Hallstrom.

This talk is so so simple, but the simplest of truths are sometimes
the most profound. In it he said,

"Our most fundamental doctrine includes the knowledge that we are
children of a living God....It is foundational to comprehending the
glorious plan of salvation and to nurturing faith in the Firstborn of
the Father, Jesus the Christ, and in His merciful Atonement.

Later he goes on...

"When difficult things occur in our lives, what is our immediate
response? Is it confusion or doubt or spiritual withdrawal? Is it a
blow to our faith? Do we blame God or others for our circumstances? Or
is our first response to remember who we are--that we are children of
a loving God? Is that coupled with an absolute trust that He allows
some earthly suffering because He knows it will bless us, like a
refiner’s fire, to become like Him and to gain our eternal
inheritance?

"We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we really are. The
more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat
casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God....In
today’s world, no matter where we live and no matter what our
circumstances are, it is essential that our preeminent identity is as
a child of God. Knowing that will allow our faith to flourish, will
motivate our continual repentance, and will provide the strength to
“be steadfast and immovable” throughout our mortal journey."

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to prepare this talk. While it
was simple and somewhat repetitive, the things I studied and prepared
helped me remember who I am. I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly
Father. I know that this is true. I know he listens to our prayers,
wants to help and bless us, and desires for us to seek and become like
His Son, Jesus Christ, so we can return to live which Him again
someday. This knowledge has helped me make it through hard days and
easy days, time and time again, and I'm grateful for the chance that I
have to be a missionary and share this with others. It is truly such a
blessing.

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers.

Love,
Sorella Carver

Cosenza

Week 10

Hello y'all! Is it Monday again already?! This week flew by... The day's are sometimes long but they sure do go by fast. 

This week has been a whirlwind! It's been super good! Usually I keep a little list of things to share in my email... And this week's was pretty sad: 

-First Italian pizza

-"Have Courage and Be Kind"

Basta. That's it. Haha I promise we had a busy and eventful week!

So to tie this all together, I'll start by sharing a pre-mission story.

I was home for (a very short) six weeks between BYU and reporting to the MTC. Around my last week, we rented the new live version Cinderella movie for a couple days. I had never seen it before, but if you knew me when I was four, the same level of excitement that I would have had then was still there haha.... 

Let's just say I loved it and it was like all of my childhood daydreams in real life. And I might have watched it more than once in that week. 

Anyways....

There is a line in the movie that Cinderella's mom says to her.... "Have courage and be kind." 

I love that. So simple and so so good. 

This week I was reminded of this line when I was studying. I was reading a talk titled "The Virtue of Kindness" by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. In it he says:

"Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.

Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes."

1st Italian pizza excitement!

This is so true! This week we went to get me my first pizza here in Italy! A church member had recommended a place called "La Pizza Di Mimmo" and we went to try it out. We didn't have enough time to sit down and eat, so we went around to the back of the restaurant where you can order for take away. Turns out.... This is where Mimmo makes the pizza! And so after we ordered we got to stand there and watch him make it (so so so cool) and have a really good conversation with him. He told us about how they make the pizza... And we told him about our missionary purpose! He and the other workers there were all so friendly and kind, and we had a really good time talking with them and getting to know them. We tried to return the same kindness and politeness, and be the representatives of Christ that we have been called to be. After we left, both Sorella Pinnegar and I concluded that we needed to go back and talk to them more again sometime about our faith.... And to get more pizza. ;)

It's a silly little story, but it kind of set the tone for the rest of my week. There are so many ways that we can show kindness and love to everyone. Sometimes we have bad days, things don't go our way, or we just wake up on the wrong side of the bed haha. BUT I've learned more in the past four weeks than ever that smiles can go a long way and there are ALWAYS opportunities to be kind. 

I read a scripture this morning in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:19:

"And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted."

We are all faced with challenges every day. Not a single one of us is exempt! We're literally all in the same boat. How much greater of a place would the world be if we all treated each other with kindness and love?

1 John 4 says:

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of love to have ever been completed. He loves us and wants us to reach our fullest potential and use this glorious gift he has given us. I also know that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. This knowledge brings me peace and comfort, and challenges me to be a little bit more kind and gentle to everyone I know. 

My challenge to myself with past week and probably every week for the rest of my mission (haha...) is the "have courage" part of that movie quote. I need to have the courage to open my mouth and tell everyone about that amazing message! 

And... My challenge to you this week is to find little extra ways to be kind to those around you. Lift up the heads that hang down, listen to someone who just needs a listening ear, or remind yourself to be patient with those around you (and yourself!). I have a long ways to go, but I know when I do my best to "love one another"... blessings come.

So "have courage and be kind".  :) 

Love you all,

Sorella Carver

Sondaggio night!  Question for the masses..."If Moses was on the earth today, would you be interested in what he had to say?"

After pranzo with Sorelle Spadafora, Spizzirri, Valencia, Pinnegar, and Muce

Cosenza

Week 9

Hello all!

First off, if you've sent me an email during the week before, thank

you! They are appreciated and I love every one of them. I don't always

get to respond to every one of them with the time we have by the time

Monday rolls around. But please know that I love you and your emails

:)

This week has been crazy! Lots of fun experiences and lots of things to do!

Wednesday we had Zone Conference in Taranto, about a 3-4 hr bus ride

away. Zone Conference is a meeting once every six weeks for all the

missionaries in a big area, where we all meet together and our mission

president and others leaders teach us! Super good stuff.

Anyways, we needed to be there Wednesday morning, so we planned to

leave Tuesday night, get there around 9:30 pm that night, and stay the

night at the Sorelle's apartment in Taranto. However, we discovered

around 11am that all the buses in Cosenza that day were FULL because

all the holiday travelers from Pasquetta. Sooooo haha we quickly

checked the train schedule online, realized the only train/bus combo

for that day was leaving in an HOUR, and ran home, packed, bought some

lunch/snacks, and ran down to the train station. We made it on that

train and then on the connecting bus haha, but it was a miracle!

The best part was the bus ride to Taranto! (And also the most rough

haha - bus sickness is real.) Most of the ride was along the coast and

it was BEAUTIFUL. Blue blue blue water like what you see on a good day

in Destin, and as we pulled into Taranto, we saw tons of Palm trees

and marinas. My kinda place ;) Taranto is super cute and coastal.

Zone Conference was also really great. It's was fun to hang out with

other missionaries and see a sister that I was in the MTC with! We

returned home late that night and got back to work the next day here

in my beautiful mountain top city of Cosenza:)

On Friday we visited a church member, Sorella Filipelli, who lives in

Domanico....waaaaayyyyy up in the mountains. She picked us up and

drove us up there.

Side story about driving in Italy: it's nuts. Most streets are one

way, and there are no lines. Which means it's basically a free for all

haha! It reminds me of go cart riding with friends before the mission.

All these tiny, tiny stick shift cars jerking all over the place and

honking for no reason at all. Add in a few whale-sized buses and it's

a real fun time haha!

But we made it up to Domanico all in one piece (barely ;)). And it is

beautiful! Just as Italy as Italy could be! I'll send some pictures.

The hymn "High on the Mountain Top" comes to mind!

Sorella Pinegar, Sorella Filipelli, Me

We had a wonderful lesson with Sorella F and took a bus back down the
mountain. While we were waiting for the bus to come, Sorella F was
visiting with us and asked me a question... I thought I understood
what she had asked.