Roma 1

Week 29

(Written on 29 Aug 2016)

Dearest family and friends,

First of all, thank all for the prayers, emails, and thoughts in
regards to the earthquake this week. We are all safe and sound, as
well as all of the other missionaries. We did not feel the earthquake
in our house because we are on the ground level, but many of the
members and people in our area did! We are so fortunate. The effects
of the quake in the areas north of Rome are bad. We have not been
instructed on how we can help yet, but we are hoping and praying that
we can be some means of service for those who have had so much
destroyed. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

Other than that, this week has been full of miracles. Literally. We
got to this area with very little knowledge or idea of the area, but
it has been an amazing clean slate and we are seeing miracoli ovunque.

One of the biggest of them being Aurea. She is a sweet older woman
from Costa Rica who talked with missionaries a few months ago and they
left her with a pass along card with the church address on it. The
other day as we were in the church for a meeting, she just walks in
and asks to know more! It was so crazy. We taught her a lesson then,
another lesson on Friday, she came to church yesterday, and well teach
her the Plan of Salvation tonight. I'm excited to see her continue to
progress!

Other miracles have just been everywhere as well. We found an inactive
family that hasn't seen missionaries in years and we've been able to
stay in contact with them. Families in parks that are super
willing to talk to us, old investigators from Sorelle years ago who
call us back and are really nice/want to know us, ragazze that
actually come to English course when we invite them, and opportunities
to share the gospel on every corner.... Just finding our way around
this huge city and laughing when we get lost. Seriously. Not saying
there haven't been long days or tough challenges, but we are seeing
miracles in every moment. This is Heavenly Fathers work and he is
moving forward with it. And I'm so grateful to be a part!

With all the events in the world this week and especially the scary
earthquake here in Rome, I want to share a favorite and well-known
verse from the Book of Mormon that never fails to bring me comfort and
direction.

Helaman 5:12
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our
Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your
foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds,
yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his
mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to
drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the
rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation
whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I know that Christ is the only true foundation we can rely on in this
turbulent world we live in today. It is Him that supports, sustains,
and uplifts us in every moment. We can build our sure foundation on
Him as we pray and study the scriptures daily, strive to choose the
right, follow his example. I'm so grateful for Him. And I'm so
grateful to be a missionary.

This week for PDay we biked in Villa Borghese (so fun!! + pants =
extra fun!) and then last week we visited the Vatican and explored
some other Palazzi. Rome is beautiful. There are just no other words.

Love you all. So so much!
P.S. Momma said this week that my grammar "sta peggiorando" so I
apologize haha. Hopefully these messages are slightly understandable!!

Okay.
Love you all!
Love,
Sorella Kaitlin Carver