Week 49
(written 17 Jan 2017)
Happy Tuesday, everybody!
As we walked to an appointment last night, Sorella Ferre and I were
talking about all the amazing people we've met and are working with
here in Palermo 2. She summed it up pretty well...."the creme of the
crop!" We just feel so blessed to know the members, to work with our
investigators, the English Course students. Seriously. There are not
words to describe these wonderful people and the love we have for
them.
Mamma mia, non vi posso spiegare tutte le belle cose di questa settimana!
We had daily contact with Rosy and several good lessons. She and her
whole family came to church again on Sunday!!! I was leading the
sacrament hymn (and by this point with all the rain my faith was being
spread thin that she would come) but lo and behold the doors opened
and in she walks, with Pietro and cute red head Mattia coming in
behind. The smile Sorella Ferre and I shared in that moment was bigger
than I can tell you! We passed by her store last night for a drop by
and she was like, "Oh yeah, I was just trying to download the Book of
Mormon on my tablet but couldn't figure it out, so it's good you
passed by..."
.......
We got that whole gospel library app downloaded before you could say
formaggio. We showed her Alma 7 and asked her to read it before we
came back on Wednesday, and then showed her the Gospel Principles
manual we use on Sundays (she was like...what's that book the teacher
uses, I want to read it before next week?) and Mormon messages she can
listen to while she works. I bear testimony of the power of church
attendance and member present lessons, folks. Our red head fire ball
Rosy has made so much progress in the past week. We still have yet to
make it through the Plan of Salvation lesson (lots of interruptions
and life stories...#italians) and she still has lots of questions and
doubts, but seeing her progress over the past 7-8 week has been one of
the most amazing things I've seen on my mission.
Monday night we went to Cristina and Enzo's home for dinner (they're
the corso studenti that also took us out for ice cream and panelle e
crocche a while back and had lots of questions about the BOM.) Mamma
mia these people are seriously my grandparents Italian style and we
love them!! Cristina made homemade pizza and they loved just showing
us all their family pictures and stories, while Enzo shared stories
about his engineering days and how much he loves being in pensione
(retired haha). The coolest part though was at the end... before
Christmas we gave Books of Mormon as gifts to our English Course
classes and invited them to read it. And well, they'd read un bel po!!
Lots of questions and discussions came up (just what we were praying
for haha!). We explained and shared testimony to the best of our
ability, and asked if sometime we could explain our message from the
beginning. They politely agreed that someday they'd hear it all.
They're very firm and solid in their faith, but also respectful
towards ours and curious about what we believe and do. They're golden
and they don't even know it. We are praying that as they continue to
read the spirit will do its job and touch their heart as it did for
us. Their beautiful family will be so blessed by this message when
their hearts are ready.
Also, funny side story. When we first got to their house we took off
our coats and then went into the living room/kitchen on the other side
of the apartment. We sit down at the table and start chit chattin, and
Enzo looks at me, gasps, and then puts his hand on his shirt right
where a missionary tag would be. In panic, I look down (we're running
on my last tag right now, y'all, gotta order some more haha...ones
floating around the streets of Palermo someplace) and he goes, "who
are you? Where's your tag?" "Oh no, I left it on my jacket, I'll run
and grab it!!" "No, don't worry, you don't HAVE to have it!?" "Yes!" I
run and get it of my coat and run back it and sit down. "Whew...for a
second there I couldn't tell who you were!! Now you're a real
missionary."
Oh Enzo. 😂
We had an awesome zone conference yesterday and I walked away so
edified and full of instruction and guidance we can't wait to use to
bless the lives of those we are serving. Missionary work is hard work,
and sometimes scary, tiring, frustrating, etc etc. But I walked away
yesterday so full of love and gratitude for the opportunity to do
this. To be here. To know what I know. To share it with others.
Last night Enzo also said that they just loved being around us because
they love the difference they see in us, the light, and the joy. I
love the word difference. Sometimes change or difference is scary..and
rightly so! But I promise that the changes that come into our lives
and the difference we find through the restored gospel are true. I
know that we can change and become better everyday. I know that there
is a difference in the message we carry as missionaries for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that brings change into the lives
and hearts of others that will allow them to begin the process
necessary to return back to our Heavenly home. It's my hope that you
all will have the chance to listen and think about these things and
let them work in you and change you as well.
I feel like Ammon in the BOM when he says, "Behold, I say unto you, I
cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26:16) but I can
tell you that my heart, like his, is filled with joy and that I'm so
grateful to be a missionary. Weekly emails can't do it justice!
I'm praying for y'all and hope all is well wherever you may be!
I love you and miss you all! Vi voglio bene
Sorella Carver
As we walked to an appointment last night, Sorella Ferre and I were
talking about all the amazing people we've met and are working with
here in Palermo 2. She summed it up pretty well...."the creme of the
crop!" We just feel so blessed to know the members, to work with our
investigators, the English Course students. Seriously. There are not
words to describe these wonderful people and the love we have for
them.
Mamma mia, non vi posso spiegare tutte le belle cose di questa settimana!
We had daily contact with Rosy and several good lessons. She and her
whole family came to church again on Sunday!!! I was leading the
sacrament hymn (and by this point with all the rain my faith was being
spread thin that she would come) but lo and behold the doors opened
and in she walks, with Pietro and cute red head Mattia coming in
behind. The smile Sorella Ferre and I shared in that moment was bigger
than I can tell you! We passed by her store last night for a drop by
and she was like, "Oh yeah, I was just trying to download the Book of
Mormon on my tablet but couldn't figure it out, so it's good you
passed by..."
.......
We got that whole gospel library app downloaded before you could say
formaggio. We showed her Alma 7 and asked her to read it before we
came back on Wednesday, and then showed her the Gospel Principles
manual we use on Sundays (she was like...what's that book the teacher
uses, I want to read it before next week?) and Mormon messages she can
listen to while she works. I bear testimony of the power of church
attendance and member present lessons, folks. Our red head fire ball
Rosy has made so much progress in the past week. We still have yet to
make it through the Plan of Salvation lesson (lots of interruptions
and life stories...#italians) and she still has lots of questions and
doubts, but seeing her progress over the past 7-8 week has been one of
the most amazing things I've seen on my mission.
Monday night we went to Cristina and Enzo's home for dinner (they're
the corso studenti that also took us out for ice cream and panelle e
crocche a while back and had lots of questions about the BOM.) Mamma
mia these people are seriously my grandparents Italian style and we
love them!! Cristina made homemade pizza and they loved just showing
us all their family pictures and stories, while Enzo shared stories
about his engineering days and how much he loves being in pensione
(retired haha). The coolest part though was at the end... before
Christmas we gave Books of Mormon as gifts to our English Course
classes and invited them to read it. And well, they'd read un bel po!!
Lots of questions and discussions came up (just what we were praying
for haha!). We explained and shared testimony to the best of our
ability, and asked if sometime we could explain our message from the
beginning. They politely agreed that someday they'd hear it all.
They're very firm and solid in their faith, but also respectful
towards ours and curious about what we believe and do. They're golden
and they don't even know it. We are praying that as they continue to
read the spirit will do its job and touch their heart as it did for
us. Their beautiful family will be so blessed by this message when
their hearts are ready.
Also, funny side story. When we first got to their house we took off
our coats and then went into the living room/kitchen on the other side
of the apartment. We sit down at the table and start chit chattin, and
Enzo looks at me, gasps, and then puts his hand on his shirt right
where a missionary tag would be. In panic, I look down (we're running
on my last tag right now, y'all, gotta order some more haha...ones
floating around the streets of Palermo someplace) and he goes, "who
are you? Where's your tag?" "Oh no, I left it on my jacket, I'll run
and grab it!!" "No, don't worry, you don't HAVE to have it!?" "Yes!" I
run and get it of my coat and run back it and sit down. "Whew...for a
second there I couldn't tell who you were!! Now you're a real
missionary."
Oh Enzo. 😂
We had an awesome zone conference yesterday and I walked away so
edified and full of instruction and guidance we can't wait to use to
bless the lives of those we are serving. Missionary work is hard work,
and sometimes scary, tiring, frustrating, etc etc. But I walked away
yesterday so full of love and gratitude for the opportunity to do
this. To be here. To know what I know. To share it with others.
Last night Enzo also said that they just loved being around us because
they love the difference they see in us, the light, and the joy. I
love the word difference. Sometimes change or difference is scary..and
rightly so! But I promise that the changes that come into our lives
and the difference we find through the restored gospel are true. I
know that we can change and become better everyday. I know that there
is a difference in the message we carry as missionaries for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that brings change into the lives
and hearts of others that will allow them to begin the process
necessary to return back to our Heavenly home. It's my hope that you
all will have the chance to listen and think about these things and
let them work in you and change you as well.
I feel like Ammon in the BOM when he says, "Behold, I say unto you, I
cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26:16) but I can
tell you that my heart, like his, is filled with joy and that I'm so
grateful to be a missionary. Weekly emails can't do it justice!
I'm praying for y'all and hope all is well wherever you may be!
I love you and miss you all! Vi voglio bene
Sorella Carver
 |
| Rainy days in Palermo |
 |
| dinner with Cristina and Enzo |
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