Cosenza

Week 16

Hello!

We've had a great and busy week here in lovely Cosenza!

We spent some time in Crotone for Scambio and a combined DDM, we had
lots of visits with less actives this week, and we had two members
give us names of people/friends they knew that might be interested in
meeting with us! All in all its been a great week, with lots of
promise for next week too. :) This transfer is cut short, so we
actually receive transfer calls THIS Saturday! Crazy how fast it's
gone!! We are betting that Sorella Pinnegar is moving on (seeing how
she's been here NINE months already!!) but other that that were not
sure what will happen! Vediamo!

Funny Italian experience number 2389: yesterday we set aside an hour
to finish up our weekly planning session (that was cut short because
we were in Crotone Friday). We had a list of about 10 people to call
to confirm or set appointments for this week, in priority order of
like who we needed to call first so we could tell the next person when
we were free, etc, etc... Anyways... We sit down and get work, and I
kid you not, every person said basically "Sì, si!" when we asked if we
could see them, and then when we asked when they'd say "Uhhh... Non lo
so... Ci sentiamo, okay, va bene??" ("Don't know, we'll hear from each
other, okay?")
....it's the Italian lifestyle.
....Va bene.
Haha we tried and it all works out when you're doing your best and
you're on Lord's errand, right?! Right! ;)

This week we used a lot of finding time ringing citofonos and knocking
on doors trying to talk to people. :) We were in a part of Cosenza
that we had never tried before and as we were going from Palazzo to
Palazzo I noticed how beautiful each door was! Intricate and detailed,
dark wood or brightly painted. (I will try to send some pictures -
we have really terrible Internet!) As we knocked on each door or
rang each name on the citofono, I was reminded of the painting of the
Savior knocking on the door that doesn't have a handle on the outside,
showing that we must open the door, as the ones inside.

 Later, I read this scripture from Revelations 3:20

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him..."

Little thought I had about these two things... We all have doors to
our very different and very unique lives. But Jesus Christ, as our
brother, Savior, and Redeemer, stands at the door, knocking, waiting
for each of us to open. We are the only ones who have the ability to
do that!

We have busy lives filled with things to do and places to be.
Sometimes we are burdened down by the amount we need to do or the
tasks that are before us. But Christ has told us,
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I know at as we come unto Christ, we open the door for Him to do His
work and miracles in our lives. The way we do this is through learning of
Him and keeping those small and simple commandments that hold so much
power: scripture study, church attendance, and sincere prayer...by
coming unto him and making room for Him every day. If we do this, we
are promised rest. Rest from the things of the world that weigh us
down, and peace of mind, knowing that with Him we can do all we need
to do. I know that this is true, and this is why I'm here sharing what
I know and want so badly for others!

I love you all and I'm grateful for your love. The experiences I'm
having here are amazing, Italia is lovely, and the people here are
wonderful. (And sometimes crazy and hard to set appointments
with...but simply wonderful!) ❤️

Hoping you all have a great week!

Lots of love,
Sorella Carver

Homemade Gnocchi!

Citta Vecchia

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.

Missionary Training Center

Week 5

3 more days in the MTC! We got our flight plans last week and we leave bright and early Monday morning and will arrive in Rome Tuesday morning. 

Yesterday we listened to the last talk by President Monson. It is really amazing!

This video link perfectly described my purpose right now, and I really loved it:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-10-410-be-a-light-in-the-lives-of-others-veme?lang=eng

I also loved when he said,

"As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our convictions."

I know that this is true. I know that when we come unto Christ, when we follow his example and live his teachings, our lives are blessed and we are able to more fully help others in the journey of life. I am grateful for President Monson and his teachings. From this talk I learned that I still have so much to work on as I try to follow the Savior, but that as I do so, my fears and doubts won't be able to exist. Like he said, the Savior is our exemplar and our STRENGTH. 

I'm so excited for this next week! I hope you all are doing well. I am grateful for you all and your love and support! 

Vi voglio tanto bene! 

Love,

Sorella Carver  

Happy Day when care packages arrive!

Sorella Sargeant and me at the Provo Temple

Missionary Training Center

Week 4

So MORE changes this week! 

Due to visa issues, the missionary travel department discovered that it was impossible for us to fly out a week early. SO we are staying the full time! I was very very excited to get going, but I'm also very very grateful for this week that I have to continue to learn and study! An extra week won't do much, it's going to be a huge shock either way, but I'm sure every extra moment will help. :) 

With all the confusion, there was a lot of worry among all the Italy-bound missionaries. (Our little group - called a Zone - has 21 missionaries in it. 7 elders and 21-7=? sisters... can't do math at 8:30 in the morning.... or ever actually! ;)) This week I have learned a LOT about trusting in the Lord. 

This scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6 came to mind a lot: 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 

We don't always know why things happen the way they do, which way to go, or what to do next. But I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows ALL. He is watching over us, and wants the best for us. As we strive to follow His will, we will be led by Him. 

I love this video clip that talks about the will of God:

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-will-of-god-2

So, while I'm a little disappointed to not be headed to Italy on Monday, I know that God has a plan and a reason. 

Other than that, there's not much news this week! Almost everyday we have 6 hours of class, and then about 4 hours of study time. We should be getting travel plans tomorrow though, so maybe this coming week will have more things to share! And then after that.... it's off to Roma! For real this time. ;)

Love you all and grateful for your love and support. 

Love,

Sorella C

Called To Serve

Even as I sit here typing this, it doesn't feel real. I still can't believe I'm going on a mission. I still can't believe I'm going where I'm going! But I am. so. excited. 

I had expected my call to be here before conference weekend, and I had planned on opening it that Sunday when all of my family would be home.

However, Heavenly Father and the USPS had something else in mind, and despite checking the mail 20120498 times on Friday and Saturday it still. wasn't. there. 

Monday morning I got a call from my mom and she said, "If you get a package notification, don't think it is your mission call. I sent you one last week and it should be there today! So don't freak out, I don't want you to be disappointed.