June 15, 2013 Being Released as a Missionary is hard to do...

     Here we are with our Sorella the morning she was released as a missionary.  It was really hard for her to take her missionary badge off.  We are so proud of her and she gave a beautiful report to President Henry of our Stake Presidency.  

Well done Sorella Forbes, well done!!

June 14, 2012, 8:29 PM...Sorella Forbes is HOME!

The Greatest Moment!!!!!

Sorella Forbes with all her siblings and her Mamma...

Pops had gone to get the bags!

     We are having so much fun getting reacquainted and hearing all about Sorella Forbes great adventures.  We are so proud of her and so grateful for her safe return from her beloved Italy and grateful that she was so willing to be a full-time disciple.

WE LOVE YOU SORELLA FORBES!!

Here is the whole family together for one day!  

June 14, 2013 SHE IS ON HER WAY HOME!!!

Yes!!  It is true!!!  This girl is on her way home!!!

We know she will miss her beloved Italy, but we can't wait to see her!!!

June 12, 2012 lo di vico che non posso dire la minima parte di quanto provo

Mamma mia. I don't really know what this email will consist of. Vediamo.

It's really weird. It has arrived. The end of this crazy incredible difficult wonderful joyous amazing 19 month adventure. 

Granted, I hope to continue being a missionary the rest of my life, but we all know it's a lot different from what just happened to me. 

What just happened to me? It's weird looking back. Time is weird. It has flown yet I feel like there was nothing before this. This is my life. It seems it always has been my life. Like it always will be. 

Like the title of this email says, I don't really know how to describe what I am feeling. 

President Wolfgramm once said "If you want to arrive at the last day of your mission and have no regrets, you better have regrets every day. That's repentance." I think I'm there. No, I know I am. I know I was not the perfect missionary. There were things I could have done better every day. But the Lord has been merciful and has allowed me to better myself continually. I have no regrets.

I feel blessed. Above everything else, I am blessed. So incredibly blessed and the Lord has been so incredibly merciful with me. I had to bear a "dying testimony" at our zone meeting on Friday. I had no idea what I wanted to say, but the think that came out as what I've learned and my advice to other missionaries was "Let Him change you." Mamma mia, how the Lord has changed me. I will never be the same. My life will never be the same. It will not be what it was before. Most of you might not recognize me when I come home this week. The changes that have happened to me on the mission are deep. They are eternal. And I am so grateful.

If all the success and miracles I have seen on my mission had not happened. They were the means through which the Lord has changed me. If I have left nothing else here in Italy, there is something so incredibly great that I am taking with me. I have learned what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ, to feel His love for me and others, to see others as He sees them, to desire for their happiness and joy and salvation as He does. I will always be a disciple of Christ. And that is what I am taking with me into the rest of my life from this experience. 

I have lived as a true authorized representative of Jesus Christ for these last 19 months. I have invited people to come unto Him and repent to be able to enjoy the blessings that come from forgiveness. They are real. They are many. I myself have truly learned that repentance is NEVER a punishment, but one of the greatest blessings God has given us. The means by which we become more like Him and our Savior. They love us so much and desire for everyone to enjoy the peace and happiness and complete joy that comes from true and lasting repentance. A repentance that is only possible through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. If you're not living it now, I invite you to do it. Do it NOW. The adversary laughs at your misery that comes from disobedience to the commandments of God. Repent. If you don't know how, call the missionaries. They can help you. If you are not living in harmony with God's plan, you can never feel of his lasting peace. Make the changes necessary now to be in complete harmony with His will. He will shower the blessings down upon you. 

I love this gospel. I took it for granted for most of my life. But now it is my life. It is true. It is real. It is the only way for us to return to live with God and have an eternal state of happiness. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth. It is guided by Christ himself through His living prophet, President Thomas Monson. The Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence of these truths and the word of God. God is your Heavenly Father. He loves you. Christ is His son and knows you perfectly and what you are suffering in this very moment. Trust in Him. Come unto Him. He will make your burden light. He will heal you.

I really don't know what else I could or want to say. I was reading this morning in Alma 26. I love this chapter so much with all of my heart and found myself in it as I was reading it this morning. So I just want to share some of Ammon's words with you. I will skip around and change some things... bear with me. It's the only thing I can do to express what I feel. 

"Behold I say unto you, how great reason have I to rejoice; for could I have supposed when I started from the land of Utah (ha) that God would have granted unto me such great blessings? And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon me? Can ye tell?
Blessed be the name of my God; let me sing to his praise, yea, let me give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever. 
I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for  in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles I have wrought in this land, for which I will praise his name forever. 
Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and I have been an instrument in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work. Therefore let me glory, yea, I will glory in the Lord; yea I will rejoice, for my joy is full; yea, I will praise my God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of me? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
Now when my heart was depressed, and I was about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted me, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Italians, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. 
And I have entered into their houses and taught them, and I have taught them in their streets; yea, and I have taught them upon their hills; and I have also entered into their parks and piazze and taught them; and I have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and doors slammed in my face; and I have been chased out and taken by the arm, escorted to the elevator, had the police called on me; and through the power and wisdom of God I have been delivered again.
And I have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps I might be the means of saving some soul; and I supposed that my joy would be full if perhaps I could be the means of saving some.
Now have I not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never was a woman that had so great reason to rejoice as me, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of me, wanderer in a strange land.
Now, my family and friends, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."


Vi voglio bene tutti. 

Sorella Forbes

Pictures: Me and Sorella Padula in Siena and with our Branch mission leader's family.

June 5, 2013 GEMS!

GEMS! Grow Every Missionary! That is the battle cry of the Italy Milan Mission. I wanted to write a little bit about it in this, my second to last missionary email (thanks for all the "death" emails, peeps... sheesh) because this principle has changed my life. No, my eternity.

What is a GEM? Okay, well this email might just be an ode to Sorella Padula. The biggest GEM in the world. Let me tell you why.

A GEM is someone who makes you want to be better. Someone who makes you feel you are the most important thing in the world. Someone who makes you realize your real potential, but then makes you want to do everything possible in the world to reach it. And does everything in their power to help you. A GEM is someone that is full of charity and love, not only for you as their companion but for everyone around them, and desires so much to make them better. To help them realize their potential as children of God and to make them want to reach that potential. Someone who causes a change in everyone with whom they make contact. A change for the better. A visible change. A GEM is someone who leaves everything they touch better than they found it. A GEM is someone who strives to develop the Christlike Attributes, and puts them into practice every hour of every day, blessing the lives of everyone around them.

Well, I just described my companion. Sorella Padula has done that for me. I love her so much. How incredible she is I could never describe or explain to anyone. I hope that all of you get to meet her someday. She will change you. As she has for me. I love her so much! Mamma mia che amore!

That's a GEM. It's an eternal principle that has changed my eternity and will bless my life forever.

Sorella Padula got really sick on Thursday, so not much is happening in Firenze 2. But that's okay! I think this is the first time in her mission she's ever been taken out by sickness. Which means she's been real sick. But we've had a lot of time to continue to learn from each other and seeing miracles still. We've decided this last week that we were the best of friends in the pre-earth life, just practicing our role plays, talking about this calling we would have as Sister Training Leaders, etc. etc. Craziness. It's odd how much I'm pretty sure that is true. We've known each other forever. I love her.

This is the miracle I wrote to President this week:

This last week on scambio in Reggio-Emilia we had quite a great miracle. We were going to a park for a lesson but the person we were supposed to meet couldn't make it. While we were walking, we saw a potential investigator that had been lost when the sorelle had lost their phone. But apparently he was really fantastic. Sorella Stephens asked if he had time right then to talk and he said yeah! We taught a beautiful blueprint lesson and he accepted a baptismal date. After we were leaving the park and he said "I feel tranquillo!" I said "That's the spirit!" He asked how long that would last and I said "When you are with us, when you read the Book ofMormonn, when you come to church, etc. you can feel that. But after your baptism you will be confirmed with the Holy Ghost and you can carry thta with you always." He was really blown away. But he said "But I see that you want to change me." We just said "If you accept this message and act on those feelings you receive from the spirit, you will have  a desire to make those changes. We don't want to change you, but we are inviting you to change so that you can live in stricter harmony with the will of God. We know it will make you happy." He was so touched and the spirit was so strong. Just while we were there walking on the street leaving the park. He is willing and ready to make the necessary changes. He wants to follow Christ and recognized us as His representatives. President, it was wonderful. We have to be bold! We are trying to convey that with the Sorelle with whom we work. It makes such a big difference in the work, and all it really takes is knowing bold statements from Preach my Gospel. They are so handy and they give the spirit something to work with when we really study them and get them in our heart.

So we were in Modena on Thursday, Reggio on Friday (I worked in Parma with Sorella Stephens), Firenze Saturday, Sunday, Milano Monday, Siena yesterday (we set 2 baptismal dates there! One with a man we found in the park that was super elect! We were super bold in helping him identify the spirit and he said "Yes, I believe Joseph Smith had this vision. I feel it" It was beautiful). I love my life. We are traveling like crazy. We are going to Genova tomorrow if Sorella Padula feels better. And then after that we are done with these blitzes. I don't think we'll be having baptisms next week. But that's okay. We're setting some great people up for next transfer. Sorella Padula will take great care of them. 

It's weird how time is just flying. AH! But I feel good. I'm going to leave it all here. There will be nothing left in me when I leave next week. I'm dreading it, but I feel at peace. I feel good. I feel, finally, that I've learned what I needed to learn and that my time has arrived. As much as I hate it, (I could do this for the rest of my life...) I know that it is right. The Lord is blessing me with those small confirmations from the spirit every time I think about it.

Vi voglio un sacco di bene, cari miei. (I want a lot of good, my dear.)

Buona settimana.  (Have a great week.)

Sorella Forbes

Sorella Padula and Sorella Forbes...friends forever!

Our P-day to Piazza Michelangelo and San Miniato al monte.

President and Sorella Wolfgramm with the Italy Milan Training Sisters.

Sorella Forbes and Sorella Bush!  The redheads!  

They went out together and they will return together

May 29, 2013 'La missione e la mia vita' The mission and my life...

I LOVE MY MISSION.

I just love it. Every day my heart just feels more and more filled with love. I had no idea that it was even possible! I LOVE THE WORLD!!!!

We've had a rough week. But nonetheless it has been a week of miracles. We had scambi in Genova 1, Savona, and here in Firenze 1. 

I got to go back to Savona!!! Crazy things are happening there. Sorella Lopez is rocking the work there. But they've had problems finding a new apartment and so she and her companion are getting sent to Milano 2 for at least two weeks. CRAZY! My Savona without missionaries!!! But that's fine. I know the Lord has a plan. 

Sorella Lopez and I had two great lessons. We set a baptismal date! With someone she and Sorella Jameson had found on an exchange. It was wonderful. He is truly elect and searching. The members are going to have to take good care of him for the next little bit. That sorella is so strong and incredible. She is going to continue to work miracles in her mission wherever she goes. 

And then yesterday I worked in Firenze 1 with Sorella Bucco. (BUg! SHe was your visiting teacher at Glenwood! We'll talk about that later... ha). We taught a family the first lesson and set baptismal dates with the dad and the son. The mom wasn't there until the very end but they have an appointment with them on Saturday and they are a beautiful elect family! So happy.

As far as our work here in Firenze 2... we are still having miracles but it's hard! Our average lesson count from week to week is 3. THat's bad. We're not teaching. Which means we won't be baptizing. Our miracle family from last week is still in touch with their member family friend, but for some reason not with us. We haven't seen them since last Sunday. ANd we set another date with a beautiful philipino woman on Sunday, but today on the phone she said her husband is not happy and she doesn't think she can see us again. Wah! BUt that's fine. We are praying, working, holding to our faith, and miracles will happen. We're seeking inspiriation to know what to do. We're supposed to have an exemplary area! It's not that exemplary right now and we feel bad... we'll fix it.

I LOVE MY COMPANION!!!! Mom, dad, congratulations! We have a new member of our family. I've officially adopted her into our family. Her name is Sorella Padula. She is wonderful. You will love her. She's my sister. Which makes her your daughter. Your 6th child. Auguri! 

Sorella Padula is incredible. I can't even put it into words how incredible she is. She is the definition of Preach my Gospel missionary. She is consacrated. She is full of love and charity. And has acquired all the other Christlike attributes contained in PMG chapter 6. Mamma mia... sono senza parole. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with her in this my last transfer. We are sisters for eternity. 

I've been loving Alma 31 this last week. I have been sharing it with these sorelle on scambio as "the key to stress free missionary work!" Let me explain... and I don't have it here in english so bear with me. This prayer that Alma offers is completely centered on Christ and the Atonement "Comfort my soul in Christ... comfort their souls in Christ..." He prays not for his circumstances to change, but for the power to support the trials that he knew would come. He prays for his companions. He prays for power and wisdom. How do we get power and wisdom? Well, power = the authority we have x (personal worthiness + prayer), and wisdom = seeking and asking for personal revelation for specific problems. But everything is centered on the Atonement. THe promise in the last verse is that "They suffered no afflictions save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ." There's no way we can have stress and suffer  when we do these things: turn outward, prayer for the enabling power to overcome and not change circumstances, seek personal specific revelation, rely on Christ... It's wonderful. THat's not just for misionary work, that can apply to real life. That's kind of a brief explanation but I hope you get the idea.

Vi voglio bene famiglia. Pray for Sorella Padula and I that we can get this work up and going. It's been up and down up and down. We need it to be up! We'll be working and praying too. 

Sorella Forbes

The Young Single Adults in Savona

 Sorella Lopez and I back together!

Sorella Padula. Isn't she cute? 

The view of the Tuscan hills we have out our window.

 I love my life!

May 22, 2013 Sorella Padula e "il gas del lupo"

Let me explain that title.

Sorella Padula had to go to the dentist on Monday. They were expecting to have to do this big operation on her tooth. They gave her laughing gas. But in fact, it only took 30 minutes and it was a pure miracle! Prayer works! But she came out and seemed pretty normal for a second. But when we got on the bus and started talking to a man, I realized something was off. Yup, they gave my companion laughing gas. Poverina. (poor thing) I couldn't help but laugh at her. She wanted to go out and work for the last 30 minutes and didn't want to go home before 9, but I said no, sorella, we have to go home. She still wouldn't so I told her that she had to do area book and I had to call Sorella Wolfgramm. I called Sorella Wolfgramm and told her about the dentist miracle. Sorella Padula said she wanted to talk to her. "Hi Sorella Wolfgramm! I love you! I feel weird!  I talked to a man on the bus who wants to know more about mormons!" I could hear Sorella Wolfgramm talking to Sorella Padula and telling her "I'm so proud of you Sorella!" Sorella Padula was glowing. I got the phone back and Sorella Wolfgramm just said "She is a happy camper!" There's so much I could recount... We were brushing our teeth before going to bed and I told sorella Padula she was loopy because they gave her laughing gas. She says "What is loopy, Sorella? It sounds like lupo. Do you know what is lupo?" "Like a wolf, sorel?" "Yeah! They gave me lupo gas! Gas del lupo!" (gas wolf!)  I about died. And so did the other sorelle we live with. Then she got really sad and frustrated because she couldn't focus her mind on the work. She's too great. I made her go to sleep. The next morning she woke up and couldn't remember a whole lot, but what she had written in her journal gave her a good laugh. She wrote in english (she usually writes in spanish) "I feel weird. I can't think. I went to the dentist. He's awesome. Also Sorella Forbes takes me home. I love her. Good night." Oh, how i love her.

We have had another week of miracle scambi! We set two baptismal dates in Forli and two in Rimini. And two in Firenze 2!!! That's our branch! We have two baptism dates for June 12! And they have 3 kids we haven't met yet! It is a pure miracle! Let me explain.

We set a baptismal date with Francesco and Sabrina! The work here has been pretty slow since we have arrived since we opened this companionship. We are the first sisters in Firenze 2 I think ever. We both felt very strongly that we need to concentrate our efforts on the members or we will never have success. Especially with the little time we have in our city. And the members are really responding. They have been giving us so many referrals! But a lot of them are just potential referrals who we want to contact but we want to do it through the members. Ha senso? Francesco and Sabrina are two of them. They have three children. Their member friend called us on Thursday morning and said they had had them over the night before and watched some films from the church and had dinner and they were both blown away. They loved the phrase "Sono un Figlio di Dio" (I am a son of God) and it hit them really strongly. They asked when they could get baptized... ha! Whoa. Sunday we had decided to fast to be able to contact all of these potential referrals we are receiving. Cioè, we have names but not numbers or appointments. So Francesco and Sabrina came to church on Sunday. It is evident that there are some problems in the family, but we know they will see the blessings as they are beginning to learn and put into practice the gospel in their family. And we hope we can get their kids contacted soon too. We love them! They are wonderful! And they are also friends of the woman that is being baptized in Firenze 1 this week! Miracles! The Lord is blessing us. 

We got bikes! It is so wonderful! We ride along the Arno past the Ponte Vecchio almost every day. Oh,mamma, our Firenze is marvelous. And so beautiful. We almost always see American member tourists. Some of which I know. Weird! That was fun to see Colleen from our ward last week. Super weird. She thought I had a year left... MAGARI! She said "I'll see you next month!" Ahhhhh... Va bene. Moving on.

We are going to Savona tonight! Im so excited! I'm going to be with Sorella Lopez! My last born! My bimba! Oh mamma, I'm excited. We will see miracles. And then back to Genova on Friday. 

I LOVE MY LIFE! It really is the greatest. I live in Florence. I am companions with the biggest GEM in the world. I travel all over Liguria, Toscana, and Emilia-Romagna to work with other sisters. I see miracles every day. I am a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. I get to enjoy the happiness and joy that comes from sharing the gospel EVERY DAY! I don't want it to ever end... 

Tutto bene...all is well

Vi voglio bene!...I love you

Sorella Forbes

Me and my collega at the Ponte Vecchio.  She sang to me an opera song

 about it while we were there.  It was marvelous!  I love my life!

Downtown Florence