July 25, 2012 Nuovi Simpattizanti

The new focus this transfer as a mission is finding new investigators! The mission standard is 1 every day. What constitutes a new investigator? Having taught one lesson and having a return appointment. What constitutes a lesson? Teaching a principle, bearing testimony, praying with them. As last week we had 0 investigators, we really needed to find lots of new investigators. And the counsel of our leaders on finding new investigators came just at the right time. We found lots last week. 14 to be exact. Our leaders are so inspired! We just put into practice everything they taught us to the best of our ability, and it worked! Now we're just trying to turn all of those new investigators into progressors. Nickel is doing awesome. He came to church on Sunday! He came late, but he sure did come. Same with Mirella and Omar, two members of a Romanian family we found last week. But that's a different story about that family... we think they just want money from us. So I think we're dropping them. Sad!

 

Anyway, living in this big city is... different. It's big. There are a lot of people, and not going to lie last week I felt super overwhelmed by it all. I think I'm now adjusting pretty well. I hope. ha! It was really weird going from two of the smallest cities in the mission to the big city of Milano. Not just as a person but as a missionary. In the smaller cities we could walk along the street for a really long time and not talk to anyone, but here you are constantly surrounded by people so if you're not constantly talking to people you feel super guilty and like a terrible missionary... But it's hard to talk ALL the time! Especially when you're on the metro and it is hot and crowded and you can't really hear anyway. Comunque, I'm adjusting. I'm figuring out the system.I'm working on it, anyway. :)

 

Our apartment is pretty great. Not as big as the other ones, but we're hardly there anyway. It's nice because we are up on the 6th floor, so we just leave all the windows open and we get a nice cool breeze coming through. It feels air-conditioned. It's magical. Although at night we have a problem. With mosquitos. We can't shut the doors because it gets too hot, but then the mosquitos get in. They like me. A lot. I wake up to the buzzing sound of a mosquito right in my ear  quite often. We went to a pharmacy and bought this ultrasound mosquito repeller thing that you plug into the wall, but it doesn't seem to be working quite right... It's a bit frustrating, but that's fine. We can handle it. I hope... ha! We like to plan out on our balcony sometimes. It's so nice! I really do love big cities. We've got a pretty good view, but we're kind of on the outskirts of the city. On a clear day we can see the mountains off in the distance! It's great.

 

Another great thing about Milano, is that we magically run into less active members every now and then. I was standing next to this girl on the bus yesterday, and I felt like I needed to talk to her, so I turned and said "I know God loves you!" and she just looked at me and smiled and said "I'm a member. I was baptized in Peru, but I haven't been to church in a long time. But lately I've been thinking I need to come back. So this Sunday I will be there." Ha! Crazy miracle. Another miracle: We had an appointment with one of our new investigators tomorrow in the park, Ousseynou from Senegal. But yesterday we were doing finding in the park and we saw him sitting there in the park. He said he wasn't sure if he would be able to make it to the appointment tomorrow so he decided to come to the park to see if we were there, and we were! Right at the right moment. He was so excited to get his Book of Mormon and he's totally going to read it. He seems pretty golden. Have I told you I love africans? I do! They are so sweet and genuine. Even though sometimes they forget about appointments you set up with them... that's fine...

 

Oh! I met Breeda. The Irish investigator. That was a different experience. She studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses, so she has some out there ideas about the Bible, which could very possibly be a serious hindrance to her accepting the gospel. But we had a really good lesson with her and I hope that she will really make progress. She put on some irish music for me after I told her about how I'm irish and I love Ireland and how my mom is irish... etc. etc. it reminded me of my Irish mama! She has little leprechauns and four leafed clovers all over her house. She is so sweet.

 

So Milano is beginning to empty out, and by next week it will be even more dead. It's weird. EVERYONE goes on vacation during August. It's called ferie, and a lot of the stores and shops close too. It's weird. We got on a bus yesterday and there were like 2 other people on it with us. I'm scared for August when no one is around!

 

I forgot to tell you last week, we are not on bikes here. I miss the bikes. We do metro bus trams feet. It's kind of frustrating because especially with the summer schedule we're usually late for appointments. It takes so long to get from one place to the next! But that's okay! I'm figuring it out!

 

I love you so much family! And friends if you actually read these emails...

 

Hope all is well at home and know I pray for you all a lot! And I appreciate all your prayers for me! They are needed.

 

Vi voglio un sacco di bene!

 

Sorella Forbes

July 18,2010 - Life in the big city!

Milano is HUGE! Let's just get that established. It is so big. SO many people. Missionary work is definitely different. I am constantly surrounded by people. And we're already filling up pages with numbers and addresses of potentials. It was kind of hard at first, because we are basically starting from 0 as far as progressing investigators, but I have confidence that this will be yet another transfer of miracles. We've already seen so many. For example, after leaving the station on Thursday, saying goodbye to my dear Sorella Walton, toting my heavy bags into the metro, I was feeling a little bit flabbergasted, still not really sure why I'm here. There was a woman that was sitting next to wear I was standing, and she kept looking at me so I just asked her how she was. She looked at me and just said "I'm sad because my mother just died two weeks ago." It kicked me back into missionary gear and I bore testimony of the Plan of Salvation and told her she would see her mother again. She said she wasn't sure if that was true but that she hoped for it, she knew her mother was in paradise. I told her she could know with a surety for herself like I did. She lives in Varese, but I was able to take down the information so the sisters there can go find her. But after that I kind of felt like "okay, I guess I'm supposed to be here." This whole transfer experience has been really humbling. But I really know that I am supposed to be here.

Like I said, missionary work is definitely different here. We had a lunch appointment on Friday, my first day here, with a new convert who LOVES America and he wanted to eat at McDonald's. A first timer for me in 9 months. Ha. Anyway so we met him there by the Duomo. Afterwards, he wanted to come with us to find some people. So he came with us and bore his testimony to a few people. That was really great. But while we were talking to this one lady, a pigeon got me. Yup, you know what I mean... Pigeon bomb. Right on my hair\face\shirt. It was gross. But we kept teaching! The lady pulled a tissue out of her purse for me while I was telling her about the Book of Mormon. Ha! Good times. That will be something to remember.

So as far as investigators, we're working up a nice pool of potentials. We met Allen last night on the park bench. He looked sad so we went to talk to him. He said he was feeling homesick because he is from the Phillipines and his wife has been gone for two weeks. He's here all alone. We talked about Christ and how he understands how he is feeling and wants to help him. We left him with a Book of Mormon and set up another appointment for Sunday. His wife is coming back Saturday night and he said they would come to church! Then we met a group of Cameroonians on the metro. Nickel (nee-kell) said he likes to talk about God, so he brought two of his friends to the church and we taught them the Restoration. We have another appointment Friday and he said he's bringing more of his friends who are looking for a church too. They'll come on Sunday too. Exciting!

There is an investigator of 5 years here, and we haven't met her yet but I talked to her on the phone and I am SO excited to meet her. She is a sweetheart. MOTHER! She's from IRELAND! She's Irish. I'm Irish too. We're kindred spirits. For some reason (probably because we're both Irish...) I just have a really good feeling about her and I'm SO excited to teach her. Hopefully we can see her tomorrow. She was a Jehovah's Witness so Sorella Bishop said the lessons with her are tricky, but I can't wait. And then there is Eva. We got a call from Las Vegas from a woman who has a friend here in Milano. We wanted to go see her, but she called us. She said she has cancer and is doing chemo right now. Her friend had explained to her about Priesthood blessings, so she asked us for one. We called the Capi Zona and they came with us to our first appointment with her. She is the sweetest little thing! They gave her a blessing and afterward she was so happy. She said she felt a current go through her body during the blessing. It was so beautiful and the spirit was so strong. We went back and taught she and her husband the Restoration. They accepted soft baptismal invites, but they leave for Puglia this weekend. Sad. We're going to get the missionaries out to them there. My MTC companion is in Bari! Maybe she can find them. :)

My first Sunday here was a hoot. All of the members I met before Sunday just kept saying "First Sunday! Get ready!" So I was kind of nervous. But this ward LOVES missionaries. They have 4 coppia of missionaries in this ward: Us, the APs, the Senior office couple, and President and Sorella Wolfgramm. They made me stand up in Relief Society and introduce myself and then again in Sacrament meeting. Afterwards everyone kept telling me I looked like a doll. Some called me a Barbie doll... Ha! I guess they failed to notice the 80 pounds I've gained since coming to Italy... meno male. (ps. i haven't really gained 80 pounds...) But I'm so excited to work with this ward. It is HUGE! It's like a Utah ward. There are about 500 members in the ward, but only about 150 come every Sunday. So it's a lot of less-active work too. The church is in a palazzo, or an apartment building. It takes up a whole floor. But it is still beautiful. And I LOVE being in the same ward as the Wolfgramms. I just love them. In Principi Evangelici (Gospel Principles, the APs taught, but President piped in some very wise words and it was so great. I can't wait for all our investigators to meet them! And yet it's a little bit intimidating too, being in the same ward as the Assistants and the Mission President... 

Sorella Bishop is a doll. She was a character at DisneyWorld! Family! We love DisneyWorld!!! She did all the autographs for me. So now I have Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Lilo, and Stitch autographs. From Italy. Ha! Happy day.

So yes Milano is different, but oh so great. I know that I am going to learn so much here and we will see so many miracles. I feel really good about being here. 

Buona settimana!!!

Sorella Forbes

 Saying farewell to Vicky (new convert) and Clarence and Joel in Pordenone

 Transfer circle @Milano Centrale

Saying goodbye to Sorella Walton. Love her.

Sorella Bishop planning on the balcony of our apartment.

July 11, 2012 Transfer time! Sopresa!

     It was Monday night. The other Sorelle get a phone call. It's President. They talk for a while. Then tell me he wants to talk to me. I'm so nervous because I know this is the transfer call... "Is this Sorella Forbes?" "Hi President! Yes it's me." "Well Sorella, I just wanted to let you know I am transferring you to Milano 3." Shock.... I was SURE I'd be staying in Pordenone. He tells me we are closing this coppia and all of our investigators will go to Sorella Modugno. First reaction/thoughts: Heartbreak. I'm leaving Francesco, Ramat, Madelin, our two new golden girls Milva and Gabriella, and a few more amazing people behind. I was so sad on Monday night, and there were lots of tears shed, I had a chat with my Heavenly Father about this madness and was kind of just flabbergasted. It was really hard because this is the second coppia I've closed. But at least you can't say it's because the work was not going well! We worked our tails off these last two transfers and have so many wonderful people! But yesterday we were leaving our appointment with Ramat, and I received a confirmation that this is right. Francesco is set to be baptized in August. I called him yesterday and told him we were leaving. He was sad but he will keep meeting with Sorella Modugno and her new companion. We're going to get him started on Duty to God! so awesome. he already read all of For the Strength of the Youth. And annotated it. Did I tell you that? I told him he'll be an amazing missionary one day. I am confident that Sorella Modugno and Sorella Hanks will be such a big help to Ramat, and he will get baptized one day too. As for all the others, I just know that they will be taken care of and I know that I have been called to Milano for a reason. So now I'm happy and content. Not looking forward to all the packing... Sorella Lloyd is also going to Milano 1, so we have three Sorelle packing up at our apartment today. Madness!!! Meno male there is a train that goes directly to Milano.

     So Milano!!! I have been in two of the smallest cities in the mission, and now I'm going to one of the biggest cities in the world! I'm so excited. Sorella Walton started out in Milano so she's giving me the scoop. I love big cities! I was thinking today, Milano will either be really good preparation for when I live in NYC, or it will scare me off of big cities forever... ha! But I'm so excited. I will be paired up with Sorella Bishop! She is teeny tiny but such a power house. I can't wait to work with her. It's funny because she will be the 3rd companion I've "killed" (mission lingo...). Sorella Willey went home, Sorella Walton is going home on Friday, and Sorella Bishop will go home after this next transfer. I feel really good about it. I'll get to spend more time with President and his wife! They come to that ward sometimes. That's exciting. 

     So this week was really great. Saturday we were invited to a baby shower for a lady in the American ward. Mandy, who was planning it, is a new convert as of February we worked with last transfer before we split up all the new converts for the two coppie. She wanted us to come share a spiritual thought. She's so great. So we went to the baby shower and shared a spiritual thought. Ha! That was fun. Remember the story about the random referral we got on the street for the woman that was studying with Jehovah's Witnesses? Well, we hadn't been able to set up an appointment with her, and on Thursday we had the feeling we needed to just go out and pass by her house. So we went. She was there with her sister, who is in the same boat as her. We taught them the Restoration, they asked us a lot of great questions, and were in agreeance with everything. They are so excited to read the Book of Mormon and to come to church to see how it is. They had both been studying with Jehovah's Witnesses because they didn't believe the catholic church anymore and wanted to know the Bible better, but said they still don't agree with a lot of the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses. So they are really looking! They are totally prepared and elect and I'm so excited. Patience is the sister of a member here from Ghana. We've been teaching her and she wants to get baptized too! But she lives in Mestre so that's a really good referral for the Anziani there... ha. But she is so sweet. She had some sort of pain show up on Saturday so we've been visiting her in the hospital these last couple of days. She's a sweetheart. 

     Monday night we had a lot of finding time, and we felt we needed to go to the Torre area. We were looking at bus stops and one popped out, Damiano Chiesa, so we chose that. We did casa for a while without any real success, but then we passed this huge house with a huge yard and almost passed by it, but we felt we needed to try. So this lady walks out to the gate. We talked for about 20  minutes about the Book of Mormon and how it helps us understand the gospel in the Bible and all that jazz. She is really interested so we left her a Book of Mormon and the other sorelle will call her for a return appointment. But sometimes when you're talking to people you can just really tell when they are elect. The words come so much easier and all of the phrases from Preach my Gospel that you've studied so much come to your mind so much quicker. You know what to say, and everything feels like it means more, and you can feel the spirit bearing witness to them through you. I felt that with Elen, and I think she has a lot of great potential. 

     It's still really hot. All the africans are telling us it's hotter here than in Africa... ha! No wonder I feel like I'm melting. But I'm also headed to Milano, the hottest place in the mission. Sorella Walton told me the sidewalks melt in the summer. That's exciting. And I hear the mosquitos are pretty terrible... but that's okay! I can handle it! I hope! ha! Pray for me!

     Last night the members here threw us a kind of farewell party. It was kind of awkward. We didn't really know what to expect, because our ward mission leader just told us to be at the church at 7:30. So we went. Probably about half of the ward was there with food and pens and paper ready to exchange information to keep in touch, they made Sorella Lloyd sing for them, we took a group picture... it was lovely. They're really sad to be losing 3 Sorelle. Going from 4 to 2. Especially since Sorella Lloyd has been here for 5 transfers. But it was good to get to see them all before we leave. The members here are just so great. 

     So I wanted to send some pictures of Francesco and Ramat and some others, but this computer won't read my camera. Hence I will try to send some in another email before we leave. 

     But wish me luck as I set out for Milano! We'll be taking the fast train straight to Milano at 6 in the morning (it's still a four hour train ride...) and meet up with all the other missionaries at Milano Centrale Station. I'll send you a picture of transfer circle. it's quite a spectacle. 

Vi voglio bene! Buona settimana!  (I love you! Have a great week!)

Sorella Forbes

                                                           

  Francesco!

 Ramat!

Mariana! A new convert we've been working with. 

The farewell committee!

Junly 4, 2012 - CHE CALDO! (That hot!)

It is SOOO HOOOOOTTT!!! Let's talk about it for a minute. Sometimes I'm outside and I feel like I'm melting. In appointments with investigators, I frequently have to wipe the sweat drops that are falling into my eyes. Sorella Walton and I got to the church the other day and just laid on the cold tile floor in a small classroom with the AC blasting for a bit to cool down. A member told us on Monday while we were driving in her car that it was 99 degrees that day. That's not including the extra degrees that come with the humidity. It's so hooooottt!!! But we're dealing. We are being blessed because even though we are so hot, we still have the energy we need to go to and from appointments. It's still been a really good week. Despite the hot. 

I went on scambio to Bergamo! It was so great! I was with Sorella Simkins. She's a rockstar. She also speaks spanish, and we met with a member and her less active sister from Bolivia. Half of the lesson was in spanish. I understood, but I'd just have to respond in Italian. That was cool. Gift of tongues is real, people! Also at our training in Verona, the APs are really emphasizing the "awkward approach." That is instead of trying to make small talk with people or introducing yourself right off as you are contacting someone, you just jump right in to bearing testimony and/or asking a question. And it works! It's amazing! It really is SUPER awkward, but it gets people talking to you and it gives the Holy Ghost a better opportunity to bear testimony to them of the truths we bear testimony of. We got a lot of numbers and appointments with that approach. For example, we walked past two ragazzi hanging out on their scooters, Sorella Simkins says "wait, let's go back and talk to them." We turn back and come right around the corner and I said "I know God has a plan and this life is not without a purpose! According to you, what is the purpose of this life?" And they kind of sat there a little shocked for a second, but they responded back, we talked about it, and set up a return appointment. It's awesome! It's a miracle worker. Anyway, that was good times with Sorella Simkins in Bergamo. 

Ramat is still progressing. He told us this last week he knows God sent us to him, and mentioned how he wants to do what we are doing, preaching the Gospel and sharing God's love with people! (He's still within missionary age, so a definite possibility!) He is SO terrified of coming to church. We think he has a really hard time relating to other people. He's kind of a loner and doesn't really have any friends. I don't blame him with his past. Have I told you his story yet? NO! I haven't! Okay, brief version: When he was 12 the Taliban came to his house and killed his entire family, 6 brothers one sister 2 parents. He escaped not unharmed. Walked to Pakistan, to India, to Pakistan, to Iran, to Turkey, tried to swim to Greece, woke up in a hospital there, escaped because he thought they would send him back to Afghanistan, went to Athens, hopped on a ferry to Italy by climbing up under the axel of a car, held on until he arrived in Brindisi and then Bari, was caught by police, put in a refugee house, then when he turned 18 they put him in school, got him a job and all his documents, and now he lives in Porcia. All along this 5 year journey he child labored in a rug factory from 4 AM to midnight and all they'd give him was a piece of bread, escaped there and worked in a battery factory where he fell into a tub of battery acid up to his neck and somehow survived, was taken by Turkish police and starved and beaten for a number of days, escaped through a window, almost drowned... it is the most incredible story I have ever heard. We learn a little bit more every day. He came to the baptism on Saturday! He had never set foot in a church before! (except for the day before when the Jacobs came to a lesson with us, bore AMAZING testimonies in ITALIAN, then offered to take him to see the church when no one was there.) But yeah, he is terrified of people. He just stood on the outskirts and we tried to introduce him to people but he was super super shy. And then he didn't come to church on Sunday because we think he was scared. So that's going to be his obstacle he has to get over before he's baptized... but he's reading the Book of Mormon! In PERSIAN! We just happened to have one laying around our apartment. Miracle? Yes. I think so.

There was another baptism on Saturday! Remember Vincenza? The 19 year old amazing girl who told us she wanted to get baptized a few weeks ago? She got baptized on Saturday! And she was so happy! It was beautiful. Norman, her boyfriend, baptized her. They're already talking about a temple marriage someday. Happy times!

Francesco has a new baptismal date, after his birthday in August. Kind of sad because Sorella Walton will not be here, but it turns out it's kind of a good thing. We decided because he accepted everything so quickly this time will really be good for him to solidify his testimony and try his faith. He's still amazing though. He read all of the For Strength of Youth this last week. And annotated it. We love him.

We set up an appointment with a member referral for yesterday! She is the greatest! She had been coming to church for a while, reading the Book of Mormon, but was scared to meet with the missionaries. Sunday she came up and was asking me about fasting so we talked for a bit, then I just said "Well, Laura, can we see you sometime this week?" And she was like "Yes of course!" So yesterday we had an appointment with her. Her member friend came to the appointment. It was a really great Restoration lesson and she got everything. I asked her what she would do if all of this was true. She said she'd get baptized. We gave her the baptism invite (that's something we do on the first lesson. Our leaders tell us to do it, we do it!). She accepted. We felt we should present her with a date, so we did explaining that that would help her progress and prepare for baptism but this was all her decision and it would be up to her to act and to keep the commitments we leave her with. She said she'd pray about the date. This morning we got a call from her member friend saying she was scared and that we shouldn't ask to meet with her again until she is ready. So we're kind of confused. We texted her saying sorry if she felt forced but we were here as her guides to help her receive all the blessings her Heavenly Father wants for her. Anyway she responded saying she'd let us know when she received her answer and when she felt ready... that's fine I guess. Kind of a bummer, but succede. The member was also kind of freaking out when we gave her the baptismal invite. But hey, he's a future missionary and he will understand! So we'll have some damage control to do there a bit I think...

Monday night for FHE with the Americans we went to Barcis! (that's the picture with us in front of the lake). SO GORGEOUS! It reminded me a lot of Koningsee, up in the mountains, the super clear greenish-blue water, it was so awesome. And one of the member couples brought a referral! So great. We love our members. We're really excited because next week we are starting an italian class for the Americans. They are all super excited and going to bring all their friends. Referrals!!! So happy.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! I almost forgot. Today to celebrate, we went on the American Air Force base. That was a strange experience. Totally not what I expected. They have a golf course, a movie theater, a store that is like a mini Walmart... lots of fun stuff. The member couple that took us on bought us stuff so we can make enchiladas! We're excited. And we bought brown sugar! So exciting. I felt like I was in America. They're having fireworks there tonight. Kind of had a tiny sting of homesickness for me. But now we're back in Pordenone and being missionaries!!!

Next week is transfers!!! AAH! I always get a little nervous because you never really know what to expect. I will definitely be getting a new companion, but I think I will be staying here in Pordenone. I really think it would throw all our investigators for a shock if both me and Sorella Walton left. We will pray real hard... 

I love Sorella Walton! I'm so sad she's going home next week. I have learned so much from her and grown so much these last two transfers with her. She is going to do amazing things with her life. Goodness I just love her...

Really long email this week... sorry! I hope everyone is well! Stay cool in this summer heat! I'm loving my life here in Pordenone! Despite the heat! All is well!!!

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Forbes

Vincenza was baptized by her boyfriend, Norman.

 Our last district meeting with Anziani Taggart and Nelson and the Sorelle

Monday night for FHE with the Americans we went to Barcis!  

SO GORGEOUS! It reminded me a lot of Koningsee, up in the mountains, 

the super clear greenish-blue water, it was so awesome.