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

May 19, 2013 Another Sorella spotting!

Yes!  We had ourselves another Sorella Forbes spotting!  Kaitie (Sorella Forbes little sister), had a friend email her this picture of Sorella Forbes on a bus in Florence!!  I think it is so kind that people take the time to send these pictures....Thanks so much!!!

May 15, 2013 "Miracoli Sono Ovunque Andiam!" Miracles are everywhere!

Mamma mia. My life is too wonderful. It isn't right. I am too blessed. My  life is beautiful!

First of all, it was great to talk to you fam! You're cute! Ha. I love ya.

My companion is the GEMmiest GEM that ever GEMmed. A lot of you probably don't know what GEM means... Grow Every Missionary. Basically it means to leave things better than you found them. I could talk about Gemming for ever. Maybe someday I'll sit down with you and express my feelings about GEMs. My collega has already changed my life this last week we've had together. Almost two weeks! Mamma mia. She is incredible. I can't even express how much I love my dear Sorella Padula... We are seeing so many miracles.

This miracle is called "questo si chiama 'finding through members.'" Saturday night Sorella Padula and I had been wandering around trying to contact less actives. None of them were home. First, an explanation: For our vision for the Sorelle they all have calendars on which they write one forever finding miracle a day and one member miracle a day (or more if they want). Of course, we want to be the examples. So Saturday it was about 7:45. We had had a good day of finding and taken a lot of information for people. But after we stopped by a less active and she didn't have time for us, I said to my companion "Sorella, we need our member miracle today. What do we do?" She paused and said, "Okay. I have an idea. You're going to think I'm crazy a little, but let's try it. We are going to call this member and ask if there is someone we can go teach tonight with her." Va bene! She makes the call and the member at first responded "Sorella I'm not sure!" Sorella Padula reassured her "Sorella, the Lord told us we have to teach a family and that it would be by a member! What can we do?" And the member says "Well, you know...I have been praying all day for this family and how I want them to hear the gospel! Come and I'll take you to them!" So we went. And she presented us to 2 families. On our way there Sorella Padula said "Questo si chiama 'finding through members'." She is a GEM.

Another miracle: Siena. Friday afternoon. Okay first... at the beginning of the week we had called Siena and asked them what miracle they wanted to see for the blitz. They said they want a baptism this transfer. I asked if they had any dates. They said no. So I said okay on Friday we are going to set a baptismal date. All four of us will pray for that all this week. So back to Siena. Friday afternoon. We had had a fairly unsuccessful morning of work, Sorella Seare and I. We had an appointment set up for the after noon with a potential who we were planning on setting a date with. THe lesson went pretty terribly. She wasn't ready and didn't accept the date. We left the appointment and called the other sorelle. Sorella Padula and Willis had also had no success and received some cancellations. But what does Sorella Padula say? "Va ben, dai c'è un'ora ancora." Okay! Sorella Seare and I set out to find our elect person who would accept a date on the street. We stopped so many people and no one was interested. We got close with one woman and her two children but in the end she rejected us. We started heading back the direction of home and I saw this woman at the corner of my eye. So we stopped her. Here's a brief summary of our conversation: "buon giorno signora! i know that whatever difficulty we have to face in life, we can still have peace." She responded that she didn't know how to have peace in difficult times but that she liked to pray...so we bore testimony how our message would help her and with the Holy Ghost after baptism she would have that constant companion. THen we brought in the Restoration: "200 years ago Christ restored his true church on the earth through a prophet with the proper authority to baptize. What would that mean to you to have THE true church on the earth?" "Well, I haven't ever really thought about it. There should only be one though..." "We are representatives of Jesus Christ. The CHurch of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is the only true and living church on the face of the earth. I know that you believe in prayer. Do you believe God responds to prayers?" "Yeah! Of course!" " Do you believe that He could tell you if this was the true church?" "Well, yes. I guess he could." "When he answers your prayer that this is the true church, would you be willing to join it?" "Yeah! I really think I would if He responded and said yes." "This is the only true church on the earth. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority to receive a remission of your sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost?" "Yes. I want to." "Will you prepare yourself to be baptized the 8th of June?" "I hope to be ready! Yes! I really hope to do it!" 

Whoa. That's what I was thinking. We set up an appontment, exchanged information, and said a prayer with her. And then after she left Sorella Seare and I said a prayer of gratitude right there in the street. We had to run back to the apartment to be able to catch the train, but when we got there all four of us cried together and knelt down and said a prayer of gratitude. I learned alot on Friday about goals, faith, and diligence. Mamma mia. The Lord can work miracles when His servants strive to have these things. 

So much I could tell you! I love my life! I am so blessed to be in this calling. It is changing my mission. My life. My eternity! Mamma mia... quanto benedetta sono io.  (How blessed I am!)

Vi voglio un mondo di bene!  (I want a world of good!)

Sorella Forbes

 The very first Sister Training Leaders of the Italy Milano Mission!

and they can have fun too!

May 15, 2013 A Tender Mercy! A Sorella spotting in Florence!!

     Sorella spotting in Florence!!!  Our friends and neighbors, the DeRoses, were strolling the streets of Florence, Italy and look who they saw!!!  They were so kind to text us a photo!!  It made our day!!!  As her mom, I have yearned to see Sorella Forbes in action as a missionary.  I really feel it a blessing that one of the Young Women I taught, found her by chance (not chance!).  Now I can hear the report first hand from the DeRose family....and how appropriate that Colleen is a redhead too!!

May 12, 2013 Mother's Day Skype!

Wishing her Mamma Mia a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Love this girl!  We think her dimples have grown...she said they are wrinkles

now because she has aged 10 years! ha!

Sorella Padula and Sorella Forbes...we even got to hear Sorella Padula sing to us!

What a treat!

She is so happy and radiates when talking about her experiences as a Training Sister.

They are witness to many miracles!

May 8, 2013 "Voglio dire una hosa...so hey dio shay. Ho trovato la hiesa. Ma hapisco una hosa..."

I LIVE THE THE DREAM!!!

 

I live in Florence. I was in Milano on Monday. Genova yesterday. Took a train ride home past the Cinque Terre and leaning tower of Pisa. Going to Siena on Friday....

 

MAMMA MIA!!!

 

I am so completely full of gratitude and love for Heavenly Father. HE LOVES ME! Lo sai?

 

Let me explain a little bit about my life. I work in Firenze 2 with Sorella Padula, the Argentinian professional opera singer who is the BEST MISSIONARY IN THE WORLD. I work in Firenze about 3-4 days a week, but the rest of the week I am traveling. With my collega. To do exchanges with 8 other companionships of sister missionaries in the Bologna, Firenze, and Genova zones (I get to go back and scambio with sorella lopez!!!!). It is DURO! Hard. Especially considering President Wolfgramm telling us our area in Florence needs to be exemplary and "vibrant" with work. We are trying to work everything out so that that will happen. President promised us the Lord would compensate for the time we take out of our cities to fulfill this calling of sister training leaders. We got the faith. And I've got the most incredible GEM of a missionary in the world as my companion. Ce la facciamo.

 

Already miracles are a plenty. We had mission council in Milano on Monday and amazing things are happening. We stopped in Genova on our way home to do a 24 hour scambio with the Sorelle of Genova 2 there, who are opening a coppia. They were stressed. But we took 15 minutes when we arrived Monday night to do some finding on the streets and we both found families and set up appointments! The next day we talked about member work and forever finding and then put it into practice! Sorella Heupel and I found about 5 potentials with 3 appointments! 2 families! And Sorella Padula and Sorella Pace found 2 lessons with about 3 new potentials. It was such a day of miracles. I feel so blessed to be able to work with all these incredible sisters. They are incredible. did you know we have incredible sisters in our mission? The are INCREDIBLE!

 

My heart is so full of gratitude. THe Lord truly is already blessing us here in Florence. Our first night here we called our ward mission leader and built up a good relationship with him on the phone. (He's from Peru. Sorella Padula is his new best friend.) The next day we went to his house and he and his wife (the relief society president) gave us a full ward list and marked all the active members and gave us some part member families and less actives to focus on. We gave them the mission standards of excellence and they are so excited. We will work really well with them. Sunday was beautiful! It's a pretty small branch that was just dvided, but they are forte. We bore our testimonies aobut the hastening and how we are so excited to be there to serve with them in the vigna (what's the translation for that again?... vineyard maybe. ha!) alongside with the Lord. We got 5 referrals! This place is about to explode. It's been slow getting started, we've only taught 2 lessons together, but we're getting there. We'll get there! I have faith! And faith brings miracles!

 

About the subject of this email... Fiorentini have the CRAZIEST accent! Sorella Padula and I have been having a hoot learning the Florentine accent. I can't even describe it. That subject line is HILARIOUS! Because that is what we have heard these last couple of days. They say the c sound like an h. It's so strange. But I love it. I haven't seen much of the city. We've been on buses a lot. I caught a glimpse of the Ponte Vecchio the other day as we crossed the river, but we were contacting someone... I have seen the Duomo through the narrow streets maybe twice. Not sure how much of it I'll really get to see and enjoy, but that's okay! A good excuse to come back some day?

 

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!

 

Vi voglio bene!!!

 

Sorella Forbes

 

ps. Sorella Wolfgramm asked me if I had a boyfriend on Monday... that was weird. President probably wouldn't have been too happy. Oh, how I love her. You would think that was hilarious if you knew her. ("Sorella! I just think you are so cute! I'm so excited!!!" while squeezing my hands tight.)

I forgot my camera cord this week... sorry! Until next week. :)

 

Oh, and did I mention my companion is a professional opera singer? Remember how the first day when we were making lunch she sang to us (we live with two other sisters) a song about the Ponte Vecchio? I'm just loving my life. 

Thirty-one new missionaries arrived in Milan this week.  Here are the 

twenty-eight that arrived from the Provo MTC.

Seventeen new sorelle arrived just this week!!!

May 1, 2013 - Dio risponde alle preghiere "God answers Prayers"

So, remember how last, oh, August maybe, Sorella Soh and I would talk hours on end about how intelligent the idea of traveling sisters would be? And then remember how around, oh, about September, I thought it would be so great to head on down south to Firenze to open a coppia of Sorelle there? (for the non italian speakers Firenze = Florence). I prayed for these things.

Well let me tell you what is happening to me for the last transfer of my mission.

I'm getting transferred to Firenze.

To serve with Sorella Padula.

As a sister traning leader. I will travel around that area and do exchanges with 8 companionships of Sorelle to train.

Um, hi... remember how all my prayers have been answered?!

I am so excited. But also so devastated. I have to leave Sorella Lopez! Oh mamma, how I love Sorella Lopez. She has been one of my favorite companions. If you're allowed to have favorites... Well, I do. She's one of them. I love all of my companions though! Anyway, we were so sad about that. I wish I could have 2 transfers with her. But she will do amazing things here in Savona with her new companion. 

These transfers are crazy. There are a few sorelle from Sorella Lopez's group that are training. We are getting 17 new sorelle!

I'm not really sure all that my new calling entails. All President said to me on the phone was that it would be the hardest time of my mission, I would be sleeping on floors, but that it would be an experience to remember. Well, I told him I think Savona prepared me well for that then. Ha! I'm terrified. But so excited. 

It's funny because at the last zone conference I kind of had a mini meltdown to Sorella Wolfgramm... I can't help it when I'm around her and there is something hard! She hugged me and said "Sorella, I know you can do hard things! If President could have assisterants.. you would be one!" I thought she was joking. bah! Nope. Well, this isn't really an assisterant calling. There are 4 other sister training leaders, but I think it's funny.

Sorella Lopez and I have been in a bit of mourning state these last couple of days. We have become really close this last hard transfer and are so sad to be separated. She's my new best friend! But we both feel at peace and that it is right. Good things are in store. It is the meanest thing that they do to you on the mission: put you with someone in a high stress situation where you become so close and reliant on each other... then they tear you away! I won't get to sit down and chat with her for at least a YEAR! It's like how I feel about Sorella Willey! I will cry when I see her. I miss her so much. The friendships I have gained on the mission are some of the greatest and strongest I've had in my life. I am so grateful for that experience. I love my companions!

Okay, this is a little all over the place. Like me these days. I'm starting my last transfer! I can't believe it. I could stay and do this forever. But I feel my time coming to an end and I feel at peace. Maybe with a little panic... ha! 

Vi voglio bene famiglia! I'll give you more info on what it is exactly that I will be doing next week. I don't even know right now. ha.

Sorella Forbes

 Having gelato in behalf of my parentals birthdays!!

Me and Deborah, whom I love so much!

With Enrico...

April 17, 2013 - It's not about being perfect, it's about becoming perfect!

Mamma mia, did I have an amazing day on Monday.

The subject of this email comes from Stephen B. Allen, managing director of the missionary department of the church. He is incredible. I met him on Monday. Along with Brother Lusvardi who is in charge of all of the visiting centers, historical sites, etc. of the church. They taught us so many great and wonderful things!

Well, first off, this was kind of a weird training. I got a call last Wednesday from the assistants saying I had been invited to a special trianing in Milan on Monday, but I was going with Sorella Gomez and we would leave our trainees in Genova to do a scambio. Weird! We had no idea what was going on. At the beginning of the training President asked "raise your hand if you have no idea why you're here." It was a real random group. All the zone leaders were there, but then after them it was just a random mix and mingle of sisters and elders. About half of us raised our hands. President just said "Well, me neither. I don't know why you're here, but it was by revelation you have been called here today." Uh... okay.

Things are changing in the mission field all over the world. The first, that I am SO excited to announce: TRAVELING SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember how last summer Sorella Soh and I talked about it all the time and President said there weren't enough sisters? Well, now they will be implementing it. I'm not sure when. Half of me hopes it's next transfer so I get to do that... ha. But they will actually be called sister training leaders and their primary responsibility will be to do scambi (exchanges) with all the Sorelle to train. Cool, no?

So this training was incredible. I couldn't possibly cover all of it in this email. I took about 7 FULL pages of notes and inspired thoughts that came to mind. Mamma. Things are changing. They talked about repentance, about pre setting in lessons, about teaching to pray, about changing our views from "baptism" to "temple," about accepting the new mission president in July, and so much more. Sorella Gomez and I talked about it the whole 2 hour train ride back to Genova. And I've talked alot about it with Sorella Lopez. We're putting into practice a lot of the things they taught us.

One of my favorites was when Elder Allen was talking to the sisters "Sisters. You stress too much. You have to remember it's not about being perfect, it's about becoming perfect. Have fun. Don't get too serious. Calm down, and relax.....Elders, you need to stress a lot more!" ha. It was funny. I feel that was something I really needed to hear. We are not asked to be perfect in this life, but we are asked to work on it so one day we can become perfect. Don't forget it.

Also, it was funny because Sorella Gomez and I were so worried about leaving our two "babies" in Genova by themselves, all day we kept looking at the phone "nope, they haven't called. They're not lost." Then after when we left Sorella Gomez asked me "can we call the babies?" haha! It was fun. They did so well! These missionaries coming out... I tell ya, they are incredible. Look out world.

Deved and Enrico are set to be baptized on Saturday! We're really excited. They are so ready and elect. Deved is SO sensitive to the spirit, it's almost kind of weird. But it's awesome. He is of the house of Israel, after all, no? 

Things are going well. I LOVE my companion. She is incredible and we have so much fun. I am so grateful. We laugh a lot. A whole lot. Ci vuole. She is changing lives here in Savona and has an amazing mission ahead of her. 

Well, vi voglio un sacco di bene. I hope you are well. Have a good week!

Sorella Forbes

You can see the cruise ship at the end of the road...the Savona port.

The 'babies' that were left behind in Genova!

April 10, 2013 Non avete nessun idea.... "You have no idea"

Dear family,

You have NO idea what I just went through this week.

But before I tell you about that, let's talk about CONFERENCE!

The spiritual FEAST of conference!

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE! I get so excited in the month leading up to it.

HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO GET TO LISTEN TO GOD'S CHOSEN SERVANTS HERE ON THE EARTH SPEAK TO THE ENTIRE WORLD?!?!

I'd say we are pretty dang lucky. Especially in this crazy world. We need prophets. And boy, did they set us straight this weekend.

I have yet to hear Elder Holland's talk, but apparently it was really great? I haven't seen the Sunday afternoon session yet! Not sure when I will. But it seems there is a lot of buzz about that one.

Let's talk about Elder Nelson and missionary work. Or President Uchtdorf and "walking in the light." So much to say about President Monson and his incredible memory and hilarious sense of humor. OBEDIENCE! That was incredible.

REally, I don't know what to say. There is so much to say about it. But here's the overlying sentiment that I had about conference:

HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES ME! How many questions did I have answered? How many moments did I have where something that was said went right to my heart because it was something I needed or an answer I was searching for for an investigator? I know that God has called men on the earth as prophets to guide and direct us toward our salvation. If we listen to them, ponder on what they say, put it into practice... we will never feel lost in this constantly changing world. They are the anchor that we need to live happier lives full of peace and happiness that LASTS through any trial. I love our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and know that he is called of God. I feel it in my heart every time he speaks. 

WE ARE SO BLESSED! 

Okay, now a little bit about this last week: the most difficult week of my mission. And I won't even tell you all the details because there is not the time nor the sanity. Ha.

Enrico disappeared. We saw him on Wednesday and taught him about Following the Prophet, prepped him for General Conference, and he was so excited. Friday we were in the church after having quite a difficult encounter with someone who seriously challenged our authority and capacity to do this work and were feeling quite giù (uh... down). Enrico doesn't show up to his appointment. We go outside and wait for him there for a bit. Still doesn't come. We race our bikes to his apartment. And leave a pass along card with a note for him reminding about his baptismal interview the next day. Saturday morning we go back to see if we see him (remember, he doesn't have a phone) and no one had been home all night! So we're feeling a little worried. He NEVER misses appointments and he is ALWAYS home when we pass by, waiting for us reading his Book of Mormon. He didn't come to his baptismal interview or conference after. We pass by Sunday and still no one had been home. We call our ward mission leader and he says to pass by some people in the morning and see if any one has heard from him, and then to let him know and he would start calling hospitals and the police. Monday we pass by and it looks like someone had passed by his house, so that eased our worries just a bit, but he still wasn't home and he didn't come to the church that afternoon. AH!!! At this point we don't know what to do. Yesterday we were out of Savona trying to cnotact some referrals who weren't home and then just felt to hop on the first bus back. We get off the stop closest to the church and we hear "Sorella Lopez!" I almost fell over out of relief. It was Enrico! He hurries up to us and I wanted to hug him so bad I was so relieved! (I didn't.) He said he had been in the hospital for 3 days because he was having a hard time breathing. He had been waiting and passing by the church since Monday morning trying to find us, then felt he needed to walk down this street. He's usually on the other side but felt he should cross over "per causo" (it was NOT by chance) and he ran into us. We said "That was the spirit!" And we laughed and talked and all is well now. Mamma mia... investigators become like your children. I was missing a child for 5 days. Never lose your children. It is not a happy feeling.

We are postponing the baptisms until the 20th for this and for other crazy reasons. BUT all is well. We are happy. Laughing. Joking. And getting out of Savona and going to Genova today for P-day. Getting out of dodge for the day. Che stress. I was tempted a few times to call President: "President, get me out of here! Take me out of Savona! It's too hard!" Ha. Seriously. But meno male we have our wonderful Savior who has been holding us up this last week. I would not have survived without that. I know He's here with us every step of the way. He loves us. It reminds me of this film we watched at a conference where Elder Holland said "When you get rejected, when you struggle, remember that you are standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest life that ever lived." (or something like that.) I know that is true. Because I've felt it. And it has changed me.

I still love my mission. Although it's difficult. I am growing. I have a GEM of a companion who is absolutely incredible. She is so good for me right now. We laugh a lot and I need it. She is so strong! I keep telling her, "Sorella, your entire mission will not be this hard." And she just laughs "I sure hope not..." But she brought it upon herself because she prayed for a hard mission. ha! So if it IS this hard the whole time, she will make it. She is strong and KNOWS the Atonement. I love her.

I don't really have any pictures to send. I took one today during companionship study. This is my companion. Being studious. And writing down a funny quote from last night. 

ME: I love our city, but if you could kill a city...

SLLA LOPEZ: Yeah, we need to order some dinosaurs up in here.

ME: puzzled expression

SLLA LOPEZ: you know, because dinosaurs would rampage and stuff... anyway...

Ha! We laughed long and hard at that one. It made no sense. And still doesn't! But it was funny. We were tired.

I LOVE MY LIFE! I hope you are well family. It's always good to hear from you and your good things throughout the week.

Have a good one! Buona settimana!

Sorella Forbes

Sorella Lopez

April 3, 2013 Del Casato D'Istraele

We are teaching an Israelite. Proprio del casato d'Israele. All the members comments about him have to do with "Wow... I'd love to hear his patriarchal blessing."

His name is Deved. His dad is from Israel, mom from Greece. He grew up in Egypt, but is Christian. He speaks Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and Italian. And some english. Non tanto. 

He's getting baptized next Sunday. He is a miracle. And probably the most elect person I've ever met. Let me tell you how this came to be.

Deved is a member referral. (GIVE THE MISSIONARIES REFERRALS!) His member friend got an arabic Book of Mormon from us two weeks ago and gave it to him, then invited him to church, and he really likes to talk about God, so he figured "why not?" He came to church last week. We set up an appointment with him for Thursday. I called him Wednesday to confirm. These are his words (translated...) "Thank you! Thank you so much! I've been reading the Book of Mormon and I feel really good! I'm excited to see you tomorrow. Thanks so much for calling!" 

We meet with him Thursday and teach him the Restoration. He eats it up! We had to clarify the word "prophet" for him because in the jewish religion I guess it is used with a negative connotation... we clarified. He ate it all up. I was talking about Christ's earthly ministry, and he went off on all his knowledge of Christ. He knows a LOT. Then I was about to jump in and bear testimony but he just looked at me and said "Sorella, this is me. This is a part of me. I've walked those streets. This is more a part of me probably than it is for you." haha Uh... wow. It was really cool. He is an israelite! 

Anyway, he LOVED the story of Joseph Smith. He loves the church. We invited him to baptism. Yes. We give him a date for April 27th. The response? "Sorelle, can't I do it sooner? I feel good. I feel so good here in church, when I read, when I listen to you two teach...I feel good. I want to be baptized." So we said we'd talk about it the next time.

Next lesson we give him the 20th and teach him the Plan of Salvation. He was transfixed with my hideous drawings on the whiteboard but just couldn't stop saying how he knew it was true. He felt good. ("That's the spirit, Deved!") We briefly explained some of the commandments he had to be living before baptism and he committed. He was so excited to get an earlier date. Sunday he came to church and waved to me from the back row with his member friend as I stood up to bear my testimony.

Monday, we teach him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At this point he's read to almost 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. We teach him the Gospel and he says a beautiful prayer at the end that he's so grateful for the Book of Mormon and for his baptism that will be sooner than we initially decided and that he feels so good and happy in church. We take him back to show him the baptismal font and explain how the baptism will go. It goes silent and he looks at me and says "Are you sure there's nothing sooner than the 20th?" Ah! So he leaves and we start thinking about what we can do. The members will be at the temple all next week until Saturday the 13th...we'd have to get the Anziani here this weekend to do interviews...has he been to church enough? Does he really have a testimony? So we knelt down to pray. I felt an overwhelming spirit say "He is ready." 

So we call the branch president and set up for next Sunday the 14th after church. We met with Deved yesterday morning to clarify more commandments and see where his testimony is and again felt the confirmation he is ready. So, we presented the 14th to him and his face was SO happy. I wish I had it on film. It was like telling a kid he was going to Disneyland, only this was telling someone their entrance to the path to eternal life would come 6 days sooner. I felt so much joy with him. He's so excited! We're so excited!

And do you know who else is so excited? Enrico! Enrico is going to be baptized on the 14th with Deved. We planned the 20th to give him enough time to quit smoking, but he already quit a long time ago. So we prayed about him too and we feel he is ready as well. He was so happy when we told him. He is so wonderful! They will both be interviewed this weekend and we will go from there.

We are so happy here in Savona! The Lord is blessing us and we have never been so busy in this little city! I love it! 

So many good things are happening and I wish I could tell you all, but we are happy and joyful and just loving our lives here on the sea.

Sorella Lopez is still super awesome. Adjusting is rough, but she is so tough. She is doing really well. I told her I was surprised that she didn't cry her first week and she was surprised to learn I was surprised (doesn't EVERYONE cry their first week?). We laugh a lot and it's really good. Even when it is raining and we are on our bikes... we laugh! What else is there to do? WE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE!

I love my life. I love being a missionary. I love the Lord. This is His work. How grateful I am to be a part of it. 

Buona settimana!

Sorella Forbes

Sorella Forbes and Sorella Lopez during their first week of being companions.

The beautiful City by the Sea, Savona, Italy.

Joselyn, our member friend whom I love so dearly.

A cannon on the fort. ha.