March 27, 2013 Greenie Power!

Savona is ON FIRE with greenie power. I don't know if that's super correct to use that term (we've actually been discouraged to do it...) but our Zone leaders said it, so I will too!

Savona is on fire with greenie power!

My new companion, Sorella Lopez, is fantastic. She came into the mission ready to take it by storm. We've set 2 baptismal dates since she got here. That brings the count to 4. On fire! We had an AMAZING lesson with a less active on Monday that left tears in her eyes. It was beautiful! She gave a solid commitment to come to church this Sunday, which was the first in a long time. The members after church on Sunday were complimenting her like crazy "Non ho mai visto un missionario così bravo quando è appena arrivato!" ("I've never seen a missionary so good when it has just arrived!". ) That's my companion. She's fabulous!

She's from California. Bay area. And she dances hip hop too. Just sayin... she was really excited when I told her we're doing a dance activity here for the youth in a couple of weeks. Party!

So yes, things are picking up and we are good! The rain and wind and bikes have been rough adjusting to her first couple of days. I'm pretty sure she hates all three. Me too. So, we just laugh because we can't do anything else. We're trying to think of some new innovative solutions for keeping the skirt down while we are riding... I figure Heavenly Father understands? 

Enrico is doing so fantastically! He committed to living the Word of Wisdom and he talks about his baptism as if it will be the best day of his life. He knows it will be and he's so excited! He came to the church on Friday for his appointment and we were in ward council. He stuck his head in the room to see if we were there and surprise! His hair was cut, his scruff was gone, he looked like a nice clean shaven man who is transforming. The members were all very surprised and pleased and congratulated him on the big changes he is making. That's my favorite part of the mission! There is a PHYSICAL transformation that happens when people start to realize their self worth, when they start to come to know their Savior and want to follow Him, when they start to repent... we're seeing it in him! He LOVES church and will spend as much time as he can telling us everything he learned. He is doing so well! He'll be baptized on the 20th. We love Enrico!

We set a date with Gabriella this week, the wife of a less active. This family has expressed desire to come into the church and change and start learning and following the counsel of the prophets and church leaders. They have a little 6 month old daughter who is so precious. We taught them the gospel yesterday and it was so beautiful. We love them too!

This week we've also had to take some time looking for a new apartment. We're running out of time and no luck so far, so we're giving the Haucks a hand and calling around and looking at apartments. We don't want to live on the street! haha. 

I'M SO HAPPY! My heart just feels so full of love. For everyone and everything. This is the best time of my life! I about had a heart attack yesterday when I realized this is the last cycle of the POPP chart I will do... YIKES! (former Milano missionaries will know what that is...)

I'm doing good. Really good. And yes I know that is improper english. What is english anyway? 

Pray that we will have good weather. These last two days have been beautiful, but before that... mamma mia. Non si poteva fare niente. (You could not do anything.)  It was raining so hard we had a lot of cancellations because no one was coming outside. And it's dangerous for us because we are on bikes. And we don't want to get sick. We had enough of that last transfer! So, pray for that. I pray for you!

Vi voglio un mondo di bene! (I want a world of good for you.) If I haven't responded to you yet... I'll get to it. But for now you get this general email. I still love you.

Buona settimana!

And oh yeah! Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! I hope it is a great day of reflection and worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I think Easter has become my favorite holiday for that reason. I was decorating my planner yesterday with a picture of when Christ appeared to Mary outside the tomb and taped the words "Egli Vive!" on the front. HE LIVES! It is the greatest message we could ever share with anyone, that because He lives, we will live. "Poichè Io vivo, voi vivrete." ( Because I live, ye shall live.)  I know that He lives and that His Atonement is infinite. It applies to ME in all aspects of MY life, but it applies to YOU, in all aspects of YOUR life. It is so personal yet so universal. And the most wonderful gift we have been given. I love my Savior and am so grateful for this time I have to serve as his missionary!

Sorella Forbes

(ps. if you are new to getting an email from me... it's because they changed the rules and I can now send you all emails. I'm being obedient!)

  Me and Sorella Lopez the day she was born! (ha... mission lingo is weird.)

The Easter egg I bought for the Haucks!

 I was so happy! 

 It's as big as my head! 

Sorella Hauck likes chocolate so they were pleased.

March 20, 2013 - Round 3!

First of all... thanks to the new rule change (we can email basically whomever we please), I'm sending this email direct to a lot of you. More convenient if you want to follow along... HI! 

Yes. Round 3. 

I'm training.

Again.

For the third time.

Today we received the first shipment of the younger missionary generation, and tomorrow I'm going to Milano to pick up my bambina. I'm so excited! I was thinking for just an instant "Oh gosh, training again... woof. I'm so tired!" But then subito that was replaced with "YES! I'm training again!" I love training. I think it's because when I train I learn and grow so much more. It's a lot of work and a big responsibility, but I know that as I rely on the Savior I can do it! For the third time! Ah! I wonder if President is sick of having me at those training meetings yet... ha! Sorella Durfee is going to MILANO! Milano Lampugnano. Which is not the area I was in, but they have a real chapel. Which is nice. She's excited. I gave her the Milano low-down last night. 

This has been a really great week. 1 because Enrico is back! Remember Enrico? The man we found doing casa when I first got here? And he seemed really elect and prepared? And then there were problems with his brother and we lost him for a bit? (He doesn't have a phone...) But then we ran into him on the street outside the church last week and he says "Sorelle! I've come to the church a few times and you're never there! I have been reading the Book of Mormon and I want to keep learning!" .... that's fine. So we've been meeting with him and he accepted a date for April 20 and we'll be working for that. We taught him the Restoration last week and Anziano Hauck was there. He was in shock to see a man so prepared and open and willing to make the changes necessary... he was just shaking his head after the lesson. Things were a lot different when he served here 46 years ago. Enrico came to church (he was early!) and stayed all three hours and just loved it. He was shaking everyone's hands after and just smiling and so happy... ah. My heart is happy. 

Other than that... we've had yet again a LOT of bidoni (no shows, cancellations, etc.). But we are striving to be diligent in finding the elect! A lot of doors have been knocked and slammed these last couple of days... va bene. Andiamo avanti.

I had one of the best days in the mission last week. The sorella conference. I can't even describe to you how amazing it was. We left that conference exhausted from so much joy, tears, sadness (Sorelle Hanks and Soh are dying and bore their "dying testimonies"... mamma mia! They are incredible!), and LOVE! So much LOVE was in that chapel. I can't even describe it to you, but I was so happy. We are blessed with some amazing Sorelle. They talked a lot about preparing for all these new sorelle coming in, about living in 4 (I was asked to give some tips... ha), about make up, hair, dress (yeah... that was interesting. Those pictures they showed were NOT from people that had served missions...) And about being good missionaries. Just the usual. But power packed with Wolfgramm awesomeness and so much LOVE! Can't even describe it. On the train home after we were with the Genova Sorelle (and we actually had to stay the night with them because our first train was late so we missed the connection to Savona and would have gotten home real late) and just talked about the joy we felt in our hearts. It gave me a really good boost and I am ready to take on the world. Sorella power!

I have also really had a strong testimony builder of the atonement this last week. Sometimes we are faced with things in the mission, in life really that we just think we can't go on any long. Non ce lo faccio più! But I know and have experienced this last week that if we get down on our knees, pray to our Father in Heaven and turn everything over to the Savior, we will have the power and the energy and the capacity to overcome our sadnesses and trials. Anything! It's amazing! I went through the rest of that day not knowing how I was doing it, going on, keeping my mind focused on the work, but I know that it is because of Christ and His enabling power of the Atonement. It is real! And we can use it and apply it every day of our lives. We MUST. I'm so grateful for it. 

I love you family! HAve a good week and I'll talk to you next week! 

Sorella Forbes

Sorella Mancuso, Sorella Durfee, Sorella Forbes, Sorella Lyman

These are Sorella Forbes last three companions.

 And then my "mission family". 

My two daughters and step grand daughter Sorella Willis (Sorella Mancuso finished training her and she is training! Does that make me a step great grandma? Ha!)

 My two bimbe! My two trainees.

Sorella Lyman and Sorella Mancuso

Sorella Soh...going home

"The Daughters of Mosiah" as President once called us... ha. 

Sorella Bush, Sorella Forbes, Sorella Bunker

They are the 'senior' Sorelle in the mission now! 

and staying 6 extra weeks to help train...

 With Stanley. Sorella Soh's new convert here in Savona. He is so fly.

 From Nigeria. Has a crazy story of survival! We love Stanley!

The Haucks. We love them. They are so wonderful. 

They've been taking us to a lot of appointments here and there lately.

 They have a car! That's nice on rainy days. :)

March 13, 2013 - Uh...non so cosa dire. I do not know what to say

This week has been kind of slow. We're really kicking it into high drive because we have GOT to get more investigators. Remember how NO ONE LISTENS TO US ANYMORE?! It's not just in our city, either, but everywhere. The Adversary is also hastening his work and he's hardening a lot of hearts. BUT, that's okay. Because we have a plan to overtake him.

We are going after part member families. There are several here that we think are ready to accept the gospel. We met with one of them this last week. The man is the brother of Sorella Garcia, Joel. He's awesome! Less active, but sincerely wants to come back. His wife and he just had a baby 6 months ago. That's an indicator... We had a beautiful lesson with them about the Plan of Salvation this week. Gabriella, the wife, accepted a soft baptismal invite. She's nervous she doesn't know enough yet to be baptized. We reassured her that she will know all she needs to know before she will be baptized. We'll talk about the Gospel with them this week.

We had an AMAZING lesson with a less active this week. I felt like I connected with her on such a deep level. The spirit was there so strong as we talked about the Plan of Salvation and receiving a fulness of joy after this life. We had a great discussion about trials in this life and things we are asked to face, and how those in the end are for our eternal benefit. That if we stay strong and endure, we will have a FULNESS of joy. A FULNESS! Think of the happiest you've ever been in your life... then multiply that a thousand times over. Can you imagine how happy we are going to be? I love  3 Nephi 28:10. And then we had a beautiful discussion about repentance and what it means. The spirit taught ME things in that lesson. She hasn't been to church in I think over a year, but she committed to coming this week. I'm so happy for her. She's going to come back strong.

Giorgio did not accept a date, but that's okay! Because he recognizes how important this is and he wants to be ready. We are going reassure him tonight and present him with a date again and help resolve his problems so he can work for that. He's so great! He went to institute and the FHE with the GANS we do on Sunday evening. It was so great! He'll progress fast. He's reading the Book of Mormon every day.

Transfers are next week! I'm pretty sure I'll stay here and train. 

Oh yeah! I cut my hair today. I'll send pics next week.

That's about all for this week. We are going to Milano tomorrow for the Sorella conference and I am SO excited. I love those things! We have the greatest mission in the world... I'm convinced. :)

Vi voglio un mondo di bene! I I want a world of good!)  I hope you are all well!

Oh, ASH! Happy birthday this week! I am late getting something to you... but maybe sometime in the future.

Sorella Forbes

Also, I can now email whoever! So if you email me and there is time I will respond! Change in the handbook.

 This Saturday was La festa delle donne! Women's holiday! It's a holiday in Italy. I think it's wonderful. All day people were saying "Auguri!" (greeting) to us and giving us little bits of the Mimosa flowers. That's the tradition they have. I saved this little bit and took a picture to show you. I look gross. But don't worry about that. I've been missionary for 16 months... ha!

My district! Us and Anziani Osmotherly and Payne. Anziano Payne is our district leader. We have such a great district and I learn so much from our capo. The creepy picture in his pocket is our "mascot"... the harvester. Ha! On the back of the card it says "Already to Harvest." It's kind of a funny joke we have because it is a creepy picture... anyway.

March 6, 2013 - Il giorno della famiglia "The day of the family"

That's what our Ward Mission Leader said as he stood up on Sunday to bear his testimony. It was the most BEAUTIFUL meeting ever! Let me tell ya about it...

We had the MOST beautiful sacrament meeting this Sunday. That in itself was such a miracle for everyone in attendance. Sometimes here couples go up and bear their testimonies together, but this Sunday entire families were getting up together! It was so beautiful! So much love! We had the Garcia family first, who are a re-activated family from last year who are so strong. Then we had a woman who usually has to go to church in Genova because of work but was here this Sunday. She and her daughter got up together. Then our WML and his wife. Then the Cantarella family... mamma mia! The spirit was so strong! This branch is doing so well and growing so fast! But the specific miracle was the Cantarella Family. The father has cancer and it has been a struggle. He and his wife have become kind of less active because of it. They can't make it to church every week and it's had a toll on them both. Their 10 year old daughter Linda was baptized last August. The mother's sister was baptized 3 weeks ago. They were all in church on Sunday with their 25 year old son Giorgio who is not a member. THey all got up as a family to bear their testimony. The father, Giuseppe, thanked Heavenly Father because they received news this week that his cancer has stopped and isn't advancing any more. The mother, Flor, gave thanks for the gospel blessing her family. The young daughter, Linda, bore her testimony about the truthfulness of the church and how there is more love in their family. Then the son Giorgio stood at the pulpit and said he wants to come closer to the Lord and recently he can feel Him more in his life, and that he wants to change his life and come closer to the church. Then the sister of the mother stood and bore her testimony of how her baptism has changed her life and how she loves the Book of Mormon so much and can't go throughout her day nor go to sleep without reading it. It was so wonderful! I love this family so much and we're so excited to really work with their son. Miracles!

So Giorgio is kind of our light in the darkness right now. We are struggling so much with finding! We have 2 numbers from our HOURS of finding we did last week. It's gotten increasingly worse! The cold hardened hearts of the people. It's because the Lord is hastening His work, so is Satan. And we are seeing it here! It's crazy! Bold statements and powerful testimonies won't do a whole lot anymore. We can't break through the ice! So we are really focusing on the members. Getting referrals from them. IT IS THE BEST WAY!!! We've knocked hundreds of doors and stopped hundreds of people this last week. NOTHING! It will get better. Good things are coming.

I'm in Genova right now! We are here doing a scambio. I have been with Sorella Gomez and she is WONDERFUL! I am learning so much from her. She is the definition of a Forever Finder! I love her so much. She's from Mexico City. We have been talking about how old we are. She is two transfers behind me. In two weeks I will be the oldest sorella in the mission along with Sorelle Bush and Bunker. That is just crazy... NON CI CREDO!  (I do not believe) 15 new Sorelle are coming in in 2 weeks. I think I'l probably train and die in Savona. 

Guess where we went today... I'll give you a hint: Mom and Dad, you LOVE this place. It's on the Italian riviera. You have a painting of it in your room....

PORTOFINO!!!!

Oh mamma I love that place. It was a bad day though because it was poring rain. I want to go back when it is dry and sunny. Here are some pictures. I have so many more that I wish I could send. Non c'è tempo. Beh. (no time, oh well) I'll send you a cd.

I'm doing well. My health has been restored and I'm feeling good. Our work in Savona is struggling a bit but we will keep working to build it up! Thanks for your love and support and prayers. I truly do feel them! Siete i migliori! (You are the best!)

Wish Preslee a Happy Birthday! Did she get my card?

Sorella Forbes

Me and Sorella Gomez on the train. She is GEM! Love her...

Me in Santa Margherita. 

We took the train there and then the bus to Portofino.

And then... the port of Portofino, Italy

 Proselyting in Portofino! HA!  

Me in front of Santo Sebastiano church