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...