I'm Melting like a Popscicle on the Fourth of July !

In the summer, pretty much no one answers their phone or is available to see. Everyone always says "maybe in September". It also doesn't help that there's a university in Pisa and so everyone is either going home for the summer or not currently here. Everyone disappears in the summer!

This week has been good but also hard. I would be lying if I didn't say a mission is physically and emotionally exhausting. However, the good things always outweigh the hard things. For P-day we stayed in Pisa and just got things that we needed to done. We walked around the tower for a bit but nothing too exciting! We were able to see Cosetta and Madonna! I always love seeing them. We did a lesson with the bishop with them and it went really, REALLY well. We learned how we can help Cosetta come closer to Christ. 

Thursday was quite a day. Quite frankly, I'm surprised and also grateful Sorella Rosano didn't kill me. We were riding our bikes to a specific piazza to do some finding. I was biking along and at some point in the bike ride I turned around and saw that Sorella Rosano was absolutely nowhere in sight! I hope it can be one of those things we can laugh about in the future. I'm pretty sure I went through all five stages of grief in the short time we were apart. My first reaction was to laugh it off because Sorella Visconti and I had always joked about losing each other but then I started to worry because if something happens to her it's my fault. I have to admit it was really weird being alone. I felt so bad! I can't even imagine how she felt being alone in Pisa, not knowing exactly where she is. Luckily, we were both safe and we happily found each other. We also had family night that night. We played a really fun game, lots of people came, and I enjoyed seeing everyone have fun. Cosetta's mom and brother came, too! 

Friday we did some finding. The highlight of my day was going over the Goris for a lesson and dinner. I love Sorella Gori so much. She has such a strong testimony and she's a strong woman. She made us Brazilian food and it was delicious as always! 

Saturday we had a baptism in Pisa for the Anziani. His name is Cristiano and I'm so happy for him. He's made so many amazing changes in his life and he continues to stay strong despite all his difficulties. It was a beautiful ceremony! I had to laugh a little because the water was too hot for him and he said "it feels like I'm walking into heck".

Sunday we had church and did finding that day. Not too much exciting happened. Although, I did catch a lizard! It was a little one that got into our apartment. Haha there was a little excitement over that. At one point when it was trying to get away it touched my foot! Haha it took a couple of tries but I finally got it! It probably would've been funny to watch us try to catch it. It was a good day though and church was good. Now that Sorella Visconti isn't here if they need a translator I do it. Sometimes it's a little hard to translate word for word but I get the point across at least. 

Not a whole lot new happened on Monday and Tuesday. We were able to see Cosetta, Ersi, and Eni. We did some finding. Just the usual missionary work!

There was a quote from district meeting that I really like. I'm not sure if this is word for word but it goes something like this: "there is no test until there is adversity." I love this quote because is true for the reason we came to this earth, for missions, and just life in general. It's through adversity that we find how deeply our faith is rooted. We choose whether we keep going or give up. It's like hiking a really tall mountain. During the climb, you're hot and tired. You can turn back or press forward until you reach the top. Personally, I always feel a lot more accomplished at the top! Exhausted, but accomplished knowing that I kept going and didn't give up. It's a lot easier said than done. That's for sure. I know that if we keep our faith rooted in Christ we can overcome these mountains of trials.

I love you all!

Don't you wish you were here eating gelato on this summer night?

Sorella  Rosano and Sorella Anderson

Sunday Twins

Another Day, Another Destiny!

Non avere peli Sulla lingua. This phrase directly means "to not have hair on the tongue" but we use as "to be brutally honest".

I haven't done funny Italian phrases in awhile so I thought I would share this one with you! 

Thank you for whoever prayed for cooler weather haha. It's cooled down a lot this week so now it's actually bearable! 

Good news! One of my second cousins on my Dad's side has been called to Milan! He will get here in December! I'm so excited for him! 

We are off to a good start of the transfer.Saturday we were finally able to see Cosetta again and fix a new baptism date. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she truly has a sincere desire to gain a testimony for herself.  We were on the train talking to these two girls when I saw someone behind me take a picture of us. At least that's what it looked like. I honestly wouldn't be surprised haha. I also don't think it would be the first time. I feel like sometimes people take pictures of us because they think we are nuns or to send a snapchat of us haha. I've never had physical proof of this but I have my suspicions. It turned out that this woman actually stopped us to talk to her. She had friends in the church as was always impressed with their example and spirit that they had. She wasn't from Pisa but it was a nice little miracle!

Sunday we had church and it was amazing as always. I always receive new insights to my questions but by the next hour I always forget. I need to start writing them down haha. Church is always so busy talking to members, trying to fix appointments, and helping everyone to feel welcome. I love it though and I love the members here. Then we saw the Dalipi family. It was good to see them and I hope we can see them again soon! Then we saw Flora! She leaves to go back to China on Wednesday until the end of September! I don't know if I will be able to see her again and it makes me sad because she's great. I love her! She's always so friendly and nice. She's willingly to listen and try the things we say. 

Have you guys ever had a bee stuck in your lamp? Well, it was a first for me too. I don't even know why. The bee flew in a window from another room straight into the lamp! I didn't have my contacts in so it was a struggle trying to capture in a jar but Sorella Rosano and I got it done thankfully with no bee stings haha. It was a major victory for us! 

Monday, we had district meeting and it was good as always! I'm always learning new things to implement in my teaching and just be a better disciple of Christ. We saw Ersi and Eni. In the evening we did some finding. We met two girls and showed them a video called "Because of Him". One of the girls teared up and I'm excited to hopefully see them again!

Tuesday was bitter sweet. I said goodbye to Flora. She’s leaving to China for the summer and doesn't get back until September 20th, which will be in the next transfer. So I don't know if I will see her again but I really hope so! Then we visited a family from the ward, the Caponi's. Sorella Caponi has two little girls, one is 8 and the other is 5 months. They're adorable! In the car, Giada (the 8 year old) was telling all about her boyfriend but how they aren't together right now because it's summer haha. So cute! I also just melted over the baby! I just wanted to hold her because she was so cute and happy! 

I found this quote and really loved it so I thought I would share it with you this week!

“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future”- Elder Holland

Through Jesus Christ, we can all have a brilliantly bright future! I'm so grateful that with faith we can always look forward and have the strength to always move forward.

I love you all!

Sorella Rosano, Flora and Sorella Anderson

I heard it was week 17....?

This week was pretty good! One time this week while we were riding our bikes Sorella Visconti lost her shoe in the street. Haha. There weren't any cars just some observers who were laughing as she went to go grab her shoe again. I was laughing pretty hard too! 

Something weird and random is that they have mint Popsicles here. In a box of Popsicles, the green is always mint. It's not gross but it's just different.

On Saturday, we got our call for transfers. We were actually at Nonna's when we got it. President Allen called and I was too nervous to answer so I threw the phone on the couch so Sorella Visconti would have to. I'm glad she puts up with me haha. When the president calls it's usually because you're getting a new assignment like training, Sister Training Leader, or something like that. Sorella Visconti is going to Bologna to be an STL and I will receive a new companion in Pisa. Her name is Sorella Rosano and she's Italian. I'm super excited and I just hope she has the patience to put up with me. Also, to help me with the Italian. I'm excited that she will be Italian because it going to help me so much! 

Then this week we finally met Adelissia. Her daughter's family just moved in with her from Brazil. They are such a beautiful family. I loved meeting them. Kenni (Adelissia's daughter) was so sweet. She made us coffee and I felt so bad to tell her no. But we ate other snacks instead. Their faith is really strong and I can't wait to see them again. They made us feel so welcome and Kenni is amazing. She has a very strong belief in Jesus Christ. 

Mandy is another one of our investigators. She's an artist and so innovative. I love it. She's super sensitive to the Spirit and she's searching for the truth. We met her through English class and only this week have we been able to really teach her. 

"Remember, no one can reach upward on your behalf. Only your faith and prayers will cause you to lift yourself and have the mighty change of heart. Only your resolve to be obedient can change your life. Because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice for you, the power is in you. You have your agency, you have strong testimonies if you are obedient, and you can follow the Spirit that guides you." 

Sometimes we just expect change. In reality change only happens through action. We need to help lift ourselves to the person we need to be and have that determination for ourselves. 

I love you all!

My favorite is the elder is the back with the ball in his shirt. Lol.

Adelissia and Kenni

Twinner Winners