Better Late than Never

I feel like it's been forever since I've actually written a weekly email but better late than never! Here are the 7 highlights of the week:

1. On Friday we made brownies and decided to take them by the Verduga family, papa Verduga to be exact. There are two Verduga families in the ward and one is the dad and the other is the son. We have been trying to see them for awhile but plans kept falling through and we finally had some time. We were worried because it was already a little late but it was lucky because if it had been any earlier we would have missed them. It was great visiting them and we had a good lesson about how the small things like praying, reading scriptures, and going to church invite peace into your life. They also have a cat. Everyone knows I am not a fan but this cat melted my heart! It was 12 years old and a little chubby but still played and cuddled like a kitten! I wanted to take it home with us! 
2.  We saw Marilena... or Marilin again and we were able to talk to her. She stopped talking to us for awhile because there were some things that were holding her back from baptism. She still needs to find her testimony and start reading the Book of Mormon. It was such a relief to see her again though. It had been way too long! We missed her!  
3. Fernando has not moved to Paris yet so we are still waiting for that change. We went over there and taught them but surprise stayed for lunch. They are so funny and I just really love them. I just hope that they will be able to go Paris because that's what they think will be best for their family.  
4. We saw Rita and Danielo on Monday night. It was kind of funny because before the appointment we had established that if they invite us to stay for dinner we say no because we don't have time. LOL. They had done hamburgers especially for us, bought gelato from the gelateria, and had their favorite things from the south for us. How could we say no? So we ended up staying and stuffing our faces. They are such a good family and have so much patience in their hearts. They will be super busy over the next few weeks and over the summer so I don't know how much more we will see of them.  
5. Gaia is so amazing! She saved our butts completely. We had named a karaoke night and the Anziani said they could take care of the equipment. Well, Saturday night arrives and nothing is figured out. Luckily Gaia let us use her phone and we were able to hook that up to a TV and we had a microphone. It was such a hit! I have never been so stressed. At the beginning I really wanted to go hide in a room because I had no idea how it was going to work out. But a lot of Youth came and after we were able to pump them up at the expense of our own dignity, they absolutely loved it!  
6. People can be so random. We were on our way home after being at the church and the Anziani were with us. People just walked up to them and took a picture (the people were drunk of course). They were talking about walking over and getting a picture with the "chicas". They didn't but it was so ridiculous. Then a completely different guy kicked an empty water bottle at Sorella Williams foot while he slowly but surely got on the metro, laughing, and never breaking eye contact. It was so funny we all just busted up laughing.  
7. Mother's Day!! It was so awesome to talk to family! I probably could have taken 3x the time that I did and I swear I remembered everything that I wanted to say after I hung up. 

This past few weeks I've been trying to strengthen myself spiritually. Sometimes it's hard for me because I have an idea of where I want to be but not any idea where to start. There are so many little things that need tweaking or maybe I need to make big changes in other aspects. Sometimes it can be hard to keep trying and trying and trying over and over when it is so easy to just fall back to where you were. I found this quote from a talk called "Foundations of Faith."

"Personal foundations, like many worthwhile pursuits, are usually built slowly--one layer, one experience, one challenge, one setback, and one success at a time." 

It's hard because usually I want to sprint to the finish line but it's time that turns the little things into habits. You have to take it one step at a time and you can't skip steps. I just love this because it applies to so many aspects of life whether it be growing your faith, repentance aka trying to change, and then you finally succeed. It's a never ending process because there will always be a next step just like in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Well I don't know if that all made sense but it made sense in my head. 

I love you all and I hope you all have an amazing week! 

Gaia and Gabriele.

Sorella Williams in front of the biggest puzzle I've ever seen.

Just an awkward photo in front of flowers that take me back to Pisa.

Karaoke night

District picture

P day last week with Sorella Tullio and Lo Russo

Return missionaries came back to church.....and Tatiana..

At least here's something

Every companionship is getting a moped so we can be more effective! YAY!

 I always hoped this would happen!!

There's a story behind this:

In short:
A crazy man came into the church. He was a
drunk and was demanding to see the pope of the church... i guess
that's how you would say it. And he was just not leaving and in the
end he broke an umbrella on the ground. It was just a little freaky
because we were the only ones at the church. It's not like anyone
lives close or even has a car so at the least it would take someone 20
minutes to get there if something were to happen. But he left after he
broke the umbrella thankfully. But we stayed strong.

 

Consiglio

Finding with the new missionaries last PDay.

So so so sorry

_{Here's to another weekly highlight email. We seriously have zero time because today we went and helped out with the new missionaries proselyting at the Duomo. They were pretty cute and they did well. It was fun to meet them and help out!} 

1. _{Gaia told us that she will get baptized!! We are so excited for her! The big day is June 10th and she just seems so happy. It's been amazing to see the change in her. I seriously love this girl and I'm excited for you all to meet her when she comes to go to school.} 
2. _{My companion was told she was possessed by a creature.... classic. Long story behind that and we were dying laughing inside.}  
3. _{We watched a pet bunny for Aydee. I'm not kidding you when I say how much she loves this bunny. She told us that she cried after we left with it. We were pretty popular with the 10 year olds on the street. Haha we carried it in this little purse and everything. When we took it back she gave her a bath and blow dried her. This bunny is seriously pampered and so so fat.}  
4. _{Fernando found a job near Paris. We are super excited for them because this is going to be something so good for their little family to become independent so they can start pursuing the things they want. We had a pizza party with them and they ordered from dominoes! You wouldn't believe it but it's their favorite pizza place! Grace started crawling too. Ah! So Fernando will leave and get a house ready and then Eglayda will go when everything is figured out.}  
5. _{We had a serious miracle in church. Elena hadn't come to church for a few weeks so we decided to text her Saturday night but she never responded. We saw her on Sunday morning in church and an ex missionary happened to be visiting in our area that spoke Chinese. We finally were able to teach her the restoration with his help translating. It went super well and I was so so grateful.}  
6. _{We were able to see the Lastra family! Ah! I love them so much! They are the best and their little girls have me wrapped around their fingers haha. It was nice being able to talk to them since it had been awhile.} 

_{We got the transfer news. Sorella Williams and I will be staying together for another! Yay! We are so happy because at this point we are practically flesh and blood. Also, the entire district will be staying the same for Cimiano which is great because we rock.}  

_{It's been such a crazy week I'm typing this up with the tiny tiny bit of time that we have but I hope you all have an amazing week. I know we have had a crazy but very exciting week!} 

_{I love you all!}

Finding with the new missionaries at the Duomo

Sorella Suffardi! They had this concert at the old folks place. 

It was so great to watch all the cute old people dancing!

Her name is Arafa but it's more like araFAT

"We're the three best friends that anyone could have.."

What a Beachy Day

Just another great week! It's been a little short though. So I think I will just write down the highlights for you. It's easier that way.

1. Today we had a zone Pday and played beach volleyball. It was so much fun and my team killed it! It was a great time with all the missionaries right before transfers since some are going home and we do not know where everyone else could go.
2. We played soccer on Saturday and then had a picnic with Gaia. Good thing she likes peanut butter just as much as we do because we made her first peanut butter and banana sandwich! It was a super good opportunity to talk. We talked so much that Sorella Williams and I came away looking like lobsters. We got pretty sunburnt. It was funny because for the rest of the day we couldn't look at one another without laughing.
3.  We ate with the Gomez family this week. It was the first time we had been over there and, man, I love them! There are two teenage girls and they are awesome examples for everyone around them. One was even asked by her teacher to stand up in her class and give a presentation about our religion. She did it, even though everyone has their remarks. The mom also worked in neonatology and so it was cool to talk to her about that.
4.   We went to see the Scotto family again this week while I was on scambio. You have to love those surprise dinner appointments. I ate rabbit for the first time and it was way good! The kids were a lot more open and actually recognized our presence so that was awesome. Emanuel, who is 5, was even calling for us from the bathroom haha. Thankfully the mom responded and said we couldn't come.

Okay those are the things that come right off the top of my head. It's been such a great week. I seriously have been loving the mission and the progression we have been able to see with the work here.

So I've been thinking a lot about what I could possibly share with you all from my studies this week. Of course, there are endless stories and experiences that I have loved and I wish I could share them all with you. This week I've been thinking about what our prophet has asked us to do last conference: he has asked us to read the Book of Mormon every day. EVERY day. Even if it is just a verse. But that got me to thinking about why the Book of Mormon and why not just scriptures in general. The Bible is the word of God too, isn't it? Well, it comes down to that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. I have met a lot of people who say that our church is a lot like the other churches. In one sense, that is true. We believe in Christ and lots of other things in common. But the Book of Mormon is one things that makes us different. If we have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God as well, then we can be sure that Joseph Smith was indeed called as a prophet of God.

But what I really wanted to do is point out the promises we have if we do as the Lord has asked (D&C 1:38) and read it every day.

“My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen”. (Pres. Thomas S. Monson - April 2017 General Conference)

Okay, well there ya have it folks. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It has the power to answer questions and to strengthen faith in Christ. I know that I had found my answers to my prayers in this book and if I didn't know if it was true I wouldn't be serving a mission for a year and a half. But I know that it is THAT important and that is why I have chosen to do this. The blessings we will receive are just too important to skip out on. I can't name one of those four promised blessings that I would be willing to give up.

I love you all and I hope you have a good week!

 

Zone  Pday - Beach Volleyball