July is one hottie !

I'm really starting to enjoy my cold showers in the morning and the night but also wondering why ice isn't a thing in Europe... Especially when there's no air conditioning. 

Thursday- We had a lot of people bidone (cancel or not show up). But we did finding and had dinner with the Goris. We watched part of the movie "Meet the Mormons" and talked about the importance of priorities in life. 

Friday- We made chocolate tiramisu with Ersi and Eni. It was a lot of fun and it was so delicious! I can't wait to make it for you all. Then we did some more finding and tried to pass by people's house. You know you're in Italy when the sky is bright blue and something wet drops on your head and you just pray that it's not poop. Lucky for you most of the time it's just most likely just gross water from a balcony haha. Also, Sorella Visconti got a bug in her eye. Glad to know I'm not the only one that happens to! Being a missionary... It's very glamorous as you can tell haha;) 

Saturday- We met Armando by the train station in Lucca. He had a lot of good questions and was interested in hearing more. We did some more finding. We prayed with these three older ladies and we ran into one of them later that day and she said thank you for praying with her because she needed it. It's not often that we are thanked for what we do and so I'm grateful for her. Then we ended the night by teaching Flora the Word of Wisdom.

Sunday- We had church, a lesson with Rosa, and a baptism! The Anziani have been teaching Stefano and he was baptized. He was so happy and it was amazing to feel the Spirit so strongly! 

Monday- We met the new mission president and his wife! They are so awesome and I love them already. They are from Kimberly, Idaho. They are both super active. They like to fish, run, rock climb, go boating, and all that fun stuff. During the meeting they just kept making us laugh. Throughout the entire thing though I kept learning so much. They give great life advice and advice for the mission. I can honestly say they are an answer to my prayer. Their testimonies are so strong and I'm super excited to keep learning more from them.

Today we went to Volterra. Like from twilight. Except twilight wasn't filmed there. It's in the middle of Tuscany and it's so beautiful. It's a really old city on top of a hill and I really loved it. They have outlooks where you can just see rolling hills that go on forever! It's a perfect little Italian city. I love it!

So I think I'm going to start changing the outline of my emails. I'm boring myself with them and I think you all get the point of missionary work anyways. I want to instead share with you funny stories, big things that happen through the week, and how this mission is changing me. Hopefully then you won't be so bored reading it and you will actually be able to take something from my letters whether it be a good laugh or a happy thought.

During the meeting with my mission president, we talked about being a disciple of Christ. We talked about how many people have died for Christ's sake, including Joseph and Hyrum Smith. At this time, we are not asked to die for him but rather to LIVE for him. It made me wonder how I am living up to my calling and truly living for Christ. How can I do better? It also made me realize that this time I have on this mission is precious. Yes, I miss my family and friends like crazy. Yes, I really miss my daily scoops of peanut butter, naps, and other things. This time is meant to be enjoyed. It's going to be over before I know it. Then all that I will have left are the memories, things I have learned, and the work I have left behind. Our lives on this earth are missions and that when we truly live for Christ we can find happiness. It's not the materialistic kind of happiness, but the happiness that will last throughout eternity.

I love and miss you all!

4th of July Pillowcases arrived on the 4th of July.

Bekah learning to cook the Italian way!

New Mission President

Volterra, Italy

 

I'm Just Used to Always Being Sweaty Now

Thursday- We saw Sorella Pelaia in Marina di Pisa. We taught her about the importance of the sacrament and how it can give us strength and protect us from temptation throughout the week. Then we had another family night and it was a good turnout and everyone had fun! 

Friday- There was another train strike so that really changed our plans for the day. We visited Sorella Carpita with her lifetime friend Sorella Mariani and she really loved that. Then we did some finding and got the weekly planning done! It's getting to be so hot. I've grown used to the fact that I'm just always sticky haha. It was Nonna's birthday so we stopped and wished her happy birthday!

Saturday- We went to a wedding at the church and passed by a potential investigator. We saw Sorella Parini today and Flora. There was a festival again called "Gioca del Punte". It's about a contest between the two sides of Pisa. One side of the river against the other. We were able to see the parade from Flora’s apartment and so that was really cool! 

Sunday- Church was so good! Sacrament is amazing I'm so grateful that I have that one hour of Sacrament meeting each week to think of the promises I have made with God and how I can be better this next week! Then we taught Ersi and Eni. We had a little fun with them and did make up. Haha this was unusual for me because usually it's my sisters or nieces doing make up on me so doing it on someone else was a struggle. We had fun though and laughed when Sorella Visconti or I messed up with their make up.

Monday- District meeting was really good! Later that day we read the Book of Mormon with Ersi and Eni and did finding. While finding we met a lady with 3 kids. We taught her a little lesson but as we were talking to her she told us her kids spoke 4 languages! Talk about feeling underachieved haha. 

Tuesday- The Di Ruscio's had us over for lunch and it was delicious as always! Then we taught Thomas the Restoration. It went really well and he had more great questions! We will pass him over to the Pisa Anziani (Elders) so they can continue teaching him. We had English class which was really fun. We taught the advanced class this time so it was mostly just having conversations and teaching new vocabulary. 

"God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good." Sometimes it seems that we can never do enough. It's in our everyday effort to do good and follow the Savior that we can truly make a difference in not only our lives, but the lives of others. Our names might not be known everywhere, but we will know that Christ's name is written on our heart. 

Vi voglio tanto bene!

We went to the top of the Pisa Tower and into the Cathedral

3 Months Down

You know I could really take a bacon cheeseburger right now, haha.

Wednesday- We went to Lucca. This city is pretty cool because it's a city that has an old wall that's built around another little city in the city. It's kind of in the mountain and it's super beautiful. It was fun to walk around on top of the wall.

Thursday- We saw Sorella Carpita and ran a treat by the Fiorelli's (a family in our ward/stake president). We then had a lesson with Cosetta. She's an amazing young woman. We taught her the Restoration and set a baptismal date for her to pray about. She's amazing and so sweet. Then going home there were so many people in Pisa! They have this thing along the river where they light candles all along the Windows of the houses that are along the river. It looks like Christmas lights but it's actually real candles. It was cool to see it for a little bit even though it was really dark when we saw it.

Friday- We had a Zone training and it was our last time to see President and Sorella Dibb. They leave to go home on the 29th and then the Allen's will come. They've done a lot for the mission and in their testimonies you could tell how they served with their full heart. Then we taught Ersi and Eni. We let them practice bearing their testimonies in the chapel so they wouldn't be so nervous on Sunday because we have invited them to bear their testimonies in church. I'm so proud of them and it was a really good lesson.

Saturday- We did some finding and have some really good potentials that we will meet with. We saw Anna and taught her about the importance of praying, reading your scriptures, and going to church. We explained how it will help her to be happier and how it will give her strength throughout the week. It was an exhausting but great day! Sorella Visconti and I get along great! We can talk about anything and we always have little funny things to laugh at. It seriously is a blessing to laugh.

Sunday- Church was amazing. Ersi bore her testimony in church and she did amazing! Sacrament meeting was just great! Flora came and we didn't know if she would. We were so happy to see her walk in. There were lots of tourists today. So they needed translators in Primary and Young Women's for the third hour... so I was left to translate for Young Women's. I got the general idea so I guess that's what counts. Church was good though. I'm understanding more and more every week. Then we taught Rosa and she's already in Alma! She has lots of good questions and thoughts about the Plan of Salvation.

Monday- We had district meeting and it was really good! This is the last week before we get our new mission president and so we are really focusing on rededicating ourselves to the work. We saw Ersi and Eni. And we met Babcar. He's from Senegal and he's really awesome. He said he was seeking for eternal life. This really impressed me because usually everyone is looking for how they can be blessed in this life but he has a wider perspective.

Tuesday- We did English class and a lot of finding. The cool thing about finding is that is really gives you the opportunity to see the Lord's hand in this work and how He answers your prayers. We met Thomas at the park and he truly was an answer to our prayer. We were on our way home from finding and I was just thinking "okay Heavenly Father I know you can answer my prayer but it's your will". Despite that I knew if we didn't find someone I would be a little bit sad. Lo and behold, we met Thomas. He is from Cameroon and he said he's always wondered why there are so many different Christian churches. Heavenly Father hears our prayers.

Wednesday- We went to Portovenere. It's so beautiful and the water is crystal blue. It's on the Mediterranean Sea. This is the place where Pesto came from so we bought by far the best Pesto I've ever tasted. I could eat it by the spoonful! It tastes almost like there's cheese added to it. I could've stayed there all day! Now we will head over to the Di Ruscio's for dinner!

My thought for this week is from The Book of Mormon. It's found in 3Nephi 13:19-21.

19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I really like this because we can set our hearts on things of the world but one day we won't have these things. Materialistic things are great but in the end they won't bring us true happiness. I can see that more than ever since I've been here. There are people in the most humble circumstances but they are happy because they treasure their family and their knowledge of the Savior.

I love you all and miss you lots!

Sorella Anderson

Cutest Sister Missionaries Ever !!

All the little candles that lit up Pisa

Last time with President and Sister Dibbs

 Eni playing with my hair

Lucca, Italy

How perfect is this

Le Sorelle

Portovenere, Italy

It's so beautiful! 

We were able to get so close to the water 

and I
just wish I was on vacation!