First and foremost thank you so much for so many packages and letters!!!
Sorella Swenson, swens dog, s-money, s-threat, nacho Swens, had her 21 birthday on the 16th so it was a partaaayyyyyyy heeyyyyyyy. And by party I mean her mom sent her a cake and during some free time during the day aka maybe 10 minutes, we cut that baby up and ate it while poppin bottles of rootbeer. I was in charge of the tunes so I put on some Mo-Tab beats. Funniest thing ever is us in dead silence eating cake at our desks listening to hymns hahahahaa. Oh my mission life. It was a wild time.
The french missionaries have officially invaded every space of mine. The Germans left this week so the French took their space. They are everywhere holy crow. All over every sink and bathroom stall, every shower, every open classroom. I've just started to plow through them. It's overwhelming and I usually just tuck and roll everywhere I go now. But the other day I was washing my face and I guarded my sink with my life, otherwise some french sister would take it. And this girl was like oops sorry scussi mio (or however you spell it in french) and I was like oh heck no, not today sister!!! well I looked up from the sink....It was sister Romney. Yes you heard it people. The granddaughter of Mitt and Anne. Just casually washing her face with me in my sink. Pretty sure I got two gallons of soap in my eye because I legit stopped everything and just stared at her. No one gets why I think she's such a celebrity. They will never understand the struggle of being one of the only republicans in the liberal state of Colorado. Now I see her all the stinkin time and I'm just trying to get invited to her grandmas house you know? I'll let you know what happens. Still working on it.
So apparently I really impressed everyone with my dedicated hosting skills (and yes-I don't need to repeat how dedicated I was from last weeks letter) because they asked me to be a "special" host. Well in my head I immediately thought " I'm hosting Uchtdorf and Holland when they drop by" no, but still cool. I got to host a couple foreigners coming to the Provo MTC-here in America for their first time! Some spoke English and some didn't. Either way it was the funniest day of my life. I had the coolest Samoan sister and she loves me and wishes I was going to Samoa on my mission because I can "hang". Never underestimate the power of a compliment from a Samoan. Anyways we are besties now and I'm basically just one of the gals. Or I try. Two of the Samoans I hosted, an Elder and a Sister, had never seen snow and LOST THEIR MINDS when it started snowing while I was with them. They ran outside and danced for a minute and then immediately were like "nope too cold". The one elder walked right into a private office into a meeting I was having with a sister and walks right through the middle of this tiny closed door office (keep in mind he is like 6 foot 6) and stares out the window and in the tiniest, cutest, little voice I've ever heard out of such a giant, says "its....snowing" and started to CRY. I started to cry too!!! how could you not?! I just have a special place in my heart for Samoans. They went on about how much they loved the food here and I mentally slapped myself in the face for ever complaining. It was a good reality check.
Janice Kapp Parry came and spoke to us. Little ashamed I had no idea who she was, but everyone was losing it. I know who she is now and think she is so awesome. She was crazy blunt and dry so my kind of woman. She was there to impress no one and I loved it. She shared a story about her hosting this young missionary in her home the day he came out to the field before he got his companion. As she was walking him to his room he began to cry. she asked if it was his family he missed or maybe a girlfriend and tried to comfort him. He then said "no, no. It's my dog. He's not going to know where I am tomorrow" and everyone in the audience started laughing because they weren't expecting him to be crying about a dog. Well I started to cry because I talk about my dogs 24/7 here and miss them more than is healthy and wonder if they think I abandoned them. Well she was appalled that so many laughed and was like "no. I understood him. I am a total dog person and would much more cry over my dogs than anything". So needless to say, I love her and she gets me and that's all there is to it.
We had a big mission training yesterday and Elder Bednar, Oaks, and Anderson spoke from a live conference from Salt Lake and it was way cool. I can't believe how many opportunities I have had, while in the MTC, to hear apostles speak. I am so lucky. Each time I take something different and you realize these are truly apostles of Jesus Christ with the same authority and power as Peter, James, and John.
As I come to a close here at the MTC, it is very bitter sweet. I thought I would feel so ready to go to Italy. And don't get me wrong, I have learned so many things while being here, but I have one job; to get on a plane to Europe and not come home for 18 months and to preach of Christ everyday, all day long. That's pretty dang intimidating. I wish I could write and say I know what the heck I'm doing. But all I know is my language gets a little better everyday, I try listening to the spirit more in my lessons everyday, I try memorizing the 203958 scriptures I'm "supposed to" all in Italian a little more everyday. I am trying everyday. And sometimes that's enough to get me through the fear of actually arriving in Italy and going to work.
You learn a lot about courage here and how literally everyday-day in and day out- I am to stand as a firm of a witness as there can be of Him on every bus, street corner, doorstep, etc. It was such a fun fantasy to think about at home, but this is about to happen in a week and a half!! It's not so fluffy and fantasy like anymore. This is actually happening. And in almost every country in the whole world a missionary wakes up somewhere with that one task in mind. I am a full time missionary with His name literally over my heart and I am to act accordingly. I was set apart to be a missionary under the same authority given by the same God as Alma, Ammon, Peter, Paul, and other incredible missionaries. Elder Holland put it, "We called you for 18 months. Not 10, not 14, not 17 and 3 weeks. Every minute of everyday for those 18 months. So DO NOT MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY".
This gospel is a lot to ask of someone to take on - believe me I understand what I am about to ask people to do. We are asking these people to change their lives. And it is hard to do so and to continue to "perseverando sino alle fine". But salvation is not a cheap experience. Why should it be easy when it wasn't for Him? The ultimate sufferer? The road to eternal happiness first goes through Calvary.
I am his witness. I have signed on to be his missionary, which will bring a whole package of experiences. But the work can also be done by normal people in their everyday lives and sometimes they make the most difference. But the work must continue. When we are baptized we make promises as we turn toward Him to bring others with us. He trusts us with the knowledge that we were lucky to receive in order to do the same for others. It is always going to be scary and intimidating to be a missionary in your everyday life. Elder Oaks said it best "You are not called to preach what is comfortable. You are not called to be politically correct. You are not called to be socially accepted." We are called to act".
I am about to do this in another language in a foreign country on a weird continent to people who will hate my message. But I am smart enough to realize that I can not and will not be doing any of this alone. Non ho paura di nessun uomo! Be brave. These are some scriptures that really stuck out to me this week and I hope you look them up and pull some strength; Acts 4:29 be bold. Psalms 139:23 he knows you and your desires. Romans 1:16 Do not be ashamed or embarrassed! 2 Corinthians 3:12 Open your mouth. He will fill it.
I hope you all remember that God allowed you to hear this gospel and be baptized for a reason. It was not a coincidence. And it is because you proved to be amazing missionaries before this life. He knows the power of your mouths when you speak as directed with the Holy Spirit. There is no greater gift in anyone's lives than this gospel. So to the friends you love and cherish most, or family members who need a boost, or neighbor whose having a hard time, just reach out to them. That's literally sometimes all you have to do to make a difference.
And of course this is all easy to say but in a couple weeks I'm going to have to take my own advice and toughen up because I am human and am in need of constant reminder of these simple things. This world is not waiting for me to catch up. Do you really think God needs me as a missionary? No. He could do all this himself if he wanted to. But he allows me to help and watch because he knows that as I invite others to Christ, I am coming too. He loves us more than you can imagine. Pray to Him. Crescendevo pui qui alla MTC. Son grato al mio Padre Celeste per Gesu Cristo e il nostro Redentore. Io so che Gesu Cristo e noi Salvatore e ci ama. I sono felici per questo opportunita faccio Suo lavoro! Dose of Italian for the day eh?
I love you all so much and think of you often!!
Sorella Williams
Sorella Swenson's Bday celebtation
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