Lugging my 3 suitcases on and off 5 different trains and 28282884 different metros and trams was an experience I will be happy to forget. I looked like such a weirdo. Bags were heavy, I was sweating, people were offering to help, only to turn around and ask for money (shout out to grandma's 5 dollar US bill in my birthday card that helped get a creepy guy AWAY from me). I was half tempted to spend my life savings on a taxi.
We had to wake up at 5 am to get to the Milano chapel on time from Bergamo to pick up my greenie! President Allen spoke to us and told us just how hard he had sought the Lord's council as to who the trainers should be. I feel very humbled with my new calling! The new missionaries were excited and scared and jet lagged and I had dejavu because we were in the very same room where I had been assigned to MY trainer when I was new in the mission. My greenie is Sorella Tullis and I love her. She is the best and we get along great, but most importantly we have the same goals for our area and our people. She is hard working and is very determined with the language which I
think is great.
We got right to work in Brescia! It's complicated when you're whitewashing because you have no idea where to begin really, but we have been diligent! We are over the ward and the branch and they are SO EXCITED to have the sisters back. Sunday was a blur of so many faces, names, smiles, hugs, kisses, and people telling me their life story and how to navigate the city and who needs what WHEW. I was just overwhelmed. We have an actual church building after not having one in Siena for so long! You can 100% tell the difference of a ward where there are callings and organization.
We had a lesson with a woman named Maria who was in tears as we talked about heavenly father's love for her. She has had an extremely difficult life, but her faith has never wavered. It's amazing. We met with a woman named Monica who is all alone in a little apartment. She is mostly blind so it's very difficult to read scriptures but she agreed to come to church with us Sunday, which is SO exciting! I hope it all works out. We met with two families yesterday, Rhena and her neighbor Divina. I LOVE them. We were able to really connect with them and teach them the plan of salvation. Rhena was fascinated and said she was finally able to start feeling God's love for her. It was incredible. She said "sometimes I feel God's love for me and sometimes I don't. Especially when I feel like I'm trying to do my best as a wife and mother, and I just can't win." I really really felt prompted to be more blunt with her and we were able to testify that the missionaries coming into her life right now was not a coincidence and that this is how God is helping her at this time, that the spirit she has now can be with her always if she allows it, and that she must act on this blessing God has given her to know the gospel of Jesus Christ. INCREDIBLE! Such a strong spirit in that home. We had so many other random miracles along the way this week. We were talking in the streets with people at every opportunity and making ourselves very present in the community. The local grocer loves us and gave us free plums because we took the time to get to know him. We have been meeting great people here in Brescia and I feel so blessed. We have a couple of lessons later this week with women wanting to learn more of our church and I am so excited!
Another amazing thing about Brescia is how willing the members are to come to lessons with us. They have seen this gospel touch their lives and they want to share it with others just as much as the missionaries do. I can't wait to build relationships with them and bring them to lessons with us and hopefully meet some of their friends as well.
I was so scared to train because I thought I was too inadequate and too young in the mission. But if I've seen one thing this week it's that the lord absolutely qualifies us for this work. I will never be the perfect missionary, but I am not asked to be, only to put my faith forward and try my hardest. This is all Sorella Tullis and I have been doing. We are SO exhausted at the end of the day and it's the best feeling in the world. Yesterday we were talking to this girl on the metro and this man couldn't stop staring at us. When we got off the train he approached us and said he's seen missionaries like us before and he was an absolute SWEET HEART. he's going through a hard time because his wife recently passed, but said that the missionaries who he has seen in Brescia in the past were always happy with a smile on their faces and it gave him a light as well. He bought us gelato and we talked about how we are all children of our Heavenly Father. I was so happy to have found this guy and am looking forward to getting the Anziani active in teaching him! Literally this man came up to US, what?! I'm excited.
Today we went to Bergamo for pday with the other missionaries and it was really fun. We saw an old castle and went to the duomo on top of the mountain. We live in such a beautiful country I am so lucky.
I am happy being a missionary. The days are long and sooooooo hot and hard and frustrating sometimes, but I really would hate to be anywhere else. I am seeing how this gospel truly can change people's lives and I feel so blessed that the lord has let me come and experience this! I hope you all take time and think how the gospel has changed your life, how you can feel God's love for you, and ask him what more you can do. He will bring you true happiness I know this with my whole heart!
Have a great week vi voglio bene!
Sorella Williams
Sorella Tullis' first gelato in Italy
The Anzianis and Sorellas in Brescia
Pday in Bergamo
Pday in Bergamo
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