Is Summer over yet?

hellooo,

     This week was the hottest week so far. Or at least that's how it felt. Especially because all week we have been outside walking all day trying to do "search and rescue" of less actives. I'll never complain too much about it though because I'm just grateful we are able to do passbys here in Brescia unlike Siena where everyone lived 2 or 3 hours away making it near impossible. We got seriously denied which is always fun. Several people whose citofono's we rang answered and responded to their names and then when I told them who we were, they told me that person wasn't there or doesn't even exist....uhhh ok haha you tricked me you trickster you!! It makes me sad because it's not us who are missing out or taking the hit from them not answering. 

     In happier news we have met with Giada a couple times and she is seriously the best and so ready to make this step towards baptism. It's humbling to see someone act upon solely faith and make this promise to God. We explained to her that her insecurities of not knowing as much of the gospel as she feels she should are normal and that God has prepared her for this time. We spend our whole lives learning and growing in the gospel and Heavenly Father has given her just what she needs to know at this time for her to make this step! When she told her less active fiance, who has been coming back to church recently, about her decision to be baptized he cried with happiness. They have a new light about them both and I am so excited for them next month!! She has asked us to sing at her wedding as well hahaha. Who knew we would be the designated Wedding singers of the area. 

     I realized how little I talk about food in my emails and it's not ok. The other day at the Dibenedetto's we had true Mozzarella di Buffala which is the nicest made mozzarella in Italy. I was so excited to eat it but they put the giant ball of cheese on my plate and gave me a fork... no bread or pasta or anything to eat it with. I looked to them to see how you're supposed to eat it and no joke Fratello Dibenedetto stuck his fork in it and took the biggest bite of it like an apple and I wanted to gag!!!! Then I tried it and realized it was the best tasting thing I have ever eaten. But don't worry I didn't eat it like an apple and eventually they gave me some bread to go with it haha. It was to die for. So good. 

     We taught this awesome girl named Cecilia in her art store in centro. We taught the restoration and she was big eyed, soaking in every word that we said. It was incredible. I realized how blessed I am to be apart of someone's first time ever hearing the restoration of Jesus Christ's church on the earth again in these days. The spirit was so strong. Yet again Heavenly Father confirmed to me how true this work is. I am excited to see her again soon. 

     Yesterday we traveled to Verona for Zone Training and we discussed our goal as a mission to have 300 baptisms before the end of this year. These baptisms do not represent a number for us, but a soul coming unto Christ. President Allen, with much prayer, knows that there are 300 people ready for this gospel in Northern Italy today. We just have to find them! I love that our mission is so united in this goal and work in preparing this country for the Rome temple. 

     I am in Iove with Italy. It makes me sick to my stomach the recent earthquake that swept complete cities. When you're a missionary and don't have access to the tv you don't have the ability to know of everything going on. The death toll was almost to 300. Please pray for the Italians here who lost so much. I cant imagine losing my loved ones, neighbors, home, and city all in one day. I am so grateful that I was far enough north to not be affected at all. All is good here. And all is good in Siena thankfully. 

I hope you all have great weeks vi voglio bene!

Sorella Williams

The Verona Zone!

Roman Empire city in Brescia

Burgers at Steak n shake in Italy!

Busy week in Brescia!

Ciao tutti!

So much happened this week my word. I am going to do my best!

     We met great people this week! One being the most hilarious encounter I think I've had so far. We got on the metro and this guy sits diagonal from us in a full orange sweatsuit with a ping pong paddle in hand practicing his back hand swings with full concentration hahaha. He immediately became the greatest person I have met in Italy. He saw me staring and asked if I played. I told him "only always" and he said "WAIT REALLY. I play for the Brescia University team and we need more players!! Will you come!!!" and I said "HECK YES I AM COMING WHEN AND WHERE" (the reason we were yelling was because it was my stop and I had to get off). I gave him our number and told him to call. He gave me his ping pong ball so I wouldn't forget about him haha. Looks like Brescia University's ping pong team is about to hear the gospel! And I get to play! What a win win. 

     The new Anziano in the Brescia district is Anziano Carnahan and we played the best prank on him ever. Our ward mission leader, Francesco Di Benedetto, is the best person in the world and pretended to be an investigator. So we take Carnahan to his house and Francesco greets him inside and in all seriousness without a smile, brings out a tub of water and tells him that like Jesus he would like to wash the feet of those who come into his house. He gets down on the floor and takes Elder Carnahan's shoes and socks off and proceeds to wash his feet hahaahahahaha. I have never been in such physical pain in my life trying to keep from laughing. He then started talking about how he believes that Bob Marley was a prophet and then confides in us and tells us he's been seeing another woman behind his wife's back. I could hardly handle it. Poor Carnahan. He did not have a chance. The Di Benedettos are the greatest people. They have been trying to set me up with an Italian so I never leave the country. Their choice was a 53 year old bachelor haha!! oh my gosh.

     In other news, this week I can now officially say I have had the police called on us! What a joyful time that was. We decided to look at it in a positive light and just say that it is a reflection of our hard work. Don't worry I didn't do anything bad, just rang a doorbell during dinner which, to Italians, is a criminal offense.  

     We made friends with this pizza maker and now we can't walk past his door without hearing "CIAO BUON GIORNO LYDIA AND LENZY" That's how he spells my name. Even though we tell them we are missionaries and that we use the title as sorellas for this period of time they still insist on knowing our first names and then never call us by anything else. Oh well. Makes me laugh. 

     Luisa and Helaman's wedding was yesterday!! Oh my goodness I was so excited. I think more excited than they were. She looked beautiful and Sorella Tullis and I sang "I know that my redeemer lives" during the ceremony. I was so nervous, so much pressure! Afterwards we went to this really nice restaurant for the reception. I had no idea just how fancy it would be. It was a restaurant high in the mountains with a giant patio and white canopies and tables set up. We were only planning on staying for a bit, but then we saw the menu. a 6 course dinner. Oh Italians. Each plate was brought out at 45 minute intervals so this shin dig was an all-dayer. NOPE. We skipped out early because we had work to do. But the food we did eat was amazing. We met awesome people at our table. One being Irene, an extremely confident blind woman. She was the best and it turns out she really needs help Tuesdays and Thursdays to take her guide dog out to the park while she goes to lunch with work associates. Yay service! Which isn't really a service because I love dogs and her dog's name is Logan and he looks just like my old dog Reggie. So I love it. At the beginning of the party she said "LETS GO LYDIA" and took Sorella Tullis by the hand and made her take her to the stage so she could sing a song, it was so funny. She actually had an amazing voice. It was just funny because the dinner hadn't even started yet and it was really low key and then suddenly this blind woman is just belting at top volume into the microphone. 

     Ok now for the best part of the entire week. I mentioned in my last couple letters Giada who is a woman who has been coming to church for a while with her less active fiance. After trying over and over and over again we finally had a lesson with her on Monday. We met her at a pretty park by her house filled with screaming children, crying babies and couples making out. We taught her the Restoration and the spirit was very strong despite our surroundings. She said she felt something undeniable. At the end we bore testimony and reaffirmed that this is the restored church on the Earth today. We challenged her to baptism on October 1st and she accepted!!! Once she said yes, the biggest smile was on her face and I know the spirit confirmed to her that she was doing the right thing. I am so excited for her I cannot even write!! She is getting married September 10th and then baptized October 1st. She even said she' is excited about the idea of being sealed to her husband in the temple. AH what a miracle. We are seeing her tomorrow and will continue teaching her all she needs to know before her baptism!! 

     If I have seen anything this week it's that the gospel really does bless families forever. I saw so many families coming together for the wedding and a family accepting the invitation to be baptized and you can see the light in their eyes. They know this is true and so do I. God wants to give us all the blessings he has promised to give, so let him!!

     There was an earthquake last night that took the lives of many south of me. I have not heard anything except what my mission president told us. All missionaries and members are safe and accounted for. My heart hurts for these people. We really had no idea what happened until I started getting early morning phone calls from some of the members asking if everything was ok. I am grateful the earthquake was not near me, but am praying for all who have lost loved ones and homes. Thank you for all your prayers! 

     ALSO happy birthday to my mom, brother and dad this week!! everyone tell them they love them and give them big hugs for me!!! Love you guys and I hope you all have great days!!!

I hope you all have a great week!

Vi voglio bene Sorella Williams

The Garatti's 

Francesco washing Anziano Carnahan's feet. He almost busted his cover! I caught him laughing!

Sorella Tullis & Sorella Williams

The wedding!

The Brescia District

Surviving Ferragosto

hello all

     Alas. What a week. We survived Ferragosto. There is not one person in town this week so it has been quite the time. BUT we still had a great week. We taught many great people while finding on the streets. I can't say that all are promising, but sometimes as a missionary all you're doing is teaching people a little bit about your beliefs and hope they act on it one day!  It is definitely fun when you can walk down a main street in Brescia and every store owner knows you by name. There is this man that owns a market who doesn't let us pass without giving us a piece of fruit. I love getting to know the locals and we have been able to make great friends here. 

     Sorella Tullis and I were asked to sing at the wedding of a member of our ward hahahaha. I told the groom, "you don't even know if we can sing!" and he said "You are sisters from America, of course you can sing!" Well this will be the first. I've never sang for an Italian wedding reception before. Oh missions. I've never been put in more random situations in my life!

     The Garratti's taught us how to make homemade pesto this week! YUM. It was so fun. I love their family. They have been coming to church every Sunday for the past 3 weeks. Such a blessing. 

     Speaking of Sunday, have you ever been asked to teach gospel principles on the spot, and when you look at the lesson for the week in the manual it's "The law of chastity"? Me either. It's especially fun when you get to teach it in another language and didn't have a chance to study the vocab for an extremely difficult and personal subject! and your only audience are two couples who openly are against following it! oh life. 

     In other news, I have a great story. We were at the church for a small get together with the bishop and his family (who fed us the best lasagna I've ever eaten in my life by the way) when in walked the bishop's son's fiance Giada. Giada is someone we have been trying to meet with for a while now. She is not a member, but sometimes comes to church with her fiance who is also less active. I "casually" followed her into the kitchen so I could meet with her and become friends. We were able to have a GREAT conversation and she even told me that "when I come to church I feel love like I have never felt before. I feel my ancestors cheering me on. I know this is the place I want and need to be" I almost laid down and died right there. Could she be anymore ready!? She said that she would consider being baptized in her time. I told her that if she already feels peace that this is the true church, and it is where she wants to be, that it's God showing her that it IS her time. I am so excited to meet with her soon. 

     Anziano Brooks is being transferred to Genova and I am so sad our little districts happy bubble is being broken. He is the best. But I am excited to meet the new elder. Today for P day we climbed to the castle with some members and then went to the famous Santa Giulia Museo. Brescia is such a beautiful city because it has an entire ancient roman city right under our feet. There are ancient ruins of the empire everywhere which is so fun to see and learn about. I am very lucky. I love Italy so much. I love Bresica so much. Never coming home bye.

Vi voglio bene! 

Sorella Williams

Santa Giulia Museo

Sorella Williams & Sorella Tullis

Randomly wonderful week in Brescia

CIAO

     This week was the most random and weird week ever. Just about every plan we made would fall through and then something else would happen! So that is good stuff. Most of this is because it is August which means every Italian and their dog has gone to la mare. They go to the beach for, and I am not kidding, the entire month of August. Full stores and restaurants will close down for the month because it is too hot to live normal  life. Exceeeppppttt missionaries!!!! hahah. Monday is Ferragosto which is every missionaries worst nightmare. Not one store is open and no one is home. Its a holiday where everyone leaves to the beach. The city buses or metro don't run either, it's like a ghost town. So that will be a fun day. 

     We saw some great people this week. One being a new convert of a couple months named Marta. Marta's ex husband made her decide between him, or her baptism. He is a Jehovah witness and didn't allow her to become a member of the LDS church. Well long story short she chose baptism! She's awesome and I love visiting with her. 

     We had zone conference in Verona this week. It was good to see everyone! Especially President and Sorella Allen. Oh my goodness I love them so much. The mission has made a goal of 300 baptisms before the dedication of the Rome temple. We have all fasted about it and feel that this is a goal we can reach. I really hope I can help!

     We taught Divina and her aunt and cousin. It was such a cool lesson. We weren't planning on teaching them, only saying hi for her son's birthday. BUT, the opportunity rose and it was awesome. They had never heard of our church before and just loved everything we taught. The cousin at the end thanked us so much saying "I work everyday all day, I don't have time for work or time with my family, but today you made me feel like God really loves me". Such a sweet moment with him.

     We saw the Garatti family and I have got to say I could hang out with them all day long. They have 8 kids and it requires me and Sorella Tulllis to mentally prep for our time with them haha. I LOVE THEM. Such a loving and humble family. We teach them and always play games with all the kids. By the time we left Sunday 3 of the little babies started to cry! I love feeling like we are helping this less active family. They have come to church the past two Sundays and it has been so wonderful!!

     We also taught Stefania and Samuele. It was really interesting because this time we didn't prepare a lesson but instead told them to prepare questions for us about the gospel. We were able to address somethings that really had been on their mind, things maybe keeping them from that commitment to baptism. Samuele was so concerned that if he was baptized in the way God has asked us to be, by complete immersion like Jesus Christ did, and live the best life we can and live with him after this life in the celestial kingdom, what about his eternal family? He wont have one because they haven't chosen to accept the gospel in this life. We were able to bare testimony to him that the beautiful thing about the atonement of Jesus Christ is it always gives us chance after chance after chance to accept the gospel, even after this life. And that in no way would he ever be alone and that he will have an eternal family. 

     We had the training for new missionaries in Milano yesterday! I got to see the Allens twice in one week what is this Christmas? It was so great and yet again we, as trainers, were humbled with our callings! I really love training SorellaTullis and having all these crazy experiences with her here in Brescia. 

     I was taught something so wonderful this week that I had never learned before. There is a scripture in Matthew 5:48 which says "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven in perfect." And I'm not going to lie I didn't really like this verse. It's impossible to be perfect. I never fully understood why God would command us to "be perfect" when he knows that this is not what we can do. each of us sin and fall short. At the conference I learned that perfect does not mean without error, that the root of the word literally means "whole". It means completing the task at hand, not without mistakes here and there, but reaching it nonetheless. I love that. I think this is so applicable to life. As a missionary I am probably living the most "perfect" I ever will, yet I still make mistakes and could do better everyday. But I am perfect in the sense that I have my eyes on Christ, trying to be better and follow Him. This is all he has asked us to do. I think we get too overwhelmed and hard on ourselves. Pray to God, ask what you need to do to be better, and then do it. Chances are, you already know what it is you need to do. Try, and you are perfect in his eyes

     I have such a testimony that God loves all his children and that he wants us to not just endure this life, but endure it happily with lots and lots of laughs. This is the theme of my mission. My days or lessons or investigators can completely fall through and me and Sorella Tullis are standing on the side of a highway an hour outside of the city, lost, in the middle of ABSOLUTE NO WHERE, and we look to our right and there's a random fresh fruit stand. That is how I know God loves me, when we eat a peach and just say we tried! 

I hope you all have a great week!! Vi voglio bene

Sorella Williams

Best district ever


Brescia



Castello di Brescia

Brescia Adventures & Pday in Verona

Cccciiiiaaaooooo

     This week was busy and great. We've been working so much with less active or part member families and I love it. You never realize how much a little bit of effort on our part can really make such a difference in these people's lives.

     We met with an investigator named Giusy and it was....interesting I'm not going to lie. We had a member with us and it seemed like the minute Giusy came into the room she was firing away, bible bashing, and not wanting one bit of what we were saying anymore. I didn't know what to do. The great thing about being a missionary is you don't have to prove to anyone what we are saying is true, you can invite them to pray and figure it out for themselves. Moroni 10:3-5 popped into my head and we read it with her. The whole spirit of the room changed and I was so grateful. She said she would pray to know for herself and I really hope she follows through.

      Rhena and Divina had us over to their party celebrating baby Brent's first birthday!! There were a lot of people from the Philippines there and it was sooooo fun. Soon we were getting all kinds of questions about our church and Sorella Tullis and I decided to divide and conquer. I sat on the ground in the middle of a circle of chairs and taught some families- it was incredible!! Best part was I just happened to put 4 English restoration pamphlets in my bag that morning that I was able to give them. Why would I do that? We only teach in Italian anyway? Little miracles!! The Philippine people loved us so much that they invited us to another party Sunday! So we went and it was CRAZYYYYY. Seriously a couple hundred people. I now LOVE Philippine food. Not only did we stick out because we are missionaries, but also because we were the only non Philippine people there hahaha. It was the best. We have made a LOT of progress with Rhena. She said she has been doing what we asked, reads the Book of Mormon, and knows it is true!!!! I was so happy for her. We invited her to be baptized and she said in the future if she feels like she's received a solid answer she would. I asked her "what makes you think you already haven't?" She didn't know what to say! She said she knows everything we have been teaching is true. It's very exciting! I hope she will decide to be baptized.

     Our investigator Elmi came to church Sunday! I was so pumped. I also spoke in sacrament which is always a fun party to get the phone call late  Saturday night that you're speaking the next morning. Oh missions. He really liked sacrament meeting and I hope he comes next week too.

     Monday we had dinner with Stefani, Samuele, and Manuela. They are the best! Samuele is still unsure if he wants to be baptized. I told him that if he reads his scriptures, really invites the spirit, and prays sincerely, he will receive his answer this week. It's sometimes scary to make promises like that, but I have faith he can receive his answer. I just hope he does too!

     Our ward and branch mission leaders are back from their hometown of Napoli and we had a meeting with him and his wife. They are THE BEST. we made pizzi fritti and I about died and went to heaven. Speaking of food, I ate prosciutto crudo this week from the Garatti family which is sliced raw ham. I couldn't believe they were eating raw meat, then I tried it...and loved it.

     Today we went to Verona for pday!!! I was so excited because Verona is a place I have always wanted to go. I got to see the balcony of Juliet and the wall of love and all things Shakespeare. I was running around all over the place. Heaven people, it is heaven.

     I've never been more utterly exhausted in my life than I am as a missionary. Seriously every night I can barely crawl into bed before I pass out. But I am so happy. I feel like we are helping people, I feel like we are meeting the people the Lord has prepared us to, and I'm really grateful to be dedicating all my time to this work!

I hope you all have a great week vi voglio bene!!

Sorella Williams


Verona


Brescia Duomo


The Verona Arena

Making pizza with Patrizia.  Best pizza ever!


The Juliet statue


The Romeo & Juliet balcony