Sorella Williams: 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