Sorella Williams: 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