I hope everyone had a good week! This week for me was all over the place. We definitely saw miracles and blessings, but I'm not going to lie it was tough.
First, I'll start with a miracle. Thursday we had English class and a random lady walked in and it was...VITA. Vita is a lady I found at the metro while I was on scambio with another Sorella probably a month ago who never returned my phone calls! It was so cool I was really excited to see her. I talked to her before the class started and then we taught English and she talked to Anziano Chapman for a bit after the class ended. I talked to her after he did and she just kept looking at me and I asked her if everything was ok. She said "something is different here, that boy over there I just talked to has the same light you have. It's amazing. Why is that?" I told her we believe in what we are doing because we know it is true. I told her we would like to teach her more about what we believe and she said yes. We have an appointment with her tomorrow.
We had a lot of set backs with our investigators this week. We are in a really difficult spot and it's been hard to stay faithful and positive. We went to Giuseppe's house even though he cancelled his appointment with us haha. He was actually really happy to see us. I've never been so blunt and bold with someone on my entire mission than I have been with Giuseppe and it's like he just doesn't get it and I don't know why. As we were talking to him he confided in us and shared some of his deeper issues that 100% can be worked on and fixed. If only he had the courage or desire to change. In fact, he even told us he could continue taking the lessons and never be baptized and he would still be happy because we just bring peace into his life and that's what he wants and needs. It was heart breaking. We are praying fasting and planning as to what we should do for him or what he still needs.
Fernando and Eglayda are of course amazing and honestly probably my favorite people ever. They spoke with the Bishop onSunday and it went really well. I love Italy, but there are two things I don't like at all about this culture 1. Crazy mother in laws who never can let go of their sons/mamma's boys 2. Engagements/planning a wedding can take YEARS. They expressed that they are not married right now due to the fact that they don't want to create problems with his parents. But that in the future they would like to be baptized and eventually sealed. Well that's all great and fine..but when? We can teach them 100 lessons a week but it doesn't mean anything if they are not progressing. We are trying to figure out how to help them understand the importance of being baptized so that it can hurry up the wedding process. It's a bit of a set back not having some type of idea of a time frame (for when
the wedding would be) so we can best teach and plan for them. They feel zero rush. We love them so much and want to help them progress in the gospel and receive those blessings.
Fernanda has been out of town and we are PRAYING that she has been reading the scriptures. we have been texting to her everyday so that she can gain a testimony of the scriptures and progress. Janet broke our hearts and left to Bolivia for two-three months. We are hoping she is going to the church in Bolivia though!
We have really been working and working and working and working so to see all these set backs this past week was honestly just devastating for the both of us. It's hard when you love and pray for and fast for these people only to have them just "not get it". But we still have the faith that we can see a baptism this transfer, that was the mission president's goal for us. It's just going to take a miracle!
We taught the family Guastella and for me, they are probably some of the most important people we teach. She is a return missionary who got married, had two kids, got divorced, fell away from the church, and started dating another less active. We went to her house and both her and her boyfriend and the kids were there. That day was especially hard for me and right before we got to her house, I couldn't help it I just started to cry because of everything that's been going on and wondering if it was my fault, maybe I wasn't doing something right or
teaching right. I just prayed and prayed that I could teach by the spirit and feel like I was doing a good job and help this family come back. Well my prayers were answered. We had an amazing lesson and the spirit was undeniable. They both were in tears as they bore their testimonies. They know this church is true, they just lack courage. This is the first time they have allowed missionaries in their home in a long long time and it's a miracle to see the friendship we have been able to make with them. She has a 13 year old and a 11 year old and the 11 year old is not baptized yet. We are hoping to get the mom back to church so that this cute girl can get baptized. But I'm telling you, it's going to take a lot of courage to get this lady back in church. She has been through a lot and I love her so much.
I really have faith that something will change this week. We are trying our best and doing all we can to help strengthen these people. Even on the FREEZING and miserable and sad days that sometimes happen where no one wants to talk to you and your investigators decide to stomp on your heart, I love this work and I believe in it 100%. Heavenly Father still shows us little miracles each day and I know if we have the faith we will be able to reach our goal this transfer. I know this church is true!
Mosiah 24:12-15
Love Sorella Williams
P.S I redid my permesso this week and it was the strangest when I was told I have 5 months left...what? Also I "accidentally" kicked a pigeon this week. Also google maps told me a meno attivos house that we walked to for an hour in the FREEZING COLD was....in a parking lot. It felt like that office episode where Michael drives into the lake because he is told by the navigation that he is supposed to drive straight. Also we did 3 scambi this week...wowowow. Also panzerotti are drops of celestial kingdom on this earth.
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| Scambio |
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| Milan |
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| The Milan Castle |
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| Some of English class |
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