The best mission in the world

Alright this week was pretty cool.

     Do you remember the lady that me and my scambio sorella found on the train who was crying and we took her to the hospital? WELL WE FINALLY MET UP. Her name is Marilena and we got to be pretty good buds on the phone because we would talk often to see how she was doing and to figure out a date we could meet. We met with her while I was on scambio with Sorella Orr by the Milano castle. It was so beautiful! We taught her at the fountains about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ and it was amazing. Truly the spirit was strong and she was excited to finally meet us and start reading this book about the ancient inhabitants of America! It was so funny because after the lesson we were all in high spirits and just feeling like a million bucks because the sun was out. It also happened to be Sorella Orr's birthday and when I told Marilena she pulled us into a gelateria and bought us each a cone and random bracelets she found on a street market. We were so happy just skipping around with our bracelets and gelato like "Look Marilena everyone is so jealous of us!!"

     But then the Lord humbled us when we went to a dinner appointment just an hour later and we were fed, and I am not kidding, raw pink chicken. That is a long story that I do not wish to write out nor remember. We went from such a high to such a low hahaha.

     A couple days later we met back up with Marilena at a Cafe and Sorella Anderson finally got to meet her. Marilena said to me "I wanted to call you last night" and started to get really emotional. Her children's father (they are separated) had a stroke or something and he is in the hospital in a coma and is not expected to make it. She was dealing with a lot and had just gotten the news the night before. It was so sad. At the same time we felt the spirit so strong because it just so happened that the lesson we had prepared was the plan of salvation. I told her that it was no coincidence that we had prepared a lesson for her talking about life after death and that we can live with our loved ones forever, she COMPLETELY changed. She lit up knowing that Heavenly Father must have directed us in what to say to her, especially since we had no idea this was going on in her life. We shared the plan of salvation with her and it was amazing. She is very excited to come to church this Sunday with us. It is amazing because that morning we had prayed about what she needed and felt we should just follow Preach My Gospel and teach her the plan of salvation. I was reminded just how little I am in this missionary work and that truly it is the Lord who is directing everything we do. 

     We had a lesson with the Castro family who we challenged right there on the spot to think of a person in their life who is ready for the gospel. They gave us a referral of a family and we are very excited about that. 

     We went to a birthday party of a baby in the ward (1 year old birthday parties are a huge deal here and the whole town shows up) and we were able to meet some people and also get into contact with two VERY less active families who, with a bit of talking, and convincing them that I can handle any type of spicy food, invited us over to both of their houses this upcoming week. 

    The Guastella's are doing fantastic as always. They informed me that they went out and bought a new big table just because they wanted to have my family over for dinner when they come pick me up from Italy!! They are the sweetest people in the world. I promised them in exchange, real american BBQ sauce, so mom please make that a reality for them. We taught the Word of Wisdom, the law of chastity, and tithing. It was great. Afterward we planned out Rachele's baptism and she ran into her room and modeled for us her newly bought baptism outfit and shoes. Sorella Guastella's family is coming all the way up from Sicilia just for the baptism and then they are going to a fancy pizzeria afterward and invited me and Sorella Anderson to go with their family. They said "You are our angels, you are our family, of course you're coming too". That family is so special. The type of people you just know you knew before this life.  

     We ate the best Peruvian food of my life. The Costa family found out I love fish because my dad's a fisherman and so they prepared a big salmon just for me. It was the best day ever. 

     The scotto family are less active and have been for a couple of years because the dad works every Sunday at a Pasticceria. We went to their house and they are a super cute family, but were very determined to prove that they were not less active by choice haha. We offered to share our lesson with them and they said "of course! but first when we do our WEEKLY family home evenings we like to start out with a hymn" we said that was great! And he said "hmmmm what hymn shall we sing wife" and she said "hmmmm I don't know husband what are you feeling" and he said "How about that little one that goes like hmm hm hmmmh m" "yeah that sounds somewhat familiar" Next thing you know he pulls out his casual guitar from behind the couch and starts playing a very memorized and rehearsed rendition of Joseph Smith's first prayer hahaha. Sorella Anderson and I were trying SO hard not to bust up laughing the whole time. They are our new favorite people.

     We taught Fernando and Eglayda with the president of the relief society Maribel and it was so awesome. They are some of the best people in the world and Grace, the little baby, is the cutest. Fernando just finished school and is looking for a job, his resume has to be in English so we helped him. His parents would kick them out of the apartment that they are paying for them to live in if they knew the reason they wanted to be married was to convert into this church. It already was a nightmare when they decided not to have Grace baptized into the catholic church. So we are truly just praying for a job or some type of miracle for them.

     We found a burger place that is to die for in the city. I'm not kidding, probably the best burger I've ever eaten. I love pasta and pizza and everything, but we just need a piece of home sometimes. Anyway, we were eating and looking around and are just repulsed because Italians do not know how to eat burgers. They eat the meat with a fork and then they eat the bun after also with a fork. It is so wrong and to be honest disturbing. Meanwhile they are staring at us eating with our hands thinking we are animals. The owner came over to us and I told him that I am American so it means something when I say that this is the best burger place in Italy, but that he needs to stop the people from eating burgers in the wrong way because it is a sin haha. He thought we were the coolest people ever and now we are best friends and gave me the address of his friend who owns a pizzeria in New York who would let me stay at his house and Luigi down the road in milan who has the best pasta and his number to call if we ever want true Calzone and Francesco's number, his Godmother's son who makes the best cannoli in the city. I am convinced that the only way to do missionary work with Italians is to first talk about food. Food=life here. 

     This week is fashion week in Milan and we are pretty pumped about it. Today for pday we flashed our missionary tags at the building entrance guy and he LET US IN. I think he thought they were the fashion passes. We looked like pioneers compared to everyone else, but it was so fun and we got a bunch of random free stuff. I'm just hoping to run into Armani or Valentino or someone. Or maybe I already did, does anyone actually even know what they look like?

     Italians are the best people in the world and I wish everyone could serve their mission here. 

     vi voglio tanto bene!

      Sorella Williams

Sorella Orr and Sorella Williams with Marilena after they got gelato

Rachele with Sorella Williams & Sorella Anderson

Monumentale Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Europe

Graves at the cemetery

 

Fernando and Eglayda

Veronica from English class.  I love her

Rachele is getting BAPTIZED!

Ciao tutti!!!

This week has been insane. 

     Let me start with the best news of all time. Thursday Sorella Anderson and I decided it was time to talk with Sorella Guastella and ask for permission to invite her daughter to baptism. We thought that was the right way to do it. We called her and talked about how her family is making important steps to being sealed in the temple and that for Rachele baptism is her next step in her personal progression towards God. She was completely on board and agreed 100%. The next day we went to their house and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Near the end we invited 11 year old Rachele (who is the most mature 11 year old of all time and cries every time she bares her testimony of Jesus Christ) to be baptized. She accepted!! The spirit was strong and everyone in the room was crying by the end. It is such an amazing thing to see how far this family has come. The baptism will be March 4 and she will be confirmed March 5 which will be the SAME day that her older brother GianLuca will receive the aaronic priesthood. We will be working with him a lot to get him ready for that. The next big step was finally getting Fernando (the less active boyfriend) to come to church. AND HE DID. I couldn't help but get tears in my eyes when their WHOLE family finally came to church all together. He was even wearing his new Boggi tie just for the occasion. Right after sacrament we ran to them and got them talking with other members. People were freaking out that he was there. They kept asking us "Where did you find him where did you find him how did you get him here????" Some even asked him "What did it? what got you back?". He pointed right at me, smiling, and told everyone around "This sorella is strong". I was not expecting that response, but honestly I know it's not that, they were being prepared to come back and I am so happy that we get to do the pushing. The spirit was so strong on Sunday and I felt so relieved that they all came. They stayed for all 3 hours. And we even got Rachele fitted in her baptism dress for the fourth. 

     The anziani (Elders) have a baptism this Saturday for an amazing guy named Ernesto, who is the sweetest Peruvian guy in the world. He and I have gotten to be pretty good buds and he asked me to be the one to speak at his baptism! I am so excited. 

     We had consiglio (leadership conference) this week which is always so good to get some instruction from President and talk about our cities successes or hardships. I love our President and Sorella Allen so much. When they speak you know they are guided by the Lord in all that they do. It also is a great bonus getting to see old friends. 

     We had a special zone meeting as well the next day to communicate all the things President had taught us. Sorella Anderson and I decided to pull a prank on everyone and announce all these new made up ridiculous fake rules, but everyone believed us hahaha. All the anziani were FREAKING out haha it was hilarious. We kept a poker face for 10 minutes. Don't worry we caught it all on video. 

     Today for Pday we climbed the Duomo with Sorella Smedley and Orr and saw the whole city from the top. Milan is fantastic. I love it here. We also got to see the Crypt and old old baptistry. An actual font where they used to baptize people by immersion.

     I'm loving my time with Sorella Anderson. She's a go getter and I know this transfer is going to be great. We are starting the first of many scambi tonight so we will see what happens! Introducing Sorella Anderson to everyone Sunday was way fun because I realized...hey I actually really know these people. I love love love love love the people in Milan. They are just hilarious they make me laugh all the time and they have incredible testimonies despite hard circumstances and are so willing to help the missionaries in whatever we need. 

     We ended today by eating Luini's so its just been the best day of my life to say the least. 

     I just love the happiness the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into your life if you allow it to. Have a great week pals and happy galentines day;)

Love Sorella Williams

On top of the Duomo

Sorella Williams and Sorella Anderson

Consiglio with all the Zone leaders and Sister Training Leaders

Right after Rachele accepted our invitation to be baptized!

I'm staying in Milano!

Ciao!

     This week was transfer calls! Sorella Castro is going to Pisa and I am  staying in Milano (whew) and Sorella Anderson is going to be my new companion!! I'm so excited, I love Sorella Anderson, we've been in the same zone since I was a greenie! It's funny because I have been her STL these past 2 transfers so she already knows some of our investigators from doing scambio with us:) I'm sad to say goodbye to my small little Colombian ragazza, Sorella Castro, but it's time for her to experience something new!

     One cool thing that happened this week was when we were teaching Betti (me and Sorella Fife on scambio) the plan of salvation. We explained that we do not believe that there are only two options for all of us; heaven and hell, but instead 3 places were created for us that all differ in glory and we qualify to go to these different places depending on our actions and desires here on earth. We are practicing now for the way we would like to live forever after this life, it's our choice. Those that are always seeking to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, follow what he has asked us to do, and always seek to improve and practice repentance, can live in the presence of Heavenly Father in the highest degree of glory because they are prepared to do so. Betti asked us, "Sorelle, do you know the story from the Bible about how Jesus left the 99 sheep to get the one who wandered?" We said yes. She said "I don't think someone who is like that, so full of love, would only create a heaven and hell for everyone, I think this plan feels right, I think this is the plan of God." It was incredible. 

     Another family we have been working a lot with is the Lastra famiglia. They have 3 small children and they are the nicest people in the world. They are inactive and when we started meeting with them they wouldn't come to church, but now they come every week WITH the husband. They love having us in their home and now we come each week to their house. The members have been so nice in donating furniture and other stuff they have been needing in their home.

     We had a hard lesson with Teresa, one of our investigators. Her husband is a less active member who also served a mission back in the day. It's really really really hard to teach her. She is so closed off honestly and it's hard to know what to say or what to do. Whenever I'm in situations like that I just bare my testimony of the restoration (she says she believes in everything we do...minus that Joseph Smith was a true prophet..which is everything that makes our church different haha). She told me "non ci credo" and began tearing apart my testimony. I told her it doesn't matter if she believes because it's my experience that I know is true. But she just continued bashing it. I asked her "do you think we just come on this mission in a strange place, learn a new language, leave our friends and family, for funsies? Or because we actually believe in what we are doing just like your own husband did" She told me we were living a fantasy if we honestly believed that in 1820 God would appear to a 14 year old. I felt so sick to my stomach. It's sad to see how closed off some people can be. It wouldn't matter how well I planned or how well I spoke this language, it wouldn't make a difference. Sometimes you just want to give people a piece of your own testimony. But that's not how free agency works.

     In other happier news, Eglayda and Fernando came to all three hours of church and loved it!!! They are the best people in the world.  

     This week has been the week of everyone staring at us. There is a difference between people staring because they are curious and people staring because they think we are idiots. It's so obvious too when people are talking about us or laughing or staring. I don't know why.  I thought is something on my face?! I mean yeah we look dead exhausted but come on. It's crazy what just the sight of a name tag with Jesus's name can do. The best you can do is smile back and say "Yes this is a name tag, yes we are missionaries, do you know about us?". I think a part of the sacrifice of serving a mission is the fact that you stick out from the crowd and get to experience the TINIEST bit of what Christ did. It's good for me.  

     Family Home Evening last night was a party. Literally. because it was Sorella Castro's last one so lots of people came. We taught the lesson, then we ate papa la huancaina which is a peruvian food and sooooo good.  Then me and sorella repoyo (my fav fam) hooked up karaoke and man we were blasting cyndi lauper IF YOU'RE LOST AND YOU LOOK AND YOU WILL FIND ME, TIME AFTER TIME. we were dancing around the whole church it was the best end to the week. 

vi voglio bene!!!

Fernando's famiglia

With Anziano Te Maari & Anziano Thompson

Giuseppe's son's pizzeria!

Giuseppe & his wife at the pizzeria

They made us this wonderful pizza that wasn't even on the menu

We went to the world famous La Scala!

     This week was so insane we have been teaching like crazy, but I will start with the best miracle of my whole entire life and life to come THE GUASTELLA FAMILY CAME TO CHURCH!!  We met with them Saturday and had an amazing lesson. The spirit was so strong. It's been 6 years since they have come to church and they were so nervous about coming BUT they came anyway. I was seriously pacing the church, so nervous they wouldn't come, but midway through the opening hymn they all came in and took their seats. I just wanted them to have a good experience and all my fears went away because everyone came and hugged and kissed them and welcomed them back. There were a few people in tears. It was beautiful and such an important step for them.

     Eglayda and Fernando went to the courthouse to get the paper work going for a weeeeddddiiinnngggg!!! How amazing is that?!

     We did a boat load of scambi (exchanges) this week and each one I swear was an experience in and of itself. I was with Sorella Fife coming home from the Giuseppe's and we were sitting on the metro when this lady sitting across from us just started to quietly cry. I went and sat down next to her and put my arm around her and asked if she was ok. She told me she was scared because she lives alone, but she's been having intense stomach pain and needs to go to the hospital, but there's no one to really be with her and she didn't know how to get there. We comforted her and took her all the way to the tram leading to the hospital. She was so grateful. I called her that night on the phone and we talked for a bit and then the next day and also the day after (Italian hospitals tend to be ridiculous and keep you there forever before you're released or even see a doctor). She told me I was the only one calling her and checking in on her and that in that moment on the train she had been asking for someone to hug her and comfort her. I'm so glad the Lord got us lost and had us on that metro. We are meeting with her tomorrow :)

     We met with Nancy who is a new investigator. She told us she was really defensive at first because all of her friends and family told her to beware of the Mormons. We taught her the restoration and how just like Joseph smith, we too can seek a million and two responses from what the world will tell us, but if we want the truth we need to ask God. She said she would come to church this Sunday!

     We went to the opera yesterday!!! We got permission from president to take our pday yesterday, and just do our emails today, and it was a dream! It's a world famous opera house called La Scala and I have been dying to go ever since I came to Milan.  Tickets are insanely expensive and you have to book like 4 months in advance so I thought it was a lost cause. But Sorella Rosano in Lodi has a brother who works at La Scala (she's from Milan) and he was able to get us 4 tickets for yesterday! Castro and Rosano gave me and Arbon the best seats because this is probably the one and only time for us to see it. I can't believe we got third row seats at la Scala! It was so fun and such a beautiful opera house.

     We had a double zone conference this week and it went really well. I always love hearing from President and Sorella Allen. Sorella Castro and I did a role play in front of everyone on how to invite someone to baptism, which we found out about approx 2 minutes before we did it hahah. It went really well though and it's always fun to see missionary friends.

     I have been reminded over and over again just how much God loves us. The plan of salvation really stuck out to me this week and how truly it is not only the one plan that makes logical sense, but the perfect complete plan of love and happiness. I love that no matter how long we have been members we can always strengthen our testimonies on the important simple principles of the gospel. And we should always be striving to do that.

Have a great week!!

Love Sorella Williams


Zone Conference

Milano East Zone.   This is only half of the conference! There were 50 missionaries at our combined Conference with both Milano East and Milano West Zones.


La Scala Opera House


  Sorella Williams & Arbon  


Sorella Castro's family came to Milan so we got to visit them!

Back in Brescia, Stefania was baptized on Jan. 31!!  I am so excited for her and loved getting this picture of Stefania and her husband Samuele with Sorella Tullis and Weeks.