Sorella Williams: 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!!!