Sorella Williams: Pass the ball to the Italians.....Actually the American!

Ciao!!

This week was a roller coaster my word.

     We dealt with 18389283 people and all their problems. I think sometimes people get missionary confused with the word therapist.

     This week we got all the new anziani. There's now six of us which is great. This is a big ward who needs the help.

     We saw Marilena again which was fantastic. It was kind of crazy. She said after our last lesson, where we had invited her to baptism and she couldn't accept because she lives with her boyfriend, she went home and cried. Which honestly isn't surprising. When people see what they could have and the goodness of this gospel, and can't have it, yeah that would be hard. Also there's nothing wrong with feeling a little pain and hurt because that's what pushes change and repentance. She's dealing with a few problems and doesn't have the means to live alone right now. She came to church Sunday and we taught the gospel principles class about service. We asked everyone to share an experience where someone had done an act of service for them personally. Marilena shared the experience where a stranger on a train saw her crying and put her arm around her and asked if she was ok. She got emotional talking about how I had been an answer to the prayer she had been saying in her head that very minute. It was so sweet. I've got my hopes way high for Marilena. She's my bestie.

     I don't know if I've mentioned Gaia before, but she's an English class student. She's 19 and her older less active sister was the one who introduced her to the course. Her sister Ellie called us last week and asked if there were still activities throughout the week that we do because it would be good for her sister Gaia. We were so pumped!! Of course! So Saturday we played soccer with Gaia, Dimitri, and a bunch of other members at Lampagnano. Let me start by saying, I was unaware that I was born to play soccer. Who knew of my secret gift? Not I. We were the dream team. There was so much trash talk it was hilarious. I scored 8 GOALS AGAINST ALL THE ITALIANS AYYYYOOOO. I felt like that movie kicking and screaming where they say "PASS IT TO THE ITALIANS" except they were all screaming to pass it to the American!!!   We were in it to win it and that's all I'll say about that. We were talking to Gaia and she mentioned that she stayed in Utah for a of couple weeks many years ago with her sister's husband's family (Ellie married an American missionary who had served in Italy, both are less active, but his family still lives in America in Utah). She is thinking about going to BYU and admitted to us that the only reason she started coming to English class was because she was curious about our religion, but didn't know how to learn about it....are you kidding me?! Sorella Anderson and I kept our poker face, but we were flipping out inside. We told her this is exactly what missionaries do and that we would be happy teaching her some of the principles of what we believe. So we took a break from the soccer game and went out onto the grass and taught her the restoration right then and there. It was awesome. We committed her to reading the Book of Mormon and coming to church the next day. She did both! Sunday came around and I was way nervous because both Marilena and Gaia were coming and we just wanted to make sure everyone had buddies and felt good so I called a million members Sunday morning and told them they better say hi and offer to sit with them in the classes or else. It went perfectly! Marilena had her gal pals and us of course and Gaia had a couple youth and us as well. That was Gaia's first time in church and she loved it. Not only that, but her sister Ellie randomly showed up for relief society class which shocked me. She tried to quickly peace out after class, but Ellie was stopped a million times by all of the members (she used to be relief society president, Sorella Guastella made the joke that being the relief society president is a curse because they all go inactive because she used to be the president too hah)

     After church we met with a new investigator named Karina and ate dinner with her. All went well and normal. Then we went to the Lastra house which was heavy. We got to the bottom of some of the real reasons Foretell Lastra is inactive and his wife was just in tears saying how hard it is to be the one pulling the family along being the only one who believes. After that lesson we got a text from Gaia saying that she is grateful for all the time, but that she needs to take it slow and that she'll just see us Wednesday for English class instead of seeing us at our planned lesson on Tuesday. Well that was a wrench in the heart, but I think it's normal to be scared. And we are confident that with soccer, English class and church she has truly seen and felt the light this gospel has and she can't forget about it. So we will see what happens. We are hoping to pick things back up with her soon.

     We had consiglio (leadership conference) Monday, which was great to get on the same page with President and prepare ourselves for this next upcoming transfer. The dang APs asked Sorella Anderson and I to sing. They did it on purpose. They think they are sooooo funny -_-   President talked about harnessing our talents in the work. Go to the park and play ping pong and take members and meet people there. Host a sports night in a field. Plan cultural activities. Take a member who plays the guitar and go to a mostra. Don't just settle for hours of casa and strada when we all know there are more effective ways to do the work. We all love President Allen so much he is amazing and inspired.

     I got my SECOND permesso today. That means I've officially lived in Italy a gooooood while now. It doesn't feel real to me. The missionaries just a transfer ahead of me gave their 'dying' testimonies at consiglio and that was hard because I've served with them my whole mission.

HAPPY CONFERENCE WEEK

con amore Sorella Williams