La Missione

Ciao Tutti.

No I did not see an angel.  Rather God sent one of the sisters in the mission to be an angel for me this week.  More details later.

First I have to start with last P day.  So after internet, one of our English students and two of her friends took us with them out to lunch for her birthday.  It was a high class Italian restaurant.  We drove through the mountains for a while to get there and it was soooo beautiful.  Italy literally looks like shire from the Lord of the Rings.  The cities look like cities but the country side is breath taking.  Anyways we get there and it was interesting.  In Italy you don't order whatever dish you want.  The waiter comes over, and tells you all the options for the different courses and then you tell him what you want.  So to start off I had Minestrone soup.  The canned minestrone we have in the states is garbage compared to what I ate at that restaurant.  All the ingredients were fresh and it was hot and delicious.  It was so flavorful and I want to learn how to make minestrone that way.  We had white rolls that were just delicious.  They also had little pieces of focaccia slathered in olive oil.  I had gotten a massive focaccia for internet earlier so I was in heaven.  After minestrone we had the main course.  I had a roast with mushrooms and onions in the most savory, flavorful roast sauce I've ever had in my life.  I also had a small salad that was just lettuce and tomatoes but maybe it was because it was "in Italy" (that's for you Fratello Jeter) that it was better.  After that we had dessert.  It was vanilla gelato with a drizzle of black berry syrup over a slice of pineapple with these cookies that are literally just like crunchy scones with cinamon and sugar on top.  It was the best meal I've ever had here.  Unfortunately I didn't take any pics of it because we aren't supposed to look like tourists while we are here even if it's p-day.  So I'm still trying to find where that line is between recording memories and being a tourist.  Sorry.  But we did take a pic at the restaurant.  

So after that we went and did shopping, came back, napped, and taught English class.  After class our students took us to a pizzeria for dinner.  I got a margherita which is just cheese pizza.  Except this thing was probably a foot across.  It was HUGE!  There are moments where I just ask Heavenly Father to please expand my stomach so I can put it down.  And put it down I did.  It was real thin crust, flavorful sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese pizza.  I will never forget it!  

Ok so that was p day.  So Sunday I gave my first talk in sacrament meeting.  Sorella Bennett kept encouraging me to write out the talk word for word and then translate it.  Me being the debater I once was, I can't stand doing that.  So I wrote out bullet points, a couple words and phrases and based my talk off of the conference talk It's a miracle by Neil L. Anderson.  I practiced and prayed.  And it went amazing.  I wasn't nervous at all.  I know I made mistakes and didn't always make sense but I have a huge testimony of the gift of tongues.  The people came up to me afterwards and told me they could understand what I said and that I spoke well.  When we truly give ourselves to the Lord, he makes us so much stronger than we could ever be on our own.  

So we did scambio this week.  We went to Genova and spent 24 hrs there.  I switched companions and was with Sorella Durfee for that time.  We got up and went to an appointment with a less active.  It was wonderful to meet all these new people and see Genova which is a beautiful city and a little sketchy but gorgeous.  After that we came home and a sister made us all hot chocolate.  The next day Sorella Durfee and I went running which felt amazing.  Then I got ready and we studied.  I read these two beautiful talks about love and meekness that left me in tears because they answered some concerns and worries I'd had.  After that we went to a new converts house.  J is 16 and was baptized in October.  We planned to talk about the Plan of Salvation but instead he just asked us all these different, amazing, in depth questions.  The spirit was strong and it was so wonderful to talk with him and his mother.  Their home used a wood burning stove to keep warm and was the cutest little Italian house in the country side I've ever seen.  After that we had lunch with all the sisters and feasted on fresh bread from the farmer's market.  Then we went to another investigator.  I can't describe that experience because it was too sacred but safe to say my testimiony of the gift of tongues was strengthened again.  

So why do I talk about angels?  Because Sorella Durfee was an angel for me.  So I had really been struggling with a lot of stuff.  I'd had tons of stress and anxiety built up and was really slacking on the work.  I had extremely low self confidence that I could be a good missionary.  Safe to say that life had been pretty bleak for a few weeks.  Sorella Durfee let me pour out my heart to her and let me cry on her shoulder.  She gave me encouragement and taught me different principles of missionary work.  She taught me that missionary work does not have to be miserable.  I felt safe, comforted, strong and confident for the first time in weeks.  We finished off the day with chocolate drizzled focaccia.   All the sisters were so sweet and I felt like I was surrounded by angels all day.  I was nervous about going back to Savona because I didn't want to fall back into the same habits and mindset that had been keeping me from being successful but I learned important principles.

We define who we are.  We do not need permission from others to be awesome, brilliant, confident, capable or successful.  When we know that we can do it, we can.  When we don't know if we can do it, but we tell ourselves we can and really believe it, we can.  Also, when we have problems with people, it is ALWAYS a two way thing.  Selfishness and selflessness cannot coexist.  When we constantly strive to serve and love others around us, we can constantly receive love and service back.  So my challenge for you all this week is identify one thing that you tell yourself you can't do and instead of saying I can't, say I can.  If you can't speak the language yet, say I can and confidently speak it as best as you can.  If you can't figure out a problem say you can and then do everything you can to do it.  Above all, stay close to Heavenly Father.  When we are praying and working always, that's when we are most powerful.

So scripture for this week:  Mosiah 2:17

Already said the challenge for this week.

Phrase of the week:  Voglio portare la mia testimonianza.  I want to bear my testimony.

Vi Voglio Bene!

Sorella Hatch

Ciaccolato Facaldo

Hot chocolate.  In Italy Hot chocolate is more like hot chocolate pudding.  I had my first one at a coffee shop next to our apartment.  It was soooo good.  Every food is better here.  It's just a fact lol.

It's been raining non stop this whole week which has been a little depressing but spring is around the corner and I can't wait.  We've been walking more and taking the bus instead of biking which has been a lot better... except for when the cars splash you as they drive by.  That's always kinda funny actually.  

We had an amazing miracle lesson.  We committed A. to be baptized a couple weeks ago.  But he has a girlfriend M.  sorella Bennett taught M. before I got here and M. wasn't receptive to the Gospel.  We were both nervous and wanted to be able to get both of them on board.  We got in there and everything went perfect.  We taught the restoration and M received it without hesitation.  We committed her to read the Book of Mormon with A. and for them to pray together.  We committed them to come to church when they have work off.  M. said she would be baptized if she received a testimony that the Book of Mormon was true.  We finished it off with chocolate covered gelato bars.  I was grinning from ear to ear after that lesson.  I'm so excited to see where things progress with them.  

We watched the Joseph Smith prophet of the restoration movie in spanish with our investigator family.  They aren't progressing because they are trying to get their marriage papers figured out but I was happy because I understood about 70% of the spanish.  I wanna learn spanish when I get home.  Also I felt the spirit sooo strong that Joseph is a prophet of God and he restored this church to the earth.  It was a beautiful lesson.

So I learned the coolest principle in Alma 43.  In this chapter Moroni's army (totally want to meet him in the next life) are fighting the Lamanites.  He mentions things they had to help them fight.  These things can help us fight our trials and temptations in this life:

1) They had thick armor and thick clothing.  We can have the spriitual armor of God and thick clothing is faith and peace.  When we have these things in our hearts, minds and souls, we are strong and have the strength to keep going and keep fighting.  

2) When we are fighting a trial we need to make sure we aren't guilty of anything to do with it. We can't be hypocrites.  We need to repent daily and be obedient.  Obedience brings blessings.

3)Fear and faith can't coexist.  When we are afraid we need to have faith and remember what we are fighting for, why we are fighting and the victory that will come when we have conquered the foe.  

Sunday was fast sunday and a day of bearing one another's burdens. it was amazing.  The members bore the most beauitful testimonies and the spirit was so strong.  We taught gospel principles and it went fantastic.  We had a mom and daughter in our class and they asked the most amazing questions.  After church we visited E. and comforted him because he had gotten robbed earlier that week.  It was amazing to see the difference in his countenance from when we first got there to when we finished the lesson.  He went from despair to feeling peace.  The message of the Gospel truly works miracles in a person's life.  We also visited a family and came to find out something horrible had happened to one of them.  We shared a message of comfort and prayed with them.  I felt helpless because with both of these situations there was nothing we could do to fix it.  But I learned that part of a missionaries job is bear another persons' burdens and to pray with and for them.  Prayer really is a soothing balm for when we are in pain or feel like we are hopeless.  

Overall my language is getting better.  I understand about 80% of what the people say and I'm starting to start and end lessons as well as give larger portions of a lesson.  I'm soooo happy that my study efforts are finally paying off.  It's still hard especially when we teach people who are native spanish speakers.  They speak Span-alian and it is really hard to understand their accent.  We also taught some Africans and they speak It-lish with a thick accent.  But it's been a huge blessing.  Instead of understanding their words, I've been forced to listen with the spirit and try to understand the person's heart instead.  I've learned so much about people.  

So I'm giving my first talk in sacrament meeting this sunday.  Excited and nervous.  I'm just hoping my pronouciation will be good and that I don't end up saying the wrong word because I pronouced it wrong.  

Overall, the mission is by far the best experience of my life.  I wouldn't trade any of these experiences... the good or the bad... for anything in the world.  

scripture is alma 43.

challenge:  find another person who has a heavy burden and bear it with them.  pray for them and help them in any way they need.

phrase:  Io amo Italia 

Patience

Ciao Tutti.

That has been the theme of my life this week.  The Lord has been teaching me tons of patience and it is amazing.  

So I realize I haven't written very much in my emails so I'll fill in more details.  

My companion and I have started running in the mornings finally.  It feels soooo good and running along the sea watching an Italian sunrise... priceless.  Hopefully the running will start to counteract the effects of the constant pasta and sweets.  

We taught our English class yesterday and it is amazing.  The people really want to learn English and we have so much fun every week doing it.  We're starting to get more people interested in the church through English class and hopefully some of them can turn into investigators.  

We're working with a part member family and we shared the "Forget me not" lk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf with V. (we can't put names in our emails of our investigators so I will refer to them by their first initial.).  It was a wonderful lesson and my testimony was strengthened that we are all truly children of God and he loves us sooo much.  We visited the mom N. and shared a thought with her.  She gave us these cookies that were sooo good.  It was basically a sugar cookie that was hard and crunchy coated with sugar and cinnamon on the top.  Apparently they are only sold over Carnivale.  YUM!the talk in Italian is notiscordartime

So I finally got to meet my zone this week.  We went to Genova for training and it was awesome to meet such wonderful people.  There are tons of missionaries here in Italy.  Also we are going to get some Anziani in Savona in a couple weeks.  We are sooo excited because we have some single male investigators that we will be able to give to the Anziani so they can teach more effectively.  Anyway at the training we had interviews with President Dibb.  Well leading up to this conference I had been going through a really hard time.  I was tired and old injuries were acting up.  I was really discouraged and frustrated because I couldn't speak the language and I couldn't understand what the people are saying... still can't quite catch everything.  I felt really alone and like I was a burden to others around me because my trainer has to help me with a lot of things and translate for me.  I had so much stress and was starting to get really depressed.  So when I went in for my interview the President simply asked, "So how are you doing Sorella Hatch?"  I bawled for 5 minutes before I could even talk.  But he gave me some amazing advice.

1)  He asked my trainer and I to start running every morning.  that has already helped so much.  Exercise is a huge stress reliever.

2)  I needed to cut myself some slack.  I wasn't going to be able to speak the language or understand right away.  and it was ok.  Also I needed to be patient with myself and others so that I didn't freak out at every little thing.  It's a simple principle but I thought cutting myself slack meant not reaching my full potential.  In reality, cutting ourselves some slack is a step to reach our potential because it helps us integrate patience into the process.

I'm so grateful for that advice.  Now things are tons better and I'm learning the language faster.  I'm understanding more and feel more comfortable.  Also, we had these massive PB and J's at the conference on these huge massive slices of wheat bread.  I have a new appreciation for that simple snack now.  

When we got home from the conference I was tired and emotional.  We went out doing strada and it was cold and I was done.  We tried a different approach and when it didn't work I finally snapped.  I begged my companion to let us go home and make calls.  When we have given up and are completely relying on the Lord that's when the miracles come.  We saw A. outside our apartment as we walked.  Sorella Bennett shared a scripture about how faith is things we can't see but know are true.  Well that lesson was a miracle for me.  It helped me see that I needed to have faith in the approaches, in myself that I can do these approaches and faith that the people will feel the spirit.  Sometimes when we teach a lesson it is for us to learn from as well.  

So we saw the cutest old church a couple days ago.  It honestly looked like it was from the 1400's.  I love Europe.

So we had this pasta dish where it was literally tomatoes, garlic, onions, and mozzarella cheese on pasta.... delicious.  

So we committed one of our investigators A. to baptism.  That was a beautiful lesson.  He is progressing so quickly and we felt the spirit so strong.  He has a few things to do to prepare but once he does it will be amazing.  I learned a lot in that lesson.  

We have an investigator named J. and that was the highlight lesson for me.  We shared a scripture with him and set another appointment.  I got to bear my testimony to him and the spirit was so strong.  It was a gorgeous sunny day which is rare right now because it just rains all the time during winter.  I will never forget what he said, "Quando C'e Sole, Tutto E bello."  when there is sun everything beautiful.  

So I'm doing much better.  I'm starting to actually get used to only 8 hours of sleep and running will help.  I'm starting to understand more of the language and start using more words and tenses.  Language study really helps.  Sorella Bennett and I are becoming better friends and I don't feel so alone anymore.  The people are so patient and help me learn to speak better.  This last week was one of the hardest emotionally but I also saw more miracles this week than in a long time and feel really close to my Heavenly Father.  

So I'm going to try to include a new word/phrase, scripture and challenge in all my emails.  So the phrase for this week is Ti or Vi Voglio Bene.  So in English we only have one sentence to say, | love you.  in Italian Ti or Vi Voglio Bene means I love you but not in the romantic way.  It's I love you for family and friends.  The difference is Ti is for one person and Vi means you all.  

The scripture this week is D:C 4:7.  

The challenge this week is to have more patience.  

Vi Voglio Bene!  That is pronounced Vee- Voleeo- bene

Sorella Hatch

FOCACCIA!

Salve Tutti,

You may ask why I start out this email with the word Focaccia... well let me explain.  Focaccia is white bread with oil and some spice.  It sounds plain but it is one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life.  We get it for snacks and it literally puts me in a happier mood.  This week we had an awesome lesson with an investigator.  She has committed to baptism except that she's leaving the country for a month so we have to wait until she returns.  The day we taught her had been a rough day and I just wanted to go home and sleep.  Well at the end of the lesson, the member that came with us gave us 4 huge slices of focaccia.  It was a miracle in itself for me.  It honestly confirmed my faith that the Lord takes care of his missionaries.  It sounds silly but it tasted so good.

So how's Italy?  Well Italy is pouring rain for three days straight.  It's riding bikes with brakes that die a little more everyday in the pouring rain.  It's being tired, hungry and constantly praying out loud or in my heart all day.  It's eating fresh home made lasagna at a dinner appointment and going to food heaven and back.  It's riding for hours on trains trying to talk to as many people as we can.  It's studying and listening to the spirit trying to figure out what we need to teach the investigator that day.  Italy is a lot of things.  Even though some of them are good and some are bad, overall, they are the best experiences ever.

Right now we are working with a lot of less actives and investigators and it has been a miracle to watch how the Gospel changes their lives.  We talked to a gentleman while we were waiting for the train.  At first he kept rolling his eyes and looked really annoyed at us.  But after we prayed with him, his countenance literally changed and we could see that he was happier and felt more calm.  

We had a miracle day where we taught six lessons in a day.  Keep in mind that lessons also count as literally sharing a thought with someone and saying a prayer after.  But we were able to exceed our goal for the last two weeks of how many lessons we taught.  I've learned that when we are precisely and exactly obedient, that's when we can accomplish miracles.  

I'm learning a lot about patience.  I have to be patient with myself, the language, others around me... everything.  There are many times where I feel like my patience is gone and then the Lord puts someone or something in my life to remind me to keep going and not freak out over every single detail.  As hard as it is I'm grateful to learn these concepts.  

One funny thing is that apparently I don't annunciate my words all the way when I speak Italian.  Well some words mean different things depending on how you say the word.  I don't even want to know what weird sentences have come out of my mouth lol.  

This week, I challenge all of you who aren't missonaries currently, to find one person and share something about the Gospel with them.  It may be scary or awkward at first but it truly brings miracles into people's lives.  

Vi Voglio Bene!

Sorella Hatch

Salve Va Italia!

Salve Tutti!

That's right.  I'm writing.... in Italy.  And may I say, I'm in absolute paradise right now.  I'm sitting in a cute computer shop typing on a key board designed for English and Italian.  A little odd but awesome.  So the flights were soooo long.  I felt like a marshmallow after landing in London because I was so puffy from sitting so long.  Our flight was delayed in Dallas so we were there for 6 hours instead of 4.  Luckily the airport rearranged everything and we finally landed in Milan.  On the way to Milan I sat next to a girl and was able to give her two pamphlets and answer tons of questions about the Gospel.  Missionary work doesn't start once you get to the mission. It's happening now.  My mission president is President Dibb and his beautiful wife.  We dined on home made lasagna, pizza, salad, and gelato my first night here.  After 7 weeks of cafeteria food and three days of airport food, it was the best meal I've ever eaten.  We stayed at a cute hotel and the next day met our trainers.

So for those of you who went to Lone Peak with me... my trainer is Adrianne Bennett or Sorella Bennett.  It has been the biggest blessing to have an american sister, from alpine who speaks English.  We work really well together.  We are in Savona which is on the border of an ocean... don't know which one but suffice to say it is gorgeous.  Savona is a city.  It's all apartment buildings and mom and pop shops.  The streets are TINY therefore the cars and scooters are tiny.  But it's so charming.  Italy is interesting because ancient Europe meets modern day Europe.  There will be a paved asphalt street and then you turn onto a street with mossy cobblestones.  

So I thought I was prepared for Italian when I got out of the MTC.  Yeah I was way wrong.  It's been a real challenge here.  The people speak very quickly and have thick accents so I've spent most conversations being quiet and trying to catch what people are talking about.  But Language study is a huge help.  I'm learning a lot about the patterns of the language which is helping me speak and sound more mature.  I absolutely love hearing Italian conversations every where.  It is truly a gorgeous language.  

The food here trumps anything I've ever eaten in the U.S.  I've eaten more pasta covered in thick delicious sauce in a week than I ever ate in my life.  I've had Kabab which is equivalent to a really greasy subway sandwich but it was delicious.  And Gelato of course which is sooooo soooooo good.  We've had a few dinner appointments which are my absolute favorite.

We travel by bike, train and walking.  Trains are amazing teaching opportunities and we've had some amazing experiences.  I love biking.  After 7 weeks of sitting in the MTC, it feels amazing to hop on a bike after every lesson.

I'm exhausted, hungry, tired and an old injury is acting up but I've realized that that's part of the work.  Being a missionary means never being fully comfortable except for when you're sleeping.  But It is amazing.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

We have a small branch here but the members are wonderful.  Their examples are so inspiring.  They have rock solid testimonies and you can see the light in their faces when they come to church and talk about the gospel.  I bore my first testimony in Italian and Sacrament meeting was so spiritual.  The church is alive and well here.  We have a good pool of investigators, less actives and members that we regularly visit.  We also have a senior missionary couple in our mission and we work with them a lot.  It's interesting that I'm happiest when we are at the home of a member or less active or teaching an investigator a lesson at the church.  Service really is the balm for any worry, or fear.  

The people are amazing.  Street contacting or Strada is easy because everybody is willing to talk to anybody.  The people take their time eating, traveling and talking.  Life is at a slower, more relaxed pace.  It's refreshing and I love it.  Also the people dress so stylish all the time.  It's so fun to see.  

I've seen so many little miracles throughout the days.  It is the greatest honor and privilege in the world to be a missionary.  Every day is a new day filled with adventure, blessings, trials and the light of the Gospel.  

Ti Voglio Bene Tutti.

Until Next week,

Sorella Hatch

Our zone with the mission president and his wife

Me, Sorella Bennett and our mission president and his wife

All of us in this picture went to Lone Peak

Me and my collega Sorella Bennett

Kabab and a dessert... didnt know what it was but it was delicious

GELATO!  My first one ever in Italy.  That would be chocolate and black berry,

My side of the room

VIVA ITALIA!

Ciao Famiglia e Amici!

So I know I wrote Wednesday but saying that today is P day because I leave TOMORROW MORNING for Italy we get P day today.  So a little update, Sunday was amazing.  We had a wonderful mission conference where they talked about trusting in the Lord.  They discussed how we need to trust him with our missions and that everything will work out the way they are intended to.  They talked about developing the faith of a little child (Mosiah 3:19). We had sacrament meeting.  My "calling" in the branch is music coordinator and my companion and I were able to organize a bunch of Elders to sing I Need Thee Every Hour... the men's choir version.  They did it for our opening hymn.  It was one of the most beautiful numbers I've ever heard.  I felt such gratitude for these amazing Elders.  We had a massive branch testimony meeting and everyone cried and bore the most spiritual testimonies.  After that we had more studying and then a departure devotional.  I learned a lot at that devotional that this truly is the Lord's work.  We are his instruments and he is working through us fulfill his work.  After dinner (which tasted heavenly because it was fast Sunday) we had a fireside and then watched The Mountain of The Lord.  It is a film about the construction of the Salt Lake Temple.  Then there were some tearful goodbyes to several friends who left this morning.  Hope you all travel safely!

One thing that I've learned this week is that forgiveness and love can heal all wounds.  I won't go into detail but suffice to say that friendships that I thought were destroyed have now been strengthened and I'm grateful for the trials we went through.  It was hard and there were many times where I didn't know what to do or how to proceed.  But once again I've learned that the Lord has an answer for everything. 

One blessing I've received has been to meet Sorella Durante.  She is a sister from Milan going to France.  It has been soooo fun to get together with her when we get back to the residence hall at night and speak Italian for a few minutes.  She has been so patient with me as I've learned and made goofy mistakes while speaking with her.  She laughs because I sound like a three year old when I speak because I have hardly any grammar or conjugation.  She is awesome.

So at 3 am tomorrow morning I will be up and getting ready to go to Italy.  I fly from Salt Lake to Dallas, Dallas to London and London to Milan.  I will be traveling for over 24 hrs which will be awesome and exhausting.  But I am definitely looking forward to sleeping for more than 6 hours.... I plan on somewhere between 8-12 on the plane. 

The MTC has been one of the hardest and best experiences of my life.  I have learned these principles:

We can do hard things.

Missionary work is the Lord's work.  It is never just the efforts of the missionary.

My zone is AMAZING and I will miss them so much.  I will treasure the friendships I have made here forever.

I've learned so much about patience and charity that I never thought was possible.

The Gift of tongues is real.  It is manifested every day.  When a missionary speaks in a foreign language, and they qualify for it, the gift of tongues is manifested.

Christ is our Savior and knows us personally.

We are children of a Heavenly Father who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Trials are a blessing because they are an opportunity for us to grow and become refined.

Charity, the pure love of Christ can heal and solve any problem we have with others.

I love the MTC and I will miss all the amazing people around me.  Love you all!  See you in a year and a half.  Next time you hear from me, it will be from Italy. 

Vi Voglio Bene.

Con Amore,

Sorella Hatch

This was taken during the practice.  All these Elders sang I Need Thee Every Hour

The Italians

The District

Missions worldwide

Awesome Elders!

Da Map!

Gonna miss these people!

soooo excited for Milano!

Felicita Nuovo Ano!

Family, Friends, other missionaries,

Wow!  Can you believe it's already 2014?  It's incredible.  What a year it's been for me.  

Also, I will be in Italy in 7 days.  I cannot believe it.  I'm soooo soooooo soooooooooo excited to get to Italy.  I cannot wait!  What an adventure it's been to prepare for Italy.  Honestly, I'm hoping to get the best companion in the universe and literally speak Italian for a month with no English.  I can't wait to dive head first into Italian culture.  

So Christmas at the MTC was amazing.  We got up and opened presents.  Thank you sooooo much family and friends for the wonderful gifts.  The spirit of Christmas was truly in the air.  After breakfast we had 20 minutes for email time.  Then choir practice.  Singing Where Shepherds Lately Knelt really brought the spirit.  It was such a powerful song.  So guess who came Christmas morning.....  (drumroll) None other than David A. Bednar himself.  They passed out 200 cell phones to the crowd and it was a massive Q&A session.  They rigged it so that all the other missionaries from the other MTC's world wide could email their questions and we texted in ours.  I learned so much and it was incredible.  We had a Christmas lunch where I really appreciated the food at home.  We had a talent show where several missionaries showcased their talents.  An Elder did a magic show and won the standing ovation of the day.  Another Elder did a Yiddish bottle dance.  Basically he danced around with a bottle on his head.  It was hilarious.  We watched a jazz music program by Ray Smith, a prominent figure in the Jazz music industry in Utah.  I snoozed through it because a lot of the music was slow and smooth.  We watched the MOTAB Christmas concert Home for the Holidays.  They featured Alfie Boe aka JeanvalJean in Les Mis.  He sang Bring Him Home and it was the most wonderful performance.  The whole day was awesome.  

So I learned about miracles this week.  We had set a baptism date for our investigator Luca (aka our teacher Fratello Knutson) but events came up and we needed to postpone it.  There were complications in that process and it got to the point where we needed a miracle.  I spent 3 days panicking and then a miracle happened and it all resolved itself.  I bear testimony that the Lord truly holds us in the palm of his hand.  He knows what we need but sometimes we have to wait it out and keep persevering before the Lord removes the trial from our lives.  

My Italian is really coming along.  I'm starting to be able to pick up on the grammar patterns and I can almost understand every word our teachers say.  It is soooo fun learning this beautiful language.  I've been working with my teachers a ton and they are the best.  Here is my testimony in Italian.

Io so che Gesu Cristo e nostro Salvatore e Redentore.  Io sono molto grato per l'Espiazione.  I so Thomas S. Monson e la profeta di verita.  Io so questo chiesa e vero.

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  I am so grateful for the Atonement.  I know Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet.  I know the church is true.

I've learned a lot about people this week.  I've learned many things about myself.  Sometimes it's really hard to change a lot of things in a short amount of time but here are a few truths I've learned:

Our actions influence everyone around us.  It is up to us whether or not those actions are good or bad.

It's so cliche but actions do speak louder than words.

The quote "Be nicer than you have to be because everyone is fighting a hidden battle." is sooooo true

The people surrounding us are never there by coincidence.

As always a mission is incredibly difficult.  But I wouldn't trade any of these experiences for anything.  The good, the bad, all of it is wonderful.  

Love you all, miss you and the next time you hear from me... it will be from Italy.  

Arrivederci!

The beautiful schwester Zenger going to Germany

Christmas eve with the fresh pellengrino we got from investigators... Buona Natale

our Christmas tree

Christmas lunch

Missionaries on Christmas

Elders Houk, Oldham, Hallulli, Smith and Fabiano... love these elders in my zone

the purpose of Missionaries

This is the missionary purpose and task list

All these missionaries are from England.  It's sooo fun talking to them and hearing their accents.

I'm friends with all these Elders going to the Netherlands.  They are awesome.