Okay, I just got distracted playing on Familysearch.org and looking at our family tree. Refocus!
I can't believe it's Wednesday, or that it's pretty much December, shooooot.
Thanksgiving was great, we went and ate such good pizza with Luca. Mine had tomato sauce then a pistacchio sauce and fresh stracciatella that came on the side in this little glass: Yum. Then Saturday we had a real life Thanksgiving dinner and I got my fill of sweet potatoes. It was pretty cool because there were 20 of in total, maybe half members of the church. I got to chat up with this rad lady from Sicily next to me and across from me where these two dudes probably in their later twenties that didn't really talk because I don't think they knew what to do with me, even though one of them is studying pretty much the exact same thing I did.
Anyway, we leave at 9:00 and as soon as I do I guess these dudes say, "Hold on, are they nuns?" It was perfect, because it spurred a conversation about the Church that lasted into 1:00 am with these peeps asking everything, from what's the Book of Mormon down to anything else you can think of about the church. So Augusta and Michele, plus Luca and another girl named Michela got to lay it all out, which is what Augusta has been hoping would happen.
The rest of Saturday and then Sunday we spent doing a mostra which is basically where we get a permit from the city to set up a little display thing and then try and stop everybody and their dog to talk about the gospel. We had a handful of members come out, passed out so many pass along cards and pamphlets and got a handful of good potentials. This is why you have to work with the ward and above all the bishop. If he loves you, he helps you and organizes mostras for you and then the members come help because they love you too.
Another finding story for you.
Friday night we're waiting for the bus to head up and see one of our less active families and this guy walks past. I say buona sera, he stops and asks me if ci conosciamo. I tell him no, I was just saying buona sera and we start talking. His name is Paolo, he teaches music and he's been to the states just once to play the clarinet in Chicago. I'm trying to write down is phone number as the bus pulls up and then the bus doesn't stop and keeps going. So we talk to him while we wait the 20 minutes for the next bus. We should be teaching him tonight, speriamo bene, his phone was off when I tried to call and confirm. Because it has been raining nonstop since Monday, I don't want to be outside and wet tonight.
I'm pleased with the [Christmas] tree name, well done, it feels sort of impossible that you guys had real Thanksgiving and we have a tree and Christmas is coming. They're stringing tons of lights up all over the place here but it still doesn't quite feel like Christmas, pian piano.
Well, enough for now, I'm hoping to hear really good news very soon about a certain little brother of mine. You guys are great. Love you lots.
What are your Christmas Day plans? Christmas and Christmas Eve are going to be beautiful and nutzo, we're just so popular :)
xoxo
sorella bush
*It's the stupidest question ever that we get all the time. Do I look like a nun? Pretty sure the answer is no.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
aldo
Well here we are again.
I wrote like ten letters last night so I'm kind of lettered out, but I love you all dearly. Sorella Beutler is a little sicky again so it's not been the most normal week, but we had a beautiflu miracle/adventure I will tell you about last Thursday/Sunday. His name is Aldo.
There is a city called Angera in our area, and according to Gabriele the missionaries hadn't been there for at least ten years, so we've been wanting to go for awhile. We finally got ourselves organized last Thursday at we're waiting at the bus stop. This 55 year-old man starts talking with us. We just sort of chat about how he hasn't taken the bus in 40 some years but drove into town with his sister to get his hand checked at the doctor because a rock fell and crushed it (yes Italians will tell you their life story if you just listen).
We then tell him a bit about who we are and what we do. Get on the bus. We head toward the back where there are more seats and hope he comes too. But he's hanging out at the front of the bus for awhile and we're worried. Then he suddenly runs off the bus, goes and buys a ticket, comes back and sits by us.
So we keep chatting it up. About his mother who died six months ago, about the home they have in Taranto, where they're from, about his four year-old daughter. We tell him about the Book of Mormon and how there's life after this one. Then he pulls out of this funny little plastic briefcase an invitation to his daughter's birthday party that Sunday. We give him a plan of salvation pamphlet. He gets off the bus, we head on to Angera.
Sunday, we obviously go to the birthday party. We get to his town, where I've never set foot. We head to the only open place, a bar/tabaccaria and ask how to get to Via San Michele. And no one knows. So they ask what we're looking for, and I said, "Um...a family, his name is Aldo."
This bad a guy in a wheel chair tries to pull up a map on his phone but can't get to the internet, all eight people in the bar are trying to figure out if any of them know the via and the people that work there look for their map of the area.
Meanwhile wheelchair man heads over to the adjoining room and comes back and asks if we're looking for Aldo the mechanic. I tell him I think so, and he tells us to go down the next street, down a hill, up another hill, past a cemetery and then we'll take the road that runs off to the left and that's where Aldo lives.
We go, we make it, and we spend a few hours with a handfull of 5 year-olds from preschool but mostly Aldo's 7,000 siblings and nieces. He is one of 11 children! I got to talk to a few of them about what we do as missionaries a bit about what we believe. I didn't get any numbers becuase we had to race off to catch the bus but when we left Aldo said "If you need anything let me know. Give me a call and we'll do Sunday lunch sometime and talk with more calma, and I have a truck if you need to move anything, if you need a hair cut Rosa lives in Varese and cuts hair." His youngest sister who I think would be down with talking to us a bit, and I am in dire need of a haircut.
So the work of the Lord is great, moral of the story. We had an absolutely beautiful conference yesterday and had interviews with President Wolfgramm. So great. Love that man and I love how he makes me think. I feel like I've learned so freaky much about the gospel this year. I don't know what I was doing before. And it makes me excited to be able to someday have a family that I'll be able to teach the gospel to, for reals. It's like Carrie always talked aboout both how everything she had done or learned she felt prepared her to be a mother and how serving a mission just prepared her for everything.
Well, I love you all. The babiest bad I wont be around the table with you today, or sleeping in front of the fireplace with Alice after, but we have time still. I'll make do with the great pizza I plan on eating at 1:30
xoxo
sorella bush
I wrote like ten letters last night so I'm kind of lettered out, but I love you all dearly. Sorella Beutler is a little sicky again so it's not been the most normal week, but we had a beautiflu miracle/adventure I will tell you about last Thursday/Sunday. His name is Aldo.
There is a city called Angera in our area, and according to Gabriele the missionaries hadn't been there for at least ten years, so we've been wanting to go for awhile. We finally got ourselves organized last Thursday at we're waiting at the bus stop. This 55 year-old man starts talking with us. We just sort of chat about how he hasn't taken the bus in 40 some years but drove into town with his sister to get his hand checked at the doctor because a rock fell and crushed it (yes Italians will tell you their life story if you just listen).
We then tell him a bit about who we are and what we do. Get on the bus. We head toward the back where there are more seats and hope he comes too. But he's hanging out at the front of the bus for awhile and we're worried. Then he suddenly runs off the bus, goes and buys a ticket, comes back and sits by us.
So we keep chatting it up. About his mother who died six months ago, about the home they have in Taranto, where they're from, about his four year-old daughter. We tell him about the Book of Mormon and how there's life after this one. Then he pulls out of this funny little plastic briefcase an invitation to his daughter's birthday party that Sunday. We give him a plan of salvation pamphlet. He gets off the bus, we head on to Angera.
Sunday, we obviously go to the birthday party. We get to his town, where I've never set foot. We head to the only open place, a bar/tabaccaria and ask how to get to Via San Michele. And no one knows. So they ask what we're looking for, and I said, "Um...a family, his name is Aldo."
This bad a guy in a wheel chair tries to pull up a map on his phone but can't get to the internet, all eight people in the bar are trying to figure out if any of them know the via and the people that work there look for their map of the area.
Meanwhile wheelchair man heads over to the adjoining room and comes back and asks if we're looking for Aldo the mechanic. I tell him I think so, and he tells us to go down the next street, down a hill, up another hill, past a cemetery and then we'll take the road that runs off to the left and that's where Aldo lives.
We go, we make it, and we spend a few hours with a handfull of 5 year-olds from preschool but mostly Aldo's 7,000 siblings and nieces. He is one of 11 children! I got to talk to a few of them about what we do as missionaries a bit about what we believe. I didn't get any numbers becuase we had to race off to catch the bus but when we left Aldo said "If you need anything let me know. Give me a call and we'll do Sunday lunch sometime and talk with more calma, and I have a truck if you need to move anything, if you need a hair cut Rosa lives in Varese and cuts hair." His youngest sister who I think would be down with talking to us a bit, and I am in dire need of a haircut.
So the work of the Lord is great, moral of the story. We had an absolutely beautiful conference yesterday and had interviews with President Wolfgramm. So great. Love that man and I love how he makes me think. I feel like I've learned so freaky much about the gospel this year. I don't know what I was doing before. And it makes me excited to be able to someday have a family that I'll be able to teach the gospel to, for reals. It's like Carrie always talked aboout both how everything she had done or learned she felt prepared her to be a mother and how serving a mission just prepared her for everything.
Well, I love you all. The babiest bad I wont be around the table with you today, or sleeping in front of the fireplace with Alice after, but we have time still. I'll make do with the great pizza I plan on eating at 1:30
xoxo
sorella bush
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
unthinkable
Guys, the almost unthinkable is happening and I get one more transfer in Varese with Sorella Beutler. I was pretty sure I was staying but I was just really nervous. I couldn't imagine anyone else being right for Varese or Sorella Beutler right now. So here's the simple answer—we stay! Ha! Sorella Beutler is still super hard on herself and has a hard time not comparing herself with everybody else Italian-wise and I really do worry about her and what will happen when we're not companions. Pian piano.
It's been kind of a nutso week. Here are some highlights for you:
GINA! We finally saw beautiful Gina! We used the excuse that one of us might be leaving and she said, "Sorry I haven't responded in ages I've been soooo bust with exams and school I haven't even seen my best friend!" So we met up and read the 2nd half of 2nd Nefi 4 together and had a beautiful lesson talking about hearts and temptation and relying on the Lord. There was a nice little pause and we were all sitting there and she said, "Can I ask you guys a question"
"What do you do to feel God when you pray? Because I don't think it's ever happened for like it has for you, I mean sometimes I think I feel something, but sometimes I feel like I'm just talking..'"
We had a beautiful discussion on prayer, and she told us that she thinks it's destiny we met, because she wasn't even supposed to go out the day we stopped her per strada and how she feels like her life really has changed and she feels best when we're with her and she reads the bom. Srsly, this is what I live for! If only we could see her more regularly! Really, she's so wonderful. (and in the closing prayer asked that we would both stay in Varese a bit longer..:)) Now Yeimy (Jaime). Our other beautiful 21 year old who has been so hard to see lately. But Friday morning before weekly planning Sorella Beutler was like let's go do a giro by the old house, get out and talk to some peeps and check the mail. SO we go and after we check the mail I was like I should go make sure there's no air building up in the radiators so the heat isn't blocked on the lower floors, blah blah, we go and decide to carry home this funny end table that we needed to put our microwave on. We we're carrying this table between us and I'm holding it behind my back and I look across the street and see Jaime, so I yell to her, she comes over, we chat, set up an appointment for Saturday, went and saw her, it was beautiful, and at the end I asked if we could do anything for her, or at least pray for for her and she starts crying and tells us no one ever asks her that. we're hoping to see her again Saturday because she freaky needs the gospel. Found some cool potentials in my efforts to be better at talking to people between appointments and plans and stuff, speriamo bene, people here just work way too much.
And did I tell you about Giuseppe? Who's from Sicily and showed up in church last Sunday? He's been studying with the Sorelle there for 8 months and works all the time up here in Lombardia so he missed a baptismal date in September and then was always like, well, we'll talk about in when I come back, and then he's back for maybe trhee days and comes north again.... SO We've taught him twice, took him to stake conference in Milano ands set a tentative baptismal date for the 22 of December. He's kind of a funny guy but I think he's sincere about the church and LOVES how family is central to everything, I think he's maybe mid 40s and really wants a family, refocus his priorities. Moments like Giuseppe walking into church make me feel like maybe heavenly father really is ok with the work I'm doing and throws me a little bonus.
I don't know why but I've been feeling a little discouraged lately, I don't know, something's just off and I'm not super happy with my work but I feel too weak to change too fast, I don't know how to explain myself, I'm happy I just feel like I could be doing more and I don't really know what I need to do. I think I need to spend more time on my knees because HF knows exactly what this area leaves.
We had gelato with Luca on Monday night when he finished work and before we headed to our appointment in church. We had already texted him that we were both staying and we were talking to him and he was like but this means they'll probably send you off right before Christmas. I said "NO, subito DOPO," and he said "What," and I told him when transfers were next and he was like "SO YOU'LL BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS?!"
He was so excited, made me feel great. They like me! They really really like me! Branch President Carnieletto was super contento, he even said so twice. I guess he hasn't always loved the missionaries but somehow we've won him over and HE'S started thinking a lot more about missionary work and organized everything for us to do a mostra in centro with members a week from Sunday with some sort of message about Christmas.
The weather is beautiful these days, all of a sudden kind of warm and the trees are still in peak color, if only I still had my bike...
BTW—one year on Friday? Whaaa?? I've been putting a name tag on everyday for a year, whoa, how strange and beautiful.
Did I tell you about Giudi? The girl we teach english to? 22 from como and wonderful. We've had some really beautiful lessons with her about the gospel too, and she came to church on fast and testimony meeting with her friend and she might come this week to see what it's like when it's not open mic Sunday. She's super smart and we already have really interesting conversations and we can see her heart opening little by little. We're planning on a heading to Como together for a p-day this transfer.
You all sound busy and happy, I heard the new James Bond was awesome, a little jealous, maybe. Luca played us the Adele single from it, man she's good. Mom you're almost a master! Are you guys doing the turkey trot this year?
We have to go to Milano next Wednesday, so I don't know when we'll p-day next week, and Saturday we're having Thanksgiving with Augusta and her fam and Luca obviously and who knows who else will be there. The food will be much better than last year fo sho. love you all!
I'll try and send pics next week,
be good! be happy!
xoxo sorella cespuglio
It's been kind of a nutso week. Here are some highlights for you:
GINA! We finally saw beautiful Gina! We used the excuse that one of us might be leaving and she said, "Sorry I haven't responded in ages I've been soooo bust with exams and school I haven't even seen my best friend!" So we met up and read the 2nd half of 2nd Nefi 4 together and had a beautiful lesson talking about hearts and temptation and relying on the Lord. There was a nice little pause and we were all sitting there and she said, "Can I ask you guys a question"
"What do you do to feel God when you pray? Because I don't think it's ever happened for like it has for you, I mean sometimes I think I feel something, but sometimes I feel like I'm just talking..'"
We had a beautiful discussion on prayer, and she told us that she thinks it's destiny we met, because she wasn't even supposed to go out the day we stopped her per strada and how she feels like her life really has changed and she feels best when we're with her and she reads the bom. Srsly, this is what I live for! If only we could see her more regularly! Really, she's so wonderful. (and in the closing prayer asked that we would both stay in Varese a bit longer..:)) Now Yeimy (Jaime). Our other beautiful 21 year old who has been so hard to see lately. But Friday morning before weekly planning Sorella Beutler was like let's go do a giro by the old house, get out and talk to some peeps and check the mail. SO we go and after we check the mail I was like I should go make sure there's no air building up in the radiators so the heat isn't blocked on the lower floors, blah blah, we go and decide to carry home this funny end table that we needed to put our microwave on. We we're carrying this table between us and I'm holding it behind my back and I look across the street and see Jaime, so I yell to her, she comes over, we chat, set up an appointment for Saturday, went and saw her, it was beautiful, and at the end I asked if we could do anything for her, or at least pray for for her and she starts crying and tells us no one ever asks her that. we're hoping to see her again Saturday because she freaky needs the gospel. Found some cool potentials in my efforts to be better at talking to people between appointments and plans and stuff, speriamo bene, people here just work way too much.
And did I tell you about Giuseppe? Who's from Sicily and showed up in church last Sunday? He's been studying with the Sorelle there for 8 months and works all the time up here in Lombardia so he missed a baptismal date in September and then was always like, well, we'll talk about in when I come back, and then he's back for maybe trhee days and comes north again.... SO We've taught him twice, took him to stake conference in Milano ands set a tentative baptismal date for the 22 of December. He's kind of a funny guy but I think he's sincere about the church and LOVES how family is central to everything, I think he's maybe mid 40s and really wants a family, refocus his priorities. Moments like Giuseppe walking into church make me feel like maybe heavenly father really is ok with the work I'm doing and throws me a little bonus.
I don't know why but I've been feeling a little discouraged lately, I don't know, something's just off and I'm not super happy with my work but I feel too weak to change too fast, I don't know how to explain myself, I'm happy I just feel like I could be doing more and I don't really know what I need to do. I think I need to spend more time on my knees because HF knows exactly what this area leaves.
We had gelato with Luca on Monday night when he finished work and before we headed to our appointment in church. We had already texted him that we were both staying and we were talking to him and he was like but this means they'll probably send you off right before Christmas. I said "NO, subito DOPO," and he said "What," and I told him when transfers were next and he was like "SO YOU'LL BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS?!"
He was so excited, made me feel great. They like me! They really really like me! Branch President Carnieletto was super contento, he even said so twice. I guess he hasn't always loved the missionaries but somehow we've won him over and HE'S started thinking a lot more about missionary work and organized everything for us to do a mostra in centro with members a week from Sunday with some sort of message about Christmas.
The weather is beautiful these days, all of a sudden kind of warm and the trees are still in peak color, if only I still had my bike...
BTW—one year on Friday? Whaaa?? I've been putting a name tag on everyday for a year, whoa, how strange and beautiful.
Did I tell you about Giudi? The girl we teach english to? 22 from como and wonderful. We've had some really beautiful lessons with her about the gospel too, and she came to church on fast and testimony meeting with her friend and she might come this week to see what it's like when it's not open mic Sunday. She's super smart and we already have really interesting conversations and we can see her heart opening little by little. We're planning on a heading to Como together for a p-day this transfer.
You all sound busy and happy, I heard the new James Bond was awesome, a little jealous, maybe. Luca played us the Adele single from it, man she's good. Mom you're almost a master! Are you guys doing the turkey trot this year?
We have to go to Milano next Wednesday, so I don't know when we'll p-day next week, and Saturday we're having Thanksgiving with Augusta and her fam and Luca obviously and who knows who else will be there. The food will be much better than last year fo sho. love you all!
I'll try and send pics next week,
be good! be happy!
xoxo sorella cespuglio
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
illegal email!
I'M STAYING IN VARESE FOR
CHRISTMAS!!! Hip hip! Sorella Beutler and I are starting transfer three
together next week...
love love
sor.cespuglio
love love
sor.cespuglio
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
halloween!
Hey guyz, happy Halloween! Where the freak did October go????
Ok well, my little collega got sick end of last week so we've been kind of on a pausa again, but pian piano we're moving forward nonetheless. I feel like every time we leave the house we find someone cool. Like yesterday we were taking the bus up to see Luca in Luino and I started talking to the lady across from us on the bus. Katia. She's originally from Morocco but has lived here more than 20 years. Is married to an Italian with two kids. When I told her about the Book of Mormon she was like and you've read it? And believe it? And I was like I sure do lady. We're going to her house on Friday.
Saturday we got to see our friend Robin, who we met through Gabriele and is about 65 from London. It's funny how most of our encounters he starts off kind of closed and almost heavy. You can just see the weights of regret and loneliness he's carrying around with him. But by the end he's always so happy and optimistic. He needs the church like whoa. Healing from the past, a sense of community and purpose and belonging and hope for the future. We got it all dude. I hope he really does start reading the Book of Mormon because that is the key to it all. Did I tell you how finished the Book of Mormon in Italian for the first time last week?
Starting over again. Purtroppo the Ortiz family is kind of dropping off BUT her other son made it from the DR and he and his brother came to church with Sander, who's 11. The sorelle reactivated his mom and baptized him right before I came and we hooked their two families up and it was the best thing we could have done. I'm hoping that as the kids learn Italian they'll be able to really get the gospel and it will at least help them out. Senia's super busy with work right now but she loves the book of mormon and everything about our message. Alfonso peaced out after decima.
Other people I love these days, one Giudi. We're teaching her English and then we talk about the gospel at the end. She had met the missionaries in Como, where she's from, and knows a fair amount about the Book of Normon. There is such a beautiful spirit every time we're with her and last night she brought us chocolate, ha. She's turning 23 next week and is just so cool, super real.
Thursday we're off to see some new peeps that we found last week in the most random way, but obvi nothing is too per caso in missionary work. We're excited. Life goes on, we're moving on Saturday. I'll finally have a shower that's taller than me again. Hip hip!
I'm eating too much good food these days, but what can you do. Life is hard. Here's hoping for everyone's health to return so our morning runs can also make a come back...ho bisogno. Vi voglio bene! Vi manerò le foto di questi giorni settimana prossima. Abbiamo fatto biscotti come i diti de una strega con la nostra amica Claudia. Siamo brave.
xoxoxo
s. cespug.
Ok well, my little collega got sick end of last week so we've been kind of on a pausa again, but pian piano we're moving forward nonetheless. I feel like every time we leave the house we find someone cool. Like yesterday we were taking the bus up to see Luca in Luino and I started talking to the lady across from us on the bus. Katia. She's originally from Morocco but has lived here more than 20 years. Is married to an Italian with two kids. When I told her about the Book of Mormon she was like and you've read it? And believe it? And I was like I sure do lady. We're going to her house on Friday.
Saturday we got to see our friend Robin, who we met through Gabriele and is about 65 from London. It's funny how most of our encounters he starts off kind of closed and almost heavy. You can just see the weights of regret and loneliness he's carrying around with him. But by the end he's always so happy and optimistic. He needs the church like whoa. Healing from the past, a sense of community and purpose and belonging and hope for the future. We got it all dude. I hope he really does start reading the Book of Mormon because that is the key to it all. Did I tell you how finished the Book of Mormon in Italian for the first time last week?
Starting over again. Purtroppo the Ortiz family is kind of dropping off BUT her other son made it from the DR and he and his brother came to church with Sander, who's 11. The sorelle reactivated his mom and baptized him right before I came and we hooked their two families up and it was the best thing we could have done. I'm hoping that as the kids learn Italian they'll be able to really get the gospel and it will at least help them out. Senia's super busy with work right now but she loves the book of mormon and everything about our message. Alfonso peaced out after decima.
Other people I love these days, one Giudi. We're teaching her English and then we talk about the gospel at the end. She had met the missionaries in Como, where she's from, and knows a fair amount about the Book of Normon. There is such a beautiful spirit every time we're with her and last night she brought us chocolate, ha. She's turning 23 next week and is just so cool, super real.
Thursday we're off to see some new peeps that we found last week in the most random way, but obvi nothing is too per caso in missionary work. We're excited. Life goes on, we're moving on Saturday. I'll finally have a shower that's taller than me again. Hip hip!
I'm eating too much good food these days, but what can you do. Life is hard. Here's hoping for everyone's health to return so our morning runs can also make a come back...ho bisogno. Vi voglio bene! Vi manerò le foto di questi giorni settimana prossima. Abbiamo fatto biscotti come i diti de una strega con la nostra amica Claudia. Siamo brave.
xoxoxo
s. cespug.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
so life is great
Hey guys,
So life is great.
This weekend was absolutely incredible. Luca's baptism was beautiful. Kind of rainy chilly but the rain stopped for the 30 minutes, and there were beautiful low clouds hanging around the green hills on the other side of the lake. He bore an incredible testimony after and then we all went back to his house where he made lunch for everyone and there was a fire in the fireplace and I felt like I was just at home with my second family.
Sunday...Oh mamma! His confirmation was incredible. The spirit was just thick in the room and stayed for the rest of testimony meeting. All last week I would look over at Sorella Beutler and say, "Remember how Luca is getting baptized Saturday? SATURDAY?!
And now I keep looking at Sorella Beutler and saying, "Remember how Luca is a member of the church?!" I remember when I was in Bergamo thinking Ana and Samuel were so ready to be baptized, and they were, but Luca is just a whole new level of prepared. I literally can't wait to see where life is going to take him because it's clear God has beautiful plans awaiting.
Then Sunday I got sick. I've been feeling like I've been running on empty for awhile and thought about calling Sorella Wolfgramm to get permission to just take a day and sleep it off. Looks like I waited too long. We've been doing kind of half days of work this week because even though Sorella Wolfgramm told me to keep warm and sleep as much as possible I get bored staying home all day. So I sleep, we go work, I come home sleep, we go work and come home and sleep. I'm feeling better but just really drained still and my temperature's been kind of low. More broth and tea this afternoon.
Last night after my afternoon nap we went and saw this beautiful new convert Claudia. She was baptized in Genova and lives here now because she got married this summer. We had a beautiful night with her talking about how she came to Italy (she's 25 and from Capo Verde and beautiful) how she joined the church and then talked about the 5 steps of the gospel. She lives in Porto Ceresio and is kind of alone a lot because of when her husband works. So we made dinner with her after the lesson and while everything was cooking she showed us her wedding video. It was just a beautiful night where I really felt like I was right where I should be doing my job. We're planning on going back for a P-day and making lunch Capo Verde style and walking down by the lake and hanging out. She was like vi invito ogni giorno!
Tomorrow we're off to Milano for zone conference and I'm hoping that Friday and Saturday I won't be a zombie so we can go out and do some good finding. I love Varese, you guys should pray with me that I get to stay here a 4th transfer and be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas And I really feel like I'm part of the branch. And the Branch Prez loves us, which I guess wasn't always the case. Now he calls us the 3rd and 4th counselors in the bishopric. Ha!
I love you alllllll. How do you feel about moving to Italy so I can just have all the people I love in one place? And mozzarella di bufala?
Vi voglio beeeeeeene!
xoxo
sorella cespuglio
This weekend was absolutely incredible. Luca's baptism was beautiful. Kind of rainy chilly but the rain stopped for the 30 minutes, and there were beautiful low clouds hanging around the green hills on the other side of the lake. He bore an incredible testimony after and then we all went back to his house where he made lunch for everyone and there was a fire in the fireplace and I felt like I was just at home with my second family.
Sunday...Oh mamma! His confirmation was incredible. The spirit was just thick in the room and stayed for the rest of testimony meeting. All last week I would look over at Sorella Beutler and say, "Remember how Luca is getting baptized Saturday? SATURDAY?!
And now I keep looking at Sorella Beutler and saying, "Remember how Luca is a member of the church?!" I remember when I was in Bergamo thinking Ana and Samuel were so ready to be baptized, and they were, but Luca is just a whole new level of prepared. I literally can't wait to see where life is going to take him because it's clear God has beautiful plans awaiting.
Then Sunday I got sick. I've been feeling like I've been running on empty for awhile and thought about calling Sorella Wolfgramm to get permission to just take a day and sleep it off. Looks like I waited too long. We've been doing kind of half days of work this week because even though Sorella Wolfgramm told me to keep warm and sleep as much as possible I get bored staying home all day. So I sleep, we go work, I come home sleep, we go work and come home and sleep. I'm feeling better but just really drained still and my temperature's been kind of low. More broth and tea this afternoon.
Last night after my afternoon nap we went and saw this beautiful new convert Claudia. She was baptized in Genova and lives here now because she got married this summer. We had a beautiful night with her talking about how she came to Italy (she's 25 and from Capo Verde and beautiful) how she joined the church and then talked about the 5 steps of the gospel. She lives in Porto Ceresio and is kind of alone a lot because of when her husband works. So we made dinner with her after the lesson and while everything was cooking she showed us her wedding video. It was just a beautiful night where I really felt like I was right where I should be doing my job. We're planning on going back for a P-day and making lunch Capo Verde style and walking down by the lake and hanging out. She was like vi invito ogni giorno!
Tomorrow we're off to Milano for zone conference and I'm hoping that Friday and Saturday I won't be a zombie so we can go out and do some good finding. I love Varese, you guys should pray with me that I get to stay here a 4th transfer and be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas And I really feel like I'm part of the branch. And the Branch Prez loves us, which I guess wasn't always the case. Now he calls us the 3rd and 4th counselors in the bishopric. Ha!
I love you alllllll. How do you feel about moving to Italy so I can just have all the people I love in one place? And mozzarella di bufala?
Vi voglio beeeeeeene!
xoxo
sorella cespuglio
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
sick week OVER!
Thank heavens.
We had a stellar zone conference last Thursday at which Sorella Wolfgramm commanded me to stay in all day Friday. So I slept for an eternity and we're back at it. None of our investigators are really progressing so we've been doing tons of finding and it's been super fun. We've talked to some super cool peeps. One lady was waiting for the bus and started off super closed saying that the world was brutto and we should leave her alone, so I told her how the hand of God is everywhere if we look, and she started listening and we're going to her house Thursday afternoon. I love watching the Spirit work on the peeps that he's preparing and to see the change that can happen in a short conversation.
Then there was a lady working in a bakey I really wanted to talk to, so I bought some bread and then asked her if she had seen missionaries like us before and then we started talking about the gospel for a good 20 minutes. Left a pamphlet on the restoration that she said she'd read and we'll be stopping by soon. You can tell which people are more ready a lot of times by the kind of questions they ask and how well they listen to the answers and she was asking such good questions and really trying to understand.
So our days are filled with lots of strada, talking to peeps everywhere and I'm hopefully that there are people that really are ready for us and that's why it's been so hard to see the investigators we have that are mostly stuck.
Dad, there's an Anziano in my district from Palermo, did you know any Boscias? He thinks his parents were baptized maybe 30ish years ago. Also, Gabriele's mom asked me the other day if you had any peeps you baptized that are still active. I told her I had no idea. Do you?
Amanuensis: Yes, I do remember the Boscia family from Monreale. As far as the second question, I have no idea.
Things sound nice and normal at home. Someone needs to kiss Sarah on the forehead for me. I got part two of her postcards yesterday and part one today, which I haven't read yet but looks promising. I'm working on a Sorella Bush podcast for her, special addition.
Life is good. We had to hop a super tall fence the other day when we got stuck outside a building and inside a fence, at dusk, in skirts. It was pretty great. I'm just cultivating sooo many talents these days.
President talked all about real intent and desire at conference and it was awesome. I feel like one of the most crucial things I could learn now is how to do everything with real intent. I feel like my life would just be full and purposeful and beautiful for evs. Also after teaching Luca last night I've been mulling over this idea of our weaknesses coming from God or the Adversary (I say God) and my district leader suggested from the fall, but then I said we probs had the same weaknesses before this life and then went on a spiel about how I'm so pro the fall and how Eve totally knew what she was doing choosing knowledge and family and life) weaknesses that we inherited from the first estate, and all things preexistence. Like how we must have known people that chose to follow Satan and then we fought against them in a war, and now they've never gone through the veil, and they still remember that eternity we lived before. Man, the preexistence, I have SO many questions...so interesting.
Also I've been reading Doctrine and Covenants and I want your thoughts. I don't super love reading it cover to cover, I feel like Christ is portrayed more severe than I imagine, and I got confused about how it says we can't be forgiven for murder, but then there are peeps like Alma the Younger that murdered before the angel came and had his talk with him. But since in church history they had also introduced things like the law of consecration were the just trying to live a higher law in general, that then we realized we're too imperfect for? OH and I finished the BOM in Italian for the first time. Started right back at it again, and now I'm reading Jesus the Christ in Italian.
Dad, is it okay if we only speak in Italian when I get home? I'm going to miss it like a motherless child. Love you allllll....off to eat pizza (still haven't had a decent pizza in Varese so I'm hopeful) in Laveno with Gabriele and Luca, then hit up Santa Caterina del Sasso.
XOOXXXOOOooxoxoxoxo
sorella cespuglio
We had a stellar zone conference last Thursday at which Sorella Wolfgramm commanded me to stay in all day Friday. So I slept for an eternity and we're back at it. None of our investigators are really progressing so we've been doing tons of finding and it's been super fun. We've talked to some super cool peeps. One lady was waiting for the bus and started off super closed saying that the world was brutto and we should leave her alone, so I told her how the hand of God is everywhere if we look, and she started listening and we're going to her house Thursday afternoon. I love watching the Spirit work on the peeps that he's preparing and to see the change that can happen in a short conversation.
Then there was a lady working in a bakey I really wanted to talk to, so I bought some bread and then asked her if she had seen missionaries like us before and then we started talking about the gospel for a good 20 minutes. Left a pamphlet on the restoration that she said she'd read and we'll be stopping by soon. You can tell which people are more ready a lot of times by the kind of questions they ask and how well they listen to the answers and she was asking such good questions and really trying to understand.
So our days are filled with lots of strada, talking to peeps everywhere and I'm hopefully that there are people that really are ready for us and that's why it's been so hard to see the investigators we have that are mostly stuck.
Dad, there's an Anziano in my district from Palermo, did you know any Boscias? He thinks his parents were baptized maybe 30ish years ago. Also, Gabriele's mom asked me the other day if you had any peeps you baptized that are still active. I told her I had no idea. Do you?
Amanuensis: Yes, I do remember the Boscia family from Monreale. As far as the second question, I have no idea.
Things sound nice and normal at home. Someone needs to kiss Sarah on the forehead for me. I got part two of her postcards yesterday and part one today, which I haven't read yet but looks promising. I'm working on a Sorella Bush podcast for her, special addition.
Life is good. We had to hop a super tall fence the other day when we got stuck outside a building and inside a fence, at dusk, in skirts. It was pretty great. I'm just cultivating sooo many talents these days.
President talked all about real intent and desire at conference and it was awesome. I feel like one of the most crucial things I could learn now is how to do everything with real intent. I feel like my life would just be full and purposeful and beautiful for evs. Also after teaching Luca last night I've been mulling over this idea of our weaknesses coming from God or the Adversary (I say God) and my district leader suggested from the fall, but then I said we probs had the same weaknesses before this life and then went on a spiel about how I'm so pro the fall and how Eve totally knew what she was doing choosing knowledge and family and life) weaknesses that we inherited from the first estate, and all things preexistence. Like how we must have known people that chose to follow Satan and then we fought against them in a war, and now they've never gone through the veil, and they still remember that eternity we lived before. Man, the preexistence, I have SO many questions...so interesting.
Also I've been reading Doctrine and Covenants and I want your thoughts. I don't super love reading it cover to cover, I feel like Christ is portrayed more severe than I imagine, and I got confused about how it says we can't be forgiven for murder, but then there are peeps like Alma the Younger that murdered before the angel came and had his talk with him. But since in church history they had also introduced things like the law of consecration were the just trying to live a higher law in general, that then we realized we're too imperfect for? OH and I finished the BOM in Italian for the first time. Started right back at it again, and now I'm reading Jesus the Christ in Italian.
Dad, is it okay if we only speak in Italian when I get home? I'm going to miss it like a motherless child. Love you allllll....off to eat pizza (still haven't had a decent pizza in Varese so I'm hopeful) in Laveno with Gabriele and Luca, then hit up Santa Caterina del Sasso.
XOOXXXOOOooxoxoxoxo
sorella cespuglio
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