I finally have time to write a REAL update today on everything and everyone! YAY!!
Monday we went to Monterotondo to have lunch with some members. We went to an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. It was so nice to have non-Italian food! (I NEVER thought I would say that.) Then we printed a sackload of pictures, which was nice, and then did a bunch of little shopping errands. We got to see Elisabetta, the INCREDIBLE woman who works at a bar near the station. She is going through such a hard time in her life right now, but she read all of 1 Nephi in a week and now she has the gospel library app. Last night she texted us to say that she understands now that we are "un dono da Dio per me" (a gift from God for me)... cioè MIRACOLO. I am so excited to see her make progress finally! We have only taught her one real lesson even though we have seen her a bunch of times, but we are such good friends now and there is a beautiful spirit when we all talk together. I know that now she knows we genuinely care about her. Hopefully we will be able to have a real lesson with her this week; it is really hard because she works from 0700-2000 (8pm) and there are almost always people. Pray that we find a moment of tranquillità !
Tuesday we had DDM and Sorella Margheriti made lasagna for us! I tried to help, but mostly I just watched in awe (yes I have the recipe and yes I will make it for all the dates I go on when I get home ;) We also got to go to a Relief Society activity (MIRACOLO), which was awesome. The members are FINALLY opening up to me, I wish I had been able to communicate with them like this when I got here (p.s.: I can understand pretty much everything now. My comprehension keeps getting better and better, and my beautiful companion is always willing to help (MIRACOLO)). We also made it back from the activity without any gas in the car (MIRACOLO). When the car runs out of gas, missionary prayers push it to the gas station. Not really...but we were praying the whole ride home since it was dark out, and we had to be home in about 20 minutes so that we wouldn't be late.
Wednesday we met with a new investigator, Precious. She is from Nigeria and she is the sweetest woman! We taught her the Restoration, and we invited her to be baptized on January 25th ...AND SHE ACCEPTED!!!! (MIRACOLO) She also said she wants to read and pray about the Book of Mormon after we read the introduction, without us really asking her to do it. We just asked what she understood from the promise at the end, and she said she wants to read the book and ask God if it is true. WHAT WHAT (MIRACOLO). Also, purely by the grace of God, we caught the bus to Fiano Romano so that we would be on time to English course (MIRACOLO) ....because the anziani short-noticed us that they needed the car. That continually tries my patience....but I am getting better :)
Thursday was Thanksgiving (obviously). We went to Farfa Abbazia (Abbazia means Abbey) and taught Vera with Sorella Perticaroli (the Relief Society president). They are both so lovely :) we came back, ate lunch, did language study, and I made stuffing and an apple pie for the first time by myself (MIRACOLI) for our thanksgiving dinner! Alberto and Vanessa Malara, the family that live in our town, invited us over for dinner (MIRACOLO). She made a delicious salad, pumpkin gnocchi, and turkey! She couldn't find a whole stuffing, so there were arostaccini (turkey shishkababs), a few drumsticks and some other pieces. She marinated it overnight for me :) Then we had a chocolate pumpkin pie and apple pie for dessert! SO yummy. Their family is the best! They have four little boys and they are so sweet, and F.llo and S.lla Malara are one of the best parenting teams I have ever seen (except my own, of course ;)
Friday we went to Monterotondo to do finding, and there was a man I met on exchanges who stopped us...he is like 95 and mostly wrinkles and gums. He only has 3 teeth. Anyway, we were trying to talk to him (he was speaking in Roman dialect) and there was a priest who walked past us. He knew the old guy apparently, so he stopped to salutarlo. He then started to talk to us, and he was SO disrespectful! He kept asking us if we were supposed to be in school, didn't we have anything better to be doing...and then when we told him who we are and what we do, he got this super smug smile on his face and started telling us all sorts of crazy things. And then he asked why we were trying to disturb people who already believe in Jesus Christ, when there are Asian countries who need our help. We tried to explain that we are part of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, with all His authority and the fullness of the gospel, but the priest just kept talking over us and trying to argue. Finally Slla Margheriti called him out and he was SO surprised. We both knew that the conversation wasn't going anywhere, so we decided just to bear our testimonies. (Side note: last zone conference one of the trainings was about bearing your testimony as strongly as you can every time you bear it. I didn't understand that until this moment). I wanted him to know that I know that the church is true, and that it is Christ's true church on the earth today. So I told him with all the conviction that I have. And I felt SUCH a strong spirit! Sorella Margheriti and I talked about it afterward, and there is no way that priest didn't feel the power of the Holy Ghost, I just hope he recognized it. I know experiences like that are really frustrating in the moment, and I wish all people would be respectful of all religions and the things I am trying to do out here, but I am grateful for these experiences all the same because they help strengthen my conviction and resolve to share the wonderful blessings of the gospel.
Saturday we went on splits with Alessandra and Maylen, one of of the other YSA girls in our branch. We did 2 hours of street contacting, which in case you didn't know, is the hardest thing for me to do. BUT I did it! And we got a few new English course students, a few referrals for the Rome centro missionaries because that is where the people we were talking to live, and I have a new confidence in the promise that if I open my mouth, it will be filled... with Italian words! I didn't have any problems talking to people once we started the conversation :) (MIRACOLO) We also ran in to S.lla Gessati, the branch president's wife, and a member from Roma 6 who were at the big market while we were there, and they invited us over for lunch. The other sister is from America, so she and I were able to chat. And then she, Slla Gessati and I were talking about recipes, and I mentioned my mom's white chicken chili that I love. I said I couldn't make it here because I hadn't found cumin, and guess what: SHE HAD CUMIN (MIRACOLO). So now I am going home tonight to make white chicken chili!!!! :D
Sunday was the Primary program and one of the hotel receptionists where we had church came in and listened for a bit (MIRACOLO). We got all the papers for Laban's baptismal certificate turned in, which was incredibly fortunate. Then we went to go see Elisabetta, and Enzo (the guy that kind of owns her bar...it’s a long story) talked to us! (MIRACOLO)! We were talking about Thanksgiving and families and I pulled out my photo album to show the pictures of my extended family (there are 76 people in my family. It’s crazy.) And then we got to talk about families with Betta, Enzo, and the other people who were in the bar (MIRACOLO). Bars in Italy are not like bars in America. They are like convenience stores with a lot more alcohol on the shelves. Then we got home on time to eat dinner, the first time in a while :) (MIRACOLO)!
I love the gospel, I love my family, I am so blessed to be here, and if I get to do another transfer here or if I have to leave, I know I am going to be where the Lord needs me most and where I will learn the most.
Enjoy the pictures!
Love you all!
- Sorella Decker
PS: We went to a monastery today! Charlemagne stayed there when he was alive. Apparently where I live was anciently a really big cultural and economic center because it is in the middle of two different regions, Umbria and Lazio. So for all those with internet access, look up Fara Sabina di Farfa. The church is Santa Maria di Farfa; it's a church dedicated to the Madonna. We got to see so many cool things, and they did the Gregorian chants in the chapel! It was crazy to see so many things I had studied in school actually happening in front of me. I love history :)
 |
| The Abbey of Farfa |
 |
| Farfa Abbezia |
 |
| Sheep on the road to district meeting |
 |
| Two of my favorite people (Slla Margheriti and Malara) and my Italian Thanksgiving dinner! |
 |
| Classic family photos. Happy Thanksgiving! |
No comments :
Post a Comment