Week 48: TRANSFERRED

Well, I am out of Ostia! I am really sad, but it was a good Sunday and I got to say good bye to a lot of really wonderful people. This coming week will be a lot more goodbyes and a flurry of packing before I get on a train to FOGGIA on Thursday!

I don't have a whole ton of time today to write, but in summary....

• We climbed the holy stairs on our knees. It is supposedly a staircase that was in Pilate's palace in Jerusalem when Jesus went there to be tried, so one of the Saints (St. Elena) had them brought to Rome. People who come here on religious pilgrimages climb the stairs on their knees, praying on every step. It was really cool :)
• I went to Eataly finally!
• Massive all you can eat sushi meal on Tuesday that made us sick to our stomachs for a week
• We got to see a lot of members because we were inviting all of them to the ward missionary activity (total flop...details to follow)
• Taught our investigator Mauro, who is decidedly Roman Catholic in his mind, but believes a lot of things that are contrary to Catholic doctrine. We watched the Restoration movie together and then explained the priesthood and stuff....we asked him to pray specifically about that and he said maybe. He doesn't really pray, he has a lot of prayers memorized though. We will see.
• Saw some members in the morning. Sorella Calvagna is so sweet, she shared a really cool missionary experience that she had and then we gave her a bunch of BoM copies so that she could put a picture and a testimony inside each of them for all of the kids in her kindergarten class. Such a solid member, I really love her.
• We got a lot of pictures printed this week for dedicas! So happy :)
• Taught Melissa Tripi's dance teacher Alessandra. One of the most intense lessons of my life. She has so many things going on in her life right now that are really hard, and she is looking for answers, but she is also not the kind of person to get crazy or desperate. She is so regal and refined. I love that woman. And she came to church on Sunday! It was really happy :)
• Ate lunch with the Petruzziellos again! They are two of the nicest people I have ever met. 
• Ward activity....we gave everyone personalized invites, we made them all missionary nametags....and 10 people came. So disappointing. But it was a good activity, and we had pizza afterwards :)
• Transfer calls made Saturday. Just crazy. Sorella Hansen is TRAINING!!! I am so excited for her. We have been thinking up greenie pranks since the call came ;) and Anz. Kennedy is training again too, so there will be 2 greenies in the same city! Super exciting. 
• Sunday dinner with the Tripi family! They are such great people :)
• Got to see Sorella Blas and the boys one last time, she is so sweet. Her really good friend recently had a grandson pass away, he was only 4 years old and he fell out a window from the 10th floor of a building. Absolutely horrible. Her friends aren't members, and they are looking for answers to a lot of really hard questions right now. She has such a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation! She just wants to share the precious knowledge that they can see each other again. So we went over and shared the verses in the Book of Mormon that say "little children are alive in Christ" (Moroni 8), and then Alma 7:11-13 that talk about how Christ can help us through all our mortal trials. I am so grateful to know that God gives us families and that they aren't just a convenient social structure, but a divine institution for carrying out the plan that God created for His children so that we can become like Him. The gospel brings so much peace and clarity into our lives, and I hope that this family finds the understanding that will help to heal the hurt they feel.

All in all, a solid week. I am currently super stuffed up because of springtime, it rained a few days ago finally but now all the pollen is back out. My nose is so itchy! haha but I am happy, I feel back on top of my life. And I am ready to take on a new adventure in Foggia!

I love you all so much! Thanks for all the prayers and support. You are the best family I could have asked for!

Love,
Sorella Decker

Holy Stairs

Last Ostiapoli district picture

me and Slla Calvagna

Simone and Benito Petruzziello. Some of my favorite members here

Chinese restaurant menu that for some reason reminded me of my childhood.... ;)
We'd always ask mom, "what's for dinner?" and dad's response would be "FF and G; fried frog legs and garlic!"

the Blas family!

Tripi dinner! They invited a bunch of family and friends over too :)

metro selfie with the anziani on their way to take Anz. Garner to his final interview with President