One: May 6, 2013 MTC

Caro mia famiglia,

Ciao!  Coma staLei?  I've been so busy, and I am having such a great time I had to wake up a little early to write to you because there just isn't enough time during the day.  It's about 6:15am, and it is so peaceful.  I can feel the Spirit so strongly throughout the day; but, right now, it is stronger in a more quiet way.

I love you all, but I haven't been thinking about you.  That doesn't mean I don't love you, it just means I am too busy, and I have work to do!  I do think about you when we teach lessons and testify about the sealing power of families.  It's nice because we can be together forever, and we get to teach others that they can do the same.

My companion, Sorella Strong, is amazing.  She also studied Italiano before being called.  She is very sweet, and I think we understand each other's spirits very well.  Our ideas are similar.

Our district consists of two pairs of anziani e sorelle.  We have a whole mix of people.  There is an anziano from Camaroon, but he has lived in Quebec City, Canada for most of his life.  His name is so long!  Anziano Betchi Minyono Nikodo.  He is our district leader.  There are five districts of Italian missionaries; we are in a room with the other sorelle and a copia (companionship, I think) from Rome.

I have been making smart choices, food-wise!  Except for lunch yesterday - but we won't talk about that!  Ha!  The food isn't too bad, and it's a nice break from the three-hour classes.  

Yesterday in class, we learned how to pray and bear our testimonies in Italiano.  I have been practicing, and I think the Lord will be willing to help me if I keep doing so.  It is nice, though, because I can understand most of what Fratello Jeter is saying to us.  I just want to be able to speak back.  I know it will come, though.

We are teaching a real, live investigator today.  Patrizia.  I am not scared, because this is what missionaries do, and our distritto is prepared.  Lo Spirito Santo will be able to teach through us.  After all, "you already speak Italian!  DUH!" (That's what our teacher, Fratello Jeter, says.)

My Italiano is not perfeto, pero lo voglio to bear my testimony to you.

Io so che la Chiesa di Gesu Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni e la vera chiesa. Tomas S. Monson e un profeta di Dio.  Gesu Cristo o il figlio di Dio e Lui VIVE!  Dio VIVE!  Dio e nostio Padre Celeste!  Nel none di Gesu Cristo.  Amen.

I love you all.  Be strong.  Be faithful.  Don't miss me; I don't want you to.  I LOVE YOU FOREVER!

Until next time,

Sorella Carlock