Well, it's just me again, freezing my bottom off. ha ha. Just kidding, it's not that cold.
How are you all? What's going on with you this week? Any Valentine's day plans.
Surprise, surprise there is Valentine's day here...it's actually just another Saint holiday...cioè it's la festa di San Valentino. Whatever, it's the same.
Well this week we had 4 investigators in church! Woo hoo! That's the most we have ever had here in Genova, since I've been here at least.
Also we had a lesson with an investigator and without even asking her, she brought a friend! WOW! We're excited.
On a silly note, my toothpaste is blue! Now I know you're looking ''wow great, that's original''...the foam is blue too! It's really cool...it gets all foamy in my mouth and its this darker blue...it's funky.
Remember when I was in a trio for those 3 weeks with Sorella O'Connor and Sorella Durfee? Well, Sorella Durfee is going home now, she's about to finish her service...next Thursday to be exact and I'm so sad. Just because I won't be able to be with her all the time now.
That also means that Sorella Hoppe, my lovely trainer, is leaving too. They came in at the same time. I haven't seen her since October and I am really sad because she lives in Germany and it will be really hard to see her again. She wants to come see New York and she said I could come to Germany...sooo, we'll see. I'm just sad because I love her and I don't want her to be finished.
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There are some new things...well old things being re-emphasized...that President wants us to do. There are these things in the mission here called POPP charts. Basically it's like teaching a 2 minute lesson, kind of like a Teach-to-Find.
Scripture
Principle
Question
Testify
it's a really good way to improve teaching and bearing powerful simple testimony. He has asked us to make sure we do these drills. When I was more consistent with them, they really helped me and so I want that back and I'm going to do them.
Also President really wants every missionary to do language study every day. Sometimes it's hard...we get so busy and then we don't have any time to sit down and study. He wants us to make sure we speak well enough that our prayers and our teaching is Italian...not English Italian...which is a completely different language. The grammar in English is NOT the same in Italian and sometimes its hard because if you don't study, you can't learn that.
I'd say Heavenly Father has really blessed me with my Italian...I'm doing ok. I am picking up colloquialisms and different words. He has really helped and ALL of the credit is His. I am very blessed. I am not fluent yet because I have a lot to learn but I'm learning quickly.
All of the things President wants us to work on focus more on exact obedience...I don't want to be a half-baked cookie if you know what I mean. You can ate a cookie that still soft in the middle, it ''gets the job done'', but a well-done, soft moist cookie thats been baked for the proper amount...it's just awesome. I want to be an awesome cookie. ha ha. I want to be exactly obedient and I have really been trying to improve in that way. I'm getting better.
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We are having some success here. Some of the people have disappeared but the ones we are now teaching are pretty solid. We have 2 baptismal dates, we lost a solid investigator because she moved to Rome, and we have some new people. We have just worked harder and we've covered more ground. My companion is helping me work on stuff and I am helping her. This has been the quickest I have meshed with someone, we just started off on a good note and kept getting better and better as we go along. It's been great.
We went up to this lookout point and taught a lesson up there...it's just...you just can't even imagine. Pictures don't do it justice, but I'll send some anyway. Sun shining over the ocean, the apartments and houses cover these hill and they are all different colors, green, clouds. It's just amazing. THEN yesterday we went to another point up on the mountains but closer to the ocean...you can just see everything, way out into the ocean, the sun was out (that's a rarity), and it was warm and just beautiful.
This is probably the city I'll want to spend the most time in when you all come to get me...There is so much to see. Most of it is just sitting and looking at what is around.
But when it really comes down to it, after the food and the culture and the beauty...the part that makes it the most worth while will always be the people. The good people, the good members, are always the best part. They are solid, they want to serve God. It's an amazing example of faith and hope.
The Gospel is spreading here in Italy...where the start of this whole confusion is...the Gospel light is confounded the wise and calling all souls who will hear the simple cry of ''come unto me''. It's moving forward. I got your email Mom about the story from the general authority. That is amazing.
The missionary sacrifice is one that can bless the lives of millions...I hope I have blessed the lives of just a small few. I know that this is the work of the Lord and Saviour. He calls us, and when we follow Him straightway, we are blessed. I know He guides us and He will never leave us alone as long as we are on the path.
I am proud to be on the path. I am here because I love God. I want to serve Him.
I know blessings beyond number and imagination are in store for those who will love Him too. I have seen the truth of this gospel change lives. I have watched a light grow in the eyes of someone who had no hope. This is real life. This is what it's about. I am a witness of the truth.
I'll leave you with the testimony of an Anziano here. He said, ''I love suffering, because I love growing''. He coldn't be more on point.
We came to this earth to be tried, and our trials bring growth and change and joy. Nothing is perfect in this life, except the Gospel, but through that same perfect gospel in the next life we can experience perfection and perfect joy.
I can promise that you will feel those blessings as you follow Him.
What a bright future you have!
Until next week
I love you to eternity and back
Sorella Carlock
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