Cosenza

Buongiorno tutti: so transfer calls came last Monday night... and I have been transferred to the mountainous città di Cosenza!! I AM IN LOVE. It is gorgeous here with greenery-shrouded hills and two large rivers that converge under a rustic old bridge. Seriously I already love it so much and we haven't even been here a full week yet. And here comes the best part: I got transferred WITH SORELLA MCKENZIE FROM CATANIA. That never happens but Sorella McKenzie is such a fantastic companion and we keep telling each other how excited we are to be blown in together and how much fun we are going to have working together! The biggest blessing with this transfer is that we both want to work hard and are praying insieme con forza to find that one person who is ready to accept the gospel and be baptized since that is our mission meta.

Our biggest challenge, however, is time. We have a ton of special conferences to go to even aside from the Rome one, she is going home in five weeks, and we have to travel to Crotone and Taranto to do all the scambi we need to do for her as Sister Training Leader, so we are really stretching to fit in all the things we need to do. But, that being said, it is only motivating us to search and pray harder and rely more on the Lord, having that sense of urgency and knowing that we need to really lay everything on the table this transfer with faith to experience the miracles.

The branch here is great- in our first 24 hours we had already met at least 5 really strong members and they have loved us so much and fed us twice. We really just need to help love the less actives back and get teaching the gospel to the many English group students to help the branch grow. We are hopeful and working toward miracles! They are awesome and I really feel so at home in Cosenza.

Spiritual thoughts of this week- post conference I have been pondering what talks and themes stuck out to me and I have been returning to President Nelson's talk quite a bit. I kept thinking about it this morning as I was reading in the 27th chapter of Mosiah where it talks about the experience and conversion of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. Perhaps my favorite aspect of this chapter is that after describing this massive life-changing conversion from an "abyss" of sin to relief and joy, the final verse begins by saying,

" How blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth."

It reminded me so much of President Nelson's talk because he describes how joy in essence is using the Atonement, and that our relief from sin and guilt enables us to fully access the joy of life, then share it with others. It was a beautiful reminder to me that in order to be the message and radiate that joy of the gospel, it is vital to embrace the Atonement everyday, seeking the Spirit's guidance in our repentance and teaching of it, and utilizing prayer as a workshop with our Heavenly Father where he helps us fix things we need to change and gives us inspiration as we move forward. I am so looking forward to this conference on the 20th and can't wait!

The Lords Hand

Obviously the biggest miracle has just been meshing so quickly with this amazing little city. I just feel so excited about this transfer and all we will be doing, and the Rome conference will be amazing. That being said it was hard to leave people in Catania- S. had watery eyes and it was so weird saying goodbye to the members and our amazing district of missionaries, but leaving the work there in Sorella Muce's capable hands was a blessing because I know everyone we were working with needs her. I have seen the Lord helping me step up in a big way to embrace the work here because there isn't much, and we have a lot to create. He has helped me have the confidence to make the phone calls, plan the lessons, learn the city, and look at missionary work with fresh eyes trying to find new ways to help people here progress. I feel so filled with hope that through our immense love already, our creativity in finding and teaching lessons, our diligent study and very personal pleadings with the Lord, Sorella McKenzie and I can help this branch bud.

I have a renewed gratitude to our Father in Heaven for his beautiful, perfect plan for us and I see him shaping me to fit mine. I love this gospel so much and I pray that especially this transfer, I won't let a minute pass by forgetting what simplicity and joy it brings to my life!

I love you all so much and happiest of birthdays to dear Grandma Preece coming up this week!!!

Xox Sorella Gleave

Blessings of Conference

I have to tell you about our ward activity this last Friday mamma mia! We did a lip sync and it was
epic. Sorella Muce and I did Wannabe by the Spicegirls, and the Anziani did a fantastic backstreet boys "I Want It That Way" fully
choreographed feature. Truly there is nothing funnier than watching a bunch of older Italian people lip sync old cheesy Italian love songs-
I'll see if I can share the videos haha.Other fun this week was after District Meeting Wednesday we went out
for Anziani Garretts birthday lunch and had a proper Italian feast of Linguine D'al Mare and beef fillet con Parmeggiano, and after a lunch
appointment Saturday win the a really fun sassy lady in the ward, we met her niece on the train ride home! We only found out after we
talked about the church and gave her a Book of Mormon that they were related so that was an awesome miracle!

 

YES! It was so fun to hear Carol! We watched conference all together as American missionarie huddled around one computer in the
genealogy lab if the church because the chapel was in Italian, but when they announced she was speaking I yelled, "Carol- YES!"
Saturday morning session was soooo good. All the talks really reminded me of my patriarchal blessing which was cool and I loved a president
Uchtdorf's talk. It was fun to feel homey with conference but I missed the brunch and rolls-

 

This conference is a really huge blessing and I am praying that we are really getting ready for the temple.

The greatest desire of my heart would be to do those temple tours serving
in Rome, so I'm doing my best to get Italy ready.
Our investigators are good, S. was pretty busy this week so we only saw him once and then at conference! But this week we are going
to help him get ready to receive the priesthood and do family history getting names ready for the temple. He's still a champ and works every
morning at 82 years old helping a younger guy in his cobbler shop since he's done that since he was 12!

The only other notable things really are a mom who is around 50 named M. and her 17 year old son E. They are very
intellectual and she talks. So. Much. But it has gotten a lot better this week. Initially they were just all over coming to our free
English group twice a week, but agreed to do lessons before, and they came to most all of conference in the church!

But yeah they are interested, and they are the kind of people who want to know everything before talking about any
kind of commitment, and they have some difficult ties to the Catholic Church, but I am looking forward to working with them more.
On a sad side note, after 2 months of up and down bipolar lessons and struggles with commitments and he word of wisdom, N. finally
texted us and dropped us. Sad for him but someday hopefully he'll be ready to accept repentance and have the courage to make changes in his
life to find the joy!

 

We have THE COOLEST opportunity coming up on he 20th. WE ARE DOING A WHOLE MISSION CONFERENCE IN ROME!!! with President Nelson,
Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the 70, Bishop Causse, and President Kearon again so something amazing to look forward to!!

Overall I'd just say I felt the lords hand in continually seeing these miracles of meeting new contacts, helping me have the courage to speak
up and really emulate and radiate the joy that the gospel brings me when I am on the train or the street, and having so many little
nudges, promptings, and guidance from Heavenly Father with conference and the announcement of this meeting for us on the 20th in Rome.

Xoxo Em

On top of the world, well, at least Mt. Etna.

Mt. Etna, Gratitude and piano piano

Ciao ciao!
I don't have much time to email today since we are *wait for it*
hiking Mount Etna today- the VOLCANO, that is. I'm pretty stoked.
Communque,
This week has been lovely as always. Many highs and some frustrations
of course with investigators lacking motivation to keep commitments,
pray, read the scriptures, and really change their lives but piano
piano we are working with them. Other difficulty is Feragosto- the
fall holiday here where everyone closes their shops and goes on
vacanza for a few weeks. Not tons of people to find, and some of our
investigators are leaving for a long while but we are optimistic
nonetheless that we will have miracles and opportunities as we work
and pray for them.

The Lords Hand:
The gift of tongues has been a tender mercy to me this week.
Continually I have seen the Lord placing opportunities for me to
demonstrate my faith and open my mouth, and the best experiences I
have had are the moments when I am able to share personal experiences
and testify from the heart. I have seen His hand in helping us make it
to all our meetings and appointments even when shuffling between 3
buses!! And I know that being on the Lord's errand we definitely are
seeing his help in every aspect of our work.

I was thinking about this a lot this morning when I was reading
President Uchtdorf's talk "Grateful In Any Circumstances", and found
this quote that I love:
"How blessed are we if we recognize God's handiwork in the marvelous
tapestry of life. Gratitude to our Father in Heaven broadens our
perception and clears our vision. It inspires humility and fosters
empathy toward our fellow men and all of God's creations. Gratitude is
a catalyst to all Christlike attributes."
I am so grateful for the perspective that I have gained during this
mission. As I look back and reflect on all the experiences I've had in
my life, I can attest that the Lord has carefully laid stitches and
guided every thread of my life's tapestry. I am filled with so much
gratitude for all the vibrant experiences, wonderful examples, and
brilliant people in my life who have taught me and helped get me to
this point, and above all I am excited to see what patterns, colors,
miracles, experiences, and people that will become apart of my
tapestry. I love this work, I love the Lord, and I am repeatedly
amazed and gratified to have this opportunity to work alongside him.

I love you all and thanks as always for the support, prayers, and love!!!

Xoxo

Ciao Catania, Sicilia!

After a 10 hour travel day, she made it to her first area in Catania,Sicily. Closer to Africa than Rome!

No one was ever converted by proper grammar... By: Unknown No comments

Other than wrapping up the madness of last week not much has been going on around here- we had another good devo as always about how important it is to listen to the Spirit and tune out the other loud voices of the world. That really resonated with me with how turbulent the world is becoming- it seems like the one I left behind is a different one than we are living in at the moment with all the political and economic news. However, I have great hope that the Lord will lead us through as we listen for the still, small voice and peace and comfort of the Spirit. It is the one reliable voice we have in these times.

Lately in teaching I found myself a bit too fixated on trying to say "the right thing" or focusing too much on trying to get the grammar right for what I wanted to tell our investigator, and last night I was talking with Sorella Clark and we just realized that the only thing that matters is that we are trying to practice speaking, but we have to feel the things we are saying and really share why they matter. Testifying of personal experiences and simple truths always invites the warmth of the Spirit, and as our wise teacher told us the other day, good grammar never changed anyone's life or conversion in their mission.

So, my goal this week is to stick to the simple things. The gospel of Jesus Christ really is so simple. He suffered for us and atoned for our sins because he loves each one of us so individually. He wants us to come unto Him in faith and embrace this gift of the Atonement and repent. I love that repenting is really just a change in our view of ourselves, others, and the world- it is liberating and so positive- it is letting ourselves become better. I have seen my own testimony of repentance grow so much this last week since it was our sacrament meeting topic on Sunday, and it has grown as I have sought to come closer to Christ through sincerely praying and focusing on reading the Book Of Mormon. It is all too easy to let the basic things slide with how busy we are here but I know that those two simple things help me feel the Spirit in my life more than anything else.

Ah I love you all more than I can say, and I know this Gospel is true. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know that for myself, and honestly I know this is exactly where God wants me to be right now. I am learning and growing so much, through the small and simple experiences I have each day (and seriously every day feels about 10 days long haha) but I am so grateful for this opportunity to become more like my Savior.

 I am very hopeful about what the Gospel can do for people in Italy and I love that thought about helping the less-active members or even just members feel more connected to the strength of the church! With the increasing evil there is also increasing good and I'm grateful to be on the hopeful side of that on the Lord's errand. President Monson always says when you are on the Lord's errand you can expect the Lord's help. Italy is going to be so fabulous!!!

In 2 emails I'll be writing from Rome- wooooot wooooot SO EXCITING! Love you fam, thanks for the wonderful Trader Joe's snacks (the roommates were a little jealous but I am a good sharer) and thanks to all for the continued support and prayers! In boca lupo-

xoxo Ciao,

Sorella Gleave

Chick-fil-A and More Bats! By: Unknown No comments

23 June, 2016

Buongiorno!

This week has flown by- yesterday was my half-way mark for the MTC!!! But things are going well. It has been a little challenging this week trying to keep up my language study plan and making sure I stay working at it all the time but I also know I shouldn't be too stressed about it since this Italian thing is just going to take time. 

Teaching has been going well, not every experience goes as well or exactly as I planned but I know that is just part of the learning process and I am always excited for more opportunities to improve.

Generally we are on more of a routine schedule now, except this week has been full-force nuts getting ready for the Mission Presidents to arrive for their training. They slowly shut down building 1M- the main building where we eat- all throughout last week and things were completely crazy haha. Last Sunday they took out half the seating in the cafeteria because they were setting up the teaching stage/podium for the conference but there were so many missionaries that we just started sitting on the floor or standing at any open counter #streetlife. Also I shed a few tears inside because the food deteriorated rapidly- they took down the salad bar, wrap bar, and basically I have been living off toast, peanut butter, apples, bananas, and oranges :) They hit an all-time low Tuesday morning when they ran out of rolls for biscuits and gravy at breakfast (which looks pretty sketchy anyway) and just started serving gravy on wonder bread, untoasted LOLOLOL HELLLPPPP. The kitchen staff feel really bad about it. Slla Shelton and I were chatting with them after lunch Tuesday and asking how everything was going to work and they told us that Chick Fil A is coming again! That is how I survived last week and the cafeteria shutting down with Slla Morgan- we honestly had a countdown going we were so excited. But as we were talking to the staff they were super cool and nice and offered to find a calendar for us, then their supervisor came over and started chatting and he is the nicest guy! He said he had a gift for us and came back with a peach Chick Fil A shake!!!!! Talk about tender mercies haha. But it was really nice of him and now we see him all the time and are pals.

Also I forgot to tell you- last Thursday night we were put on lockdown AGAIN because there was ANOTHER pipistrella (bat) loose in the hall!!! They had security guards in the halls patrolling and we had to sneak into the bathroom to brush our teeth before bed! Slla Morgan got booted out of the shower and we just sat quarantined in our rooms for 35 minutes since apparently our building is a bat cave. Oh gioia (joy).

The Lord's Hand

I had a cool experience in the temple last Thursday as well. We went to do initiatories and while I was waiting to move on the lady working looked down and said "God loves you very much, I can feel it." It was such a sweet experience and definitely how I saw the Lord's hand in my life that day, feeling of her genuineness and spiritual power.

Other ways I have felt the Lord guiding me is through our teachers. Last week especially we were all struggling to stay motivated and were all pretty tired, but our cute teachers Slla Francom and Russell really took the time to spiritually teach and help us. In the morning we went around the room as a district and told each other the growth we've seen in one another these past 2 weeks and what we appreciated about each other. That was a much-needed booster for morale and we also have watched a lot of the District and videos about Christ which are always spiritually uplifting.

All-in-all, I have seen myself grow so much through this missionary experience, and I know I am only 3 weeks in! But I know it's going to go so fast and all I have been able to think about is how I will be in Italy in less than a month. Lately I have been thinking about the President Hinckley quote about forgetting yourself and getting to work and that is what I want to focus on more, on the service and on the people I am getting ready to teach. In our last devo the speaker talked about John chapter 15 and how we can become better disciples of Christ, comparing us to a plant that needs to be pruned. I have felt that throughout my whole life but especially here on the mission. I have been pruned by the Lord. He has cut out the dead vines and things that don't matter to my life, and has at times cut back at the things that I thought I wanted or needed, but he did it and does it so that I can focus my energy and nourishment on reaching deep down into my roots, so that I can  bloom even more fully in the future. Sometimes we have to be pruned to bloom more fully and I know that is the case in my life. 

I am grateful for this gospel and the joy it gives me, and I am so excited for the further pruning and blooming that lies ahead. God is our loving Heavenly Father and Christ our gardener. They know who they want us to be and who we can become if we let them help us and I'm so grateful for this refining journey!

Ciao,

Sorella Gleave Xx