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