In the lords hands, or the crazy old ladies

WELCOME BACK TO THE WEEKLY EVERYONE!!! Honestly don't even remember what happened this week but I saw lots of half naked men. Anyways. 

Comp is slaying, food is slaying, GELATO is BUSTING!!! All is well in Italy. 

This week we've been focusing on bringing our friends back to church that were coming before covid and then stopped coming. Our friend Sara was on our list so we decided to go down yonder to her plot of land. It was an hour walk there so we tried to make the best of it. We walked through a place that was NO DOUBT a gang meet up.  I Kept my fist ready and my water bottle on deck. Anyways, then we finally got to her house and her neighbor comes out and says she can give the gift and letter we brought to her. She continues to lower down a rope and a paper bag. Sketchy right? Not at all. We prayed that it would be in the Lord's hand but apparently our prayer wasn't specific enough because now this was in this crazy old ladies hands. It gave us a good laugh and then we walked an hour back home. 

I love the people of Italy and continue to find and learn new things every day. I love this Gospel and love to see how it changes people's lives when they choose to accept it. Also there's a rule that I cannot hug children. HOW DO THEY EXPECT ME TO SURVIVE?! THESE ITALIAN KIDS ARE TOO CUTE.

Pictures:

- yum yum gelato

- our cute friend we met at the park 

- Anziano Reynolds and Sorella Roberts walking the streets of Napoli

- Anziano Richard's and I with our dad

- the best pizza ever in Napoli

- my first ever metro ride (feat. Our friend Oscar.)

I AM HOME!!

I am now realizing that this title could be misleading but don't you even fret because this is exactly how i feel. Italy is home!! I can't explain to you the gratitude I feel from being Here. Every single night I get on my knees and say my prayers and they are just full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father because I am so thankful!!! This email is going to be a long one because I have a lot to catch you up on!!

LEAVING THE MTC - Sorella Bowen and I woke up bright and early and headed to the train station. Anziano Dolls Grandma showed up on the train with freshly baked cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk, and goodie bags for each of us. Best day of my life. Then we hopped on a plane to New York. I lost my phone and boarding pass in the airport so that was an adventure. Then we flew to ROME!!! 

ROMA -  We landed in Roma but two of the Anziani lost their luggage so a couple of us stayed behind with them while the others went to the mission home. So therefore I did my interview with President in the airport lobby! I bet no one can say that. Finally they figured out the luggage and we headed to the Villa!! The mission home is BEAUTIFUL! I ate the best sandwich I've ever had and then I found out I was headed to Caserta with my new Comp, Sorella Crane!! The next morning we went to THE TEMPLE!! Holy jeckle you guys this place is unreal. I actually have no words except that you should go there. Don't visit anywhere else in Italy, seriously just go to the temple.

CASERTA!! - The next morning we hopped on a train and headed to our areas. My trainer Sorella Crane picked me up and she is an angel! She is so awesome and were already best friends. Seriously an answer to my prayers. Caserta is sick. I live like 2 minutes from this massive palace. 

POZZUOLI - Sorella crane is an Stl so she had a meeting in Rome the next day so we got to do a little Scambio!! It was so so fun and I got to hang out with the Pozzuoli Sorelle!! They took me street contacting on the boardwalk, and to get the best pizza I've ever had in my life. Seriously life changing. 

POMPEI - For my first pday, I got our district to go to Pompei!!!! It was seriously insane and we got in for 3 euros because I live here so that was cool   I felt italian for like 3 seconds. 

I have so much more I could write, but that's all my fingers want to type. I love this Gospel. I love God. He is so so good. I love pizza. I love Italy! And I Love you all!! 

Pictures : 

- The first day I was here I got a coke! It was  

- the cute mission home

- me at the temple

- bestie Comp Sorella Crane and I in Pompei

- the flight crew

- literally saw Anziano Brimhall the first day I was in Rome!!!!!

- our cutie church building

- BEAUTIFUL Pozzuoli

- The MTC fam at the temple

- Anziano Burd, Knighton, and I on the train to Napoli

- my backyard

It's the final count down!!

Welcome back to your favorite read of the week!! You guys!! 6 more days until I am on a plane to Italy!! Acckkkkk I am seriously freakin out man. We have come a long way from last weeks email and this week has been nothing but joy! 

I don't even know where to start. I've learned so much this week. If you remember my email from last week, I was very much so not A-O-K. Honestly was pretty sad. But it was for a small moment. Here are some key takeaways and how I'm feeling this week. 

Whenever I would start to doubt or feel pretty darn down about myself, I started to think that I am so powerful and satan knows the potential of my power. And because I am so powerful Satan is so scared of me. Our meanest critic is ourself and I think thats where Satan is most powerful. Satan was trying to tell me that I was so weak and so little. But jokes on you Satan I'm actually so much cooler than you and I don't care what you think. Anyways let's stop talking about that guy because im not a fan. 

I had another awesome experience this week. So, we have this thing on Sundays called "Go and Do." Basically you just get 2 hours to yourself to just study whatever topic you want and to just feel the spirit. Usually this experience is pretty boring and my whole district just honestly tries to stay awake throughout it. But this time was so much more to me. The first thing I turned to was a random talk by Elder Bednar. It's called "Strength in the Lord" (I think). This was his first talk he ever gave in conference. Right as I got into the talk, the spirit hit me like a gust of wind. Elder Bednar spoke of the lack of confidence in his self. I want to share the part that I loved the most. He said "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27). This morning I take great comfort in knowing that I am one of the truly weak things of the world."

You're telling me a prophet of the Lord has felt the same way I do?!?! You're telling me that God chose me, someone who is so weak, to counfound the things which are mighty!!! God is so good.

Anyways, this week we taught three 30 minutes lessons in all Italian and I felt so confident!! I am ready to go baptise the Pope!!

Lol. Jokes. But this week has been so fun and so full of joy! If you've been feeling down, find the things that bring you even the littlest of joy. Focus on the good things God has done for you. And if that's hard for you to do right now, watch a funny video to make you laugh idk watch a funny meme or just sing and dance in your room for a second. YOU CAN BE HAPPY!! YOU CHOOSE HAPPINESS AND YOU CHOOSE FOR YOU!!!!!! THATS HOW GOD WANTED IT TO BE!!! WE ARE HERE TO HAVE JOY AND LAUGH UNTIL WE PEE OUR PANTS!!!

OK sorry but lots of pictures this week 

- the district pointing to ITALIA  

- the spikeball king and queen frfr 

- some of my italian besties (Sorella Satiu, Anziano Aho, Anziano Knighton, Sorella Hollman, Sorella Loughney)

- wearing black for the funeral of speaking English 

- jolly ol me in class

- said goodbye to elder fish

- helped THE Taryn LeBaron to her room!!

- my friend had to leave the mtc to go get his visa and he brought me back Cafe Rio. Bless up!

- me after a full day's work