Hey guys!
Well I shall first off tell you that I am alive and well! The earthquake was for sure freaky! It was a 5.9 and thus about like what we were in in Hawaii. The thing is we live on the top floor of our building and it litterally felt like the whole building was just swaying in the wind... it was sooo loud and of course the sound of all our glasses falling off the shelves in the kitchen didn't help the scaredness factor! My comp was screaming her head off and I just had no idea what to do! Of course I remembered the door jam thing, but what do you do after? Evacuate? Stay there? Luckily there was just 1 after shock. And after calling the Elders at 4 in the morning and pushing our beds together we were able to get a wee bit of sleep. CRAZY huh!! I will not lie I don't enjoy experiencing natural disasters without the family. ;)
This week has been really interesting! Both wonderful and hard... but in a goodway. Thursday we went to Pordenone and did a blitz there- they have a real, american church there!! It is HUGE and even has pews in the chapel! It was really neat we got to work with the sisters there who are actually in a threesome. So I was in a threesome for the day. They are really awesome sisters and we learned a lot from them. Not going to lie however it was nice to come home to our blessed Verona.
The wonderful parts of the week are that we of course see miracles everyday. The other day we went out to do some ricerca (finding). We decided on a street and headed there on our bikes. Then we just started stopping people. In just a short period of time we were able to talk to 3 moms and get their numbers to come back and teach them... three moms with families that need the gospel! yahoo! We have found some new people and are excited to contact them and start the teaching process. Since most of our investigators have become eternal, we are looking for new people. The hard part of the week was ups and downs with our investigators. It is amazing how much we just want them to progress! We know that living the gospel can CHANGE their lives and is the only way, but I also am learning that PATIENCE... is a virtue. Big time ;) and I have always been so patient ;) (don't worry, I am learning!)
Next week is transfers. I am quite positive that I will be staying here in Verona. I am not going to lie it will be really hard to let my comp leave. Slla Laratro is so incredible and we have served 3 transfers together. By now she is litterally my sister and we are like the same person!
My fam... the pics of kiawah looked blissful! Everytime I smell those poisonous flowers here in Verona I think of you guys! he he!! I love you all sooo much and honestly I love being a missionary! It is wonderful to have the chance to put on my nametag everyday and serve Heavenly Father. I am grateful for how much I am learning about how much he loves us, even if we are not perfect. The most important thing is that we just keep trying everyday to be a better, or like President Hinckley says, Stand a little Taller!
Love you all soooo much!!
Slla Kate
Letter to Mom and Dad.....
Sunday we went to the family that will be baptized on saturday. The husband and wife got in the biggest fight I have ever seen in my life... it was insane and all in front of us. We ended up leaving because we had no idea what to do. The wife was litterally out of her wits and yelling and said there won't be a baptism saturday. We left the house litterally shocked.
Monday we got a call from her, the wife. She apologized and said she was so sorry. she has had 3 baptism dates and has never gone through with it. She told us that ever time she is closed to being baptized, something huge happens and she doesn't. She explained that she knew satan was trying so hard to prevent her from getting baptized. Then she informed us we will have the baptism saturday!! CRAZY HUH!
More about the Earthquake....
we are totally fine! But we felt alot and yes it was long... but mostly we felt so much because we live so high up! It was crazy... I DON'T like earthquakes... that is for sure!
PICTURES....
I will be posting a bunch of pictures that Katie sent home....as soon as I can figure it out!!!!.....one of these days!!!!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Lost in the work... and the woods....
Carissima famiglia mia,
Ciao Tutti! What the goodness... you are going to Kiawah... even as I type!! How fun!! I hope you have the best times! I am soooo excited I get to talk to you on sunday!! How perfect, then I will get to have a little taste of kiawah... it will be like I am there, almost!
Well funny thing that Verona reminds me so much of Charleston. It even smells like charleston if you know what I mean ;) It is getting really humid and hot! And of course raining a lot! This is exactly the same time of year I was here in Italy when I came for study abroad so I am getting ready for the hot! We are quite the sight as missionaries when we show up at appointments either completely soaked because of a random rain storm, or completely sweaty... Maybe thats why people say no to us... huh. ;)
Well this week we have just been plugging along. We are still working hard to help the Meneghini family be ready to be baptized and to help our other Investigators progress. We have quite a few investigators that are eternal or quickly becoming eternal which is hard. They know it is true but there is just something that keeps them from getting bapti zed and taking that step of faith. We are working to help them develop this faith and their own testimonies.
We of course see miracles each day which remind me constantly how Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. For example, Last P-day we decided to do a little shopping. We walked into a tisana shop and there was just us and the store owner. Of course we chatted with her and told her that she had a really fun job. She replied "You have a wonderful job too, You're missionaries right? What is it exactly that you do?" Well those questions are music to a missionaries ears! We went on to tell her what we do, who we represent and what our message is about. She is very believing and really listened to what we had to say. In the end we were even able to say a prayer right there with her in her store. It was a really neat P-day miracle! Yesterday we got lost for about 2 hours because we took a street that put us on the freeway... very bad idea. We finally were able to get off and had to walk through a vineyard in the middle of no where until we found someone we could ask for directions. We really were super close to Verona but had just gotten turned around... how dumb ;) But the work goes on and we have sooo much fun doing it!
I love you, I love you all! My dear friend jess emailed me this week and sent me this quote:"In my 90 plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out." -President Gordon B. Hinckley
I know this is true, If we just keep on keeping on... Heavenly Father takes care of the rest! Keep the faith my family! I love you and will talk to you sunday! Yahoo!
Slla Kate
P.S. Giro d'Italia is here in Verona today... its like the Tour de France but in Italy... Sweet huh!
Ciao Tutti! What the goodness... you are going to Kiawah... even as I type!! How fun!! I hope you have the best times! I am soooo excited I get to talk to you on sunday!! How perfect, then I will get to have a little taste of kiawah... it will be like I am there, almost!
Well funny thing that Verona reminds me so much of Charleston. It even smells like charleston if you know what I mean ;) It is getting really humid and hot! And of course raining a lot! This is exactly the same time of year I was here in Italy when I came for study abroad so I am getting ready for the hot! We are quite the sight as missionaries when we show up at appointments either completely soaked because of a random rain storm, or completely sweaty... Maybe thats why people say no to us... huh. ;)
Well this week we have just been plugging along. We are still working hard to help the Meneghini family be ready to be baptized and to help our other Investigators progress. We have quite a few investigators that are eternal or quickly becoming eternal which is hard. They know it is true but there is just something that keeps them from getting bapti zed and taking that step of faith. We are working to help them develop this faith and their own testimonies.
We of course see miracles each day which remind me constantly how Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. For example, Last P-day we decided to do a little shopping. We walked into a tisana shop and there was just us and the store owner. Of course we chatted with her and told her that she had a really fun job. She replied "You have a wonderful job too, You're missionaries right? What is it exactly that you do?" Well those questions are music to a missionaries ears! We went on to tell her what we do, who we represent and what our message is about. She is very believing and really listened to what we had to say. In the end we were even able to say a prayer right there with her in her store. It was a really neat P-day miracle! Yesterday we got lost for about 2 hours because we took a street that put us on the freeway... very bad idea. We finally were able to get off and had to walk through a vineyard in the middle of no where until we found someone we could ask for directions. We really were super close to Verona but had just gotten turned around... how dumb ;) But the work goes on and we have sooo much fun doing it!
I love you, I love you all! My dear friend jess emailed me this week and sent me this quote:"In my 90 plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out." -President Gordon B. Hinckley
I know this is true, If we just keep on keeping on... Heavenly Father takes care of the rest! Keep the faith my family! I love you and will talk to you sunday! Yahoo!
Slla Kate
P.S. Giro d'Italia is here in Verona today... its like the Tour de France but in Italy... Sweet huh!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
It's a miracle, miracle, a true blue miracle!!!
Famiglia mia!!
Fam... life is good. SO GOOD!! You are going to Kiawah! Blissful day! I am sooo excited for you! I think you need to make sure you do the following...
1. Catch a sand dollar for me
2. Eat a large slice of chocolate cake for me
3. Have a 50 yard dash in honor of me
4. catch a beautiful body surfing wave for me
5. sing "Beach Beach going to the beach" for me
6. watch an extra lot of disney channel for me
7. play a round of Bang for me
8. build one extra large sand castle (perhaps in the form of italy) for me
9. eat some blue bell ice cream for me...
10. Go to the Mill's house for me... he he he ;)
Have sooo much fun! I am excited you will be there when I get to call! I don't know the deets of the call yet but I will let you know next week.
SO this week honestly was just unreal! Piena di miracoli! Full of Miracles!
I said last week we were working with a part member family, the family Meneghini. We had a lesson on saturday and we proposed a baptisimal date for them. They were a little hesitant. So we taught our lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ an how we have to follow his example and be baptized. Then we knelt down and said a prayer together. Slla Meneghini said the prayer. As soon as it was over she said, "May 25th... it just came to me!" We were thrilled! Now we are working as hard as we can to help get them all ready!
Then SUNDAY! So can I just tell you that it was crazy! We get to church... no one it there. Then the family Meneghini comes! The whole family in church! Then Gica and her Son Davide... Then 2 other investigators... then another family, the family of Pizza Love! They all came!!! I don't know if I have already told you about Pizza love but they are our favorite Pizzeria! We love them and they love us. We usually just try to teach them a few things in their restaurant but if you remember a few weeks ago they came to church. This week they said they couldn't come. But as we are sitting in Sacrament Meeting in walks... THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Them and their 3 kids! We were just beaming! It was a total of 11 investigators in church! And Yesterday we went to Pizza Love's house for lunch and taught them about the Book of Mormon! SO awesome! This is a testimony to me about the importance of sharing the gospel everywhere you go, my companion is incredible at doing this and as a result of her constant testifying... miracles are happening!
Also sunday we got to go with the ward to a rest home to sing. It was so much fun! we sang all these classic italian songs. It reminded me of singing with Grandma because she knows all the classic american songs! OH and don't worry, we even sand O Susanah in Italian! ANd of course, Volare! (i.e. Lizzie Mcguire movie)!
Honestly I am just one little happy Missionary! I love being a Missionary!
Remember how much Heavenly Father loves each of you. I have had a lot of experiences in the past little while of testifying and telling people how much their Heavenly Father loves them and that they Have a Savior who understand them perfectly. It is litterally Heart breaking when they don't believe it. I can't immagine my life without the knowledge that we can repent, we can start over, we can do the impossible, all thanks to our Savior!
I love you all so much! Keep the faith!
Slla Kates
ps. Jake good luck on the ap tests! and Have fun at prom! Lots of pics okay?!
Fam... life is good. SO GOOD!! You are going to Kiawah! Blissful day! I am sooo excited for you! I think you need to make sure you do the following...
1. Catch a sand dollar for me
2. Eat a large slice of chocolate cake for me
3. Have a 50 yard dash in honor of me
4. catch a beautiful body surfing wave for me
5. sing "Beach Beach going to the beach" for me
6. watch an extra lot of disney channel for me
7. play a round of Bang for me
8. build one extra large sand castle (perhaps in the form of italy) for me
9. eat some blue bell ice cream for me...
10. Go to the Mill's house for me... he he he ;)
Have sooo much fun! I am excited you will be there when I get to call! I don't know the deets of the call yet but I will let you know next week.
SO this week honestly was just unreal! Piena di miracoli! Full of Miracles!
I said last week we were working with a part member family, the family Meneghini. We had a lesson on saturday and we proposed a baptisimal date for them. They were a little hesitant. So we taught our lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ an how we have to follow his example and be baptized. Then we knelt down and said a prayer together. Slla Meneghini said the prayer. As soon as it was over she said, "May 25th... it just came to me!" We were thrilled! Now we are working as hard as we can to help get them all ready!
Then SUNDAY! So can I just tell you that it was crazy! We get to church... no one it there. Then the family Meneghini comes! The whole family in church! Then Gica and her Son Davide... Then 2 other investigators... then another family, the family of Pizza Love! They all came!!! I don't know if I have already told you about Pizza love but they are our favorite Pizzeria! We love them and they love us. We usually just try to teach them a few things in their restaurant but if you remember a few weeks ago they came to church. This week they said they couldn't come. But as we are sitting in Sacrament Meeting in walks... THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Them and their 3 kids! We were just beaming! It was a total of 11 investigators in church! And Yesterday we went to Pizza Love's house for lunch and taught them about the Book of Mormon! SO awesome! This is a testimony to me about the importance of sharing the gospel everywhere you go, my companion is incredible at doing this and as a result of her constant testifying... miracles are happening!
Also sunday we got to go with the ward to a rest home to sing. It was so much fun! we sang all these classic italian songs. It reminded me of singing with Grandma because she knows all the classic american songs! OH and don't worry, we even sand O Susanah in Italian! ANd of course, Volare! (i.e. Lizzie Mcguire movie)!
Honestly I am just one little happy Missionary! I love being a Missionary!
Remember how much Heavenly Father loves each of you. I have had a lot of experiences in the past little while of testifying and telling people how much their Heavenly Father loves them and that they Have a Savior who understand them perfectly. It is litterally Heart breaking when they don't believe it. I can't immagine my life without the knowledge that we can repent, we can start over, we can do the impossible, all thanks to our Savior!
I love you all so much! Keep the faith!
Slla Kates
ps. Jake good luck on the ap tests! and Have fun at prom! Lots of pics okay?!
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