After Christmas

Well, Christmas is over.

On the interesting side, Italians tend to drag out holidays longer than necessary. There was a holiday the day after Christmas, that also makes proselyting impossible. This week, we have Capo d'Anno, which is New Years. All the missionaries stay inside and do a deep cleaning of the apartment.

As far as the Skype call...yeah...the technical difficulties kind of stunk. Sometimes the headphones would mute what you guys were saying. I think what I might try next time, is to do two separate shorter calls, one to Utah, and one to Seattle.

Yesterday was dubbed  a "missionary work sunday", so all three hours of church were centered on missionary work. They asked if I would give a talk in church, and it was actually pretty fun. I had prepared some things, and then as I was up there, the Spirit was prompting me to say some other things. It's cool to think about the progress I have made as a missionary, where at the beginning it was hard to even bear a simple testimony in Italian, and now giving a talk in Italian is probably easier than in English. (Words in Italian are longer...so less words still equal more time, even when you talk fast).

Some members of the ward talked to me, and want to work with us, so I guess it worked. One woman was talking to me, and said, "Something that really stuck out to me, and that I really appreciate is that you became instant friends with us South Americans in the ward, because sometimes missionaries don't reach out to us." I made a really really really big effort to get to know people, so hopefully it is paying off.

We haven't been able to see many of our investigators this week because of the holidays. Until about the 7th of January, a lot of people are out of town. Luckily this gives us time to make mistakes, or learn about the transportation here. It was actually pretty hilarious, because yesterday we got on a bus that we thought would take us to where we needed to go...and then we ended up in a forest. Luckily, the bus eventually turned around, and we were able to get to our destination. :D

OH! I forgot! For Christmas we were able to watch two normal movies (with certain boundaries). We watched The Best Two Years (hahahaha), and Monsters University.

T'was the Week Before Christmas

I don't know if you are aware of this...but crazily, I am officially over my half-way mark. :O

Rome. is. scary...but I like it. It has been very interesting because my companion is in her third transfer, and she has been in Rome for one transfer. We get lost quite a bit, and I think it is pretty funny. Getting lost has actually taught me a lot about how different types of transportation works.

The other day, we got ourselves to a member's house outside of Rome, and it was hard to get back. Everything was lined up for us to get home on time, until a fight occurred right next to us while we were on the train. Luckily, I am pretty good at staying calm in situations like that, and I quickly got myself and my companion out of that part of the train. We didn't get home until pretty late, and I was pretty on edge after that, but we got home safely. Also, while we were out, a man from Florida started talking to us, and while my companion was on the phone talking to our district leader, I taught him the Restoration. I was still really on edge though, and my body had so much adrenaline, that I'm pretty sure that if he had made one wrong move, I would have attacked him. I kept telling my companion, "Man, if one more person does something weird, I'm just going to punch them." I have become pretty defensive lately. Hahaha. :D

Yesterday, I was pretty on edge too, and then when we were on the metro, we got to a certain stop, and we heard pounding on the windows. My first thought was, "Oh no...not again," thinking it was another riot or fight.Then all of a sudden, the doors opened, and TONS of people flooded on the metro. It was a bunch of crazy soccer fans who were celebrating a victory. Stressful, but a sigh of relief that it wasn't people fighting.

Also, friday, We got one-time permission from the mission president to sleep over at a members house, and then teach early morning seminary the next morning. It was so cool. They have about four students who come, and then the rest watch seminary through Skype. It was a really cool lesson about missionary work.

Yesterday all the Rome missionaries sang Christmas hymns at the Spanish Steps, and proselyted. I sang for awhile, and then decided to talk to people. It was cool, because there was this guy from Egypt, and he asked the perfect question, "What makes your church different from others?" I was actually able to teach the whole restoration lesson to him, and he wanted a Book of Mormon. It was weird, because now that I am in Rome, a big percent of the people speak English. I had never taught a lesson in English until yesterday, on the street with the Egyptian man. It was pretty strange actually, because I realized that I don't know the exact words that Joseph Smith uses to describe the first vision in English. I had to translate it in my mind from Italian first.

Yesterday at church, I made a big effort to meet a lot of members. I got asked what part of Italy I am from a few different times. Hahaha. This ward is pretty multi cultural, and the tourists usually come to this ward, because it is "Rome 1".

This week of Christmas is going to be pretty fun, and we have some appointments set up with members. I am kind of terrified though, because we have both a lunch and dinner appointment in the same day. In Italy, that is like tummy suicide.

Love you all! I hope Christmas is great!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

Weird Happenings

Alright, awesome news first.

Yesterday Gianni got the priesthood! For real, this ward is awesome. He is definitely a part of this ward. People have him over for family home evenings, he always sits with members at church, he has a running buddy, and he comes to institute every week. This makes this next part a little bit easier.

I got a phone call from the mission president on Friday. He told me that I am being transferred (MID TRANSFER). I leave this Wednesday, and I will be serving in...

ROME. The Rome first ward, to be exact. I am still kind of in the denial stage.

There was a sister missionary who was going to be going home at the end of the transfer, but then President decided to send everyone home before Christmas (plus I think she needed to be back before school). Long story short, a sister would be short a companion...ergo, early transfers. It was a complete shock and surprise, and I was a little bummed to be moving right before Christmas.

It's really weird though, because before my mission, I had a feeling that I would be in Rome for Christmas. Now, just a few days before, I will be there. Weird happenings.

It's cool though, because I came to Pescara about a week before we found Gianni, and then I am leaving right after he got the priesthood. That is pretty cool. It is pretty hard to leave, especially when it was so unexpected, but at least I know that he is in good hands.

It was cool, this week, we did splits, so I got to be companions with a young woman (and one of my closest friends) in the ward. It was a really good experience, and it was cool telling her about my mission, and teaching with her.

I love you all, and hope everything is awesome for Christmas and life!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

Wow. What a Week!

Dear family,

GIANNI HAS BEEN BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!

Phew.

It was awesome. It was so cool to see an investigator from first contact, not being very happy, to then having a light, and then to baptism. It is actually an amazing story.

It all started out when I arrived in Pescara. I read Alma 29, and it really touched me. Verse 9 really stuck out to me...

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy

...and after I read that, I started to pray every day that I could be an instrument in the Lord's hand to bring someone to baptism. About a week after that is when I found Gianni's phone number and called him. Crazy, right?

The baptism was awesome. We did a musical number, Credo in Te Gesù (I believe in Christ), and it was a beautiful arrangment. It really brought the Spirit, and lots of people were crying.

After the baptism, Gianni bore his testimony, and it was beautiful. He talked about how he had met some missionaries 15 years ago, but he wasn't ready to hear their message. This next part was really touching and emotional: "Then, when the sisters called, it was a time when I was really down in life. And actually, the sister who called me is among us tonight, and I will be forever grateful for her, because I was ready then."

...Just wow. I love being a missionary. I just can't believe the Lord has let me see so many miracles.

His daughter was also there, and now she is interested in the lessons. His daughter is next!!!

All the stress that we had this week was worth it.  Actually, all three of us were sick at some point this week, but it ended well.

I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for all of the prayers and everything. I definitely felt it this week. This week was one of the hardest, but best weeks in my mission. Thank you!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

...and so it goes...in Pescara...

Dear family,

...I have probably aged about 40 years this week. If I come home from the mission, and I look about...60, and then have a stroke or something...you'll know why.

With transfers, I received two younger companions, a whole bunch of investigators that I don't know, a new area that I don't know, the old work that we still have, and I am planning a baptism. It has been pretty stressful, and I think this transfer might be one of those refining fires. It's going to be hard, but I know that in the end it will all be for my good. I'm already starting to learn more about leadership and other great things (hopefully stress management hahahaha).

With the two younger companions, they are both I think a transfer younger than me. Let me just say, it is a lot harder to get two other people out the door on time, than it is to get one other person out the door on time. . Hahahaha I feel like I am becoming more neurotic by the day, because of not making it out the door on time to catch the right buses. I think I'm going to have to start telling little white lies about when the buses come so that we don't miss them. :)

(Also, yes there is a giant flood going on in Pescara. No I am not in Pescara....I'm in Rome again! Woo! So no worries, I am safe and sound if you hear about anything.)  

In other news, GIANNI was interviewed for baptism, and he is going to be baptized this Saturday, December 7th, 2013. It's so crazy. He and I were talking, and he asked me what day it was that I first called him. I checked back in my planner, and the day I found his record and called him was October 25, 2013. Oh man...Gianni is such a miracle.

This past Saturday, we had a combined young men/young women activity. I taught people how to make 3D snow flakes, and they absolutely loved it. It was kind of a Kick off to Christmas activity. It was so great.

Today, we went to a grocery store that we usually don't go to. When we were about to check out, a lady came up and started talking to us. Turns out she was from New York, and knew exactly who we were. She really liked talking with us, and she wants to meet with us sometime this week. She even gave us a ride home so we didn't have to carry our groceries back. It was super cool, because if we had gone to our normal grocery store, we wouldn't have met her!

Anyway, I hope everything goes well with you all! I can't believe it's already December. Happy getting ready for Christmas!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL! Hope you're not as wet as we are here!!!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

When It Rains...It Pours!

Dear family,

This week was crazy!!! (Also, is it strange to anyone else that I have been away from home for 8 months? Time is such a weird thing on the mission.)

On Tuesday, it rained. No wait...that is an understatement. IT RAINED. I have never seen so much rain, except on the news, in places with tropical storms and hurricanes. My first thought was, "Oh shoot! I gotta preach repentance!" hahaha. Most of the buses shut down, and at points, there were times  when the water was up to our knees. I attached a picture. The boots I have held up as nicely as they could have, until they were immersed in water, and the water went above the top of the boots. Then they were soaked.

The day this happened was the same day as English Course. I thought for sure no one would come, because that's just how Italians (and probably most people in this situation) are. Weirdly enough, one person came. As soon as he arrived though, we got an urgent call from one of the less active sisters in the ward, who needed help getting water out of our house.

We went to help this woman, and we basically swam there. It was pretty far, with wading through water up to our knees. It was actually a pretty cool experience. Then we got there, and filled buckets with water to get it out of her house. It was so insane. This week was definitely filled with more physical service.

In other news...remember that investigator named Gianni that I found through our records (of over ten years ago), and he said it was maybe a sign from God that we found him? We have been seeing him at least twice a week since and...

...He agreed to be baptized! The date he is preparing for is December 7th.

I am so excited. He came to church yesterday, and the members just flocked to him. They love him! He was talking for a long time after church with a bunch of them, even though he had to pick up his daughter from something (oops. But also awesome.) It turns out, he went to school with one of the members, and one of our members is his cousin. It was just so perfect. One of the talks during sacrament meeting was about missionary work, and the speaker said something about how "we need to help the missionaries, by giving them people to teach, because all the other finding methods aren't as effective". Gianni sort of looked over at us, and Sorella Paulson said, "It's true," and he said, "I'll help you." (So funny, because the speaker was talking to members. I guess Gianni is going to be member soon, so he might as well start missionary work as soon as possible. Hahaha.)

The result of this story is that after church he asked if he could bring a friend to our next lesson. :O

I have a lot of faith and hope in him. Please please please pray for him. He is really great, and I know with some work and faith he can definitely be baptized December 7th.

I love you all!

Have a great week everyone! I love you!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

Pescara/Rome

Dear family,

This week will mark a year since I opened my mission call. I opened it on November 14, 2012.

This week was insane. First, we went to Roma for zone conference. Then there was some crazy stuff in between here in Pescara, and then it was back to Roma for stake conference. Crazy. While in Rome, I saw the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain. :)

Zone conference was great, as always. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon, and how we should use it. Then, they talked about English Course, and asked for some volunteers. They said they were going to do a practice course, and they needed "students". I volunteered, and one of the elders that I know pretty well was "teaching" it. He said, "Alright, today, we are going to learn German!" and all of our faces basically dropped. He taught us a course in German so that we could see how our students feel when we teach English. It was hard. So happy that I speak Italian....Sorry Matt. Ich ben freulich. (Not sure about the spelling on that...but that is what I learned.)

Something crazy happened in Pescara this week. I was getting ready for the day, and when I got out of the shower, my companion said, "Hey, do you know these people? They called and said that they know you, and they are here in Pescara, and that you would know what to do." She told me the names, and it was one of  the recent convert couples I was teaching from Cosenza. I called my old companion in Cosenza, asking what the story was, and she said that they wanted to move, but they didn't know where to move. She said that their decision process was, "Well...Sorella Worsham is in Pescara...let's go there!" It was kind of strange, and in the end it actually didn't work out for them to move here...but I guess it was flattering that they wanted to move here because I was here.

Stake Conference was awesome. I was able to see my MTC teacher's mom (she is Italian). We talked to each other, and then we realized that we had met at the  MTC. When she remembered that she gave me the BIGGEST hug. It was great.

Random side note: When I talk to people, I get asked if I am Italian quite a bit here. There are a lot more blonde Italians here, so it's not unlikely. I just think it's kind of cool that at least some people don't peg me as being American right off the bat (also a language compliment!)  :)

Anyway, I hope everything is great for you!

BYE FAMILY! Love you!

When In Rome?

Alright family. I have officially past the day that I have been in this country for six months. I thought this deserved some celebration...so we are going to Rome.

Actually, we have zone conference in Rome tomorrow...so we are going to see some things today for P day before zone conference tomorrow. Woot. Hopefully we will be seeing the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain. Fingers crossed.

This week was so great. Miracles have been happening!

Remember that activity we had last week? Well, the day before, I found some records that were on my desk, that had been under some other things like binders. I thought to myself, "Hey, why not?" so I called them to invite them to the activity. There was this one man who I talked to, and he asked how I got his number. I looked on his record, and it said that he had met some missionaries...over ten years ago. I told him this and we both got a good laugh about it. He wasn't actually able to come, but he thought it was so strange that we were calling, because he is going through some hard things in his life. He said, "Maybe it's a sign from God that you found my number and called." Woot!

So, we called him again, and we asked to have an appointment. He agreed, and we went over with one of the ward members. We talked about the Book of Mormon, and it was really powerful. Some missionaries in the past gave him a piece of paper about how to pray, and he had kept it all these years. He told us that he wanted to change his life, and that he was ready to do what we tell him. We assigned him to read 3 Nefi 11, and pray. Also, the ward member who was with us invited him to come to institute this next week, and he said he wants to come!

Saturday, I called him to check up on him. He read the chapter and prayed!!! Then I asked what he thought. He told me that there are things that he needs to change about his life. Then I invited him to church, and yesterday HE CAME!!!!!

It was such a miracle that his record just so happened to be on my desk the day that we were calling people to invite them to the activity.

Also, the investigator who we gave the baptism date of the 23rd came to church yesterday too! Woot! (In this mission, they have to come to church at least 3 times before they can be baptized)

Anyway, I am really excited about zone conference and all.

I love you all!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

Life In Pescara

Dear fam,

THIS WEEK WAS SO GREAT. I have seen so many miracles this week. Oh man.

First of all, we have this investigator who wasn't making progress last week. We met with her, and taught the plan of salvation, but now she has some worries about the rest of her family(if they will make the right choices so that they can be together forever). We asked her about baptism, and she said it was too soon for her.

A few days ago, I called her. She asked me if we had prayed for her, and I said yes. Then she asked what we prayed for about her. Then I told her that we had been praying about her and baptism. I asked her if she would be baptized November 23rd. She again said that it was too soon for her, but then she paused, and said, "Well, it is too soon for me...but maybe it's not too soon for the Lord." She didn't concrete decide about baptism on the 23rd, but she told me she wants to be baptized eventually. She agreed to have November 23rd be a goal date for her to be baptized. :D (PRAY FOR HER!!!!!)

On Saturday, we had an awesome ward activity. It was a talent show, and it was HUGE. There were a lot of non members there who performed, and came to support other people. It was probably one of the best ward activities I have ever been to...in my life. It was so great.  

Us four sisters also did a talent. A few days before the talent show, I was blowing into a bottle with water in it to make a sound. We have a lot of empty water bottles, and the idea came to me to fill them up at different intervals, and we could play a song. We filled them up, and tuned it to a scale on the piano. For our talent, we played "Popcorn Popping" with water bottles. Everybody loved it. We have been getting a lot of invitations to come over to people's houses ever since. I think it's because they saw that us missionaries are human beings with a sense of humor. :)

Also, at this activity, there was a cook off. We made brownies...and we won. One woman told us that they were the best brownies she had had in forty years. (Hahahaha...everyone in Italy is kind of obsessed with brownies.)

Another thing we have been doing with families, is making paper chains. For example, with one family, we did a paper chain about gratitude, and everyday they have to add a link to the chain of something they are grateful for. When the chain goes from the ceiling to the floor, we promised to make them brownies. (Like really, everyone in Italy is obsessed with brownies.)

We have also been thinking about using this as a method to get people to keep commitments (everytime they do service, read scriptures, pray as a family, etc).

Everyone we have done this with so far has LOVED IT.  

Anyway...this week has been great. I love you all!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

The Big Move, Pescara Style

Dear Family,

This was a crazy week. SO MUCH TRAVEL!!!!

I am now safe and sound in Pescara. I got to try my first Napoli pizza (which is the best in Italy), because some other missionaries brought it on the train to Rome.

...It is cold here, especially at night time. I have been wearing sweaters, coat, and scarves. Right now I am in the farthest north part that is open to sisters.

It has actually been kind of a culture shock coming here. The north and south are SO DIFFERENT (and I am not even in the north of Italy!).

First of all, I am serving in a ward now. It was kind of overwhelming going from maybe 20 people in church, to BIG. I felt like I was back in America again. Also, just the way people do things here are a lot more organized.

Also, the bishop has been a mission president twice. Enough said.

My companion is Sorella Paulson, and we get along great so far. It has been a really cool experience being with someone younger than me in the mission.There is not a whole lot to write right now, because I am still pretty new here. The apartment is beautiful, and Ikea furnished. Supposedly it is the nicest one in the mission. Now I am living with my companion, and two other Sorelle. It has been a blast.

By the way, yesterday I hit my 7 month mark. I have already been told that I am "getting old" in the mission. Jokes on them, because I still feel young.

Yesterday was the primary program! It was so great. They all started out in white robes (um, so it may have looked a little like a first communion), which represented them as spirit children, and then when they "came to earth", they took the robes off. It was a pretty intense primary program.

Anyway, I love it here. We ride the bus ALOT, so there are always a lot of people to talk to. There will be more to write about next week.

YOU ALL ARE GREAT!!!

Love,

Sorella Worsham

First Monday P-Day!

Alright family. I am packing my bags. ANXIETY!

I am leaving my little Cosenza nest that I have been in for about six months, and heading to...PESCARA!!!

This is super north compared to Cosenza. It is farther north than Rome, but on the east coast, so it is probably going to take a really long time to get there. I will now be in the Rome East Zone. Apparently from what I have heard, it is right on the ocean. I am still in Cosenza right now, and I make the move either on Wednesday or Thursday.

It's kind of funny, because PESCARA looks a lot like the verb "Pescare" which is "to fish" in Italian...so it is pretty appropriate because that is exactly what missionaries do. Also, I thought Dad would appreciate the name of the place because he likes to fish.

My new companion is named Sorella Paulson, and I will probably meet her on Thursday. She is just finishing her second transfer, which means I am with a youngin'! More news about Pescara next time.

Church was pretty sad yesterday actually. Everyone was really sad that I am leaving. Lots of hugging, kissing, and crying. They were also kind of upset about how far away I am going.The next few days are jam packed with people who wouldn't let us say no to coming to their houses. Haha. Also, tonight we are doing another pancake activity. One last hurrah!

Yesterday was a very..."us" sort of day at church. We taught Relief Society, Gospel Principles, Sorella Bailey played the flute in sacrament meeting, and then our branch president asked me to bear my testimony, and say the closing prayer. I feel a little bit like I am going into the MTC all over again, and that yesterday was like a "farewell". We also got fed the biggest meal ever... Sorella Bailey and I thought we were literally going to explode.

On Thursday and Friday, we were actually in Taranto doing an exchange. We saw some big miracles, and actually got the Taranto Sorelle four new investigators in an hour. It was pretty insane.

Love you all!

Love,

Sorella Worsham