Hard Day, Rewarding Week

Well lets just say that this week has been hard. There was on day in particular where I was getting down on myself for the language and I just didnt feel like I was helping anyone. I am so grateful for my companion Sorella McCann. She is so sweet and knew exactly what I needed to hear. After that day the rest of the week went well.

 

New people

We have a new sorella in our apartment and she is just a little ray of sunshine. Sorella Baer is so happy all of the time. She is always asking "what can I do to help you". She is so sweet and has a good sense of humor, so we are very grateful to have her in como. Our district is basically half new missionaries which is fun to have a change. Our district has a ton of pretty new missionaries. Our district leader is training a new missionary and is opening again in our ward. We are so grateful to have anziani back in our ward. It is going to be very helpful to have them.

 

Casa

So the other day we decided to do casa and we go to this apartment that looks very promising.. When we get in we start the casa and literally after every door there was a strange situation. Someone told us they couldnt hear us..another person said they had to help someone that was sick and so on.. After we got out of th apartment I turned to Sorella McCann and said "I think that we may have done casa in a convalesent home" (Ignore te spelling). Well we are not going back there again. hah

 

Scripture studies

Recently I have been praying to know how I can have more charity and love for all people and this week I recieved an answer through my scripture studies in th Book of Mormon. I was reading in Alma chapters 17-20 and in these chapters it talks about Ammon and King Lamoni. This is one of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon. In these chapters ammon costantly is doing service and servingthe king. He even asks king lamoni basically how can I serve you more. It was a simple answer that through serving others we can create charity and love for people. It is an interesting story because king lamoni changes his wicked ways and changes. He changes because of Ammon and his service.

     Later it talks about how Ammon and King Lamoni have to go and get Ammons brothers out of prison and they have to talk to king Lamonis father.who was not very happy. Ammon asks his father to do two things and the father could see the love that ammon had for his son and so he told them he would leave his son alone basically.

     I loves these two stories  because it shows that  when we serve others and we have love for them people notice. I have a strong testimony of this and I know that as we pray for opportunities to serve others the lord will put service opportunities in our path. I have tested this many times and prayed that I could have service oppotunities and everytime I had some small experience where I was able to help or serve someone. I know that the Lord wants us to help, build, uplift and serve one another. I hope that I can use these things that I have learned eachday because the greatest happiness I feel in ife is when I am serving others and I am not focusing on myself.

 

Miracle

For our zone vision this transfer we are focusing on finding and tryng to get 5 new numbers/addresses a day. We were on the bus yesterday and I saw this woman and in my mind I thought I want to talk to her..the next thing I know I start taling to her in Italian..hah I told her who we were and of unique message of the restoation and the bookof mormon.My Italian was not amazing but the spirit was there and she listened to me as I struggled to speak to her in Italian. Luckily Sorella McCann came over to help me understand her name and hen I asked her for her number. Which she gave to us. We have an appointment planned with her this week. I know that without the spirit she would not have listened to anything I said andf would not have given us her number. I am grateful that I was able to do this small thing because it made me realize that I can do this with the Lords help.

 

 

It started out to be a hard day but it turned out to be a great week.

 

love you all,

sorella carter

last week we went to lugano or pday which is in switzerland!

1.swiss army knife..from switzerland.ha

2.crossing the border to switzerland

3 beautiful lugano

swatch for switzerland..it is reversible..you would like it mom!

First Baptism

Ciao tutti!

Happy birthday Mom! Auguri! I love you and I appreciate all of your letters. I got one today! Thank you. I love you. Eat a slice of susie's cakes for me! ha Love you!

Sabato

So Saturday was the baptism of our invetigaor. She was so cute. She dressed in all white and wore a white flower in her air. She told us that the flower was her favorite and that it represents purity. The baptism went well except the water was a little too warm. It is funny because when we first turned on he water it was freezing. But she made it and it was a very quick baptism. It was great too because her sister came who is not a membr so we are hoping that she felt the spirit and we can teach her again because she has been taught the lessons before.

Sunday

Was seriously the best sunday thus far in Italy. We had this cute couple from switzerland visiting and they followed us off the bus to church. Our investigator recieved the gift of the holy ghost and bore her testimony as well. Then our miracle family came to church with the husband who is less active (his wife is our investigator). So she got to see our other investigator recieve the gift of the holy ghost.

Random

We also had another miracle one of our other investigators is getting baptized august 10th. He found out that he could be baptized sooner than we thought. We are sooo excited for him. He loves the gospel and seems like he has been a member of he church his whole life.

The great people in our ward..the man on the far right thomas is getting baptized august 10th!!

There are always hard days during the week. Everyday there are moments when I think to myself "This is sooo hard..What have I gotten myself into"..but then there are those great moments that make merealize what I am doing and the importance of being here.

Oh Sorella McCann is with me for another transfer in Como! I am so excited. We have so much fun together and get along so well. I am excited for this transfer becaus I know it is going to be ull of miracles.

Cantù

I have a funny story. The other day we were teaching a lesson to a less active men (this lesson is all in english) and all of the sudden he looks at me and says during the lesson "I think she has something to say"..It was funny because because he said it to me about threee or four times. So I must have had a funny look on my face or something when I wanted to speak.

Studies

This week I have been studying in Alma and it is an amazing book in the book of mormon. I love the first chapters in Alma because it constantly talks about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One story in particular that I loved reading about this week was the story of Alma the younger and the sons of mosiah. I love this story because it shows how all people have the ability to change. It shows that according to our faith that we can change our hearts. In Alma 5: 33, 37-38, 59-60 shows us how Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and has called us and cotinues to call us. I loved this phrases in particular because it shows that now matter who we are, what we do, or how much we have sinned we can always turn to the atonement and repent of all of our sins. Jesus Christ is our shepherd and will always be ready with his arm extended is we are willing to humble ourselves and grab his hand. I love this chapter in Alma and it give me hope and faith that everyone has the ability to change. I have seen our investigators hearts change. I have noticed that when our investigators are reading the book of mormon that is when their hearts begin to change and they want to be the best that they can be.

It gives me hope that people can turn their lives around like the sons of mosiah/alma the younger and turn their lives into helping to serve the Lord. I know that as we turn to the Lord with a humble heart, repent of our sins and trust in him we will come closer to him and be happier than we have ever been before. This is the happiest I have ever been before in my life. I have to rely on the lord and the scriptures because I cant call mom or dad when I am having a hard day. I have to pray and trust in the Lord andhis will and know that it will all work out in his timeframe and his way. Although I dont have technology and etc like I did back home, I have the scriptures and  prayer. In the end you dont need much to live. I have had more happiness in these last few months because I am gaining a stronger relationship with the savior and a testimony of this gospel.

I am so grateful to be here and for the experience of sharing this gospel to those who are ready for its message. I want to bear my testimony of the atonement and that no matter what we have done in the past we can always reach for the saviors hand and repent of our past sins. I am grateful for the atonement because through the christ's atonement we can return and live with our families, god and jesus christ for eternity.

I love this work.Its hard everyday and I am learning how to be patient with others each and every day. I love you all and think of you daily.

love,

sorella carter

fabrizio a recent convert

bishop cusin baptized anabel

making tiarmisu for others..and possibly us as well