But the moments that I will always remember are those moments of joy and pure happiness that I have felt. The moments were you see people rejoice together as familes, feel the spirit, feel love for those you don't even know, when someone reads the book of mormon and finds out that the church is true, hearing someone bear their testimony to you, people completely changing everything to feel the joy that comes from the gospel.
This past week I was a little bit sad realizing that I will be leaving Italy, but yesterday night I just complete and utter peace. I felt that I had done everything that the Lord wanted me to do in this year and a half among his children in Italy. I know that it is the time to go home and I have learned and done everything the Lord wanted me to do.
The 25th of October 2014 is a day that I will never forget. All of the stress and work that we had to do beforehand was worth every effort. The three sisters that we were teaching were baptized. Each one of them beamed with joy that day. The day before one of them told us,"It's like waiting for your birthday or for christmas!". They all were so prepared and ready to be baptized that day.
The room was full. It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen come to a baptism. There were probably at least 50-60 people there. The spirit was thick during the baptism. As the youngest sister stepped into the font I got a little bit nervous because the water was freezing. But after they all told us that as they stepped into water it was cold, but they could feel the spirit in their hearts warming them up in the cold water.
The two oldest sisters bore beautiful testimonies and I felt so much gratitude that I was able to see their baptism on my last Saturday as a missionary. All of the hard moments, the rejections and etc were all worth it..It truly made me appreciate that day with them.
At the end of the baptism I gave the closing prayer and I started tearing up because I was so happy and grateful for each one of these three sisters. They have changed my life and I will always be grateful for them.
It will be a day that I will never forget and likewise the same for them. Their mother was so happy to see them all get baptized.
On Sunday we had stake conference and a member from Como was randomly there and I was able to talk to her for a little bit. I am so grateful for the time that I had to serve in como for 7 months. Also I am grateful for my other cities that I have served in Bergamo, Ravenna and Milano. I have learned so much in this year and a half it is remarkable.
I know that this chapter of my life is ending, but there is just another chapter right around the corner. I am excited and I am ready to start this new adventure because life is an adventure. We are all constantly learning and changing. I am ready to take these lessons that I have learned here in Italy home and use them for the rest of my life.
I love Italy. Oh how I will miss it here! It has been my home for so long now, but I know it is time to go home.
I want to thank you all for the love and support that you have given me this year and a half. I am grateful for each and everyone of you and for the love you have shown me.
I love you all and I will see you all soon on Halloween! Ci vediamo! Vi voglio tanto bene! So che questa è la vera chiesa di Gesù Cristo sulla terra. Sono grata per il mio salvatore e redentore Gesù Cristo. So che il Libro di Mormon è la parola di Dio. Sono grata per ognuno di voi perche mi avete sostenuto durante nelle momenti difficili ed archè nelle momenti belle. Vi voglio un sacco di bene e ci vediamo presto!
con affetto,
Sorella Rebecca Carter
questo è una mostra di Van Gogh
Il battesimo di Karla, Melanie e Michelle
le tre sorelle
con la mamma di loro
sono felici!
membro di como e alcuni membri di milano
random ones
photo like my first foto in front of the duomo
that moment when we were taking this foto to look like my first day in italy and all of the sudden a random man came up to me and put popcorn kernals in my hand for the pigeons...hahah.. the best was when the pigeon was perched on sorella welch's arm. we were all laughing after that. not good photos of me, but they are funny.
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