Rosalee
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Wow, wow, wow!! I wasn't expecting so many emails in my mailbox...I haven't read any of them, so I won't be able to answer questions until later :( Mi dispiace... ANYWAY!!!
So, I was totally bummed to hear that my last email sounded like I was a stress basket! I guess that was my fault! Yeah, it was a hard week, BUT there were so many blessings given too!! So, I'll try better to not sound so stressed :)
This past week has just been amazing! Stress level has gone down SO MUCH!! The language is really coming along...we had to teach a progressive investigator strictly in Italian yesterday and I did it! My companion was struggling for words, which NEVER happens, but I was able to communicate freely for like 20 minutes! Constant conversation and even some joking too!! It's just amazing that once we let the Lord take control of our lives, we can do whatever He needs us to do! the gift of tongues is really and truly a gift...I've had it taken away, I've had it been given...it just all depends upon your effort. Sorella Jones and I are getting along great :) She still struggles with my calling because she's been in the spotlight her whole life and just can't get used to the idea that I have more responsibility. I had to be straight forward with her in telling her that she is doing just fine and just because she doesn't have more responsibility does NOT mean she isn't capable. That mental block for her has been a struggle in our companionship, but we had a Comp Inventory yesterday and cleared it up :) It will still be an issue for her, but I am just praying for guidance as to how to help her overcome it all. But, aside from that, we're pretty much best friends and laugh EVERYDAY...and laugh HARD. Our Anziani pretty much adore us :) Speaking of Anziani, we have decided to step it up in our conduct and all aspects to really start focussing on our missionary efforts. They like to talk about home, and girls, and family, and girls, and school, and girls...It gets old pretty fast. One elder believes that his mission won't start until he gets a DearJohn...the only problem is, he has no one to DearJohn him....I'll never understand. ?:Z But, don't get me wrong, they ARE a great group of missionaries...just trying to figure out how to get out of being 19. It freaks them out every once in a while that Sorella Jones and I are 21...as old as some of their older siblings...and it's weird to think that they are the same age as Daniel...if not younger.
So funny things happen pretty much every day, and the most fun I've had has been with language comprehension. Basically, we were learning how to formulate gerunds and such and we have one elder who just STRUGGLES with pronunciation. And so he starts his sentence "Sto leggendo mio..." so that translates " I am reading my..." and so as he is speaking I'm translating in my head (mind you, I laugh at EVERYTHING) but the next word he says just shocks me..."Sto leggendo mio diario" but he didn't pronounce it right...so it sounded like die-ah-ree-o...instead of dee-ah-ri-o....And of course, I turned my head to stop from laughing. My eyes got really big and I caught another elder's face and I just lost it...and so did everyone else. AS A DISCLAIMER I didn't laugh loud, it was silent...with tears streaming down my face. Until like, all the anziani just burst out laughing...even our teacher did too. We were all pretty stressed, and so it just helped relieve it. The anziani pretty much just wait to see what I'll laugh at next...and try to find things that make me laugh :) We were encouraged in one of our devotionals to just laugh and relax and enjoy life :) That's what we just do..if the language gets tough, we just laugh about it. They have been really good about calming Sorella Jones and I down when we get nervous about the TRC or anything in strictly Italian. We just have this drive to do it right :) But we love them so much and just can't wait to see what they are like 6 weeks from now, and even after their missions :) Oh! The other game we played, we had to split into teams and Fratello Bulloch would put 6 words on the board and one partner would be facing, the other not. So I wasn't and my partner was Anziano Madsen from Rigby, Idaho who has a laugh that is just amazing...deep and heartfelt! Anyway, he was trying to help me guess the word for "lunch" and the other only catch was we could only speak in italian. So here's this elder trying to figure out what the HECK to say, and finally he resorts to Santa's reindeer...the word was "pranzo" So he starts, with his hands like antlers "Uh, Dasher, Dancer..." all the while trying to sound italian. I finally got it, but was just crying from laughing so hard! It's great...I am LOVING the MTC.
I hope everyone got to see the special on the MTC after conference. Can you believe it?! PRESIDENT MONSON MENTIONED THE ROME TEMPLE...IN CONFERENCE?!? The eternal city is receiving eternal ordinances! What a blessing I have to go forth and teach the people!! Mama mia!! Che bello!! COnference was exactly what i needed...a true blessing! I decided to write down questions this time, and every single talke answered at least one! All were answered in many different ways...and from that point on, I have had SO MANY REASONS to be joyful!! I just fall on my face in gratitude pretty much everyday. The Lord is just blessing me. Of course, I know the Lord has more up His sleeve, but He only cuts me down because He loves me and is shaping me to what I can become. Some people are getting homesick, but no offense, I'm not. When I think about coming home, it is like weird to think about. I have no desire to...I have so much to learn, to teach and so many people to love! Our older district left today and so now it's up to us to step up to the plate. It's SO EXCITING!! howabout I just dedicate my life and be a missionary forever?? .haha scertzo (I joke) I am just so excited to share and learn. I just really feel like I'm sparkling again and I feel it all the time...especially when I just decide to listen. I've been doing that a lot too...just listening to what the sprirt has to say, and you really find beauty in the material you study, the people you talk with, the people you teach, and the language you are speaking. Che buona cosa...
Mom and Dad and Family, I just couldn't be happier! Thank you so much for everything!! My time is shorter this time beacuse the computer shut down mid email, so I'm scrambling. EVERYONE-Thank you SO MUCH for your letters...it really makes my day to hear from everyone!!
As far as needing things...Um, I'd like my black church coat...Gramma and Grampa probably gave it to you. My raincoat just doesn't keep me warm :( And the brown one is too heavy for right now. Also, my BYU-Idaho sweats (in my pants bucket in the barn) and some t-shirts :) Thank you thank you thank you!!
I love you all and just know, this work is the GREATEST!!!
Vi voglio benne e penso a vi,
Sorella Bowman
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