Love you all and thanks for your prayers and support to our kiddos.
Rosalee
Wed, May 4, 2011 at 11:59 AM
CIAO AMICI E FAMIGLIA!!
Yes, you guessed it...can you believe it?! I have 13 days until I am on a plane headed to Milan, Italy. I get my flight plans tomorrow and I am just SO EXCITED! Last week was slightly overwhelming because the reality of it all just hit me SO HARD. It really feels like in 2 weeks we should be going home...but no...I am SO BLESSED to be going to another country, one of the most BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES in the WORLD for 16 months!! Today as I was walking home from the temple with my companion, we smelled Pizza in the air and both of us were thinking "Man, some GREAT pasta and GREAT pizza sounds soo good right now.." And what do you know? WE WILL HAVE IT IN 2 WEEKS!! Everyone is just so excited for us, and the work is BOOMING in Italy. Slla Jones and I have 2 progressing investigators this week...Pietro and Stefano. Pietro is...interesting. He is very proud of his culture and proud of himself. We get to teach him today and I'm excited...he just makes me laugh...frequently. Stefano is a 23 year old professional Soccer Player for Italy...and oh man...he is GORGEOUS. And I'm not saying this to be weird...he was an investigator of one of my teachers and so my teacher is re-enacting Stefano's character for us...but my teacher DID show us a picture...I mean, man, the people of Italy are just BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!! I'll REALLY need to pray that the Lord will loose my tounge when I run into these people. There is an Italian sister here named Sister Lui and she is from Verona, Italy. She is just the bubbliest little thing and ALL the Sorelle ADORE her!! She is headed to temple square on her mission and is just so excited she has people to talk to in her native tongue. All the Anziani flock to her too...they just get so tongue tied...it's pretty funny to watch. We still have Anziano Mongelli here too and his English is coming along!
The new Anziani and Sorelle came in this past Wednesday and the orientation that I stressed myself out about went just fine. I left M&M packets on their desks Friday morning and it seemed to really comfort them. ON Sunday I found a little box of candy from one of the new elder's saying thank you! They come up randomly and say "Ti Amo" and i just gently remind them that for sisters it's "Ti Voglio Benne" (the softer form of I Love You) They'll get it eventually. The Sisters are wonderful. There are only 2 of them this time, but they work hard and they are doing just fine. I feel so blessed to have the calling that I do and the abilities that the Lord is blessing me with. I want to help people...that's all I want to do...and this calling helps me accomplish that!
I'm getting a little overwhelmed with the thought of packing, but I'm taking it one step at a time and getting rid of things as I go :) Mom, I'll write what I need in my hand-written letter because I don't want to bore others with my worldly desires ;)
The Lord truly does bless those He calls...and He qualifies them to the ultimate maximum. We had a heartbreaking experience this week...Monday morning to be exact. One of our Elder's had to go home. He was called to the office at 9:00am and told that he had 3 hours to pack and he was on his way. Our Fratelli explained that this was a good thing...he'll be able to take care of things that only HE can take care of for his family. He kept saying it was family problems and that he didn't want to go, especially with such small time left in the MTC...but he knew it was right and is just praying for the Lord to guide him. We all promised him letters, and I cannot explain how heartbroken I was. He was arrogant at times, and drove me nuts...but seeing the fact that he was going home, broke my heart into a million pieces. Yep...I sobbed. When I look back, he really was genuine and served with his whole little heart. He is in my prayers and I hope he will be in yours too...he definitely needs it. Anziano Bryce J. Hays. It really taught me to never let your issues with people keep you from loving them. I never STOPPED loving him, like I was always kind...but sometimes I would roll my eyes or something...shame on me. I have prayed for even MORE patience since this experience and I really feel the Lord helping me. That night, Monday night, the spirit was SO STRONG as we sang Nearer MY God To Thee...I looked around at all the faces in my district and it just really sounded like the most heartfelt prayer I have ever heard in my life. I was SO GRATEFUL for that! I told the Anziani that they would be in my prayers and I testified that the Lord truly was here comforting us with the Holy Spirit.
My fears and worries that occurred last week are being put to rest. We had an AMAZING devotional about faith last night, and what touched me the most was Elder Nelson's sstory that was shared about heart surgery. If the Lord can guide Elder Nelson in repairing someone's heart at the moment that he needed it...he can help me with my significantly smaller issues. BUT...if it's important to me...then it IS important to the Lord. And I know that...with everything that I am! We were also counseled to share things...he who keeps, loses...but he who shares, keeps. And so, my love, from now on ,will be shared. For some reason, I have a really hard time expressing love for people...Sorella Jones is ALWAYS saying how much she loves me and appreciates me...and I just feel awkward. But, she knows I'm seriously, seriously trying. And it's taking a lot of prayer, but I'm getting better! :)
I AM becoming someone great, and I look forward to seeing who I am 16 months from now. I KNOW my testimony is increasing everyday and that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives! I'm HERE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE WORLD!
Time's out...PENSO A VOI!! (I am thinking of you)
Con amore sempre a tutti, (with love always for all)
Sorella Camille Bowman
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