Thanks for you love, support and prayers,
Rosalee
Thursday, June 23, 2011 10:20 AM
HELLO EVERYONE!!
This week we did a scambio (exchange) and our P-day was moved to today, Thursday. I had the opportunity to stay here in Modena and be the Senior Companion, and Sorella Snodgrass went to Verona. Yes, that is right...Verona...home of Romance and Romeo and Juliet. So...guess what we did for our P-day? Yes, that's right, we spent the whole day in BEAUTIFUL Verona. Don't worry, I have taken TONS of pictures and cannot WAIT to send them home!! We started the day early, catching a train at 8:15 in the morning and arriving around 10:30. As we see our companions, everything is great and off we go to a bancomat (ATM). As we arrive there, Sorella Snodgrass says she has a surprise for me...and she hands me a tinfoil package thing. As I go to open it...what do I behold?! A REAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWHICH!!!!! She put extra peanut butter on it...it was REAL american peanut butter...JIFF...oh man, I almost cried!! She put peanut butter on both sides with this delicious jelly in the middle...oh what a great thing. I took pictures...don't you worry! We walked through Centro and saw the BEAUTIFUL arena, Juliet's Wall, Juliet's Balcony, as well as the statue (Ash-I was thinking about you the WHOLE TIME while looking at these things! You're loved!). We also saw Gucci, Dolce&Gabana, and Lui Vitton stores...(Katelyn-I was thinking about you during this time too...there are these pericchieri all over the town which are custom designed fur coats and clothes...I couldn't help but think of you. I couldn't get a picture because...well...there was a very intimidating man behind the window, so I didn't chance it). We walked around and inside this GRAND castle and took pictures above the river. The pictures turned out so fun and I am just so excited to send them home. We got some gelatto, and of all places, we ate lunch at McDonald's...cheap and easy...unfortunately. But funny enough, Fratello Bulloch was totally right...the McDonald's are SO much fancier and the food is SO MUCH BETTER...it's great! We get icecream there quite frequently, at least the one here in Modena. But as we were finishing the day, there was a teenage girl sitting next to us...in all black, smoking a cigarette, drinking tea and something else...probably coke, and scars all over her arms. It totally broke my heart...she had headphones in her ears, so we just waited. Then dear little Sorella Smith just started talking to her...she is 16...and really wants to believe that there is a God...but so many bad things happen that she has no hope. She is from Germany, as well as her two friends...but throughout the lesson, through the cigarette smoke and sadness, she was BEAUTIFUL to me. I could FEEL how much Heavenly Father loved her and just wanted her to know how special she was. This girl was brilliant and had so much to offer, but shielded herself behind all the sorrow and frustration she has in her life. We got her and her friends to make a commitment to pray...just see if there really IS a God. Of course we KNOW there is, but it really is amazing that the simple questions we don't even THINK TWICE about...really are serious questions for others throughout the world. (shakes head...) Man, it is AMAZING.
But, even with the scambi, I realized how much I love this city...how much I really do enjoy teaching here in Modena.That's relaly exciting about the vinegar, Mom! I'm glad Josh took a picture...MODENA PRIDE! I have stayed away from pigeons, and I actually took a picture of some today...how many we really DO have. They flop all over the place...partly because it's really, really hot now...we sweat like crazy EVERYDAY. Cold showers are blessings and you never really get dry from that point. We have fans going and EVERYTHING...but no relief. I do keep hydrated and I eat...A LOT...so do not worry yourself. We are actually heading to the store after this. Through it all, I don't know, I can't really complain...I'm really loving how things are going right now. :) I'm hoping to stay here...next week is transfers, and President has been doing some crazy stuff lately, so you never know. BUT, I really hoping to stay because...
Does anyone know what time it is?? Yep, that's right...it is BAPTISM TIME!! With the investigators that we have been teaching, Richard has accepted baptism for the 23rd of July, Seth has accepted the 16th, and remember the woman we met in the park..how if God gave us a second chance we would talk to her? Well, He did...and she is SOLID. She is going to be baptized on the 9th of July as well as her 8 year old daughter. I cannot TELL you how many miracles we are seeing right now. The lesson with Ana, the one who will be baptized on the 9th, oh my gosh she is absolutely wonderful. Everytime we go to a lesson she cries, just knowing the truth of it. Reesha (8) and Chris (6) are her two children who participate with their whole little hearts. We went to an appointment just yesterday, on scambio, and they were SO excited to see us. We used my beautiful puzzle that explains the plan of salvation, and had the children put the pieces together. Once it was completed, Ana cried and wanted to draw out the plan so that she could make it bigger and her children could see it everyday. She talked about how beautiful it was and that she had never seen it, but she knows that it is true.
The Lord just blesses us with so much, and yet, I feel like I do so little!! I look back throughout my days and I can't believe I am already finished with my first transfer. Are you kidding?? Time is just flying by and I am really getting into the swing of things. Although, it really is true what they say...the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. But you know, this week has taught me that I really am capable to do this work. I have been Senior Companion this week and I was TERRIFIED. I would be in charge of the phone, appointments...everything...leading on bike..(yipes!?) But after this scambi...I am just so happy. I LOVE talking with people on the phone! We were in the elevator the other day to go downstairs and pick up some pizza (yesterday with Sorella Smith) and someone called me and had a total conversation in Italian, and I understood everything. I hung up the phone and Sorella Smith goes <Sorella, you just had a conversation in Italian over the phone...you realize that, right?> And I pause, get a HUGE smile on my face, and YEAH!! I JUST DID, DIDN'T I?! Goodness, tender mercies for sure!!
I am trying to think of what else I could possibly share...Oh! Mom, I HAVE bought a new camera already that was a while back. I am going to go grocery shopping and I might have to use my personal funds because RIMBORSI (refunds) have not come in yet. Thank you so much for being so on top of things! I can't believe you are going to make cupcakes for all those girls...I am sure they will love you for it. I was thinking the other day about packages...I really, really think it would be best if you could send my gloves, coat, boots, a scarf, and one of my warm hats to Italy. If anything, just the coat and boots and gloves. Things are SOOOOOO expensive here that I don't care if they have to take money out of my account. The shoes (sorry Katelyn) are NOT well made and are ridiculously expensive. So I'd rather have a solid pair that will last me through the winter. They don't get worse than Rexburg, so I should be okay with those things. Please, please, PLEASE consider it!!
I don't have really anything else to say. I am really loving the ups and downs of a mission. I am learning to not let the little things bother me...truthfully. I just go through life as it is and am ALWAYS comforted that the Lord has a plan for us. He ALWAYS does. We just really have to align our will with His. Yes, I don't understand why certain things have happened, are happening now, and will happen...I but what I DO KNOW is that they ALWAYS work out for some benefit later in life...as long as you keep the Lord involved. I KNOW that the Lord is a God of Miracles and He is just waiting for us to see them and acknowledge them...It's hard...but it CAN be done!! Life is to short to be angry...sure there are times to be sad, but all the better to be healed with. Anger just doesn't account for anything...it really doesn't. I am coming to find myself...recognize my strengths and my weaknesses. Sure, this is strange, but I have found that everytime I talk on the phone with someone, I always leave them laughing. Simply by talking to them! I don't say funny things or anything...but I love the fact that I have been blessed with the ability to leave someone a little happier after talking with them. Not to be prideful, but I am so grateful that my happiness can shine to others. I've never really accepted it before, or rather, never really got it...but I do now. Happiness is contagious...you can change a world with just one smile.
Keep pressing forward, I am glad life is going well. Have Cadha give Halle a BOM with her testimony in it...maybe even a picture of them together. One small step can change the course of everything.
Love always,
Sorella Bowman
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