Wednesday August 17, 2011 9:45 AM
Wow!
That is about how much I can say right now. Life really does go on even when you are serving the Lord. Seeing all of my friends start their families, babies being born, friends getting married...wow, it is SO CRAZY!! But, just the same, I am STILL loving my mission....if not more now.
The Lord knew that I needed this...the blessing of being a trainer. I cannot tell you the amazing perspective you get when you have the priviledge of working with someone just barely in the field! Sister Candace Kealani Smith is my new companion and she is from Spanish Fork, Utah. She is 22 years old, LOVES red lipstick, has 2 older brothers and a younger brother and sister...and can't speak a lick of Italian. But you know, you would think I would be totally stressed right? Honestly, I am stressed...there is a LOT of new responsibilities that I have to do that I haven't ever done...but...I am happy. I don't think that I can express how happy I am right now. It is a fresh feeling...seeing someone else grow and being blessed with so many thing. I just feel like I am back to myself again. I have to bend and adjust to things, but I think the Lord just blesses me with a peace in saying that it is okay. As we know, Modena is one of THE HOTTEST cities here in Italy and it is VERY difficult for Sorella Smith. She has fibro myalgia as well as arthritis...so severe that she almost didn't come out to the field. This has not bothered me yet, and I am positive that it won't. I just smile and let things go...and so far it is working. She is just joy...with an opinion and a heart to work, that is for sure. I love working with her because there is ALWAYS something to laugh about, especially with the language barrier. SHe tries SO HARD, and the people we have taught just love her because even though they can't understand what comes out of her mouth...they see the Lord's spirit in her eyes...and that is totally true.
We have had so many experiences this week. It has been a week of reflection for me...truly...and really looking and relying on the Lord to teach and help her grow in as many ways as possible. As well as myself!! Sometimes she goes off on tangents, but I have learned to bring the conversation BACK to what we are teaching, and she is learning. We read from the Book of Mormon in Italian EVERY NIGHT and I really think that is helping her too...if anything, it is helping me. I have felt this like, "mantle" placed upon me, where I can understand pretty much everything that others are saying...It's absolutely amazing. We have constructed an awesome language study plan for this transfer, but haven't quite gotten to it yet because the work has been taxing for her AND myself...we had to do quite a bit of walking one day because she had Fibro Fog (where she can't concentrate...nonetheless ride a bike) and we just passed out when we got home. But nonetheless, with the adjusting, we still see miracles. :)
We started off the week on a GREAT start, I am just thrilled to have her as a companion. There are so many laughs and so many things that she brings with a fresh perspective. We were teaching an African couple named Matilda and Robert and they just couldn't understand WHY they needed to be baptized again. I was stuck...i didn't know what to say...so I turned to Sorella Smith and she explains baptism like a jelly donut...and it WORKED!! She said that when they were first baptized, the people only gave them a regular donut, just the dough. But we are here to offer you the donut that you wanted...with the best jelly you have EVER tasted. "I GET YOU MY SISTAH" was all they could say. Thank heavens. We had another contact in the park and started talking to these people. THe conversation was going so well and I bore testimony of what we were teaching. I turn to her so that she can testify, and she takes a big breath, smiles sweetly and in her Italian says "I don't believe any of this". HAAHHHAHHAHAHHAHA!!!! I look at her and my eyes get big and her eyes get big and she goes "Wait, what did I just say?" Haahaha Sorella, you just said you didn't believe anything I JUST said!! Hahahahhaha we were then able to go back and fix it. Gotta love it...hahaha
I do think that miracles are going to be accomplished this transfer. Felix and Seth showed up to church this past week in a white shirt, suit pants, and Felix in a tie. Felix was asked to say the opening prayer and has been called to be an usher and let teachers know when they have 5 minutes left. He takes the calling VERY seriously. They both received the priesthood this past Sunday and have given us 2 referrals...one of which has a baptism date and the other is soon to come. They want to be at EVERY LESSON and introduce Sorell Smith to Italian Fufu (pizza).
Another miracle we saw this week was with our investigator Rita...I was slightly hesitant with her progress because it just did't seem like she was understanding. We are struggling talking with her in English, thinking that the language barrier was because of Twi...then all of a sudden, the citof rings and she starts speaking beautiful Italian. My eyes pop open and ask "Rita...do you speak Italian?" And She responds yes...and then I just start talking to her saying that I never knew!! And she just laughs and just starts expressing herself like there was no tomorrow. She had been struggling to understand, and Sorella Smith said that when we switched to Italian, even though she didn't understand...she saw the spirit touch Rita and that there was just this veil lifted from her face. Rita had been trying to ask some questions, but couldn't express herself...but when we switched to Italian all she wanted to know was how to become clean and start her life over from all the experiences she has had in the past. She was SO open about it...and I was able to talk about the atonement and how she can TRULY become clean from her sins...And the Spirit was SO STRONG! She is going to be in Bologna this weekend, so we have the Elders down there getting her to church so she can start her path to baptism!! MIracles!!
Eva is doing great, and Ursula is on her way. There are people find and people to help and we are going to make a difference this transfer...I just know it! Please help us find those who are searching and to allow our tongues to be loosed when we do our invites...I think that is the hardest right now...just knowing how to continue when people don't respond...BUT I'm working on it!
I'll be praying for Isaac...we'll get this figured out!
Con amore,
Sorella Bowman
p.s. I LOVE ALL THE EMAILS AND PICTURES AND LETTERS...they just keep me going!! Thank you so, so much!!!
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