We're at week 50... oh gosh... whale, this week's title comes from a really in-depth convo I had with Anziano Wilkinson on the way back home from zone conference yesterday about The Avengers and all things Marvel. I only miss it a little bit😅 ah that reminds me, I haven't said much about our Anziani this transfer! They're the zone leaders for our zone and they're totally awesome. We've got Anziano Wilkinson who served with my dear trainer Sorella Smith (and he's technically my uncle in the mission?), and then Anziano Farneman from my bottlebreaker Sorella McHardy's group. So yep, that's them, good old Farn-man and Uncle Willy lol. Also, they have a car and take pity on us sometimes so we don't have to walk home through sketchy areas at night. And they occasionally make us brownies. Or buy us medicine. They're pretty great.
Anyways, we are taking a chill Pday today 1) because we've been so busy and we're just tired 2) we're semi sick from literally running through the rain to catch buses and trains... but there is literally so much goin on in Muggiò rn that we can't afford to be sick 😷 soooo lazy day happened! As for this past week, miracles happened!😛
Thursday was pretty stellar! We headed out to have a lesson with Sandra, an old investigator from a year or so ago. Well, like always, we got kind of lost taking the buses and trains haha. But we've come to the conclusion that maybe God has come to terms with the fact that we're kind of stupid and has decided to just use it to His advantage, because we got to meet Miriam. So while waiting at the millionth bus stop, we started talking with these two people, Luca and Miriam. Miriam is this cute little South American woman, and Sorella Orr and I both felt immediately drawn to her. Luca is these creepy guy... and that's it. Well, we board the bus and Orr takes one for the team and starts talking to Luca so I can talk with Miriam without interruptions from creepy guy😂 it went so awesome! And as we went to get off the bus, we exchanged phone numbers and are meeting later this week! Also, Luca offered to buy us pizza someday. He's still creepy, but I appreciate the pizza offer. Also, we found an Avengers wall, and took pictures by it. A couple driving past started laughing at us... gotta love that... Back to the interaction with Miriam and Luca, I'm so grateful to be so mentally synced with my comp! Makes the work easier! Also, very convenient when you're waiting at a bus stop and low-key wanna go into the Sicilian shop and get arancini and cannoli... and you don't even need to discuss it, it just happens😂😋 then we had interviews with President and an appointment with the Huapaya family❤
Friday was beyond awesome! Well, it started off with some pretty sad emotional stuff, but we just threw ourselves into the work and were seriously blessed for it. After completing weekly planning, we went to an appointment with the Alvarado family. They work constantly, so it's hard to meet with them and even harder for them to make it to church. We had a great appointment with them though! We talked about the restoration and they seriously bore such beautiful testimonies of this true gospel! And Fratello Alvarado was able to make it to church this week, so it was just awesome🎉 Then that night, we had an appointment with the Cabezas! I absolutely adore them! Better yet, their daughter Carly was there, plus her two daughters Valeria (age 10) and Adriana (9 months). They aren't members, but stayed for the lesson. Guys, it was seriously so awesome! I've never felt so comfortable with a group of people so fast! We were laughing and crying and it was seriously just perfect! At the end of the lesson, I felt prompted to ask Valeria if she'd like to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and she said yes! Carly was like "that'd be perfect! Maybe you can be a 'sorella' one day, Valeria!"😂❤❤ we have an appointment with them tomorrow, and I'm just so stoked for this family! They are so prepared for this gospel!
Saturday we met with the Mascambroni fam, a young couple from Argentina, and Fratello Mascambroni's non-member sister. Slight bummer, because the sister has zero interest whatsoever in the church, but we had a good lesson anyways! Plus an awesome Argentinian meal and just a fun time🤗 Then that evening, we helped the Anziani with the baptism for their investigator Paul. Paul is my favorite lololol, and he was sooooo stoked to be baptized!
Sunday was awesome! I seriously just love spending time with our ward! Carly had work and couldn't come to church, but Valeria came to church with her grandparents! We were also stoked because our investigator Alfredo came as well! Background on him- he was found by Orr and Anderson and they had one lesson with him. We had decided to call him up and see if he was free to meet this week, and on a whim brought up that we had church. He readily agreed to coming for all three hours and then doing a lil lesson afterwards. Sure enough, he was at church for all three hours! Afterwards we discussed his questions and what things he liked. He told us, "I'm gonna reflect on these things over the week and if the thoughts and feelings stick with me, I'll be back next Sunday."😳 um, alright, that's perfect!
Monday we passed by Sorella Rea, a less active with a ton of health problems. And also a dog🐶 Anyways, we've started reading the Book of Mormon with her, because she has a hard time coming to church and reading on her own. Totally love her and love that we get to help her in this way! That night, we had an appt with our investigators Juana and Claudio and their kids Victoria and John P. I love them so much. They seriously are absolutely ready for baptism- we just have to overcome a few word of wisdom struggles with Juana. We had an awesome Brazilian meal together and a stellar lesson, so it was all in all an awesome night! Besides having to literally sprint through the rain to not miss our train home...⛈ ah whale. Mission adventures are fun.
Yesterday was Zone Conference!! It was sooooo fun seeing Presidente, the APs, and all the other missionaries! Got to see 2/3 of my mission kids, Sorella Richards and Anziano Jones! Plus my buds Anziano Rogers and Anziano McIver, Sorella Anderson and Sorella Williams, and Anziano Thompson who was in a trio with Sorella Fife and I when we went to the Duomo on our first day! Our mission has the coolest missionaries, just saying. Anyways, we had some awesome trainings and it was just a great conference! I really liked something Presidente Allen shared about true missionary work. He said:
Conversion is the aim
Love is the motive.
Doctrine is the key.
The spirit is the teacher.
We learn and teach to gain salvation.
There was also a quote shared that I really love. I'd heard it first from Sorella Richards during our first transfer together, and then again yesterday at zone conference.
Our Deepest Fear
Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That mist frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Have a killer, fearless week🎈
XOXO
Sorella Smedley
1&2- Avengers wall!! 3-Huapaya and Cabezas 4-love these little ones! 5-Paul’s Baptism
6&7- John P 8-19 Zone Conference
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