First week in Italy

Allora, sono qui!!!

Jet lag did me in at first. I passed out every lunch break. But we managed to get some good work done. Also, this keyboard is weird so it is taking longer than normal to type. Sor W is sweet and reminds me of Lindsey Wooley...like exactly. to the point that its weird. I think they sent me to her for a reason because she has had all kinds of health things too...like she got chickenpox...chickenpox, while she was here.

I was super stressed the first few days because everything i learned in the MTC was running through my head and I felt like I had to apply all of it at once on everyone, which maybe I should have just done it and I would have been a SUPER missionary, but I was too tired.

I don't even know where to start. um, i love Italy, of course. I love the people. Ladispoli is pretty small so most people have seen us--and by us I mean missionaries-- before. we are trying to come across as --normal-- you would be amazed the conversations that start with --come sta?-- but also maybe sometimes we come off as too normal because 2 people have asked us out for coffee. Some people still just run away.

I am understanding loads more than I thought I would, almost everything. It helps that they pretty much act things out as they say them. and I actually think of things to say back--usually Sorella williams has already said them, BUT I am not doing too shabby. We have been going around and trying to met all the members and menoattivi because I know no one and don't know the city and Sor W leaves fra un week. The members are tops. I love them all. There are a few girls who are returned missionaries and one who leaves in Aprile. They are forte. Really. and they love me and my red jacket and my red shoes. and I love them. Everyone kisses us on the cheeks and then later as we are talking to them they ALL tell us how they've been sick etc.etc. (which its a good thing we had to learn that vocab in the MTC) and it makes me laugh. Like, cool, thanks for THOSE germs sister so-and-so. but I joke, because did I mention I love them?

We visited sor. silva last night and she told us we were angels. she is the amazing one though. everyone is excited to have us in the ward. Its weird because with transfers coming we are loosing 4 sisters and gaining only 2 so a city is going to be closed to sisters. its just sad there aren't more of us to spare.

I love Italians. I love how they dress. I love how they eat. I love how they talk. Tutto e bello.

Also finally got my permesso papers, we just had to go to the post office three times (three different ones) until they finally ignored the tiny mistake that we couldn't possibly change. So I am not illegal!!! yay!!

We met an adorable lady my first night who works at the snack place nearby. We conveniently stopped by again and had a good discussion with her and her coworker. we asked her if we could come back and give her a Book of Mormon. We also met this great lady from India on the street, really hope she becomes an investigator because one she and her baby son are adorable and she said to come by whenever because she is always home and two because maybe shell cook Indian food for us, ha. ohhhh I miss it. she explained her religion, but all I got out of it was that some people wear turbans. so...vediamo. we will see.

W say buona sera and boun giorno to everyone, when we came to Rome for p-day though people where like, wait what? do i know you? in Ladispoli it usually makes people smile though. mostly I just want to shout from the rooftops at everyone. Everyone who passes by I am like ahhh you are beautiful and you need to know this great thing that I know about pray and hope and happiness!!! I talked to one older man on the bus...not a clue what he said to me, but I think we both were edified after.

The food here is good. my favorite thing is cornflakes and yogurt. I know. weird. But not weird. mostly delicious. and nutella. of course. And we haven't had a chance to do real grocery shopping yet. No gelato yet, i did have a mangum bar my first night, SO good. man. as Sharlie and Kimberly know from that time we tried to eat a whole box in Siena...we bought a giant pizza sort of on accident last night. We had two minutes until we had to be in but we were so hungry so we walked into a pizzeria and they were like, here take this, and all I thought was --im hungry, come no?-- and so now we have about three meals worth of potato and cheese pizza. could be worse.

Tonight we are going to see Archangelo. who just needs to get baptized because his whole family is and has been waiting magari 6 years for him. he went to stake conference and it was amazing and we thought about him the whole time (except for the part I fell asleep--che vergogna) because someone talked about making small sacrifices for huge blessings. which we have been telling him!! he seemed super happy after but he just doesn't want to give up smoking. We even presented him with a program. but he says he --likes smoking--. which is a lie, but what can you do. Hopefully we can help him see how he doesn't need it tonight.

English class consists of two old men who argue about Italian grammar and a younger fellow.

Oh, and we saw Julie B. Beck and her family at the Vatican. and the Anziani from our district. and another 2 sets of Mormons...at the Vatican. rather funny. including a member from Rome who acted as our tour guide because he is studying art history. whenever Sor Williams would Astop to take pictures he'd be like, Sorelle!!! Andiamo!!

CON MOLTO AMORE

I am happy and healthy

Sorella Laws

Don't forget the address:

Sorella Lauren Laws

Via Flavia, 21/7

00055 Ladispoli, Italia

Sorella Laws arrives in Rome

President and Sister Kelly with Sorella Laws.

Finally!!!
A companion for Sorella Laws.
Sorella Williams.

Arrivo!!!

I am here!!!

I will meet my companion in an hour and my first city is Ladispoli a suburb of Rome. Italy is great. It looks and smells just like it did two years ago. We drove by the temple site, it is going to blow people away when there is a five story temple there.

I gave away two Book of Mormon's in the Dallas airport. A nice man from Mexico, Luis, who gave me a business card and told me to come visit him in Canada. He told me he was impressed that I was going to Rome to teach a religion that isn't catholism. All the sudden I started telling him the Joseph Smith story, in the middle of the Dallas airport.

This man with an orange shirt, navy jacket, tan pants, and orange dress shoes (with an orange kerchief in the pocket) complained about his flight to us. and Matt, this hilarious British man who I laughed and joked with for two hours because our plane got delayed.

He showed me a picture of his dog and talked about teaching his kids how to read. SO funny. I made a Seinfeld-esqe joke about how they always say, "We'll be able to make up the time in the air" when a flight is delayed, because why don't they just go that fast all the time?? Are they just taking detours and then when they're late they think, "Oh, maybe I should make up some time."

Someone talked to me in Italian in Heathrow and I think I probably said, "capisco!" far too enthusiastically then he kept going and asked where a fotolandria was, I said I didn't know. I HAD MY FIRST ITALIAN CONVERSATION. ha.

Also spoke with a dapper British chap going on a field trip to Rome because he's studying architecture.

Why couldn't I be British??

Someone thought I was a tour guide because of my name tag.

And I'm SO not in Provo, when I ask people if they've heard of the Church they go, "what?" Also hard though, because I kept ending up next to British people and can't speak English all that well anymore.

The point is that I am good and safe and made all connecting flights and slept a little and am ready to hit the streets!!! And I love British people. Sorella Kelly keeps feeding me. I finally get a companion. Life is good. There are pictures of Anziano Knutson, Urry, and Lane on the refrigerator.

I want to run out into the street right now and talk to people.

I've been in the same clothes for 32 hours.

I AM IN ITALY!!

Everything is in Italian and people drive crazy. I heard someone go, "ho fatto bene" on the phone.

It was the first Italian I heard and I almost started crying. Sono qui.

Love you,

Sorella Laws

Going, Going, Gone.......Finally!!!

Yep, that's right Sorella Laws left the Salt Lake City airport at 8:25am today to start her 28 hour trip to Rome.

She was excited and more the ready to start her mission.

As someone at the MTC said,
Italy just need a few extra weeks to get ready for her.

Ciao again

Hello my wonderful family and friends. Guess who is still in the MTC?? Yes, your very own Sorella Laws, trooping on with more faith than ever.

The trees are beautiful. Isn't fall the greatest season ever? I want to sit outside all day even though it's freezing cold and just walk around and talk to people. Good thing that's what I'll be doing soon.

This week was probably the hardest. Which I am grateful for. I am convinced and have a firm testimony that Heavenly Father pushes us to our very limits so that we can learn how strong we really are. I felt that this week. He's taken a lot of things away. I think of the Sufjan Steven's song "and he takes and he takes and he takes" but it's when He's taking that we learn what really matters. Sure, I've never had my own companion. And then he took my district. And then he took my teachers, who have made a valiant effort to visit but it's never quite matched up. Then he took my health. And he took my mailbox away (don't worry I got it forwarded to my new district you can still write ;)). The scriptures talk about how the Lord will have a humble people. And I'll tell you there is nothing more humbling than diarrhea. Or setting the record for most stool samples given in three weeks. Grossed out yet? Welcome to my life. But I realized that I can do things I never thought I could do before. Like you mentioned, Mum, I used to be afraid of all things medical. Now Dr. Brown is like my uncle and the nurse, Ren, is my best friend (not just because we have the same name). The lady at the counter knows me by name and I am now on my fifth antibiotic in 3 months (for three different things, but stiiiiill).

But now for the good news. Because once Heavenly Father has pushed you as far as you can go he gives back. So Monday they ran one more test and the nurse came up to my room and I met with Dr. B again (I think I should send him Christmas cards from here on out, he may be the person I'm closest to in the MTC, ha) and he said the test was positive!! So, since you've been asking mom, it's some virus and I'm taking medicine that tastes like metal three times a day (every time I swallow it I have to run around in a circle and shove food in my mouth because it takes SO bad, good news is it's helping inspire me to eat, because I had kind of stopped doing that because it just hurt too bad).

So when do I get to leave? That's a question I get ten times a day. I don't know. I'm crossing my fingers they let me go before the antibiHello my wonderful family and friends. Guess who is still in the MTC?? Yes, your very own Sorella Laws, trooping on with more faith than ever.

The trees are beautiful. Isn't fall the greatest season ever? I want to sit outside all day even though it's freezing cold and just walk around and talk to people. Good thing that's what I'll be doing soon.

This week was probably the hardest. Which I am grateful for. I am convinced and have a firm testimony that Heavenly Father pushes us to our very limits so that we can learn how strong we really are. I felt that this week. He's taken a lot of things away. I think of the Sufjan Steven's song "and he takes and he takes and he takes" but it's when He's taking that we learn what really matters. Sure, I've never had my own companion. And then he took my district. And then he took my teachers, who have made a valient effort to visit but it's never quite matched up. Then he took my health. And he took my mailbox away (don't worry I got it forwarded to my new district you can still write ;)) The scriptures talk about how the Lord will have a humble people. And I'll tell you there is nothing more humbling than diarrhea. Or setting the record for most stool samples given in three weeks. Grossed out yet? Welcome to my life. But I realized that I can do things I never thought I could do before. Like you mentioned, Mum, I used to be afraid of all things medical. Now Dr. Brown is like my uncle and the nurse, Ren, is my best friend (not just because we have the same name). The lady at the counter knows me by name and I am now on my fifth antibiotic in 3 months (for three different things, but stiiiiill).

But now for the good news. Because once Heavenly Father has pushed you as far as you can go he gives back. So Monday they ran one more test and the nurse came up to my room and I met with Dr. B again (I think I should send him Christmas cards from here on out, he may be the person I'm closest to in the MTC, ha) and he said the test was positive!! So, since you've been asking mom, it's some virus and I'm taking medicine that tastes like metal three times a day (every time I swallow it I have to run around in a circle and shove food in my mouth because it takes SO bad, good news is it's helping inspire me to eat, because I had kind of stopped doing that because it just hurt too bad).

So when do I get to leave? That's a question I get ten times a day. I don't know. I'm crossing my fingers they let me go before the antibios are done, because they go for ten days. We shall see. But I WILL get there.

New Italian missionaries come tomorrow and the Anziani have taken to calling me Sorella Nonna (because I am the grandma).

Like I said, when the Lord takes he also gives. I have more friends than ever before. The two Italian districts and Herm Rod's district all love me more than I deserve. In Volleyball we played my zone versus Herm. Rod's zone. The score is not important.

Anziano Flitton told me his ring would glow like the LotR ring if you put it in the microwave for 5 seconds. I knew he was lying to me but I wanted so badly for it to be true.

And I had an interview with Frat. Calder (teacher over my new district) last night and I realized. That he hasn't left me alone or without teachers. Because Frat. C. was already late and he took like half an hour to talk to me about how I was doing and how he was grateful to have me in his class. He asked me if I was happy and I had to pause, because yesterday was hard, but then I said, "yes" and he said, why? and I proceeded to tell him how lucky I felt that the Lord trusted me enough to call me on a mission and how He's given me so much and that he loves me enough to push me to be the best I can be.

I promise you that if you want to be a good teacher, the key is asking questions. It makes people say things they didn't even know they knew. And how much more powerful is it if it comes out of their mouth instead of yours?

And that's how you find out what they really need. Is by asking. It really is that simple.

Everyday I see reasons why it's good I am still here. I got to take Herm. Rodrigues in for her procedure. And when she woke up, it was hilarious. She kept asking the same questions over and over and asking me if I'd ever had an IV before. I got her to recite Joseph Smith's vision in Spanish. It was fun. The night before she had to drink gross stuff to clear out her stomach and I coached her through it and came in with inspiring scriptures now and again. We missed the devotional but we found out it was Elder Ballard so we sat outside and listened for a little bit. Then we decided we wanted to meet him and since we weren't in the gym we could leave whenever we wanted. So we walked around and got stopped by two "body guards" (aka 20-something-year-old guys who work at the MTC) so we walked through our building to the other side and long story short we saw him drive by and we waved and he may or may not have waved back. YAY! Ha. It's a small thing, but it was special for us.

Not being able to eat cheese is killing me. But at least I'm not gaining MTC weight.

We have been practicing 100% obedience so when they say "lights out" we sprint for the light switch. One night there was a huge mark in my journal because I had thrown it and my pen aside and run to the lights.

Laws School graduation is this week. I prepared a final that's pretty hilarious.

Mom, SHERI DEW came!! And she rocked our worlds. She talked about how the most important thing in our missions and life missions are: 1. Knowing who we are as sons and daughters of God. 2. Understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ and 3. Knowing how to receive personal revelation. If we can do these, we are unstoppable.

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCH!!!!

amore amore amore

Well, guess who is still here? Yep. Me. The Sorella. 9 weeks ago I felt like I owned this place, just imagine how I feel now.

So I am the vagabond. The best part is that when I went to the doctor they were like, "Well, we'll give you some Gatorade" and they come back with a huge Coca Cola cup. So I am walking around the MTC in missionary clothes looking like I just got back from a 7-11 run and all the insegnati just look at me and go, "Who do you think you are?" And I just shrug, "Sono Sorella Laws".

When am I leaving? My response has started to be "forse mai." (maybe never). But no, I have high hopes for this week. They have me on probiotics now (yep, I'm eating germs) and so far it feels better. And I HAVE to leave next week because a new generation of Italians are coming in and it's bad enough being the mom right now, but if I stick around too long I'll be a grandma.

We don't really know what's going on except my stomach is ALWAYS making strange noises and sort of cramping and it's swelled up so that I look 4 months pregnant (I have no idea what 4 months pregnant looks like, so that's just an estimate) we've named the baby Giacomo. He's going to be a calciatore (soccer player)

It's hard to figure out how to spend my time, but I've been coming up with some good things. My two teachers are "floating" right now. So I write paragraphs of spiritual thoughts on the boards and Frate Tate corrects them for me. For some reason I am completely in love with writing on the board. It's better than anything.

I've been thinking a lot about the Five Things We Need to Do When Faced With Trials (based on the Savior's example) that you sent me mom. Here's how I think I've done:

1. Seek to do God's will. I knew on Sunday I wouldn't be leaving. I could feel it, not to mention I relapsed back into awful stomach land as soon as I tried to eat something besides rice and Ritz (because I had been getting better). And I just got on my knees and said, "Okay, I'm ready to do this your way." I KNOW that I will get to Italy, I have no doubt about that, but if it takes forever, that's alright too. (By the way, Pres. Shippen let slip that he knew who my trainer was and where my first city is, but I won't tell you where...ha). I've been studying a lot about faith and hope and the fireside we had on Sunday was about doing what the Lord wants you to do versus what other people think you should do. Because trust me, everyone thinks I should be gone by now (as much as they love having me here).

2. Learn not to complain. I've started catching myself, and when people ask how I'm doing I just smile. Ha.

3. Seek help from God. I've never prayed more in my life and feasted more on the scriptures. And it really works.

4. Learn to Serve.

This is the fun part. I've started what has been dubbed by Anz. Flitton "L'Universita di Leggi" (Laws University or Law School). This started last night by one companionship asking if I'd teach them Italian. I of course said yes. Next thing we know I'm standing in front of a whiteboard and there are 5 Anziani sitting in desks looking at me. Well I'm teaching animatedly in half English and half Italian and maybe being helpful. And halfway through someone asks how I'm feeling and I just thought, "Hey, this is the first time my stomach hasn't been angry since Friday." So, number 4 really works too. Also they were meeting with Fr. Tate as a progressing investigator and I was like, "Get him to read the Book of Mormon!!" "Don't be afraid of speaking Italian!!" "YOU CAN DO IT!!"

5. Forgive. Lately I've been yelling at my stomach in Italian. "Ma dai. Cosa voule mangiare!?!!!" but I've learned to forgive too.

But I am not yet as Job. And not even yet as the Visa waiters who have been here for 15 weeks. I can do this.

So when I told Fratello Skanchy I had to stay an extra week and I guess I could help out the other Italians he said, "well, you could always teach them swear words." Which I actually can't because I don't know any, but I realize that more and more the missionaries are learning Sorella Laws Italian...Which is sort of a problem. I've got everyone saying "Managia" (bummer) and "Dai" (c'mon!!) and "Forse si, forse no" (maybe yes maybe not)

Dai is a good one, because you yell it at people and it sounds like you're saying "Die."

They all love me, as I've written this about eight people have walked by and said, "Hi, Sorella Laws!"

Oh, Sor. Stebar and I took about 1 minute in gym and figured out what kind of dog everyone in the district is, just to lay it out for you:

our district leader (who is also German) is a bloodhound, he's companions with a golden retriever puppy and a bulldog.

zone leaders: husky puppy and beagle

sorelle: rough collie (lassie), pomeranian puppy, standard poodle, and they decided I'm a dalmatian

other companionship: greyhound and a terrier of some kind.

just wait til you get a picture, then you'll understand.

Oh, and Herm. Rodrigues has to stay too and I get to be her companion!! She has to go in for a colonoscopy so I am going to hold her hand and then film her when she comes too. I think this might be one of the reasons I was supposed to stay because she is way not excited about it and would have been assigned to a random companion if I wasn't here.

And I love everyone. Here, there, in Italy. I love you all.

Sorella Laws.

Well......

Well, I am still here. It aches a little bit. Saying good-bye was hard. But I've never had more faith that where I am and what I am doing is right.

Sunday night I felt awful. I won't go into details, but all kinds of awful things were coming out of my body. I skipped the fireside and tried to sleep; I sat in the bathroom and plead with my Heavenly Father to make me better. I know he could do it if He wanted to. I've read the stories; I know miracles happen through the power of God that defies all science and medical ideas. I knew that if he wanted me to get to Italy he would make it happen. I had this feeling, "Lawsy Baby, you're not going to leave on Tuesday."

I felt like I should ask one of the Elders for a priesthood blessing, so that I could still be healed if he wanted. Then I burst into my district classroom and said, "Somebody needs to give me a blessing." They looked up, surprised but also not, because they are used to being surprised. Anziano Barnes gave me a blessing; he said that things would happen on the Lord's time. Then we knelt down and I said the most intense prayer of my life. I promised that I would do what Heavenly Father wanted instead of what I wanted...For once. I told Him how grateful I was for this experience and for the people in my life and for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So by the time I got the news the next morning it wasn't a big deal, because I had already made up my mind.

After we prayed together (my district and the Sorelle) we just sat in a circle and talked about Faith. It's something I've really been trying to work on. It's not tangible. It's this thing that you can't always explain. You feel it and you know it and you go forward, but as soon as you stop to think, "wait, do I have faith?" then it falters a bit and doubt and fear cannot exist in the same place as faith, like light and darkness.

I go in the next day. I sit in the room for about 30 minutes waiting. I came up with the other two songs we needed for our teachers (we wrote them hilarious songs, I will send you the video before I leave) and then Dr. Brown comes in and talks to me a little bit. He was a nice guy. Then he sits on the desk and just looks at me and goes, "This is a hard call to make...I think we need you to stay another week." Then they give me all this diluted Gatorade and we go to lunch and they have my favorite things at the MTC on the menu (taco salad and curly fries) and I just sit there and glare at everyone who gets to eat real food.

I feel like I just explained the story really dramatically. But it was dramatic in a powerful way.

And the doctor was right. I don't feel awful now, but I definitely don't feel like 24 hours of travelling. And they are doing tests so maybe they'll figure out what's wrong. Or maybe it'll go away as soon as it needs to for me to do what I am supposed to.

The point is, even though I've been told and even taught over and over that true prayer is trying to make our will align with the will of our Heavenly Father's, I didn't realize it until I put it into practice. Until I finally gave up everything and said, "Heavenly Father, I honestly believe that you know what I need better than I do. And along with that I actually promise to do what YOU want me to." Because what do I know? I am a little child on this earth and He is the Father who created this all. It's His plan, I am His. He knows.

And the biggest hindrance to missionary work is when we get in the way. Heavenly Father will guide our every footstep if we just stop being stubborn and figure out that He knows better.

President Monson broke ground on the Rome Temple on Saturday. This changes everything. A group of religious leaders all gathered in Europe to discuss the decline of religion in people's lives. People don't think they need God anymore. They don't see why He's important or how he can help. There is one Church that is doing increasingly better all throughout the world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't say this to boast, but I say it to promise you that there is something we have. It is something people are looking for. We know that we are all Children of our Heavenly Father. That we can pray directly to Him. That we can repent directly to Him. That our relationship with God is personal. We are His children. He sent us to this earth so that we could learn and grow. But He misses us everyday.

Elder Nelson came and talked to us on Tuesday, he said if people ask what your message is/why you're here/who you are there is one answer:

We follow Jesus Christ

We follow Him and he asked us to feed his sheep. So that's what we as missionaries do. We invite people to follow Christ's example and be baptized. We invite them to know of the fullness of joy that He has planned for His children. That he restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth with the priesthood authority to perform miracles in the name of Heavenly Father.

This is no small thing. Every day I realize more and more why I am here. I had no idea when I left. NO idea.

I love you all. And my capacity to love has grown as I have learned more about the love our savior has for us.

And guess what, you have one more week to write me here!

dearelder *hint hint*

Love, Sorella Laws

ONE WEEK!!!

Yes. This is it everyone. In one week me and Anz. Knutson will be on our 20 or so hour travel date to Rome. I. CAN. NOT. WAIT!!! This is the best thing ever to happen.

We went to this awesome health meeting. Where we learned things like, "Bats can turn around 180 degrees in their skin (where we all went, wait, what? So, will someone Wikipedia that fact for me? And if it's not true, will someone add it to Wikipedia anyway?) DON'T MESS AROUND WITH BATS." And all this stuff about wearing shoes and flossing our teeth and DONT DRINK THE WATER. The problem is...almost none of it applied to us Italians. So I drew hilarious pictures of germs and other such things. Worthwhile use of our time. For sure.

Classic Sorella Laws moments:

I decided that I really needed to make the most of gym time. So I started up an INTENSE version of Aerobic 4 Square. This involves jumping around a lot in line and also while you are playing. The best part was is that several of the new Anziani started joining in and I became like the instructor. They would ask me what we should do next and I led them in Jumping Jacks, just jumping, crunches, push-ups, all while in line for Four Square. It was the best thing ever.

The other great part was that I was busting out an aerobic mood and I punched a Spanish Elder in the stomach. Yeah, classic. Then I almost hit someone where it counts with the 4 Square ball. I gotta get out of the MTC or I'm going to get sent home for fighting.

Sis. Michael and Sis. Smith left me this morning. Last night I walk into their room and Sis. M had left a spot in her suitcase for her toiletries etc. But guess what else fit perfectly in that spot? Me. So I was sitting in her suitcase when she came in. She just laughed. I didn't cry but I was a bit sad when I didn't see her for our teeth brushing party this morning. But I love what you said, mom. This relationship will definitely be rekindled.

We had an awesome fireside where one of the speakers got up and told us that when we wake up we should be like, "How can I offend Satan today?" She was like, "When you get along with someone you offend Satan, when you laugh you offend Satan, when you smile at someone who doesn't deserve it you offend Satan." It was a great perspective for me who sometimes struggles with the whole representing Christ and loving everyone (ex. right now I want to throw something at Anziano Weller because he is reading me a letter from some Sister that he fell in love with in the MTC and I can't help but listen because I don't get my daily dose of drama like in the real life--though I did just make Anz. Healey commit to not writing the girl who hasn't written back for four weeks.) Okay. Seriously. Anz. Weller's been reading it for like five minutes. And I wish it wasn't interesting to me, but it is. Sigh. First he sent Anz. M to read it to me, but I successfully scared Anz. M off by asking him if he truly values our friendship because he was putting it in dangers.

Another magical moment was when Sorella Swensen took us all outside to teach each other lessons from Preach My Gospel. We're sitting on the grass under a tree and acorns are sporadically falling and instead of moving we'd all dramatically duck and cover when it happened. Then the sun started going down. I was facing the sun and it felt so good to have it on my face...Then golden hour and that beautiful glow everything has just before dusk. Sor. Sw. was across from me and her hair was glowing. I wish I had had my camera. And she asked us, "How do you know God exists?" And we were like, "Well, duh, this world is beautiful. And it was made for us." Meanwhile Anz. Healey was teaching us about the Atonement and changing our lives. It's real and it's powerful. Use it in your lives.

Fr. Tate told me that there are probably only 20 sisters in the Rome mission...You know what that means? I am the LUCKIEST.

We practiced contacting and it was intense. We had to go up to people and in 3 minutes convince them our message was worth hearing, get an appointment, and ask for a referral. It was powerful as I had to reflect in myself, why is this so important?? How do I compress this huge gospel into 3 minutes? Luckily, my life as a film major paid off and I related it to giving them the trailer. You got to get them interested by highlighting key points and testifying powerfully. And it worked. The best part was that I had my scriptures with me and the gold on the edges kept catching the light and blinding Anz. Mauldwin as I taught him. So...He REALLY saw the light. Ha!

I have loved having Fr. Tate as a teacher. He's got the beautiful Southern Italy accent and he always uses filler words. The Italians have a version of the word "like" as in how teenage girls use it. I find that very amusing.

REQUESTS:

Okay, everyone reading this. I am collecting testimonies. I want everyone to write to me their testimony of Heavenly Father and the gospel and the Restoration. And if you know another language write it in that language. Because there are all kinds of people in Italy who don't speak Italian, so I feel like it'd be really neat to be like, "Oh, I don't speak your language, but guess what...I have this." If you do it right now you can send it before I leave here. Which would be awesome. PLEASE!!! Whether it's English or Cambodian or Spanish or French. SEND ME THEM. Grazie.

Along with that, send me pictures you have with the temple. THE GROUNDBREAKING IN ROME IS ON SATURDAY!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITALY IS READY FOR THE RESTORED GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

LOVE YOU CON TUTTO IL AMORE NEL MIO CUORE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!!! YOU ARE 12!?! Did you read the talk I told you to read?? DO IT! Before you birthday. GO!

Alex--Are you alive? What are you doing with your life? 'Member how you said you'd dearelder me??? It's not too late because...

Remember how last week I said TWO MORE WEEKS!?

Guess what! TWO MORE WEEKS! Yes, it's true. Our mission presidents are going to be in England so they are having us stay an extra week. MAMA MIA. We were all a little miffed at first, but we know that there are good things we can do here and that there is still SO much for us to learn. And I really do love it here. It continues to be magical and the new Italians have added a new life. I started keeping track of how often the Anziani hug each other and well...It's a lot. I made a joke about it last night and no joke people came to our classroom for the SOLE purpose of hugging each other. Even the Brazilians are beginning to catch the fever. But it's good and love is good and Fratello Tate (who we affectionately call Fra-tay Ta-tay) is excited that he will actually get a chance to teach us. He's great. I can just tell.

Yesterday in the TRC was a cool experience because usually we try and cram an entire lesson (the whole restoration or the entire plan of salvation) into 35 minutes and guess what...That doesn't work. Of course. So...Yesterday we were teaching members who were recently baptized and were having some issues with tithing. So we talked about Faith. And I look up and low-and-behold on the wall is a picture of Peter and Jesus out on the water. So I turn to our members and ask (one of them was Sor. Swensen's marito! He was adorable and the other was a Milano) if they know the story and Anz. Knutson goes, "Well, this is there house" and I was like, "oh...right" So we talk about how Peter DID have faith, he wanted to walk out to Jesus and he did but all it took was a moment of fear and doubt and he fell. That's all it takes is the smallest bit of fear and faith is gone. BUT what did Jesus do? He reached down and pulled him up when Peter called out to Him. It's such a simple story but SO powerful. If we feel fear all we have to do is call upon Jesus in prayer and he will lift us up again so that we can have perfect faith. And with perfect faith we can do ANYTHING...even walk on water. :)

Guess what else?? ROME TEMPLE GROUNDBREAKING ON THE 23RD!! THREE DAYS BEFORE WE GET THERE!! YA!!! AFTER TWO YEARS IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING! K, family, I don't think you should come get me---I think we should come back when the temple is done. Deal??

Um, funny stuff has happened, but I can't really think of anything.

We all continue to butcher the language and say confusing things. The other day we decided to walk around and talk to people about experiences they've had with the Book of Mormon and a girl working at the post office sang Helamen 5:12 for us. Hilarious.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! ALL OF YOU. I really do pray for you all the time...Since I can't write you every day...You know, I just talk to our Heavenly Father about you. Hope you don't mind...Totally talking about you behind your back.

Love,

Sorella Laws!!

Ciao - Two More Weeks (Week 8)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!!! YOU ARE 12!?! Did you read the talk I told you to read?? DO IT! Before you birthday. GO!

Alex--Are you alive? What are you doing with your life? 'Member how you said you'd dearelder me??? It's not too late because...

Remember how last week I said TWO MORE WEEKS!?

Guess what! TWO MORE WEEKS! Yes, it's true. Our mission presidents are going to be in England so they are having us stay an extra week. MAMA MIA. We were all a little miffed at first, but we know that there are good things we can do here and that there is still SO much for us to learn. And I really do love it here. It continues to be magical and the new Italians have added a new life. I started keeping track of how often the Anziani hug each other and well...It's a lot. I made a joke about it last night and no joke people came to our classroom for the SOLE purpose of hugging each other. Even the Brazilians are beginning to catch the fever. But it's good and love is good and Fratello Tate (who we affectionately call Fra-tay Ta-tay) is excited that he will actually get a chance to teach us. He's great. I can just tell.

Yesterday in the TRC was a cool experience because usually we try and cram an entire lesson (the whole restoration or the entire plan of salvation) into 35 minutes and guess what...That doesn't work. Of course. So...Yesterday we were teaching members who were recently baptized and were having some issues with tithing. So we talked about Faith. And I look up and low-and-behold on the wall is a picture of Peter and Jesus out on the water. So I turn to our members and ask (one of them was Sor. Swensen's marito! He was adorable and the other was a Milano) if they know the story and Anz. Knutson goes, "Well, this is there house" and I was like, "oh...right" So we talk about how Peter DID have faith, he wanted to walk out to Jesus and he did but all it took was a moment of fear and doubt and he fell. That's all it takes is the smallest bit of fear and faith is gone. BUT what did Jesus do? He reached down and pulled him up when Peter called out to Him. It's such a simple story but SO powerful. If we feel fear all we have to do is call upon Jesus in prayer and he will lift us up again so that we can have perfect faith. And with perfect faith we can do ANYTHING...even walk on water. :)

Guess what else?? ROME TEMPLE GROUNDBREAKING ON THE 23RD!! THREE DAYS BEFORE WE GET THERE!! YA!!! AFTER TWO YEARS IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING! K, family, I don't think you should come get me---I think we should come back when the temple is done. Deal??

Um, funny stuff has happened, but I can't really think of anything.

We all continue to butcher the language and say confusing things. The other day we decided to walk around and talk to people about experiences they've had with the Book of Mormon and a girl working at the post office sang Helamen 5:12 for us. Hilarious.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! ALL OF YOU. I really do pray for you all the time...Since I can't write you every day...You know, I just talk to our Heavenly Father about you. Hope you don't mind...Totally talking about you behind your back.

Love,

Sorella Laws!!