Mamma Mia Missions

Missionary work is truly the happiest thing on the planet. We have had some great success finding this week! First of all. Last monday we went finding. We planned to go to Bacoli so we had to take the sketchy cumana. While waiting, we talked to some people. I talked to a mom and her cute daughter a little about the REstoration and Sorella Baker talked to this other awesome girl, Sandra. It was really great! We felt like God had led us to them. Sandra came to english course and noticed that the institute class was going on, so she asked about it. She loved the fact that it was a scripture study class. Since she is not able to make it to institute, we instead scheduled "our own private" scripture study class with her for tomorrow. We are really excited about it! She seems golden! I dont know if you realize, but the MAJORITY of italians tell us they are catholic "non practicante" (but not practicing). Which means they arent super religious in the first place. She is religious! She studies the bible and already goes to a bible study class! We are meeting with her this week!
While on the bus home one day, we sat near the sweetest filopina woman. I have heard so many wonderful things about the filopinos here. She told us that she has seen missionaries before and some elders actually stayed with her dad back home in MAnila. WHOA. We asked her if she has ever learned about our church and therefore invited ourselves over to teach her and her family more! WOOHOO!

We found Giovanni the other week, taught him a little on the street and prayed with him. We had a lesson with him last week and he came to church!! THEY NEVER COME TO CHURCH! HAHA and he plans to come to Peppes baptism this week! During the sacrament, he sat next to Sister Baker and asked if he should partake. After she explained what it is, he decided not to take it. But when the water came around, he said "I could use a little bit of water. Is that okay?" And of course, she said that it doesnt matter and that he can choose. He then said, "£actually no. I shouldnt because I didnt take the bread." HAHA he is this sweet italian guy and he is YOUNGISH. like 30s.

SPeaking of which. PEPPE IS GeTTING BAPTIZED! Oh my goodness! And his wife might come...which is a miracle! For church there was branch meeting run by the stake, so the stake president spoke. Right after the meeting was over, peppe rushed up to him President and said, "Im 74 and getting baptized this week!" He then shouted "AUGURI" (CONGRATULATIONS!) and gave him a big hug. It was the sweetest thing ever!

Then his baptismal interview was right after church. HAHAHA he had his interview and apparently he just started listing off all these facts about jospeh smith and the church "he was born in 1805!" and then he said "Come on ask me anything! I know it." 

HAHAHA OH PEPPE. ITs not a quiz!!! HE IS SO READY. 
I have been touched by the love that God shows through small children. I translate for the primary every week (2-4 italian kids). One of them is Antonio. HE is this good looking 10 yr old kid. HE is the sweetest thing and it touches my little heart when he has me translate exactly what was said, so that he can answer the questions. In fact, yesterday the kids were given italian chocolates, and he OFFERED ME ONE. It made my day.

One of the bonners boys, JAmes made me a little leggo present. God is so good and he works through others to show His love.

There is a fantastic scripture in Alma 29:9. We are here to bring people to repentance.. or to touch their hearts. So great! The work is so so good. 

Love you all!
Sorella Clyde

Pompei is the city remains from when Mt Vesuvious erupted and destroyed almost everything. Notice the body pic. There are body remains. This is the position he was in when he was hit by lava!!! CRAZY COOL SAD

New Joysey

ITALIANS really do pronounce New Jersey, like New Joysey! THATS WHERE THAT COMES FROM. ITs the italian accent. So I have decided that whenever someone asks me where I am from I will ALWAYS ALWAYS respond in the jersey accent way.

What a wild and crazy week! It is round 3 in Pozzuoli and I am with Sister Baker! She is pretty cool, from Idaho and goes home in 3. I AM SO JEALOUS that she will die in this city. She slash we are serving in the best city. I LOVE THIS AREA. 

Sorella Viazzo and I parted last week! We saw Janet and Benjamin one more time. THEY ARE HAPPIER THAN EVER. They are the cutest, most shy couple. It is so sweet. We saw Peppe and talked about what a testimony is. He was so concerned that we still hadnt written his testimony for him. After we explained what it was, he bore a simple but powerful testimony of what he believes to be true. That is the way it should be done. These italians here do NOT know how to bear a testimony. It was really really cool to hear him though. He is still on for May 31. We are so excited!

Sorella Viazzo and I packed and ran like crazy to the train station to get the train to NApoli Centrale. We met up with the other Anziani where she hopped on her train. Just before the dooors closed she called out "ITS TRADITION" and we both waved (ever after quote) HAHAH Then the doors closed and we both put our hands up to the window, planet of the apes style, as the train began to slowly move away. HAhah it was so sad, but so funny!

Then I was stuck with elders for like 3 hours, yay. I actually went finding with the zone leaders for a couple hours on the streeets of downtown Napoli. IT was pretty uncomfortable, but cool. Hahah. 

Sorella Baker and I were invited for dinner at a corso students house, Michele and Patrizia. Michele showed us the facebook group that he created called "Friends of Mormon" (not even plural) hahaha I died. Isnt that great!!?? All our corso students are a part of it. We had a great discussion with them and they want to have a movie night with us to watch the Restoration. HAhah They were really cute.

Sorella Baker is really great! We are both pretty different but she is definitely a go getter missionary. ITs really cool. I have been studying more about creating a vision (as preach my gospel says we should do). Without goals or plans, then we have NO vision. Our vision should be eternal life and we are taking steps to get there! We need to make visions for what kind of person we want to be next week. "Maintain a vision" that you will become more charitable, a greater sister missionary. This life is the time to prepare to meet God. What are you doing about it? 

The gospel is so so so so good. Love it and study it every day!

Love you all so much!

Sorella Clyde

Strange things are happenin to me...

Steve, Lynz, Ken, Liv you better get that email subject line.

WHAT A CRAZY COUPLE OF DAYS! FAMILY! It was the most wonderful day ever to see everyone yesterday! Man, why cant you all be here with me!!?? So fun to hear and see and experience everything about kenna and spences baby birth. HAHA talk about weird timing! ITS A BABY GIRL! I  TOTALLY CALLED IT. It was my missionary revelation, thats all:) SOMEONE TELL KENNA BENNA to write me asap. PICS? NAME? VIDEO?

Peppe is still on his way to baptism, BUT indeed I was right. He wants and expects us to WRITE his testimony for him so that he can read it from the stand during the cerimony hahah. HE is not even real. He claims that he is not talented like most people when it comes to speaking in front of crowds. We tried to explain that a testimony comes from the heart and what you know to be true. He wouldnt allow it. Ohhhh peppe. I realized with Sorella Viazzo that his love language is PRAISE. Sor Viazzo claims that you just have to tell Peppe that he is bravo and then everything is dandy. Even during a tense moment in the lesson (and there are lots of those because he is old and cranky) HAHAH We love our peppster.

Janets baptism was a dream come true! EVERYthing went wrong, but everything was so right. She was dunked 4 times because her husband struggled having just gotten the priesthood a week ago. HAHAH poor things. She got her confirmation yesterday and it was so beautiful. She sat back down next to Benjamin, her husband with the biggest smile. Mosiah 4:11-12 Beautiful scripture on baptism.

Everything goes really well here in Pozzuoli. I stickin around for my 3rd. Love you all! And so good to hear from you! THank you so much for writing! Sorry for the short letter, but I have to go!

Love, 
Sister Clyde

"A real LIVE WELL!  CAN YOU SAY SEVEN DAYYSSSSSSS????"

People, People who need people

People are SO GOOD. Oh my goodness. There are just so many fantastic people here! First of all, Peppe. Our wonderful, dutiful, grandfather Peppe set a baptismal date!!!!! For May 31! ITS A MIRACLE. He was very concerned about who was going to baptize him, as he is quite a heavy man. We made it clear that we could have several men helping him in the font. He also wants us to write his testimony for him, so that he can read it. HAHA (I am still not sure if that means he will tell us what to write or if he wants us to actually write it) HAHA we shall see.

Second. Vincenzo. Vincenzo is our pizzeria friend who always salutes us when we walk by "Buena sera raggazze!!". Well we have invited him and his pizzeria coworkers to church and to english course, but just this last week we went by to chat with him for a little bit.He was telling us that his only free day is Tuesday. Then said we have to go.

 Sorella Viazzo: "We just need to go help bring salvation to other people" 

Vincenzo: Well what about me? I need salvation too. Ohhh but no, I cant. I always have to work. What am I going to do. I need work. Oooo but work or salvation?? i guess salvation is probably more important.
Me: You can do both!
Vincenzo: But how? I need to pay the bills.
Me: Well you have a free day tuesday, right?
Vincenzo: Well yeah. I guess youre right. What time works for you?

HAHAHA it was so hilarious. We then told him we would give his number to the elders and he agreed. SUCH A COOL GUY (and he has a wife and kids!!!)

Then there is Evans. Again. from Ghana. Whenever he ends a phonecall, he always says, "I miss you!" (not future tense. present haha)

Lastly, JANET!!!!! JANET IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY. There is nothing that can stop her!!!! SO SO HAPPY. We taught her last monday and it was the happiest day of my mission- to someone agree to being baptized, taking a step to celestial life. JAnet is our wonderful, sweet investigator from Ghana. Her husband is a member of several years. She is 26 and so faithful! Even better news....her husband just got the priesthood yesterday, SOOOO he is going to perform her baptism!!! CHE BELLO! Sorella Viazzo and I have been so thrilled!

Saturday night! We had the branch talent show!! IT WAS SUCH A HIT!!! We had africans, italians, and americans all performing!! IT wAS SO CULTURAL. Oh man. There arent even words that can describe how perfect and happy and successful the night was! It just really united the branch! The grand finale was the Sorelle!!! (US). All props to Sorella Viazzo. We found some whipped cream and cookies at a cafe nearby. We randomly picked people from the audience to play. It was so hilarious.

People are so so good. Appreciate and lovethe people that the Lord puts in your path! Love you all! GO KENSPEN BABY GO! GO!! SEE you next week, via skype!!!
LIV IS HOME AND REAL! ITS NOT EVEN REAL!!!

LOVE,
Sorella Clyde