è stato reale

So sorella Baker and I gave each other goals for the week. Her goal was to talk to everyone that sat next to turn on the train. My goal was to only talk to the elders in italian. The longer I have been on the mission, the more I have tried to not let italian hold me back in showing my personality. As I said farewell to the anziani the other day I shouted out "è stato reale!" Or (its been real!) I dont think it really translates but the american elders got it.

We saw the Garofalos this last week. They are one of my favorite families. Just before we went over their house for dinner, we did some knocking doors in an apartment building. This one man showed us his badge and said that it was illegal that we were in there, then kicked us out. We told the Garofalos about it and Sorella Garofalo said, "Hes probably atheist!" HAHA anyway, the garofalos are just this crazy, fUN, loud italian family. The parents shared stories the whole time, inserting their english words every so often:). Fratello Garofalo is so hilarious as he acted out his stories, making fun of his wife. HAHA

So many miracles this week! First of all, Sorella Baker and I did a companionship fast this last fast sunday to get more investigators- as we were in great need. We decided to recontact some contacts that Sorella Viazzo and I met and call all the potentials on our potential sheet. It was so productive! We got 5 new investigators this week!!We are so thrilled and we feel like God has blessed us so much! We have felt SO GRATEFUL to the Lord this whole week! One night while we were lying in bed, we just expressed our GREAT joy for the mission. "It just gets better and better!" 

We saw Sandra again this week. She is golden. She had not read the previous week because she had been dealing with some struggles in her life, but is planning to read and even ended the lesson with a prayer asking HEavenly Father if the things we teach are true. We will meet with her tomorrow! Apparently she is leaving to Spain for the summer and wants to have the 5 lessons before she leaves. She even wants to study with the missionaries in Spain while she is there. I secretly home she can go find Emily there:) She is so cute though, she cries so easily and she always always prays for us by name. 
We saw Peppe, new member Peppe! He is doing great. He had some questions about tithing and if the church would ever ask him to pay more than 10 percent. Once we got that straightened up, he made a comment about the blessings he has seen from the commandments. He has to pay 50euro in tithing every month (10%) but used to pay 90euro a month for his coffee. So in reality, the Lord is blessing him with 40euro. (90-50) He is doing really well! During the lesson peppe said something like "So in our church....I can say OUR church, because now Im a member... can we do this?? It was said so nonchalantly but pretty sure he had been planning the little input his whole life. HAHA

We contacted Yuri, a guy that Sorella Viazzo and I met one time. He was very open and sincere with us. He agreed to read and take the lessons! 

We finally met with Shirley, the filipina we met on the bus. She is so wonderful and faithful and loves to gigle. She deals with a lot of struggles like separation from her husband and cancer, but she is still so faithful. She even has read a little bit in her Tagolog book of mormon since then. She also has two daughters that we hope to teach next time! It was THE COOLEST THING to hear her read the introduction in Tagolog as we read along in italian. She was so happy to see the book in her native language. WE HAVE A FILIPINA investigator- that is like my dream come true. So many italian missionaries have raved about the filipinos here in italy!

2 Nephi 2:25 We are here to have JOY! So have it. What a beautiful scripture. Like most missionaries, we dont get to teach the Plan of Salvation as much as we would like, but when we do it is my favorite! Wow is so beautiful and perfect. God really is our loving Heavenly FAther and has created a plan of JOY for us. I am so so grateful that I know who I am and why I am here. We taught this lesson to the cutest couple investigators last night. It was a powerful lesson. I know it is true.
Have a wonderful week! keep spreading the word of God! Vi voglio bene!!

Sorella Clyde

Our 74 yr old investigator was finally baptized this last week!!! LOOK AT THE PURE JOY IN HIS FACE!!!! We were so worried about him but our prayers were answered and his was down in ONLY ONE TRY!!!! WE LOVE OUR PEPP!