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

Life is Good

We were waiting that the bus stop one day to go to Castel Volturno for coordination with Brother Bonner. I got stuck talking to a crazy man, while Sorella Viazzo was talking to another man. I was praying that the bus would come. Then there it was, in sight. The massive blue M1B bus. I threw my hand out to get the attention of the bus driver, so he knew to stop. The massive doors swung open and there was Anz Bird with a big smile on his face at the very edge of the bus. Yes, the bus was choc full of people (mostly africans)- like it usually is. Without even I thought in my head I shoved myself on (mostly to get away from the crazy man and also because those doors open and then close within 15 seconds usually). I said "ciao" to the crazy man, squeezed myself on and noticed that Sorella Viazzo was still exchanging numbers with this other man. I pulled her on. She was literally half on and half off the bus, still typing in his number. It was the greatest misisonary moment..to see sweet little Sorella Viazzo going from getting someones number to getting on a sweaty crowded bus to her next appointment. Oh man I wish I filmed it.

Well she got on after I pulled her on, the doors slammed and we were off....on the wildest most comfortable ride of my life. People standing body to body practically, with nothing to hold onto. My bag got stuck in a group of men, so I tugged and tugged as hard as I could (knowing that my camera was inside) and with success. Thankfully. As the bus turned, all the bodies swayed together. There was absolutely nowhere to look except at the men surrounding me. It was terrible. WORDS could not even describe the experience. Thankfully, Anz Bird switched places with me so I could breathe the rest of the ride there. 

Our whiteboard finding technique is going well! We found George. This time our board said "Ha mai ricevuto una risposta da una preghiera?" (Have you ever received an answer to a prayer?) Well George had! We asked him to share it with us. He totally opened up and told us about how his mother was dying 30 years ago in the hospital. With tears in his eyes, he said that he prayed that she would stop suffering and a little while after she passed away. He knew that God had answered his prayer. He said to us, "I have no doubt that there is "something" out there." It was so touching. It was touching to see such faith in this man and it was touching to see how the Lord really does lead us to prepared people. The love of God for his children is so great. 

We teach people everyday how we have the opportunity to say spontaneous prayers, rather than recited prayers. I know that prayer is real. I know that we can talk to God and tell him anything. It makes me so sad that people dont understand this concept. God is our loving Heavenly Father. Its great to hear someone pray for themselves for the first time!

We showed the Elders our white board idea and Anz Kemple wrote "Che cosa avete mangiato per pranzo?" (What did you eat for lunch?) HAHA, maybe we will shake things up for our next finding opportunity. 

Janet is amazing! She is getting so close to her baptism! It is so wonderful to see the Spirit working with her. We have seen such a great change in her! She has more of a light since we have been teaching her and she has been reading! She is happier! It is so fantastic to see how the gospel changes people. It impacts people lives!

Evans is my best friend. He is from Ghana. Yesterday I was asked by the branch president to give a talk in church (2 minutes before sacrament meeting started) on the law of tithing. I ran to Sorella Viazzo and luckily she had a tithing pamphlet in italian. I jotted down some notes and ideas for my talk throughout the meeting. I told Evans that I was just assigned to give a talk (I probably seemed nervous and stressed). Well the talk went pretty well. IT was interesting going from Italian to english every so often. It was also a plus because it took up twice as much time;)

Anyway, Evans called me last night to say thank you. He kept saying "I LOVE it. So much! Im so happy! Thank you!" I think he said thank you like five times during the phone call. It made my mission. Pretty sure I was supposed to serve a mission in Africa. I love these people!

This last week I studied about obedience and I found d&c 130:20-21. SO COOL!. Every blessing we see in our lives is the result of following a commandment!

The gospel is so good. Keep discovering the beautiful truths in the scriptures! So so excited for Olivia and the family this week! Love you all!!

Sister Clyde

ET TEE SAY

Soooo I have decided to learn Twi, the language of Ghana. Hahha I am now best friends with all the Ghanians in our branch because I have learned this phrase

I call out: Et tee say? (How are you?)
and without question they respond back in Twi: "Eh yuh." haHAHA it gets me every time and they love it! Africans laughs are so fantastic. You cant even describe how good they are. So basically, I am almost fluent in Twi.

Philip, this older african man is SO hilarious. As we were waiting with a bunch of africans after church, I asked them: "So is there wildlife in Africa?" trying to break the silences.... And Philip says, "WHY NOT!?" In his silly african voice. HAHHA, no yes or no response, but "why not!" HAHA so funny. Also, apparently the lions are nicer in Africa. 

Shirley, an African woman who is getting baptized this week with her husband, is the happiest person in the world. Sorella Viazzo had to break it down and ask her how she is always so happy. She basically said that when she feels sad, she just needs to be happy. "I MUST BE HAPPY". HAHHAa i love africans. They are so inspiring. Most of them of very very poor and without food. Its so terrible, and yet they are the kindest most faithful people. 

Sorella Viazzo and I went to Napoli Underground last week. It is the OLD city of Napoli from World War 2. IT was so sweet and creepy. At one point we had to walk through a VERY narrow walkway to get this swimming pool. They let everyone hold REAL candles because the walkway was pitch black and a tight space. HAHAH so illegal in america, but so cool.

Conversion stories are so cool. Serving in Italy is so fantastic because most members of the church are converts, so we always get to hear their conversion stories. It is amazing to hear the miracles. I love how the Lord is in the details of our lives. He puts us exactly where he needs us to be. Its amazing running into people who have some connection to missionaries or members of the church. That is definitely not a coincidence! We have such greater need of recognizing the little tender mercies in our lives. We need to show more gratitude to the Lord. 

Peppe wants to get baptized!!!! Well he has always wanted to get baptized, but he says he will be baptized before we leave Pozzuoli. WOOHOO finally! Last week, peppe made us write down my name so that he could remember it. It is written on post it note in his scriptures. Everyweek when we give him a reading assignment, he always pulls out his handy dandy highlighter and makes us highlight the scripture. We love our good ole Pepp. He is like 75. 

Easter in Italy is interesting. They eat a nasty ricotta cake called Pastiera. Wewere given enough pies of pastiera to last a lifetime. The equivalent of an easter basket is a HUGE easter chocolate egg with a present inside. Everyone who is anyone is walking out the store with one, two or three of them.

JANET IS SO GREAT. We had a beautiful, spiritual lesson with her on the gospel of Christ. She has such a strong sweet Spirit. She is getting so close to baptism. We are planning on MAY 10 for her! WE LOVE JANET. She really is sincere and wants to get an answer. She has insisted on reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning. 

This week we discovered a fantastic finding method: Using a small white dry erase board with a written question on it and walking around town with it. For some reason, people really like it! It seems like a game to them, I guess. 

Happy Easter everyone! Mosiah 16:8-9

Ciao for now!
Sorella Clyde

I'm legal!

I finally had my last arrancino in Catania. We had to fly to Catania for the day to get my permesso di sogiorno (green card). I am finally legal woohoo!

Last pday we enjoyed a picnic at our local amphitheater in Pozzuoli, which happens to be in our backyard and it is the 3rd largest in the world. An italian man got us in for free:) It was SO cool. I cant believe gladiators are real. We went down below the colloseum grounds where on the animals (lions) were stationed. I so badly wanted to make a scary movie or something. Kenna and Liv..Rellika 2 gladiator styled?

That night we went finding and decided to stop in and visit our pizza "friends". Sorella Viazzo was trying to get them to come to church when one of them offered a pizza to us. Without even letting us reply they made us sit at the table and eat a pizza. AKA "be quiet and eat" (like we were these little children getting candy). HAha I guess it worked:)

We have a student at english course, Pasquale. He is so hilarious. He speaks english pretty well but he speaks with a rapper voice because learned english from listening to rap. HAHAH well after english course last week I asked him to teach us how to beat box. Then he wrote an english rap on the chalkboard and  the elders were trying to sing it. It was so hilarious, because one of the new elders, Elder Puff is German (but raised in italy) so he doesnt speak very good english. He got SO into it, it was hilarious. With the german accent, and angry rapping tone of voice, he sounded just like Arnold Schwarzenager. HAHA we all died laughing.

I feel like there are so many mission moments that I just really take in and love and appreciate! Its great to just appreciate the little moments here on the mission. While we were waiting for the train we talked to this older couple and their daughter (they had met with the elders before). We got on the train and sat with this other 15 yr old girl. The three of us chatted as the other family just stared with smiles and a couple other women behind us smiled as well. It was really cool.

We taught Massimo last week and he is doing pretty well. He is definitely feeling the Spirit, but he has trouble really recognizing it and I think his family is keeping him back. 

We are really excited about Janet, our african investigator. She is so adorable and sweet! We had a powerful lesson on the Holy Ghost. NOTHING is better than when your investigator prays and asks God to know if these things are true in front of us. She has so much faith and she agreed to be baptized! We will see if she keeps to that baptismal date! 

 Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. I translated for 3 english speaking speakers. Nervous.... Brother Bonner, his son Steven.....and then Destiny. YIKES. Pretty sure I didnt translate HALF of what he was saying. HAha apparently he ran up to the stand because of little Steven Bonners sweet testimony. Destiny is an African 30 yr old new member. He definitely put a lot more emkphasis and passion and DETAIL into his testmiony than I translated. Every time he said something I would simply way down. Haha I love the Africans!

We were able to watch some conference talks. Was very touched by Elder Packers talk! Wow! Moroni 10:3-5 is truly what sets us apart from other churches. That promise is so good. The fact that we have received a witness for ourselves. We arre here as missionaries to convince anyone but simply to INVITE them to pray and know the truth for themselves! I know without a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. 

Thanks for all the updates! Buona Pasqua!

Love, 
Sorella clyde