I’m staying in Firenze (Feb 19)

Carissima famiglia,

I am going to be staying in Firenze and training this transfer.  Sorella Holloway is leaving to open a new coppia in Modena for sisters, so that’s really exciting.  I am super sad to see her go, because she literally is one of my very bestest dearest friends and has taught me so so much.  I’m pretty emotional about it actually, she seriously has been an answer to so many prayers, is so positive and happy, and is a light and angel to everyone.  She makes me laugh every day 🙂  Her new companion is pretty lucky.

But, if any of you have any advice about training, that would be very much appreciated 🙂  I’m really excited! And slightly overwhelmed, not gonna lie.

I have a cool little story to tell you this week.  So, Saturday we had an appointment with a less-active right in the heart of centro, right by duomo.   On our way there, we saw a tourist – a tall tourist wearing a University of Oregon jacket.  So, Sorella Holloway decides to chase her down, since, she’s from Oregon, and who doesn’t love Oregon?  We start talking to her, she is a professional basketball player in Switzerland right now and decided to come spend a couple of days in <florence.  She had met missionaries before and we invited her to an activity that we were having that night for Valentines Day.  And, she totally came!  She made friends with a lot of the American members, and the next day we got to meet her again, give her a Book of Mormon, and teach her about the Restoration.  She is going to meet with the sisters in Switzerland now!  It really was such a beautiful little tender mercy.  God prepares people in such different ways.  She was really open to everything.  She never really believed in God, but she has had some strong spiritual experiences in her life, and has accepted Christ as her Savior.  She is reading the whole Bible, and is writing down all of her questions.  She asked us a few, and the Book of Mormon responded.  Look, just in case you didn’t know, I know this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ restored on the earth today.  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Moral of the story: it’s okay to talk to tourists!

Also, let me tell you about the Valentines day activity.  We had 6 investigators there, which was really really cool!  One of our investigators was one whom we had never met, but that the old sisters had given to us and we finally, 3 months later, had the chance to meet her.  We met her in a book store and talked about the power of prayer.  Afterwards, we invited her to the activity that night and she said she could come.  The entire lesson, she would not accept a Book of Mormon and kept saying that she was Catholic and had no interest in changing (never heard that one before :)).  But then, she came to the activity and totally felt the spirit.  The activity was so so cute.  The youth put together a video of all the couples in the branch telling everyone how they met, their song, everything like that.  It was so adorable.  There was lots of yummy Italian food too, so can’t complain 🙂  We also had our couple from Madagascar there, along with our Oregon girl, and the friends of one of our other investigators.  The members welcomed them, and our branch president was so shocked, so we are gaining his trust.

Miracles truly are happening as we look for them.  Take some time to find the silver lining. (is that a song… I can’t remember :))

I know this gospel is true.  I love being a missionary. I am trying to soak up every moment of it.  It’s so fun, hard, and rewarding.

Vi voglio bene,

Sorella Strong