Oh, what a week…(Feb 12)

Cara famiglia,

I really am out of words of what to write this week. You know how last week I wasn’t feeling well, well let’s just say this week hasn’t been the funnest since we were inside for most of it. For some reason Friday morning my body decided it wanted to faint, we went to the pharmacy to get medicine, next thing we know I have a rash over my entire body, then I had to go to the hospital/not really the hospital because we were worried it was an allergic reaction. Anyways. There’s a lot more to the story but I’ll leave it to that.  I am grateful for my saintly companion.  Basically, she has been there through it all with me now… as I say daily, “we’ve reached all new levels here.”  She’s wonderful 🙂 She’s patient and deals with my complaining and everything all day long. I’m working on it.  I haven’t been the most Christ-like this week, I’ll tell you that.  I also haven’t really been completely to my senses.

I am grateful for this church, and the members here.  One member came late that night to take me to the doctor, helped me communicate everything I needed, took me to the pharmacy to get my subscription fixed, and everything. As we were getting out of the car and thanking her profusely, she said: “You really don’t need to thank me, I’m just doing what Jesus Christ has shown me to do.” It was everything I could do not to cry, because I really don’t know how we could have figured it all out without her. (The Italian medical system is a little different…)  I am grateful to be a part of the church, where (most of us) have covenanted to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.  Sometimes, it’s hard to let other people serve us.  Especially as a missionary, I have this idea in my mind that I have to constantly be helping everyone else around me that I forget to let them help me.  Sometimes, a member can teach us something, an investigator, a less-active, anyone.

The work is going really well here, still! President Dibb was here this weekend and we had zone conference yesterday.  It was a good day and we learned lots of things 🙂  We had investigators in church, and the branch here is really starting to develop the faith that baptisms are possible.  I’m developing that faith too 🙂 They’re possible.  They happen. It’s not easy, but there are people prepared to here this message, we just have to open our mouth to see it happen.

Vi voglio bene! I know this gospel is true, with all of my heart. Sorry for the short email again 🙁

Italian is the most beautiful language in the world! The church is true!

Sorella Strong