Dio c’è. God is there.

Buon Natale famiglia,

For some reason, writing this email in English seems to be a struggle. Voglio scrivervi in Italiano perché penso in Italiano. Comunque, I mean, anyways, ah! Okay. English, here we go.

This week has been COLD! And crazy! And good.

We also had a cool little miracle on Saturday.  We met a man named Domino who we had contacted on the street to teach him.  He’s from the Phillipines and it really funny. We met him at the train station and asked if he knew of a quieter place that we could talk. He took us the the huge duomo (one of the most beautiful buidings I have ever seen) and wanted to go inside, but we didn’t think that was exactly the best idea.  So we sat on a bench outside of it and taught him about the Restoration in English.  As we’re teaching, this Italian man come up to us and asks us if he can have a pamphlet.  We give him one and then we go back to teaching our lesson.  As I’m talking, my companions silently communicate and Sorella Beutler scoots down and teaches this man and Sorella Holloway and I continued teaching Domino while Sorella Beutler taught the other man.  While Domino isn’t super interested, this other man is, and it is cool how the Lord leads us to others in miraculous ways.

Yesterday, we had our Christmas conference with our zone. It was fun! President said, how often will you get to spend a Christmas in Tuscany?  And really, this is so true. I’m in Florence, Italy during Christmas and I get to see such beautiful things and completely focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  It’s sad how many people we talk to on the street say they don’t care about Christ yet it’s while they’re doing their Christmas shopping… it doesn’t quite make sense to me 🙂

This week, I have truly truly found a renewed peace. I am trying to learn how to just… let go. At times, we compare ourselves to other people and we get down on ourselves for this and that, but I have felt the love of God in my life this week as I seek to see Him in the little things.  I have felt so humbled and grateful lately.  Whenever we think that it is due to our own strengths, we won’t see success.  And, we aren’t happy.  We are upset with ourselves when we fail, or when something doesn’t go the way we planned or someone doesn’t accept what we’re offering them.  But, if we are following the Spirit and always giving the credit to our Heavenly Father, we can’t be sad.  We were following the Spirit.  And, as long as my Heavenly Father is proud of me and proud of my efforts, I can be happy. So, I truly am happy 🙂  Because I know I’m really trying my best to just do whatever He asks of me. Even if it means getting transferred all the time and never seeing the fruits of my labors, or if it means never sleeping, or my feet hurting so bad. We just keep going and we put a smile on our face because there is so much to be happy about, even when it seems that there isn’t. Joy to the World! The Savior reigns! Sono piena di gioa.

Dio c’è.  God is there. He is there in every beautiful sunset, He is there during the carols sung to His name, and He is there in the smile of a loved one.  He is there while we are on our knees pleading with all of our heart to be guided by Him.  We can’t forget Him, because we can’t do anything without Him.  We is just waiting to bless us, all we have to do is simple and what He asks, because He’s already done everything for us.  Matthew 11. He is just waiting to fulfill His part of the covenants He has made with us. There are so many blesssings just awaiting for us as we push forward in faith, in hope, and in charity.  I know this is true with all of my heart and words cannot ever express how grateful that I am learning this on my mission and feeling the reality of my Savior in ways I never have before.

Today, we’re going to some famous museums.  We’re going to see The David. I’m pretty excited 🙂

Also, thank you thank you thank you for all of the mail I got yesterday. Thank you to my ward back home, tears came to my eyes as I read all of the notes on the banner.  You all are wonderful, and keep being missionaries.

Vi voglio bene,

Sorella Strong