Una settimana consecrata –letter from 3/19/14

Cara famiglia,

I am so happy that Grandma Lockwood has been able to move on to the next stage in the beautiful journey of our souls.  Now, we have more missionaries doing the Lord’s work!  She is such a wonderful example to me of so a rich life and I will never forget when we were all sitting down in a circle wearing Grammie’s big hats and Grammie asked Grandma Lockwood to share with us some wisdom, and Grandma said: “Patience is a virtue.”  Patience IS a virtue, and I am working every day to be better and more patient, just like she was.

This week was a week full of miracles and lots and lots of tender mercies. President Dibb gave all the trainers and trainees the challenge to teach 21 lessons last week and… we did it!!!! It took a LOT of prayer, talking with so many people, and working really, really hard.  I know, I know, in South Americn they teach like 30 lessons a week, but, we try so hard to reach the standard of excellence, 15, that 21 was a challenge for us!  But, we did it, so let me tell you, anything is possible, and we’re just going to work harder and harder.  Along with our 21 lessons we found 7 new investigators, and had 4 investigators in church.  It was a week full of beautiful little miracles; it was a consecrated week.

Some of my favorite moments for the week were with new and amazing progressing investigator; our art student from America.  She’s 21, and has been searching for the truth her whole life.  We have been able to teach her a couple of the commandments with our American members here in Firenze, and their is such a spirit.  She is so prepared.  Anyways, let’s just say I am really, really looking to general conference weekend, the weekend of her baptism.

Most of our new investigators were found in the last hour of the day, when it’s dark and creepy and usually we just opt to go inside and do area book or call people.  My awesome companion who is so full of energy just keeps pushing me more and more, I don’t know if I could survive without her! One night, we were speeding home on our bikes (YAY THE BIKES ARE BACK AND RUNNING!!) and we sped past this woman sitting on a bench.  We kept going, but you know, when you just know you’re supposed to talk to someone, and you have to turn around, otherwise you didn’t listen to the spirit.  Well, I hopped off the bike and turned around.  (My poor companion had to go to the bathroom really really bad, but she had to wait. Sorry!)  This woman who is from Shreilanka (not sure how to spell that) was sitting on the bench, and told us she was sitting there wanting to have some peace and pray, and that’s perfect, because we pray with people all day long.  She is so awesome, and she told us about how her husband had died a year ago.  We shared with her the Plan of Salvation and she is so excited to learn more.  In fact, 5 minutes ago, I just got a call from her friend, I guess she is giving out our number and her friend just called us asking us if we can pray with her too. Mamma mia, miracles.

Sunday was a CRAZY day, I’ll tell you that.  I got yelled at by the crazy old man member who is insisting I give him Sorella Holloway’s phone number.  And he yelled out in the middle of sacrament meeting about it too.  And I was running around playing the piano for everybody, trying to get investigators to the right places, and getting calls from a couple less-actives who showed up! So, it was a great day, but craaaaaazy. Not really words to explain it.

I know this gospel is true! I know families are forever, Joseph Smith restored the gospel, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I love you all!

Sorella Strong