Il pronto soccorso, la pazienza (letter from 10/8/14)

Carissima famiglia,

Well it has been a great week, let me tell ya. It all started out with last Wednesday, we were rushing to an appointment with our dream family and my dear companion, Sorella Bringas, fell off her bike. Really hard. She couldn’t get off the pavement. Everyone called an ambulance because she couldn’t move, we thought her leg was broken. First time in an ambulance in Italy, for both of us. Sorella Bringas is amazing though, she was making sure I gave pass along cards to everyone who helped us. She was in a neck brace and we thought for sure it was really bad. The anziani gave her a blessing, and it was one of the most powerful priesthood blessings I’ve ever heard. Nothing is broken, just a giant bruise. She’s working hard even though she’s in pain. I am nowhere near half the missionary that she is. I learn so much from her every day!

We still went to consiglio the next day and then we were on bedrest for the rest of the weekend. I did splits with a member while she slept at another member’s house, so don’t worry, we still were working hard 🙂

General conference was wonderful! Didn’t get to watch all of them, but I will tell you that I loved the talk from Elder Christofferson (Mark mentioned that one too) and the talk given in the saturday morning session about truly taking advantage of the sacrament. I feel like that talk has highlighted some of the greatest truths I’ve learned on my mission. I know that we are led by living prophets today. They truly are the guides, la bocca di Dio, so that we can return safely home if we listen to them. Who’s side are we on? I really like that question. I know that if God be with us, then who can be against us?

Monday we had an amazing zone training meeting, my last one. Heavenly Father blessed me to work with some amazing zone leaders and missionaries at the end of my mission. It was a very inspired meeting, and we are all doing better at being forever finders and truly remembering why we are here. We only get so much time to wear that tag and open our mouths so boldly. We gotta take advantage of it.

I also gave my “dying testimony.” I don’t really remember what I said, I just know that it didn’t feel real and I’m trying not to think about it too much. I love the mission that I am serving for the Lord. My mission truly has shown me how I will strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ for my entire life. Words really can’t express everything I’m feeling but I am so grateful for my Savior. His Atonement, mamma mia, it is the center of this gospel. It gives us the strength and the power to do anything that is asked of us.

I love you all, you are all in my prayers, and I know that the church is true. It is TRUE.

Vi voglio bene,
Sorella Strong