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Cara famiglia,<\/p>\n
I forgot my planner this week, and that’s how I remember everything, so I apologize for my terrible memory of the week.<\/p>\n
This week consisted of a scambio with Sorella Nedelkov from Verona here in Mestre. She is probably the most advanced greenie I’ve ever seen! She’s amazing and taught me so much. I felt so bad, she had her first bike crash with me. As you can imagine I was fussing over it all day, I felt so bad her first impression of her first scambio and she scrapes up her entire elbow. Then later that night to get back to their apartment I had to ride on the back of Sorella Bennett’s bike and… yeah let’s just say the back wheel did not survive. I am not very coordinated.<\/p>\n
We did a serata familiare (family home evening) with our Brazilian clan in the ward. It was so much fun. We ate a lot of Brazilian food and learned about raising our children in the gospel. It was perfect for our investigators that we brought becuase they’re expecting and were thinking a lot about that topic lately.<\/p>\n
We went to Venezia to do some less-active finding. We passed by a store that this woman owns and we were talking to her all about her conversion story. It’s so sad, how people have the strongest testimonies of the gospel, and yet members of the church can say and do harmful things and people choose not to come back because of it. We are teaching so many people like this, and we are trying to help them understand why we come to church. But, I see where they’re coming from. It’s hard to feel welcomed and like we belong when God’s children won’t accept us. I am learning so much on my mission about this, about reaching out, and how the church of God should function. She owned a beautiful jewelery store, and as we were leaving she gave us each beautiful ruby rings. It was such a kind act of service and we couldn’t accept them. Then we went and got on a boat to visit another member in Venice right at sunset time. I love sunsets. It was such a beautiful moment to reflect on the kindness of people’s hearts and the kindness of God, and how much He loves us and manifests His love in the littlest of ways.<\/p>\n
I love every single moment of my mission. Ah, it’s just so beautiful. I am trying to be better and be the best missionary that I can be. There’s so much to do in this area, and every day I hope I’ve done enough. I’m trying to appreciate the small victories, because changing an area completely is really hard sometimes. I know this applies in our lives, and in ourselves as well.<\/p>\n
Today I read in Exodus 4 about when God calls Moses to do His work. Moses is scared, he says he can’t speak, and what does the Lord say to him?<\/p>\n
“Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now, therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”<\/p>\n
We can do anything with His power, I know this, and I know that He is behind absolutely every miracle.<\/p>\n
Vi voglio bene,
\nSorella Strong<\/p>\n