LETTER 9 ~
Keyboards click, slot machines chirp, and the whir of buses and Vespas is heard from outside. Various people chat in Bangladeshian. Outside someone is yelling at someone else, but it's happy yelling. A stale smoke scent prevails... The pale mint green walls are bare, except for the scraps of paper taped on with the numbers of the computers. Welcome to the 'internet point.'
This week has truly been great!! First off last Pday was amazing. We took the metro to Piazza del Popolo. We talked to the Bangladeshian man who tried to sell us some roses about the gospel. Someone was playing acoustic guitar, it was late in the afternoon, and bubbles from some performer were floating around. It was beautiful.
We continued to walk down the street, stopping by the Rome-themed Disney store!!
to the 'Altar to the Country'- a GIANT white building/monument from the last century that vaguely looks like an enormous birthday cake.
In front of there we happened to run into a friend from another Rome ward who used to be a tour guide. He took us up this huge staircase on the side to this incredible panoramic view of Rome- the market, Fora, and Colosseum.
Then he took us to his favorite church in Rome with a ceiling painting to rival the Sistine Chapel in beauty, at least in my book!
Let me tell you about this woman we met last week. So there are lots of immigrants from the Phillipines here, and we just LOVE THEM because they are so gentle, kind, sweet, humble, open!! It's incredible!! But last week we met this one woman on the street named Mila, and she was one of the most sassy human beings I've ever met. We got her number and called her a few nights later. She answered and we said "Mila! Hi! It's the sister missionaries from the other day. How are you?" and she said "I'm doing good... BECAUSE I'M SLEEPING!!" Bahahahah she is certainly not the typical Filippina.
My mom was asking for more info about our apartment so here it is! We have 2 bedrooms (one for each of the companionships) a hallway, a bathroom, and a tiny kitchen! We haven't gotten our heat turned on yet, but we are definitely doing that this week! The floors are all tile or stone, it makes me miss carpet!! BUT a super huge plus about our apartment, about being in Rome, is that we can drink the tap water! YAY
My Italian is continuing to improve and I dreamed in Italian for the first time!! Here are some fun Italian words and phrases- "In fatti!"- literally In Fact! but used more like we say Seriously!. Because of this I find myself saying In fact! in English a lot!
Managgia- dang it!
Aspet'.- shortening of Aspetta- wait
Sto scherzando- I'm joking. I have to say this when I forget that most Italians don't understand sarcasm and I accidentally use it on them.
A random bit of advice to you future missionaries out there: LEARN TO PLAY THE PIANO I can guarantee you it will be used! I play for the Primary in my ward.
As far as the work goes: WE GOT 3 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK! One is this late'twenties Romanian woman who lives down the street and has a 1 year old daughter. Another is a 50-60 year old Ecuadorian guy who really really hit it off well with our Peruvian ward mission leader when we brought him to the lesson. And the third is this Hungarian woman who can talk without stopping for breath, it is the craziest thing I have ever seen in my life. She just never stops. We'll be telling her about the Book of Mormon and next thing you know she's talking about Obama and luxury cruises down the Nile River and violence in films (true story).
This is me and Lizbeth, a recent convert in the ward! She's a Peruvian mom of 2 young kids. We were going to a first appointment with someone and Lizbeth was coming too, but we got a bidone (they didnt show up). But the neighborhood was BEAUTIFUL so I took lots of photos!
As far as the work goes: WE GOT 3 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK! One is this late'twenties Romanian woman who lives down the street and has a 1 year old daughter. Another is a 50-60 year old Ecuadorian guy who really really hit it off well with our Peruvian ward mission leader when we brought him to the lesson. And the third is this Hungarian woman who can talk without stopping for breath, it is the craziest thing I have ever seen in my life. She just never stops. We'll be telling her about the Book of Mormon and next thing you know she's talking about Obama and luxury cruises down the Nile River and violence in films (true story).
This is me and Lizbeth, a recent convert in the ward! She's a Peruvian mom of 2 young kids. We were going to a first appointment with someone and Lizbeth was coming too, but we got a bidone (they didnt show up). But the neighborhood was BEAUTIFUL so I took lots of photos!
And the other miracle was this Sunday President Eyring, Elder Perry, and Presiding Bishop Cosse came to our sacrament meeting!!!
We had heard rumors in the last week but they really came and spoke, each one! We had called all of our English course students and invited them, a few of them came to see! Also our Hungarian invesigator came-- and she SLEPT through the entire thing and then left before the closing song!! She slept through two apostles of God!! Bahahahahhahahahahah
The talks they gave were amazing though! President Eyring spoke SPECIFICALLY to us 6 missionaries a few times during it! He said that the Lord was speaking to the hearts of the people- all of them- though not all of them would respond. He told us to be bold, and that those who had been prepared would be able to hear in our voices the voice of the Savior speaking to them, that they would be able to recognize that we are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he is speaking to them through us! And I know that this is true! I know there are prepared people all over the world, even in Rome! People who are searching for the truth, even if they don't realize they are!
May God bless each of you, and may you have the faith to see the miracles in your lives, to see His Hand in your life!
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