It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Letter 13 ~

Buon giorno!

It's been an ​incredible week yet again! 

Christmas in Rome
I'm going to miss Sorella Argyle!

This past PDay we just went to some favorite spots in Rome, the Sant'Ignazio church, Via del Corso, the gelato shop with 150 flavors, and the Colosseum (I have no idea how to spell that in English anymore). Since it was Immaculate Conception Day (a really big deal here in Italy) the Pope was going to walk from the Vatican to Piazza Spagna. We wanted to go catch a glimpse of him, but it was just absolutely packed with people!! There was no way we could get close enough to see him.

at the place with 150 gelato flavors!

flying Christmas trees in Roma centro!

This little climbing Babbo Natale (santa) guys are EVERYWHERE. I think everyone owns one.

Then in the evening, we were on Via del Corso crossing a street when we looked down the street and saw a ton of carabinieri (civic police) coming. We got to the other side of the street and watched the cars go by, thinking it might be a police escort for... and it was! I SAW THE POPE!! YEAAAA

I had a few more days in the trio with Sorella Marsh and Sorella Argyle, up until Thursday, which was transfer day. We left early to get Sorella Argyle to the Termini train station to meet up with her new companion, then we went with some others to the Villa, the mission home, to pick up their new companions. My companion Sorella Clyde wasn't getting in from Sardegna (she'd been there for a week for permesso, see last email) until later in the evening, so I just spent the day at the Villa with President and Sister Waddoups. 

In my past life (aka the time before the mission... was I ever not a missionary?), I would have loved a day of just hanging out, just shootin the breeze... but it made me anxious not to be out working! It stressed me out and made me feel like I was falling behind in our work. It's hard to explain.

Sorella Clyde and I are going all-out on stopping and talking to people this transfer! We are seeing so many blessings come from that, and also interesting experiences. Like this guy who was just high out of his mind, Sorella Clyde asked him if he was religious, if he believed in God. He just stared at her, trying to grasp what she was asking, and said "Che strane parole stai dicendo-- What strange words you are saying...!" Then his face changed, he smiled and shrugged and said " Va ben!" and continued on his way.

I should probably counter that story with one of the better ones. On Saturday morning, Sorella Marsh and Sorella Clyde went to a leadership conference, so I had a morning to spend with Sorella Marsh's new greenie-- Sorella Jones! Oh my gosh I haven't even talked about her yet!! She is SO awesome, she's from Payson, Utah and just such a warm friendly person!

Anyhow we had the whole morning to do some inspired finding- where we prayerfully choose streets to go to. I was worried it would be like the blind leading the blind because it's only my second transfer, I'm still a greenie too- but it was awesome! Sorella Jones took to it like a fish to water! We had so many amazing conversations with people and got 2 numbers! People are usually (and understandably) hesitant to give those out. 

Oh my gosh where has the time gone! There's still so many amazing things to tell so I'll just have to list some of them fast! Nexhi came to church with her son on Sunday!!!

getting pizza with our investigator Nexhi!
From right to left-
Sorella Marsh, me, Sorella Argyle,
and Nexhi

We couldnt pick a flavor so we just got a little of 
everything!  Zucchini, ???? some kind of bitter
green herb plant, funghi (mushroom), hot dog, 
prosciutto, and patate (potato).

Nexhi bought us pizza

We were finally able to meet with an incredible sister who works on Sundays, the ward Christmas party was adorable, and we got a referral and started teaching an incredible family! a FAMILY!! There will have to be more on all that next week.

I found an amazing scripture this week that I'd like to share. It's in Doctrine and Covenants, which has revelation given to Joseph Smith by the Lord, Jesus Christ. This revelation was for a brother who had been called to go preach as a missionary. In this verse Christ is speaking, and he says,

Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, 

and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, 

that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

I know that Christ is standing with me as I testify of Him, that He is the Savior of the world, and that He has restored His church through the prophet Joseph Smith. When I testify of this truth to people, even if it's on a busy street in Rome, I can feel every time the confirmation of the Spirit that it's true. And I can see it in people's faces when they can feel that same divine witness of that truth. Some of them accept it, and some turn away. I know that God wants us all to find the truth and I'm so blessed to be an instrument in helping His children do just that.

May we all keep our thoughts on the Savior during this Christmas season. :)

Sorella Frandsen

Sorella Frandsen's Mailing Address: LETTERS & PACKAGES

(Letters take about one week to arrive, Packages take about 2 weeks)

Sorelle Missionarie Frandsen

Via Villata, 28

00166 Roma, ITALIA 

Seen in the internet point- gladiator playing the slot machine