When we got to St Peter's we realized very quickly that it was not a typical day at the Vatican. The line to get into the Basilica wrapped alllll the way around the piazza, and it was comprised almost exclusively of groups of nuns and monks. All different color habits/robes and also of all different nationalities. It appeared to be some kind of nun/monk convention, and everyone in line was clutching these little purple pieces of paper.
We asked some nuns in line and they said it was the Mass of the Consecrated Life or something like that and that the POPE would be there! They had gotten tickets pre-ordered, and you had to have a purple ticket to get in.
We were just kind of taking pictures of the spectacle, bummed that we wouldn't be able to get in, when one of the nuns came up and told us that she'd seen that they weren't checking tickets anymore and we could probably just get in line and get in!
In line we hear someone a few spots up yell "Sisters!" Half the line turned to respond. But they were talking to us! They were a family from Ogden, Utah. We finally all got through security and as we're in the portico, the covered part just outside of the church, we see a bunch of fancy priest lookin dudes all lined up and a white fancy chair up on a platform. As everyone continues into the Basilica I grab the sorelle and say "There's only one guy who's gonna sit in that chair." We peel off to the side and wait right up against the crowd control barriers. A solemn woman's voice is saying the Hail Mary continuously over a loudspeaker. Nuns and other people start to gather where we are.
Someone hands all of us prayer books and candles and comes around to light them. Then this fancy procession of people with tall pointy hats starts filing out, all the while the Hail Mary is ringing through the air and we're lighting the candles of the nuns around us. And then right in front of us the Pope takes his seat! He was probably about 50 feet away from us. He said a couple prayers and then the procession went inside the Basilica. We walked inside and it was just FULL of people. We took a few pics and then scapp'ed because our Pday was over and it was back to work!
Work was good this week! Hossein has finished Alma in the Book of Mormon and is really progressing. He asked why we drink water instead of wine in Church, so we taught him the Word of Wisdom! He was like WHAT! You never drink?? NEVER?? But it's not about that. It's about how God created our bodies, so He knows how we should take care of them. He gave us these commandments through His prophet because our body is a temple, a gift from God, and what we put into our bodies has consequences. God let us know what things were good to eat, and what would harm us- alcohol, tobacco, harmful drugs, coffee and tea. We challenged Hossein to try it, to go a week and see if he saw any difference. He accepted!
Nico is on the cliff of agreeing to be baptized! He is standing on the cliff and looking over the edge and knowing he has to jump! Ah he is just so CLOSE! He says he has just gotten so much happier ever since he started meeting with us, he feels more and more that it's all right and true and good but just is still struggling with the idea of leaving the Orthodox Church. He's doing so great and we're so grateful to be working with such a prepared person!
We've been teaching Livia, the friend of a less-active sister, Raquel, both are from Peru. It's going great and Livia made Raquel take her to church this Sunday because she wanted to see what it was like! What a rock star! That's one way to reactivate someone! Livia loved Sunday School especially and we hope they'll come again soon!
On Saturday night we had a Serata Familiare, a Family Home Evening, in the church. Some members invited their friends, we invited our investigators, and it was a huge hit! No one expected so many people to come, and everyone had a great time. We had a little lesson on prayer, members bore testimonies, we played some really fun games, and ate some Peruvian and Italian food. A total success and we want to start doing that every month!
So yep life is great here in Rome 1! Love you all so much!
Sorella Frandsen
brianne.frandsen@myldsmail.net
Sorelle Missionarie Frandsen
Via Villata, 28
00166 Roma, ITALIA
0 comments:
Post a Comment