è bella la vita, eh?

Letter 23~

Me and my two best friends/investigators Nico and Hossein

Yesterday we were getting home from Church and an old lady a couple floors above us was hanging her laundry out to dry. We called out a "Buon giorno" and she yelled down "è bella la vita, eh?"-- "Life is beautiful, eh?" And it is!  Every day! 

Especially now that WINTER IS ENDING! Sorella Clyde has one more week here in the mission, which we try not to talk about but it always comes up. I want to make it the best week of her mission. We are just trying to see all of our people and fill up every minute. 

Then on Saturday we get TRANSFER CALLS and we'll see if I stay here to "train the city" or if I get "blown-out!" I really think I'm going to stay, we have too much good work right now, but there is always the possibility! I have been in Rome for 3 transfers now, which is the standard length of time that a sorella will stay in one city... Vediamo! We'll see! I think I have one more in me here, though. 

I FOUND PEANUT BUTTER in a random Bangladeshian minimarket by the metro stop! It's pretty different than the stuff back home, no sugar added so it's just like straight peanuts but I AM SO HAPPY!!!

We committed Risa, the filipina, to a baptismal date this week! I've learned to speak Risa-ese, you have to repeat everything 3 times, rephrasing it with simple words, using English and Italian, and smile a lot and sound super happy. We talked about baptism and priesthood authority, and also about how God answers prayers through the Holy Ghost. Then we prayed and she asked God if she should be baptized and we all felt the Spirit telling her it was right. She agreed to March 14th! But then right after the lesson she invited us to go to church with her. Soooo she may not fully understand it... still.... RISA!!

A motley assortment of ward members after the party.
Missionaries and the Peruvian crew-
an unbeatable team :)

Hossein and Nico are still doing great!! 

The picture (at top) is with them. I can honestly say that when I got my mission call to Italy, I didn't expect becoming best friends with middle aged Romanian and Iranian men but that's what has happened.

This Saturday night we had a ward party for Carnavale! Carnavale is of Catholic origin??  But today it just means kids dress up in costumes, like Halloween, and people eat these fried pastries that taste like funnel cakes.   At the "E Perché No??" -- "And Why Not?" ward party, the theme was Carnavale, which had just ended, but it was like why not have a party anyways! 

Peruvian Cecilia and her Italian husband,
our new investigator FAMILY!!
They have two kids, ages 15 and 9.

The attendance of the ward was actually pretty small, mainly just the core Peruvians but tons of investigators and friends and English course students came and everyone had a BLAST! 

Chillin with Sorella Denti, the bishop's mom
who we go visit sometimes:)

The Peruvians were in charge of the music so we danced the night away to Prince Royce and Enrique Iglesias and all the other Latino music that I LOVED before the mission! Wooo!   Nico, Hossein, and our new investigating FAMILY came and had a great time. 

We had games, dancing, and potluck food. Our chocolate banana bread was a hit as always and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches met mixed success.

Saddest thing, last Pday Sorella Clyde got her wallet stolen! She made it 18 months -2 weeks without getting robbed, and then she got her wallet stolen- permesso, credit card, driver's license, everything! Luckily, she's leaving the country so soon and doesn't need her permesso then, we quickly blocked the cards, and she only had 3 euros in cash! We got out of the metro, on the way to go climb the Duomo at the Vatican, and she realized her bag was open! 

We went back to where we had gotten on the metro and our buddy Bobby, this African guitar player who sets up there, called us over. He said that as we had walked past him on the way to the metro there were some guys following us and going for Sorella Clyde's bag. He called out to us-- "Ey, sistahs!! Come back!" but we didn't hear! Dang it! It was a cross body bag, made for being safe. Nothing she could have done. A trip to our favorite gelato and a pizza helped a whole lot :)

Finally got my permesso!  So much hassle,

 so much beaurocracy! But I have it!

Waiting inside the Questura, the state
police/ immigration place. Only in Italy
does a GOVERNMENT BUILDING have a
giant wooden crucifix just casually hanging
 inside the waiting room. 

Anyhow that's what's going on with me here in Rome! Sending my love out to you all! And if you feel down this week, just remember-- " è bella la vita, eh?" And it IS!

Sorella Frandsen

brianne.frandsen@myldsmail.net