A fantastic week!

I think that this has been the best week ever!  Monday started by traveling to Pozuoli for zone conference.  We get to see all the other missionaries in our zone and we get trained how to be better missionaries. We got a few pictures with all the missionaries.

Just us sisters.

Just our district

And just me and my companion!

Everyone sang to Paul for his birthday:

We had a good day.

Tuesday night we had a Western themed graduation party for our English class students.  I wish I got a picture of all of us line dancing.  Then we had a fun photo booth without an actual booth!

Plus good food, and singing with 2 guys playing fun old fashion western songs.  Everyone had such a lot of fun!

 

Wednesday, I cooked over at Gina's house and got to visit and talk with her.  I enjoy that so much.

Thursday we met Marianna's mom. Took a member to the hospital, and had English class.  We packed for our two day trip to Rome.  Friday and Saturday were fantastic! Three of our English class students rode with us to Rome.  We had set up appointments with three past Battipaglia missionaries who now serve in Rome to each have a last chance to bear witness of Christ to these three dear girls.  We saw Elder Duffin at 10:00.  He showed them the latest Mormon message, which was really good.

Then we took the girls to the bed and Breakfast they were staying at.  Our plan was to meet Sister Ghio for lunch.  But it just so happened that the bed and breakfast was in Sister Ghio's area.  So she met us at the bed and breakfast, and she came and made her famous tortillas, and we had a yummy lunch. For the spiritual thought that she shared, she picked a scripture that talked about how to know what to do.  You should fast and pray to get answers, which was one of the messages in Elder Duffins Mormon message.

Then we hurried over to the mission office where the Rome 2nd ward meets, and we met up with Elder

Ostler, who served in our town for 9 months. He organized a young adult activity so that our girls could meet some young adults from Rome.  After the activity, we stayed for the mission prep class.  

It was wonderful.  They broke up into 3 small groups and asked each of the potential missionaries to share their testimonies about personal experiences with having their prayers answered.  When the members found out that our girls were not members, they testified with such power and sincerity, that the spirit filled the chapel to overflowing.  Many of these kids have just been baptized and many are from other countries where life is even more difficult than in Italy.  Their faith was unwavering and strong and bold.  Their experiences were extraordinary.  I was crying my eyes out, because the spirit was so strong.  I felt so blessed to be there.

Saturday morning, we picked up Tom and Paula Heath, who have come to visit Italy.  It was so good to see them.

You would never know that Paula had been traveling for about 20 hours.  She looked beautiful and happy as always.

We started for home after waiting for two hours for them to get their rent a car.  We almost got home and Paula realized that she left her purse at the last gas station we stopped at, two hours before.  What a panic feeling.  Her passport, phone, money and credit cards were all in there.  After a prayer or two, Federica found the phone number for the AutoGrille we were at, and she called and discovered that someone had turned in the purse and it seemed that everything was still in it.  What a miracle!  I still can't believe it!  Paul and Tom drove one car back to the gas station which took two hours and then drove the two and a half hours back to Battipaglia!  But we were all so thankful for the miracle that everything was found! 

We had a great fast and testimony meeting today.  Primary was good.  I love our three regular primary kids.  It has been such a blessing for me to work with Carrie, the primary president.