Week 15

(Week 9 Caserta)

I cannot tell a lie. This week was a toughie! We had problems with our
baptism, there were many many factors as to why they were not allowed
to be baptized... And lots of investigators who are no longer
interested and it was just a very long, rough week. BUT, there were
literally still miracles everyday. Sometimes the miracle was a
reassuring phone call from president, an English course student who
was extra kind, or when your only two investigators show up to church
in white shirts and ties! That last miracle was the best of all. Felix
and Evans, our Ghanaian's, just have the biggest desire to be baptized
and we will help them be baptized! 

The two best parts of this week happened during meal appointments. On
Friday we had an appointment with Anita and Kingsley (two of the three
Africans in the ward) at their home. Anita cooked us THE SPICIEST meal
I have ever eaten in my entire life! It was rice, fried chicken,
peppers, and tomatoes. Spicy level compares to the top level of the
Buffalo Wild Wings chart! I was literally crying and trying not to
throw up it burned so bad! Kingsley was so excited that we were there
and he turned on the restoration movie in Italian for us to watch
while we all ate. Thank goodness because I would have felt so bad if
Anita was watching my ears blaze red and my nose running like a fire
hydrant! Anywho, we shared a message about conference and they told us
that they want to prepare to be sealed in the temple! HAPPIEST MOMENT
EVER!!! So we are going to help them re-activate so they can have this
wonderful blessing! 

Second awesome experience was with the cutest old couple, the Izzos.
Fratello Izzo has been a member since he was 19 but Rosa has always
refused to attend church or even consider listening to anything about
the church. They had us over for pranzo Saturday with the senior
missionary couple. Rosa is the most AMAZING, kindest woman and LOVES
TO COOK!!! Sorella Hamilton and I had still been trying to digest our
flaming African food and then we came to the Izzo home... 

This is an Italian pranzo...
We started with a pasta course: homemade Gnocchi with fresh red sauce
Then Rosa served us the meat course: Two helpings of sausage along with... two helpings of Ribs. Rosa then takes our plates and brings out... two helpings of Fried
Eggplants with cheese and ham inside. While she is serving us these main courses she is constantly saying
"mangia" (command to eat) the other foods that are on the table such
as...
Peppers, Mushrooms, Salami , Cheese, Bread, Olives... After the Eggplant course she serves us tomato and onion salad. I thought we were done after this salad, but NO!!!! Nuts!
Rosa cracked walnuts at the table and passed them around for us to eat. 

About this time I am literally dying! I CANNOT eat anymore and all I
want to do is throw up. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom just
hoping that something would happen... I returned to the dining room
with no luck and dreading what was going to be served next...
Fruit course. Rosa brings out a massive bowl full of fresh fruit and gives you a
knife. I took a pear but I couldn't even eat half of it!

I'm sitting in my chair trying to find a comfortable way to sit but it
just won't happen... Sorella Hamilton is doing the same and I just
start laughing and then I realize that laughing makes the pain worse
and then I want to laugh at that! AHHH!!! Troppo cibo!

Then Dessert...
Jello course: I would put a spoonful in my mouth and squish it around
so I could just swallow. I finished it so fast in hopes that this was
the final item of food and then Rosa explains that she doesn't like
Jello so she brings out gelato to eat with her!!! AHHHH NOOOO!!!! I
can't even tell you what the Gelato tasted like, I just wanted to be
done...
END OF PRANZO!!! 

Spiritual side of the visit: Rosa wanted to just serve the whole time
but luckily we got her talking enough that she opened up to us that
all her life there have been things that she didn't ever want but then
once she had them she was super grateful, like her marriage, home, old
age, and other examples. We shared a quick testimony of the happiness
the gospel brings and hope that she will see that she may not want the
gospel right now but once she has it she will never want to look back.

Good week, we are excited about this next week to see if we can get
our work back up and going again! 

Vi voglio bene! Tanto amore!
Ci sentiamo 

Sorella Carrie Nelson

 Morning outside the apartment.

Aversa train station at night. This was after we taught a lesson to Felix here.

Usual district meeting pizza pic.