Sorella Nelson: Week 43

(Week 13 Bari)
I'm officially a Mother!!

My greenie!!!! Her name is Sorella Torres, from Venezuela but she has
lived in Milan for a year and a half. She was born into the church in
Venezuela but then moved to Italy when her mom married an Italian. She
is 20 years old, so beautiful, and so full of energy! She speaks
Italian beautifully and understands five English words and I love her
so much! 

Sorella Torres my greenie!!!

I have such a testimony of revelation! Sorella Torres is
literally helping me accomplish my mission goals that I set for myself
at the beginning of my mission. Those first two days were kinda rough
with speaking 100% Italian and trying to help a new missionary BE a
missionary instead of helping a missionary speak the language. It's
been super cool to watch Sorella Torres teach and be a missionary. I
remember coming out of the MTC so ready to baptize all of Italy, but
literally not able to because I just couldn't overcome the language
barrier how I wanted, but it's not a problem for Sorella Torres! It's
super cool just how bold she is with everyone!

This past week has literally been insanity! Sorella McFarland and I
had both "killed" our companions so she and I were covering both areas
for several days. Then I sent her off and welcomed the two new Bari
Libertà Sorelle and my dear greenie!!! 

Said bye to Sorella McFarland, my companion for a week.



More pals at train station with recent convert Rosa.

Training so far has been really fun. I forget so often that Sorella
Torres is a brand new missionary since she already speaks the
language. It's super cool because we can really focus our studies on
how we are going to teach and we are already able to share lessons
pretty equally. It's awesome!

It's the cutest thing when she does
little things that remind me she is new like heading out of the house
without praying or asking what the morning schedule is like.

She is also kickin my butt, she is basically inviting everyone to be
baptized. Haha I've gotten lazy! Anywho, she is great and I'm excited
to help her learn English and really grow as a missionary and learn
all the little details of missionary work.

Miracles/work update:
Our little Peruvian Camilla has been reading the Book of Mormon!!! It
was such a tender mercy that Sorella Torres was able to read a little
bit more of it in Spanish with her. A super huge miracle was trying to
see Camilla and her family. I had tried calling them all week and
nothing... I was praying all day to know if we should go try to just
pass by their house. So, we went and the mother Elizabeth just
happened to be outside putting the trash out. The moms phone was
busted and the sisters was left at a friends house. It was a miracle
that we went. The mother broke down in tears and explained she just
has been having a hard time adjusting here in Italy. Promptings are
real everyone. FOLLOW THE SPIRIT.

Maria, she's doing awesome!!! We have been doing lots of reviewing
with her and she is remembering! Menomale! We also made her a baptism
calendar last week with verses everyday and a question to think about
and she has been following it. She rocks.

Rafaela, she has been reading but not coming to church... We are
hoping this changes super quickly! She is a rockstar and obviously has
a desire to learn.

We had a leadership mission meeting via Skype on Friday which was
awesome. We had all the zone leaders and sister training leaders in
every city on a conference call. Hashtag our mission is too big...
Before our President Waddoups leaves the mission, we have the goal to
baptize 40 people in one month. It's amazing to see the faith of all
the missionaries and how our leaders are truly inspired. 40 baptisms
in one month in the Italy Rome Mission has never happened, but I know
we as a mission can really do it!

Lesson learned/reminder of the week: We had a lesson with an
investigator couple and it went just absolutely awful and the wife
ended up just walking out. I was so heartbroken and felt so sick and
sad inside. I wanted to cry as we were leaving, but then my sweet
greenie just comes up to me and tells me what a great job I did and
that she is glad to be serving with me. At first I thought she was
being sarcastic, but she was serious and told me that I did my best
and they just aren't ready for the gospel. Ooookay... And I'm the
trainer??? I really realized that we can feel sad that people don't accept our message, but in the end, we do our best we can and leave it
up to them to act on our message. I was super grateful for that little
reminder from Sorella Torres.

Missionary work is the most rewarding work ever. The feeling of
working all day and then being exhausted when you go to bed
remembering all the miracles you saw and the spirit you felt during
lessons can't be beat. I'll just leave it as that. I love being a
missionary!!!

Buona settimana!