It's Gonna Be Okay-ay-ay-ay
That song (by the Piano Guys) has become our theme song. Yesterday we just had to sit in the car for an extra two minutes to listen to that song so we could continue with our day because sometimes missions are hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pBjopDymts
Last P-day was the best P-day ever! We took an early train to Verona and spent the day around the famous city. It was the best because it was so relaxing, we didn't have any solid plans or time constrains or to-do lists so we chilled and enjoyed scenery and good food and the feeling of being back in Italy. We saw Juliette's balcony and put our names on the wall.
That night we went with 4 other sorelle to the Arena of Verona and watched the opera Carmen! It was in French. A cute Swiss couple we were next to pretty much adopted Sorella Merl as their grandchild a few minutes in and they were super sweet and cuddly. It was colder and longer than expected. But now I feel cultured. It was literally a once-in-a-mission experience bc a few days later everyone got an email from President clarifying rules of culture events (we're supposed to be home by midnight and NOT stay overnight in a different city for it, etc.) Oops!
That night we went with 4 other sorelle to the Arena of Verona and watched the opera Carmen! It was in French. A cute Swiss couple we were next to pretty much adopted Sorella Merl as their grandchild a few minutes in and they were super sweet and cuddly. It was colder and longer than expected. But now I feel cultured. It was literally a once-in-a-mission experience bc a few days later everyone got an email from President clarifying rules of culture events (we're supposed to be home by midnight and NOT stay overnight in a different city for it, etc.) Oops!
We brought our two wonderful investigators, Israel and Lucky, to a baptism in Bolzano of one of their Nigerian bros. In was a great experience for them. They're both super excited and ready for their own. Its gonna be great, they're scheduled for July 14th.
We have a new investigator, Herbert! He came to church with his friends Israel and Lucky. We taught him a lesson and at the end I asked, "will you pray to God and ask him if Joseph Smith really was a prophet?" His response: "I already know that Joseph, the father of Jesus IS a prophet". I had no response, just internally sighed and cried. I think we need to re-teach that lesson but I don't even know where to start. Herbert is great and has a lot of faith. Teaching Nigerians has taught me so much.
My 9th transfer ends today. What!?!? This is the first transfer call since my 1st transfer that I'm not having a change of companion or ward, and I am so glad! We had a great time and now we have at least six more weeks together. TBH I'm hoping we do my last 3 transfers together in this branch. It's the best!
We got an accounting of the history of our branch! It was started in 2012 by a family who wanted to do church in German even though they lived in Italy. It was part of the Salzburg, Austria stake until like 2 years ago. It started out with 3 adults and 9 children and now we have about 25 people every week plus a family of tourists who usually show up. My comp said to me last Sunday, "Being in this branch feels like I have a calling. But I don't know what it is" and that's so true. We can always depend on having to teach a class, or give a talk, or translate, etc. But we don't know who/what we're teaching or in what language until we get there! It's always an adventure.
A few district meetings ago we were told "The Parable of the Blanket", and I really like it so I'm going to share it with you guys now.
There was a grandma whose first granchild was about to be born. She sewed him a beautiful blanket. Her daughter-in-law, the baby's mom, loved the blanket and thought it was too beautiful to be used so she hung it on the wall of the baby's nursery. As more babies were born into the family, the Grandma didn't find it necessary to make any more blankets for the next grandbabies in that family since the first one wasn't ever used. She loved sewing though, and decided to sew a blanket for every new child born into her ward. One day she saw a toddler in church dragging around an old, stained, torn up blanket that she had sewed a few years ago. The grandma saw how much that blanket that she had worked so hard to make had been used and loved and appreciated so much by that kid. That's what she had wanted, that's why she made those blankets.
That's why the Savior suffered and died for us. He wants us to use the gift he gave us. This makes me think of my own baby blanket, it's more of a rag now. I've dragged it around my whole life, it has served as a band aid, a tissue, a cape, it has kept me warm, and has served a million other purposes. It is by far the most used and appreciated gift I have ever received. That is what the Atonement of Christ should be to all of us. It can dry our tears and soak up blood and keep us warm and help us sleep at night. He went through so much for us because He loves us. Think of how happy it makes Him when someone repents daily and really uses the gift He gave them. Christ did not suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane for us to merely write poems and sing songs about His Atonement. We should use it constantly; it can never get worn out!
Luke 5:30-32
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
And that is the message I'm out here sharing with my little piece of the world.
I love you guys and Jesus loves y'all even more!
Sorella Riley :)
There was a grandma whose first granchild was about to be born. She sewed him a beautiful blanket. Her daughter-in-law, the baby's mom, loved the blanket and thought it was too beautiful to be used so she hung it on the wall of the baby's nursery. As more babies were born into the family, the Grandma didn't find it necessary to make any more blankets for the next grandbabies in that family since the first one wasn't ever used. She loved sewing though, and decided to sew a blanket for every new child born into her ward. One day she saw a toddler in church dragging around an old, stained, torn up blanket that she had sewed a few years ago. The grandma saw how much that blanket that she had worked so hard to make had been used and loved and appreciated so much by that kid. That's what she had wanted, that's why she made those blankets.
That's why the Savior suffered and died for us. He wants us to use the gift he gave us. This makes me think of my own baby blanket, it's more of a rag now. I've dragged it around my whole life, it has served as a band aid, a tissue, a cape, it has kept me warm, and has served a million other purposes. It is by far the most used and appreciated gift I have ever received. That is what the Atonement of Christ should be to all of us. It can dry our tears and soak up blood and keep us warm and help us sleep at night. He went through so much for us because He loves us. Think of how happy it makes Him when someone repents daily and really uses the gift He gave them. Christ did not suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane for us to merely write poems and sing songs about His Atonement. We should use it constantly; it can never get worn out!
Luke 5:30-32
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
And that is the message I'm out here sharing with my little piece of the world.
I love you guys and Jesus loves y'all even more!
Sorella Riley :)
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Pics from 2006 when our family visited Verona and walked the same streets that Rachel walked last week (Rachel is wearing the pink shirt):
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