Week 74

Finding in Fugsdorf
We decided to go to Fugsdorf for finding bc why not? It has a funny name. So we went. The only conversation we had was with 2 JW boys about our age. But we found a nice cat and saw some pretty mountains and houses. 

We had scambio in Verona! I got to be with Sorella Boome. She's a bomb missionary. We were in a trio for one day a while back and it was a blast and these 24 hours were the same. We had a lot of catching up to do. We also saw some miracles and saw the value of setting goals. We set goals and reached every one of them! 
It was getting late and we still needed to give away a Book of Mormon and get one more phone number. We arrived in the Piazza filled with tourists. We just kind of walked to a bench and asked the guy if we could tell him about this book. This was the first person we talked to in the whole piazza. He invited us to sit next to him on the bench. We chatted for a while. No creepy vibes. Long story short, this guy, Moreno, was born and raised in Verona, believed in God but not the Catholic church. He accepted the Book of Mormon and gave us two phone numbers to follow up with him. 
We celebrated with €1 McDonalds cones bc stuff like this doesn't happen every day! 
The next day we took a sec to snap a picture by the Arena. While there we were stopped by a sweet lady from Milano whose nephew is on a mission. She knows she should go to church but lives in Milano and doesn't know where one is. She also gave us her phone #. Good stuff. 

My companion wrote a spiritual thought that's pretty sweet so I'll share it with y'all: 

“The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

“Good timber does not grow at ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength."

I'm not quite sure who wrote this poem, but it was shared during Conference. Anyway, the blessings that we receive are not always what we expect, and often don't seem like blessings at first. However, I know that we are exponentially blessed during our trials when we have faith, humility, and trust that whatever is happening is for the better.

"if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

When we bear our trials with meekness and patience, we learn more about our Savior, and become more like Him. So, let's take this opportunity to ask Heavenly Father for a challenge, or to patiently learn during our current ones, and I promise that as we do so, we will be blessed. It might not be with riches, beauty, or fame, but with blessings and lessons of eternal importance and significance.

Ok, bye! Enjoy the pics of Fugsdorf, Last P-day, Verona, and scenery from the area. 

Sorella Riley