Transfer calls!

Buongiorno!

This week went by so fast. I don't even understand how it is the end of September already. And saying I only have 14 months left scares me a bit. So, I will continue pretending like I still have 18 months. How about that?

This last p-day consisted of shopping down via etnea, which is downtown touristy part of Catania. I didn't buy anything, but it made me really excited to go shopping when I get home. Because right now, I am so sick of my clothing. It probably doesn't help that Sorella Defranchi looks like a beauty queen everyday (because all she wears are pencil skirts), and it makes me feel like a frumpy dresser sometimes.. Back to the point, I am really excited to go shopping. According to one of our investigators, it is not appropriate to wear jeans and a t-shirt when you are 22 years old. Oops! I guess I missed out on that memo. 

Tuesday morning, I actually woke up cold. Yes, I typed that correctly. I was COLD. I was pretty sure that cold didn't exist anymore. But, it does! Woohoo! It was also cooler all week, so I could actually wear sweats. I suppose sweats are definitely not appropriate if jeans aren't. But, I won't give up jeans or sweats. Also, now that it is towards the end of September, a lot more people are out and about going to school and work and so the buses are so full. That makes them even less desirable to ride, so thank goodness the sea is causing a beautiful breeze that makes it very pleasant to walk. :) 

Oh, also on Monday, we found this genuine leather store.. And Sorella Defranchi found a purse she wanted, and I found a wallet I wanted, but I'm too cheap. It was 85 euros. Hopefully someday I will serve in Rome where the leather stores are much cheaper. I also want to serve in Bari because there is this men's clothing store with Italian ties for 15 euros, because they love missionaries. I think it would be the perfect gift for the special men in my life. :) 

Wednesday in DDM, we did transfer predictions because it was week 5 of the transfer! I was pretty sure there would be a lot of changes this transfer, but I honestly didn't know where anybody was going or who would be coming here. Looks like I was right though! Everyone in the district likes to freak me out by saying I'll be training or sister training leader every time transfers happen. I'm like, "come on people, this is only going to be my 3rd transfer. That never happens." But, scroll to the big letters for transfer call results. ;) 

We also had a ward activity at the church. It was geared towards members helping missionaries, and we based little activities off of a talk given by Gordon B. Hinckley in the 1990's. Someone had the idea to invite less active members and non members to this activity as well. I, for one, did not think that would be the greatest idea because of what the activity was. But nobody listens to me. Oh well. Maybe they will next time. :) The activity did go well, and the 20 members who did show up seemed to enjoy it. 

Thursday, we were planning on having a lesson in the morning, but nobody was responding. So, we did a bit of 12 weeks. We are almost done with it, and I couldn't be happier. Then we figured bus times out to Motta because we had a lesson at the Clarks place near the base with these two really great people. Destiny and Brandon are dating and are both part of the U.S. Navy. Brandon is no longer a member of the church, but he still has a strong testimony and he knows it is true. Destiny began to come to church and has a belief that Joseph Smith could be a prophet and she began to read the Book of Mormon. They've known the Clarks since March, but the Clarks thought it would be best if they had us (people the same age) teach her the official lessons, and Thursday was our first lesson with them. They are fantastic people, and I'm really excited to continue teaching them. They also obviously speak English. Switching the lessons from Italian to English is actually more difficult than you would think. The Clarks are also really pushing for her to get baptized before they leave in 2.5 weeks. However, we don't think that will happen. I don't think it is a good idea to rush someone to be baptized just because you want to baptize them/be there. But, I LOVE the Clarks! They are amazing people! And I loved them before they gave us a whole bunch of American food, but now I love them more. :) 

Friday, we did a district blitz in Enna. So we rode the bus up which took an hour and a half, and then we ate and we were supposed to go to this piazza to do a mostra which is similar to a gesso or the chalk thing I talked about last week. But, this woman came for her own separate English course and we needed to teach her while the anziani did the mostra. In the end, we were grateful we didn't do the mostra, because I forgot about the change in altitude from Catania to Enna. It was quite chilly, and I didn't have a jacket. Then we rode the bus home for another hour and a half. I guess it was productive because we did try to teach the English course student the restoration. She just wasn't interested as her family tradition is to be catholic, but she honestly doesn't know why she is Catholic. (This does not make sense to me!) Maybe she will soften her heart. Also, the anziani are lucky as for the views off the balcony of their apartment. It is absolutely gorgeous! See panoramic picture.. But, the work in Enna is struggling. They have 2 members. One that is active, and one that is less active. So in that sense, they aren't so lucky. 

TRANSFER CALL RESULTS: 

Sorella Defranchi is going to Rome 1. She is very very very excited! The 3 verys is still an understatement.

I am staying in Catania and my new companion is Sorella Decker. She dies in 2 transfers and so I will probably only be here in Catania for 6 more weeks. Sad, but the next 6 weeks are going to be so great! Hopefully, we will have 3 baptisms with Claudio, Angela, and Destiny. :) I have heard good things about Sorella Decker, so I am excited too! 

Anziano Pope is staying and Anziano Covalt is leaving to somewhere in the bottom of the boot. 

Anziano Krogue is staying in Enna (poor guy), and Anziano Slade is off to Terni. Lots and lots and lots of changes, so this next Thursday will be insane!

Although, I have decided that I am going to hate saying goodbye to everyone in 6 weeks as I watch Sorella Defranchi. You truly do come to love the people you teach. :(

Saturday night, we had dinner with Kiran. And it was delicious! I don't know what she does to her rice, but it always tastes good even without sauce, so I asked her... And she does nothing different. I feel like Jake and the rice in Peru in this situation. It just tastes different. :) but, I ate pineapple for the first time all cut up and not cooked on top of pizza. And I ate fried, creamed cauliflower. Obviously, they weren't my favorite.. But Kiran never believes me when I tell her it is good, and I don't know why. I don't even make weird faces. 

Then, on Sunday.. We got to go to sigonella again! Yay! Haha.. We were going to have a lesson with Destiny and Brandon for the second hour and last hour of church. They only have sacrament meeting and the third hour there. And it just happened to be the Sunday for the linger longer. How lucky is that? ;) haha.. Score for American food!

Anyways, back to the lesson! It was incredible! :) We taught the plan of salvation, and I love teaching Destiny. She isn't afraid of asking questions and her questions take a lot of thought on our part and you can tell that she is listening and soaking it all in. It makes it fun to teach when the people are actually interested in listening and learning. Anyways, the lesson got to the end, and one of the things she didn't understand was why people who didn't follow Jesus Christ and still sinned and didn't repent still go to the telestial kingdom. The others were trying to come up with a coherent answer when the Holy Ghost told me what I needed to say. It wasn't anything new, but I explained how everyone who came to earth made at least one decision to follow and accept Jesus Christ as their savior in the pre-mortal life and the telestial kingdom is the reward for that one decision. It is still another testimony builder that Heavenly Father truly does know exactly how to help us. He is aware of the lessons we are teaching as we go to him in prayer, and he loves the people we are teaching. He desires them to come to him, and he is holding his arms out to welcome them home. I am so lucky and so blessed to be able to witness this marvelous work unfold and see it bless the lives of the people I am coming to love more and more each and every day. 

This week, I was asked to give the big 20 minute lesson at district meeting. Aah! Haha.. So, as my companion plays paintball today, I will be working on that and watching. I'm still not sure why shooting guns with balls of paint that leave welts on your skin can sound so fun. But, yeah. Maybe, I'm just crazy. 

Two other things this week: Prayer is beginning to become so much more meaningful in my life. Guaranteed, it helps that my Italian prayers get better every day as I listen and learn from others, but true prayer is so powerful. In Alma 8:10, it says that Alma labored in mighty prayer. I've been reading in the institute manual for the Book of Mormon as I read, and there was a quote that I really liked by Joseph B. Wirthlin. He said, "Prayers that do not demand much of your thought will hardly merit much attention from Heavenly Father." And it is so true. As I have been praying for other people, my love grows for them. My prayers are so much more meaningful when they don't focus on me me me and everything that I need. Because I know that as I leave me, the Elizabeth Flansberg that I was, behind, I become more aware of the needs of the people around me, and as I show my love to them, I will receive the help I need to carry on. The other thing I really liked this week was based off of Alma 5:12-14. Pres. Benson said, "Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world." And President Lee said something along the lines of, "Men captained by Christ set fires in others because they themselves are on fire."As the verses say, there was a mighty change wrought in their hearts. As I do my best to follow Christ, Christ will change me, and when I change, I can then change the world. How powerful of a promise is that? If I use the atonement and if every time I fall down, I get back up again, I will change, and then my example will influence the people around me. When I have the light or "fire" of Christ within me, I can share that light with others just like a candle. I love how the word "mighty" is used in both of those verses. Mighty prayer and a mighty change of heart. I have firmly come to believe this week that mighty prayer brings a mighty change of heart, and a mighty change of heart makes for a mighty daughter (or son) of God. As I said before, I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve a mission. I have grown so much in the last 4 months and my testimony has sky rocketed. I know my Savior lives, and because he lives, I can change and let him live in me. 

Have a fantastic week everybody. And be safe, be good, be nice, be the best that you can be, and make good choices. :) 

Vi voglio tanto bene! :) 

Sorella Flansberg