Week 25:

Hello to all of my favorite people:

This week had its ups and downs and roller coaster whirls just like
any other week in the mission. So to get started:

Tuesday, we got bidonied... Twice in fact. But to count the blessings,
we found out the lessons had been cancelled before we walked the mile
and half there and back two times.. If you haven't figured it out yet,
we walk a lot... So when we find out we don't have to walk as much, we
get really happy. So we decided to go pay our tickets for riding the
bus "naked". The lady who helped us was actually really sweet. Usually
office people are miserable to work with here, but she was really
happy and we invited her to come to church. Now we are happy because
we can ride the bus whenever we want since we have the monthly passes.
And yes, we have been using it to our advantage. We then went to a
Chinese store to buy a toilet seat. The one in my bathroom has been
broken for who knows how long.. So we measured it, got one we thought
would fit, went home... Too small. Went back, exchanged it for another
one, still too small. So as of right now, I am still toilet seat less.
It's either that or having my knees run into the sink in the other
bathroom. I think there is something wrong with that picture. But home
sweet home in our real ghetto apartment.

Wednesday after district meeting, we rode the bus home and we started
talking to these ladies. Eventually the conversation turned to where
we are from, so we said America.. Then the one lady was like, "I could
have guessed that... Look at her eyes and how tall she is. Obviously
American." So far, the project of me fitting in is a failure.

Then after that, we met with the lady from the Mauritius islands who
speaks French... And apparently better English than she let on. But we
were attempting to teach her some Italian in a piazza where there were
a bunch of old men sitting and playing cards. There were some men on
the bench across from us, and they were watching us and were very
amused with our trilingual conversation. M is so sweet and at
the end she said that, "seeing you two just makes my heart hot."
Seriously the cutest.

Thursday was transfer day! One of the sisters from Messina was leaving
to go to Bari, so we got to be in a trio with her companion or in
other words, Sorella Embley who was in my group. :) We are the only
two sisters who are still in our birth city... I guess us Eastern
Sicilians get to stay in one city for a long long time. We had a really
great lesson with G about the 10 commandments, obedience, and
the word of wisdom. We talked about how those teach us how to respect
God, respect others, and how to respect ourselves. I decided that I
don't really like transfer days, because quite often, we miss out on
personal studies. That is probably my favorite hour of the day, so
when I miss it... My day just doesn't feel complete.

Thursday night while on the bus to English course, I was surprised by
something. The drunk man who hates the bus system that I talked about
a few weeks ago got on the bus and looked all calm and peaceful and
kind of sad.. And as I was looking at him, I just felt this feeling of
pure love for him run through me. It's happened a few other times too.
One other time was when one sister in the ward said the prayer
in relief society. As she was praying, she sounded like a completely
different person, and her prayer was so sincere. That was a cool
experience. Then it happened again on Sunday during sacrament when one
of the creepers from English course came who is on again, off again
investigating the church. That time, I was like, "what's happening to
me? " but it just reminded me that I need to have charity for everyone
I run across. Even the people who seem different are children of God.

Friday just wasn't the best day I have ever had. I am pinning it on
the fact that it was Friday the 13th.. But it just wasn't a good day.
We had weekly planning that morning, which is always fun because I can
wear sweats all morning. Coming home at the end of the day and putting
sweats on is like my favorite part.. I hate skirts... Sometimes.
Friday afternoon, we had a lesson with a new convert, and that was
really interesting. Sorella Decker is really good at making people
spill their guts out at us. That evening, we had a lesson planned with
a members girlfriend. I think he told her beforehand that we were
American and we don't speak great Italian, so she came expecting us to
not be understandable. Comunque, the lesson was horrible. We were
saying complete sentences that were grammatically correct, but she
wasn't really listening and then her boyfriend would say the exact
same thing we said and she'd be like... Oh, okay. Then the member had
the nerve to say that I don't really speak Italian that great. Well,
no duh. I've been here for 4 months. I just really hate it when people
don't try to understand me. I am trying my hardest, and it's hard to
learn a new language. Then it also really annoys me when people speak
really fast, ask if I understand, and if I don't... They repeat
themselves in broken English. I mean it is really nice of them to try
to speak English, but if you slowed down a bit... I'd be able to
understand perfectly. #languageprobs

We had a lesson with G and I on Saturday night. It consisted
of an hour of chatting, a 10 minute spiritual thought, and 50 more
minutes of chatting. I actually think those two are professional
chatters. It is also literally impossible to get out of appointments
with them in less than 2 hours.. G kept saying how he know the
church is true, but right now he's happy where he is being an ex
member of the church. He thinks he can help more people come to the
gospel by being an outside perspective. He said he calls himself a
Mormon on vacation. I really wanted to ask him when he planned on
coming back from this vacation. The fun never ends around here.

Sunday was full of miracles again. Gabri came to church!!! Woohoo!
Also, Jen found a new house, so tonight we are going to help her
move. Those two things were enough to have the fact that Heavenly
Father answers prayers reconfirmed. :)

No additional spiritual thought this week. But I did want to talk
about how the attacks in France have impacted things here... It really
breaks my heart that people can do such horrible things. We learned of
the attacks on Saturday night at I and G"s. The first thing
we thought of was Sorella B, and how she must have been coping
with knowing her son is on a mission there. He is in Lyon, but still
in France. We were glad to hear that all missionaries were safe as
they happened after the time we are to be home. There are rules for
reasons. I guess the Lyon mission president had his missionaries not
leave their homes for a while. Everyone around here is worried that
the next attack will be on Rome. Italy is supposed to have 15 million
more tourists this next year alone for the Jubilee? Last week, the
Europe area presidency said that missionaries are no longer allowed to
teach immigrants without identification or permesso paperwork. I don't
know if it has something to do with all of this, but we also heard
that Italy is cracking down on letting people immigrate here now from
Africa. I don't really know much about what happened as I'm away from
the world right now, but my heart is saddened. And my prayers are with
the French. We might hear additional news from president today.

I actually read a really great talk this last week by Neal A. Maxwell.
It is called Applying the Atoning Blood of Christ from October 1997.
Add it to your reading list. It touched my heart. :)

I love you all!

Love,

Sorella Flansberg