Monday, April 28, 2014

April 28, 2014 - Lot's of Learning

Most of Megan’s letter this week was excerpts of what she wrote to her mission president.

An excerpt from my letter to President this week:

"I am just learning so much right now. I am finding little bits of hidden treasures and knowledge, just like we are promised we will find if are faithful. The funny thing is that they are coming from places I wouldn't always expect, which is teaching me something too. I used to think that if I wanted to learn anything about the gospel, it would have to happen from 8 to 9 in the morning but now I am seeing how that is just the start to a full day of learning! So much of what I am learning is coming from the example of and study with my companion, from the insights of members and investigators, and from my mom's weekly updates on her garden. I'll be honest, I used to hate those updates, but man gardening is the best analogy for missionary work! She loves those little plants so much and does everything she possibly can that they may grow and give forth fruit, and if they don't grow, if they aren't strong enough, she doesn't get mad at them, she just keeps trying. She rests them for a bit and tries again in the next season. She is happy with whatever little fruit or vegetable they give, even if it is not very big. I guess that is how I should be with my investigators: I should be so proud of every little progress they make and not try to force them to do anything, even if it is for their good. At the same time, that is how God is with me I am learning. He is happy with whatever good fruit I produce, no matter how big or small. He just loves me and loves that I am trying."

Mom, thank you for your garden updates. Keep them comin! Turns out that is what I need each week, well with the other stuff you write me of course. Yeah, just don't change.

Another excerpt (yes I am just being lazy):
"I have been trying to put this whole thing into practice and just focus on God's will and not my fears, concerns, or doubts. So when we were thinking about Lucia and what to do for her lesson this weekend, I had a weird thought to invite this one member. I thought it was a little crazy, and so did Sorella Knudsen, but we called her up and she was miraculously free. She came and we had our first member present lesson with Lucia and we taught the restoration for about the third time, and you know what? We found out Lucia didn't know what apostasy meant! Wow, that was a shock. And it wasn't just that. There were other questions we had never heard and with the help of this member we were able to clear up some of her fears and worries, and she said she would read and pray to know if this message is true. It was such a miracle. God really is happy if we just try and forget about our silly selves and problems and just get lost in His work. I am feeling the Spirit working in me more this week and I love it! And it is happening to Angela too! She finally said the prayer at the end of our last lesson, and actually prayed right there in front of us for a change of heart. Last night she called with this awesome miracle of how she got this really important phone call from her son-in-law who they haven't heard from in 11 years. She said it was such a miracle that after she hung up she was just so happy and the only thing she could think to do was to pray to thank the Lord for this blessing. Presidente, Angela doesn't pray! She always tells us she has nothing to be grateful for... CHANGE OF HEART!!! It is so happening right before our eyes, and I am just so grateful the Lord let me be here to see it!"

This week has been lots of learning and it has been awesome. It sure is hard to learn lots of new stuff at the same time, but I really wouldn't trade it for anything else. It would be way easier to be at home and just worry about school and stuff and not peoples' salvation, but I can't say that I would want to trade it. People's lives are changing because they read this Book of Mormon that I give them. They are becoming happier than they ever thought possible because they are repenting and exercising faith in God. That just isn't something you can give up! Yeah, it is hard to get them there and to keep doing it day after day, but it's so AWESOME. I just have to keep working and keep going, even when I REALLY don't want to :) ESPECIALLY when I really don't want to.

I love you all and I hope this week is awesome and that you smile and make someone's day!

Shout out to Tia Dali for her awesome letters that make me laugh and cry and want to be so much better!! I love you/thank you so much!!!!!!!


Sorella Patterson

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

April 14 and 21, 2014 - Happy Easter!

April 21st:
Cara famiglia e cari amici,
BUONA PASQUA!!!
I hope this Easter has been super awesome and that everyone ate too much candy and then pndered on how incredible it is that Jesus Christ was resurrected and that He rose and lives and guides His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a beautiful wonderful fact and event.

This Easter the famiglia Murgia invited us over. There were about 15 of us all together. We ate pasta al forno (my favorite thing here besides gelato) then lamb, and lamb insides (not my favorite thing here...). After pranzo, we read in Luke when Jesus is resurected and then we kinda all shared our testimonies of Him and how He helps us even today and how we have learned so much from Him and just how much He loves us. It was really cool because one aunt there isn't a member and she got to see how strong of testimonies her family has and I am sure she felt in that moment the Spirit of God and His love for her!

Yesterday was another hoilday: Pasquetta! I don't know what or why it is, but it meant deep cleaning day for us! I took the bathroom and basically had my hands in bleach all day, but that bathroom is shining now! Then we went and saw Fulvia, a member here who also happens to know Debbie's gramma in Bitonto and tried to call her while I ws there, but she didn't answer. Oh well. Next time :)




The work is kind of not doing the best that is has, but we are trying real hard. Angela is doing great and is getting over lots of hard things, slowly. But that is generally how it works, slowly but surely. Pray that she will have the mighty change of heart that Alma talks about. She is doing so good and we are so happy for the changes she is already making.

Well fam, sorry it's a short one. I hope you have a great week and know that I love you all!!

Sorella Patterson

April 14th:
Friends and Fam!!

Not much time and not much to report, but two investigators broke up with us in the same night and as good ex's we took flowers to one who lives nearby. Don't know if she got them yet... but we still love them both a tons and while it is definitely sad and hard to  watch people reject the happiest thing in the world, we know God will give them another chance. He loves them even more than we do!

We have decided to focus more on finding families. It is kinda hard, but nothing that is really worth it is too easy, eh? 

We got a new branch President yesterday, and accidently stood up the Stake President at a teaching appointment... But he told us there is always repentence ;) Great guy! Haha, we all laughed about it don't worry.

In other news, the weather is absolutely amazing. Sassari is supposed to have the best climate in all of Europe. I believe it. 

Well, this week is going to be awesome, I know it! I love you all with all my heart!!


Sorella Patterson

Monday, April 7, 2014

April 6, 2014 - Conference Sunday

Dear Mom:

ANDREA GOT BAPTIZED.

It was incredible.

Andrea at his baptism
Andrea is the only member in his fam. It is hard for him, but he is taking it all so well and with so much faith. He is just what this branch needs too, a fresh young soul with lots of love and energy. He got interviewed yesterday and will be receiving the Priesthood soon. He is already preparing for a mission. What a superstar :)

Conference was awesome!! Such inspired men, ya know? They just always know what I need to hear. It's like they read my mind and my journal and wrote their talks based on that. Seriously. They are so cool and they just GET us humans and what we need to be happy. I hope that I can put into practice some of the awesome stuff I learned this time!! I have not seen it all yet, and some was in Italian, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I understood. Progress has been made :)

Love your analogy about trimming things to help them grow. So true. President Waddoups told me that one time in an email when I made a comment about how much I have moved around and all the companions I have gone through. I think he said change is the spice of life or something. Haha, he is so awesome and so inspired. 
 
The Sardegna countryside,
as seen from a high speed train.
Okay, so I LOVED Uchtodorfs talk about being grateful. That is seriously one of the best ways to be happy! I testify to what he said, that we will really feel more joy and peace if we can be grateful in our situations. That is one of my goals this transfer, to be more grateful for my incredible blessings. I have been so blessed to be called here and to serve with an awesome companion (tons of awesome companions and sisters and elders) and to have the support of my whole family and to have met and helped so many of these precious Italians. God and I have a really special place in our heart for these Italians. They sure are awesome. They are talkers, but they are awesome ;)

If you missed any of conference, go to LDS.org and watch it! If you didn't catch any of it, go to LDS.org and watch it! I will be :) Thank you all for your incredible examples to me and for all of the love and encouragement you give me. I could not do this without you! "A mission is a family affair!"

Love,

Sorella Patterson