September 25, 2013 - Surprise Visitor

Okay, I wish I had time to respond to everything but I have 8 minutes and I type slow.

Buongiorno tutti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, guess who found me?? That's right, the good ol' Byrnes!! Didn't see that one coming, haha. But for real, it was a surprise and it totally caught me off guard, but it was so cool to see them here and understand Debbie's Italian grandma for the first time. Debb is going to be a rockstar missionary soon!!

Debbie "found" me at Church on Sunday!

So, Pamela is OFFICIALLY getting baptized this saturday, like we picked out the dress and everything! It is going to be awesome.

Our ward mission leader finally returned from America; he has been gone the whole time I was here. The work is going to take off now, I know it. We have already seen tons of miracles and it's been less than a week! He divided our zone up since there are 8 of us, and S. Mistura and I will concentrate on Chieti, which means the famiglia Di Marzio!!!!! Also, crazy story, Lucia Di Marzio is the Sister of our ward mission leader, Fratello Giusti. Their mom and dad also live in Chieti and we found them yesterday, and it was so crazy and they want us to come back! The mom even wants to come to church! I seriously just love this family so much!

Tomorrow is zone conference! Love yall!!

Sorella Patterson

(Editor’s note here…I send her pictures of my garden every now and then, so today she sent me this)

Mom, I take pictures of my neighbor’s garden frequently. You'll see them in a year or two.

That's a big squash. This is taken from my

third story balcony.

September 18, 2013 - Conference in Rome

Buongiorno tutti!

I can't believe it's already pday again! The days are seriously going by so fast! Also, the weather is starting to cool down, and it even gets a little chilly at night! It is a truly glorious thing.

Thank you for all your prayers for Pamela!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After wanting it for 14 years, Pamela has a baptismal date for this Saturday, the 21st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it!!!!!! It is truly a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And another miracle, which I will also attribute to many of you and to the friend of Antonio Di Marzio, The Famiglia Di Marzio are now investigators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A HUGE Miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love them more than life itself it seems and have been praying and hoping for this for quite some time, and finally it is a reality!!!!! Lucia Di Marzio is an incredible woman with an incredible family. Her husband is so loving and fun and Always calls me Megan which is weird because he is the only one in this country that does that, haha. Then there is Gioia (Joy) the daughter of 25 years. She is so sweet and I love her!! We could totally be best friends if I wasn't a missionary and more concerned for her salvation than her boy life right now. But seriously, I love them. I told Lucia she is like my mom right now. I think she liked that. The day I see them in white will be the happiest day of my mission, guaranteed.

Okay, so Sunday was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

We had stake conference and Elder Ballard came!!! He even took all the missionaries early in the morning and spoke just to us, and only the missionaries in the now TWO Rome stakes! He truly is an Apostle of Jesus Christ, I can testify with all my heart of that.

And now thereare two stakes in Roma, crazy.

Also, I saw Sorella Viazzo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

Seeing Sorella Viazzo for the first time since leaving the MTC!

Okay, no time left, but thank you all for your prayers and keep them coming. I won't be calm until Pamela is actually baptized!!!

Love you all!!!

Sorella Patterson

September 11, 2013

Me and Lucia Di Marzio, the mom of Antonio Di Marzio.
She taught us the ways of the Italian Kitchen :)

Ciao e buongiorno tutti!!!!!!

It has been a while since I wrote a formal email to all of you, so sorry about that, and also this one is going to be short, so sorry about that too :)

So last pday I learned how to make ravioli, the real kind, and I even learned how to make pasta!!! That was crazy.

 

So, I don't know if I have told all of you, but I have fallen in love and I am never coming home. I love Italy so much. I love the people, I love the culture, I love the families that we are teaching. I love the members in this ward. If I could serve in Pescara for the rest of my mission, I would be a happy Sorella.

Sorella Ricci came up to me on Sunday and asked when our 'party of thanks' is (thanksgiving) and that she was going to have all the missionaries over for a big meal because she had learned from the past missionaries that this day is important to us Americans. Keep in mind there are 8 missionaries here now, all American but my companion.

Sorella Di Iulio hates English but comes to the English course we teach so that she can meet the non-members that come and make them feel comfortable and answer their questions about the Church.

The Bishop, as busy as bishops always are, has come to three different missionary lessons in the last two weeks.

This ward is Amazing. They get the gospel. They get missionary work. It makes me miss my own ward a little because I know we have members just like those here who sacrifice everyday to make a difference in the lives of their children and in the lives of their families and friends with whom they share the gospel. No sacrifice is too much. What we receive in return is Always better.

This Sunday is Stake Conference in Rome, and we are all going :) It's another huge financial sacrifice for many members, and some investigators, but Elder Ballard, an apostle of the Lord, will be there and we know we need to hear what he has to say.

Thank you all for your prayers and letters and emails. I love you all so very much and I pray for you as well, so I hope you feel my prayers too!!

Have another fabulous week, Vi Voglio bene!!!

Sorella Patterson

 

 

August 28, 2013 & September 4, 2013

8/28/13 Ciao yall!!

Activity with the Giovane Family and Lorenzo

So, it has been raining here quite a bit which is awesome because the weather is great!

Also, Pamela is getting baptized in two weeks! I realize that none of y'all know who she is, but she is the sweetest woman ever and has a great desire to follow Jesus Christ. She is awesome.

Also, I am definitely getting tanner.

Well, we have been seeing miracles here, and I know we will see more as we put more faith and hope into this work. 

So, I feel bad that I never send pictures, so this week's email is gonna be just that! Enjoy!!

Sorella Patterson!

From the bus on the way back from L'Aquila



L'Aquila district meeting. Pizza was the bomb, even though
we had to eat it on the bus. Elder Carr
 (originally from The Colony, TX as well) is on the front left!

On splits in Rome with Sorella Wightman.
She is awesome!



9/4/13 The heat! It has cooled down a bit here so I can't complain anymore. It was even cold one night last week! The Church is not AC'ed but there are several units in some rooms. There are two in the Chapel and one in the Relief Society room.

 

So, Pamela has a baptismal date of the 14th of Settembre, but is not sure if she can make it because her family is kind of against it. She has a grand desire to be baptized and be a member of the church, but her family is also super important to her. Please pray for her!! She has been wanting this for 14 years and been taking the missionary lessons on and off for about 10 years. I have hope for her though! 

 

Transfers are this week but I get to stay here for at least another transfer, which I am really happy about. There is still a ton to do here. My companion is also staying which is good. I still have a ton to learn from her! Sorella Spicq and Anziano Alessandro are leaving, so we'll get two new missionaries, as well as two additional elders, making a total of 8 missionaries in Pescara, in one ward!!! Crazy!!! Also, Elder Carr is in my district, so we see him once a week at District meeting.

So, we have been working with this family for a little while. The son is the only member, he is like 30 I think. The mom, dad, and sister are not members, but are super friendly to us. We have been only doing Family Home Evening with them, but today we are going over there so that the mom can teach me how to make real Ravioli! Also, The son, Antonio, told us that his mom has started to read the Book of Mormon, so I think the Spirit is really starting to work in her. Every time we go over, she asks great questions. She wants to know what is right for her, and we want so bad to help her, and she is starting to let us I think. I have so much love for that family. They are some of the best people ever.  

Speaking of food, I am starting a recipe book with some of the recipes that Sorella Colella gave me. However, she asked for some typical American recipes in return, haha. So, mom will you send me some recipes that I can give her?? Simple stuff, nothing huge, but maybe some big ones too. Just whatever you think. Also, a recipe for how to make marshmallows. And Brownies. Italians LOVE brownies. and Marshmallows. (Editor's note here: Any great American recipe you want to send to me I will be happy to pass along--especially a recipe for marshmallows. I thought only Kraft made those!!)

Also, I need matt and Dad's home addresses.

 

By the way, the best address to write me is: 

Sorella Patterson

Via delle Querce 4

65015 Montesilvano, PE

Italia 

Okay, I am out of time, love you all, have a fab week, thanks for the emails and updates, keep them comin'! Feel free to write me too!! 

Sorella Patterson 

Picture:Sorella Colella and me with some American syrup her friends brought her!!

 

 

August 21, 2013 - Zone Conference

Mom, (slash everyone...)



Castle in Pescara

It's looking to be another buon giorno here in Pescara :) It rained yesterday so it has really cooled off today for us, which is great because it is pday and we are going to go play some volleyball right after this. I found out I am not allowed to play soccer as a missionary because it is too dangerous, which makes sense. I usually get hurt when I play anyway :)

 

At the castle



For my Hawaiian Falls family

Lunch at the castle




Zone conference

So, Zone Conference was awesome!!! I learned so much and got to hear from President and sister Waddoups too! Zone conference was mostly in Italian, except when Sister Waddoups spoke because she doesn't speak Italian :)  When we are all together, we try to speak Italian as much as possible, also becuase there are some missionaries that are from Italy and don't speak English very well, like my companion. But she is learning! I teach her some English everyday and she teaches me Italian everyday and we are both praying and using that gift of tongues everyday! 

Zone conference

Yes, the mission president and wife are brand new, one transfer more than me. They are from somewhere in Utah, but I don't know where...



Wow, can't believe school is starting soon. That blows my mind. I also can't believe that I have been out on a mission over two months. That means less than 16 months left. Time is going WAY too fast. It makes me motivated to use my time more wisely though and to not waste a minute or a single bus ride, but to talk to people everywhere. I am definitely not super good at talking to people yet, but I just need to put more faith in the Lord that He will help my overcome my fears and doubts with my language ability and boldness. Piano piano sto migliorando. :) Veramente. Voglio scrivere tutto in italiano perché è un po' strano di usare così tanto inglese, ma anche voglio che voi potete capirmi! Mom’s note: loosely translated from WorldLingo: Slowly slowly I am improving. :) Truly. I want to write all in Italian because it is a little strange one to use therefore much English, but also I want that you can understand to me!

So, life. No, the fan stays in the apartment for the next issionaries. Also, transfers are indeed coming up. We have no idea what will happen. I will probably stay though since I am brand new, but my trainer could leave or stay. I guess I could too. We'll see! And as for the other two Sorelle, who knows! One of them, Sorella Spicq, only has one transfer left so who knows what will happen. All six of the missionaries here in Pescara go to the same ward becuase there is only one. We take the bus to church because it is pretty far a centro della città. Okay, before I forget, I am going on an exchange today! We are going to Rome and I will be with one of the Sisters there for the next 24 ish hours. I'm pretty excited!!! I'll tell you about it next week. Okay I am about out of time since pday is cut short today due to traveling to Rome. I love you all and pray for you all sincerely! I will try and attach some pictures this time. Ciao!! And don't forget to be finding a favorite scripture and send it to my mom!!!

Sorella Patterson :)

 



Voices

Buon Giorno y'all!!

So good to hear about all these new families starting!! And that they are starting out right, in the temple, is just awesome. While I wish I could be there, I am happy to be here helping others get to that point in their lives, to the temple. It's true, there is a lot of work to be done to fill that Rome temple with Italian saints. But it's the hardest work I've ever loved to do!

Okay, this week has been great! We are teaching this young girl, Federica, and she is troppo brava!! She just had a birthday on Sunday and turned 19, so we baked her some cookies (y'all know I love baking! Well actually Sorella Mistura made them, and they had a hint of peach... maybe it's an Italian thing?) and brought them to her. She was having a party, so we did want to stay obviously. When we left though, we met someone who introduced us to another guy riding by on his bike at that exact moment who introduced us to another guy who was driving by at that exact moment who was super interested in the gospel and in our message!! What a miracle. The Lord is definitely watching out for all His children.

Okay,story time: So, a couple nights ago, I had just put my mattress on the floor and was kneeling down to pray when I hear a voice say, Can you hear me? I freaked out!!!! Sorella Mistura was already asleep and the house was dark, and I was terrified!!! I began praying but I heard it again, Can you hear me? By this time, I was definitely freaked out. I put my matress up on the bed again becuase I was too scared to sleep on the floor. I checked under the desks with the light of my alarm clock and saw nothing. I heard it again so I climbed into bed and plugged my ears and tried to fall asleep. In the morning, I heard it again: Can you hear me? Nobody else seemed to be able to hear it, so I didn't want to say anything and have them think I was going crazy already! Then, during companionship study, I heard it again!!! THis time, I decided to risk sounding crazy and asked S. Mistura if she'd heard it. She had this time! We waited a bit and then heard it again and we freaked out and ran out of our room and the other Sorelle came in and looked around with us. It was terrifying! Then, Sorella Knuddsen walked over to the desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a little recoreded device.... It was all a prank!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA! I cannot believe how good she got me!! And that I was the only one that was sincerely freaked out, even though nobody else knew about it!! She said she had put it in there a day ago and forgotten about it and didn't mean to keep us up at night or anything, haha she felt pretty bad. But seriously, I cannot believe how scared I was. Ah, one for the books, one for the books.

Anyway, my birthday is coming up... Okay it's not till November, but that's pretty close in missionary time. So, you're probably all wondering what to get me...right? Right. Well I'll make it easy, and cheap :) All I want is your help. Will you:

-Find a scripture that you love, that has helped you in your life at some point

-Write it down, along with why it is important to you (if it's not too personal or sacred)

-Somehow get it to my mom so she can send them all to me (thanks mom... I know you'll figure out the best way to do this! :) Note from mom, email it to me at samuelsontl@ldschurch.org and I'll put it in a booklet.

-Tell everyone you know that knows me or that doesn't, whatever, and have them do it too!

Mom:

-surprise! Haha, sorry to throw this at you, but I know you love a good project :) And I'm worth it, right? ;)   Note from mom, yes, she's worth it!

So, this Saturday the Pescara ward is having an activity: Volleyball!!! And I get to play!!! WOOOOOOO!!! Also, on the 15th is this thing called Ferragosto. It's just a day when all of Italy parties I think. We will be cleaning the house... all day... haha :)

Okay, scripture time. If you don't have a Book of Mormon, go to lds.org and under tools there is a scripture button, so you can read it on there. Here ya go: Second Nephi 9:51

Love it! I am definitely taking that last line to heart here in Italia :)

Well, that's all the time for today folks! I love you all! I wish I could tell you everything I am learning everyday, but just know that we have a SAvior in Heaven who loves us and is mindful of each and every one of us. He has suffered all things so that he could know how to help us in each of our problems, big and small. If we turn to him with our broked hearts, he can and will heal us as no one else or no other thing can do. I hope you all can study and learn about Him as I am!! Every part of life is better when we remember Him :)

Buona giornata!!

Sorella Patterson

August 7, 2013 - We Bought a Fan!!!

BUON GIORNO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, I wish to apologize for how negative I was last week!!! I am sorry!! Perdonateme, per favore :) THis week was awesome!!!!!!! Italia is awesome, and life is just pretty great :) Yesterday, we bought a fan for our room, best night ever!! 

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, they are all working :)

Okay, to answer my mom's questions: 1)We usually eat at our apartment, a salad or something. We don't spend too much time eating, so it's usually pretty small. Mostly we just drink water!! I have only eaten at a member's home once and when we do it takes HOURS. I asked my companion about that because in the rule book it says only take an hour at members homes, and she said the mission president said not to worry because it is more important to be respectful and to abide by the local customs and traditions. Pretty great :) But TONS  of food. Usually delicious though. 

2) None of the elders from my mtc district are in my zone now, but there is one elder from my zone in the mtc who is now in my district. That's nice to see a familiar face every now and then. His name is Anziano Romano, He has Italian heritage obviously. 

The English class I teach with Anziano Romano amd Sorella Knuddsen

3) I have not actually used my water filter, but I haven't gotten sick yet... :) Mostly we buy bottles but occasionaly I drink out of street fountains. They are awesome.

Aqua Naturale

4) WALKING. My shoes are okay, except the blisters they give. I took some pictures, but you’ll have to wait a year and a half to see them :)  Also, we use the busses every day.

5)The ward is small, well the active members are small. But they are strong. I have never seen a ward so strong and spiritual. This past Sunday was testimony meeting, and here's what i wrote in my journal: the women here are incredible. they share their testimonies because it is burning within them and they want to share that. they love each other. they will do all they can to strengthen each other because they know we are all converts in one way or another. they truly live the gospel each day. i am not worthy to be in their presence because in their presence is the presence of Christ and the love of Christ. i have much to learn if i ever want to be like them.

i am still Loving it here and wish i could tell you everything  but there is just so little time|!! Thank you for all your prayers, they make such a difference!! i love and miss you all and thank you for the emails!!!!!!!!!!! Ciao, and remember, the work of salvation excludes no one!!!

Sorella Patterson

PS next week pday will be tuesday since we have zone conference on wednesday. so write me before tuesday!!! ;) :)