THANK YOU!!! Grazie Mille!!! I absolutely loved all the letters and the cards, they made made my really Amazing Christmas the Best Christmas. Paul, Sara, Lee, Collete, Becky, Matt, Katie (James), Grandma, Grandpa, and Mom thanks for putting those all together, they really made me feel right at home and I knew that I was in the right place this Christmas. THanks.
How 'bout some bad news... So Monday morning I received a telephone call from the Mission President's wife and she said, well hello Sorella Robb, how are you? I am calling let you know that you have almost reached your year mark and that we are needing to know when you want to go home?! I really don't believe that we should even be talking about this subject because I just started and I am not going home, but she said I can go home July 6th by myself, or August 17th, and so I chose the latter. So dad to answer your question I will be finishing August 17th, right in the middle of ferragosto when everything is dead, but she said they will be sending you other information.
Better News! I really don't know where to start, this last week has been so amazing and perfect I really just hope that Heavenly Father isn't preparing us for something terrible, because life has honestly been too good to be true. Here are a few examples to back up this BIG statement:
Genny and Francesco- the most picture perfect family ever invited us over to their house for a Christmas meal (the day after Christmas). She is 26, way neat, two adorable kids, a great husband, and somehow had absolutely no idea we were not catholic even though we have shared with them a lot of things. She had also invited over another family with two kids and we started talking and this friend says wow, I really like your religion, infact I agree with it more than I do ours and I would love to come to your church! Everything went a million times better than we could have imagined even if they did ask us "well you dont go around like ringing peoples door bells do?"
Anna- I dont know if you remember me writing about a house experience that we had with the girl who was really pretty upset with God, well every week we have gone back for little quick visits and would leave with her little thoughts we had found during study. Bearing in mind that the first day we met her she said "no way, this stuff is not for me, and I will not accept anything to read, nuh uh" Yesterday we went by and after talking a little bit I said Hey what did you think of those verses I wrote out for you (on a little note I had written her a little something and then coppied two verses from the Book of Mormon in Romanian). She smiled, looked down and said "Its like there is something growing inside me, I want to talk to God, and I am happier..." We really did not believe it, but it most definetly was not the same Anna we had met the first day that looked at as will hurt and hate in her eyes. I then pulled out the Book of Mormon in Romanian where I marked some of the verses of Alma 34 I think, and her face lit up when she saw that it was in Romanian, and then we she told her she could have it she was thrilled. Talk about a miracle, and she even admitted "I really don't know what is going on, but I want to come to church with you too, when is it?" -Let's just say that God is a God of Miracles
Pday to Modica- Today we went to Modica a little city near by that makes Chocolate, but we also met a really neat girl named Chiara that lives there and wanted to go visit her. She studies and speaks English really well, and actually introduced herself to us oneday on a busride back from Catania. She came with her mom and they gave us a little tour in English, it was really pretty cute. The crazy thing was is that at the end she asked us more about our beliefs and then started telling us about doubts she was having about the Catholic Church and she said I don't know if its just me, but there are somethings that are just not right and I am just not convinced. If that doesn't spell teaching opportunity I don't know what does. She is an amazing person, knows her Heavenly Father and her relationship with him, hates alcohol, and I know it was not by chance that she found us.
Emanuela- Another amazing girl who studies English with us, but because of work wont be able to come, but she is intrigued by what she has learned of the gospel, and last night told us. Pazienza with the language but I would really like to know more about your beliefs, and I really like the book of Mormon.
Anyways sorry for another really long letter, I only wish that you could be here to see the changes that are taking place in Peoples hearts. The church is true, I know it because it makes me happy, but I am also seeing it change the lives of others in ways that are pretty incredible. The Book of Mormon is something we can't afford to take advantage of, it is way to cool, and way to helpful for our everyday lives. I love you all and hope that you have a Happy New Year! THanks again for the Christmas wishes!
Much Love-
Sorella Robb
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Yay! What a Christmas!
Well, Buon Natale and tanti auguri, or how 'bout we throw some auguroni in there (great BIG wishes)! You want to know something really exciting? Even if I am located on an Island in the mediteranean Sea, close to Africa, it looks like we are going to be having a white Christmas afterall! Okay you got me, there won't be any snow, but there will be something pure and dressed in white! Esther accepted a baptism date, January 16th, but she told us that she is not going to get baptised alone; instead she and her husand are going to prepare themselves together!!!! Sorry, if you think that we are a little excited, we are not. We are SOOO excited. I love this family to death. They are so neat as a couple, but Esther also has an incredible testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ and knows that this is a big deal, a huge committment, and a great blessing. Talk about a neat Christmas gift!
Other Notizia, we just started working with a girl who is our age, so simple, so sincere and so cool. Today we did the first real sit down lesson with her, as in we talked about the story of Joseph Smith and she said "I don't know, it is hard to explain, but its like nothing you have told me is new, I feel like I have always known this to be true." Thats because none of it is new, we have known about this splended plan for a long time now, and God helps us to recognize it. I love Him! Elvira is still doing well minus a little pain in her knee, we got an invite to go over to Jennies house for a Christmas dinner saturday, tomorrow we are going over to the Puglisi's, and tonight President has encouraged us to also go to a midnight mass to learn a little more about the culture, so that is well we will be.
Sorry if I am writing alot, but this week was kind of crazy. Yesterday we got up at five to go do a Zone Bust in Agrigento, basically everything that possibly could have gone wrong with the transportation did, and we ended up spending the night in a members home there. It was so neat because we were basically dropped off in this home where Franca left us with the keys, and said oh yeah let me introduce you to the neighbors too, they will take good care of you. So we went over and had a grand ball! She talked about how Franca is an amazing friend, and an incredible person. We then got to share a little bit of our message a talk with here grandkids. We said a family prayer and then returned to Francas to sleep. It was a really neat experience, and Alfonza felt the spirit and knew it. I guess I can just say that I love being a missionairy, because it is true. Heavenly Father has blessed us with an amazing week, and I'm sure part of it has been to help us have an amazing holiday even if we are away from home.
Only problem with holiday season is that my clothes seem to be shrinking : / or atleast that is what I would like to believe is happening, but it is probably the fact that we are eating a Pandoro at every house we go to. Well I can't wait to talk to you all tomorrow, I can not believe it is already Christmas. Happy Carolling, Johnny and Joe be patient with the Pj picture taking, it is good for you :) I wish you all the merriest of merry Christmases. I wish you a mountain of goodness. How lucky we are to have had Jesus Christ as our example. I know that he lived a perfect life because he loves us. His message of Love, his atoning Sacrifice, and his Gospel that he restored, are the greatest gifts we could every ask for, talk about an eternal happiness.
Alright, I will talk to you soon!!!! Yay! Merry Christmas!
tanto amore,
Sorella Robb
Other Notizia, we just started working with a girl who is our age, so simple, so sincere and so cool. Today we did the first real sit down lesson with her, as in we talked about the story of Joseph Smith and she said "I don't know, it is hard to explain, but its like nothing you have told me is new, I feel like I have always known this to be true." Thats because none of it is new, we have known about this splended plan for a long time now, and God helps us to recognize it. I love Him! Elvira is still doing well minus a little pain in her knee, we got an invite to go over to Jennies house for a Christmas dinner saturday, tomorrow we are going over to the Puglisi's, and tonight President has encouraged us to also go to a midnight mass to learn a little more about the culture, so that is well we will be.
Sorry if I am writing alot, but this week was kind of crazy. Yesterday we got up at five to go do a Zone Bust in Agrigento, basically everything that possibly could have gone wrong with the transportation did, and we ended up spending the night in a members home there. It was so neat because we were basically dropped off in this home where Franca left us with the keys, and said oh yeah let me introduce you to the neighbors too, they will take good care of you. So we went over and had a grand ball! She talked about how Franca is an amazing friend, and an incredible person. We then got to share a little bit of our message a talk with here grandkids. We said a family prayer and then returned to Francas to sleep. It was a really neat experience, and Alfonza felt the spirit and knew it. I guess I can just say that I love being a missionairy, because it is true. Heavenly Father has blessed us with an amazing week, and I'm sure part of it has been to help us have an amazing holiday even if we are away from home.
Only problem with holiday season is that my clothes seem to be shrinking : / or atleast that is what I would like to believe is happening, but it is probably the fact that we are eating a Pandoro at every house we go to. Well I can't wait to talk to you all tomorrow, I can not believe it is already Christmas. Happy Carolling, Johnny and Joe be patient with the Pj picture taking, it is good for you :) I wish you all the merriest of merry Christmases. I wish you a mountain of goodness. How lucky we are to have had Jesus Christ as our example. I know that he lived a perfect life because he loves us. His message of Love, his atoning Sacrifice, and his Gospel that he restored, are the greatest gifts we could every ask for, talk about an eternal happiness.
Alright, I will talk to you soon!!!! Yay! Merry Christmas!
tanto amore,
Sorella Robb
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Buon Natale!
Family of Mine! How I love you all. So maybe I would admit that I miss hearing Christmas Songs on the Radio a little bit, and smellings moms apple cider on the stove, but I have never been able to sing so many hymns in my life and share so many smiles and scriptures and tears, and pretty much I love it!
We are not 100% positive about what will happen with internet this next week, so I wanted to be sure to wish you all a very merry Christmas. It's wierd, because sometimes I forget its Christmas, but at the same time some of the stores have red carpeted pathways, all of the streets are lined with Christmas lights, people won't stop giving us free food, and the best part is that everyone is willing to talk about Christ!
Mom and dad I take it you are both busy, but dont worry Lindsey sent me a nice long email and filled me in on the details of Peter and Kristen's Wedding. Sounds like it was special. Sorry if my thoughts are not very full of sense right now, I am not thinking very clearly because we have the police men here taking our documents and making sure that we a legal, and it is a little distracting. I sure hope they don't boot me out because I really do love it here :)
Anyways this week has been a real treat! For Christmas President and his wife are doing Christmas conferences where we get to go and see our MTC districts. I will be going on Friday, but the other day I went to take Sorella Stevenson and president told me to just stay in Catania and do splits with my MTC companion Sorella White! Seeing as how up until this point we have been on opposite sides of the mission it was such a blast seeing all that has changed. Just a little example was that after I said a prayer she said, "wow, that was really nice" i tried to figure out what in the world she was talking about until I realized that last time we had prayed together in Italia it would take a good ten minutes just to say thank you for my family. Long story short, we brought with us our various experiences that we've picked up along the mission, and had some great teaching moments out in Catania, it was the perfect Christmas present!
Other news, our branch is putting on a showing of the Testiments Friday here in Ragusa, and I have been blown away by their enthusiasm and their efforts to make this a success, basically it will be like the showings that they did at temple square. UNfortunately I am going to be in Catania, but they have prepared referal cards, put up publicity in the hole city, written dedicas in Book of Mormons, lets just say there are some really incredible people here.
Oh my goodness, speaking of incredible people thank you for the Package of Sugar Cookies and Letters from the primary!!! Sorella Stevenson and I have never had a better time reading letters together. So mom if you can please tell sister Funk thank you for the year supply of cookies I would appreciate it!
Anyhow, wherever you find yourself this Christmas Season I hope you can find sometime to sing a little hymn and remember how blessed we are by the light and joy that was brought to the earth thanks to the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, my best Friend!
I love you all dont forget that!
Merry Christmas!
Sorella Robb
p.s. Anziano Fullmer /aka Jason, it was my sister Lindseys birthday :) but I got a kick out of it anyways... THanks. White Handbook = Letter :)
Pss. I am cleared, they are going to let me stay. Yay
We are not 100% positive about what will happen with internet this next week, so I wanted to be sure to wish you all a very merry Christmas. It's wierd, because sometimes I forget its Christmas, but at the same time some of the stores have red carpeted pathways, all of the streets are lined with Christmas lights, people won't stop giving us free food, and the best part is that everyone is willing to talk about Christ!
Mom and dad I take it you are both busy, but dont worry Lindsey sent me a nice long email and filled me in on the details of Peter and Kristen's Wedding. Sounds like it was special. Sorry if my thoughts are not very full of sense right now, I am not thinking very clearly because we have the police men here taking our documents and making sure that we a legal, and it is a little distracting. I sure hope they don't boot me out because I really do love it here :)
Anyways this week has been a real treat! For Christmas President and his wife are doing Christmas conferences where we get to go and see our MTC districts. I will be going on Friday, but the other day I went to take Sorella Stevenson and president told me to just stay in Catania and do splits with my MTC companion Sorella White! Seeing as how up until this point we have been on opposite sides of the mission it was such a blast seeing all that has changed. Just a little example was that after I said a prayer she said, "wow, that was really nice" i tried to figure out what in the world she was talking about until I realized that last time we had prayed together in Italia it would take a good ten minutes just to say thank you for my family. Long story short, we brought with us our various experiences that we've picked up along the mission, and had some great teaching moments out in Catania, it was the perfect Christmas present!
Other news, our branch is putting on a showing of the Testiments Friday here in Ragusa, and I have been blown away by their enthusiasm and their efforts to make this a success, basically it will be like the showings that they did at temple square. UNfortunately I am going to be in Catania, but they have prepared referal cards, put up publicity in the hole city, written dedicas in Book of Mormons, lets just say there are some really incredible people here.
Oh my goodness, speaking of incredible people thank you for the Package of Sugar Cookies and Letters from the primary!!! Sorella Stevenson and I have never had a better time reading letters together. So mom if you can please tell sister Funk thank you for the year supply of cookies I would appreciate it!
Anyhow, wherever you find yourself this Christmas Season I hope you can find sometime to sing a little hymn and remember how blessed we are by the light and joy that was brought to the earth thanks to the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, my best Friend!
I love you all dont forget that!
Merry Christmas!
Sorella Robb
p.s. Anziano Fullmer /aka Jason, it was my sister Lindseys birthday :) but I got a kick out of it anyways... THanks. White Handbook = Letter :)
Pss. I am cleared, they are going to let me stay. Yay
Fun Treats!
Buongiorno Cari! Life has stayed nice and busy here, and full of way too many sweet treats. Lindsey Happy Birthday!!! And Peter and Kristen, happy wedding. It is insane how quick the holiday is approaching, but it has been really fun getting to go around singing christmas hyms and sharing the Living Christ with others.
New news here in Ragusa is that, we started teaching a group of preschoolers english which was quite the experience, we had an incredible mixed up evening that let led us to meet an incredible family, Elvira is still progressing and doing well, I am getting old in the mission(there are only two sisters who have been here longer than me), and we have eaten enough Panetone to last us a life time.
The air here has gotten a little cooler at night time, and it makes it a little more difficult to do finding work. Saturday we were really excited because we had planned out a really good lesson for Elvira and Vincenzo, and Sorella Campo was also going to be there. So we called them at 7:30 and they said, "yeah, we are close but we will be there soon." So five minutes later they came, and we got in the car and then they said, "Sorelle we are sorry, but we are really tired, we have been out all day (getting our hair done) would it be okay if we rescheduled?" Ofcourse we said, sure, no problem, but inside I am pretty sure that we both began to cry. It was cold, we had been walking outside already for a good 3 hours, and from 7:30-9:00 we will just say that the streets of Ragusa are not so lively. We laughed at our good luck, and wondered why in the world of all things this lesson had to be canceled.
Well you would think that after all the different experiences I have had that I would learn to trust the Lord in doing his work, and this was just one of the many experiences to add to the list. So we decided try one of the inactives on the street, who did not let us enter, but the second we finished talking with her, there was a terrible smell that drove up. It was a new car filled with a beautiful family of two teenage daughters a four month old little girl and their parents. We decided to try and see if we could do something to help and they said "we are catholic." I tried making some phone calls and then turned to the mother and apologized and admitted that I am no pro mechanic but asked if there was anything we could do. SHe then turned to me with tears and said, "will you pray for my sister, she is ill and probably wont live past april." We then all talked and she said how she was greatful and that our encounter was an answer to her prayers. We talked of the plan of Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us, and shared some scriptures also from the Book of Mormon. We quickly learned why is was we had not taught the other lesson, and were all edified by this experience. THey live in a little city an hour away, but their daughter is attending a University where there are missionaries. After an hour someone came to look at their car and said it was really wierd that it was someking but that at that point it was fine. It was a really neat experience, and we all shed a good few tears. I am so greatful for this experience that I have to get to be one of the Lord's servents, he really is very good at doing His work and answering our prayers. I know we are loved by our Heavenly Father, and I know that it is because he loves us that he sent His son Jesus Christ. Hope you are all having a wonderful Holiday season, and remember that many of the best memories come from doing service and witnessing and feeling the Love of God for ourselves and others. Have fun!
Sorella Robb
New news here in Ragusa is that, we started teaching a group of preschoolers english which was quite the experience, we had an incredible mixed up evening that let led us to meet an incredible family, Elvira is still progressing and doing well, I am getting old in the mission(there are only two sisters who have been here longer than me), and we have eaten enough Panetone to last us a life time.
The air here has gotten a little cooler at night time, and it makes it a little more difficult to do finding work. Saturday we were really excited because we had planned out a really good lesson for Elvira and Vincenzo, and Sorella Campo was also going to be there. So we called them at 7:30 and they said, "yeah, we are close but we will be there soon." So five minutes later they came, and we got in the car and then they said, "Sorelle we are sorry, but we are really tired, we have been out all day (getting our hair done) would it be okay if we rescheduled?" Ofcourse we said, sure, no problem, but inside I am pretty sure that we both began to cry. It was cold, we had been walking outside already for a good 3 hours, and from 7:30-9:00 we will just say that the streets of Ragusa are not so lively. We laughed at our good luck, and wondered why in the world of all things this lesson had to be canceled.
Well you would think that after all the different experiences I have had that I would learn to trust the Lord in doing his work, and this was just one of the many experiences to add to the list. So we decided try one of the inactives on the street, who did not let us enter, but the second we finished talking with her, there was a terrible smell that drove up. It was a new car filled with a beautiful family of two teenage daughters a four month old little girl and their parents. We decided to try and see if we could do something to help and they said "we are catholic." I tried making some phone calls and then turned to the mother and apologized and admitted that I am no pro mechanic but asked if there was anything we could do. SHe then turned to me with tears and said, "will you pray for my sister, she is ill and probably wont live past april." We then all talked and she said how she was greatful and that our encounter was an answer to her prayers. We talked of the plan of Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us, and shared some scriptures also from the Book of Mormon. We quickly learned why is was we had not taught the other lesson, and were all edified by this experience. THey live in a little city an hour away, but their daughter is attending a University where there are missionaries. After an hour someone came to look at their car and said it was really wierd that it was someking but that at that point it was fine. It was a really neat experience, and we all shed a good few tears. I am so greatful for this experience that I have to get to be one of the Lord's servents, he really is very good at doing His work and answering our prayers. I know we are loved by our Heavenly Father, and I know that it is because he loves us that he sent His son Jesus Christ. Hope you are all having a wonderful Holiday season, and remember that many of the best memories come from doing service and witnessing and feeling the Love of God for ourselves and others. Have fun!
Sorella Robb
Mammamia!
Ciao!
Wow, what a week, I am not even sure where to begin. Seems like blessings are just being dumped out of Heaven. Well Jessica, way to go on following through on the referal! I am sure if he stole your heart he has got to be a real winner! Michelle congrats on the news, and Peter and Kristen, I am so excited and very happy for you. I never thought I would see the day, but I love you both so much and am having a hard time containing my excitment. Also Jonathan Jarman, congrats on the mission call and making a very good and rewarding choice, you have got quite the adventure awaiting you, best thing you can do right now is read the Book of Mormon as much as you can it is really going to be your best friend, I LOVE it! Hope that everyone else had a wonderful time for thanksgiving, and was able to enjoy the spirit of being greatful on top of the experience of being overlyfull.
Our little city of Ragusa is doing really well. Thanksgiving I must say did not exist as far as an American Dictionary would define it, but boy did we have a week packed full of giving thanks. We decided to use it as an excuse for talking with people and making suprise visits and it was a blast. We would go and sing the hymn "count your blessings" and then read d&C 136:28-29. It is so true that we all have reason to rejoice, and whats even cooler is that when sometimes we are having a hard time, all we have to do is ask, and our heavenly Father is really good about reminding us and reminding us.
Experiences and updates from this week:
We went back to visit Anna, a girl we met doing house, and she is willing to let us talk with her and share more, even if she is a little upset with God.
We went and visited Clorinda, one of our english course students, and she said "I dont know what it is, but you all, all of you missionaries have this special light in your eyes, and I noticed it too when I went to that activity at your church. And you can just see that you are happy, really you can." Neat experience, and she is reading the Book of Mormon to know for herself!
Elvira- Knows its true, loves the plan of Salvation and loves teaching it to her husband who is in a Wheelchair, and she told him. "I know that we thought that this marriage was only until death, but it turns out that you might be stuck with me for a whole lot longer." (with a huge grin on her face)
The Pumpkin Pie was a Hit! It brought a little bit of the holiday spice to us all, and the Italians had a hard time believing it was made with pumpkin.
Other Learning experiences:
Don't eat hot forks, they burn you. I decided to be thrifty and heat up a meatball with a fork over a flame (this was made by the Italian Elder here who so happens to be a professional chef as well) anyways I just so happened to burn half of my lip off and now every Italian I meet asks if I have Herpes.
I dont miss McDonalds.
this week president and his wife came for interviews and Sorella Taranto treated us to McDonalds, so I decided, why not eat a burger, its has been a while? Lets just say I have never been so out of breath walking up these hills, and I will not eat one again, because I am pretty sure it is against the will of my mother, and maybe even against the WoW. But I am very blessed to have such an amazing mission President, and such a caring mission Mother who really looks after our every needs.
I love you all and thank you for your support. And Robyn, thank you as always for your udates and being such a good example about doing visiting teaching. Today for our Pday we are going to bake with one of the members from the branch so that we know how to make Italian sweets. Happy December!
Sorella Robb
Wow, what a week, I am not even sure where to begin. Seems like blessings are just being dumped out of Heaven. Well Jessica, way to go on following through on the referal! I am sure if he stole your heart he has got to be a real winner! Michelle congrats on the news, and Peter and Kristen, I am so excited and very happy for you. I never thought I would see the day, but I love you both so much and am having a hard time containing my excitment. Also Jonathan Jarman, congrats on the mission call and making a very good and rewarding choice, you have got quite the adventure awaiting you, best thing you can do right now is read the Book of Mormon as much as you can it is really going to be your best friend, I LOVE it! Hope that everyone else had a wonderful time for thanksgiving, and was able to enjoy the spirit of being greatful on top of the experience of being overlyfull.
Our little city of Ragusa is doing really well. Thanksgiving I must say did not exist as far as an American Dictionary would define it, but boy did we have a week packed full of giving thanks. We decided to use it as an excuse for talking with people and making suprise visits and it was a blast. We would go and sing the hymn "count your blessings" and then read d&C 136:28-29. It is so true that we all have reason to rejoice, and whats even cooler is that when sometimes we are having a hard time, all we have to do is ask, and our heavenly Father is really good about reminding us and reminding us.
Experiences and updates from this week:
We went back to visit Anna, a girl we met doing house, and she is willing to let us talk with her and share more, even if she is a little upset with God.
We went and visited Clorinda, one of our english course students, and she said "I dont know what it is, but you all, all of you missionaries have this special light in your eyes, and I noticed it too when I went to that activity at your church. And you can just see that you are happy, really you can." Neat experience, and she is reading the Book of Mormon to know for herself!
Elvira- Knows its true, loves the plan of Salvation and loves teaching it to her husband who is in a Wheelchair, and she told him. "I know that we thought that this marriage was only until death, but it turns out that you might be stuck with me for a whole lot longer." (with a huge grin on her face)
The Pumpkin Pie was a Hit! It brought a little bit of the holiday spice to us all, and the Italians had a hard time believing it was made with pumpkin.
Other Learning experiences:
Don't eat hot forks, they burn you. I decided to be thrifty and heat up a meatball with a fork over a flame (this was made by the Italian Elder here who so happens to be a professional chef as well) anyways I just so happened to burn half of my lip off and now every Italian I meet asks if I have Herpes.
I dont miss McDonalds.
this week president and his wife came for interviews and Sorella Taranto treated us to McDonalds, so I decided, why not eat a burger, its has been a while? Lets just say I have never been so out of breath walking up these hills, and I will not eat one again, because I am pretty sure it is against the will of my mother, and maybe even against the WoW. But I am very blessed to have such an amazing mission President, and such a caring mission Mother who really looks after our every needs.
I love you all and thank you for your support. And Robyn, thank you as always for your udates and being such a good example about doing visiting teaching. Today for our Pday we are going to bake with one of the members from the branch so that we know how to make Italian sweets. Happy December!
Sorella Robb
Bulldog, Spain, Elvira, District Conference, and Splits
Happy Wednesday. I dont know where to begin, but I guess I will start with Happy Thanksgiving!!! Tomorrow that is. It really is not something very well known here and our activity was cancelled so we are probably going to spend it visiting people and letting them know why we are thankful for them. We are also going to attempt a pumkin pie, but it might be a little dangerous because we have to make it 100% from scratch, pumkin included. Boh we will see. Anyways I hope that you all enjoy the thanksgiving parade, a nice family walk, and that it is full of fun memories. If you feel it is necessary you can even write me a little note about it, I will even give you my Address :)
As for this week I am not really sure where to begin so I will share with you so of the highlights now so are silly and some are seriously neat.
Bulldog: How do you say bulldog in Italian?
I don't know so I decided to ask a man that we had seen a good 3 or 4 times. So he said american bulldog, and then said "why do you like him?" and I said "yes he is beautiful" (bello, a word used much more commonly here) then he said "No, you are more beautiful... no really." It was an interesting experience, we laughed a bit, but I learned that it is not the best tactic to share the gospel. However I can now have confidence in the fact that I am more beautiful than a bulldog :)
Spain: lindsey this one is for you!
THis week we spent lots of time in the buses traveling to different cities, but on Monday we were getting back from siracusa when a lady asked us if we knew where a street was, and we told her. I then felt like I should go ask her where they were going and if we can help. Turns out she is here on vacation with her friend from Madrid Spain!!! Her Italian was very spanish, but we walked them and their luggage to their destination and I shared with her the gospel, and she gave me her number and address to send to the missionaries there in Madrid! She is amazing and so golden, and Im sure will love the message even more when it is in her own language!
Elvira: Never say never
Sorella Campo is our amazing and I really mean amazing member missionary, i will have to tell you more about her another time becuase she is an email in itself. Anyways SHe took some of the lessons 3 years ago but nothing happened and so we went over together just to see how she is. THen she came to church and now we are going over a couple times a week, because she wants to learn everything! yay
Splits: I was reminded that I live in Italy
I went to Siracusa for a day to do splits with Sorella Morgan. It just so happens to be part of Pauls journey which is insane, it is also right next to the sea. We had an amazing time and found a wonderful family from Romania. I also got to go running next to the sea in the morning.
Conference: I have a new hero, Elder Gerald J. Caussé
He came to the district conference ( Sicily is still a district, not yet a stake) where there were over 600 people present. It was great and his talk was about something that we all needed to hear. He talked about how we are in sea in the midst of a great storm, its obvious, but that we have been given a boat to help us stay afloat and that boat is the church(and the gospel of Christ) that the thing even more comforting is that there is a captain who is Christ himself. He then said "Never try and swim and do it on your own when you can be on the boat, everyone is welcome!" He spoke of not being selfish, and forgiving others, and living worthy of having the spirit so that we are able to change. I loved it. The other quote that stuck with me was. "We can all change, when we live in a way where we can feel the spirit. However it is also a very long journey, and because its long we need to start today." It was perferct for so many of us, and I found a lot of the answers for myself and also some of our investiagters. It is crazy how efficient and real inspiration is.
Sorry this email is so long, hope you able to enjoy atleast some part of it. I am greatful to have you all in my life. I have learned so much also from your examples and am so blessed to get to share these things with others. Happy THanksgiving, I hope you are able to give lots of thanks and realize just how blessed you are!
Lots of Love,
Sorella Robb
Ps. mother Sicily is a much different world. Sometimes they dont really even consider themselves italian, because they are sicilian, but I will fill you in more on that next week.
As for this week I am not really sure where to begin so I will share with you so of the highlights now so are silly and some are seriously neat.
Bulldog: How do you say bulldog in Italian?
I don't know so I decided to ask a man that we had seen a good 3 or 4 times. So he said american bulldog, and then said "why do you like him?" and I said "yes he is beautiful" (bello, a word used much more commonly here) then he said "No, you are more beautiful... no really." It was an interesting experience, we laughed a bit, but I learned that it is not the best tactic to share the gospel. However I can now have confidence in the fact that I am more beautiful than a bulldog :)
Spain: lindsey this one is for you!
THis week we spent lots of time in the buses traveling to different cities, but on Monday we were getting back from siracusa when a lady asked us if we knew where a street was, and we told her. I then felt like I should go ask her where they were going and if we can help. Turns out she is here on vacation with her friend from Madrid Spain!!! Her Italian was very spanish, but we walked them and their luggage to their destination and I shared with her the gospel, and she gave me her number and address to send to the missionaries there in Madrid! She is amazing and so golden, and Im sure will love the message even more when it is in her own language!
Elvira: Never say never
Sorella Campo is our amazing and I really mean amazing member missionary, i will have to tell you more about her another time becuase she is an email in itself. Anyways SHe took some of the lessons 3 years ago but nothing happened and so we went over together just to see how she is. THen she came to church and now we are going over a couple times a week, because she wants to learn everything! yay
Splits: I was reminded that I live in Italy
I went to Siracusa for a day to do splits with Sorella Morgan. It just so happens to be part of Pauls journey which is insane, it is also right next to the sea. We had an amazing time and found a wonderful family from Romania. I also got to go running next to the sea in the morning.
Conference: I have a new hero, Elder Gerald J. Caussé
He came to the district conference ( Sicily is still a district, not yet a stake) where there were over 600 people present. It was great and his talk was about something that we all needed to hear. He talked about how we are in sea in the midst of a great storm, its obvious, but that we have been given a boat to help us stay afloat and that boat is the church(and the gospel of Christ) that the thing even more comforting is that there is a captain who is Christ himself. He then said "Never try and swim and do it on your own when you can be on the boat, everyone is welcome!" He spoke of not being selfish, and forgiving others, and living worthy of having the spirit so that we are able to change. I loved it. The other quote that stuck with me was. "We can all change, when we live in a way where we can feel the spirit. However it is also a very long journey, and because its long we need to start today." It was perferct for so many of us, and I found a lot of the answers for myself and also some of our investiagters. It is crazy how efficient and real inspiration is.
Sorry this email is so long, hope you able to enjoy atleast some part of it. I am greatful to have you all in my life. I have learned so much also from your examples and am so blessed to get to share these things with others. Happy THanksgiving, I hope you are able to give lots of thanks and realize just how blessed you are!
Lots of Love,
Sorella Robb
Ps. mother Sicily is a much different world. Sometimes they dont really even consider themselves italian, because they are sicilian, but I will fill you in more on that next week.
Just one of those weeks!
Ciao, Buongiorno, Salve Tutti!
Well do you ever have any of those days or weeks where everything is perfect and makes sense and then yet again nothing makes sense ? Well this was one of those weeks for us. Just for an example I will share with you our morning yesterday. It was sunny, like a summerday sunny, which is the exact opposite of last tuesday. We were out walking and talking like we usually do, when we said buongiorno to a little old lady on the side walk walking toward us. She stopped, turned her head and began to smile, or so it seemed, when all of the sudden she started yelling. VIA VIA! ANDATE VIA! (AWAY AWAY Go AWAY!) I must say it kind of shocked us, I have never been yelled at before, but she really was not very happy. She then continued until we were out of sight and wanted to make sure that we didnt talk to anyone. It was really rather interesting and not really what I would describe as a feel good moment. However, Heavenly Father looking after us, then blessed us with one of the kindest ladies I have ever met. we passed by a little bread shop, smiled and said hello. she invited us in, and when she saw how excited I was to see wheat bread she gave it to us for free, as a gift she said for all the kind things we do. Pretty much these two stories sum up the week, but I am greatful for them both. Sometimes the sour moments really help you LOVE the sweet. Kind of like it talks about it 2 Nephi 2. Therefore, once again, I know the scriptures are true!
How are the festivities comeing along there? We are starting to see christmas things, and people are getting excited. And the member here are especially excited for us to cook for them for Thanksgiving (Speriamo bene... We will Hope for the Best)
We were able to have a couple really neat lessons this week. Our investigater Esther, from Ghana, had her baby Vittoria on Friday, and they are all doing so well. I have never seen anyone as excited as her father. When we got to the hospital he was so excited, and had the most enormous grin on his face, and wanted to make sure that we told the whole world that Vittoria was born. It was really very neat, and I have to admit that Vittoria is adorable with the biggest cheecks and a full head of hair, but even more so she has been blessed with parents who love her, and who are so Humble, and so greatful for every blessing that they have, they are incredible.
Sunday we will go to Catania for a district conference with all the members here in Sicily, so it should be neat.
Well I hope everyone is doing well, and thinking and writing about all of the things we have to be greatful for, because there is alot!!! Joe congrats on your runbud, that is pretty impressive. Emma ciao! Sam, stop growing up so much!!!! Critter, I still need to hear about your basketball.
Happy week together in New Mexico, I love you all, and please be careful driving home! Read lots, and remember that we have the scriptures to help us, so read them I promise you wont regret it!
Love you oodles,
Sorella Robb
Well do you ever have any of those days or weeks where everything is perfect and makes sense and then yet again nothing makes sense ? Well this was one of those weeks for us. Just for an example I will share with you our morning yesterday. It was sunny, like a summerday sunny, which is the exact opposite of last tuesday. We were out walking and talking like we usually do, when we said buongiorno to a little old lady on the side walk walking toward us. She stopped, turned her head and began to smile, or so it seemed, when all of the sudden she started yelling. VIA VIA! ANDATE VIA! (AWAY AWAY Go AWAY!) I must say it kind of shocked us, I have never been yelled at before, but she really was not very happy. She then continued until we were out of sight and wanted to make sure that we didnt talk to anyone. It was really rather interesting and not really what I would describe as a feel good moment. However, Heavenly Father looking after us, then blessed us with one of the kindest ladies I have ever met. we passed by a little bread shop, smiled and said hello. she invited us in, and when she saw how excited I was to see wheat bread she gave it to us for free, as a gift she said for all the kind things we do. Pretty much these two stories sum up the week, but I am greatful for them both. Sometimes the sour moments really help you LOVE the sweet. Kind of like it talks about it 2 Nephi 2. Therefore, once again, I know the scriptures are true!
How are the festivities comeing along there? We are starting to see christmas things, and people are getting excited. And the member here are especially excited for us to cook for them for Thanksgiving (Speriamo bene... We will Hope for the Best)
We were able to have a couple really neat lessons this week. Our investigater Esther, from Ghana, had her baby Vittoria on Friday, and they are all doing so well. I have never seen anyone as excited as her father. When we got to the hospital he was so excited, and had the most enormous grin on his face, and wanted to make sure that we told the whole world that Vittoria was born. It was really very neat, and I have to admit that Vittoria is adorable with the biggest cheecks and a full head of hair, but even more so she has been blessed with parents who love her, and who are so Humble, and so greatful for every blessing that they have, they are incredible.
Sunday we will go to Catania for a district conference with all the members here in Sicily, so it should be neat.
Well I hope everyone is doing well, and thinking and writing about all of the things we have to be greatful for, because there is alot!!! Joe congrats on your runbud, that is pretty impressive. Emma ciao! Sam, stop growing up so much!!!! Critter, I still need to hear about your basketball.
Happy week together in New Mexico, I love you all, and please be careful driving home! Read lots, and remember that we have the scriptures to help us, so read them I promise you wont regret it!
Love you oodles,
Sorella Robb
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