So to start off, funny story. Two of my roommates, Sister Jones and Sister White, told me this last week that I talk in Italian when I am asleep. The next day my companion told me the same thing :) I guess I yell out "Managa!" Which means "dang it!" Not sure if I spelled it right, but that's alright. It made me laugh because if my subconscious mind understands what I'm learning, Heavenly Father can pull out whatever He wants!
I lost my voice this whole last week which is ridiculous since I had to pay for a flu shot once I got here and I got sick anyways . . . but it was kinda funny because my teacher, Fratello Silva, is a germ phoeb and he wouldn't shake my hand because he was too afraid he'd get sick. In Italy when someone is sick you shake their forearm instead of their hand, but Fratello Silva wouldn't even do that. Instead he'd take the tip of my elbow inbetween two fingers for a second and say that that was good enough. The best part is that when he came to class yesterday morning he said "Grazie Sorella, sono malato" (Thanks Sister, I'm sick). All I said back was "Prego!" He'll get over it haha.
All I can say though, is my teachers are inspired. I know that that may seem like a given, but it is SO true! Everyday they happen to tell me something that I personally need to hear. It was no accident that I came to the MTC when I was called to because I needed to have them as my teachers. God truly is in the details of our lives. Coincidences are not doctrinally sound at all :) I don't even know how many times Fratello Silva has told me that personally that their our many of God's children being prepared for me specifically. That I am being sent at this specific time and place because they need to experience my personality, my spirit, and see my smile. Generally I've always known this, but it's become such a blessing in my life to know that God loves us so much and is always ready to bless us. I can't wait to go to Italy and find my fellow brothers and sisters and bring them unto Christ! Also, about two or three weeks ago he gave us a lesson on prayer. Again, it was nothing new, it was nothing I hadn't heard before. But again, I was just amazed as I realized the wonderful blessing I'd been missing out on all of this time. Yes, I've prayed, but I've never developed the potential relationship with my Heavenly Father that I could have because I just wasn't aware of it. My teacher has helped me recognize this and it has not only changed my mission, but my entire life. Everyday I can feel my relationship with my Father in Heaven and Savior increasing and I can't believe I've gone my entire life thus far without having a constant prayer in my heart. It is invaluable. I'm never giving it up again! My other teacher, Fratello STubbs has such a gift with the language. He knows exactly how to teach it so that it makes sense to our entire class. Plus, his personality really shows when he speaks Italian. He is always cracking jokes and it's amazing how much I can understand. He teaches solely in Italian now which is great because it forces us to try, otherwise we don't know what is going on. The other day he was telling us, in Italian of course, that we need to always tell him to slow down if he speaks too quickly because he doesn't want us to sit there saying to ourselves "voglio morire!" (I want to die!) Classes are definitely my favorite part of the day and will be what I miss most when I leave here in a couple of weeks.
By the way, again, missions are extremely uncomfortable. But the strange thing is, I don't usually notice. But the other day I was thinking about all the experiences I've had since coming here and I am FAR out of my comfort zone constantly. But because of prayer and my ever increasing faith, I don't notice. Almost ever. This became especially aparant yesterday at the TRC. It was our first lesson in 100% Italian. You know how I am. Before my mission I would have freaked out having to teach ANYONE in english. I would have rather died! But as shocking as this is to me, I wasn't nervous, scared, or apprehensive. I was excited. Crazy right? And I know it has absolutely nothing to do with me, but everything to do with the Lord and His tender mercies. Also, the Gift of Tongues is a reality. I was able to teach a native Italian the entire first lesson of the Restoration of the Gospel without speaking a single word of English. We challenged her to pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true, if Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. We even challenged her to be baptized when she received that witness. And it was in Italian! Okay, that was not me. At all. I know my abilities and that is not included. God truly does love each and everyone of us and if we put our faith and trust in Him, all of it, He will bless us to do what he has called us to do. For me, that is serving a successful mission. Learning italian so that I can bring others closer to their Savior Jesus Christ.
Love you all tons. I can never repay the support and love that has gotten me here today. Thanks to the way you have raised me, I can be a blessing to the lives of countless others!
Sorella Karen LeCates
