And you know what happened? Well, I will tell you after I write the rest first.
Last week after we wrote we went to go see Kristiana and guess what? She had not read anything in the Book of Mormon. We are not quite sure what happened. She was so good about it in the past but the week after New Year's she was with her cousin and things just kind of ended. She still loves us and wants to be baptized but if she does not read the scriptures or put forth an effort I don't know when it will happen. As we were talking to her a little more we started quizzing her on what the Book of Mormon is and she was struggling through it. Then we tried quizzing her on the Priesthood again and she had forgotten! Okay, that's not right to say . . . her problem is she remembers the things we say but she is not there enough mentally to PIECE it all together into one unified truth. But while we were talking to her, her uncle, Dritan, came in and started smoking. As always we told him that he's killing himself. He did not like that and said he has quit in the past but he always starts smoking again and that Sorella Giordano (who smoked before she joined the church) would start smoking the moment she got home from her mission and that I would probably start smoking too. We were not very happy about that either. So again, like with Angelo a couple days earlier, we said "You're right, we never know what will happen tomorrow. But we ALWAYS have the choice of what WE will do. You never have to smoke, even if you are having a hard time." He was really being a monello . . . So we left really frustrated. After that we went to go see Sorella Maiori and I just LOVE her! It made everything better because she is so humble and full of love for us, even if she does not come to church. We talked about the article the January Liahona on finding answers in the Book of Mormon. She was funny because she had had her hair done and because we had not said anything after 1 minute, she said "Did you notice something different?" Ah, love her :)
Thursday we had a couple of surprises. The first was a phone call from Sorella Barresi, an old widow in the ward who lives alone. She asked if we could come to lunch. To be honest I am tired of food and did not want to go but we did not feel right making an excuse so we said yes. The other surprise had to do with the stike. I don't know if there has been anything on the news, but Sicily has done this huge strike on gasoline. The prices are out of control so the trucks that transport the gasoline were on strike. Thursday morning we had an appointment with the Anziani to go and visit Ike and Prudence. Problem is that the day before they had decided to drive to Messina (an hour and a half) and were there for only 2 hours before they came back. They had been unaware of this strike, so when they came to get us Thursday morning they said "We need to go get gas first." Yeah . . . By that point all of the gas stations were completely out of gas so we drove around for almost a half hour without any luck, which at that point we could have arrived at Ike and Prudence's house and returned. So we had to leave the car at the gas station by the church because the gas light was blinking at us. We then walked to a bar to buy bus tickets to go to Ike and Prudence because turns out they had made us a huge Nigerian meal and it was already ready for us. Problem is, at that point Sorella Giordano and I could not go because we had an appointment for lunch with Sorella Barresi at 1.00 and it was already 12.00. So they left us to walk to Sorella Barresi's house. We got there and ate a bunch. She just loves us and gives us a ton of food. Oh well . . . if I come back fat it was for a good cause . . . After her we went home for a half hour to organize ourselves for what we wanted to do that night. This last week we had become REALLY tired of our current investigators and we have been itching to do a lot of finding to relieve our frustrations. We want new people to teach! So we picked a street and we went to Via Conte Torino haha. Oh, that night made me laugh. We were going from one citofono to the next and ringing every apartment. About half way down the street I rang an apartment and this man came out on the balcony and smiled one of those not too nice smiles down at me and said "Hey, what's up?" I introduced our message and asked if he had fine minutes that we could talk at his door. He then smiled again, lit a cigarette, and said "You wanna come up?" I answered too quickly and said, sure. Then he entered the house and we ran away :) I don't need to been harassed by crazy Sicilian men thank you. We then started ringing this other citofono that was different than the others. Usually you push the button and it just rings in the apartment. This one was different and rang outside as well. It was a little uncomfortable because everyone on the street heard as we rang all 30 apartments. We then rang the last one and it didn't stop ringing. As it rang for more than 30 seconds a man came over and was all mad and said "What are you doing? You broke it! Who are you trying to contact?" I then pointed at the last apartment where we had rang and then he said "Don't lie to me, you've rang every single apartment." Then Sorella Giordano said "Of course we did, we are missionaries, it's what we do." He was kind of mean to us so we just walked away as the citofono kept ringing through the street. We continued to do that street until 7.30 and then we went to go see Kristiana. This visit was a little bit different from the last. When we got there her uncle was sitting in his bed (because he and Kristiana sleep in the living room) and watching music videos. We asked him to turn it down as we started the lesson. He obliged, but it was obvious he was still really put out from the last visit. We started talking to Kristiana and she still hadn't read. She was acting like a 15 year old for about 15 minutes and then asked us to come over some afternoon to watch music videos with them for a couple hours. I guess she still did not understand what we do and why. So I asked her if she knew why we are obedient. She shrugged and said no. I then explained that we are there to help people. We have something that makes us so happy and we want to help others have that same happiness. She got quiet and then I told her that I would probably get transferred that next week so our time together was really short (I then started to cry . . . Yeah, I am such a baby) and I told her that she was way more important to us than music, TV, facebook . . . or any other thing we have given up for a year and a half to serve others. When she saw that I was crying I think it finally hit her that we weren't there just to joke around, but we were serious. I then realized that the TV had been turned off. I looked over and her uncle was watching us quietly, but intently. I think that night they both earned a little bit more respect for us because before we left Kristiana said "For you, I promise I will read this time." Ah! I can't ever leave! Ahhh! As we were walking home I realized that my mission was the greatest, and the stupidest decision I have ever made. You know how much it stinks to know that one day you will HAVE to leave these people? I hate it . . . but if I had never come I would never have met them either so how can I complain?
Friday morning we skipped planning to run past some contacts we had found the night before who had told us to re-pass the next day. Unfortunately no one was there so we then made it home just long enough to do planning for a half hour until we had to go to the Mazzarella's house for lunch. Fratello Andrea Mazzarella is the second counselor in the bishopbrick and Angela is the Relief Society president. It's funny because they are both 29 and are both "in charge". But I love them a ton. Andrea is from Napoli and has the personality of a Naptan. He always speaks in dialect a lot and I don't understand anything. Angela is a doll-face and they just make me laugh together. We ate really well and then we went home to do a little bit more of our weekly planning. We had had an appointment with Emanuele Mirabella for correlation, but because of the gasoline strike, we couldn't drive to his house with the Anziani, so instead we did other work. We passed by Margherita Benessere and were there a couple of minutes until a few family members came and were really loud and a distraction. She asked if we could come back the next day. So we quickly explained the prayer again, said a prayer, and then left. We then went home again to do a little bit of planning before we had to go do a lesson with Angelo at his house! When we had called that morning to meet with him that night he said "Could you come to my house?" I thought, of course! So it also turns out he lives 10 minutes from our house and it is way easier to just go to his house instead of the church. But it was kind of weird. I like his mom a lot, but every time I asked Angelo a question, she answered for him. He would just stare at the ground and look up every once in a while. I would smile at him and he'd smile back, but then look back at the ground. We don't know exactly what, and his parents explained a little bit, but he has some sort of emotional problems and I think his parents are making it worse . . . But in the end his mom left so that we could talk to him. The first thing he says is, "can we listen to Mozart?" He then goes to a record player and pulls out a big black record (I know, I just made you all feel really old didn't I?) and we were listening to Mozart in this house that seemed like it came directly out of the early 1800's . . . And just the fact that it was Angelo made me laugh because it did not surprise me AT ALL. Then when he had to flip the record over, it was the Nutcracker! Ah loved it! We talked to him for a little bit about what he had read in the Book of Ether and he then went on this line of thought as to how Christ was conceived because the scriptures never say directly how it happened. We then explained to him that it is up to each and everyone of us to read what we can, ponder in our hearts what we think it means, and then ask Heavenly Father if it is right. If it is not directly church doctrine, we, as missionaries, can't really talk about it with investigators (or really anyone) It's better that he finds it out himself. He's smart, he probably already has an answer in mind.
The next morning we wanted to go see Ike and Prudence again but the Anziani had this hope that there would be gasoline at the gas stations because, in theory, the strike had ended the night before. Nope. We rode all the way in the car to the other side of the city with them because they wanted someone to steer the car while they pushed if we ran out of gas. We got to the gas station where their friend works and guess what? There was not any gas. So we then walked for 45 minutes to Piazza Alcalà where there is a bus station. Before we got there we ran into Fratello Palla who was SO excited to see us. He loves us just for the fact that we are missionaries, and was as pleased as punch to not only have the Anziani, but also the Sorelle, at his fruit stand. He's great and was preaching the gospel to the people who were buying fruit and telling them who we were. Thanks Fratello Palla :) We then took a bus to the Train station where we bought bus tickets at a bar to go to Acireale to visit Ike and Prudence. But it took forever to get there so we went to their house for 20 minutes before Sorella Giordano and I had to leave to go to a lunch appointment with the Canfarelli family. They lived in AciCatene, a few kilometers from Acireale, but my feet had huge blisters so we took a bus. That was an adventure in itself and took forever. We then ate a bunch and were at their house for a good while. We even ate Tirimisu with pandoro. I cut a nice big piece for Sorella Giordano after we had eaten a TON and she gave me this death stare as if to say "I HATE you." Oh well, she survived haha. We then had 5 minutes to arrive at the bus stop to take the bus that was coming back to Catania that the Anziani were on. They called us before saying we would have 15 20 minutes from when the bus left Acireale before it got to AciCatene. Yeah right. Anziano Andersen called us and said "We just left and it will be 5 minutes, 10 at the most before we get there." So we hopped in the car and got to the Piazza where Anziano Andersen said it would pass. Fratello Canfarelli said I should call to be sure. So ANziano Andersen went and asked the bus driver. Turns out we were not at the right stop so we hopped in the car and sped to the cathedral just as the bus was passing. We then chased the bus down but it was not stopping. We called anziano Andersen again and had to tell him to ring for a stop. Then Fratello Canfarelli drove ahead of the bus and parked in front of it so it could not leave us. In the end, we all made it home just fine. Sorella Giordano and I then went to go visit Kristiana again but she had argued with her mom and had a stomachache so she would not come downstairs. Instead, we sat and talked to her dad and uncle. Unfortunately her dad was drunk, having drunk an entire liter of beer and then a huge glass of wine. Dritan, her uncle had a glass of wine in front of him, but because we had come he did not touch it the whole time we were there. We talked with them a little bit, about our lives and why we were there and then said a prayer at the end. It was interesting, but we still saw a difference in the way Dritan acts towards us. Still with more respect and interest into why we do what we do. We then went home and had about a half hour to do phone calls, but while we were doing that we received our transfer call! You know what happened?! We are both staying in Catania, but we are both getting greenies! That's right, we are both training :) I am super excited but also a bit stressed about it. I am sure it will all go fine and I need the boost of greeny excitement to push me to the end, but sincerely, I hope I don't ruin her! President also told me that the American Branch is my responsibility and he said if I want I can work ONLY with them. And to be honest, that ward does need help. This summer almost all of the members finish their time here and the poor branch will really struggle. I have a feeling there may be a lot of people on the base and lots of English speakers in Catania that just need to be found. No worries, I am definitely working with the Italians still, but I have felt since I got here that the Sigonella branch gets looked over a little too much just because most are Americans that are not here permanently. They need help too. I am excited :)
Sunday was the Birthday of Sorella Giordano! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SORELLA GIORDANO! She's 25 :) I make fun of her for that haha. Church went well. The American branch was cancelled because the base is far away and no one has gas thanks to the strike. The Italian ward was also missing quite a few people, but it went well and Angelo came to church! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I was so happy :) After church we then went to the Rochira's house for lunch and luckily we did not have to eat too much. I am not sure how she knew, because I always eat everything she gives me and I have never told her, but during lunch Sorella Rochira said "Sorella! I completely forgot you're vegetarian! I am so sorry! Do you want cheese or more vegetables to eat instead?" I told her about 10 times that I was totally fine and did not need anything, but she got up anyways and got me grilled peppers and ricotta cheese. In the end I didn't complain haha. We were stranded at their house for a little bit because we couldn't ask for an extra 30 minute ride to Catania with the lack of gas in the city. So we did not get home until 6.30. Darn it. Sorella Giordano especially was a little on ends with that. So we went home and attacked our area book, she made calls to ex-investigators, and I caught up on our teaching records. Fun fun!
Monday morning we left early to go to the other side of the city for a lesson with an inactive member we have never met. She was super nice. Her name is Sara Pressede. She lives with her brother and her mom who has Alzheimer. She was so nice and wants to come to church, even though she has not been in probably 20 years. Almost the whole family is baptized but none are active. Before we left she said she knows a girl who is 25 that she wants us to meet and asked when we could come and have a lesson with this girl. So we found an inactive who wants to come back to church who also gave us a refferral! YES! Good work team! Also, Sunday night the Anziani found gas! Hallelujah! We met them at Villa Bellini to go to the church for district meeting. Sorella Giordano gave the training on service and we all talked about new ways we can do finding. Because house and street are not always that effective because it is the same stuff that the Jehovah's Witness do and everyone thinks we are them and they won't listen to us. We need to find creative, service oriented ways, that people can see that we are different and be more open to our message. We also talked about the ward. This ward has a ton of problems and everyone tells us how the ward is not unified and that no one would ever miss them if they stopped coming to church. We thought of different ways we could help and we plan to put them into action. We then ate lunch together in the church and then we went to the Port to visit Vittorio Palla's house. He is the son of the famous Fratello Palla, the fruit man who has 10 houses . . . and we feel he may work in other shadier areas . . . but the whole family is awesome, the only problem is that all of their kids are inactive. But Vittorio has started coming back to church and he wants to receive the Melchezedick priesthood. His only weak point is smoking. And he refuses to take the sacrament or anything until he goes several months without smoking. We went to go see them because his wife has been really sick and needed help with the house. But when we got there she was out of bed and walking around. So instead we talked with them a bit and then the kids came home for school and we played with them. They are too funny. Alessando is 7 and his little sister, Sharon, is 4. They destroy everything they get there hands on, but we are friends now! The best part is we were quizzing him on his English and he kept telling me I was saying things wrong. Then he brought out his art kit that was from Pixar's CARs. I said "Lightning McQueen!" And he told me I didn't say it very well. He then tried to tell me that it was originally french and I kept telling him that it was Disney, so it was American. But he wouldn't listen to me. They want us to come again but we told him he had to be nice to his mom first. The anziani then came to get us so go to a family night with the Battezzato family. We read from a verse in the D&C and then the first presidency message from the January Liahona. We ate dinner after, which was a pan with three different types of rice, spinach, butter, and tomato. But they were divided into the Italian flag haha. There was lots of good stuff to eat, even these little pie, Sicilian things with fruit on top. YUM! At the end we played a game that I rather enjoyed. I don't know what it was called, but one person goes to the front with their back turned to everyone else. they wrap there left arm around their body until their hand is sticking out under their right arm pit so that is is open. They then lift their right hand to block their peripheral vision to the right. Then a person sneaks up behind them and slaps their left hand. They then turn around and have to guess who hit them. If they guess right, that person has to take their place. If they guess wrong, they have to turn around and do it again. I was a PRO! And I also hit some people a little too hard haha. Oh well :) Andrea Riolo, the new convert was at the front and I hit his hand so hard that he turned around and said "Hey! When did this become so violent!? I thought we were all friends here! Marengo, it was you wasn't it?!" Nope, it wasn't :)
Yesterday morning was a disaster. We had made an appointment with an ex investigator that lived way outside of Catania. We had to miss another appointment with Ike and Prudence because of it and we had to leave our apartment at 8.00 to go to the train station so that we could take a bus that went to Santa Maria di Licodia. The bus that we had to take did not leave until 9.30. We then did not arrive to her house until 11.00. Thank goodness the appointment was for 11.00. And this woman, Giuseppina Rizzo, was . . .wow. Her daughter in law is a member that lives in Rimini and Giuseppina first met the missionaries 12 years ago. But she talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked about faith the whole time. Don't get me wrong, faith is important. But she told us about how it does not matter what religion you are, if you have faith in God and want to follow him with your whole heart that is all you need. You will be saved and He will help you. She read to us her favorite Psalms and told us how she just cries and cries when she reads them. She told us how much she loves the Bible and Christ and how much she knows. Yes, He will help us. Yes the Bible is great. Also Psalms. Faith is essential, but I guess she has never really read the verse that says "Faith without works is dead, being alone." Or the one that says "And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward." Yeah, she also said our prayer at the end and that last verse more or less captured her perfectly. Okay, I am sorry. I am being a brat. But I have never heard anyone praise the Lord so much with so little humility and love. Oh well. We missed our bus and then ran to the train station where we had missed the train, waited for another 40 minutes before the next train came. We then road that into Catania for a half hour before we discovered the metero of Catania! That was the best part of the day! You can go from Sanzio to the Port in 10 minutes! There is no traffic, no crowds, and it comes every 10 minutes! We then made it 1 hour late to our lunch appointment with Franchy. She gave us cookies and juice and we ate them in the bus station. We like her. We then walked with her for a bit until we split our ways. We went to pass by Kristiana but there was not anyone there. We then went to buy paint to paint our walls and door frames later, and then visited Silvana and Fabio for a couple of minutes before we had to leave to go to the church for an appointment with Angelo before English course. He had a question about Mary again, and started talking about one of John's Revelations and how it talks about Mary. We then stopped him and grinned before we said, "are you sure it doesn't say 'woman?' instead of 'Mary'?" He then read the verse again and said "Oh, you're right. It says woman." We then talked a bit about what that all means and introduced him to section 77 of the D&C and the answers Joseph Smith asked in prayer. He's so funny. He was like a little boy on Christmas. We then had English course and I don't know why, but we always end up talking about food. Oh well, everyone likes food. Then for the spiritual thought Angelo explained who the prophet is and what he does. I showed them all the fold out of the prophet, 12 apostles, and the quorum of the 70 that I took from the Liahona. They all liked it, even though they have heard it a bazillion times over. We then did planning with the Anziani because we had to be with them basically the whole next day. It was weird. We then went home and we painted a bit of our house, then I washed my hair and cut it. I know, I cut my bangs super short. But I like them.
This morning we painted the whole house. My hands are all white. Our house is a mess because we have to reorganize everything for the new sisters and tonight there were will 9 sisters at our house because all 4 of the new sisters are coming tonight so all the sisters that are training have to stay the night with us too. It will be fun haha.
Love you all a ton! Sorry I am irritable these days! I really do love my mission a ton, and the people, that is the reason they bug me sometimes! They know I love them haha.
Ciao!
Vi voglio UN SACCO di bene!
Sorella LeCates
In July 2010 I was called to serve an 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Italy Rome mission. I've always wanted to see Italy and I can't believe I'm lucky enough to spread the gospel there!
