Well, hello family!! Como estan?! jk. Come state?! I am sitting in an internet point right below the Santa Maria Novella train station. I love it. There are people yelling all different languages around us. Ahh, the sound of happy people in the morning, haha. This week has been s l o w... like, real slow. But, we had some pretty neat experiences this past week.

Santa Maria Novella Train Station

My companion and I were made for each other. I have been blessed with such good companions! She and I joke around allll the time. We spend most of our days ringing the citofono. We are getting REALLY good at talking to speakers. :) We look forward to getting into an apartment building so we can at least see some faces and talk to people through the door. When it comes down to it, I don't really blame the people for not wanting to open the door or let us into the building...these are scary times. I mean, I wouldn't want some random people coming into my house either! But, we are still praying that someone opens. We have to find the elect somehow!! :) We also spend a lot of the day talking to people on the street. Like I have told you all before, we look for any excuse to start talking with someone. For example, after someone coughs or whatnot on the bus, we find ourselves asking, "Oh I heard you cough...there must be something going around. And the weather doesn't help. But did you know you can still be happy and find joy even when the weather is horrible?!" Or, when you find someone looking at your nametag, you just ask them if they have ever heard of our church before. That is probably the best one. One of my favorite places to go to talk to people is at the Cascine on Tuesday mornings. They have a HUGE market every Tuesday, and there are tons of people. So we just walk around the outside and talk to people as they leave the market. It works pretty well. And it is gorgeous. 

We are still planting seeds. And I feel like a little kid waiting for the seeds to grow. There are some elect seeds here that need a lot of nurturing. So, we will continue to be patient. I am starting to learn that in life, we will always have something to wait for. It is very rare that you get something right when you want it. Oh if I could have learned that a lot sooner in life!!! All good things take time. I have found that the waiting isn't as hard as it used to be. I used to get all frustrated when I would have to wait, but now, it doesn't phase me in the same way. I used to get so anxious thinking about the future, but as of late, I realized I need to enjoy every minute. Heavenly Father has quite the itinerary for our lives, and only He knows what comes next. Can you imagine how excited He gets when He already knows the next success that will happen, and you have NO idea?!?! If not, refer to Christmas as a kid. Remember when you used to just die with excitement waiting for your mom or dad or brother or sister to open the gift you picked out JUST for the them. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father feels somewhat the same way. He has put so many people in our path and whether they are ready or not, I bet He put them there for a purpose. This week, there was a girl that we met from China. We saw her twice on different buses, and then in the city center yesterday. We took it as a sign and went to talk to her. We'll see where it goes...but for now, we are content that God is in control. I can't think of a better tour guide. :)

Love you all. Until next week!!!

Kate

photo credit:   http://www.trivago.co.uk/florence-45864/train-station/santa-maria-novella-station-134653/picture-i5418999

Favorite Quotes - First Half of Italy

HALF WAY!!!

In the words of the scriptures... "It has become expedient" that Katie's blog no longer be a public blog so if you know someone who would like to continue to read of her mission adventures, please send an email to beushome@yahoo.com

Thank you for your love and support! It means EVERYTHING to her!

My Favorite Katie Quotes:

"Seeing people desire to change, then learning how, and then doing it is amazing. It means the world when you can see that a person is trying. I had a moment this morning when I was so overwhelmed with love for these people that I couldn't help but cry! It's funny when that happens. There is no way of describing in words the emotions that you start to feel when you think about sharing the message of the Atonement with others. And I mean really, there isn't a way of describing the Atonement in words. It is too special. Too sacred. Too wonderful. All we can do is invite others to feel it for themselves."

-Katie Beus, Oct 2012. 

A mission is definitely not easy and not always fun. But there is something super satisfying about looking back on the past months and realizing you worked HARD. You cried, you fell down, you got rained... actually poured on, you froze, you died of heat... and you saw countless miracles, nevertheless. The Lord loves us so much. And I love Him. 
-Katie Beus, Dec 2012

I feel so blessed that God wanted me here in this time and in this place to be a leader and an example to those sisters who will be coming in. I am learning so much, thanks to humbling experiences and miracles. I feel my Savior's love every day of my life here. 
–Katie Beus, Jan 2013

I've come to terms with the fact that I may not ever be THAT missionary who has all the right things to say. Maybe I'll never be able to fully express myself but I can love like crazy those with whom I interact. I can tell them that I appreciate them and ask if there is anything I can do to help. I can offer prayers in lessons and ask Heavenly Father to soften the hearts of those whom we are teaching so that they can understand and be touched by our message. I can bear pure testimony that I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I am not ashamed to say I am Mormon. I am grateful for the knowledge I gain every day just by being a part of this church.

I know that there will be down days through the whole mission. We will all feel inadequate at times. But, that is what the Atonement is for. I know that we are not alone in this long road of developing our talents and strengths.

–Katie Beus, Feb 2013

I Can Be A Good "Stander"

Growing and maturing in every way

Okay, so my thoughts have been all over the place. The other day, we were in a lesson, and my companion and the member were talking back and forth for 20 minutes or so, but I couldn't participate in the conversation because I've never been to the south of Italy and what not, and I caught myself losing the spirit. Instead of letting my emotions get the best of me, the clear thought came into my mind to "Just be a stander, Katie (Sorella Beus...)." **

When I decided to come on the mission, I imagined that there would be those people I would meet, and I would think, “Woah, I came all the way to Italy to be in THIS room, in THIS moment, with THIS person...” but yeah, hasn't happened. Then, during the lesson I was describing earlier, I had the comforting reassurance that I was called to be Sorella Santoro's companion to just support her. I don't need to blow people's socks off with the wonderful sentences I can say in Italian, but simply, maybe I can just be someone else in the room who has the spirit and can testify of the truth. I don't know how well I am explaining myself. I guess all I can say is that I've come to terms with the fact that I may not ever be THAT missionary who has all the right things to say. Maybe I'll never be able to fully express myself. But I am a really good “stander.” I can love like crazy those with whom I interact. I can tell them that I appreciate them and ask if there is anything I can do to help. I can offer prayers in lessons and ask Heavenly Father to soften the hearts of those whom we are teaching so that they can understand and be touched by our message. I can bear pure testimony that I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I am not ashamed to say I am Mormon. I am grateful for the knowledge I gain every day just by being a part of this church.

I know that there will be down days through the whole mission. We will all feel inadequate at times. But, that is what the Atonement is for. I know that we are not alone in this long road of developing our talents and strengths. This week, find some weakness you have and let the Savior direct you on that road of making that weakness a strength. It is possible. I promise. :) Let me know how it goes.

LOVE you all... so much.

Sorella Katie Beus

** She is referring to the last line of John Milton's Sonnet 16 he wrote upon becoming blind, "They also serve who only stand and wait." That phrase reminds me of temple workers who stand faithfully at their posts and of my beautiful Grandma Rich who was bedridden for many years, who couldn't stand at all, but never complained or lost her sweet testimony. The phrase "God doth not need either man's work or his own gifts: who best bear his mild  yoke, they serve him best." also reminds me to bear, with patience, the trials I have been assigned so that I too, may serve Him best.")  Full text of the poem below) 

Sonnet 16 - By John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide

Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide,

"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts: who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait."

http://litmed.med.nyu.edu/Annotation?action=view&annid=1129

Although blind, John Milton went on to write the epic poem, “Paradise Lost”

On Cloud 9

First of all, thank you for the wonderful update. I laughed so hard when reading about the Florida happenings. I am obsessed with our family. It seems like so long ago that I was there with you all.

 

I am beyond grateful for emails I get on Wednesday. I have the best grandparents, parents and sisters in the world! It always gives me an extra boost of the spirit. :) :) :) I am on Cloud 9.

 "I love this. It makes me so happy! I love being YOUR missionary!!"
-- Katie, when seeing this picture of Kim's Luggage Tag

Happy Anniversary!

On Valentine's Day, it will have been ONE YEAR since my call to the Italy Milan Mission was assigned. Crazy, right?! So much has changed in that one year! And boy, am I happy for that change. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

This week, I got a new companion. She is Sorella Santoro from Bari, Italy and outstanding! We have way too much fun together. The members adore her, the investigators adore her, and all is well on the Firenze front! 

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/blood_oranges/

Dear Dad,

I just got done eating a “blood” orange. It's an orange that looks totally normal on the outside, but when you peel it apart, the pieces are “blood” red color mixed with orange. It's actually really pretty! And yummy. And I think of you and your love for oranges every time I eat one. :) Dad, you're going to love it here. I can't wait to be here with you and mom!

Sorella Eaton and I just had a conversation about seasoned salt, which I hope you still use. We realized that the U.S. is really good at a lot of things. For example, season salt is one of the best inventions ever, but I don't even remember what it tastes like because it (or anything like it) doesn't exist in supermarkets here.

Also, the U.S. is good at making scotch tape and other tape that rips. Here the tape just doesn't rip and it is funny to us! They are really advanced but are just behind in some small things. My love and appreciation for the U.S.A. grows (& has grown) quite a bit the longer I'm here. I am proud to be an American. :)

I just read a talk that Sheri Dew gave at a BYU Devotional in 2003-ish.. changed my life. She says that to access the power of God, we need to have unwavering faith. If you know what it is and how to develop it, feel free to let me know. I want to grow my faith on the mish before it's too late." (She really means it! Any ideas? Send them to  katherinebeus@myldsmail.net ) 

I love studying the scriptures on the mission. I'm reading the Book of Mormon in Italian and am getting different things out of it. I just finished Mosiah 18 and was touched by the faith and diligence of Alma. He put his life in danger by doing what he did-- but it was his knowledge of the truth that led him to that point. THEN, the number of those who believe increases from approx 200 to approx 500.. SO NEAT. It reminded me that we ARE planting seeds. I have worked so hard and know we've strengthened the members here. I am content and happy with life. It is hard, but I am growing. Thanks for the letters of love and encouragement. They make all the difference in my attitude and love for everything. 

Love and think about you!

[insert cheek to cheek hug here]

Love,

Sorella Kate Beus

P.S. There are AMAZING Italian products too... I do love everything about Italy :)
(Handwritten Jan 27, 2013)

Seasoned Salt photo cred:

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/lawrys-seasoned-salt/images/9828663/title/lawrys-photo

Scotch Tape photo cred:

www.shopbrodart.com/tape/3m-scotch-tape/

Staying in Florence! Excited for McKay To Come!

Anziano Tanner got to be the MTC Traffic Cop

I will be STAYING in FLORENCE!!! I am so happy. I am in love with this city! My companion will be Sorella Santoro from Bari, Italy. Woohoo! I'm going to have an Italian companion! We will probably only get one transfer together before the wave of sorelle hits next transfer...but I am grateful nevertheless. I can't wait to learn from her. I remember when I first met her at a sister missionary conference, I had the thought that I would like to serve with her some day, and Heavenly Father made it happen. He is the best. I am going to miss Sorella Eaton like crazy though! She has been such a great friend and companion. We will definitely find each other after the mission.

We are moving into a new apartment in about two weeks and can't wait. We are losing our district leader and zone leader! They are going home! Crazy. But that opens up a few new spots...maybe for an Anziano McKay Tanner?!?! (Katie's cousin:) We'll find out tomorrow!

SO ready to get to Milan!

I don't know what to share this week. I am learning more about life every day. It's such a neat opportunity. Look for letters in the mail.

Oh and btw, can you email friends and family members to thank them for their Christmas cards?! I loved receiving them! They are all so beautiful!

Love,
Kate