Piñata!

We MADE a pinata!!!!!  

We made it for our investigator's son's 6th birthday. 

He LOVED it. 

 They are THE most beautiful family. I cry every time we teach them.

I hope SO bad I don't get transferred!!!

Still loving it!

I have been in Verona for a while now! And like I say every week, it is just so easy to love. I remember you telling me that Matt Pyne said you just keep hitting your pillow, and then before you know it, you're coming home. It happens, people! Somehow, it is already Wednesday again. I feel like I just wrote!  Yet, here we are. Still tired. Still here. And still loving it.

I have had quite the week of thinking. My thoughts are everywhere. Nothing new. I have been struggling with being tired for the whole mission. It is the first thing I ask for help with when I pray in the morning! And you know what? God is helping me! We wake up at 6:20 every morning to go running to Castel Vecchio. SO worth it. My companion and I are constantly on the run, and somehow, we aren't dead yet. 

The other day, we called an investigator who said he could only see us RIGHT then. We said, OKAY...but we were still 35 minutes away by bike. Well, we didn't want to miss it because it was our first appointment with him and his wife. So, I said, "We'll be there in 20 minutes!" We hopped on our bikes and raced off. It was SOOOOO hot, and the ride was ALL uphill, and we had NO idea where his house was. But, we had faith. :) We arrived less than 20 minutes later. Sweaty, but happy. THAT is a miracle.

I am learning so much from all the younger sorelle in the mission. They have such sweet stories as to how they got here. They all say that the announcement was made "just for them." SO cute. And here they are. 19 yrs old. Away from home for the first time. And willing to give their all to the Lord. I love the assignment we have. I love getting to serve with 20 other sisters!!

I have been praying a lot for charity. It seems like one of the things that I really NEEEED to develop. It is the only thing that helps you love someone that doesn't love you back. Having charity is being like Christ. Now, if it were easy to develop, we would all be perfect by now. Why, oh why, does progression require so much work?? Haha. I love learning. 

LOVE YOU.

Love,

Kate

It's So Beautiful Here!

This week her Uncle Stan passed away. Sad times but she had just received a letter of encouragement from him telling her how important the work is and that he loved her. How sweet is that! Great man...

Povia = best panzerotti EVER.

The tomb is Juliet's tomb. And there is also a pic at her balcony. Other pics are from when two members from Como came to Verona and we got to see them and spend time with them.

Others are at the Arena. SO pretty here!!

It is what it is....

We had a challenging week, and at the same time, super rewarding. Time flies. There isn't enough time to work how I want to work, to love how I want to love, and to learn how I want to learn. But, if the Lord gives you 18 months, it is because He knows it is enough.

I have been so grateful lately. I am grateful for the little things that happen that make life worth it. Like, when you are riding on a train and look out and see a beautiful sunset over green fields. Silence. Texts and calls from investigators. Hearing Italians trying to pronounce your last name. Getting to church barely on time, and covered in sweat. Fans. Accents. Mission family. Words of encouragement from loved ones. Pictures that bring back memories. And other stuff like that.

Our hearts were broken, and then fixed this week. We had a little scare when it comes to one of our families we are teaching. I can't go into detail, but I can tell you that the overwhelming love that you develop for these people can give you energy and strength beyond your own capacity, and unfortunately can sometimes hurt you. Who knew. I've had my fair share of heart breaks during the mission...and it doesn't get any easier. But, we did feel the healing and comforting powers of the Atonement. Which feeling is the sweetest feeling that an earthly human being can feel.

I love this.

That's it.

Love, Your Kate