Miracoli (Little Miracles)

To my SKW Parents (Some Kind Of Wonderful)

I adore little miracles! Today started out with helping an investigator get her documents all figured out, then I made a make-shift pizza with what we have laying around the house, and then I read the August 2013 ensign on personal revelation. SOOOO good. I couldn't put it down!!

Anyway, a few hours later, we went to go do our internet. As we were turning onto the main street, a member called us asking us where we were. This is THE first time this member has called us. and turns out, she lives super close to us. She asked us if we could bring her a Book of Mormon that she could place. Then, I remembered that I had put one in my bag that morning because I felt that we would need it later. So, we said we would be over there within the next 5 minutes. When we arrived, she was so excited! She had us sit down and she told us about someone she had met in the hospital while her mom was getting surgery done. She said that this 31 year old boy came and found her, and they talked for a few hours about spirituality and the world, and all that jazz. She got home and fell asleep, but as she was sleeping, all she could think about was how to get this young engineer to hear about her message. She half woke up, called us, and we just happened to be right by her house. NOT a coincidence. We are going to the hospital in about an hour to go meet him for a second and then she will have a Book of Mormon to give him! 

Our members are the BEST! There are quite a few members placing copies of the Book of Mormon, and then inviting them to hear more. Missionary work is about to explode here.

I had a bunch of things I wanted to write about this week...but I don't remember them! Darn. 

I love Mestre. Sunday was the best. The spirit was so strong. The members were so excited to show us the chapel. Then, the primary did a program..which made my heart melt.  They were singing "If the Savior stood beside me." I love that song, and love it even more when children sing it. There are some pretty cute kids in the primary here. They were running off the stands to their moms, they were playing with their cute little pictures to hold up, they were giggling...and you couldn't help but love them. Kids are SO special. I can't get enough of them! (Knock on wood...or as Italians say, "tocca ferro") 

That's life. Elder Texiera from the seventy is coming next week to do Zone Conferences with us. How cool is that?!?! We're so excited!

Ci sentiamo!

Love,

Kate 

LOVE miracles!! LOVE Katie!!

I Have A Confession....

I have a confession...

I can't wait to go home!! But, not the home you are thinking of. :)

As you know, here in Mestre, we have been having our church meetings in a Catholic villa. In all the classrooms, there is a picture of a priest staring down or some kind of cross. It was getting kind of old, but, the members held out strong through it all and are now getting to go HOME!!! Home is where the spirit is. Home is where members can use whiteboards and teach a lesson. Home is where you can move the chairs around without having to worry about ruining the floor. Home is where memories are made, shared and saved. 

Our Own Chapel Restored!

I love home. I feel the excitement right along with the members. For so long, they have wanted to invite friends and relatives to activities or services, but have been so uncomfortable not being in their own chapel. I feel relieved for them. I am praying that this restored chapel will push them to start inviting!

Sorella Beutler is the tall brunette on the back row left

I am LOVING my new comp, Sorella Beutler. She is one of the sweetest people. Bless her heart, she is giving it her all. She has never been on a bike during the whole mission, and she is just hanging in there like a trooper. We've only had one accident. Thank goodness we are alive and well. She will forever be one of my role models. You would never guess that kind of things that girl goes through. She smiles though the hard times. She focuses on others. She is constantly complimenting others. She is a genuinely christlike person. I am the luckiest.

Three of my ex-companions went home last transfer. Oh how I miss them already!! I heard from two of them. I can't imagine being in their shoes. They are taking the change in stride. 

I am running out of things to write to you all. How about a scripture?? Ether 3:15-16

 15 And never have I ^ashowed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man ^bbelieved in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own ^cimage? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.

 16 Behold, this ^abody, which ye now ^bbehold, is the ^cbody of my^dspirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

I love these verses. How much more clear can you get?? Our bodies were created in the image of of God, and thus, were created in the image of our spirits. Who we are is no random surprise. It was meant to be how it is. I find so much comfort in knowing that God's plan is perfect. We taught some of our African members the Plan of Salvation yesterday. They got SO into it, and I couldn't help but get chills. They know who they are, where they came from, and where they are going. They are both converts. And the knowledge of the plan has made ALL the difference. I may not see another baptism here, but boy has my testimony been strengthened while I've been Here. I love Mestre.

Well, fam and friends, that's all. You are all so special to me!!! Thanks for letting me spend earth life with you. This isn't the end, and oh how grateful I am for that!! :) :) Hasta luego!!

Love,

Kate

Being a twin is the best thing ever....

Katie's twin Kimberly wrote:

I'm giving a talk this Sunday on prayer and then a lesson in our gospel principles class on work and responsibility... Any thoughts?

Sorella Beus responded:

From: Katherine Beus
Date: October 16, 2013 

    To: Kimberly Beus 

Oh Kimmy!! What great topics!!!! I have thought a LOT about prayer since I've been on the mission.

About prayer:

I think we forget how special prayers can be. I remember back in Firenze, I had said a prayer that was alllll over the place. At the end, I went to close in the name of Jesus Christ, and I couldn't. My mind wouldn't let me. Then, I thought about it. What would Jesus ask of Heavenly Father? I apologized to HF, and started all over with a simple prayer of gratitude and that's it. I felt like it had finally sunk in. It was then that I started studying prayer. I realized that it requires work. It needs thought. It needs the spirit more than anything. Since I have been here,  I have felt that prayer has become something SO real for me. Something that comes from the heart, and makes it to heaven. It's a chance to talk to God, just as you are. Obviously, we need to be respectful, but it's so fun to check in at the end of a good day...and even a bad one. I love prayer. :)

About work and responsibility:

I have thought a lot this too. I am kicking myself for not having practiced the marimba more in junior high and high school. I am kicking myself for not following through with a lot of the projects I started in college and after. You know what I realized?? When I like something, I finish it! I am so grateful that work and responsibilty go hand in hand. When we are responsible to someone for what we are doing, we are a lot more willing to work for it. When I don't feel like doing something, I pray to ask HF to help me change my desires. I  have experienced more than once what it feels like to not even have the will to work. In those moments, I ask HF to give me at least the desire, and then from there, the will comes, and the ability to act accompanies it. SO cool. I love work.

Kimmy, you are SUCH a good example to me. So, thank you. Anyway, hope this is okay! Love you!!!!

    Love,
    Kate

The Church Just Makes Sense

I LOVED this session of conference!!! It was SO good and so inspiring!! I found that all my concerns were addressed. And we haven't even seen the last session yet!! How lucky are we to be members of this church?!

Favorite talks:

President Henry B. Eyring: Love people for who they are.

Elder Dube: Keep looking forward. Oh, and if you want to know the kind of people we have been teaching here in Mestre, then think of Elder Dube. We teach the most spiritual, wonderful, inspired Africans. I am biased.

Pres. Monson: Ask yourself if you want to finish or not? Then persevere with faith and hope!

Other things I have learned lately:

4 Nephi 1:15  you have to let love actually dwell in your hearts. Letting it in is the first step, but helping it stay requires a lot more work. But the work pays off in the end.

Fear gets driven out when you learn to see the good in every situation. Also, being yourself and not caring what others think also gets rid of fear. My comp and I have put it into practice every day since conference and have seen tons of results, such as: talking to girls our age on the train, sharing gems of gospel knowledge with people on the tram. it works. Just be yourself, and people have a hard time not listening to you.

Lots of Italians love Americans.

Some Italians just don't.

I am going to really miss mozarella balls packaged in water.

Modern revelation gets me SO excited for the future, while also making me so grateful to live in the present.

The church just makes sense. It has always been the same and it won't ever change. How comforting is that?!

That's all

You, my family, are the best!!!

Talk to you later!

Love,

Kate

Forward With Faith - October 3, 2013

I had an interview with Pres. Dibb, and he was just so grateful for my influence here in Mestre and needs me here for the sisters and for the members. But Sorella Wightman (her first companion in the MTC and serving in Rome) and I both had dreams that we served together for our last transfer...so now I am super confused!! haha. jk. I will go wherever he needs me. I would LOVE to go to Torino. I have put in my prayers and we'll see what happens.

Dad, thank you for your reminder of Heavenly angels. I really needed it. I feel like one of my struggles as of late is just opening my little mouth. I have so much to say, and Satan wants me to think my words aren't sufficient or that they won't do any good for anyone around me. He is doing a good job. :( BUT. There is a stronger force coming from the Holy Ghost that tells me it is going to be okay. And, plus, now that you said it, I definitely feel the extra help. I wouldn't have made it this far without it. Thank you Heavenly help.

Remember in Young Women when we would sing the song that goes like so: 

Fear is like the clouds that veil the earth from the sun. 

Faith is like the morning rays that break when night is done. 

And when the fear inside me says that all my hope is gone, 

Faith in heaven lifts me up and shouts, I've just begun!

Forward With Faith, EFY 2000 Click here  to view

I can't tell you how many times I have played these words in my head this week and the last few weeks actually. I have felt fears to a whole new level since I've been in Mestre. ... So, I read Jesus the Christ to calm down. By the way, have you read that book??? SOOOOO good.  I don't have enough time to read as much as I want, but I am in Chapter 12 and can't get enough. :) After calming down, we planned for the week, and I was able to again feel the Spirit. 

Anyway, I have to keep pointing out how far I've come, and how much I've done here. Especially here in Mestre. I got the sisters to plan an activity that was held on  Monday. There were 50+ there, when usually there are 20 to 30. Miracle?? I think so. It was fun. We had a fake campfire inside. Which was inspired planning on our part because if it were outside, it would have randomly rained on us, and people don't come to activities when the weather is bad or cold. So, we had a jolly time playing campfire games after a beautiful spiritual thought on the light of Christ by one of the bishopric members. Then we ate. And oh boy, do Italians know how to prepare food to eat. I'm in heaven here. :) There were 2 non member families that came. SO neat to see them participate and have fun. The mothers of the two families come to our English class week and adore the missionaries. They know so much about the church, and now it is just a matter of when they will be willing to take the discussions!!!

It was a good week. I am almost done with the D&C and the BofM, and I learn beautiful things every day. It's nice.