I Need Thee Every Hour

I have been so happy and overwhelmed with gratitude this week. I can't BELIEVE that Joe has now been through the temple. I am so excited for him. This week, I couldn't stop imagining being in the temple with all of my loved ones. Every one of them. It gives me chills and usually brings tears to my eyes.

I wrote you about my experience with the anti-mormon info in the letter I sent home. But, I wanted to just touch on the fact that the temple is what keeps me constant in the church and pressing forward in faith. I can't imagine going back after having "tasted" of the love and peace that the temple holds. I can't imagine being so close, and not being able to enter. I never thought going through the temple with absolutely eveyone in the family would ever be possible. Not because I didn't believe in our fam, but because it just seems too good to be true. And here we are, preparing to be together, in eternity while still on earth. I am so grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal families, and the motivation it gives us to keep trying. I realize now that I need the temple, and I need my family. I can't do without. 

As I've reflected on my experience in Italy, I've come to realize how different everyone's needs are. Needs are a funny thing. We are always changing, and so our needs change as well. I remember Westley walking around saying, "I need 20 dollars!" So precious, and so innocent. I watch the little kids in church ask their parents to do things for them that they can't do for themselves, like tying shoes, wiping their hands clean, blowing their noses, etc. Then, I watch the other adult members. Their needs in church aren't to have their shoes tied, but to feel the spirit, have their testimonies strengthened, their hearts converted. Then, you look around at everyone on the street, on the bus, in the tram, and realize that their needs differ even more! They need to know that they are a daughter or son of God. They need to feel loved. Maybe, they need a smile. You never know. I m going to miss being a missionary, where we spend a good majority of our time trying to discern the needs of others. I am so grateful for the chance I have to practice this skill. It will only come in handy for the future...I hope. :)

I need the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I need my family. More than anything, I need my Savior. The hymn, "I need thee every hour" has a whole new meaning to me now. I feel so lucky to have felt and seen His grace in action for the past year and 5+ months. And I couldn't be more grateful for the gift of these next three weeks.

By the way, I am staying here. Sorella Beutler is beng sent to FIRENZE for only three weeks. Pray for her!!! My new comp is coming from Como. She is in her seventh transfer. Pray for her too. :)

Love you!!!

Love,

Sorella Beus

Best Early Christmas Gift!

Guess who showed up at church on Sunday?!?!?!??!?!?!

MY VERONA FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was sitting in R.S. and heard some people walking down the hall, and when the door opens, I see 5 familiar faces pop in. All from my Verona days!!!!! Oh man, I was a crying mess. I was tired, sick, and emotional. I was so grateful for them. They took up 1/4 of the sacrament congregation. They probably shouldn't have come, but they did anyway. :) They brought lunch to eat afterwards, and then we took pictures. It was the best early Christmas surprise ever!!!

It was such a sweet experience. I haven't seen our investigator family since the dad got baptized. He was glowing!!! He had a nice suit on, and he kept telling me how wonderful we were to help him, and how we will forever be a part of the family. It was beautiful.

Time is Winding Down - pics of Venice

Dear Family,

Time is winding down. I am stuck when it comes to words. So here it goes.

We had a very special meeting with our ward mission leader this past Sunday. He takes such good care of the missionaries! Anyway, we are serving here with two elders who opened, and one is training the other. They have been a little bit down lately. Our WML is practically a psychiatrist and can read actions as if you were speaking. He ended up telling us missionaries how pricelss our work is. He shared with us his testimony of missionary work, and proceeded to tell us how wonderful we were. It was so beautiful to hear it from someone who we ALL admire so very much. He has such a special spirit. We are beyond lucky to know him and work with him. I hope you get to meet him someday! He comes to the states often and actually stops by Farmington! Cross your fingers. :)

Love you all! This work is true, perfect, and wonderful. 

Love,

Sorella Beus

                               

The Blessing of Another Baptism

This is my street!!! I walk up and down it several times a day!!! The bottom left picture are the people right across the street. If you look at the top picture, on the house to the right of the green arrow thing, you'll see two large patios. Our is the one to the north. Thats where I exercise in the morning! YAY!

I am so very grateful to be a missionary in Mestre. I can't express how neat it feels to be a part of so many different service projects..all at the same time. First, we get to teach the gospel and witness people perform eternal life saving ordinances. Second, we get to teach English, clean houses, talk to people about their lives. And as we all know, when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of our Heavenly Father. Service is one of the biggest aspect of missionary work. I am so grateful that you taught us to love serving! 

We did a fast on Sunday for our investigator who wants so badly to get baptized, but her living conditions don't permit it. As I was praying the night before, I felt like telling Heavenly Father that I have done a whole lot of fasts in my mission, and it would be really really nice to see results while I'm still in Mestre...   whether that was okay to ask for or not, God responded!!! As our investigator walked into church with her little girl, she looked at us and said, "I found a place to live!!! I will get baptized next week like we planned!!" She was GLOWING. She couldn't stop smiling!!! I feel SOOO very lucky to have witnessed her change of heart. There are about 3 previous sisters who have worked with her, and I have to thank them for the wonderful work they did in preparing our sweet sister get ready for baptism. This will change her life and she is so ready for that. She has lightened up in these past few weeks.

This email can't be complete without talking about Zone Conference. Elder and Sister Texiera are THE BEST!!! They have a way of teaching with so much love and passion for the gospel. And, they somehow make you feel like they are speaking directly to your heart and mind. They smile as they teach. They joke and laugh, but in such a reverent manner. I love it. They must have been some very special misson presidents. They taught us new ways to find, and work with progressing investigators. They taught us to be patient with ourselves and focus on making things better, not perfect. They talked a lot about beliefs, and the power of what a belief can do. Elder Texiera said, "If you believe in Christ, then you believe in repentance." How true that is. One thing he pointed out was that if one believes in Christ, then they will be willing to obey him. It is so sad when we talk with someone who says that they believe in Christ, but when we ask them to obey one of his comandments, like keeping the sabbath day holy, they say they don't want to. 

Elder and Sister Texiera

I am so grateful to be a member of the LDS church! I adore learning about Christ, and his life and the miracles he performed. The miracle he has done in my life will forever be a reminder of his love for me. The love I feel from my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ is so evident. I wish I could say that I never forget what it feels like, but sometimes I do. I mean, it's always there, but sometimes I just need a reminder. Through my loved ones, I have often been reminded of heaven's love, and what a blessing that is! I hope that somehow Heavenly Father will let me continue sharing His love for His children...even after the mission. I have felt it, and can't help but share it!

I can't believe it is already November. Yesterday at the conference, the younger missionaries kept reminding me that I only have 6 weeks left. If only they knew how hard it is to hear that. Just when you start getting somewhat of a hang on things, they send you home. But, who says you can't still work your little heart out for the next 6 weeks!! I am SO ready. There is so much good to do. And I feel SO blessed to have these extra days of service!!!

You are all SO loved! Hope you all have a great day!!

Love,

Your Sorella Beus

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. 

Repeat it 3 X

This week Katie wrote an encouraging letter to her twin, Kimberly, who is in her first month of Physician Assistant Master's Program so we didn't get much in the way of mission news, but I did enjoy hearing this tidbit... Katie and her companions have been making positive statements three times in a row and feel like it's making a difference. :)

Love this girl so very much! And this girl LOVES Italy! Loving her last days!

Tomorrow is a New Day!

Missionary work is kind of on hold here. But, why would there be missionaries here if there weren't people who are being prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel?? When I came in, there was a little bit of discouragement. They have been trying to work with members, but it just isn't producing the results we want and need.

SO, I thought about it. What motivates sister missionaries?? I don't know about all sisters, but I know that here in our apartment of four, chocolate is a pretty good incentive. So, I decided that in order to increase our numbers, we NEEEEED to increase our teaching pool. We found some old Nutella jars and bought some M&M's and we are putting one in the jar for every person talked to. It sounds so simple, but it works. We also wanted a way to show the members what we are doing. When they ask how our missionary work is going, we can just show them the jar. We can say this is how many people we talked to, but how many came to church??? We NEED the help of the members. But, until the time is right, we are just going to increase our own efforts. They need to know how much we care, and in order to do so, I think they need to realize how much we do because we ADORE and LOVE them. Sorella Morley, who is a wonderful cook, is going to bake cookies with all the M&M's when we are done with this transfer so that we can "give" our members all our efforts. 

I was reading a conference talk the other day from May 2012. In Italian, it's called "Avere la Visione per Poi Agire. " I think it would be "Have the Vision to Then Act"   Either way, it is SO good. It talks a lot about how Christ always saw in his disciples the potential they had. He saw exactly what they could become. He never expected them to be different than who they were. He just loved them until they saw their potential themselves. Then, they acted and became witness and friends of Christ, manifesting of His love and truth in all their actions, even to death.

This is the concept that we need to put into practice as missionaries. We LOVE these members. We LOVE our investigators....but what is it that we are willing to do for them. Until we can realize, truly, their divine potential, we won't know how to take care of them. I have felt countless times on my mission that an idea or thought didn't come from me, but from the Spirit. It came only when I was giving my heart to the Lord, and the people I am serving. We all need to have a vision of what we can accomplish and who we can BECOME. It doesn't matter where we are now. Tomorrow is always a new day. We need to start seeing ourself as Christ and HF see us. Then, and only then, can we act to get to where we can be. 

I feel SOOOO blessed to be here. I am amazed that Heavenly Father has made something out of me, as imperfect as I am. Somehow, he let's me be in Italy, in Mestre, and to give all I have. This is the most incredible experience of my life. I am SO grateful for this. 

Love you all!!!

Love,

Sorella Beus

There is work to do. A lot of it.

Mestre is a nice city. I think I am going to like it. I am still in an area where we have no investigators. The members are super busy right now and most are still on vacation. So, we are doing finding work almost alllll day every day. The rainy season has started so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the package! I am wearing the cardigan RIGHT NOW! :) :)

I am serving in a ward with 5 other missionaries, 3 sisters and 2 elders. Our chapel is under construction so we meet in a Catholic church about 10 minutes away from the LDS church. Can you sense the difficulties?? It's discouraging for the members but they are super strong and have hung in there from year to year, just holding on to any hope they have generated in the past. There are few young families in the ward, and a lot of part member families. There is work to do. A lot of it. I don't know where to start. I feel truly inadequate to be here. I don't know what I have to offer these wonderful people!!

My companion, Sister Morley, is a sweetheart from Highland, Utah. She likes to cook and take care of others. Perfect. She is going home in less than a transfer now. Crazy.

One thing I noticed about Italians this week that I really like is that when you are leaving their house, they refuse to close the door until you are out of sight. Isn't that so cute?!?! Some of my favorite memories of Italy will be seeing those cute Italian faces poking out the door until I have gotten in the elevator or gone down the second flight of stairs. They are so sentimental. I adore them and want to hug all of them at the same time.

I miss Verona. A lot.

Love you!!!!

Sister Morely likes to cook and care for others.

Farewell to Family D and Sorella Gomez

Sad farewell to Family D

Farewell to Sorella Gomez and hello new roommates!

I love my life in Verona. It was always way too good to be true. 

I have been saving some miracles to tell you all. Not because I didn't want to tell you, but because I wanted to see where they would go. 

Well, we have been teaching an Italian FAMILY for quite some time now. They are so incredible. They have broken our hearts, and made our hearts swell with joy. Basically we have felt EVERY emotion with them. Let's call them the Family D. 

Family D is the perfect family. Dad, mom, daughter, son. Well, Dad decided he was ready for BAPTISM, and Mom is ready within a few weeks along with their 9 year old daughter. This means, an eternal family is about to come into the fold. YAYAYAYAYAY! I feel beyond lucky to have witnessed the many changes of heart this family has gone through. They have had quite the time. They are surrounded by member friends. I have learned, through them, what it is like to go from believing NOTHING to believing in life after death and in an extremely loving Father in Heaven. Like Italians say, this is beautiful.

Well, Dad's baptism is in a week and a half, and Mom's is in 3 weeks!

And.....................................

I am being TRANSFERRED!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I have been transferred to MESTRE to be companions with Sorella Morley, one of the sister's I lived with while in Milano going to and from Como every day. She is great. She and I have always served close, but I never ever thought I would be her companion. She has one transfer left, so my goal is to keep her going strong until she "dies" (as missionaries say it). 

I felt heavy when I heard it. I adore Verona. I wake up loving it and go to bed dreaming about it. It is the perfect place. I feel like I always loved the mission, but coming to Verona was another world. I loved everyone from the very beginning. I saw and felt things I didn't ever expect.

But, that is how the mission is. I will miss this place with all my heart. And my lovely companion is staying here for her last transfer. Thank GOODNESS. She deserves it. I've been really excited for her. And I appreciate so much that she knows how lucky she is as well. She is humble and grateful, and I really admire her. 

I am going to miss this... :( :( Life goes on though. It has to. And God has something beautiful and challenging for me in Mestre. For those of you who don't know where Mestre is, it is right next to Venice. So, people here tell me I shouldn't complain. But like other cities where I've served, Venice isn't Verona, Bergamo isn't Como. They all have their own charm. You find something to love everywhere you go. Sometimes, you just click better in some places than others. For the first time, I haven't felt "ready" to leave a city. But I think that is part of the challenge that is going to help me grow. I love a good challenge. :) Heavenly Father knows me well.

And I will go WHEREVER the Lord wants me to go!!!!

I said that when I put my papers in and that hasn't changed. I am SOOO blessed to be here and learn from all these people and sisters (and elders)!!!!

That's it. Love you!!

Love,

Katie

Running to Castel Vecchio... love it!

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