January 11, 2012
Dear Family and Friends,
It was so fun to get all sorts of emails this week! Thank you for your updates, miracle stories, and fun news! I really am grateful that even though I'm over a year gone, you still remember me and pray for me! This week has been incredibly difficult. Incredibly. Not because it wasn't amazing and miracle filled, but we have been SOOO busy! I mean, yeah, I like to be busy. I was born busy. But this week we have seen so many people and I think they're going to have to send another copia of missionaries here. There's just so much to do!!! Omar is continuing amazingly! Pray for him to make it to church. He works from 7pm until 8am every Friday, Saturday, and Suday. It's really his only obstacle. He bore a beautiful testimony of the word of wisdom, which he began living last Saturday, and he knows the BOM is true, and he just accepted tithing, saying he can't wait to pay it! He's such a proof that God is truly preparing people to receive the Gospel in every place! We've been trying to teach, find, and do the work more closely with the principles of Preach My Gospel, and we're just seeing miracle after miracle. We've been guided to the very apartment building where we needed to be to find that one (or 2 or 3) child of God who needs the message.
Last Sunday night, we were completely worn out. We decided since 'Sunday is the best day for proselyting' that we would forget scheduling more lessons, and go proselyte. We prayed about where to go, and were both prompted to go to a specific area through another specific area. We ran into our new convert, Osagie, and while we were talking to him a bit, Alessio walked up to us and said, 'Hello sisters.' I asked if we had met before, and he said, 'Maybe a few months ago.' We hadn't, but he had been perfectly prepared to receive the message of the Gospel exactly now. He had some pretty hard struggles just a couple of weeks ago, and when we asked if he believed in God he said, 'I used to not, but now I'm starting to.' He originally wanted to come to English class, but now he is learning about the Gospel. He didn't even stay for the class. He has very little background, in religion, and even asked us, 'Are you expecting me to know about these prophets? Did Jesus Christ actually work those miracles?' It was beautiful last night to see him as he prayed for maybe the first time in his life.
Right after we met him on Sunday, we headed to the apartment building, and the very last person on the citofano let us in. Donatello had essentially been waiting for us. She said, 'I'm far away from God, and I don't know if He'll let me back.' She LOVED the message of the Restoration and really opened up to some of the words of the prophets. She also invited herself to church, and one of her sons graduated from the Conservatory here in Cuneo as a violinist. Top in his class. They're going to find a cello so we can do another musical fireside. Our branch president said he'd pay, and I'm pretty sure her son will also be able to participate. SO FUN!!!
There are so many more miracles and fun stories, but we have to run home a little early today. Before I close though, I just got a letter and baptism photo from that family we were teaching for 2 transfers. !!!!!!! I feel like I'm on cloud 1000009! We worked so hard with them, and then as I was leaving, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. But now they're on their way to eternal life!
I love you all, and I'm so excited to hear all your good news and fun stories! There are so many chapters that I'd love to recommend to you this week, but I think I'll go with Mosiah 4. I've just noticed that when we are trying our best and repenting where we fall short, the Lord really fills in the gaps and makes it work out even better than we expected. I know that the Savior Jesus Christ really was the Son of God, and that what He did for us is more than we can ever really comprehend. But it helps me every day. I'm so grateful for this chance to share this with others all day long every day!
Keep the faith, and happy 11th of January! Tomorrow marks 1 year in Italy for me, so go eat some pasta or pizza tomorrow on me. Ok, so I can't pay for it, but t least enjoy a tomato with mozzarella cheese, basil and olive oil. YUM!!!
Always,
-Sorella Willey
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Sorella Willey
Sorella Elizabeth Willey
Missione Italiana di Milano
Via Gramsci, 13/4
20090 Opera MI
ITALIA
