Bella En Italia

GUYS. Italy is finally getting it together, they have PEANUT BUTTER! For this week, in honor of 4th of July next week, one grocery store has American Week. Peanut Butter, Craisins, Mustard, Ketchup, Ranch, Thousand Island, Muffin Mix, Brownie Mix, Kettle Corn, Burgers, Chicken Strips, Ribs, Onion Rings, and Hawaiian Pizza. Also "American Pizza" loaded with random meats... Not quite normal but yano, they tried! haha I'm sure it's the same way when we call something Italian. :) Usually in all the Pizzerias though when you call something American Style you end up with a pizza with hot dogs and french fries on it... I have no idea. French fries, like the thick steak cut ones, are a huge thing here. Everyone thinks they're super American which makes them so cool. That and Coca Cola. Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, all the sodas we have they know about, but you can only get Coke and Arancciata here. It's a little like orange fanta but it's super like bitter, the oranges here are like that so it has that flavor. The people are so cute, they always are like Ohh, Americans, you guys want Coca Cola! And bring that to the table with the meal. They're so sweet! Another famous food here in Puglia, the state Taranto is in, or maybe they're even just a Taranto thing, Puccia. They're like this amazing fluffy, wide roll like a dusty hamburger bun kinda, (Also the bread they use for the Sacrament. Yes, it is the best Sacrament ever for this reason.) then hot dogs, french fries, mayo, mozzerella, and maybe some other meat.. I'm not sure, we always walk by the Puccerias but we've yet to try them. We think it's a must since it's a famous thing only here, but it's just a smidge lower on the list... Coconut gelato and pizza just somehow are a little higher on the list... :) We're still absolutely loving being together and are already worried for tranfer calls, but theyre not til the end of July, so it's okay. The night life here is still so amazing! It's so killer to have to go in at 9 when Italy really is just beginning to wake up. Pizzerias open around 8 or 9, people start coming out, music starts... The heat finally relaxes enough that people can be outside. Maybe that's the real reason that the Pizzerias don't open til later, it's way too hot to have these 600 degree ovens on during 110 heat with humidity. Who knows! Either way, it's so cool! There's a soccer field close to our house and one of our friends from the park we always walk through plays there so we were watching his game for a little bit before we went in for the night and everytime he would score he would throw his hands up and go HEELLLO! to us! Oh man, that was the funniest thing ever. Everyone in the bleachers are our new friends. Some spoke a little English and wanted to come to our course, others asking about America, most have never heard of Mormons here so we got to introduce the church too. It was so fun. Seriously, like you know at baseball games or any sports how the bleachers are always like a little family? Totally how that was and they just welcomed us right in! It was so fun. Oh darn, we're thinking we might have to go back to another soccer game... :) Maybe bring some brownies, pamphlets, it's gonna be great! President Kelly always says to find joy in the work, but I don't think that's too tough at all. Seriously, we're so blessed with so many opportunities to share the gospel and introduce the church. Few have heard of Mormons. To most, there is Catholic, and everything else. Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangalists, Mormons, all are grouped together so it's really cool to get to introduce the church. We've really been focusing this week on using all the opportunities we get to talk to people from being American girls to being teaching moments about the gospel and not just American culture. It's been so great, we're so blessed with how many people we get to talk to on the street everyday. The Italian is still super fun! At first with having so many gaps in my vocab conversations involved playing alot of charades. Now although we still use our hands alot to speak, it's much more of one of my favorite games, Catch Phrase! Now when we don't know a word we at least know alot of the surrounding words, so that we can get them to finish our sentence or know the word we're talking about. It's so great, it's like I get to play my favorite game everyday! :) It's such a beautiful language, I really love it! Oh my goodness! Okay, so something that is still a weakness of mine that Heavenly Father is teaching me to make strong: Speaking in church... Yay... No really, it was great! Bishop asked me to bear my testimony on the Book of Mormon because of the 4 month program we're doing right now, way simple, just a few minutes, no big deal, right? Yeah, I wish. So Alessandra is very... hm.. not stubborn in not coming to church, but is very firm in not coming. So I was hoping this would be her excuse to be able to save face and still be able to say I don't go to church, but
still go like I know she secretly wants to. So we went over before church to invite her. As soon as I told her I was nervous, she immediately said to herself, What can I do for you? and you saw those little wheels start spinning. I hope for that to always be my reaction when I see someone in need of something, whether they verbalize it or not. Geez, this girl. I love her so much. She is SO incredible, truly. I hope to have her heart of gold one day. She gets out her wallet and pulls out a lamenated picture of her mom and told me she always carries it with her. Her mom is always with her and watching over her, and surely would take care of me too. The most special thing to her, she just freely gave it to me. You could see how much that meant to her more than I can put into words. I was so deeply touched. She then went on to get out a piece of paper and pen and wrote 5 bullets and told me to write the 5 main points I wanted to say in Italian, and then made me stand with a chair in front of me as the podium to practice. We went through it once first when she corrected my Italian errors, and then the second time was the real deal when she only wrote my corrections. It was then time to go to church and when we went to leave with a prayer she made sure to tell Sorella Vincent to pray for me. This girl... 7 weeks ago she didn't believe there was a God, and now her testimony of prayer is incredible. My little baby is growing up! :) She asked what time the meeting was at and was going to try to come but said to call her after and tell her how it was just in case cause she wanted to be with her dad, he's been sick with a fever of 107 and also visit her mom at the cemetary. But she kept reassuring me saying don't worry, surely, I know you will do great, surely. She is so special. So as I sat on the stand, waiting to speak, wishing it was like my farewell, having Megan with me, I prayed like crazy. I prayed; to say what would help these people and bear a strong testimony, but mostly begging to have the Spirit for comfort, and confidence. I looked out and realized the ward members were all friends that I loved, looked down at Alessandra's mom, and felt this peace. I wanted to be scared and really I wanted to cry, I hate speaking, but I just felt this small peace grow inside me that just completely calmed my fears. I was able to bear one of the strongest simplest testimonies, using Italian grammar above my normal, with a smile. After the meeting, our investigator from English course I've mentioned, Sergio told me what a great job I did and how he couldn't believe how comfortable I was up there. He had no idea I had to speak that day or was nervous to, even when I told him, he didn't believe I had been nervous. Bearing my testimony this Sunday on the power and happiness that comes from reading the Book of Mormon everyday, somehow also managed to completely strengthen my testimony of prayer and all the angels we have in our lives, seen and unseen. There is so much power in the knowledge we have. We grow up with it since Primary and think it's normal, that everyone knows God is their loving Heavenly Father and wants to help them come home to Him after this Earth life, that's why He gave us prayer and the Book of Mormon and all the other gifts of the gospel. They're our tools to come home, the gifts He gave us because He loves us. I think of how excited I'm going to be to see you all when I come home, after this short mission of a year and a half; then I think how He feels the same way. We're all away from home for a short time that feels so long, but really isn't in the big scheme of things, eternity. He is so excited for each of us to come home. That giant hug we're waiting for, so is He. I can't wait to go home to Him, give Him a huge hug, and the biggest thank you I've ever said. I can't begin to name a fraction of the things He blesses us with. I love Him. Everyday, more and more, I love my Heavenly Father. I am so so grateful to everything He does, and am loving recognizing His hand in my life more and more everyday. Look for the miracles, those little things that are too perfect. They're not coincidence; they're God. I love you all, thank you for all you do. The love, the support, the examples, all you have taught me and continue to, Thank You. I love you all so so so much! I love hearing how you guys are all doing, enjoying Summer. Have a great week. :)

Vi voglio bene, ci sentiamo!!
Sorella Rost