I am in ITALY!! WOW!
Italy!! It was different than what I expected but then again, I had a warped
perception from Hollywood films. It reminds me a LOT of Turkey and Jerusalem -
more of Turkey. The people here are beautiful and dark. They have dark, olive
colored skin and beautiful dark hair and eyes. There are times I feel like I
stand out but that mostly stems from my bright colored clothes. Everyone here
wears black! This is very similar to Turkey. I just keep thinking that going to
Jerusalem was the PERFECT MTC for me to come to Italy of all places. The
oldness and beauty here is very similar in Jerusalem. What a blessing!!
So the first day that we arrived, I found out that both of my big suitcases were GONE! Well, as I learned from Sorella Stephens, I decided to laugh. It was absolutely hilarious really. So I headed to Milan with only my carry on and high spirits. We met our President and his wonderful wife at the airport - I LOVE them!!! I feel so safe and secure with them and know they just love us and care for us. After eating our first Italian pizza (which was literally the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life!) we split into Anziani and Sorelle. What did we do? We took the metro into the city and practiced contacting. Okay... contacting right after flying 24 hours was crazy!! We were so jet lagged and wearing day old clothes. Not only that but it was raining and cold and we didn't have any tights. HILARIOUS!!! We got so many weird looks by people. In fact, one girl gave me a whole body glance up and down with a look of disgust. I just laughed. After some strained training (strained to stay awake) we had dinner at a beautiful restaurant with pizza and lasagna. Some of us were literally falling into our plates because we were so tired. :) OH! Everyone missing their luggage (there were about 12 of us) got it all back except for one suitcase. MINE. Bahahahahah! It was my big one with all my clothes. The blessing was that I got the other one back which had my scarf from Jeru and my mission call so I felt blessed. Have no fear though. I got back my other one the next morning but I was prepared to buy a whole new wardrobe in Italy. Painful, I know.
The next day, we got our assignments. I was SO nervous!! I didn't want to leave Sorella Stephens and I wasn't prepared to go and work like a real missionary! They announced where a missionary would go by having the trainer describe the location and then say the name. As soon as my trainer stood up, I knew I would be going with her. She started to explain Genova and I felt this panic go through me. What am I doing!? But then she said my name. I stood up and felt this rush of happiness, love, and excitement (very similar to when I opened my call). GENOVA!! I half ran to Sorella Gomez, my new companion and trainer, and hugged her. She told me that she loved me and just hugged me back. I definitely felt this love and a great connection with her. Sorella Wolfgramm stopped us after our picture and told us how blessed we were to work together and how great this will be. So far, she has been 100% correct. I LOVE Sorella Gomez.
After lunch and goodbyes, we headed to the train station and headed towards Genova on a 2 hour ride. The whole time, we (aka S. Gomez) talked about the gospel Our apartment is BEAUTIFUL!!! It helps that I lived in a dump before and that I now live in Italy. After depositing our things, we left immediately to go to an appointment. It's funny... I thought I knew a little bit of Italian before I left. Now I feel so shell shocked that I cannot really speak or understand. Well that is how it was the first 2 or 3 days. Now I feel like I am understanding more and more! Sorella Gomez is so kind and patient with me too. She has me teach sections of lessons but then just fills in what I miss. Or she will translate for me before or after if I get confused. Speaking another language is weird! There are moments when I don't realize it's different but then there are other moments when I feel so lost. Thankfully I had Jeru for practice. (Church was the most overwhelming so far because SO many people just talk for 3 hours only in Italian and they talk to you but you don't understand. I almost cried.)
On Friday we had several cancelled appointments and ended up doing casa e casa. After we walked down an entire apartment building, we felt we needed to go to a different one across the street. About 3 or 4 floors into this apartment building, we met a family that let us come in!! It was such a blessing!! On Monday, we came back to teach again to the mother of the family. The Spirit was so strong. We have another appointment with her tonight! It is such a blessing because this is the first casa Sorella Gomez has been able to enter in Genova. Amazing huh!? We have seen so many miracles and blessings just with the last few days. Sorella Gomez and I are really excited to work together this transfer and have a lot of faith for the success and blessings that will come to the people of Italy. We have a lot of great goals and love! I am soooo excited!
On Domenica, I was asked to stand up and bear my testimony. (actually there were 4 of who were going to talk because there were 4 new missionaries in the ward - 6 total! 2 of them are zone leaders opening a new area) At this point, I felt very overwhelmed with everything but I had just taken time to ponder our Savior during the Sacrament. So by the time I stood to speak, I felt confident and strong. I just felt so much love for the people of the ward and for the Lord. Even though I feel weak with my language abilities, I know I can do anything with the Help of the LORD (1 Nephi 17)
La Mia Collega: Sorella Gomez has been so wonderful to me! I feel very blessed to have her as my trainer and my companion for my first transfer here in Italy. One thing that has really helped me a lot are the kind words Sorella Gomez is always willing to share. She gives me boosting compliments many times throughout the day which helps me feel confident and comfortable. I feel I can do a lot with her help and with the help of the Lord.
God loves us so much! Dio ci ama! Sempre. Till Next week!
Sorella Codi Jameson :)
So the first day that we arrived, I found out that both of my big suitcases were GONE! Well, as I learned from Sorella Stephens, I decided to laugh. It was absolutely hilarious really. So I headed to Milan with only my carry on and high spirits. We met our President and his wonderful wife at the airport - I LOVE them!!! I feel so safe and secure with them and know they just love us and care for us. After eating our first Italian pizza (which was literally the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life!) we split into Anziani and Sorelle. What did we do? We took the metro into the city and practiced contacting. Okay... contacting right after flying 24 hours was crazy!! We were so jet lagged and wearing day old clothes. Not only that but it was raining and cold and we didn't have any tights. HILARIOUS!!! We got so many weird looks by people. In fact, one girl gave me a whole body glance up and down with a look of disgust. I just laughed. After some strained training (strained to stay awake) we had dinner at a beautiful restaurant with pizza and lasagna. Some of us were literally falling into our plates because we were so tired. :) OH! Everyone missing their luggage (there were about 12 of us) got it all back except for one suitcase. MINE. Bahahahahah! It was my big one with all my clothes. The blessing was that I got the other one back which had my scarf from Jeru and my mission call so I felt blessed. Have no fear though. I got back my other one the next morning but I was prepared to buy a whole new wardrobe in Italy. Painful, I know.
The next day, we got our assignments. I was SO nervous!! I didn't want to leave Sorella Stephens and I wasn't prepared to go and work like a real missionary! They announced where a missionary would go by having the trainer describe the location and then say the name. As soon as my trainer stood up, I knew I would be going with her. She started to explain Genova and I felt this panic go through me. What am I doing!? But then she said my name. I stood up and felt this rush of happiness, love, and excitement (very similar to when I opened my call). GENOVA!! I half ran to Sorella Gomez, my new companion and trainer, and hugged her. She told me that she loved me and just hugged me back. I definitely felt this love and a great connection with her. Sorella Wolfgramm stopped us after our picture and told us how blessed we were to work together and how great this will be. So far, she has been 100% correct. I LOVE Sorella Gomez.
After lunch and goodbyes, we headed to the train station and headed towards Genova on a 2 hour ride. The whole time, we (aka S. Gomez) talked about the gospel Our apartment is BEAUTIFUL!!! It helps that I lived in a dump before and that I now live in Italy. After depositing our things, we left immediately to go to an appointment. It's funny... I thought I knew a little bit of Italian before I left. Now I feel so shell shocked that I cannot really speak or understand. Well that is how it was the first 2 or 3 days. Now I feel like I am understanding more and more! Sorella Gomez is so kind and patient with me too. She has me teach sections of lessons but then just fills in what I miss. Or she will translate for me before or after if I get confused. Speaking another language is weird! There are moments when I don't realize it's different but then there are other moments when I feel so lost. Thankfully I had Jeru for practice. (Church was the most overwhelming so far because SO many people just talk for 3 hours only in Italian and they talk to you but you don't understand. I almost cried.)
On Friday we had several cancelled appointments and ended up doing casa e casa. After we walked down an entire apartment building, we felt we needed to go to a different one across the street. About 3 or 4 floors into this apartment building, we met a family that let us come in!! It was such a blessing!! On Monday, we came back to teach again to the mother of the family. The Spirit was so strong. We have another appointment with her tonight! It is such a blessing because this is the first casa Sorella Gomez has been able to enter in Genova. Amazing huh!? We have seen so many miracles and blessings just with the last few days. Sorella Gomez and I are really excited to work together this transfer and have a lot of faith for the success and blessings that will come to the people of Italy. We have a lot of great goals and love! I am soooo excited!
On Domenica, I was asked to stand up and bear my testimony. (actually there were 4 of who were going to talk because there were 4 new missionaries in the ward - 6 total! 2 of them are zone leaders opening a new area) At this point, I felt very overwhelmed with everything but I had just taken time to ponder our Savior during the Sacrament. So by the time I stood to speak, I felt confident and strong. I just felt so much love for the people of the ward and for the Lord. Even though I feel weak with my language abilities, I know I can do anything with the Help of the LORD (1 Nephi 17)
La Mia Collega: Sorella Gomez has been so wonderful to me! I feel very blessed to have her as my trainer and my companion for my first transfer here in Italy. One thing that has really helped me a lot are the kind words Sorella Gomez is always willing to share. She gives me boosting compliments many times throughout the day which helps me feel confident and comfortable. I feel I can do a lot with her help and with the help of the Lord.
God loves us so much! Dio ci ama! Sempre. Till Next week!
Sorella Codi Jameson :)
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