6 Months in the Mission - Rome Week 18

This week went by so fast that I can't remember a lot of the things that happened. I was mainly with Sorella Mannucci and she is Italian. She is like my other companion because my companion and her companion are sister training leaders and were in meetings together in order to prepare for zone conference. I did a lot of finding with Sorella Mannucci. I only spoke Italian with her throughout the whole week which really increased my progress in the Italian language.

I also hit my 6 month mark on the mission about 5 days ago. My companion woke up and made me chocolate chip pancakes to celebrate for my 6 months. I had not realized it was my 6 months. It was kind of weird because everyone treated it like it was my birthday 

  We have a concert this next Saturday at the visitor center by the temple and we have been inviting everyone to come. A lot of people are planning on it. 

Zone conference was pretty good. It was faster than usual because it was my mission president's last zone conference with us and when our new mission president comes in we will have another zone conference. We learned how to work with members and why members are important for missionary work. We learned how to use technology in missionary work and how it can be very effective and a blessing. 

After zone conference the Anziani (Elders- male missionaries) in my district, those who are in the island of Malta and us went to part of my area and did a gesso. 

A gesso is where we put this huge painting of the temple on the floor of the city and all of us with our companions break off into the city and invite people to the temple. So we all invited people to our concert and it was really fun to do that. 

The next day we were on exchanges so again I was with Sorella Mannucci and we went to a part of my area called Toffia! When I had my first transfer the Elders had gone there and they were really creeped out and scared because there were faces on the walls and a sign with a creepy puppet show and that they saw a whole bunch of signs pointing to the tunnel of happiness and when they followed it they saw a cave with an old doll on a chair with flowers and candles and they ran away and told us never to go. 

Knowing me I wanted to go and it is part of my area and there are people there that need the true Gospel of Jesus Christ so I took everyone there since I am the designated driver and it was daytime. We were inviting people to the concert and Sorella Mannucci and I went inside the city and it looked like old Italy which was so cool. But we went deeper and deeper and it was kind of like a dead town. Soon enough we saw the faces on the wall which I did take pictures of, and we saw the puppet sign - hahaha - I wasn't that scared I just thought it was interesting. It was such a beautiful city and a lot of people seemed interested in the concert.

 

Here in Rome it has also been so hot, I already have an ugly shoe tan line and my companion got a sunburn on her neck - hahaha. But at least we have breeze. 

This week I have been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon and in the Words of Mormon he explains that King Benjamin taught his 3 sons about the importance of the golden plates (ie. The Book of Mormon) and how it teaches to follow the Savior and to keep the commandments and it's a blessing that we have them. I really admired that because it truly only talks about Christ and His gospel and through the Book of Mormon we can get closer to God. 

I'm so grateful to have the Book of Mormon in my life and that all these prophets sacrificed so much in order to preserve and write these records.

Sorella Hyatt

Rome Week 17 - transfers

This last Thursday I had transfers. I had to drive back and forth a lot in Rome to help other missionaries get to the train station with their bags so they were able to go to their new area.


And that is where, the train station, I received my new companion. Her name is Sorella Sullivan and it is her last transfer so she will be going home soon. But she is soooo amazing. She is very obedient and she loves to work! I like that because we are going to get a lot of missionary work done together.


I have been online teaching and so far I have spoken to mainly Brazilians online and referring them to the missionaries in Brazil. Almost everyday I call some Brazilian missionaries and tell them about the person I'm referring to them. I didn't imagine that I would be using my Portugues so much while living in Italy.


I also talk to a lot of people from the United States who request either a Bible or Book of Mormon and if they want to be taught online then I'm the person they talk to and teach them but if they want their local missionaries then I have to call the missionaries in their area and transfer this person to them. So, it's pretty cool.


This week my new companion and I also got a referral from the Elders because two women want to see the visitor center and they want us to teach them and show them around so we are excited to talk to them.


I have been getting better and better in the language. The language is coming easier with my head. I'm studying the language all the time.


Sorella Hyatt🇮🇹

Rome Week 16

So, this week was very fast.


One day we went to Corese Terra another little town in our area that is close but big. Therefore, we decided to do some finding down there. The people were so nice and it was a very warm day with light wind which felt perfect. We had prayed before hand that we would just have nice people who wouldn't yell at us for being Missionaries and if they did reject the gospel of Christ then it would be in a nice way. And honestly our prayers were answered. A lot of people said they weren't interested but gave us a handshake or a smile and we went on our way. There was one house that we rang and an elderly woman peeked out from the top window and we told her we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ and we wanted to show her a video about Christ. She had shut the window and we were about to turn around but then she came downstairs and gave us a huge hug. She couldn't watch the video but she let us give her a picture about Christ and invite her to the Visitor Center for the Rome Italy Temple. Then she was so excited that she took us on a walk to her best friend's house so she could meet us too and talk about Christ. This lady was so excited and told us that whenever we came back we are welcome in her home. It was very cool!!

Then this week we started teaching online at the visitor center. So we started by making some calls to people who requested free Bibles or Book of Mormons. So far no one answered when I called. I had one call me back but I was not available at the time. And as a visitor center missionary I help people receive their Book of Mormon or Bible requests. I help them read it if they want and I answer questions regarding the church and our beliefs. It's pretty fun!!

This week was full of tour buses of people who came for the temple and to see the visitor center. At one point I taught 3 huge groups, at different times of course, about the stain glass mural. It is my favorite thing to talk about. I love getting their insights on their favorite parables and why they love them. Then I point it out for them and I also explain certain small symbolism that is in there. I love telling them what my favorite parables are as well.


There was one day that I had talked about it a total of 10 times and I wasn't even tired of it. A lot of people ask me how I know all these things and I told them that it is all in the New Testament and I study it along with the Book of Mormon. I love the visitor center so much.


Also, a funny story. So, apparently I don't look very American. I saw this lady sitting by herself in the visitor center so I decided to talk to her. I asked her where she was from and she said "United States" and I said "okay, where in the states?" And then she said "you probably don't know it" and I just looked at her waiting for a response and she finally said "Utah" and I said "I know where that is!" She looked very surprised and then said "do you know where I can find American missionaries, I saw two tall blonde ones somewhere" and I just couldn't believe what I was hearing and I was trying to think of a response then she snapped and said "there's only 2 American missionaries in here, how hard can that be?" And I said "well it's hard since there are so many American missionaries in here the way you described." And then she said "how many" and I responded with a smile "I have no idea but I am American" and I think she about had a heart attack her mouth open wide and she said "what I thought you were Italian or Hispanic" and I tried to hold in my laugh and then I went to find the most American looking missionaries. Haha, it was funny to me!

Sorella Hyatt