Well I guess it's been another week! And this week has just flown by so fast! Today is my two month mark. That means I've completed 1/9 of my mission and only have 16 months to go.
This week has been quite the adventure. We have had to run a lot of errands and had a lot of curve balls thrown at us. We went and got x-rays this week. And I knew before this appointment that I didn't speak Italian, but after that appointment- I REALLY knew I didn't speak Italian. It was just some x-rays for my feet, but I couldn't have my companion with me for it. And I did not understand what the lady wanted me to do. It was so bad, and quite the humbling experience. Haha but I learned a lot of new words from it, and now I have some pretty sweet x-rays of my feet. So that was pretty exciting.
So every Tuesday and Thursday we teach an English Course. And it's become the tradition to get some food with the Anziani after. Tuesday has become pizza night since a pizzeria near us has any pizza for 5€ take out. Pizza is different here. It's much thinner and every person makes their own pizza. It's totally acceptable to eat a whole pizza by yourself in one sitting. It's both magical and terrifying. But I got my first "pepperoni" pizza here. Except it's called diavolo and is super spicy. But we enjoyed it. And then Thursday night's we get zeppole. Those are basically chocolate-filled, fish-shaped churros. And they are literally the most amazing dolce that I have ever had. I have included a picture below. But I guess it's a long standing tradition to get zeppole, because the lady sees us walk in and already knows exactly what we want haha.
The ward here is wonderful and again they have put me to work in music. There is one sister in the ward who learned to play piano so that she could play the hymns. But she texted me Friday night to ask me to fill in for her. So I practiced those hymns and a song for the primary program. No big deal. Except they wanted me to play the primary song for the children to sing in Italian and then they wanted me and Sorella Harmon to sing the whole thing in English. I felt a little odd singing and playing the piano during sacrament meeting, but it was okay. Haha and then I had to play in Relief Society and next week we have another special musical number. But the ward is opening up to us. They are asking for us to assist in ministering efforts, reactivation and inviting us over. They are all so patient with my lack of language skills. They're just so strong in their faith. They may be few in numbers, but they have the biggest hearts.
Sorella Harmon and I had an epiphany this week as we took the bus home. If you lift your legs slightly off the ground, it feels like you're on a roller coaster. Bumpy, sudden stops, precarious turns, and a bat in front of you that you question its capacity to keep you safe. But in all reality, it made the ride more fun. And that outlook turned long bus rides into fun rollercoaster rides.
I learned a lot valuable lessons this week. I learned that God is very aware of us. One of the people we are teaching asked about miracles and why we don't have them today and we shared with her how we DO have them. How they are all around us. In the little things. Like catching a bus you shouldn't have been able to. Or someone saying something kind to you. After that lesson, I saw God's hand in my life in all the little things. Like we were able to get our xrays in time for the doctors appointment. And both me and my companion got medication/instructions to help our feet, and then ended up taking to a sister in the ward who was having really bad knee pain. Since we had similar symptoms, we were able to give her different ideas to treat it. And when we went to meet a member of the ward, we wanted to hear her conversion story. Before that meeting I had prayed that I wouldn't need a translation. I wanted to be able to just listen to her and feel the spirit. And during that meeting, I didn't understand every word, but I understood her story and I could see a more eternal glimpse of who she was.
Every day is just so full of these little tender mercies. I am just so grateful that I get to share this gospel. That I get to give other people the knowledge.
I love you all and am grateful for your love and support.
Vi voglio bene. ❤
Well, it's been quite the crazy week. We ended up having our pday moved last week, we had mission conference with Anziano Massimo De Teo, and we had some crazy rain. It's been running from place to place, but it's been good. We have a friend we are teaching who wants to be baptized too so we're excited for that. Please keep Angela in your prayers this week!! I don't have much time to write today so I've included some photos. 
Sorella Harmon and I had an epiphany this week as we took the bus home. If you lift your legs slightly off the ground, it feels like you're on a roller coaster. Bumpy, sudden stops, precarious turns, and a bat in front of you that you question its capacity to keep you safe. But in all reality, it made the ride more fun. And that outlook turned long bus rides into fun rollercoaster rides. 
My trainer is Sorella Harmon and she is just the sweetest person out there. I love her so very much. We have so much fun together and also think similar so teaching goes super smoothly. 
