A PIZZA MIRACLE!

Hello everyone!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday week! Have such a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We are super lucky here in Foggia because we are missionaries!! So amazing! Also... the American family in our ward is cooking us Thanksgiving dinner so we are super excited! I love Thanksgiving so much.

I am having a hard time remembering exactly everything that happened this week! It is all going into a blur! haha! We are still working with our investigator Jake. He loves the church, the Book of Mormon, everything! but....... this week got awkward when he started to confide in us his struggles with the Law of Chastity and all of his current relationships. Long story short he still has a while to go until he can get baptized and the Elders sometimes help us teach him because it can be so uncomfortable! My companion said that never in her mission has teaching the law of chastity been so difficult! So I guess I am getting the super uncomfortable lessons over with now and so I don't think it could get much worse! hahaha! Just pray that Jake can live the law of chastity so he can get baptized! 

This week we also started to teach a the mother of two young woman in the ward. Her name is Alessandra and she has been taught all the lessons before but has never been baptized. All her kids are baptized, she is now single, and her youngest son has been in the hospital for a month now because he can't eat! We have been making friends with her two daughters and as a result she wants to talk to us!!! Super exciting potential!! 

Ok so funny story.....

This week we were at a less-active members home for dinner. Her daughter is not a member so we are trying to teach her while reactivating her mom. They invited us over to have pizza. I thought to myself... this is a pretty safe bet... some Italian pizza made my Italians in Italy? Sounds AMAZING right?!?!?! Ok um...no HAHAHAHA!! When you go to someones house for dinner they start cooking the dinner once you get there! So they were making the pizza and meanwhile they are SMOKING the entire time! Everyone in Italy smokes but I am still getting use to the smell. While she is cooking and kneading the pizza dough I just see cigarette smoke everywhere and I am about to get sick because the smell is so strong! Then their dogs come in and literally throw up on the table where they are making the pizza! The combination of dog barf and cigarette smoke was just INSANE! I was just thinking.. how will I eat this... smoke/vomit infused pizza?! MIRACLE OF THE WEEK was that I said a prayer that I would not be able to smell anything for the rest of the appointment and I kid you not my nose stopped working! For the next hour I couldn't smell the smoke or the dogs or the pizza or anything! I was totally able to eat the food and all was well! As soon as we left the apartment and went in the elevator I could smell cigarette smoke again! Call it what you will but it was a PIZZA MIRACLE! 

Time is short and I gotta run! 

I love you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

 xoxoxoxo

Sorella Fuller

Foggia week 3

Hello Family and Friends!!

Thank you to all who have written me!! I absolutely love getting emails!!  Everyone sounds so great! 

This has been such an awesome week! It first started off when we went to "Padre Pio Land". It's actually a church 100% dedicated to the Catholic Saint Padre Pio. It is in a little mountain town called San Giovanni Rotondo. About 7 million people come to this shrine every year to pay homage to Padre Pio who died about 40 years ago. My entire district went (6 of us) and it was quite the sight to see six Mormon missionaries in the church. It is always interesting to learn about other religions. From what I know.. The Catholics  worship Padre Pio because they believe that he performed 1/3 of the Atonement. (the other 1/3 by Mary and the other by Christ). The entire inside is completely made of gold and mosaics of Padre Pio on the cross with Christ. Padre Pios actually bones/body are also on display there. There were people praying and crying to the bones/body of Padre Pio. It was very interesting. Because we do not believe in Saints and we believe that Christ performed the Atonement by himself for us.... it felt apostate and kinda creepy.  It didn't seem sacred...... just creepy. It was an interesting learning experience! 

The church of Padre Pio

So the big miracle of this week started with what did NOT seem like a miracle. 

Late on Monday night we got a phone call from our zone leaders. They continued to inform us that as a zone they set a new goal. We needed to have 10 meaningful gospel conversations--with a commitment-- EVERY DAY! I don't know what it is like for missionaries in other parts of the world but here in Italy that is very difficult. Most of the time our conversations are explaining that we are not nuns and people just want to know about America and come to our English class. So we were really stressed out about this goal. The next morning we were struggling. We were waiting for a bus and it was an hour and a half late. We were trying to talk to some people but everyone out in the morning is like 99 years old. We finally got on the bus and taught a lesson and then returned on a different bus. We got off the bus at a different place than usual but it was a miracle! Because.. as we were turning the corner a random girl (about 30 years old) stopped us. She said "sisters sisters... basta(stop)." We were like... what is going on? She introduced herself. Her name is Angela and she is a member. BUT she hasn't come to church in over a year because she lives in a town about 2 hours from the closest ward building. She doesn't have a car and the bus doesn't come on Sundays to her town. She asked if we could meet with her. We were like "OF COURSE!!" When does anyone ASK US to meet with them?! So on Saturday we took the longest bus ride up into the mountains to find Angela. (bonus of the trip... the radio on the bus played Shake it off by Taylor Swift and we had a mini dance party!) Anyways when we got there we found her and had the most amazing time. She is an opera singer, and she is living in this town because there is some prodigy teacher who lives there. She is been to the temple, and loves the gospel but she has been struggling lately because she has been alone and hasn't gone to church in over a year. 

Earlier that morning-during my morning personal study- I felt like I should study the Atonement and the comfort that is given to us because God is always with us. I read the talk "None were with Him" by Elder Holland. I had no idea why I studied that but I did. 

While we were with Angela I shared with her the message of the talk and the blessing that God is always looking out for us. It went soooo well!! I can already tell we will be great friends! Later that night before we went to bed she called us! She said 

"I just wanted to call and tell you how much I appreciated you coming today! I felt the spirit of the Holy Ghost for the first time in a while. I have been thinking about the message you shared Sorella Fuller and it was exactly what I needed to hear!" 

When she said that on the phone it was like God calling us and thanking us for our work. I felt like i actually made a little difference in the world. Our purpose as missionaries is to bring others unto Christ. Many times people think it is all about baptisms. But I know that you can bring others unto Christ IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS!! It was like a little "Its a Wonderful Life" moment! 

Time is so short, so I send mi amore to you all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about love! So xoxox to you all!

LOVE,

Sorella Karin

 This is Manfredonia where we visited the promising opera singer.

This is the Matilda, the cutest little bambina from the ward

Week 2 in Foggia. I've learned so much already!

Wow this week has been so crazy! Italy is the most amazing but strangest place in the world! I have started a little journal with just crazy experiences that would only happen in Italy! It is already getting really full! I love it! I could go on and on with the ups and downs, the miracles, and the craziness of this week but I will try to keep it short!

First off we started teaching a less active this week. Her name is Constance, she is from Africa, and speaks English. Randomly she came to church but she did not take the sacrament. We then felt prompted to give her a call and just see if she wanted to chat and see how she was doing. We set an appointment but we did not know exactly how to prepare. We thought that faith would be a good lesson and remembering that God loves her. When we were teaching her the lesson went in a totally different direction. She asked us all about repentance and we turned it into the Atonement. We were totally teaching on the spot but it was so inspired. Random scriptures would just come to me and it was exactly what she needed to hear. We talked to her for a long time and she admitted that she was some type of under the table prostitute. It was so sad. I was just torn up inside. She was so desperate. She knows she needs to repent and she was crying the entire lesson. Just the spirit hit her so hard. It was amazing to be a part of. We are going to continue working with her. If anything I learned how the Atonement really can work for everyone! It is such a miracle!

We are also teaching a man named Jake. Last week I told you all that we taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. In our lesson this week he first told us that he has only read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and he knows it is true. I invited him to be baptized and he said yes. So amazing! A total miracle! My trainer, said that was not common and to relish in the miracle! He has a baptism date on Dec 6th. BUT...... he is not married to his girlfriend! We told him this and he said that he wants to get married so that he can get baptized! So miracles will need to happen to make it work but I have faith! President Waddoups told us that when we do not set dates it is showing a lack of faith! So we prayed and December 6 seemed right. The rest of this transfer will be crazy but I am beyond excited! 

So many miracles so many blessings! 

At times things are extremely frustrating, like when we have been walking around Foggia all day and all night and no one will talk to us. Or when I am trying to talk to members in the ward and they all laugh at my Italian. It is easy to get down. But I always remember the little tender mercies! I find more joy then ever before!

Today we are going to "Padre Pio land" A golden church dedicated to Padre Pio. It shoud be interesting! I will send pics later!

I love you all! I love hearing about life in the US of A! 

xoxo 

Sorella Fuller 

I'm in ITALY!

Ciao from Italy!

Anyways, my life right now has completely changed and been turned upside down! It's awesome but so different. Where to even start......

Ok first off, our flight to Rome was probably the most fun flight I have ever been on. Our MTC group of missionaries were so close so we just had a blast the entire time. Some were determined to hand out a million Book of Mormons. I was nervous to do so and said if the opportunity came I would.  While I was in the London airport I had that opportunity. I was waiting in customs and a 17 year old girl was standing right behind me. She was Romanian and was returning home from a study abroad in America. We were chatting and long story short she was super fascinated by all of  us missionaries. We talked about prophets and she asked me "do  you have prophets?" I said…"Yes! we are the only church that has modern day prophets and apostles on Earth!" I then told her about the first modern day prophet Joseph Smith. She was interested but said, "How do you have proof?" at the exact moment I just whipped out a Book of Mormon and said, "This is the proof!" She got excited and I told her my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Then she had to leave to catch her next flight. I will probably never see that girl again. But that is ok... it is just exciting that a little piece of truth is out there in the world.

When we finally arrived in Italy the first miracle of the mission happened. NO ONE LOST ANY LUGGAGE! Seriously! Mini miracle. Anyway, when we all walked out of the airport and saw our mission president it was so exciting and extremely comforting. From the airport we drove to the LDS Temple construction in Rome. It is HUGE! The temple square is bigger than Salt Lake City's temple square. We then drove to the mission home, the Villa. It is the largest mission home in the world apparently. It was built long ago by Mossolini for his daughter. It can sleep over 40 people!  At the Villa we met Sorella Waddoups (mission president's wife) --she is such a doll and so sweet! Love her! We had a big Italian dinner, well I guess it's just 'dinner' here and then…it is such a blurr in my mind but the big news was finding out where our first area is! There is a tradition in the mission that everyone opens up a little golden envelopes with the area inside, everyone is drum rolling and it is super exciting! So......

I am in Foggia! I literally had never even heard of Foggia in my life?!!? So random! None of the AP's or anyone had a lot to say about it except there is  a great ward. I was like ok sweet! The next day we woke up super early and I took a train to Napoli and then a bus to Foggia. On the train it was super strange because the tickets were organized in a weird way. Long story short I was put in a little, Harry Potter-like train compartment/room, with an elder. He was the former AP and he was leaving the Villa to go to his last city before he finished his mission. Literally we were all alone in there. He was like this is the first time I am been alone with a girl in 2 years! It literally felt like I was on a date! So hilarious/awkward all at the same time. HAHAHA! Anyways once we arrived in Napoli I got off the train and I met my new companion! Her name is Sorella Price, she is from Springville UT, she has been here for over a year. So far so good. No complaints! She is super cute but kinda shy in some ways. For example, she doesn't like street contacting all that much but I can't speak language so we are working on using each others talents/we are forcing each other to street contact even though it is uncomfortable for us. Anyways, right before we left on our train to Foggia Sorella Bray and I ate a Napoli Pizza..... most amazing thing (I am ruined now) and then I had so say goodbye to Sorella Bray. So hard! We were just giving each other the biggest hugs! I am sure people thought we were so strange but I love that girl.

         (Arriving in Naples with Sister Bray and having our first pizza and saying goodbye)

On the bus the closer we got to Foggia the odder the scenery became. It was more rugged-ghetto. So I asked my new companion Sorella Price what Foggia was like. She continued to explain to me that it is kinda the "armpit" of the mission. "It is like the ghetto of South America with the stubbornness of Europe" great...… Ha! Bring it.

So now that I have been living here in Foggia for a week I have been trying to describe it. Yes it is a little sketch. Maybe even a lot sketch. Think of what you would think Italy would be like.... The Amalfi coast, Florence, Rome... now think of the exact opposite. That is Foggia (the entire Bari Zone is like that)--now that sounds extreme. There are definitely some really cool old buildings but most of it is really run down apartment complexes. Not exactly charming. Napoli is considered more charming than Foggia. BUT I love it here! We have one really strong investigator, we have lots of potentials, and so we have some exciting work going! Our ward building is really big and nice! In lots of areas in Italy member numbers are so small that church is held in the missionary apartments. So it is big deal we have a ward building! Also a huge tender mercy is this amazing,cute,new American family just moved into our ward. It is super random that they live in Foggia (IDK why you would choose to just live in Foggia) All the people and missionaries are shocked! They are so nice and have the cutest little girls and they speak English!!!  Last night the mom drove all the way from their home in the country to our sketch neighborhood to give me a "Welcome to Italy card" and some pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Literally the sweetest thing ever!! 

Missionary work is coming along! We taught a lesson about the restoration of the Gospel to an African man named Jake. I was able to contribute and say a little here and there, including the first vision! He speaks French so we gave him a French Book of Mormon and I was able to read him part of the introduction in French. It was awesome! He was excited to get the Book of Mormon and seemed to like what we were saying. We teach him again tomorrow so hopefully all goes well. We are going to invite him to get baptised! On Sunday I gave my testimony in Italian at church. It actually went a lot better than I thought it would! Everyone said it was great.. they might have just been nice but I am sure it went pretty well! There are two other greenies in our district here in Foggia. Anziano Anderson and Anziano Hanely. They were in my district in the MTC. So it is fun to be together again in Foggia. One of the Elders has really struggled with Italian... since day one in the MTC. He gave the  most simple testimony but it was amazing. Seriously I was so impressed! Little miracles everyday!! 

Yesterday was zone conference and we traveled to Bari. It was great to meet some other missionaries and see President Waddoups again. Last night when we got back to Foggia our district... 2 elder companionships and me and my comp... went and got pizza. We were sitting outside, just eating pizza, and some Coke light and I was just thinking, "this is the most surreal experience of my life." I am just sitting in some random/kinda sketchy Italian city eating pizza. I am the only blond for miles around and I get so many weird looks, I barely say a word of Italian/half the time I have no idea what is going on?! I guess you could say I am totally out of my comfort zone but

somehow... in the strangest way possible... being here in "freaking Foggia" it feels right. I always feel safe,and protected. I am really happy and I just tell myself every morning when I wake up and say... WHAT AN ADVENTURE! It's amazing!!! 

Amore,

Sorella Fuller

 President and Sorella Waddoups

This is called "Three Arches" in Foggia. It is the coolest thing to see in Foggia…in fact it is the only thing on the tourist guide--literally looking at the arches! HAHA!