20.4.15

Good Fruit

CIAO my friends and family!!!

Well as you may notice our investigator JOEL got BAPTIZED on Saturday!!!!! 
WHOOOOO!!! He was SO excited to be baptized! It was a process to get him here but it was amazing!! 

So let me tell you some highlights of teaching the one and only Joel! 

The first week of this last transfer (6 weeks ago) Sorella Gates and I went on a finding spree/rampage!! The mission goal is to have 10 quality gospel conversations  a day/70 a week. The first week we were together we had 90! Don't think this was just because we are these amazing missionaries.... it was because we had no one else to teach and we were in some desperate need  to have some new investigators!

So we found Joel outside of a supermercato asking for some money. Sounds a little sketch BUT he is really just an refugee living in the African camp here in Foggia. On our first meeting he told us he has no way to survive because it is really hard to find a job. On the first lesson we promised him that if he would put got first in his life he would be ok! and the next time we talked to him HE FOUND A JOB! In the lesson he told us that he found a job because of the Book of Mormon! 

also in a lesson he was telling us that he didn't think he could stop smoking! But then I felt prompted to take a pic of Christ and tell him to commit to Christ to stop smoking. (this idea came from this little book called "member missionary work" I call it the green book that you have to take with a big fat grain of salt... that i actually really do not like ...AT ALL. The author is not very humble and every time I read It i just am about to pull my hair out) SO when we were in the lesson and the thought to do the "commit to Christ to stop smoking" lesson from the green book came to my head I KNEW it was inspiration! (because there is no way I  would want to actually use that book) It was actually really powerful! and the next week Joel told us (direct quote)

"I have been smoking since 2002. And then in one day I quit" 

He was telling us how every time he wants to smoke he would pull out the picture of Christ and then the desire would totally go away! WOW!! so cool!! so moral of the story..... quitting smoking CAN actually happen AND never underestimate the power of inspiration through unexpected ways! 

Another random side benefit (actually I dont know if this is a good thing or not... probably not) is that Sorella Gates and I are having a little bit of a personality change. AKA our voices are not adjusted to "African English" So that Joel could understand us. We sound so ghetto. But it is cool. but also other missionaries think we are freaks.  It is really funny! 

This week we were with Joel, waiting for 4 hours for the stake president to come from Bari for Joel's baptism interview. We taught him a lesson and just kept waiting and waiting . We didn't know what to do because the stake president wasn't picking up his phone so we were looking around the church and found the movie "How Rare a Possession" and decided to watch it with Joel. It was hilarious because we had to "translate it for him" and make it SO basic! I was trying so hard not to crack up because of the whole situation! By the end of the movie I am pretty sure that he thinks that America still looks like it did in Joseph Smith times. hahaha! 

But sopra tutto (above all) the best part of Joel was the actual baptism!! He kept telling us that he wanted to be clean and be born again! Before his baptism he just was so excited and when he came up out of the water he just started to bawl! He was so happy! so cute! Also in his testimony in front of the ward he said (another direct quote)

"I never thought I would be here in Italy, as a member of the church, with all you white people. But God is real and I feel like a new baby right now!" Slightly awkward but sweet also! 

But it was so sweet because after the whole baptismal service he came up to me and said "congrats" I was like "Joel, congrats to you... YOU got baptized, I did nothing...its all God!" He said "no no no...thank you for helping me become a new person! I will forever be thankful!" It was so presh! That is what the mish is all about!! 

If anything this last transfer I have learned that God really does keep his promises. Our goal was to have a baptism this transfer and we told God our game plan on how we will accomplish this and we got to see the fruits of our labors!  

WOW! what a great week! also... randomly Alessandra came back to church this week after months of not coming! I have always felt like it is her time to be baptized and stop being the eternal investigator! Praying that during my 5th transfer here we can have a big break through!! We will be meeting with her tonight so we are doing a big fat DTR!! 

Love you all!! xoxoxo Vi Voglio Bene!! Sorella Fuller 

13.4.15

Transferred?



Who's ready to hear my transfer call???? Well here it is .......... (you will never guess) I am staying in Foggia for another six weeks! I promise you this is not a joke! My 5th transfer in the one and only Foggia! hahahaha! To give you some perspective.....sister missionaries missions are 12 transfers in total...so I will have spent almost HALF of my mission IN TOTAL in Foggia! I really not like thinking about it that way... hahahahahaha! When we got the transfer call the AP's called us. The transfer calls from AP's are KNOWN for being filled with jokes and pranks so the call went like this.......

AP: Sorella Fuller... what do you think is going to happen"
ME:Idk Elder Alvey..... like I am for sure out of here... maybe somewhere up in Rome..that would be sick!" 
AP: Really ok... so here you go Sorella Fuller.... you are going to..."

and he hangs up...........what???

calls back in 2 seconds

AP: You are going to........ (meanwhile my stomach is totally in knots and just so nervous/excited)...stay in Foggia.
ME: YOU ARE KIDDING.....  ELDER ALVEY WHAT TYPE OF SICK JOKE IS THIS? NO ONE DOES 5 IN THEIR BIRTH CITY.... NO ONE DOES 5 IN FOGGIA!"

Meanwhile Ast Alvey is just cracking up laughing so hard thinking this is the funniest thing!! I am just dying! The phone call was 25 minutes of us claiming he was lying! I was literally in a state of shock! I am the longest sister to stay in Foggia! I can offically be called the "Queen of Foggia" it is just insane! 


Anyway..... the call was on Saturday.. and since then I have been digesting/coming to grasps with the situation. It will be awesome! I love my comp, the members really know me, we have some good work going on right now and there are two new greenies coming into our district! So I think it will be really good for my confidence to not be the youngest missionary in the district anymore. 

It is really funny because literally..... there are random missionaries that I have never even met in the mission that know I am staying in Foggia for 5! It is totally unheard of to stay in a city for a long time.... especially your birth city... especially for sisters! There have only been two other missionaries who have served in Foggia for this long and they were both Elders. 

Anyways... real quick.... Joel was not baptized but we were just able to push his date back for this week! So there will be a baptism this week! YA! 

Sorry I do not have alot of time today because we went to a castle called Castel del monte (look it up it was really cool and beautiful! ) for p day and it was far away and we dont have a lot of time! 

CHEERS TO FOGGIA!

Vi Voglio Bene!! 
Sorella Fuller 

6.4.15

Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter!

Hello Family and Friends and Buona Pasqua!!!!! 

What a great time of the year! I have to say that I think I liked Easter better this year than Christmas! Who knew? But it was really awesome! So many crazy wonderful things.... I don't even know where to start?! 

First off for Easter we got to watch some of general conference! Always a blessing! I watched some in Italian and some in English! I was really thankful to listen in English because it is amazing to hear the apostles and the prophets ACTUAL voice. Not just some Italian voice over... what a blessing it is to have English be our first language! To hear the prophets actual voice!! We didn't get to watch all of conference...bummer...but I think we will try to make up the talks today during preparation day! 

Also on Easter, we got to have Easter lunch with an amazing family in the ward--the Dicarlos--- they seriously are the glue that holds the ward together. The American family--the Wilcoxsins-- were also there! We had a giant feast and were stuffed silly! 

Also, the day after Easter is another holiday called "Pasquetta" For Pasquetta there was a ward party at the Wilcoxsin's house and we had an American bbq! So fun! 

Ok, so I guess the most exciting thing that has happened this week happened just about an  hour ago. A couple weeks ago, Sorella Gates and I found a man named Joel on the street. He is from  Nigeria and has been our stead investigator throughout the transfer. We just had a lesson with him and guess what.... HE IS PLANNING ON GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!! Today we went over some commandments and you could tell he was really nervous about something. He was like " I can not serve god...I have a dark past" The whole time I was just thinking "oh no....maybe when he was back in Africa he was part of some rebel tribal group and was  involved in a serious crime like murder!!" but  The problem is smoking! classic. So this week if he can be clean he can be baptized!! We really hope he can continue with the committment! He is really pumped and has great faith! So it will happen!  Pray for him! 

Also.... This week will most likely be the LAST full week in Foggia. I find out on Saturday if I will get transfered... and I would say that there is a VERY high chance of me leaving! I am full of mixed emotions about this but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store. 

In this Easter season we have been using the church produced little videos percheEgliVive and Grazie a Lui for finding! The coolest things happen! Italians love them because in just 2 minutes the spirit can hit you SO STRONG!! I challenge everyone to use this media in some way...via socail media or what ever.... So simple, so beautiful, so easy!! 

also... I just want to let the world know how thankful I am for Sorella  Gates!! She is the BEST comp!! We have had THE BEST time serving together!! If I get transfered I will be so sad to leave her!! soooo ya! I just love her! So blessed!! 

Ok I love you so much|||| 

Vi Voglio Bene|!!


Sorella Fuller

30.3.15

Rollercoast



I don't know what else to say but that this week has been the ultimate roller coaster. I just want to tell everyone that this mission is HARD! Yes, once in a blue moon we get to have an amazing day in Rome and Napoli but it is not just a vacation! haha! I wouldnt say that this mission is physically challenging... we are blessed in the fact that we have heat, and hot water and showers.... but oh man.... it is mentally one of the most challenging things I have ever done. To mentally stay positive and happy after spending six hours trying to find people to teach and the catholic tradition is rooted SO DEEP in their soul, meanwhile you feel like you are spitting out a bunch of nonsense in some weird language. and then you do the same thing all. over. again. in the same small city... that you have been in forever... and then investigators dont come to lessons or church and you just think "what else could go wrong here?"  it is hard to really explain but frustration to the point of mental break down could describe it pretty well!  Sorella Gates and I were looking at photos of us when we entered the MTC 6 months ago and then looked at us now and said... " we look like we were just hit by a semi truck" I dont even want to know how beat I will look in a year! hahaha!
But then little experiences of hope are given to you as a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. This week, Sorella Gates and I went to Bari to go on an exchange with the Sister Training Leaders. Sorella Anderson and Sorella Vickers. Sorella Gates (my comp) was with Anderson and I was with Slla Vickers. I didn't really know what to expect from the scombi but it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. Sorella Vickers is the most unexpected type of person you will ever meet. She looks like a pageant queen but is an amazing missionary! Her go to finding/teaching tool is family history. She has living relatives that live in Bari and she has been waiting her whole mission to serve there and find, teach, and baptize her relatives. The first thing we did was prepare to teach thier investigator who is a 16 year old boy. Before the lesson we were waiting for him in the church and she showed me MY family tree on familysearch.org  IT WAS SO COOL! Like Facebook but with history! thank you alll my great aunts and other family members who have been doing all that work! WOW! so much has been done. Seeing the family tree before the lesson really got me in a good spirit. When we taught the lesson It was the strongest lesson I have ever been apart at. It was all about the book of mormon. We read a chapter together and were talking to him about it. I was able to share personal stories about how I KNOW the book of mormon is a true word of God. My Italian has never been stronger and it was one of the few times in the mission where I legit felt like  a literal tool in the hands of the Lord. And to top it all off.... this boy we were teaching... who used to be a total punk.... started to cry and said he now knew it was true. And he decided he wanted to be baptized!! When we got out of the lesson I told sorella vickers " I get it....this is what I wanted to feel like in a lesson for my whole mission" She was so sweet and even though I will probably never see that boy again she told me " I am so thankful that you could be a part of his conversion... he will always remember that " WOW. just wow! 

Also during the scombi we went and found/did genealogy with Slla Vickers real life family! It was absolutely so amazing to see family come together and see slla vickers have the opportunity to teach them the gospel! So cool!! I cant wait to use family history as a finding tool here in Italy! Get the italians excited about family history and it is the easiest intro into the gospel! 

on the last day of the scombi Slla Vickers asked me if  I felt ok and how I was doing. I basically told her my true feelings that I expressed above. She was like an angel! She was able to tell me exactly what I needed to hear and testify to me... that even though this mission... the italy rome mission... is one of the hardest missions in the world.... it is the most rewarding mission in the world. It breaks you down so you can understand Christ better. It makes you humble... but it makes you build your faith! As she told me all this.. she was crying... I was crying and I felt peace! 

I am not saying that now everything is perfect. Not at all... everyday has its ups and downs. But that is just LOAM.. Life Of A Missionary! Everyday I am learning how to embrace it, love it, and find joy in all moments! Those when you are at the Colosseum and those when you are walking through trash filled/muddy streets of Foggia. 

Vi Voglio Bene!
Sorella Fuller 

23.3.15

Rome for a day!


Wow!! were to even start this week?!?! Probably the most amazing week of my mission/life!!

So, this week there was a big mission conference in Rome given by Elder Tixeria (area authority) It was really great! He talked all about setting baptism dates on the first lesson with an investigator. It gave me a new perspective because what is the worse that could happen... the investigator says "no?" If they say no, then it gives you better understanding of what they need and you can quit wasting time. President Waddoups told us that in our mission we "only teach golden investigators" meaning, we only teach those who are absolutely prepared for the gospel. At first I thought that seemed a little extreme but the more I think about it, the more i understand. I cant tell you how many people you work with that it is literally like pulling teeth. So much effort... for months and months... you are scared to let them go because you are afraid you wont find anyone else to teach. But it shouldnt be that hard. Find, teach, invite, baptize! 


Anyways let me tell you all the amazing/sick details of our trip to Rome!!! 

So we (our district) left Foggia around 10 am the day before the conference. The Elders in our district are zone leaders so they have a car. So our travel plans were to all drive up--road trip-- through italy to get to rome! I have to say that it was probably the BEST road trip I have ever been on in my entire life! We were just driving through Italian country side for like 5 hours with a great group of people! One highlight was on the way there we stopped through NAPOLI for lunch! aka... THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD!! I am not exaggerating when i say that. We went to Sorbillo's and the pizza there was so good it made you want to cry. just so simple and quality! simply unbelievable!! Our district of 6 ordered 16 pizza's!  ahhh! they were just that amazing! We were all just giddy to be eating that pizza in Napoli! So unreal! 
After the pit stop in napoli we finished the drive up to rome. We went to the mission office and they told us to kill some time. So, because 5 of the 6 of us had never been to Rome we decided to quickly take the metro to the Colusseum!! MOMMAMIA!!!!!!
You get off the metro stop and BAM... it just hits you like a brick wall! So big and so amazing! Literally my breath was taken away! It was evening time and it was all lit up! the temperature was perfect and it was just such a beautiful sight! I couldnt even talk.. and tears came to my eyes! It was a total aesthetic experience! There are only a few times in my life when I have felt so overwhelmed with beauty.   I just felt so much history and beauty everywhere! We continued to walk around rome and quickly see some sights, I literally was pinching myself!! It was amazing! I would love to serve in actual rome at some point!  I kept thinking.... "what is today? This morning we were in crummy foggia (hahahhaha) then we ate pizza in Napoli and now i am in ROME!" only one way to describe it..... magical ;) 

That night we slept in the Villa. It was so funny... for some strange reason Sorella Gates and I thought we would be the only ones there. um no.... hahaha! We show up and there are like 30 missionaries outside hanging out. It was actually really fun! We just all talked that night and president was just being super fun and making jokes with us. It was a bit awkward when we came up for breakfast the next morning a little too early and saw president in his robe! awkward! hahaha! 

We went to the mission tour, learned alot and it was fun to be with lots of other missionaries. I have to say, I am pretty positive that the Rome, Italy mission has the coolest/funnest missionaries ever!! Everyone I meet is just awesome! I just keep thinking.... " I am not cool enough to be in this mission! hahahaha!" It was wonderful! That night we drove back to Foggia and back to the grind! It kinda felt like going back to school after a long weekend! But it was all good because......... our new investigator... John.... committed to BAPTISM! He is planning on being baptized on April 11th! He seems genuine and promising! He came to church again on sunday and stayed for all of it! We are super excited right now because every companionship in our  district has a set bap date for April 11th! We are all praying that everything goes as planned so the investigators can make the goal!! 

Sorella Gates and I are continuing to work hard here in foggia! We do lots of finding... i mean LOTS!!!! This last week... we had the leading numbers in the entire ZONE for quality gospel conversations! We beat out all the Elders!! WINNING!! Gates is awesome! She is such a great example to me! We are sad because we will probably only serve together for this transfer! 


From Rome with amore…
Sorella Fuller

18.3.15

Another great week in Foggia!



Well ciao my friends and family! What a week! 

Sorella Gates and I have just been tearing it up this week! Let me first just say that at the beginning of this week we had ZERO, yes ZERO, progressing investigators!! We didn't really know what to do about that but then we were given a challenge by our zone leaders.It came from a quote of Elder Ballard. Elder Ballard promised ALL missionaries in the world.. From Brazil to Rome that if they have 10 quality gospel conversations with random people everyday they will ALWAYS have people to teach! A quality gospel conversation includes a doctrine taught and an invite extended. So, Sorella Gates and I took this challenge very seriously! We went finding for HOURS this week! Just hard core hitting the streets of Foggia! Stopping everyone we could! It was so fun! By the end of the week we didn't just meet the goal of 70 conversations we hit 90!!!! and you know what ..... now we have not 1 but 2 progressing investigators!! Both people we contacted on the street! One, is a man named John.. he is African and speaks English. We were talking to him on the street in English and invited him to church. While we were talking to him, another man, Antonio heard us talking and was interested because he knows a little English. Antonio stopped us and asked to know more! Antonio is NOT Catholic (unheard of) and they BOTH came to church on Sunday! This is the first time I have had an investigator in church for a long time! It is awesome! Even though Foggia is one of the hardest areas of the mission (lowest amounts of work, and pretty darn ugly hahha) I am really thankful for it because it makes me appreciate EVERY LITTLE THING! Never take a mini miracle for granted!! 

This week we are going to ROME for a mission conference! There are three conferences and so about 1/3 of the mission will be there! Our district will be taking a 4 hour ROAD TRIP to Rome! So pumped!! We will be stopping for lunch in NAPOLI for some authentic NAPOLI PIZZA!!! SO FREAKING SICK!!!  Also we got the sleeping arrangements for mission tour and ALL of the other missionaries are staying at missionary apartments in Rome EXCEPT Sorella Gates and myself! hahaha! we are staying in the Villa (mission presidents home) So it will just be us and President and Sorella Waddoups! hahaha! We are joking that they are making us stay there so that we don't distract the other sorelle and have TOO much of a party! I will give you updates on that next week! But for now it looks like will be doing companionship study with President! 

Also, Sorella Gates and I are in training right now. When I say training I mean..... football training. Sorella Gates has this Nerf football and I admitted to her that I don't really know how to throw/catch a football! So Everyday we get up at 6 am... we run to the church... and play catch till 7 am! Now I am getting pretty good but my arm is wicked sore!! haha! By the end of my mission we will just be total football pros! Jed, dad, you would be so proud! Once we get football down we are going to do basketball free throws!! Playing catch is so fun! Seriously I look forward to it every morning! A great stress release!! hahaha! 


I hope all is wonderful back in the good ol' US of A!! I sometimes miss that beautiful, free, promised land!! BUT I will only be in ITALY for ONE MORE YEAR! (today in exactly one year i will be on a plane home.... NO!! ) Just trying to embrace everything I can! Even if I stay in Foggia per sempre! (forever) 

xoxoxoxoxo 

Vi Voglio Bene!! Sorella KFULL 

9.3.15

My Bari vacation and a NEW Foggia!

Wow!!! This has probably been the strangest week of my mission!! I had to spend an entire week in Bari while I waited for my new comp to come to Foggia. (I had to stay there because I had to stay with other sisters... bari is an hour and a half away by train... but they are closest ones) I was super strange because I was just chilling with other sisters not even in my own city and doing all there work. BUT Bari is amazing!! The ward there is UNREAL!! The coolest GONZ (YSA) and bishop and everyone is super nice! It was hilarious because everyone kept saying.... "I am so sorry that you have to serve in Foggia... Foggia is SOOOO UGLY!! hahahah" They were joking around but it was hilarious! I ate so good in Bari! WOW! We ate Panzerotti (which is like a calzone but SO much better... and Bari is known for the panzerotti world wide) like every night! AHH!! so good! Anyways... after being there for 6 days I FINALLY got to meet my new comp!!! 

SORELLA GATES!!! 

Oh wow!! I love this girl! Seriously between the two of us there is just so much energy!! We  are just laughing and telling stories and killing it all the time! Sorella Gates is awesome! She is super bold and just totally un afraid to go up to anyone and talk! I feel like I have already learned alot from her! Also she is young in the mission.... so we both are learning Italian together!  Already I feel like a different missionary! On Sunday night Sorella Gates and I decided that our district should do gesso! So our district went to the center of Foggia and brought sidewalk chalk and drew the Plan of Salvation to find people to teach. I didn't want to just stand there like an idiot... so I would just run up to all these ragazzi (teens) with a Book of Mormon in my hand and ask them…  "Do you know what this book is?" of course none of them did... so it was perfect to dive right into a quality gospel conversation. They were interested in it and we got some numbers for return appointments! Also they were DYING when I told them that I am from "new york" and I went to EAST HIGH SCHOOL!  HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!!! WHATTTTSS UPPP!! Like seriously when I told them about East all these girls started just screaming! So excited! Everyone just looked at me and was like....what the heck! HAHA! They thought I was a celebrity so they asked to take a selfie with me! I was like of course... and in the selfie I held the book of mormon up in prime positioning! hahaha!! It was awesome!! 

Also on sunday I had to SPEAK IN CHURCH!! Seriously so scary! I was super nervous to give a talk in italian but it went great! Already I feel like this transfer is pushing me to be more of an independent missionary and I love it! Its only been like 3 days!! 

I am super pumped right now about Foggia!! Talking to people used to really freak me out because of the lang  but now I dont even care! Being with Sorella Gates... because both of us are young and dont really know what we are doing we just go for it and do crazy things... if people dont understand us.... va bene... who cares...Everytime we talk our italian gets better and we get better at teaching! 

bottom line.... I am having a blast! Missionary work is sooooo fun!!!  

love you all!! Vi voglio bene!! 


Sorella Fuller 

2.3.15

Ciao and Changes!



Ciao family and friends!!

What a week! I have officially killed my trainer!! wow! That was seriously tramatic!! This week was really busy because she wanted to say goodbye to so many people and getting her packed! The entire time I had no idea if I would get transfered or stay in Foggia. So we would go around and Sorella Price would be giving these heart felt goodbyes and meanwhile everyone assumed that I would also be staying and wouldnt say goodbye to me. I just kept thinking... "what if by some random chance I have to leave... I will just disapear and no one will know" BUT I dont have to worry about that because I am staying in FOGGIA for ANOTHER transfer (six more weeks baby!!! ) I am actually really excited because my new companion is........*drumroll please*

Sorella Gabby Gates!!!! 

mini bio
She is from Alpine Utah

she is young in the mission (has only been here for one transfer more then me) I really excited about this esp because I have only been with my old trainer...and....

she is the girlfriend of another Anziano in the mish (cough cough Erik Mika... BYU basketball) 

I am serisouly sooooo excited about this next transfer!! Everyone is telling me that she is super fun, cute, crazy, and hard working! YES!!!!!!!!!Between the two of us.... SO
 MUCH ENERGY IS GOING TO TAKE OVER FOGGIA!!!!!!!! SO MANY BAPTISIMS ARE COMING! (even though we have no progressing investigators! whoooo) hahahaha! But in all honesty I feel really excited! I am terrified to be "training the city" But I know it will be really good for me. I kinda feel like I am finally stepping out of my trainers footsteps and taking my mission into my own hands. 

Along those lines.... I have been thinking a lot about it.. What type of missionary I want to be. How will I be without my trainer? What will I do the same and differently! It is a lot to think about! It is really overwhelming! But I know that if I put the Lord first and am obedient everything will work out! 

So right now Sorella Price is up in Rome at the mission home getting ready to fly home tomorrow. I am staying with other Sorelle in Bari until Sorella Gates comes here. She currently is serving in Palermo in Sicilia! So she will come meet me here in Bari (about a 10 plus hour bus ride) late thursday night and then we will go to Foggia together on Friday morning!

I can't believe a new chapter of my mission is starting! It is terrifying and exciting all at the same time!!

Ok here is the miracle of the week.....

So you might remember our investigator "Alessandra" The mother of two member girls who has been taking the lessons forever and wants to get  baptized. She was ready to have a date but then she got a job that she has to work all the time! Including sundays! Really sad day when we found out about this job! BUT... we were finally able to see her (while we were on a train) and she told us she lost her job and she can see us again!! WHOOO! I really do feel bad becasue work is so precious but we are all excited about her spiritual progression!! 


Also I got the recipe for the lasagna from the lady in our ward!! That will be really fun to make when I come home in a year!! ( This transfer i hit my six month mark!!! and im not even close to being fluent!!! come on gift of tongues! work! hahahah) 

speaking of the lang.... I am really excited for this next transfer in terms of pushing more to communicate! I have to take charge so I really hope and pray it will help my italian!! I have been praying everyday, multiple times a day, (for the last transfer) that this upcoming transfer will really help my italian grow! I really want it to so I can be my whole self in English and Italian!! 

also this transfer we get to go to Rome for a Mission Tour..  an area authority is coming to speak to us and training us to use the iPads! There are two conferences, one in Rome and one in Sicilia! Exciting stuff!! 

The rest of my district is staying the same... we have a new Elder in our district... his name is Jake Flynn (he is also from Holliday UT, went to olympus HS) We have good chats about Utah stuff like skiing and Lone Star fish tacos! hahaha

Well.... here we go!!!! Diving in head first into a new transfer!!! CRAZY!!!!! 


Ti Voglio Bene!!!!!

Sorella Karin Fuller 

26.2.15

Transfers and Soup kitchens...



Well another transfer is coming to a close and it feels really strange. Especially because my companion, Sorella Price is finishing her mission! It is really odd because she is starting to pack up all her stuff and say her goodbyes. She is making all her travel plans and wrapping up this huge chapter in her life. Because she is doing her final preparations to go home it sometimes feels like I am about to go home too! But then I quickly remember that I still have 13 more months in the mission!! But I am really excited for everything the next year has to offer! On Saturday I will find out who my new companion is and if I will go to a new city. (But I highly doubt it!)

Cool news!!!! 
We just got an email from President Waddoups saying that this April, Elder Bednar is coming to Rome to introduce ipads to our mission!!!!!! AND ALL the missionaries are traveling to Rome to meet him and be trained for ipads!! THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!!! 

also, work is starting again on the Rome Temple! 

Some not so cool news....
For the time being missionaries are not allowed to visit major Christian/Jewish tourist attractions (aka the Vatican) because of ISIS. (the funny thing is that we dont even watch the news so we really don't know what is going on in the world) Good thing I am not serving in Rome right now! 

As for information about Foggia work is coming but VERY SLOWLY! We finally were able to see Alessandra again. We only saw her for a second but it is really sad. Her daughters were telling us that ever since she got the job their home and family life has gone down the drain. This dang job is the bain of my existence!! Satan really knows how to destroy a family, through something that seems like a blessing! 

Also, we have been volunteering at a type of 'soup kitchen' called Caritas. It is part of a Catholic church so we are not allowed to proselyte there but it is a really great experience!! First off, let me just say.... at Caritas they make DANG GOOD food!! Fresh pasta, roasted potatoes, this good egg dish, and fresh fruit! I was always under the impression that soup kitchens were literally soup from a can! um...NO! We help cook all the food with all these old people and catholic youth! It is great! They always end up asking who we are and why we are here. Which leads to a gospel convo anyway!! So it is cool! Funny thing... we met this Catholic Priest (he was in the whole long dress get up) and he asked to come to church! We were like... YES! He didn't come (yet) but how awesome would that be!  

Well next week I will be living in Bari with the Bari sisters for a week while Sorella Price goes to Rome to 'die.' I am excited because we might get a pretty sick p day!!!! WHOOO!! 

Love you all and have a great week!!!!!!!! 

Sorella Karin

9.2.15

Lasagna and lessons learned...

Ciao outside world!

What a week! 

First off.... Tuesday was probably the craziest day ever. We had 6 appointments! We left the house at 10 and didn't come home until 9:30 that night! It was insane! We taught a lot of lessons, visited less actives, taught English classes, and ate amazing food! One old lady in our ward made us lunch and it was the most interesting Italian food I have ever had. Think of "granola/whole foods" version of Italian food. She made this veggie lasagna and tortellini and tons of pickled veggies. It was strange but still really good! (notice that there are not one but two pastas always served) To end the day we taught English course! Sorella Price and I teach the advanced class. There are typically only 10 people in our class. While there are about 30 in basic and 25 in intermediate. However, lots of the people in basic have started to come to our class. We have no idea why because they probably do not understand anything but they enjoy their time! It is awesome! 

On Wednesday we had another lunch appointment at an old Italian ladies house. We ate probably the BEST lasagna I have ever had in my entire life and probably will ever have in my entire life! Seriously... it was so simple .... but so perfect! The proportions of pasta, to sauce, to meat, to cheese was LIGHTS OUT GOOD! This lasagna is mission famous! Every missionary knows about "sorella Rizzi's lasagna." Seriously, I am pretty sure that this will be served in the Regno di Celeste!!  It is always comforting that even when work is really hard or slow there is AMAZING food to make things better! Ha! Also on Wednesday our good friend Paul left Foggia forever! It was really sad! He is an African man who is the coolest guy you will ever meet! He has totally dedicated his life to the gospel and loves working with us missionaries! I feel bad for him because he has no material possessions and doesnt speak a lot of Italian. But that doesn't stop him from being awesome! He totally interacts with the ward members, and he finds the best clothes in the dumpsters.. HE HAS SICK SWAG! Seriously, if he was in NYC he would totally be photographed for a top fashion blog! I told him that but he said that all he wants is to have an "I'm a Mormon" video! We love Paul! But he left Foggia... It was really sad! We all miss him! It really hit us when he wasn't at church on Sunday! The good thing is that I know he is doing good things elsewhere! Always reppin the church! What a great example! 

Also this week was ZONE CONFERENCE! Its always really fun to go to Bari for Zone conference! It's great to see other missionaries and President and Sorella Waddoups! We learned all about EXPECT MIRACLES! Seriously a great thing to remember. Times can get super stressful and discouraging! I have to remind myself to calm down. But it is so hard when salvation is on the line! 

Speaking of which, I wanted to say some things about agency. Agency is a gift from God. The ability to choose. We have choices every day. We can be happy or sad, we can choose to live the commandments, follow commitments, or not. It is so amazing to have the freedom to do what we want. What a blessing. However, when we are working/talking with people about the gospel agency can be the most frustrating thing! Even when you know people are ready to hear the gospel, to take the lessons, to come to church, many times they use their agency and don't do what is best for them. It is beyond frustrating! I often think... "us as missionaries have the knowledge for what will make you beyond happy and you are just shutting us down! Why?" It can be very discouraging! however, it also gives  me a new perspective... how does our Heavenly Father feel when we don't obey his commandments, or keep commitments, or not pray (answer the phone). He has so much to offer all of us... just like how us as missionaries have so much to offer others... but we all choose to ignore the potential blessings! This week I want to be better at using my agency in the best possible way! Always choose light over dark... enjoy the blessings that God has waiting for all of us! I challenge you all to do the same! 

I love you lots! I feel your prayers and I am so thankful!! 

living the (foggia) dream! hahahahha!!  
xo sorella fuller

2.2.15

Ciao Tutti!



Ciao TUTTI!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!! This week has been really crazy but also really good! Here are some thoughts that have been circling in my mind recently....


First thing.... missionaries are REAL PEOPLE! This may seem obvious but it is true. How crazy is it that there are 88,000 kids from ages 18-about 25 all around the world just preaching the Gospel... teaching others about baptism and how to have eternal life?! It is a huge job to do! So why on earth would the Lord send teenagers to foreign countries, different states, places totally out of their comfort zone, to do such important work? Why wouldn't he just send experienced adults or better yet missionary "robots" to get the job done! I will tell you why..... because the Lord wants US! He especially calls every single missionary to a place... not because he needs a spot filled, but because he knows us perfectly. He knows our personality, our strengths, our weaknesses and where we best fit! With that in mind..we as missionaries HAVE TO use our talents AND our personalities to fulfill our role as a missionary! There is no "perfect" missionary. There is no "mold" for a missionary. You just have to be the best "YOU" you can be! Use your talents and the Lord will use you as a tool! 

This last week President Waddoups emailed me about using my talents to the fullest this transfer. I was thinking to myself.... "Well I have no idea what my talents are... I can't sing "Savior Redeemer of My Soul", I can't play some intense version of the EFY medley on the piano,  I am not fluent in Italian yet, what do I do?" Then I realized that one thing I can do is interact with our English course students! So we have taken English course to an entire new level! Instead of doing a 5 minute spiritual thought at the end of class we do a 15 minute thought. During the "English" lesson we always relate it to the gospel. We lay it on really thick! BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN DOING IT!  For example, last week we talked about family home evening! They totally got a kick out of it...especially when I taught them the BINGO song... the same song we have been singing for FHE for the last 19 years of my life! (literally HAHAHA) They also really liked the importance we put on family! Which lead into a deep conversation about family! It was so awesome! For the last 15 minutes we taught them "what makes our families happy" --- the gospel! We were both super energetic and everyone had a good time! Also they keep coming back to class! So this is just so awesome!! 

Also this week has been really hard! Of course... every week is! It is REALLY EASY to get discouraged! Every day is a total trial of patience! 

 So for fast Sunday Sorella Price and I decided to fast for three things..
1) Alessandra,(our investigator/mother) would answer our phone calls! We haven't been able to talk or see her in weeks! 
2) When we saw our new investigator Flavia that she read the Book of Mormon
3) we could have one of our English course students (potentials) became a new investigator

let me tell you... FASTING WORKS! IT IS REAL AND IS LITERALLY MAGIC!! 

When we saw Flavia she told us that she had read lots of 1st Nephi and really liked it! Also she said she will come with us to church next week! 

Last night Alessandra picked up her phone!! It was actually kinda funny because my comp made me call her. I guess it didn't really register that she would pick up because my Italian got all mixed up probably because I was in so much shock that she answered. But, we were able to communicate and she is going to call us back today! 

As far as our English course... we have class tomorrow.. so no current update but I am sure it will go great!! 

Ok so a funny thing that happened this week was that we watched part of the Testaments movie with Costance and she just ATE IT UP! The whole romance between the Nephites she thought was SO GOOD! We were laughing so hard because it is so CHEESY but she just kept saying it was BEAUTIFUL! HAHAHAHA! Gotta love her! 

Ok I love you all! xoxoxoxo
Sorella Fuller 

1.2.15

Pictures!


 This is at a little girl in the wards birthday party! It was only her family, and the sister missionaries! This family is on an entire different level of being mormon! They are SO RIGHTOUS!! for example.. they only watch movies and listen to music that is church produced! WOW! They live in the most humble appartment! We were honored to come to party! (notice that we are taking a classic italian/catholic picture standing behind a giant birthday cake) 
                                       I don't know how to rotate a picture yet! I apologize!

Ups and Downs

                 

We had a disappointing news this week. Last week I emailed you all about our wonderful investigator, Alessandra. We taught the most wonderful lesson to her, been praying and fasting for her and probably the worst thing happened. SHE GOT A JOB! 
Now that probably doesn't even sound that bad, but it is! She has to work every day, including Sunday, from 6 am to 8 pm. So basically she can't take the lessons any more and she can't come to church. It is such a tough situation because people in Italy NEED jobs. The economy is absolutely terrible and no one has jobs. Alessandra is a single mother with three children and needs the income. When we found out that we couldn't meet with her, Sorella Price and I just cried. We were distraught and depressed. Never in my life have I been so sad. It was like one day a miracle happens and another day the devil just destroys everything. What is even worse is that she wants to believe, but she simply doesn't have the time to. When we visit her house now, the only people there are her kids and her Polish mother (who only speaks polish) The Spirit is not in the home like how it was before. It is depressing. It is so hard to have your work be so exciting and wonderful and then literally 48 hours later take a total nose dive! We just keep praying and hoping and expecting a miracle to happen. It is just so hard! 

On another note, transfer calls were this week. I will be staying in Foggia AND so will my trainer.I must say that this is VERY unexpected. We were both a little disappointed. She wanted to finish her mission in a new city, and I wanted to have a new comp that is a little "younger" in the mission or a native Italian so that I could grow more in the language. It can sometimes feel like you are just waiting for your mission to start when you are with your trainer. You just feel like you are in your trainers shadow.  So I guess you could say that we were both surprised. I was pretty upset but President Waddoups emailed me today and told me that he knows and is inspired that Sorella Price and I need to be together.  That makes me feel better! I just have faith that this next transfer will be awesome! 

On another note!!!!


We had a great English lesson/gospel lesson/lunch with a street contact! The Elders gave us a referral they found on the street. Her name is Nadia. She told them she was interested in English lessons but had no desire to learn about the gospel at all! She is a devout catholic (classic). We called her and set an appointment with her and she wanted us to meet her at a gas station. Random. As we were waiting for her we just thought... this is so strange... we are meeting a stranger at a gas station. Once she got there it was a little awkward but then she invited us to her house to teach the English lesson. We ended up not even teaching English... the conversation quickly turned into a gospel conversation. Apparently she remembers a Sister missionary from 20 years ago who rang her apartment. They only talked on the intercom but this sister made a lasting impression on Nadia for being so nice! We then segwayed the conversation into teaching her the first lesson about the restoration of the Church. She enjoyed it! Then her family all came home! Her parents, sister, and friend! They loved us and invited us to eat pranzo (lunch) with them! It was delicious! We ended up staying with them for 5 hours! How awesome is that !!! The only reason why we left is because we told them we had to leave! They told us they can't wait to have us return! When we told the Elders about the success of the contact they were in shock! They told us that she really had NO interest when they talked to her! Now she is! MIRACLE! 

the last two p-days we been really exciting! Last week we went to Polignano-- a coastal town just outside of Bari! So picturesque! Today we went to Gargano-- another coastal area--- in the "spur" of the "boot" of Italy! I am exhausted! wow! 
Ok I love you all! xoxox

Sorella Fuller 

13.1.15

Alessandra...

Ciao Tutti!!
This week has been a total roller coaster! For the last three weeks the work in Foggia has been really slow! Since the holidays it has been kinda rough and can be extremely frustrating! There are times when we will be walking around all day trying to contact and find people and no one will want to talk to us. Or the only people we see are between the ages 99 and 120 or they are gypsies! Also none of our investigators, less actives, or potentials were taking any of our calls! So to say the least.. frustration was very high! However this week some exciting things started to happen...
As you might recall we have been spending time with two teenage girls,(they are new converts of about a year) they were kinda struggling and so we felt like we should just spend some time being their friend! We go to there house a lot and just talk, and spend time with them and their mom and little brother. Their mom, Alessandra is a single mom and is not baptized! She has taken the discussions with her daughters by the Elders in the past but once the girls got baptized they stopped meeting with her! She hasn't been totally open to the church. This last week My companion and I were reading in Alma 32 together and we both had the strongest feeling that NOW was the time for Alessandra! She was ready for baptism! We knew her, she trusted us, and her daughters love us. When we had the "first  official" lesson with her we asked if she wanted to take the lessons again to prepare for baptism. She cheerfully said yes! While we were teaching the lesson her two daughters were present.. I was looking at them while my trainer was talking Alessandra and they had the BIGGEST smiles on their face! They were so happy! The sweetest spirit was there! Throughout the lesson the girls were able to testify to their mom of the truthfulness of the gospel! That week at church she came and everyone in the ward was so happy to see her! She was glowing and so were the girls! One daughter, Patrizia told us that every night she reads the Book of Mormon and they talk about it as a family together! She told us that already their family is so much happier! 

I feel so blessed to have to opportunity to teach this family! It is amazing to see how much just simply reading the scriptures together as a family can and does change the spirit of a home! I can really say that I love them, and I love Foggia! I love working with the people here and seeing literal miracles take place! Continue to pray for Alessandra, that she will come to really know the truth! There is nothing I want more then for their family to be complete in the gospel! What an amazing blessing that would be!! 

Transfer calls are coming this week. I am pretty sure that my trainer, Sorella Price, will leave me here in Foggia. But you never know! I could leave, she could stay, we could both leave, or both stay! I really want to stay to teach Alessandra, but I have to have faith that wherever I go it will be the right place with the right people! If Sorella Price and I do get separated I will be very nervous to not have my trainer taking care of me all the time but it will be a big growing period! So I think i am ready! 

love you all! Today for p day we are going to a beautiful city called polignano! It looks amazing! It will take us two hours to get there by train BUT we are all really excited! Pretty much our entire zone is going so it should be really fun! xoxoxoxo 


Sorella Fuller 

Snow, Gelato, War Zone and Mini-Miracles

What a week!!! 

First off... it snowed it Foggia!! Actually it snowed everywhere in Italy but it snowed a lot in Foggia! In our apartment we have these "black out" blinds and we keep them closed so that the heat stays trapped in the house. So in the morning we were studying and we look at our phone and have tons of text messages from the Elders in our district freaking out about the snow. We didn't believe them but then we opened the blinds and it was like being in a snow globe! It was very exciting! That night after our English course class we all made a snowman named "FOJA" (the American way of saying Foggia) and had a snowball fight! It was really fun but so cold!!  

Then came NEW YEARS!! So, here in Foggia we probably hear about 5 to 6 bombs go off everyday! Most of the time they are bombs set off by teenagers but also there bombs that are so loud they shake buildings! Those bombs are Mafia bombs! As the new year got closer we started hearing more and more bombs and people would tell us that it was not safe to be out of the house after 6 o'clock on New Years eve! But... on New Years eve we were walking to the church from a members house at around 7:30 pm. And there was NO ONE anywhere to be seen! We just heard bombs going off constantly! We tried to count but we there was way too many to keep track of! We were thinking... if it is only 7:30 what is it going to be like at midnight!?! At midnight we were woken up by a the loudest firework/bomb sounds EVER!! I literally felt like i was in a war zone! They continued for the next three hours!! Totally crazy!! 

So this week we also went to Bari (which is about an hour and a half away) to do a split with the other sister missionaries in our zone! It was really fun and kinda scary! I was paired up with another greenie! Her name is Sorella Chandler. We had to teach a lesson, and talk to some less actives, and do some English course finding! I was really scared to be with another greenie, in a new city, but it actually was really great! I loved it because we worked more in unison! Because we both are new to the language and teaching it really pushed us! We didn't have our trainers to just do everything for us! We had to hand out a huge stack of english course pass along cards and talk to people... at first we were like "how are we going to do this... we both don't exactly know what is going on!" But we did it! I kept running out and would take some of hers! Sorella Chandler and myself were so proud of the day! Mini miracle! 

After the day we rewarded ourselves with gelato and pizza! classic! The pizza was a  pistacchio pizza... pretty much the best thing ever... it was a white pizza with cheese, olive oil, and pistacchi! So amazing! the gelato was ricotta and dark chocolate! and the gelato cone with filled with melted dark chocolate! I probs gained like 15 lbs just looking at it! BUT it was so amazing! 


Also yesterday at church I was talking to Patrizia.. ( she is a 15 year old girl who is kinda a punk but was baptized less then a year ago. We are total buds! and her single mom, Alessandra, has taken the lessons twice and still isn't baptized) I asked her why her mom isnt baptized and she said she has no faith. I told her that their family would be much happier if they were all members. Patrizia agreed and wants to help us teach her mom the lessons! It was really exciting that A) the convo was really beneficial and B) I could communicate with her! MIRACLE! We are  starting the mother/daughter lessons tomorrow! Pray that they will go well! We really think that Alessandra is ready

I love you all!! I hope you all have a happy new year! Make some good new year's resolutions! I was really excited for this year because it is the only time in my whole life that for an entire calender year I will be a missionary!! So exciting!! lots of love xoxo
sorella karin fuller