November 28, 2012 Update

We started the festivities a little this past week, by setting up our tree. We passed our day sharing a cookie exchange and helping our mission mom wrap the presents. It went longer than we thought, so here's a little shorter thought. I know that this true. There is a sacrifice, but the more that I give all my heart to the Lord in the service of others, I see why I am here. I know that we are here to change lives. As we start the Christmas season, I'd like to invite each of you to learn more about our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that he is our older brother and with us no matter where we are. We may be far from each other during this time, but He is always right beside giving us strength, courage, and love through enabling grace. I love you all and each of the sisters with whom I am and have served.

 

Slla. Lovell

November 21, 2012 Update

Ciao Tutti!

Here we go in Rome. Our apartment is a little different now that we
are down to two sisters here, but we have taken as an excuse to
redecorate a bit, complete with the Christmas tree we just found. It
may be closer to 12 inches (ok 60 cm) then 12 feet, but I'm excited.

We have some sorting out to do still to see how our work with shape up
with two companionships, but after some long planning, I think it will
come together. Here is a quick update:

We had a successful pass for Marco at the baptism on Saturday to the
Sorelle in Roma 2 (who I’m grateful is Slla. Cojan and Slla. Teichert,
with Slla. Omar) and hope he will still go forward with his Baptism
date for December 15.

Samy keeps proving to be one of the most sincere people I have met in
Italy. He is continuing to see the increase of light in his life each
day. He started taking the lessons about two weeks ago and has already
read over 250 pages in the book of Mormon. He prayed in Arabic for the
first time at one of our lessons this past week and suddenly burst
into tears because of how meaningful those words were in his own
language. We just discovered he also lives in Roma 2, so we will help
him to find his way to that ward this week and work to make the
transition to the missionaries in that ward.

Janus continues to progress. He has such a great spirit and we. As he
is spends most of his free time playing computer games we had a great
lesson today about the Book of Mormon and he and his brother Dominique
can’t wait to read it. Their single mom, Fatimah, continues to support
them and is a great help.

Roberto Delatour is also starting to progress as we had a great lesson
on authority yesterday and he accepted a baptismal invitiation.

We have a number of people we have contacted and think that they will
become progressing investigators in the next couple days. We have a
lot of less active members that we used to see and so now hope to see
as many as we can in the holes of time between other appointments.

We are doing well in Roma 1.

It is nice to be in place for a third transfer in that there is
already a pretty comfortable feel with the members, as some continued
opportunities to work together and build relationships. Now that we
have combined work, I have a different sense feeling of
responsibility.

At the baptism on Saturday of Salvatore Taormina, was amazing. He
worked on the temple to meet the church. He ended a simple and
powerful testimony.

One Sunday, we had the opportunity to see a concert in St. Peter in
Chains, with the chains that Peter was said to have been bound in Rome
and part from his time in Jerusalem. It was like food to my soul and a
bit strange in a way to be at a concert. President Kelly wasn't able
to come, but we were excited that Slla. Kelly and Anz. and Slla.
Steuer from the Office were able to join us. We even contacted the
nephew of a Cardinal who was on his way there as well!

I am grateful for my original companion, my amazing family and any of my
friends who may be reading this, I'm grateful for you as well. :)

Much love,

Slla. Lovell

1. Whiting Family!
2. Concert in St. Peter in chains with Slla. Kelly
3. Our amazing investigator Samy from Egypt, so grateful for the
chance to know him.
4. Sabina’s 9th Birthday party with Sabina and her mom Maria Rodica–
all she wanted was to be with the missionaries.

November 14, 2012 Update

Wow! What a week. We are in a whirl wind so most of my email will have to be these pictures. Here is a quick summary:

Last week I have my first adventure being a senior companion, as we did an exchange with Slla. Ivory and Slla. Buckley from La Dispoli. All I have to say in that there was no running for buses! We had a great lesson with our Phillipine investigators, which was great for Slla. Buckley to speak in English and brought back time of being in the MTC for me.

At the end of the concert last night Slla. Miles just turned to me and said, "Think, all of these people are here because of what we put together." It was a great concert with plently of variety. From Carmelo singing pop songs about the Book of Mormon, which is something you have to hear to appreciate, to the Paredes sharing their Columbian Folk songs that had everyone dancing in their seat. Slla. Miles and I lucked out to sing an aria composed by Fratello Rossato from an opera he wrote on the Ten Virgins. It was an experience I will never forget.

So Transfers happened. Rome 1 is going down to two sisters, so Slla. Miles is headed off to Catania, taking Slla. Teichert's spot. With Slla. Heiner dying (don't you love missionary language?, a bit much at times, but...oh well.), Slla. Clark and I will stay together, combining both our work. It is strange that I have known all of my companions before serving with them (Slla. Clark served in Bari) before serving with them. I have a feeling that we are going to have a great transfer. I love the members and the investigators here are a mix that is one of a kind.

In pochi parole, I know that the church is true. We each have our own way to help invite others to come unto Christ. That hit me as Carmelo sang. No matter what our situation or profession there is a part of us that can touch the life of another and give them a desire to learn more. Never question you ability to change the course of another's destination.

As people have started calling me, here is Sorella Lovely signing off.

 

These photos are from the concert:

 

 

Here are some explanations for the photos below:

1. From St. Peter in Chains. In theory these are the chains from St. Peters time in Rome. There may not be all truth to that,but you could definately feel a special witness of the sacrifice of Peter. Serving in Rome has giving some great perks!

2.Grabbing some hot chocolate after the cathedral with Alberto our new convert.

3. The family Aranda. All I can say is they are amazing pillars of faith and pure love.

4. Our District in Roma 1!

5. Amazing Filipino investigators, Janus and his brother D.J. They are both a great fun.

 

 

 

P.S. I was actually able to talk Slla. Teichert, which was more that I had expected and was amazing. She told me some news from Taranto that I can hardly believe. Stefano Kovacs got baptized! I can't tell you the joy I felt. Their family is that much closer to being complete! He is solid and I am so happy for Stefano and Lidia and Robert.

Bus, Bus, which Bus? (Nov. 7, 2012 Update)

The entire last week from Thursday on was holiday for Santi dei Morti. All of the bus routes got deviated. Slla. Miles and I took on the adventure and set a new record with 9 buses in one day.

Our concert is really coming together. We are working with a professor from a conservatory in Rome that was Slla. Miles neighbor in La Dispoli. He is a riot, but has asked students and professionals to take part. It looks like it has great promise and is going to be November 13 at 16:30-18:30. Slla. Miles actually studied the flute at BYU and we have a professional composer, Fll. Rossato, (who actually wrote one of the Italian hymns) in our ward. It's always a bit exciting to see how everything will come together, but here we go!

Rossana has been having some low slumps emotionally, we aren't sure how much of our message it making it through to her, but we know that she feels the spirit when we are there, especially when we sing. Anything that has to do with the family helps her feel safer with her concerns for her son.

Cristina had a great lesson on the Plan of Salvation and said that she felt a great happiness from this special care from our Father. She had read in the Book of Mormon and really feels that it helps us come to know Christ. We just need to help her feel that it also has to be important enough for her to keep meeting with us as she is looking for work.

Janus, a 17 year old boy from the Phillipines, doesn't speak any Italian and so is hesitent to leave the house. He is very shy, but very sweet. His mom is less active, so he only went to primary as a child. When we asked about Jesus Christ, he responded that He is his hero. He was excited to get the Book of Mormon and I can't wait to help him learn more.

Sandro, feels that he knows there is a God, through an amazing connection with nature, but wants to have the certainty that we have. He asks great questions during our lessons and wants to bring his family to meet us!

Fratello D'Angelo came to church again this week and was a force of happiness in whatever room he entered. He was so excited to be there and took on each aspect with vigor. Almost each time we saw each other, he would say our inside word from one of his first lessons. "Gioia!"

All in all our work is going really great. We have worked on extending invites more quickly and are seeing great success. We now want to better emphasize the power that people will feel and the opportunity they have to come to church in making a difference in their life.
Part of this week we had a split with a GANZ from Rome 5, Alessandra. She has an amazing spirit and is so ready to serve a mission. It was her first time going out with the missionaries and was a great opportunity to direct her eager efforts.
I learn more each day and have been very grateful for this time to serve with Slla. Miles. I have seen many witnesses that President was inspired to put us together.

Here are my scriptures of the week: 2 Nefi 2: 20-21.

Slla. Lovell