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.