This week has been wonderful. We had many great miracles. One of the biggest was when we passed by a simpatizzante that we were thinking of dropping. They were home (most of the family is investigators) and we were able to teach the first lesson. The spirit was there and now they are progressing. We saw them the next day and we will see them Friday. Also, the daughter Adriana, and the Mother, Angela, are going to try to come to church on Sunday!!! I am very excited for them all.
The mother was a potential investigator who we passed by one day. She is a smoker who has a lot of health problems. We are teaching her husband, her daughter and her sister. Her daughter lives with her and has 2 baby girls. I might have written about them before. The lesson was sooo cool because they all were listening and wanting to listen. The daughter was entranced when we told them about a living prophet and she said that she was feeling goosebumps. The daughter told us that she was studying with the Jehovah's Witness for years but what we said about Joseph Smith really spoke to her. She said she wants it to be true. But she was not sure about following 2 religions at the same time. Her father answered for us. He said why not! Try this and see the differences and then you can make a more informed choice. We asked her to do a month experiment, and she said yes. She was very excited to come to church. And Angela, the Mom was very interested in our stop smoking program. 7 days, 15 steps = Non-smoker.
We came back the next day and the daughter had read the Introduction to the Book of Mormon and prayed like we asked. She said she felt 50\50 about Joseph smith. Angela has a hard time reading so we are going to try to get her an AUDIO BOOK of Mormon in Italian. (A member in Sardegna recorded himself reading the whole thing :) ) I am very excited for them. I can see how the gospel will change their lives. They are all going to get baptized and get sealed in the temple! I am so excited! Step 1) Help them have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith:
Last week we went on scambi (exchanges) in Taranto . It was so much fun and I learned a lot :) We drove to Taranto and (both exchanged companionships) just stayed in Taranto as 4 Sorelle. I was with Sorella Smedley for a day :) She grew up on a farm and told me how to train horses!! :) We all went to go eat at Sorella Della Foglie for lunch. She is a less-active who has a very wonderful conversion story. Mom and Dad you might know her because she was baptized in 1972 and she said they went to Bari all the time. See if you remember Tonia (Antonia) Della Foglie.
In response to your email Mom, I have eaten fried artichoke hearts!! Lots of the sisters make them home-made as appetizers. Sorella Gallone makes them and they are delicious. I have slacked big time in fun news and pictures so I am just going to write about Preparation days and send photos for the rest of the time.
On Feb 20 - We just stayed in Bari. We went to a Giant Detersivi store (Italian dollar store). But Detersivi are packed with tons of junk and you have to wade your way through.
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| Sorella Wagoner at the Detersivi store. Being Fantastic Mr Fox. |
I bought cards to play "scopa". (We will play when I get home) and I found a diary. It is covered with photos of all the teenage stars in the 90's on the cover - it says, "I Bellisimi" (the beautifuls). Inside they have Marky Mark, Acqua, the Hansens, Spice Girls, Leonardo di Caprio, Val Kilmer. I was in heaven!!! :) Then we went to a thriftstore and went to go see Bari Vecchia.
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| Us in Bari Vecchia being strange:) |
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| Us eating Focaccia on the wall around Bari |
We also went to the Basilica di San Nicola. I learned the true story of Santa Claus. San Nicola, Aka San Nicholas, aka Saint NIck, aka Babbo Natale aka Chris Kringle aka Pappa Gigio. He was a Catholic Priest from Turkey. He came to Italy (maybe on a donkey) and lived in Bari. So he is the patron saint of Bari. Since he comes from Turkey he also is a Big Deal in the Orthodox church. So at the Basilica they have Catholic and Orthodox services. And people from Giorgia, Turkey, Russia, ect travel to Bari to see his remains. We got to go see his crypt - it was wonderful. We took pictures (It might have been mocking their beliefs but we took them really fast and did not do anything crazy.)
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| Us in San Nicola's Crypt |
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| You can't really see us but we are in front of the his coffin in this one :) |
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| Statue of San Nicola |
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Sorella Christianso and Sorella Wagoner in Crpyt
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The myth of Santa Claus comes from 3 golden balls. San Nicola's Neighbors were very poor so they were going to sell their daughter into prostitution. When San Nicola heard of this he brought them a gold ball and left it at their door. They had 3 daughters and every time they were going to sell one into prostitution they would find a gold ball at their door. AND THIS IS WHY we give presents at Christmas. And that is why all his statues have him holding 3 gold balls. San Nicola is supposed to protect single woman. So on San Nicola Day the Piazza fills with single women and they all pray to him to find a husband. He also brought back 3 dead children so that is how he is connected to children!! Now you have all learned something!
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