Letter #15 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and friends,

 

This week we had zone conference and one of the kids in the ward got baptized. It was the best. The little boy's name is Christian and I was able to be here last year and see his older sister's baptism! They are a very cute family.

 

The Zone Conference this transfer was shorter because it was a specialized training meeting not a Zone Conference. We had some addestramenti on teaching skills. Which are so important to always study! I have been working my whole mission on listening, asking questions in lessons, and putting others first! It is hard to change human nature but that is why we serve missions. We have this brief time to put others completely before ourselves. I am grateful that God gives us this time to learn and start to form habits.

 

Then our mission president and his wife did a special addestramento, it being Christmas. They had us put on a Christmas pageant. It was like being in Primary again but it was just so much fun because everyone had fun with it. I have great pictures to send you! Sorella Mikesell was the virgin Mary! :) and I was the chorister. It was so much fun. 

 

I had a great experience this week. One of our members in the PF ward is from Honduras. Her husband is 1\2 Italian, 1\2 American who served his mission in Utah. He then went to BYU and they met in Spain! They have the craziest life but they are the sweetest couple. They just had a baby girl named Emma Natalia. We had heard that they needed a new Italian triple combination and that they wanted to frame "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" In italian and Spanish to put in the baby's room. Sorella Mikesell and I realized that these were all relatively easy things for missionaries to obtain, so we brought them as Christmas gifts Saturday.

 

Tesla was opening the triple; a combination of 3 volumes of scripture including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price; and when she saw it she just started crying! Her husband told us that when they had flown to Italy from Honduras only 5 months earlier they had had to leave all of their scriptures except his quad in English. She had had to leave her scriptures behind. She was so overjoyed from what I would have considered a very humble gift. And with her new-born baby asleep in her arms she sat leafing through the pages. 

 

That moment was one of the best moments on my mission. Tesla taught me so much by her humility and how much she treasured the scriptures!! 

 

Last night the Libertà ward had their primary program. It was stellar!! They had all 5 kids come up and they were all missionaries :) A companionship of elders, and the sisters were in a trio. Then they did a Mostra. (Anyone who has served in Italy will know what THIS is!) I don't know if other missions do it. You go stand in a square and you have a big tripod stand up presentation or boards that talk about certain subjects. Then the missionaries spread out and go and talk to the people around. It is really fun!! And they do it a lot in Italy! 

 

The primary children had made big posterboards and put them on the stand. The primary presidency pretended to be people on the street who asked them questions like, "Who are you?" or "How can I be with my family forever?" "Why do I need to be baptized in your church?"  The children had scripted responses. They would read scriptures to respond. They had poster boards about the Plan of Salvation, Christ's Ministry, the Apostasy, the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, and Families with the Temple!! 

 

They did so good! WHENEVER someone asked a question they would say, "To respond to this question let us sing, 'I am a child of God'." Or they would read a scripture. I was astounded! It was one of the best primary programs I have seen in my life! At the end all the children read their written out testimonies! The message was the need to prepare our children to be future missionaries and that we need to be missionaries all of us, and be the Savior's hands to bring others to Him.

 

There were many other things that happened this week but I cannot write them all. I ate Squid ink pasta for the 1st time on my mission! I have been wanting to eat it my whole mission. They cut open the squid and remove it's ink sack (I think that is what it is called?) and they make a sugo with ink, oil, and pieces of squid. The pasta they use for this dish is Spaghetti. It is called, "Gli spaghetti Neri" It dies your mouth and teeth black. Sorella Mikesell tried a noodle because she is intolerant to all fish and seafood.  I also ate raw squid, roasted fish, and roasted octupus tenticles. All at the same lunch appointment. They also served: A bean and pasta dish, sauages, antipasti of home-pickled tomatoes, artichokes, and melanzane (eggplant), prosciutto crudo, mozzarella balls, roasted chestnuts, and fresh fruit. And we even left before dessert!! Needless to say, I was stuffed and did not feel very well but it was worth it!  Fotos will be sent the next week!!! :) 

 

I love you all,

Sorella Preston

Letter #13 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been such a wonderful week and I am so excited for Christmas. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Bari. This saturday I got my transfer call, and me and Sorella Mikesell are staying together in BARI :) I am so excited! I love a good Barese Christmas. We really wanted to stay together but I did not think it would happen. TADA! Dreams DO COME TRUE!  

Me and Mikesell along Lungomare in the rain with Città vecchia in the background

For those of you who know me, you will be well aware that I have been listening to Christmas music my whole mission and wanted to put up lights the beginning of November. Me and Mikesell are going to deck our halls :) 


I feel very blessed that I get to stay in Bari. But Sorella Mikesell has been planning some good things to keep our missionary fire. For those of you who have served missions you will know that it is easy to become complacent especially when you have been with the same companion or in the same city for a while. Every morning I have been praying that I will continue to feel gratitude for the miracles that happen and keep pushing myself to do better. 

Earlier in the week during Ward executive committee meeting, the 1st one with our new bishop, all of the fratelli expressed how much they would like to come to lessons. I realized that we had been slacking on getting members at our lessons. We put a new emphasis on calling them and inviting them to come. We had a lot more member present lessons this week. Some fell through, but I hope the members feel more involved. Their comments helped remind me that the Hastening of the Work is not just for the members to step up, but also the missionaries. We need to help the members come out of their comfort zones. I need to help them grow and strengthen their testimonies so that they will feel confident and prepared to share the gospel. We have had such great lessons this week BECAUSE the members came. It makes such a difference. WHY? Because missionaries are weird, and we don't speak Italian!

Just last night during gospel principles class, the teacher was able to help a new convert, Gaetano, so much more than I could have. This new convert asked me earlier that week a question in the Bible and my answer was very generic. The teacher was able to go in depth and find the root of his problem, which was he did not know if He should date non-members. The teacher was able to share personal stories of when he had the same problem. He had made a goal to be married in the temple and he went to YSA conferences all over Italy until he found a girl who he liked and was worthy. I never could have related to Gaetano's problem. I know this is an odd example, but while I was sitting in the class it really stood out to me.

This week we had scambis with the Foggia Sorelle in Foggia. Me and Sorella Mitsvotai had a really funny experience. We were going to go stop by one of their investigators, Luigi and his wife Anna Rita. When we were approaching the palazzo I saw a hurst and a priest all decked out in his finest robes. I thought it was strange. Then I walked over to the portone and they had Manifestos for the deceased, Anna Rita. I said, "Hey, Sorella Mitsvotai - wasn't that the name of your investigator's wife?" Indeed it was! She had died the day before and it was her funeral, hence the hurst! I know it was bad taste, but I had to stop myself from laughing!! What are the odds! Seriously, the same day we go to visit them is her funeral. I think it is really funny. We were going to talk about the Plan of Salvation and focus on the Resurrection. It was not by chance that we were there. We wanted to go and give our condolences, but there were a lot of people so we decided that the Sorelle will call him in a few days. 

Tomorrow we have an English Thanksgiving party and their graduation!! They are all bringing food and we are going to have a few Thanksgiving foods for them to try. I volunteered to make apple pies (note the title of the email) I bought all the ingredients today. And got to work. After the first pie baked I opened the cupboard and realized,... We only have 1 pie pan. How can I make 5 pies? I freaked out. All of my problem solving skills went out the window. I tried to put it in tall cake pan with a Frankenstein crust and this is when Sorella Mikesell arrived. She calmed me down, and explained that a deep dish apple pie will not work well. We decided on a 9x13 with double the recipe. I will have to do it later tonight! Thank goodness for Sorella Mikesell! 

I love you all so much and I am praying for you!

Love, Sorella Preston

Our district!! Left: Me, Slla Mikesell, Anziani Barrow, Line, Kunz, Juhasz, Carr, Peachey

Letter #12 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and Friends,


VI VOGLIO BENE!!!

I hope last week was wonderful for you all because it was amazing for us :) Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving with the Foggia Sorelle! It is going to be great. We have mashed potatoes, apple pie, chicken, vegetables, home-made bread. It is going to be so wonderful!!  Next week expect pictures!


Thanksgiving, Sorella Mikesell, Sorella Mitsvotai, Sorella Rossell

We have been listening to tons of Christmas music.  Sorella Mikesell has a Barbara Streisand Christmas CD. It is so funny! I love it :) Mom and Dad, I got your package. I love the CD it is great. It has been so long since I have heard musicals so as soon as "The Impossible Dream" came on I freaked out :)

This week has been miraculously. I felt like exclaiming like Ammon and praising God.

"And now, these are the words of Ammon to his brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?

"Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever.

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 "12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

(Alma 26: 1,8, 11-12)

So many miracles have happened:

Last week I wrote you and I told you about all the miracles that Marina experienced. This week it just continued. We met with her last Tuesday. Not only does she keep her impegni, but she teaches us. We don’t teach her. We asked her to read 1 Nefi 3. She read it and came prepared. We asked her what she thought. Her answer was that "Each of us has a mission in this life, but God will help us. And He will send angels to protect us. Nothing is impossible with God."

Sorella Mikesell and I just sat flabbergasted! Eventually I responded and said "Exactly." She then explained how, when you read the scriptures, you must apply them or nothing will come of reading them. 

We asked her how she feels about the Book of Mormon. She feels that it is true. "Otherwise you would not be here in Italy telling me about it!" She wants to know more about Joseph smith and we asked her to pray about him and to read 1 nefi 1. 

Whenever I see Marina she glows now. She came to church again this Sunday and she loved it. After gospel principles she pulled me aside and said that she prayed and she wants to tell us her answer but there were too many people. So after sacrament meeting we went to one of the primary classrooms to talk. She said that she prayed and felt peace. She still will not accept a baptismal date but she knows that this is the right path for her.

She then took us outside and introduced us to her husband. He was super nice and clearly he knows she is meeting with us. We were worried about how he would react but he seems super chill. We want to teach them together! 

The miracles just kept coming this week. Another one of our investigators, Cecilia has a baptismal date and she came for 2 Sundays now, to all 3 hours of church. 

When I first saw her per strada I thought she was crazy. She was walking in a group with us with dread locks and bright yellow pants. But then something told me to go and talk with her and I really did not want to. But it would not go away, so as we were passing I smiled and said hello.  She immediately stopped us and explained that she has friends who are members of the church, a few of our African members. She wanted to talk with us, but did not know how to contact us. 

As we started teaching her, she started to introduce us to all of her friends and the Restoration just clicked. She told us this week that she had been looking for the way God wanted her to take. She prayed about Joseph smith and she felt this warmth and light! She wants to get baptized. She is so funny. And she has been one of the biggest surprises of my mission.

Another miracle was Marjana .The Poggiofranco Sorelle, before they left, met an ex-investigator again. We finally got a hold of her and went to go see her and now she has a baptismal date as well. She loves the Book of Mormon and the church. She has a sister who is a member in Albania, and she is from Macedonia (COOL!  AM I RIGHT!?) She is ex-military and works as port portral so she is very intense, but she means what she says. And she loves this message. 

These are just a few of the miracles. Not to mention all the investigators we finally contacted from the Poggiorfranco Sorelle. Including a new investigator who has a baptismal date for 4th of January, and many more. I know we still have a lot of work to do with these people, but Bari is exploding! I know that God is doing a great work here among these people! And it humbles me. But I am so excited for all of them. I love you all and I wish you a happy early Thanksgiving.

Sorella Preston

P-day in Ostuni, Italy (The White City)

Last p-day we went to Ostuni the White City. It was gorgeous!!

 A view from Ostuni

 

 Random bathrobe and door

 Sorella Mikesell with other cute scenery

 Me in front of a super cute door

Sorella Mikesell walking down a white alley way

We love Ostuni!!

 

 

Letter #10 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well. This past week we have seen so many miracles and we have been working a lot with our members. We also have a lot of ideas in the works. Sorella Mikesell has a lot of really good ideas. 

This past week the YW in both Bari Libertà and Bari Poggiofranco wards planned a Halloween Party. There was a great turn out. Over 150 People came, 50-60 of these were children. Members invited tons of friends and a lot of inactives and English course students came. I will attach some fotos (those that I have).


This is the horde of kids at the party - and more came later!

Sorella Petroni with her Frankenstein cake that was delicious!!! It was a carrot cake but it tasted like pumpkin with chocolate chips inside!! Sorella Mikesell is in the background with her cute home-made witch hat (we both made witch hats).

Me with Elisabetta and her daughter Chiara (a.ka. Minnie Mouse)

Everyone had a lot of fun and they got to learn more about our church and they got to meet the missionaries. One of our English Course students, Marina, that has showed a lot of interest in our message came to the party. One English course we were talking about health and vocabulary regarding health in English. For our spiritual thought we explained the Word of Wisdom, God's law of health for us. Afterwards she came up to us, and thanked us for the message and that we always share spiritual thoughts. We asked her if she would like to meet with us and she said yes!!! We had a not had an opportunity to meet with her. But she came to the Halloween Party and loved it. We later called her and invited her to come to church on Sunday. She came!!! And she stayed for Gospel Principles and most of Sacrament meeting. She is amazing!!

Another miracle is a less-active family. They have always come to activities and now they come to English course and the wife always brings friends. They just do not come to church or spiritual activities. When we asked her why, she said that she did not want to be a hypocrite. She has a few commandments that she and her family do not keep but she does not want to change. But their family is great and she is a great member missionary. Our ward council has been focusing on this family for a long time. And recently many miracles have happened which has started to help  them realize that they need to  have the gospel more in their lives. Their daughter is 7 years old and they have not been sealed in the temple- We keep praying for them. But they accepted to come to our ward FHE tonight- The activity is called "Ricordi?" We asked a few specific members to share their conversion stories and it will be like a little testimony meeting all together. And then Vescovo will have a closing thought on service and 'acting now.'
 

Vescovo Valentini asked her to share her conversion story and they are bringing their usual group of friends. Also, tonight the wife has asked for a priesthood blessing of comfort and healing because of the trials she is facing right now. God is truly moving in the lives of this family right now.

These are just a few of the amazing experiences we have had this past week and this week we will have even more. I know that there are many people here in Bari who are waiting to hear the gospel. All we have to do is be be open to the spirit and be willing to do God's will.  

I love you all so much. I feel blessed to have you in my life. 

This week I read some great verses in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10. I invite you all to read them. When I read them I thought about the strength we have as disciples of Christ. People notice the light we have and we must live worthy of this discipleship. And when people sometimes spread rumors about us and about the Church of God we do not need to worry if we are truly following Him and if our hearts are in the right place. Because in the end all that matters is what God thinks of us not what others think. This was my thought this week.

I love you guys,

Sorella Rose Preston

Letter #9 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Parents and family and friends,

I know I am sending this email to all, but at the beginning I have an EMERGENCY! (Don't worry I am not bleeding nor will I die).

Do you remember how last week I mentioned our cockroach infestation? Well, on Thursday Fratello Pastano came and sprayed some heavy duty poison in the apartment. That selfsame day we left, Sorella Mikesell for Foggia and me for Rome. We returned, and by then I had forgotten how horrible our apartment was. Well, we arrived Saturday afternoon and found many dead bugs and I was HAPPY.

Dead cockroaches

I then decided to clean under the kitchen sink, just in case I found more dead ones. Well...I found a lot of ALIVE ones. THEY DIDN'T DIE!! But we found where they were coming from!! :) They are all in, under, behind our cabinet unit in the kitchen where our sink and oven are connected.

Molded cabinet unit

Hole in the door to our balcony that they come in

Close-up of a cockroach

They also have crawled and pooped over all our dishes in the dish drying rack above the sink! So I sprayed under the sink and the BIG MAMA'S CAME OUT (literally, one was pregnant). WE IMMEDIATELY called Fratello Pastano again and explained that though he had sprayed everything in the house, he had missed the 3 feet where they were living. He wanted to come proprio the next day but we did not have time so he came early this morning. 

We pulled out the cabinet that was only being held to the wall by a thin strip of moldy caulk. And there were SO MANY BUGS. He sprayed all of the kitchen down (EVEN HE was grossed out) We dismantled the WHOLE KITCHEN and threw away a lot of food. 

Here is the emergency, we have to leave the kitchen all dismantled and in upheaval for 2-3 days and we cannot cook in it.

Sink lined in cockroach poop

Kitchen is a disaster area

Long story short, I need more money. I know you just sent me money but that disappeared fast with train tickets. I might still have some in USAA but I have no way to check my account balance. I have no money and we have to eat out for a few days. Even 10-15 euro will be fine. And the sooner you put it in the better (aka this afternoon).

Now if it is not possible for you guys, that is okay because we have canned corn and such and I can rough it out. BUT it would be nice to be able to eat hot food.
 

Now after all the dramatics to the more serious stuff...

When is Thanksgiving? because I have no idea :) I just want to know for curiosity sake. Me and Sorella Mikesell are going to make a nice big dinner the preparation day closest to Thanksgiving. 

Mom, I also would like some tips on condimenting a chicken, I have done it before but I do not remember all of what spices to use and the temperature, etc.

I don't feel like I am very useful as an STL (Sister Training Leader) but I am doing my best. Before I came to Capi conference, I made a goal to talk to at least someone while I was on all of the trains etc. I tried to keep this goal in mind and in my prayers. I had many opportunities to talk with people but one in particular stood out. On the way home to Bari. I was separated from the other 3 missionaries and seated across from 2 people who did not know each other. I do not remember how but a question came up about "who I was?" and "Why I was there?" I explained about the mission and from there a beautiful conversation started that lasted 3 hours. They asked many questions and I had the opportunity to share the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. They listened so well. One of them accepted a Book of Mormon and the other a Restoration Pamphlet. The conversation just flowed so smoothly.

It was only after this experience that I realized that God allowed me to be His instrument because I was open to the spirit and had a desire. I feel like these are two of the most important things in missionary work.

I love being here in Bari. There is so much potential and I feel blessed for the opportunity I have had to see people's lives change and watch them come unto Christ. 

As my last letter ended on a more spiritual note I want to continue that way. That train experience was wonderful. I have had many amazing moments in my mission but that one on the train was one of the best. 

This Sunday, during sacrament meeting in the Bari Libertà ward. I was sitting there and I was astounded by the miracles I was looking at. I was watching some of our African members pass the sacrament (when I first got there our ward did not know how to involve these wonderful people). Those who were passing the sacrament, I remember when they first started meeting with the Anziani. I was sitting next to Giovanni, who I was blessed to teach a little and was baptized in January. I saw Sorella De Vanna sitting in Sacrament meeting and another inactive who we had just contacted this week, Sorella Rita D'amore. I saw how much closer these members were. I Realized I was looking at miracles. 

I was looking at the efforts of so many missionaries that served before me, or with me, I feel blessed that out of all of those missionaries, God let me see the results of their work. As I sat in that meeting, I wanted to stand up and shout glory to MY God for His merciful hand and the lives He has molded. I do not know why I am lucky enough that I get to see these people change over a long space of time but I thank Him for this gift. 

I love Bari!!! And I never want to leave even if there are cockroaches in our apartment! :) I praise God for all that He has done for me and for the opportunity I have to be a missionary.

I love you all so much!!

Sorella Preston

Letter #7 from Bari, Italy

Dear family and friends,

I feel like recently on all my emails I title them "Crazy News" because crazy stuff is happening here in Italy.

We got our transfer calls this Saturday and Sorella Mikesell and I are staying here in Bari. That is not the crazy news... the crazy news is that Sorella Ghio and Sorella Ruppe are both leaving and they are not being replaced. They are being pulled out!! This means that Sorella Mikesell and I are the Sorella For BOTH WARDS. Those of you who have served missions will understand how crazy this is.

We will be like missionaries in America that are over 2-3 wards. Our area will cover (for those of you who know St. Louis) from outside St. Charles, through St. Louis and surrounding areas, all the way to Springfield, Illinois. I would say we could drive from one end to the other in 3-4 hours. Now there are a lot less members than there are in those wards and branches in St. Louis. But I hope you can picture the size of our area. In fact, we chose to be the Sorelle to both wards because the Poggiofranco Sorelle have many female contacts and female less actives they are teaching and helping. We did not want these people to be lost so we are going to try and help.

Both wards are meeting now in our building so we will go to church from 9-12 and then from 16-19 pm. I am excited! 

Last night we went to the Poggiofranco ward and they had a baby blessing. Mom and Dad, do you remember Femy Bellomo, Grazia Bellomo's daughter? Well she remembers you and sends her greetings. Her grandson was blessed last night. It was so beautiful. Most of Grazia Bellomo's family is inactive and last night the chapel was filled with family and friends that have not been in church for years!! I almost cried to see how this little baby boy was able to unite and these people again and bring them to church. There was a beautiful spirit and I know that they felt it! I wish you all could have been there.

Baby blessing from Left to right: Femy Bellomo, Sorella Maria Scarola, Franco Scarola (Grandpa del bimbo), Elli (Femy's daughter), baby Francesco, Grazia Bellomo  

I love Bari: I have been learning how to make Barese pasta, orecchiette from scratch, pasta al forno, and Bietole, and foccacia, and pizza, and panzerotti. You all should be VERY EXCITED. Because I am going to cook such good food for you, if I can find the goods in America. I think I will be able to (thank you Costco) or at least very close!! YAY

Me and Sorella Gallone making Foccacia 

Me and Sorella Mikesell making Orecchiette with Sorella Devanna

I am going to try to attach some fotos. I love you all so much and I am hope that you are all doing well.

Love, 

Sorella Preston

Letter #5 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear family and friends,

The seasons have started to change and now it is cooler and I have a cold :) So this email will be shorter. (Don't worry!! I am fine I just have to let it run its course :)

Mom

1) Grazia Bellomo's Son is named Nicola.

2) I have not seen a Francesco Bellomo

3) Enza Bellomo never was married. She has worked for Grazia and Raffaele Bellomo for 50 years. (About) So maybe you saw her around at church when you were here. But she was not baptized till '73 I think.

4) All is set for skype this Friday with the Bellomo's and I will give them your phone number :)

This week has been great. We had Stake Conference and Zone Conference right after each other and then this weekend will be General Conference. I am so excited!!

During zone conference Sorella Mitsvotai and I took Sorella Waddoups to visit to members here in Bari. This is Sorella Waddoups, me, and Sorella Panza

Us at zone conference. All the Sorelle di Bari and Taranto Zones

At our Stake Conference, Anziano Leimer, a member of the Area Seventy, came and spoke to us. He challenged all the members to raise our youth. We have to prepare them, and start it at home!! He then also talked about General Conference. He challenged us to go with a question, and listen to what our leaders say. He also said to learn from their example and lives. He shared a story about Thomas S. Monson. He said that as he was waiting at temple square, one of the senior missionaries came and talked with him. The conversation led to this missionary sharing this story with him.

This missionary's wife was very sick and in the hospital. His 3 grandsons were waiting in the hospital room visiting her, when a tall shadow filled the door. It was President Monson. He explained that he was uninvited and unexpected but asked is he could come in. He sat and talked with this woman for  an hour. Gave her a blessing, and left. Anziano Leimer asked, "What does an hour of the prophet's time do" He shared how this woman's story ended. She was fine. Lived a happy 2 more years and died peacefully at home. But then he said, Think of the difference 1 hour had on those 3 grandsons. How were they affected? They watched the prophet come and take an hour to come an sit with their grandmother. They later served missions and brought the gospel to others. "What is an hour with the prophet in a generation!" That one hour changed hundreds of lives. Anziano Leimer then explained. We must learn from our leader's examples. We do not have to be the prophet to go and spend that hour. To go and visit others, smile at the people on the street. It is part of our baptismal covenant to do this.

He said, "There is a reason why God's prophet in these days is a bishop at heart. And always will be. What do you think God is trying to teach us?"

I wanted to recount these parts of Anziano Leimer's address so that you will be as excited for General Conference as I am. Be prepared to go hear their words and then be "Doers of the Word" I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ, is led by a living prophet of the Living GOD. The priesthood of God has been restored and we all can be blessed and have been blessed by this power.

I love you all so much,

Love Sorella Preston

Random Pictures from Bari and Polignano, Italy

Me and Sorella Mikesell

Us at Matera

All 4 of us at Sorella Devanna's house

Me and Sorella Devanna

Us with Sorella Magno

Us with Enza bellomo. She is the sweetest :) 

Me at the Fiera del Levante here in Bari. This was at a Sangria stand :) 

This is still at the fair. With Sorella Marinella and Marianna Tonti from Poggiofranco! We were eating a riccia! So good :)

Me with Carmella Tarantino

Me in Bari città vecchia with a statue of San Nicola. It looks like he is making the peace sign :)

Sorella Ruppe, Sorella Mikesell, and Sorella Ghio in front of the Marnarid. A very famous candy store here in Bari. I love it in there. I love Bari!

2) Us at the Famiglia Diciolla for FHE

Ann and Letty I wore those sandals so much! They are my favorite. I hope you appreciate my tan lines :)

Me and Sorella Mikesell in Polignano

Me and Mikesell in Polignano

We all love each other

Graffiti in Polignano "There is nothing more epic than the sea"

Letter #4 and Pictures from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and friends,

This week has been so much fun but also a bit different. Some other missionaries outside our zone needed the car so President loaned it to them. This has given us a great opportunity to get to know the bus system of Bari and go by foot.

I love walking! I feel like I get to see so many more people and interact more with others. 

The other day, we were on splits and I was with Sorella Ruppe. We went to go see an inactive sister in the Poggiofranco ward. Tina Tarantino and her 91 year old mother, Carmella. As soon as we sat down at their house, Tina turns to me and asks, "Did your father serve here 40 years ago?" I responded yes. She told me that you taught her and her mother. Tina would have been 17 at the time!! It was so wonderful. She is pretty negative toward the church. But the whole time she would say random things like ... "You smile just like your father!" or "Your eyes crinkle like your father's." It was wonderful to meet her. Dad, do you remember her?

Also mom and Dad, My companion, Sorella Mikelle Mikesell, is cousins with Rock and Joy Erickson from St. Louis!! How cool is that!

Mom, I don't know if Sorella di Cataldo still lives here. I think she moved to the north. The other week there was a marriage. Clarissa Mongelli, and Fabio Di Cataldo got married. Their civil marriage was done in our church building and last Tuesday they went to the Switzerland Temple. I am pretty sure she is related to them. But I don't know those families. I have also not heard from Francesco Bellomo, but I will keep my eyes peeled.

Us with Sorella Bellomo at the wedding of Clarissa Mongelli and Fabio Di Cataldo

Us with the Bride!

 BIG NEWS: 

1) Mom and Dad today is Grazia Bellomo's birthday. She is turning 82. She wants to call you guys on Skype. We set a time for Ott 4th at 7pm Italy time. 12pm your time. Will you be on the internet! And on skype? She really wants to talk with you.

2) Also Sorella Ruppe wants to go work in Alaska. Do you still have connections in alaska. If you do start buttering them up so that a super nice Italian missionary could come and work for them :) or live with them.

Letter #2 from Bari, Italy

Dear Family and Friends!!!

I hope you guys are all doing well. I am loving Bari. Sunday was the best. I got to see all the members and friends I left here. It felt like a family reunion. Everyone was so confused. They thought I had finished my mission (and was visiting) not that I had been transferred to the ward again. 

I am back in the same ward again. So Mom, I am (still) not in Francesco Bellomo or Sorella Magno's ward. But I did see Sorella Magno this Sunday at a baptism in the Poggiofranco ward (the other ward). 

Carmen's baptism in the Poggiofranco ward

One of the inactives that we had worked with a lot has started coming back to church and in August she went to the temple to be sealed to her husband. She is the sweetest woman ever. And now she is on fire!! We have started teaching a lot of her family. She has a different spirit. She just glows - I love it!! 

My new companion is wonderful, Sorella Mikelle Mikesell. She is 25 and so funny. I feel like I just get to hang out with Letty and Ann all the time. I am used to having a big sister!! But she is not commanding or supervising!!  She is one of the funniest people I have ever met. She helps me laugh at myself. And we have a lot of things in common. And she wants to go to medical school and become an OB\GYN.

We were talking one day and I think I know what I want to study and do with my life when I get home. I just feel this huge confirmation that this is what my gift is. But it does not matter and I will tell you when I get back :) 

This week we have seen so many miracles. Monday we went to go visit the above mentioned member's family. She has a sister who has a lot of health problems and we go teach her sister. Usually some of her sister's kids are there helping and they stay for the lessons. On Monday, Michele was there. He is very intellectual. But there was a great spirit and I know he felt it. We taught the plan of salvation because that is what we planned to do. But he had a lot of questions about the restoration. So we are going tonight to teach the restoration.  I am very excited :) We also hope that Michele's sister comes again. She has come to discussions a lot in the past. She acts distant and disinterested, but she waits in the other room and listens and is there at the house for every lesson. We are very excited because we can see how God is working with this family!

I love you all so much. And I wish I could write more!

Love, Sorella Preston

P.S. Mom, did you wear name tags during your mission? Were they required? What did they look like? Because in some of your mission fotos it looks like you don't have one.

Sorella Mikesell (my new companion) and I

Sorella Mikesell and Preston in Bari, Italy

Letter #1 from Bari, Italy

Dear Family,

I am so excited! You cannot believe it! I have been transferred to the last place I would have ever guessed. As transfers were approaching I thought of all the possibilities. I could stay in Cosenza with Sorella Worsham. I could train in Cosenza. I could receive another collega. I could be transferred to any number of cities. I could open a city. I could open and train again. And the list goes on.

Well, when I got the call it was none of my possibilities. I have been called to serve in BARI LIBERTà. I AM GOING BACK BABY!!! My new collega is Sorella Mikesell and this will be her 5th transfer!! 

I GET TO GO BACK to all those members, and investigators, and all of those streets! I AM SO EXCITED! Today I am writing you from Bari because I am here, in my old internet point :) YAY! 

Sorella Mikesell is the best! From the hour I have spent with her. SHe is very chill. ANd she has curly hair as expected since she is my collega. I hope when You read this email you freak out as much as I have. 

I love all the people at Cosenza so much. They are such open and warm people. I am going to miss them. We saw one of our investigators these week. She had just returned from vacation and she was so excited to see us. We talked to her about half of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we talked to her about baptism. We had talked a lot about it before she left. She wants to be baptized. She feels the need to be baptized, but she wants to be spontaneous. Also she suffers from anxiety. She does not like WATER. But we talked to her about fixing a date for 28 of September. She agreed to pray about it. SHe is the BEST. She has been so prepared by the Lord. 

We also received so many referrals from the members this week! I loved it. Cosenza is waiting to explode. Last night we had our first English Course with the new program. I do not know if I told you about it but it is great. It is organized, interactive, and only focuses on conversation and pronunciation. The actual class only lasts 20-30 minutes, and they cannot speak any Italian in the group. It is going to help our students so much. We had so many new students. And they are all going to come back. And we had about 8 members come as opposed to 0 before. I am so excited!!

Also Mom and Dad, I got all your packages 2 weeks ago when the mission counselor came down from Rome to visit our branch. I loved the Liahona's and all the artwork. I was not expecting it and it was perfect. I was able to give a lot of it to our investigators in Cosenza! Thank you Thank you Thank you!! 

Man! How we love those Liahonas!

I love you all and I am feel so blessed to have you as my family and friends. Love you lots! 

Sorella Rose Preston

Final Pictures from Cosenza

Me with Vincenzo Castaldo and Fllo Lopez. Vincenzo Castaldo says hello to you Mom

Me and Gianna. One of our members who went back to the Ukraine

Me on a playground. That bridge was precarious

Kela our albanian member teaching me Albanian

Me, Lina Favre (a member) and Sorella Worsham. Us trying to be Italian

Me with Rosangela Gardi. And the little girl is Marlysa Favre, the little girl with Down Syndrome in our branch

Us with Sorella Anna Minieri another member

Me with Roberta Ziccarelli, one of our investigators, and her 7 year old daughter Michelle

Me at Fllo Gard's bar in Cosenza before I left