Sorella Dixon: It was Almost as if Heavenly Father was saying,"Come on Sisters...Get off the Train".

Cari tutti,

Come state? I hope life is great for everyone :)

This week was quite the week. Thursday was super great. We had a conference with Anziano Kearon of the seventy. That was amazing. He just showed Soo much love and gratitude for us. One of the things that I really liked that he said was Become the Message. It's so true. When we are truly happy and show that, people are more likely to talk to us. He was a convert in his twenties so we got to hear his experience as well as miracles that happened when he was a branch president. The spirit was so strong and I loved it. We got to go to Milano for that, and I was able to see all of my past companions! All of them! So that was so fun!

Friday morning was weekly planning so that took a lot of time. Then we tried pass-bys and had a lesson with a new convert who has been a member for almost a year. That night we had a Relief Society activity with Genova 1. Talia couldn't come, but we texted Giorgina and she said sure! So she came. The activity was pretty much just talking... So that was kind of awkward at first... Especially for Giorgina. But luckily a few of the members talked to her. Then afterward as we were headed home she really opened up and we learned a lot about her and some of the things she's been through. I feel really close to her already. She's so great. She didn't want to come to church this Sunday because we wouldn't be there, but she said next week since we'll be in Genova 1 then.

Saturday was pretty much our rejection day... haha... Sorella Gregg had to do some permesso stuff to renew it, and we were supposed to do it as soon as we could so we did it that morning but when we got to the post office they wouldn't do it because it closed in 5 minutes... Then later that day no one came to English class. No one. That hasn't actually happened before. We've always had at least 2 or 3 people come at least. But maybe because it was the very end of August and people wanted to get one last vacation in. Luckily we were able to see Mayra before she left for Ecuador and her Mom was there! Which she is only home about every 15 days so that was a miracle! She needed some spiritual uplifting because she lost her daughter about a year ago and it's still really hard for her. So we were able to help her out a little. Then that night we tried this referral that we actually got from some sisters in the Alpine Mission. Apparently one of their investigators wanted us to pass-by some of her relatives and share the gospel with them, especially the plan of salvation since they had lost a family member recently. All we had was the address and they actually lived up a street pretty close to us so we just walked there. So we go, and were able to get in the apartment since the door was open and then we rang the doorbell for the door. We could hear someone on the other side looking in the peep hole. But they didn't say anything. Usually we just let it go because they're not interested but since this was a referral we wanted to tell them that they had a relative that asked us to come by. So we rang it again and this time they actually asked who it was. But they didn't open the door. Instead we could hear her on the phone with someone and then all of a sudden these 2 people come up the stairs and go straight in the apartment. They just passed right by us. We were kind of confused and didn't know if we should just leave or wait to see if we could try talking to them. Well, then we heard the old lady telling them how we wouldn't go away and all this stuff and then they opened the door and asked what we were doing and when we asked if we could explain or when we tried to bring up their relative they just cut us off and threatened to call the police... So that was a lovely referral. We were pretty sad that they weren't even open enough to hear why we were there.

Sunday was a great Sunday! We were in the Primary again so I could play the Primary songs! Later that day we were headed to Cates and were at a bus stop. We tried to call Talia, but she didn't answer. Then we were on the bus and we wanted to make another call when Sorella Gregg looked in her bag and the phone wasn't there! Uh oh. We looked all over and then got off to take a bus back to the bus stop to look for the phone. Aaaaaand it wasn't there. Ya. We lost the phone. And we still don't have one. We were able to use the Anziani's phone to call the office and they said we might be able to get one on Thursday. So we are hoping! It is quite different doing missionary work without a phone. You don't realize how much you use it until you don't have it!

But even through all this craziness we had a great miracle! So Monday morning we had district meeting and it ended up going little bit over. We had to go to the post office for Sorella Gregg's permesso and we were planning on going to the one in Sampierdarena since the lady is super nice and we wanted to try to talk to her more and get her to come to English class or something. But we didn't have time so we just has to go to the one in Sestri. So we got that done and then got on train. Now that I look back I can see how every decision was guided by Heavenly Father. We could've gone in a door closer to us but then last second we decided to go in a different door. We go in and sit down and this lady across the aisle kind of diagonal from us is just looking at us. I try to smile at her and I was thinking of a way I could talk to her since the seats right across from her were already taken. Well, during the ride she just starts crying. I nudged Sorella Gregg and told her that the lady was crying, and we both were like we need to find a way to talk to her. I pull out a tissue and had Sorella Gregg hand it over to her since she was next to the aisle. She took it and said thanks. We decided to stay on the train past our stop and see if she would get off the next stop and then we'd get off, too. So we get to the next stop and she doesn't get off. Then all of a sudden she grabs her back and practically runs off. What?! Well, now it was too late and we didn't want to just go chasing after her. The train was still at the stop and then the doors close. And we figured it was too late. Then the train just sat there. It was almost as if Heavenly Father was saying, come on sisters... Get off the train... So we decided to see if the doors would still open. And they did! So we get off and walked out to the main part of the station. We spot her in a gift shop. We were standing there trying to figure out how to approach her when she came out and came close to us. So then I just started talking to her, not knowing what I was going to say. But we were both given the words and it was so great. Her name is Denise, and she said she was looking at us because we were just so beautiful and confident and when she saw our name tags she said "that's why! Because you're close to Jesus!" She started crying because she just doesn't know what to do in her life. She just feels lost and confused. It really was a miracle. We told her we could help her, and she was so interested! She said she had decided to leave to Venice then while on the train she felt like she should go back home and that's why she just got off randomly. And she was the one that said, but then I met you guys! So that was so neat! I'm so excited to teach her!

So miracles still happen! Even in crazy times haha! Missions always just keep you on your toes!

Well, have a great week! And always look for the good things in everything!

Vi voglio un Sacco di bene!

Love,

Sorella Dixon