There is a Reason for Everything

Cari Tutti!

I can't believe it's another p-day! Crazy! This week was great. Sorella

Gregg and I are doing great and seeing lots of miracles.

Last Thursday we visited the Bishop of Genova 2 and his family. They

live in the best Italian house I've been in so far! It's on this street

that's too small for cars to go down, so they have to park in a

parking lot before the street. It's this old house that was kind of

falling apart but they have done lots of work on it. It's small but has

2 floors. They have grape plants and vines just outside the front door

and there are little hills by the street they live on. I loved it! I

Love Italy! This family is so great and I loved visiting them!

Friday was pretty much a "C'e un motivo per tutto" day (or there is a

reason for everything day) because we had to do a LOT of waiting at train

stations. But if we hadn't waited we wouldn't have been able to see

the people we saw! Like Alexandra who got home just right before we

got there and then Talia. We had planned to see her but then when we

got there she wasn't there. We were late because of the trains but

then just 3 minutes later she was walking home with groceries! If we

had gotten there sooner we probably would've just left because she

didn't answer. And we didn't have a phone to call her....

Saturday morning we went to the church to see Denise, the lady on the

train we met last week. Aaand she didn't come.... we tried calling her

with the Anziani's phone, who thankfully were also at the church, but

she didn't answer. But the Anziani had our new phone! yay!! We left

and then they called us and said that Denise had called them back and

really wanted to talk to us. So we called her and she said that she

didn't come because last night her mom's health was SUPER bad and she

was so worried about her. So she woke up several times to check on her

and pray. So that morning she was exhausted and didn't feel very good.

She felt bad, but she still wants to meet with us and asked if we

would pray for her! And she said she has a friend she wants us to help

as well! So we still have to see her and her friend!

We were able to see Sorella Marines, a great member from Genova 2 that

day as well. I love members! She only joined about 4 years ago, and is

as strong as ever and misses going out with the missionaries. She's

had a tough life, but she has stayed strong.

Then we saw Sophya, our new convert we're working with. It was so

great that we saw her because she needed some spiritual uplifting. She

said she hasn't read the Book of Mormon in awhile and there have been

lots of temptations around her. She had been reading about the wars

and how the cities built fortifications and prepared. So we told her

that is what the Book of Mormon does. It helps her have protection

against the temptations from the adversary everyday.

Sunday we found out something amazing!!! So last week we met with

Chiara, the cute little 9 year old we're teaching. We had wanted to

get a baptism date for her but during the lesson both Sorella Gregg and I

just didn't feel like it was right. We taught the restoration and

committed her to pray about the Book of Mormon and ask if it was true.

So on Sunday we called a member, the member who told us about Chiara

and wanted us to teach her, to see if she could come with us to a

lesson on Tuesday. She said she couldn't BUT she did tell us that she

talked to Chiara and Chiara told  her that she had prayed about the

Book of Mormon and got her response! She felt all warm inside and knew

that was the spirit telling her it was true!

Then on Tuesday this week we met with her and asked her about it and

she just said she felt "caldo caldo caldo caldo caldo!" Apparently it

lasted 2 days for her. She's so amazing. I think this is the first

time I've actually had an investiagor sincerely pray about the Book of

Mormon and get a response. So then we were able to set a baptism date with

her for October 17! Her mom was a little hesitant but she didn't stop

her because it's all Chiara's choice. She just wants her to really

understand everything and not just do it. We said that's why we're

here, to teach her and make sure she knows what she needs to do to be

prepared for baptism. We also told her we prayed about that date and

knew it was right for Chiara. I'm so happy!

Monday we kind of got sad news.... Talia didn't come to church and

when we tried to call we could never get a hold of her. Finally Monday

night she texted us and said that she had had a headache and that she

just has too much work. One of her colleagues is on vacation so she

has to work more. She doesn't feel ready for baptism and says we'll

have to leave it for later. We haven't been able to get ahold of her

to talk to her more.... She just has sooo much work. Work in this

country is so. hard. Hard to find, and then hard to keep. And to keep

it they have to work all the time. I was talking to the Anziani's new

convert, Cristiano and he told me his story of how he joined. It took

him 2 years. And at the beginning he had a baptism date but then told the

elders that he didn't feel ready and that he needed to put his life in

order. Then about a year later he started again. It happens all the

time. So I have hope for Talia, I'm just sad that she has to wait

awhile. But everything is in the Lord's timing. We just have to trust

in Him. He loves those that we care about even more than we do. And he

wants the best for them,too, so he'll take care of them.

Well those are the main happenings of the week! Also filled with

little miracles with talking people and just sharing the light of

Christ!

Keep shining!

Vi voglio bene!

Love,

Sorella Dixon

"Me with the Bishop's daughter in the cute Italian house"

"Pra"