You Must Stay and Finish...

Ciao Tutti!

I hope everyone had a great week! This week was great. It was pretty

calm since we didn't have any scambi or trainings :) We did get

transfer calls Saturday though and I'll be staying in Bologna!! My new

companion will be Sorella Marostica. She is super sweet and is going

"My new companion"

into her 12th transfer! I'm excited to work with her! She's actually

here right now since she travelled today. And then Sorella Albos is

traveling tomorrow. So she's spending pday with us in Bologna! :)

We had a lot of great things this week! It's so crazy that Sorella

Albos is going home this week! We were able to see a lot of people, so

that was good!

Last Thursday we had a little get together with some sisters in the

ward. The idea all started after we had a lesson with Alexiana. She's

been having a hard time and we were thinking of more ways we could

help her than by just visiting her. Then we were inspired by the

thought to have a little get together with her and some other sisters

in the ward so she could get to know a few other people that might be

able to help her. She knows Marilia since they are both from Brazil,

but we also wanted to her to know Erika and Elizabeth who are from

Peru. That was such a fun get together. We had merenda

and then shared a thought. They all opened and shared some

experiences. And Alexiana just fit right in :) They all loved it and

want to do it every week they said haha! We'll see if that will

happen, but I think we'll definitely do it more often. These women are

incredible. They have all been through such hard times, yet they are

so strong. Right now we are especially working with Erika. She has

been less active for a long time and her husband isn't a member. But

she is the sweetest and has so much faith. She has told us that

recently she has felt closer to God than she ever has. One time with

her we talked a little bit about the temple and you can just see her

desire to enter the temple with her husband someday.

A funny mess-up that happened Thursday! Well we were trying to go back

to some college students that we met while doing casa before Easter,

and when we got to the house we completely forgot the citofino. We saw

one that said Giulia and Andrea and we were pretty sure the girl's

name was Giulia so we rang. (Yes, this is a bad example of keeping

track of people we've talked to...). Someone answered and it was a

man. We thought that was a little strange since it's a house of girls.

But just going along with it we ask for Giulia. They eventually look

out the window from the 3rd floor and ask who we were (that's pretty

common. A lot of times instead of answering the citofino they'll just

call out the window) and we realized that it wasn't the girl we talked

to last time at all! And then we realized that Andrea here is a man's

name. WHOOPS!! They were so confused as we were talking to them...haha

Unfortunately I can't say that it turned into a great miracle and they

let us in... It was just funny ;)

We saw a woman named Maria this week on Saturday. She's one of our

sweet English class students. She made us tortellini and we talked

about the plan of salvation. She's really interested in family history

so it was fun to talk about that with her. She actually set up an

account with family search with missionaries in the past, so we did

some stuff with her. And we met a couple of her grandkids! They were

super nice! One works in a gelateria by the church, so that might be a

good excuse to go over there :)

We were able to see a few Filipino less-active members this week too

since Sorella Albos is leaving. They are sooo sweet! I love them!!

They are usually less-active because of work. Which is such a bummer.

Hopefully we'll be able to continue to meet with them this next

transfer too.

This week I read some great things while studying. I was pretty sure I

would stay in Bologna but I was kind of ready for a change since I've

been her for awhile... And I didn't really know what else I could do

here... But I read some things and Anziano Wright gave a great

training in district meeting that helped me realize that I am still

here for a reason. One was an article from the March 2008 Ensign. It

talked about a dream Orson. F. Whitney had on his mission. He

witnessed the Atonement of the Savior and then saw Christ with the

three apostles before they ascended into heaven and this is what he

said:

        "All at once the circumstance seemed to change. … Instead of before,

it was after the Crucifixion, and the Savior, with those three

Apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to

depart and ascend into heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from

behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and

begged Him to take me with Him.

        “I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped

and raised me up and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real that I felt

the very warmth of His bosom against which I rested. Then He said:

‘No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me;

but you must stay and finish yours.’ Still I clung to Him. Gazing up

into His face--for He was taller than I--I besought Him most

earnestly: ‘Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last.’ He

smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied: ‘That will depend entirely

upon yourself.’ I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning.”

Even though I might not know why, I need to stay in Bologna. I really

do love the people here so much. And I have absolutely LOVED serving

with Sorella Albos. We have seen miracles!! And have had such a great

time these last 2 transfers. I know she has done a great work here,

and her work is now finished. But God still has a work for me to do in

this wonderful city of Italy. I'm excited to see what He has in store

for me this next transfer.

Have a great last few days of April!

Vi voglio un sacco di bene!

Sorella Dixon

"Lunch with Sorella Whiting and Adrie."

"Homemade Tortellini..sooo good!"

"Lesson with Helena and Sarra"

"Get together with Erika, Alexiana, Marilia and Elizabeth"

"They made a delicious Peruvian dish with potatoes, eggs, lettuce, and a
delicious sauce. I don't know how to spell it."

"Goodbye party for Sorella Albos"

"District picture in Ferrara"

"Primary"

Goodbye to Sorella Albos. God Speed.