Find JOY Now!

Cari tutti!

Buongiorno from Bologna! The weather has been so great here lately!

Only a few rainy days. But most days are hot and sunny :) There are

lots of people out and about which makes it fun.

This last week was great :) we were able to do a couple of scambi and

had a zone conference in Rimini yesterday.

Sorella Marostica and I see lots of miracles in Bologna and

through these scambi. She's learning the city better, so that's a good

help :) We always have great conversations together and learn so much

from each other.

This week we were reflecting a lot on teaching. But mainly teaching

other missionaries. This transfer is pretty short and by the end we'll

do seven scambi. And we're also doing four zone conferences. I'm

learning a lot more about being a leader and teaching other

missionaries. It has been great. Yesterday during the conference

President Dibb talked about how we are ALL training. We're training

people how to live the gospel of Christ. We're training members how to

be missionaries. And I also thought how we are training missionaries

 to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. He talked about stretching.

He said to reach beyond ourselves. Think of our possibilities. Think

about what we can do. Then SHOW others what they can do. That's the

incredible part about working with so many Sorelle. We get to see

their potential and help them see how much they really can do!

Before we did each Scambio Sorella Marostica and I fasted to know what

should be our vision for the scambi and we decided to focus on Joy.

Finding joy in the work. We used the scriptures 3 Nephi 28:9-10 and

had each sister read the "Forget Me Not" talk by President Uchtdorf

before coming. It was been neat to see just how inspired that theme

was and how much it has helped each Sorella. This work really is a

work of JOY, and I think we can forget that. Especially when it's hard

and the work is slow. We had one experience in general when one sister

asked us specifically WHY we chose to have them read that talk. What

was it in specific? And we said the "Forget not to be Happy NOW"

section. And that was exactly what she has been trying to focus on

lately. I love to see how God's plan is so perfect and individual!

I also love doing all these zone conferences because I learn so much

each time from the missionaries. When we do our training, it's really

the other missionaries who make it great through their comments and

experiences. The spirit is always so strong and it's so amazing to see

how the spirit works inside each one of us.

About a few people-

We weren't able to see Bruna at all this week... Which was a bummer.

And she didn't come to church. She has been suuuuper busy with school.

So we'll have to move her baptismal date. But that's ok. God has a

plan, and we want to make sure everything is according to His plan.

Hopefully we'll be able to see her soon though.

Maria and Cristina are great. It's always crazy when we go over. But

we end up having great lessons in the kitchen. :) This last week we

told them we would come Monday or Tuesday and they were fine with

either day, but then Maria called us Monday about three times before

we were able to pick up asking us if we were coming. She always feels

such a difference when we come over and teach and notices that

difference when the time goes by after too long. Also Cristina has

really been praying about what we have been teaching and had an

interesting dream. I'm not exactly sure what it means... But hopefully

she'll be able to know for herself. Yesterday when we went over they

weren't home yet so we did some parco and talked to about 8 friends in

a group and it was such a neat experience. They asked so many

questions and were really interested in what we had to say. Then

random people just kind of joined and had other questions. So that was

fun :)

Gilda called on Sunday!! It was so good to hear from her!! We couldn't

talk for long. But it was still a small tender mercy. Also her

daughter Alisa is doing super well. We were teaching her the plan of

salvation and she was just mesmerized. She had never thought about

where we were before this life. You could just see how her brain was

just expanding and the wheels were turning. She wasn't able to come to

church on Sunday. We even got her tickets for the bus... But then her

brother took them and went to school... Since he hasn't been able to

go to school because they don't have money for bus tickets... So we're

going to have to figure that out.

Helena and Bilal are great. Bilal actually came to church on Sunday!

And he wants to meet with the anziani again. :)

And Massimo and Daria are so smart!! We went back and taught the plan

of salvation and they just loved it!! They asked such great questions

until they understood it and accepted it. It's amazing how

children  know truth!

Well, that's all I have time for. I hope everyone finds joy NOW.

"The Lord has called us to work with Him in producing His

masterpieces-- the people around us."

Buona settimana! Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Dixon

"Centro"

"The castle"

"Street with umbrelli!"

"Can you find me?"

"Last picture before Anziano Pacella left! He's serving in Georgia.
He was just here waiting for his visa."

"In Ferrara"

"Selfie! Photo bomb..."

"Delicious food we ate today. I had cappellacci di zucca. It's kind of like
ravioli with pumpkin filling. Then with ragu sauce. So good!"

"The famous bread in Ferrara. It's the one on the left."

"Train ride to Rimini"

"Italy!"

"Gelato! Of course!"

"The Whitings. They left last Monday. But guess what? They'll be in Utah in July!"