Dio guida questo lavoro (God is Guiding This Work)

Cara Famiglia e Cari amici,

Well, we got transfer calls this week.... And... I'm staying in

BOLOGNA!! Haha yep I'll be finishing in this wonderful city of

miracles. 5 transfers. Crazy. How do I feel about that? I am soooo

happy. This transfer I tried to figure out how I would feel if I left

or if I stayed, and every time I thought about leaving my heart just

ached. I love these people so much. The members, investigators, and

people on the street. I love this beautiful city so much. It has

become my home. I know it almost like the back of my hand ormai! Doing

five transfers in a city is still pretty crazy, but I know I'm here

for a reason and I still have work to do!!

I can't believe this transfer of five weeks is now over. They just

flew! But at the same time, we did soooooo sooo much. Working with

Sorella Marostica was amazing. I'm so grateful for the unity and

friendship we developed. We got along super well and learned so much

from each other. I know she will do great work as she starts off on a

new adventure. We've talked a lot about missions and life and

something that we've talked about a lot is giving our whole heart to

God and becoming a new creature. It's amazing how much the mission

really does change you. It's the hardest thing I've been through, but

the most refining. I have already felt the change in my heart and am

so grateful for the Atonement. I'm excited to keep giving my whole

heart during this next transfer.

This last week we've had some powerful lessons and great miracles. Two

weeks ago a lady just randomly showed up in church named Wealth. She's

African and has been in Italy for a year. We found out she was a

member and hasn't been to church because when she tried to look it up

online she couldn't find it near by, but it turned out to be just a

few streets from her house! She figured that out when she saw the

anziani on the street one day. So we wanted to meet with her to help

her get back to church and prepare her because she wants to go to the

temple again. So we had an appointment set up and she told us she was

going to be really late. We were already in her area, so we decided to

do some casa. We did a POPP (it's just where we read a scripture  and

talk about a principle with each other) and said a prayer. That really

helped us get the spirit and focus on the work more. We did casa and

no one was interested. Pretty typical. But then finally someone

answered the door and let us in! She was a lady from Nigeria named

Blessing :) We shared a message about Christ and she said we could

come back! We've been back to give her a Book of Mormon but weren't

able to stay much longer. But then it turns out that the Anziani had

talked to her and her husband a few weeks ago on the bus and got their

number. So this week they got in contact with them and they said that

missionaries had been by and brought them a Book of Mormon! And then

she asked some great questions! This little family really must need to

meet the missionaries!! I'm so excited!

Then we had a great lesson with Wealth and her roommate ended up being

a lady who answered the door when we were doing casa (we didn't know

Wealth lived there...) and said she wasn't interested. Haha but then

we got to talk to her and she asked some questions. Then Wealth said

she was asking her a bunch of stuff later!

On Sunday last week we taught an amazing family that we found recently

and this week we went back. It was so cute because that morning it was

raining pretty hard and Simona (the mom) said as she saw the rain she

was thought about us and was worried we might not come. That was a

neat miracle because people tend to forget we are even coming.... She

said that after we left the last time we had left a pamphlet and she

didn't realize it until later. When she saw it she  felt so happy

and looked through it at the pictures. She can't read but she could

feel something just from the images. We had an incredible lesson with

her. She opened up with us and shared with us her concerns and

worries in life and we were able to bear strong testimony of the Book

of Mormon and how much peace it can bring into her life. She has

daughters that will be able to read to her. And they really wanted to

read as a family.

This week we have actually seen sooo many people so Sorella Marostica

can say goodbye. So there will be lots of pictures ;) And so many of

the lessons have been so powerful. The spirit has been so strong and

the people have been able to recognize that!

Solo voglio dire che questa missione è meravigliosa, incredibile,

bellissima. Imparo qualcosa ogni giorno. Lavoro missionario è

bellissimo. So che Dio guida questo lavoro e se siamo pronti possiamo

essere fortunati di fare parte in questo lavoro. Miracoli succedono.

Dio rispondono alle preghiere. E i cuori sono guariti.

Vi voglio un mondo di bene!

Sorella Dixon

:D

(Translation: Only I want to say that this mission is wonderful , incredible,

gorgeous. I learn something every day . Missionary work is

beautiful . I know that God is guiding this work and if we are ready we can

be lucky to take part in this work . Miracles happen .

God's answer to prayer . And hearts are healed .

I love you so much!

Sister Dixon

: D)

Here's lots of photos from Sorella Savannie. She didn't have time for captions, but from the looks of them so knows and loves many people in the great land of Italy!!

Companion packing to go home!

Italian shoes for the Elders! (the golden tan ones)

                                                                             Haircut!!

I think she looks Italian in this photo!! :)

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!"