Truth and Testimony

The miracle this week was our latest lesson with Erica.  We were teaching her about the Word of Wisdom (which she thankfully agreed with completely!) when she asked where it was written.  As we explained about the Doctrine and Covenants, she remembered reading a part of it when she found it among her father's things.  (He was the one who had also had a Book of Mormon).  She remembered how different it was from the Bible, but that as a 16 year old, she found a story about angels appearing to a boy hard to believe.  When we asked how she felt about it now, she bore a sweet one sentence testimony.  ''I now know it is true.''  It's hard to describe how you feel as a missionary when you hear your investigators bear their own personal testimonies about something you've been teaching and witnessing.  It's a type of joy that transcends any sort of worldly happiness.

Another cool thing happened on Sunday.  Usually I am a bit stressed about Erica - how will she like the class? is her hearing aide working?  who will she sit by? but the members have been really good about befriending her.  The relief society president even invited her to lunch!  Anyway, this sunday two members had her sit with them, so I was able to actually focus on the meeting.  I don't know how to describe it but as I was sitting there I finally felt...at home.  As if I belonged to the branch.  I felt a deep love and concern for each member and their eternal welfare.  I also felt a spritual embrace from my Heavenly Father for me.  It reminded me of learning to ride a bike with training wheels for the first time, and how going up the hill to our house, dad would have to give us a push occasionally and remind us to keep pedaling.  We'd peddle as fast as we could, but because of the incline or because we'd get tired, he'd give us another push.  It was like Heavenly Father was giving me a gentle push to help me up the hill and remind me to keep pedaling.

Other than Erica, things are a bit slow right now.  All of the tourists come to Florence in the summer, but all of the Florentines leave for the mountains or the sea to escape.  August is apparently the worst, when EVERYONE leaves for vacation and most of the stores close.  The other day we literally walked down the middle of a usually busy street without meeting even a dog.  My companion joked that it was like a scene from a western with the tumbleweed blowing.  I can't imagine what it will be like in a week or two.  We'll just have to hope that the Lord will have someone stick around that we can teach. ;) 

Keep on praying for us, but especially Florence.  We need help with this work - there's no way we can do it alone.

~Sorella Jacobson

Four Months Gone so Quick!

This post may end up being somewhat short because we ended up going to Siena today and barely missing a train so we are running a bit late.  Siena is BEAUTIFUL.  Definitely breathtaking.  It is the epitomy of Italy and still has a flavor of the Middle Ages-Rennaissance.  I took a bunch of pictures.  The highlight was climbing this bridge to a panoramic view where you could see the Duomo, the ''Campo'' where they have ''Palio'' or the famous horse race, San Francesco (another famous church), all surrounded by the Tuscan hills and vineyards as well as the mix matched clay rooftops.  I could have stayed up there for hours.  We also got to see the works of Bernini and Donatello in the Cathedral, museum, and baptistry. 

I feel like great things are in store for the city.  Some of our less actives have been coming consistently and members are starting to invite us over to meet their non-member friends, something which hasn't happened for a long time.  We are also revamping our investigator pool although it is hard for us to 'drop' people.  As Joseph Smith said, ''A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things will never have the power necessary for salvation.''  Yes, we are required to 'sacrifice' much but the promised blessings far outweigh the efforts.  It is difficult to see those who know it is true but are unwilling to change, or have an interest but are unwilling to pay the price to find out.  But hopefully we can plant seeds for others to reap later on as we look for those who are truly elect and prepared to accept the message.

I love you all.  Keep hanging in there.  Thanks for the love and support.  I pray for you always.
~Sorella Jacobson

It's a little bit hot here ...

It's been about 104° F and coupled with the humidity, it's been tough.  But with lots of water and popsicles, we manage to make it through.  This Sunday in church I was sad that Erica couldn't come when one of the elders walked in and told me there was a family waiting for me.  I was a bit confused but when I walked out, I saw a family from Sri Lanka that I had invited to church during our exchange.  What a surprise!  They stayed for sunday school and then had to leave, but we have an appointment with them friday and they want to come again sunday.  To me it was a fulfillment of Ether 12:6, the Lord worked the miracle after we showed the faith of opening our mouths.

As you know, that has really been a struggle for me.  But with the Lord's help, things are getting much better.  I still have a bit of fear, but I know that He'll bless me with what to say every time, without fail.  And what's the worst that can happen?  They either say no or they're not interested.  We also have an appointment with a girl I talked to for about a half hour on the bus.  She was way cool and like all Italians, was so nice about helping out my Italian.  We've been praying for new investigators, and it seems the Lord is answering our prayers!  

I also taught English class for the first time last night.  They had shut it down a few months back, but Sorella Modugno and I wanted to start it back up again.  I was a bit nervous but it actually went really well.  We only had three people but I am hoping more come.  Plus it's summer so a lot of people are out of town.  


Thank you for your prayers and the good news of Richard's call.  Enjoy the pictures!

add in a little fun...

the famous leaning tower of PISA

on an exchange in front
of the Duomo - downtown Florence

Called to Serve Together

I know Sarah would want me to share this great news with you all:

Elder Richard Braden Jacobson has been called to serve in the Baltimore, Maryland Mission.  He will preach the gospel in the English Language and depart for the MTC on Wednesday, August 31st. 

I know - from personal experience - that there is nothing quite as remarkable as serving with a sibling.  Sarah and Richard will be greatly blessed as they spread the gospel together on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  It's a bond that you can't ever quite break. 

And now, Sarah's good news report from the week:

I met Simonetta, an new investigator this week.  She sings in the choir for the opera house in Firenze, and her husband used to be one of the top pianists in all of Italy.  Two years ago he started tripping a lot, and then his leg became paralysed.  Now he is confined to a chair due to some disease similar to muscular dystrophy, and they cannot do anything to treat it.  Can you imagine?  It's like Beethoven when he lost his hearing!  After talking with Simonetta, she invited me to play their grand piano - a Steinway.  After a few simple arrangements theh husband let me borrow Moonlight Sonata to play, and then invited me back to play for him again.  Here I was, not having really practiced in years, performing for one of the most famous pianists in Italy, who asked me to come back.  Sorella Modugno almost cried when we left because he is usually OPPOSED to the missionaries and dislikes it when they come.  I am glad I had the chance to bear my testimony through music, no matter how amateur it may have been to him.  All those years and all that money wasn't wasted, mom!

In other news Erica continues to progress and came to church again.  She has already changed so much - there is a new light in her eyes that didn't used to be there before.  Also, yesterday she told me that the 'perchè' or 'why' isn't important to her anymore - why God would take away her children or husband - but she knows that she had this trial to strengthen her so she could help others.  I wanted to cry!  We have been working so hard to get her to this point and she did so in her own time.  Also, she always refuses to pray in front of us but told me that eventually she wants to do so - something she had said she would never do. 

 

So, things are going well in Firenze, minus the mosquitoes.  Seriously, they are the bane of my existence.  My legs look like they've been through a lawnmower.  Also, we are finally getting an exterminator to come and take care of the cockroaches in our apartment.  (After 9 weeks of calling) so that is happy news as well.  I feel certain that this transfer we will find new investigators to teach, and we're starting an English class with or without the Anziani (because we're sick of waiting for them.)

 

I love you all!  Thank you for your prayers!!

Miracles Do Happen!

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!  This week Erica came to church for the first time.  It was so cool to see her pull up and crack a big, huge smile.  Also, it was a testimony to me of how important it is to work with the members.  In the past, I guess most investigators don't get a warm reception, but they were so good to Erica.  First of all, one of them went all the way across the city to pick her up (2 hours there and back to get her and take her afterwards), the German sisters who have come to 3 or 4 lessons with us always sat by her to help her understand, anyone who knew an inkling of German came up to her and tried to say something, and many people who have attended branch council and knew that she was coming came up and shook her hand.  I wanted to cry.  The only unfortunate thing is that her hearing aid didn't work, so she couldn't hear anything.  But she said she felt really good, loved the music and children, and just felt bad she couldn't understand.  When we visited her yesterday, we talked about it again and answered her questions.

Also, a less active family came too!  Well, the husband and the son came but the mom had to stay home.  Because it's socialized healthcare, there's this thing called 'control' who can come around and see if you are following doctor's orders.  If not, they don't pay.  She had just had an operation so she had to stay home in case they came.  But we went and visited her afterwards and had a great lesson about the family.  As we were leaving, she ran after us and asked us if we could come back next week to do a Family Home Evening and teach their friend who is not a member but accepted to hear about the gospel from us! 

Thinking about this, as well as the fact that Erica is a referral from the members, it just helped me realize that the Lord really is guiding us.  After much praying and discussion with leaders, we've felt that we really need to focus on the branch, the members, and the less actives.  Sure, maybe we're not doing as much 'finding work' but I think the Lord has allowed us to see that we are doing what He would have us do.  Plus, we still do 'finding' when we go to the houses of less actives and such by doing 'casa' or knocking doors in the area, or trying to talk to people on the bus.  (Although that one hasn't worked out too well for me.  They usually think I'm crazy.)  But I know that this is the Lord's work and that if we seek to do it in His way, He will bless our efforts.  Because heaven knows there is no way we could do it ourselves. 

Funny story of the week:  This less active family really wants to watch a short film with us about the sculpter who walked 35 km to the temple every week to sculpt, even after he lost a leg.  I thought they kept talking about 'scarpe' or shoes, which I thought was a bit strange but maybe it was refering to the leg he made out of wood or something.  Anyway, when we were planning I said, °Okay, we'll go to this house and watch the film about the shoes with them and sunday.° Sorella Modugno said, °Shoes, what do you mean?  Oh about the 'scalperino!'  Scalperino, Sorella, not Scarperino° and I said °Well, he doesn't have a leg, so I guess that means he doesn't have a shoe, either.°  It's much more funny in Italian °Ma lui e senze una gamba è significa senza scarpe° 

I love you all!