Hello from Bergamo!!
Bergamo is another one of the prettiest cities in the mission (after Firenze). I think President Wolfgramm is spoiling me. It consists of two parts, and the upper city is the more historical and beautiful. We have yet to go up there because there aren't many residents, but are planning on going next pday with two people we are teaching (Daniel and Marlyn - see below). From what I can see, though, I am going to love it. Even though it falls second after Firenze, the members here are definitely first! This ward is absolutely AMAZING in that those who are active are very strong and involved. They have tons of activities from Young Single Adults to Family Home Evenings and musical nights. They are willing to come to lessons with us and are constantly trying to feed us or give us food. (We are starting to buy less food which will hopefully help me stay within our allotment!) The bishop here is a saint (no pun intented) who is the epitome of a shepherd watching over the flock. He works very closely with us regarding investigators, less actives, new converts, etc. I felt so welcome and at home the first sunday. They had me bear my testimony and many members came up to greet me afterwards.
Miracles? You bet! We have two baptisms right around the corner. One is Sabrina, a 9 year old whose mother is a member but whose father is not. We played this game with her about the commandments with her cousins who were over (who also aren't members) and she absolutely loved it. She's really excited to be baptized. The brilliant thing is that we've commited her to read the Book of Mormon with her dad every day, and vice versa have commited the father to help his daughter read the Book of Mormon, each without the other knowing. I am sure his daugher's example will touch his heart one day, even if it's not immediate.
The other is Marlyn, a young woman from Bolivia who is engaged to Daniel, a member who used to be less active but is also being taught and returning to the church. Those two are going to have such a strong eternal family one day. There is such a light in their eyes. Daniel has become like a rock in the church and Marlyn can hardly wait for baptism.
Monday night Daniel asked us to come find his sister (16) and brother (14) who aren't members. He's been worried about them and some of the choices they've been making, especially his sister who's been having some problems. We went to get a gelato together and at first they were very closed and didn't want to talk with us. We were frantically trying to think of what to say, how to begin teaching, when the spirit took over and I asked a question I would have never thought about asking. It almost seemed to come out of the blue. Somehow it just opened the doors and Sorella Pastano bore such an amazing testimony about prayer. At the beginning, the sister didn't even know about the nature of God. By the end, she said the closing prayer to a loving Heavenly Father in the name of Christ and her older brother, Daniel, started crying. We were all crying as we sat in silence for a few minutes. We commited them to go home and pray that very night, to pour out their hearts to the Lord and ask to feel His love for them.
It is lessons like these that remind you about why you're here. There's a feeling that enters your heart that tells you you've known these people before, and that you were supposed to find them. I am so humbled and amazed at these precious times when the veil seems so thin. How amazing that I'm from Utah, serving half a world away in Italy, talking with Bolivians, in a language that we weren't born with and yet we feel like family? It's impossible that the Lord is not guiding us and directing us. Absolutely impossible.
New Address:
Sorella Sarah Jacobson
Via Maglio del Rame 13
24124 Bergamo
Italia
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