The work in Milan is
just crazy! There are so many people...every time we go to a park or
knock on doors, we seem to have a lesson. The only problem is that no
one here really wants to commit because the gospel and its
blessings means making changes. We are constantly talking to people
because you have to jump from bus to train to subway to get anywhere.
Hardly anyone is acutally Milanese, but from other cities or other
countries. But it gives the city a pretty cool metropolitan feel. It's
actually almost fun to talk to people, so that makes it easier to get a
lot of contacts.
For example this week:
1- Someone told me
that my face was similar to the face of Jesus on the pass-along card I
gave her...and that my companion's was more like Maria's.
2- We prayed with a Buddhist in her house, and she wants us to talk with her Buddhist group about our religion.
3- One man told us we were going to hell because we completely
missed the message in the Bible, and that Christ's church has been in
function for thousands of years.
4- We met a man who is
starting his own religion, and as we prayed his wife saw a white light
over my companion's head, which signifies purity and that she brings a
message from God.
5- Last night we were ringing doorbells outside of a building, and
when we said we had a message about Jesus Christ that we know is true
and can bless her, she said, ''I believe you. I don't think that you
would lie.'' So she let us in and we taught the Restoration.
As you can see, every day is an adventure. Thank
heavens I have my companion, Sorella Padula. She is indefatiguable.
But we also laugh a lot, too. We already have a reputation for music
because her voice is AMAZING. President came to our sacrament meeting
sunday to bring the new senior couple, and Sorella Wolfgramm said,
''Don't have too much fun.'' I told her we already broke that rule, so
President said he would have to transfer us. We turned to each other
and said, ''Oh no, we absolutely despise each other, we cannot get along
at all.'' He laughed and said he would have to keep us together until
we get along.
There is an awesome family in the ward, the
Astudillos. They are from Ecquador. The kids are so cute, always
running to give us hugs and drawing pictures for us. We had a lesson
with their friends, Johnny and Karen and their six year old Gerald. We
taught the Restoration. The next week, we met with them for another FHE
and they had a million questions about the Book of Mormon. We spent
over an hour just answering questions like, ''Why do they call you
mormons if you're Christian?'' and other really good questions. At the
end, they said, ''Now we are that much more interested to read and find
out more.'' We were bummed because they said they couldn't come to
church, but on sunday during sunday school, the door opens and they walk
in with Fratello Astudillo! They liked church and seem to be coming
along really well. It was a really neat blessing.
Yesterday was yet another holiday, and we went up to
the Boy Scout camp to meet with the members and have a barbeque lunch.
It seems like the missionaries haven't worked much with members in the
past, because everyone was so excited to have us there. We were swamped
the whole time talking to everyone, including some non-member friends.
We sang and shared a message along with the two elders in our ward. We
really feel that working with the members is key. There is already a
new excitement about missionary work in the air, and as we go and meet a
few members every week, they tell us things like ''The missionaries
haven't been here in over a year!'' and many and trying to invite
friends over for an FHE. It truly is the better way. In fact, of every
1000 investigators, only 1 person will be baptized that is found by the
missionaries. But over 650 are baptized if they are friends and are
taught in a members home.
The other day I was reading in 3 Nefi 11 for the first
time in a long time. I read about becoming the sons and daughters of
God, which has been on my mind a lot lately. If we are already all
children of our Heavenly Father, what does it mean to become sons and
daughters of God? As I kept looking, I found a cross-reference I had
written in my English scriptures, in Moroni 10:33. Because in order to
become sons and daughters, we need to become more like Him. Or as he
commands, Be ye therefore perfect, even as I, or my Father in Heaven, is
perfect. This is what Moroni says,
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye asanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the bblood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your csins, that ye become dholy, without spot.
It is only through the Atonement that we truly become
sons and daughters of God. We can apply the redeeming power, cancelling
our sins and errors. But the sactifying power of the Atonement
applies His grace and allows us to overcome our faults and character
flaws, becoming a bit more Christlike each and every day. I know that
this is not only true, but I have experienced it daily out here in the
mission field. We are the only ones that can deny us access to the
sanctification and purification of the Atonement of our Lord and
Savior. It is difficult and often painful to look at our weaknesses,
but if we will but humble ourselves enough, they can become strengths as
we prayerfully make the necessary changes to come closer to our
Redeemer.
I love you all!
Love,
Sarah
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