The Count Down is On!

I'll tell you why this week has been absolutely wonderful:

 

First, they announced Eugenia's baptism in church along with Antonella (the elder's investigator).  She was so happy afterward.  And people were coming up and talking with her.  She had her interview on Tuesday which went really well.  Then she just comes up with one of those two-liners that you will remember for the rest of your life.  We were reviewing tithing and going over fast offerings, and she says, ''You know, I think I'll be able to do the whole tithing thing.  I was looking at my budget, and I realized that if I pay tithing with all the money I used to use on cigarettes, I'll come out just fine.''  She hasn't even paid tithing yet and she's already realizing how much she will be blessed!  I cannot even tell you how excited I am!

 

If that weren't enough, we had a lesson with Geraldine at a member's house after church.  Originally, she had decided to wait until after she got back from vacation to be baptized.  At the end of the lesson, she says, ''Sister, is it too late for me to be baptized on the 28th?  I think I'd like to do it.''  We told her to go home and pray about it.  The next day we had one of the most spiritual lessons I've had.  We talked about living prophets and took the amazing Capece couple with us.  At the end of the lesson, I asked, ''Were you able to ask Heavenly Father about baptism?''  ''Yes,'' she said.  ''What did He say?''  I ask.  Are you ready for this?  I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.  She responds, ''I feel that now is the right time for me to be baptized.''  There just isn't a greater feeling.  I gave her a big hug and we were all laughing and congratulating her.  She just had this big smile on her face.

 

Geraldine is one of the humblest, most faithful people I know.  She originally wanted to wait so she could learn more, because we've esentially taught her everything in 2 weeks.  It's been such a great experience, because we've had to keep everything so simple and basic, that the spirit has really been present and able to bear testimony.  Between every lesson, she goes to the lds website to look up everything in both Tagolog and English.  When she doesn't understand, she says, ''Sister, will you please explain?''  I call her quite often, and she says things like, ''Sister, do you think I will be able to answer all of the questions?''  (In regards to the interview.)  Her prayer at the end of the lesson where she decided to be baptized was one of the most beautiful I have ever heard in my life.  She always thanks the Lord for sending her ''my missionaries'' and prays for our families.  She thanks Him for showing her the path and asks for the faith to continue to learn.  She is going to be such a strength for her family...she also wants her children to be ''Mormons.''

 

You think I'm done with all the great things, don't you?  Not a chance. 

 

On top of that, we were finally able to get ahold of Isabel, our baptismal date who went MIA for 3 weeks.  Turns out that she had lost her phone and they had no way to contact us.  What a relief!  So hopefully we can get her back on track again. 

 

So as you can see, the Lord is blessing us beyond measure.  Two baptisms (3 with Antonella) and a concert this weekend, another concert in Bergamo the following, and two other people with baptismal dates.  Plus, we're meeting tons of other awesome people, like Nikol from Nuernberg who speaks German, Italian, AND English.  And happens to be an engieneer.  And I actually was able to talk with him in German, for once. 

 

Love you all.  Remember that faith precedes the miracle.

 

Sarah

In Concert!

More and More Blessed

These past few weeks have been absolutely insane.  People are starting to come up to US to ask us questions.  For example, I was talking to this guy on the bus, who wasn't very interested.  But then we get off, and another man stops us asking, ''What exactlty is that book you were talking about?''  We end up teaching him a mini lesson about the book of mormon.  Meanwhile, another gentleman is standing off to the side, watching us.  As we finish with the first, he comes up to us and says, ''Hey, what is it you guys are talking about?''  So we teach HIM about the book of mormon, restoration, etc.  Then, the next day in the same place, a couple sitting on a bench say, ''Hey, which church are you from?''  As we talked about the restoration and my comp recited the first vision, they just kept saying, ''Che bello, che bello.''  ''How beautiful, how beautiful.''  None of them turned into investigators (yet) but I now know what the Lord means when Ammon and his brethren taught EVERYWHERE: 

 

''And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them...'' Alma 26:29.

 

Sarah and her companion also recently gave another concert in Milano:

 

THE CONCERT!  How can I forget?!  It was one of the coolest things I've experienced in my entire mission.  It went SO well.  At the end, we finished with this rendition of ''How Great Thou Art'' that was so powerful, that when our ward mission leader got up to bear his testimony, he couldn't even speak.  (And he's one who speaks a lot!)  Also, one of our members brought her neighbor, who had received lessons before.  So we're hopefully going to set up an appt with her. But the most amazing thing was how the members responded.  The loved it so much, that they want us to do it again!  Everyone, and I mean everyone, kept asking, ''You have to do it again.  When will you do it again?!''  Little Ivan, from the Astudillo family, started crying while I played ''If you could hie to Kolob'' because he said he felt the spirit.  Sorella Wolfgramm said, ''This is one of the highlights of our mission.  I couldn't be any prouder of our two daughters.''  All of the members kept trying to invite us over for dinner to thank us.  People told us that we had to find each other after the mission and go on tour or something, because we are the perfect companionship. 

 

It was so wonderful to be able to give back to the ward - to thank them for all they do and who they are.  It wasn't about the compliments or the quality of the music, but the spirit that all of us felt there.  I know that the Lord blessed us for all of those years in practice, and allowed us to put them together for this ward, so they could feel how much they mean to us a missionaries.  

 

This week, they repeated the concert for the Institute:

 

We repeated the concert for the GANS (young adults).  There were only about 7 people there, but it was worth it.  Before it started, I talked with Sorella Capece who was having a really rough time.  She was frustrated with a lot of things, and understandably so.  She said she needed this to help her regroup.  There was such a special spirit - at the end she came up to me just bawling.  So we at least helped one person.

 

And the miracles continue:

 

Just when you think you've had the best lesson ever, the Lord sends you an even better one to prove you wrong.  The Crisciones are the best!  Litlle Charlotte and I made lemonade...it's been so long since I've ''babysat.''  it reminded me of Portia.  Meanwhile, Daniela made pasta with shrimp, my companion and Rachel fished the salad, and Giovanni set the table and entertained.  Because Daniela lived in NY for a few years, it was this awesome mix of Italian-English.  Dinner was delicious, and everything always seemed to tie into the gospel.

 

 The lesson on the Restoration blew my mind.  The spirit was SO powerful.  Rachel and Giovanni bore simple, short Preach my Gospel testimonies.  Somehow Giovganni compared the gospel to a ''map'' and then everyone picked up on that metaphor, even Daniela, for the entire lesson.  We talked about God revealing the map through prophets, different interpretations during the apostasy, etc.  When we asked Daniela if she would read and pray to know if our message was true, she said, ''I already know it's true.  I can feel it.  I can see it in the way you live.''  We invited her to baptism and she said she was open and would like to, but still is attached to the nuns that she grew up with, and has a lot of questions and doubts to present to the Lord.  Befoe we could say anything, Rachel just asks the most inspired question, ''Do you believe you can ask God these things and that He will answer?''  She and Giovanni talked about Christ knocking at the door.  It was exactly what she needed.  She said, ''I guess I need to start talking more openly and look for my ''map''' through prayer and reading.''  WOW!  There was such a peace, and you could visibly see how tranquil she felt.  The spirit was definitely guiding that lesson, through us, Daniela, and especially Giovanni and Rachel.

 

~Love to you all, Sorella Jacobson

  

 

New Miracles

New miracles? Yep!  Janet.  She came to church a few weeks ago, and the lesson was on the word of wisdom, which really touched her.  I was surprised because the word of wisdom isn't what you usually think of when you think of spiritual.  I talked with her for a minute afterwards, and she started crying, asking how you help someone who drinks.  I told her that you continue to love the person, just not what they're doing.  I was way surprised when I called a few days later, and she said she wasn't interested.  But two days ago, one of the young single adults set up an appt with us and his friend...who ended up being Janet.  When the Lord is involved, you usually can't escape.  We've had two really neat lessons now, with her telling us how she wants to change her life and come closer to the Savior.  The Atonement is so real and brings so much hope.  It's never too late, and there's no wound that cannot be healed thanks to the atonement. 

 

 There are so many little miracles that happen every day that it's hard to write them all to you.  The Lord blessed us with another 31 lesson week, so we are exhausted but happy. 

 

The other day on the bus, this woman kept looking at me, like she knew me.  I went over to talk with her, and she asked me who Jesus Christ was for me.  I told her that He is the Son of God, and our Saviour.  I don't know how to describe it, but I felt as if we already knew each other.  As if we were distant relatives or something.  She said, ''I'm so proud of you.  You are beautiful, and have chosen well in following Jesus Christ.  It is so refreshing to see young people demonstrate their faith, without shame or reservation.''  I wish you could have seen the look in her eye, as if it were someone familiar.  It's one of those things that happens every once in a while.  We have their phone number, so hopefully we can teach her, her husband, and three year old son.  

 

That's it for now.  I love you all!

~Sorella Jacobson

You're Invited...

Homecoming for Sorella Sarah Jacobson
Sunday, August 26th
11:00 am
Church on 4060 South and Camille Drive
(right behind Olympus HS)

Luncheon to follow at the Jacobson Home

The Fourth Quarter

Wow, we are seeing miracle after miracle here in Milan!  For example, on saturday we were knocking doors and found Eugenia.  She is about 28, from Romania, and let us in.  She was smoking and drinking coffee, and to be honest I didn't think anything was going to come out of it.  She ended up being super open, though, talking about how she believes in God but has lost faith in the priests.  She said, ''They're not like they once were.  Before you went to confess and you had to do at least a few 'Hail Marys' and actually repent.  Now you go and they say, 'Don't worry, you're forgiven.'  That's just not right!''  She also has a view that most of the people here have adopted - I like to call it the ''all roads lead to Rome'' point of view - where it's good enough just to believe because there's only one God anyway. We talked a little about the restoration and left her a Book of Mormon.

Yesterday, we went to see her again.  One of our members came with her 4 year-old daughter.  I was thinking ''Oh no, poor little Selena (the daughter) is going to comment on the cigarettes, this is going to be a disaster, Sorella Astudillo is going to hate us for introducing her daughter to this kind of environment'' etc.  But, the opposite happened.  Selena sat right next to Eugenia on the couch and asked her questions.  I don't know how, but it just opened Eugenia right up.  Her heart was somehow softened.  We read 3 Nefi 11 together, emphasizing the doctrine of Christ.  Plus, she had actually read before the appointment!  She accepted to keep reading and praying, is going with the Astudillo family to church, and when I invited her to baptism, she said, ''Va bene!'' or ''Sounds good!''  My companion and I were looking at each other like, did we just hear that right?  It was the cutest thing when she then gave Selena a few stuffed animals and Selena said, ''Ciao Uuugenia.''  It showed me that God is preparing ALL of His children, not just those we think are prepared.

Another miracle is Ann, whom we met with Sunday.  Two weeks ago I was talking with a mother and daughter on the bus, when Ann comes out of the blue, interrupts, and starts asking me all of these questions.  She then says, ''I have to get off here, but can I give you my number?''  The absolute reverse of what usually happens.  We set up an appt, but she didn't show so I was almost ready to write her off.  However, on Sunday we had an appt cancel, so I decided to give her a call.  She answered and said, ''Sorella JACOBSON!  (No one ever remembers my name.)  Allora, when can we meet?''  We met with her and asked her expections, established our purpose, and she also accepted to be baptized.  I had chills when she said to my companion, pointing to me, ''When I saw here on the bus, I just knew that I needed to talk with her.  I don't think it's a coincidence that the elderly man I usually am home with was in the hospital that day at that time, so that we could meet.''  I have never seen the spirit work so strongly with someone like that before, and see someone act on His promptings, without having received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Remeber that one family that I told you about recently?  Full of new converts, less actives, and investigators who gave me birthday presents?  The mom has officially left cigarettes behind, and is going through the challenge of overcoming her addiction so she can be rebaptized with Dylan, our 14 year-old investigator.  It's amazing how in a few short weeks, they've already become like a second, or third, or fourth family to me.  Noemi, the 9 year-old new convert got up to share her testimony in church.  She talked about how reading the Book of Mormon every night as a family has helped them grow closer together and prepare to go to the temple to be sealed.  She related that her mom is quitting smoking, and how they are fasting and praying together to help her.  It was a tender moment.  It reminded me again of the true reason we're here...not just to bring people the blessings of baptism, but help everyone become eternal families.  That is the greatest goal, the true fruit of the tree, which is desirable above all that is desirable to make one happy.

As you know, I love you all.  Thank you for your prayers, letters, pictures, and emails.  I've received so many letters from family and friends that I know I will have support and angels surrounding me until the end.  It's the fourth quarter, and you can bet your money I'm leaving it all on the court.  I didn't come out here to play a good three quarters and then give up the game at the end.  I've been conditioning my whole life, and thank you to all my fans cheering me on from the sidelines.  Without you, I wouldn't be here.

Love,

Sorella Jacobson

Milano

Hanging on the Metro

 

Visiting Torino