Hi everyone!
Another fantastic week in Italy! Last week for PDay we went to see the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Rome is so gorgeous! Today we're going to San Giovanni, a church, and Le Sacre Scale (meaning the sacred steps), which are supposedly steps that Christ walked on on His way to meet with Pontius Pilate and have since been moved to Rome.
I still don't know when I'll be leaving Rome. We asked President yesterday during zone conference, and he said he doesn't even know anything. But he did say that my assignment has been changed from Prato to Pistoia. They're right next to each other, and both sets of sisters live together in Prato. But I'll be serving in Pistoia. This transfer is so weird! Not only will I be going senior companion, but we will also be blown in, which means neither of us have served in Pistoia before, and opening a city, which means that sisters haven't served in Pistoia for awhile. So it should be a very interesting adventure once I finally make it up to Pistoia.
The work here in Rome is great! Tanya is excited for her baptism on Saturday! The elders have a bunch of baptisms coming up, too. Thursday we saw so many miracles! We had about 12 backup plans, and every single one of them fell through. We really felt like we should go to the park. On our way, we crossed through a little tiny patch of grass, and there was only one lady there. We really wanted to talk to her, and were trying to figure out how to go up to her, when her dog came running up to us. Dogs are my favorite ways to start conversations! Everyone here has a dog, and it's a very non-threatening conversation starter that always leads to people asking us who we are. So he came up to us and wanted to play, and we started talking to a wonderful woman about the Gospel. After that we didn't feel that we needed to go to the park anymore. Sister Johnson felt like we should go visit a contact at the gelateria that she owns. So we were walking there, and we passed a bus stop. A man stopped us and asked if we speak english. We said yes, and then he asked us if we're ministers for Christ. He asked us tons of great questions and wants to learn more. Then Saturday we got lost going somewhere Sister Johnson goes all the time. It was really strange that we were lost, but we ended up on a tram, and a guy started asking us questions about who we were. He was really curious about our message. I'm continually amazed at how the Lord puts people in our paths always. When we're willing to be an instrument in His hands, He can use us to produce miracles. We now have 3 great contacts who want to learn more about the restored Gospel! This work is so amazing!
Yesterday we had zone conference with some amazing trainings! Almost every single one talked about humility and reliance on our Heavenly Father. The zone leaders gave a great training on how Heavenly Father could easily do this work by Himself. He doesn't need us to do it for Him, but instead allows us the opportunity to serve Him and learn and grow. As we rely on Him, we learn to trust Him. I have seen so readily how He makes way more of me than I could even make on my own. The assistants also talked about relying on the Lord in our lives. They said that when times are tough, our loving Heavenly Father is trying to tell us that it's time to talk to Him. He wants us to become closer to Him. He loves us so much and wants to help us. It's up to us to draw closer to Him.
I love my mission so much! It's changed my life forever. I've learned so much about the Atonement, the importance of following the Spirit, and relying on my Heavenly Father. I know that I am nothing on my own, but through the grace of God, He can work miracles through me.
Vi voglio bene!
Sorella Hawkey
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
March 18, 2009
Hey everyone-
I'm in Roma! It's gorgeous! Sunday nights we do zone singing at Piazza del Popolo. It's so pretty, and there are about 30 missionaries in the Rome area. It's a lot of fun. Today we're going all around Rome for PDay to see the sights. My companion is Sister Johnson, and she's amazing! I'm having a lot of fun with her. I'm starting to get really attached to Rome, and I'm sad that I have to leave in a couple weeks.
This week has been nuts! It seems like so long ago that I was in La Spezia. Wednesday I finished saying goodbye to everyone. It was really hard to say bye to Jennifer. She's so amazing! She promised to send me pictures of her baptism, though. We had dinner Wednesday night with Daniella and her family. They were also hard to say bye to. She made me promise to write her, because she wants to know who I marry and all about my kids in the future. She's so cute! The boys wrote me a really cute letter, too. I love that family!
Thursday was our trip to Rome. I spent most of the day at Termini, a massive train station. It was fun though. There's a certain spot where all the missionaries meet on transfer day, so I got to see almost everyone from the MTC, and meet a bunch of other missionaries. The zone leader in Rome, who is in my district, knows Jared Carlson really well. They're in the same stake in New York. And my district leader is Dax's cousin! We shared some good Dax stories.
Friday nights we volunteer at a food bank. We got to talk to some great people! I also got about 50 marriage proposals. So Dad, don't worry, if all else fails, I can go to an Italian food bank and find a husband there! The rest of the week, I've been meeting our investigators and working with the members. It's a ward here in Rome, so it's a bit bigger than La Spezia. We have 8 missionaries serving in Rome 3, the district and ward that I'm in- 6 elders and 2 sisters. It's a fun district, and the ward is awesome! We have a baptism coming up in about a week and a half. It's a member who got baptized in Russia, but no one can find her membership records so she has to get rebaptized. She's been a member for about 25 years, though, but we still have to teach her all the lessons before she can get baptized, since technically she's an investigator. She's so cute!! Since I won't be there for Jennifer's baptism, I'm excited that we have one here to go to!
Tuesday mornings we do service for Hannah, an older woman who we do grocery shopping for. She's 83 and from Germany, and is an absolute riot! She reminds me a little of Grandma Lil, full of spunk. She is a lot of fun! Next PDay she wants to take us to see one of the churches here in Rome and teach us all about the history of the church. She loves art history and classical music. She found out I play the piano, and she wants to introduce me to a concert pianist here in Rome that she knows. Her roommate is the organist for the Vatican, and we met him, too. Hannah is adorable!
The work is going great! And I love my mission! I've been thinking a lot about the Book of Mormon the last couple months. I've noticed a huge difference in my teaching when I use the Book of Mormon and when I don't. It's such an amazing book! It's the word of God, written by prophets for our day! It's such a miracle that we have it to hold in our hands and read it whenever we want. I love the Book of Mormon so much and am so grateful for it. I wish everyone could see how important it is!
I love you all! Have a great week!
Sorella Hawkey
I'm in Roma! It's gorgeous! Sunday nights we do zone singing at Piazza del Popolo. It's so pretty, and there are about 30 missionaries in the Rome area. It's a lot of fun. Today we're going all around Rome for PDay to see the sights. My companion is Sister Johnson, and she's amazing! I'm having a lot of fun with her. I'm starting to get really attached to Rome, and I'm sad that I have to leave in a couple weeks.
This week has been nuts! It seems like so long ago that I was in La Spezia. Wednesday I finished saying goodbye to everyone. It was really hard to say bye to Jennifer. She's so amazing! She promised to send me pictures of her baptism, though. We had dinner Wednesday night with Daniella and her family. They were also hard to say bye to. She made me promise to write her, because she wants to know who I marry and all about my kids in the future. She's so cute! The boys wrote me a really cute letter, too. I love that family!
Thursday was our trip to Rome. I spent most of the day at Termini, a massive train station. It was fun though. There's a certain spot where all the missionaries meet on transfer day, so I got to see almost everyone from the MTC, and meet a bunch of other missionaries. The zone leader in Rome, who is in my district, knows Jared Carlson really well. They're in the same stake in New York. And my district leader is Dax's cousin! We shared some good Dax stories.
Friday nights we volunteer at a food bank. We got to talk to some great people! I also got about 50 marriage proposals. So Dad, don't worry, if all else fails, I can go to an Italian food bank and find a husband there! The rest of the week, I've been meeting our investigators and working with the members. It's a ward here in Rome, so it's a bit bigger than La Spezia. We have 8 missionaries serving in Rome 3, the district and ward that I'm in- 6 elders and 2 sisters. It's a fun district, and the ward is awesome! We have a baptism coming up in about a week and a half. It's a member who got baptized in Russia, but no one can find her membership records so she has to get rebaptized. She's been a member for about 25 years, though, but we still have to teach her all the lessons before she can get baptized, since technically she's an investigator. She's so cute!! Since I won't be there for Jennifer's baptism, I'm excited that we have one here to go to!
Tuesday mornings we do service for Hannah, an older woman who we do grocery shopping for. She's 83 and from Germany, and is an absolute riot! She reminds me a little of Grandma Lil, full of spunk. She is a lot of fun! Next PDay she wants to take us to see one of the churches here in Rome and teach us all about the history of the church. She loves art history and classical music. She found out I play the piano, and she wants to introduce me to a concert pianist here in Rome that she knows. Her roommate is the organist for the Vatican, and we met him, too. Hannah is adorable!
The work is going great! And I love my mission! I've been thinking a lot about the Book of Mormon the last couple months. I've noticed a huge difference in my teaching when I use the Book of Mormon and when I don't. It's such an amazing book! It's the word of God, written by prophets for our day! It's such a miracle that we have it to hold in our hands and read it whenever we want. I love the Book of Mormon so much and am so grateful for it. I wish everyone could see how important it is!
I love you all! Have a great week!
Sorella Hawkey
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 11, 2009
Ciao!
So we got the transfer calls Monday. Everyone's phone call with President was super short, and then he got to me. He started out the phone call with, "Sister Hawkey, this transfer is going to be a little bit...um...strange...for you." After a long and complicated explanation, it came down to this. This next transfer I'll be in Prato and I'll be senior companion with Sorella Millis. Which means I will no longer be able to blame my senior companion when things go wrong! However, for the first 1 to 3 weeks of the transfer I'm going to Rome. The sister in Rome 3 is training this next transfer, but the sister she's training got delayed because of visa problems. There are 4 sisters that live in Prato, 2 for another town about 15 minutes away, so Sorella Millis, my new companion, will be with the other 2 sisters until I get there, and I will be in Rome until the new sister comes. So it's a little bit confusing, and I'm going to have to move twice in the next couple weeks, but I'm excited! I've heard great things about Prato! And it's about 15 minutes from Florence, so we can go on PDays! And I'll still be in the same district (as in smaller version of a stake) so I'll get to see all the members from La Spezia at district conference next month!
So other than packing and saying bye to everyone, my last week here in La Spezia has been great! Every Saturday morning, we go with Sorella Nardi (an older lady in the branch) on a walk along the coast from San Terenzo to Lerici. It's right along the beach, and is absolutely gorgeous! I know what you're thinking...missionary work is so hard sometimes! I don't know how I do it, either! This week she wanted to take us to the castle in Lerici. It was so much fun! It's gorgeous! They turned it into a dinosaur museum, which was kinda strange, but a lot of fun.
Saturday night we had a family home evening with Rita and Salvatore and the elders. It was fun! They are having a lot of trials in their lives and we wanted to go play games with them and cheer them up a little bit. They are so awesome! I'm going to miss that family!
Monday and Tuesday we visited a bunch of people to say bye. The Gianelli family, the ones we spent Christmas with, took us out for pizza Monday night. Tonight we're going over to Daniella's house for dinner. They're a family from english class. She said she'll make me whatever I want. She also said that when I come back with my family, we can stay at her house! Yesterday, we went to the Margheriti's for lunch. They are such an incredible family! They are my family away from home! I'm really going to miss them! We also visited some investigators and inactive members that we work with. Then last night we went to visit the Giannini family, the branch mission leader. They have 2 little kids, and their son is one of my favorite little boys in the world! He's so cute! His name's Luca. Me and my companion had a pillow fight with the 2 kids. They're so cute!
Anyways, life on the mission is amazing! I love it so much! I'm so grateful to serve my Savior. I love being able to preach the Gospel all day everyday, and help others see how important it is. I love you all and hope you're doing great!
Vi voglio bene!
Sorella Hawkey
So we got the transfer calls Monday. Everyone's phone call with President was super short, and then he got to me. He started out the phone call with, "Sister Hawkey, this transfer is going to be a little bit...um...strange...for you." After a long and complicated explanation, it came down to this. This next transfer I'll be in Prato and I'll be senior companion with Sorella Millis. Which means I will no longer be able to blame my senior companion when things go wrong! However, for the first 1 to 3 weeks of the transfer I'm going to Rome. The sister in Rome 3 is training this next transfer, but the sister she's training got delayed because of visa problems. There are 4 sisters that live in Prato, 2 for another town about 15 minutes away, so Sorella Millis, my new companion, will be with the other 2 sisters until I get there, and I will be in Rome until the new sister comes. So it's a little bit confusing, and I'm going to have to move twice in the next couple weeks, but I'm excited! I've heard great things about Prato! And it's about 15 minutes from Florence, so we can go on PDays! And I'll still be in the same district (as in smaller version of a stake) so I'll get to see all the members from La Spezia at district conference next month!
So other than packing and saying bye to everyone, my last week here in La Spezia has been great! Every Saturday morning, we go with Sorella Nardi (an older lady in the branch) on a walk along the coast from San Terenzo to Lerici. It's right along the beach, and is absolutely gorgeous! I know what you're thinking...missionary work is so hard sometimes! I don't know how I do it, either! This week she wanted to take us to the castle in Lerici. It was so much fun! It's gorgeous! They turned it into a dinosaur museum, which was kinda strange, but a lot of fun.
Saturday night we had a family home evening with Rita and Salvatore and the elders. It was fun! They are having a lot of trials in their lives and we wanted to go play games with them and cheer them up a little bit. They are so awesome! I'm going to miss that family!
Monday and Tuesday we visited a bunch of people to say bye. The Gianelli family, the ones we spent Christmas with, took us out for pizza Monday night. Tonight we're going over to Daniella's house for dinner. They're a family from english class. She said she'll make me whatever I want. She also said that when I come back with my family, we can stay at her house! Yesterday, we went to the Margheriti's for lunch. They are such an incredible family! They are my family away from home! I'm really going to miss them! We also visited some investigators and inactive members that we work with. Then last night we went to visit the Giannini family, the branch mission leader. They have 2 little kids, and their son is one of my favorite little boys in the world! He's so cute! His name's Luca. Me and my companion had a pillow fight with the 2 kids. They're so cute!
Anyways, life on the mission is amazing! I love it so much! I'm so grateful to serve my Savior. I love being able to preach the Gospel all day everyday, and help others see how important it is. I love you all and hope you're doing great!
Vi voglio bene!
Sorella Hawkey
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
March 4, 2009
Ciao!
This week has been great!!! First of all, Jennifer wants to get baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for her!!!!!! We all fasted together with her this Sunday to pick a date. We had an amazing appointment with her yesterday. We don't have a date set yet, but she feels ready and is so excited!
We're working with Carmella, the lady from the Philipines whose husband is in the hospital in Pisa with leukemia. She's great! She has so much faith! We hope to make her an investigator soon. Unfortunately, Presciella decided she doesn't want to take the lessons anymore, and Rita isn't doing too well, but the work continues to move forward.
Last night we had a dinner appointment with an amazing family from english class! They are such an incredible family, and SO funny! We're going to talk to them more during english class about taking the lessons! I think I've mentioned them before, and I really hope that they want to learn more about the gospel. Daniella, the mom, was so worried that I wouldn't like the food she made. She kept asking me if it was good, and saying that if I don't like it, I can just tell her and she'll make me anything else I want. She's so cute! I love Italians! They are so giving, and make everyone feel like family.
On Monday, we were on a bus home from our district meeting. I started talking to an elderly lady. She was so cute! She was telling me all about her family. We both got off at the same stop, and she asked if I would walk home with her. I told her that I would be happy to. She got tears in her eyes and said that normally no one even notices her, and she wonders sometimes if Jesus loves her. Then she said that she knows He does love her, because He sent me to walk home with her that day. She pointed to my nametag and said, "You make me feel Jesus' love." It was such an amazing experience! I didn't do anything, it was all Him. But I was so grateful to be an instrument in His hands to help one of His daughters feel His love. This work isn't about me. This isn't even MY mission- it's His. I'm just the instrument, and I'm forever grateful to be an instrument in His hands.
Hope you all have a great week! Vi voglio bene!
Sorella Hawkey
This week has been great!!! First of all, Jennifer wants to get baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for her!!!!!! We all fasted together with her this Sunday to pick a date. We had an amazing appointment with her yesterday. We don't have a date set yet, but she feels ready and is so excited!
We're working with Carmella, the lady from the Philipines whose husband is in the hospital in Pisa with leukemia. She's great! She has so much faith! We hope to make her an investigator soon. Unfortunately, Presciella decided she doesn't want to take the lessons anymore, and Rita isn't doing too well, but the work continues to move forward.
Last night we had a dinner appointment with an amazing family from english class! They are such an incredible family, and SO funny! We're going to talk to them more during english class about taking the lessons! I think I've mentioned them before, and I really hope that they want to learn more about the gospel. Daniella, the mom, was so worried that I wouldn't like the food she made. She kept asking me if it was good, and saying that if I don't like it, I can just tell her and she'll make me anything else I want. She's so cute! I love Italians! They are so giving, and make everyone feel like family.
On Monday, we were on a bus home from our district meeting. I started talking to an elderly lady. She was so cute! She was telling me all about her family. We both got off at the same stop, and she asked if I would walk home with her. I told her that I would be happy to. She got tears in her eyes and said that normally no one even notices her, and she wonders sometimes if Jesus loves her. Then she said that she knows He does love her, because He sent me to walk home with her that day. She pointed to my nametag and said, "You make me feel Jesus' love." It was such an amazing experience! I didn't do anything, it was all Him. But I was so grateful to be an instrument in His hands to help one of His daughters feel His love. This work isn't about me. This isn't even MY mission- it's His. I'm just the instrument, and I'm forever grateful to be an instrument in His hands.
Hope you all have a great week! Vi voglio bene!
Sorella Hawkey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
