I Battesimi!

Ciao!!!
Mamma mia!  Questo weekend (and yes thats how you say it in italian) è stato bellissimo!  When we were sitting last night on the bus i was thinking about people i needed to call and stuff to do to get ready for today and then i realized that it is pday today!  HOw did that come so fast?  We were doing so much this week I just lost track of time.  Seriously a good week though.  Its not very often in this mission that 3 baptisms happen in the same weekend.  We are tired from our travelling because we dont have a font so we have to go to rome for baptisms but it was all worth it.

Ill start with Jessenia.  So her baptism was saturday.  We get to Rome at like 11 in the morning.  First i want to say that Giorgia from english course was with us all day and saw the baptism.  It was incredible!  I was shocked at her willingness to give up her saturday to come and see a baptism. She doesnt want to show it but she is so curious about the church.  We are just taking it slow with her and its going to be great.  Anyway, we get to the church and the Anziani had already been filling up the font for an hour and there was NOTHING in there hardly.  The font is huge and i dont think either of them had ever seen a baptism there so they werent aware of how long it would take.  So that was our first freak out.  THe baptism was at 3:30 and at 3 there still wasnt enough water.  These 3 random young guys from Norway show up (they are hear visiting or something and found out about the baptism and came.  So random.  Members and spoke PERFECT english.  We are now thinking they were the 3 nephites).  They figure everything out and find some hose and hook it up and solved the whole water problem and were the heros of the baptism.  As for jessenia, she was glowing. I have never seen that many people at a baptism. SHe had such a great turn out because everyone loves her.  Even president and sorella kelly were there!  It was amazing.  SHe looked like and angel and was so happy to be there.  I love her!  It was just such a reminder about how important that step into the gospel is.  I think for us as members we forget that so much.  What actually or baptism meant for us in our lives.  She is so ready for it and has had to wait for so long for that day.  NOw she is a baptized and confirmed member della Chiesa di gesù cristo dei santi degli ultimi giorni!  There were so many people in our sacrament for her confirmation that people had to sit in chairs in the hall because there wasnt space in the chapel.  SO GREAT!

Sunday was the baptism of Giorgia and Edoardo.  Another great day.  ANd the font was filled this time without any problems:)  Our ward was so happy to be there because they have watched these little kids have such a desire to be baptized but not been able to because the dad said no.  They were so excited!  THere dad came and actually was really pleasant.  I think it was so good for him because until this point he has thought everything in our church is just a mystery that we dont want people to know. So his wife just told him to come and see for himself was a baptism is.  Its not a mystery and anyone can come and see.  We are hopeful that this has struck something in him.  A curiousity to really know what it is.  THat would be great!  I just can see them being an eternal family.  I know their dad needs more time but i also know that he will come around.  His kids were sent to him because they are the perfect example.

Another miracle is Umberto.  He is the boyfriend of Jessica in our ward.  Jessica is INCREDIBLE!  Such a good strong member.  SHe is like 26 just great!  Anyway, she has been dating this guy for a month i think and has come to church 3 times.  This last week jessica told us we could start the lessons with him.  So we met with him Friday.  Oh i cant even tell you how great he is.  Another person that is sooooo ready for baptism.  He has already read the first 16 chapters of the bom.  When we asked what he thought about it he said that it has already changed the way he is seeing his life and the lives of his family members.  That things that didnt used to bug him, bug him now because he knows how it should be now.  He also has already done a fast to gain a testimony and came to all the baptisms this weekend.  He knows about the word of wisdom know and has already stopped drinking coffee!  ANd the best part is that you can tell its really coming from him.  THat its just how he is.  Not just because he is dating Jessica.  He has a real desire to do the right thing and find out if this is all really the truth.  So we are going to invite him to be baptized tomorrow!!!  WAHOOOOO!!!!  Miracles are happening in Ladispoli!!!
 
Which reminds me, i dont think i said anything about transfers yet!  IM STAYING!!!  Im soooooo happy.  Me and sorella Ivory are going to be here in ladispoli.  ANd the best part is that sorella miles is going to Rome 1 so she is still going to be in our district and we will see her all the time.  It all worked out perfectly!

I wanted to share a part of a scripture that anziano and sorella krueger shared with us yesterday.  We had lunch with them in Rome so they could finish explaining the atonement lesson they had started with us.  ONe scripture we read was 1 ne. 21:16.  I love it.  I love the part that says, "they walls are continually before me."  Too often i think of the atonement as something in the past.  That the savior already suffered for me. But i really understood yesterday that its not like that.  The savior is suffering for me now.  The atonement is continual.  That when i have a wall in front of me, the savior is standing in front of that same wall.  It helped me understand the saviors intimate relationship with me everyday.  One thing im really learning is how much i dont know about the atonement but how grateful i am for it.  Im so grateful for the book of  mormon that really explain more what the atonement is and what it means for us.  I love the book of mormon!  We learned yesterday how it really is the key to using and applying the atonement in our lives.  SOmething i really need to continue to study.  Sorella Krueger also answered my prayers.  She said "Heavenly father is happy with your progress that you are making today."  That is something i have been struggling with recently.  Just feeling like im not learning and growing like i need to be.  I was so touched by the spirit in that moment and could feel my heavenly fathers love.  A good reassurance that yes i have a long way to do but he is pleased with where i am.

Thats all for this week.  I love wednesday and getting to write you all about whats happening here in italy!  I love it here.  Its getting to be springtime and things are looking good.  We are really seeing miracles here.  Im going to miss Sorella Miles but me and sorella Ivory are going to do great!  Its going to be good.  I can just feel it.  THanks for all your emails this week.  Its just what i need, some good advice from home.  Vi voglio un mondo di bene. Sono multo grata per tutti voi!  Per il vostro sostegno per me.  So che non c'è un altro posto dove vorrei essere in questo momento anche se mi mancate!  Buona settimana!  Vi penso ogni giorno!  Grazie per tutto!
Ciao!
Sorella Chelsea