June 23, 2010

Ciao Fam.

Well, life is good, and 'Im glad to hear that you got the pics.. good stuff. I Got my hair trimmed this week, it was much needed, a girl who just got back from her mission in our branch here in Ragusa cut it last Sunday after church. It is bloody hot here. It actually has been a really cool week here (I'm not complaining). People here are totally freaking out, because the weather this year is NOT NORMAL at all for the end of June... That doesn't mean people arent still at the beach. PS. Italian men toatlly DO infact wear speedos, and they are very Italian about it (meaning they are proud to just flaunt it around town, AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!! as a sis missionary, or in general i guess!!!)

Been a rough week. /Transfer...

Im very greateful to be a happy person. Im grateful to be emotionally healthy. I strive to just keep a good attitude. I've become a lot more like Dad since being on the mission. Just smile people!!!!!!! BE HAPPY. .

We had our last zone conf with the Torantos on Monday in Palermo. It was so sad to say goodbye. President Toranto was like a father figure to me, and always reminded me to just do my very best, and let the Lord do the rest, and to just find JOY in serving the Lord full time during this time on the mission. WE go to Palermo again on Sunday for the formation of the stake. It will be a miracle. We as missionaries here in Italy are part of a fulfillment of prophesy that Lorenzo Snow had when he came in 1850 with the first group of missionaries here in Italy. The church is growing here in Italy!! We will see what happens this Friday, there are going to be some MAJOR changes in this mission right before Pres goes home. We'll see. My comp said in her interview Pres asked her how long she had been in Ragusa! She has only been here 2 transfers, and only has 1 1/2 left, she has this next transfer, and then goes home 3 weeks into the next one, so only 8 weeks left. It is most likely that they will put us into a three-some after this transfer so that I have a companion when she leaves 1/2 way through that next transfer. We will see. Big changes about to come around South Italia.

We are seeing some great progress with Tina Ragusa, our referral from Sorella Micozi. She is feeling more at peace with the discussions than she did the first time she heard them a few years ago. She had a really good experience at church, and the members were great at reaching out and talking to her. We even came to English course and found her in the geneology center doing family history! We had no idea!! In our lesson last night, we read some verses that were truly inspired, in 1 Ne 21: 15-16. We talked about how we really can have a personal relationship with God, and that He knows us individually. The spirit was so strong, and I could see in her eyes that she felt the reality of this truth. We promised her that as she keeps the commitments we give her, she would be ready for baptism, and WANT to move forward.

Viorica our Hungarian investigator is also making progress, piano a piano..We gave her the invitation to pray at home (which has been very difficult for her) but she reported back to us the other day that she prayed, and it is going well for her.

I knew there was a reason for everything before the mission, but I have really learned a lot from the continual occurance of me being put with missionaries who are about to go home. I think The Lord has personally been teaching me to make the absolute MOST of everyday, of every encounter, of every experience. Too get caught up in our weaknesses does NOTHING, and to me, the mission here in Southern Italy is so much more than being THE PERFECT Preach My Gospel Missionary, because that will just never happen. But for me, the motivation is to LOVE the people, and SERVE them, and do my very best. Its all I can do. I cannot ever be the perfect missionary, but I feel the Lord truly appreciates my best.

ps. I had an incredible experience the other night when we had about 45 minutes left befoer going home. We had some stuff fall through, and didnt know what to do. We said sort of a prayer of desperation if you will, out loud as we were walking towards home. "If there is some one we need to talk to Lord, just put them in our path, because we are out of ideas, and dont have any plans right now." Literally About 15 seconds later I saw a man trying to get a bunch of shoe boxes out of his car, so, I offered to help him, (people almost ALWAYS refuse the help) but he LET us help him. Turns out, he has the Book of Mormon, has read the whole thing, and loves it! He had lost the time to meet with the missionaries after taking a few other jobs, but agreed to meet with us if we passed by his store. It truly was a miracle! Cant believe that people can deny that God exists! He so does.

I love how everywhere we go people are "Siete le belle ragazze!" Basically, you are beautiful! I always am like wait, what? I havent showered in two days, I smell horrible from climbing these hills, and I have a terribly un-flattering outfit on! But, thanks I guess? Its wierd.

I love you all, please pray. They mean a lot. I love the Lord, and am grateful for His extreme mercy towards us, just little servants with a bunch of "puny arms". (just finished memorizing DC 121:33-46, a special challenge from President Toranto this last transfer) WE have these tiny little shoulders to carry forth a work that is way too big for us to carry alone, so let the Lord help you in your missionary efforts. We can do miracles with faith. I constantly plead for more faith, because without it, we are toast!

Love you all.

Con molto affeto e gratitudine,

MONICA

...Sorella Miller

Ragusa, Sicily June 2010

Proselyting at a Catholic Procession (Ibla) June 2010 Ragusa
Ragusa: This is before going down the giant descent to Ibla. Ibla is the city you see below.
Ragusa Hills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Part of Ibla the "Old City" of Ragusa June 2010

I'll Never Forget Siracusa Sicily! Dec 2009-May2010

May 2010 Sorella Marino
Lucia Nozolone May 2010
The Amaldi Family Maria and Cristian May 2010 Siracusa Branch
The Blanco Family: We started teaching them and all their daughters!! May 2010 Siracusa

June 16, 2010

Subject: 2 showers/day

CIAO.

Ok, so in the last like 3 days it has gotten soooo hot. I will say though, we went to Siracusa for a broadcast, and it was a billion times hotter because they are on the sea, and we are up in the mountains a little bit. I am grateful to be in Ragusa . The broadcast was a broadcast from SLC for the European members. Elder Bednar and Boyd K. Packer spoke. I was so grateful that they had the satelite in English, because there is something amazing about just hearing their voices, in your mother language. It was a much needed boost for me. I know those men are called of God.

This transfer will only be 5 weeks long (we are in the middle of the 4th) and the next transfer will only be 5 weeks as well, that will put us on the Rome schedule. We have zone conference this

Saturday in Palermo, where I have never been.

My Italian has been improving a lot this transfer with

Sorella White. ( Megan You are an angel!!!! I was balling when I was looking at all those pics. Several reasons: 1. I am a nun right now. 2. you look sooo happy! 3. I wish I could have been there 4. I am so lucky to have you as a friend! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I will write you soon!!!)

World cup soccer. I live in Italy. You better believe President Taranto gave us permission to watch the Italy vs. Paraguay game IF we were with a less active or an investigator. We brought a less active with us to watch the game outside projected on a sheet with several members and our branch President. We were all over there. This place was DEAD on Monday, everyone was watching this game.

The other day we were out tracking down an ex investigator. We were both really hot, sweaty, and tired. As we were walking, I saw an apartment complex, and a thought came to me as I looked up at the top floor balcony. "Go do house there." I said, Sorella, we need to go knock those doors (well, 'dobbiamo suonare quei citofoni, dai, andiamo" Wasnt in the plan, but we went. After about 15 NO's, I was feeling a little bit discouraged, I knew I had received the impression there was something the Lord needed us to do at this apt complex. We headed to the last set of names to ring on, and this lady came out on her balcony to talk to us. To make a long story short, her brother got baptized a few years ago, and was the counselor in the branch presidency a few years ago, but now he is on house arrest...we talked to presidente about her and he told us she came to her brothers baptism and many years ago had a lot of interest in the church, but that she is amazing!!! Following the spirit is so hard sometimes, because often we just tell ourselves that it is our own minds, our own thoughts, but its always better to just follow. Elder Bednar talked about how often we wont realize the consequences of our actions immediately, but that the "sun pops over the horizen for us at different times" There are often clouds that obstruct our view, but that revelation is never dramatic. We often have sufficient light to press forward. I know I press forward each day, relying completely on the Spirit. Its super hard. But I have come to the point where I just talk to everyone I even feel slightly inclined to talk to with the idea that I have absolutely NOTHING to lose. Your only in Sicily once. Im only in Ragusa once. I only wear the tag for another 9 months, Im CONFIDENT that the Lord inspires our steps and our utterances as we try our best to obey, and just do our best. Holy cow. Its so true that you dont know how hard it is to press forward, when you HAVE TO. I know the Lord answers our prayers.

We are teaching a lady named Tina, who is a referral from a member. It is hard for people here to change religions when they are so set on traditions. They really have a fear of what other people will think of them if they were to change religion. We taught two little 12 year old girls the other day, wow. I am so glad I had the answers when I was that age to so many of the basic normal questions every 12 year old asks. I for sure didnt know everything when I was 12 (because I still am amazed each day at how much I DONT know) BUT, it provided for me a foundation to start building for the years to come.

Today we learned how to make a "Pasta al Forno"...ie an American "Lasagna" haha INTENSE!!!!!!! You talk to anyone on the street in Italy about food, and they will talk to you for hours! Then, you bring up something like "We have another Book that testifies of Jesus Christ" and all of a sudden they are in a huge hurry! haha its pretty funny/perhaps frustrating....oh well. I love these people, they are the most loving, hilarious people in the world.

I love you all, and really appreciate the letters and prayers. keep them coming. Be grateful for your blessings, never forget to be grateful. I love the Book of Mormon and know its true. The restoration is our unique message to the world.

Vi voglio un mare di bene!!!!!!

un abbraccio,

MONICA
...Sorella Miller

June 9, 2010

Ciao Tutti!

Well, another week has passed, and we are now almost halfway through another transfer! The work here in Ragusa is going forward. Right now there is a man in this internet point trying to convince everyone that Obama is his Father...You come across some Very interesting people here. ha. Anyways.

I had several experiences this week that reminded me that I am part of something much bigger than myself. On Monday night, I had one of the most awesome nights of my mission. We went to Ibla, and had 3 hours to just do finding work. Aka..just talking to people, which sometimes can be the most brutal hours ever haha. This night was different. We had set some goals that we wanted to be BOLD missionaries. We had been talking about how we dont want to go home with regrets about not INVITING PEOPLE to ACT. I am so grateful for the Spirit that truly guides us when we are worthy of it.

We went to Ibla and just started talking to everyone. We were able to have such a cool experience with two college kids on a park bench named Alessio and Martina. We were able to talk to them BOLDLY about the Book of Mormon. We were able to talk to them for a while, and they actually were interested and asking questions. This experience was amazing, because Alessio, the guy (who is 23) was really interested, and he told us that he would pray about what we had taught him. We were a little bit worried about his girlfriend who was sitting there and telling him that he didn't really need anything else, but you could see his sincere desire to know if this book really did come from God.

We were blessed with another 4 other lessons that night, all of them were strong powerful lessons on The Book of Mormon, and how it really does bring us closer to God. We gave away 3 Books of Mormon that night. The highlight of the night, was on the way home. It takes about 20 minutes of climbing this old rustic cobblestone staircase, to get from Ibla, the old city, up to Ragusa. This staircase is pretty intense. By the time you get up these stairs, it's about another 30 minute climb up Corso Italia (the main street here) up to our apartment. We were running up this staircase trying to make it home on time. We got to the top of these stairs and were about ready to throw up, when we see this cute couple sitting at the top of the Stairs looking out over Ibla (ps. not jealous, never makes my heart hurt even a LITTLe.. haha) so we run past them up the street. Then we both got the feeling we should talk to them. We headed back down a few yards towards them and introduced ourselves. We started talking about how God loves us, and unfortunately many things have been changed from Christ's original church, and there is confusion in the world. They looked at each other, and had this look of astonishment on their faces. They told us they had JUST been talking about how confused they were, and how there is just TOO much confusion out there. I know God puts people in our path when we just strive to do our very best. We taught them about how God has called another Prophet, and how we can now see tangible evidence of this through the Book of Mormon. They were Italian too!!!!!!!!! WHAAAAATTTTTT!?!?!? Haha. This is a rare occasion!!!!

I felt soo happy that night. We got home, and were both sweating, but we felt so good. It feels so good to work hard. I am so tired at the end of each day, but on the days when I really feel the spirit work through me, it is always so worth it.

Of course the very next day after that night of miracles, we had a horrible encounter. We were doing some tracting on Tuesday, and a lady approached us on the street. She said "I know who you are! You young girls have been deceived!!!" Over and over again. She was YELLING at us. I prayed silently to have charity for this woman. HAha it is the hardest thing in the world sometimes to love your enemies. At least she said she would pray for us (it was because we have been "deceived by the Book of lies") but I need all the prayers I can get in my behalf.

We are teaching an amazing Romanian family. A mom and her two kids . They have a lot of problems, and at first I was pretty creeped out by her son, who seemed really sketchy, but in the last lesson we did with them he said the closing prayer. Adela, said the other prayer. They told us they would pray about the Book of Mormon. It took us a few days to locate a BOM in Romanian, and she was so excited when we finally got it to her, she couldn't wait to start reading it. I love asking people how they feel in the middle of lessons where I know they feel the spirit, and hearing them say they feel "peace." That is a fruit of the spirit!!!!!!!

We also had another really cool experience the other day in Ibla with a really stubborn Sicilian man. Picture a shorter, slightly overweight man, with long grey stringy hair. Whenever he sees us he yells at us "Who created God!!?? Tell me that!!!!!" We were able to have a sweet experience with him teaching him about prayer. Usually we don't get in a word, but this time, for the first time in my mission, he literally could not speak, and we were able to both bare our testimonies of the reality of God. He has never been quiet for more than 10 seconds, and this was an experience I will never forget. You could see a light come into his eyes, and he listened to us bare our testimonies. After we finished, he couldn't respond, he just answered our question "will you pray to night and ask God if he really exists?" with, "yes, I will". it was pretty sweet. Romans 10:9. I know that scripture is true. One of the coolest moments, is seeing when people feel the spirit, by the light that comes into their eyes.

I love the book of Mormon and have such a strong testimony of its truthfulness. It truly does come from God, and comes to us through the power of God. I love being a missionary. that night we taught all those lessons in Ibla, I came home, and thought how lucky I am to wear this tag. Its such a blessing. I'm scared to death all the time, and never know what Im doing, but I guess thats why I was called. The Lord knows us individually, and gives us weaknesses in order to teach us humility. I have never had more need to repent than now, or maybe I just never fully understood how imperfect I was until now. I dont fully understand the Atonement, I only know its for me, and it is the only thing that gives me peace and happiness when I make mistakes.

I love you all so much, and feel your prayers. Never go a day without thanking God for the chance to be alive, and have another chance to improve, and try to be more like His son Jesus Christ. I know this Gospel is true. there IS such thing as a God who is individual and personal. I hope you all strive to know him better each day.

Un abbraccio,

MONICA ps. Dad, Thank you so much for that testimony of me being exactly where I am supposed to be. I truly did feel the Spirit testify to me as I read those words. It brought me to tears.

pps. Send pics of the lil Berkeley when she gets here!

Subject: Rockin' RAGUSA calves..

Buon Giorno Tutti, Ciao Famiglia,

I write you and send good tidings of peace and joy from the hills of Ragusa. All I know is when we walk in the door at 9 pm, I go straight to my chair and collapse. Between the heat and the hills, I am so exhausted by the end of the day. This is a gorgeous city that is smaller than Siracusa, and much much richer. No, no fridges are dropped off balconies, you dont see blown up cars by the mafia, its a lot richer. Its a lot different from Siracusa, mainly because it is built on a giant hill, of which we live at the top of ("Upper Ragusa" The church is in a little garage, no big chapel. There are about 40 members in church, so still a pretty good size branch. There are no homeless people here, THAT is different. There are still a lot of foreigners, which actually has been a little bit difficult in coming to know the work here. So far this week we have worked with a lot of Albanians, Romanians, Africans, and even some people from China. We have some good work here, but its hard with some of the current investigators, because we have a language barrier, and not with Italian and English, but with some of these people we are teaching who really don't understand Italian. We have a place called Ibla which is like the most gorgeous place I've ever seen, Ragusa is built in a little valley, with mountains all around, so its actually a little but cooler. The nights are gorgeous because they cool off. The other night we went to Ibla to do the Mostra with the Anziani, little did we know after descending down to Ibla (its at the very bottom of Ragusa) on an ancient staircase that takes 20 minutes to get down to the bottom of, we realized we chose the very night in which was a Catholic Procession of San Giovani (the Saint of Ibla--each city has a saint it is dedicated to) I have been wanting to see one of these since I got to Sicily. They are crazy. So we are waiting here among thousands of Catholics, and then finally this giant statue starts to descend from this huge cathedral, being carried by about 15 Sicilian men, they come down with several statues of this Saint, and then do a trip around the city. Long story short, among all of these thousands of Catholics, I found this 21 yr old girl named Martina. She passed by our mostra sign and I could tell she was thinking about it...one of the signs proposes a question "Why would God permit suffering to Good people?" I approached her and started talking to her. We had an amazing conversation, and she told me "I dont even know why, but something I feel as were talking tells me that I should learn more about this" Those are cool moments right there, that don't happen all the time, but they happen. We got her number and hope to see her this week. We also this week were down in Ibla again (its a good place to do finding, because there is a Univ. there with lots of young people..) so we were amidst a crowd of people there for another procession on Sunday night, and we were next to this girl. Sorella Smith turned to me and was , we need to talk to this girl before we go home. I looked at her, and the longer I looked at her the more familar she became...I soon realized that I DID know this girl. I met her and attempted to teach her, my first transfer in the mission, on a bus ride from Messina, to Catania, with Sorella Morgan. We gave her a pamphlet. Then, 5 months later, in Ragusa, "some how" in a crowd of thousands of Catholics gathered to pay tribute to a statue. THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES!!!!!!!!!! Wow. WE were able to teach her there in front of the cathedral, and get her infornmation.

This has been a difficult experience, leaving Siracusa. I cried on the ride from Siracusa to Ragusa. I have had dreams almost every night about Rosa, or other amazing people froim Siracusa. I miss it a lot, but Im starting to get my grips about this city. My companion won't speak English, which is good. Trials are opportunities in disguise. Its just a good reminder, that when life is "easy" we can never take that for granted. I had been praying for an Italian companion for my birthday, so I guess this is actually an early present/answer to prayer that I didnt realize I wanted! haha

Oh, I realised another blessing that the Lord has blessed me with. So far, in every district on the mission, I have had an Elder who speaks Spanish. Here in Ragusa Anziano Fernande-Ruiz, is Dominican . He is so rad, so he printed me some spanish letters from his family to read. We exchange a "palabra" or 2 and its good ha.

Something funny the other day, we were doing house on this tiny little street in Old ragusa, like old streets, gorgeous little apartments all just bursting with delicous Italian food scents coming from them,(there is a reason we do house around 8 pm!!!! hah just playing) and we go to repass a family they had met a few weeks ago. We ring the bell, and a guy comes out on his balcony, with just his curtain around him, you can clearly see that he has nothing on underneath, but this drape wraped around him, hes all "CHI é!???" (they all yell that from their balcony, or from behind the door before they open the door, or unlock it for us to come up, its basically "WHo is it?") Anyways, we were like woooowwwww there, dont even worry about it we will come back another day! haha

Anyways, I love Ragusa. I miss seeing the Sea, but its really a gorgeous city--that is famous for its Foccacia and Riccota. BAD NEWS right there!!!!!! Haha. My head hurts every day when I come home from speaking so much Italian. Literaly this whole week I have probably said 2 sentences in English. I love you all, and thank you for your prayers. I'll try to print pics this week. Im getting super dark. My feet are destroyed, they are straight calluses. I used to have cute feet kinda...despite the snaggle toe. Now they are just rock hard haha. WEll, I dont really know what else to write, and I still have to write my presidents letter, so UN ABBRACCIO, vi voglio tanto tanto bene

-MONICA

...Sorella Miller

ps. So really, in just a week, I feel like my calves have never looked better! The stairmasters got nothinn on thse Ragusa hills!!!! ha