Subject: Ragusa hit by the Sistas only

Ciao Fam fam.

Hey fam. mom, thanks that was a sweet surprise to get that awesome little package! Well, big news of the week: Transfer calls. no I did not get transferred, but we got some big news. Now Ragusa will be just us two Sorelle. The Elders BOTH got transferred, and we are now in a two-man city. Since the number of missionaries is decreasing in Europe, this was huge. But we've seen some major miracles. DEFINITLEY. We are now officially teaching all of The Elders former investigators.

So this is exciting. We have a BAPTISMAL DATE FOLKS!! Teaching a former investigator of the Elders'. She has wanted to get Baptized for 4 years now, and we have just again received permission to teach her. We have clearance now that she can get baptized. For now, we are planning on July 31st. Keep Anna in your prayers! It is a sweet experience to see someone accept an invitation to be baptized!

We had a really strange experience with an American lady who is a "missionary" for a "cult" as she herself called it. We were doing house. We were actually on our way to do something else, and I saw this apt. complex and felt a pretty distinct impression to do house there, so we followed, and went. DEFINITELY, not knowing before hand what we would encounter. We got talking to a lady on her intercom, and we got ourselves in the door. Only to find ourselves in a 30 minute drilling session of how Joseph Smith is NOT a prophet, we are ignorant, and they will pray for US, because we are "deceived". All I can say, is truly the spirit was NOT present. I pleaded for words to come, but at the end, the only words I got our were a testimony that Jospeh Smith was NOT crazy, that he DID see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and that The Book of Mormon IS of God. I will say it was nothing but a testimony builder for me. These three cult people who we were trapped in that room by, couldn't say a word. It reminded me of Abinidi and his testimony to the King and his priests when they were ridiculing him. It was like that. It was literally the Spirit like overtaking my body just long enough for me to get out what the Lord needed them to hear with assurance.

We are teaching a sweet Muslim couple from Tunisia. They are married and have a little boy named Omar. Weve been teaching them for a few weeks now. President gave us special permission to teach them (bc they are Muslim). They throw some insane questions at us about the Book of Mormon. They think Nephi is not at all prophet-like because he is always saying "I Nephi this I Nephi that, Im big and buff, I Nephi etc etc.. They feel that to pray, we have to cleanse ourselves with taking a shower, and washing our whole bodies first. How can we be so casual with our prayers? Things to think about. We cannot be "too religious/superstitious" as Paul teaches us in Acts, but it made me think about my own prayers. Remember who we are talking to people....just some food for thought.

With our investigator Tina, we are having members who live upstairs go down and read with her, and then we try to stop by inbetween appointments with her during the week, so that we can read with her and answer questions. She is really begining to gain a testimony, especially as she recognizes that "there is EVERYTHING in this Book!" (Speaking of the Book of Mormon)- She is also beginning to recognize the feelings of the Spirit that she gets when we go over and teach her. We have been bold with her in talking about Baptism. WE want her to have a clear purpose about what our purpose is as missionaries, in that we are here to invite people to come unto Christ mainly through the covenant of Baptism. She isn't expressing fears about Baptism, but says she is praying about it and feels a lot of "peace." It has been an incredible week of progress for Tina.

The Stake was awesome. We heard from Elder Caussè and Elder Kapischke. It was great to have two of our investigators there with us. (woke up at 5 am even to take the bus with us to Palermo!)

Talking to an old lady we helped carry her groceries home this week, she grabbed my chin (like old people do when they think your cute) and she like knocked me out. Not even kidding. She grabbed my chin, and made me bite my tongue and do some serious damage. It was pretty funny actually.

We have seen miracles this week. It's been a lot, taking over this whole city all by ourselves, but the Lord is aware of it, and He keeps reminding us of that. I love being a missionary. Its so hard, but at the end of the day, I am always so grateful for the experiences I am having. Please keep Tina in your prayers, as we will be inviting her to be baptized tonight. Its definitely summer, based on the letters haha I love you all, hope everyone is good. Happy 4th of July. Too bad America is out of the World Cup, and so is Italy. lame.....

ps. my official release date I found out is March 7th 2011. just fyi.

Vi voglio un mondo di bene,

MONICA

...Sorella Miller