6 MONTHS (+ un po')

Ciao tutti! Well I'm sorry my group email didn't come through last week. I saw it didn't send and I didn't save it, and I was like no way I'm writing that again so sorry haha. So I'll give you a 2-week update! These last 2 weeks have been awesome! Our simp, Mily is getting baptized this Saturday!!! She is so ready. It has been amazing to see her progression in the Gospel these last 3 weeks. I'm so excited for Saturday. (:

Well this last 2 weeks we've done 3 scambi (exchanges) which has been really fun to work with and learn from other Sorelle. We've been finding and teaching a lot these last 2 weeks! We have found a few new simps and we have some cool potentials to work with. The work in Navigli is really great now! I love the people and I love being an STL and getting to work and serve so closely with the other Sorelle. 

Last P day we did a hike in Como! It was beautiful. Then today we are playing sports for zone p day. The mission is such a cool and unique experience! I'm so grateful to be here with these people and see some beautiful places. 

The other day I was reading in Alma 37:6, 7. Basically it says by small and simple things, great things come to pass. Every simple, right decision we make can bring to pass a miracle! And the opposite is true as well. Every wrong choice we make, no matter how small, can have major consequences. I'm so grateful for this Gospel and everything about being a missionary, from talking to strangers on the metro to working with members! Have a great week everyone! Vi voglio bene! 

Sorella Henderson

Lake Como Pday excursion

view of Lake Como from the hike

Duomo di Como

inside the Duomo

Sorelle Stolk, Henderson, Dawson, Parker

La Terra di Promessa

Ciao tutti! Well, if you remember from last week, I have been transferred from good old Bologna to Milano, the area of Navigli. And let me just say, Navigli is awesome!! We have a ton to do here in this area. We kinda run around like nuts all day trying to do everything. Luckily, we will have exchanges. And they opened up a new coppia of Sorelle (my new amazing roommates), so we can get everything done and even some more than before! This area is really thriving right now, and we are expecting to see some good work these next few transfers.

This week contained a lot of firsts! I had my first Sunday in my new ward, which contains President and Sorella Allen and the Assistants, the other Sorelle, and one other coppia of Anziani. The ward is so great! I also had my first consiglio, which I think is called like Mission Leadership Conference or something in English. It's where all the STLs and Zone Leaders meet up in Milano to talk about the mission with President and the APs and sutff. It was so cool to be a part of! I learned a lot. Then yesterday we had combined district meeting with the whole zone in Como! So I got to see some of beautiful Como (not much). But we are going back for P day next week!

As far as work here, our most solid investigator is Mily from Peru. She thought she was a member for a long time, but she realized she's not. We saw her yesterday and fixed a really solid bap date with her for Apri 28th. And she is so solid! She uses all her free time to study the scriptures, and she wants to learn everything! She's so sick, and we're really excited for her baptism. We also got another new simp, and we have some other cool simps and potentials that we are working with. 

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I know that this is true! Jesus really is the Christ, our Savior and friend. Knowing Him and following Him is the only way that we can truly be happy in this life and in the next. I love being here in Italy as a missionary! Vi voglio bene! Until next week! 

Sorella Henderson

Navigli means canal.  Milan had a series of navigable canals that are now mostly covered.

This colorful building houses the chapel.

Sorelle Henderson and Dawson with a member, George

with Trainer Sorella Mitchell at Mission Leadership Conference

Sister Trainer Leaders -
Bowthorpe, Mitchell, Henderson, Dawson, Berrey, (Slla. Allen) Santoro, Pope, Evans,
Henson, Mineer

Zone Leaders -
Gilette, Kewene-Hite, Petersen, Johnson, Haws, Ross, Sanchez Di Bella, Gleave, Stratton, Gould, (Pres. Allen) Laudert, Crowther,  Calton, Dalton (AP), Montalto (AP), Baker, Challis, Johnson, Wagstaff, Workman

From Bologna to...

Well as you can guess from the subject line of my email, transfer calls came out!!! But I'm gonna keep you waiting for a second before you hear my news so that I can say... BUONA PASQUA! (Happy Easter!) Pasqua in Italy was really fun and definitely a different Easter experience, but my favorite part (even better than the food) was General Conference. Getting to hear from our new, living prophet and the 12 apostles and being able to sustain them was amazing. A lot of changes were made to Church programs, and I love the feeling of revelation being brought about. Also, a LAYTON, UTAH TEMPLE EVERYBODY!!!! I literallly jumped out of my chair when that was announced and couldn't stop smiling for an hour haha. I still get so happy when I think about it. This temple will be my new temple! It's going to be amazing, and I can't wait.

And as far as transfer news goes, I will be leaving Bologna tomorrow morning to go STL in Milano! For those of you who don't know what STL is, it stands for Sister Trainer Leader. Basically my job will be to watch over all the Sisters in my area, set an example for them, and also do exchanges. So that'll be fun! I'm definitely not qualified at all to be an STL considering I'm only in my 4th transfer, but President assured me that he was aware of how long I'd be in the mission when he made the call, so we don't have to worry about any mistakes, people. Oh and the best part is still coming because they are opening up another coppia of Sorella in my area (Navigli), and I get to live in 4 again!! hahahaha It'll be so fun! I'm hyped for that! I'm a little nervous for my new responsibilities that I'll have as STL, and a little sad to leave Bologna, but also feeling ready for my next adventure. (:

As far as work this week, we ended up getting invited over to members' homes a lot for Pasqua and because I'm leaving. So that was good. We're going over to salute my last African family tonight. ): I'll miss them the most, I think. Last Wednesday after P Day we taught a really awesome first lesson. Her name is Wowo, and she has so much potential. I'm excited for Sorella Frandsen and her greenie to get to teach her.

One of my favorite quotes from General Conference this weekend comes from Elder Talor G. Godoy. He said, "Any sacrifice we make is small compared to that of the Son of God." These words really struck me because I know that my mission is a really small sacrifice in comparison to Christ's Atonement and suffering. Christ performed these acts for each of us as individuals, and the best way we can show our gratitude to Him is by trying our individual best each day. To some, my mission may same like a big sacrifice, but I know that it really isn't. Especially considering all of the amazing blessings that I get every day and that I will get for the rest of my life because of it. It feels more like the Lord is paying me, instead of the other way around. And I'm sure it is. I'm so grateful for Christ and His Resurrection and what we celebrated this last weekend with Easter. I love you all and wish you some happy studies of Conference! Vi voglio bene! Ciao!

Sorella Henderson

Pic 1: THE DISTRICT + Bledi

Pic 2: had to say goodbye to my British homie Laurence. He wants to go to Utah to get baptized this summer!!!

Pic 3: the cutest family ever

Pic 4: Che visually pleasing 

Pic 1: probably my most visually satisfying gelato photo (obviously still got some photography skills to work on)

Pic 2: view from the top of the 2 towers as seen in previous photo! No elevator lol!

Pic 3: sorella Frandsen and I 

Pic 4: went to this abandoned villa in the literal middle of nowhere for p day! 

Pic 1: we don greet Gloria and we don chop banku ):

Pic 2: brotha Friday

Pic 3:  banku

Pic 4: sorella Frandsen and I