Salve

Ciao tutti! Well this last week has been really busy, and also really fun! First things first, I'm sure my mom is dying to hear about transfer news, so I'll just let you all know that I'm staying in Navigli!!! Aka the best ward in the entire mission. Unfortunately, my companion, Sorella Dawson, does not. She will be leaving today to go help create a new set of STLs in Pordenone, and my new companion arrives today. Her name is Sorella Tafur, and she is from Spain! So I'm really excited to work on my Spanish with her and I'm really excited for all my investigators that don't speak Italian haha. Change can be stressful sometimes, but I'm really excited for this next transfer!

Also, ANTONIO GOT BAPTIZED!!! We saw them on Wednesday night, and he didn't say anything about the last lesson and how he said that he didn't wanna get baptized. Then on Thursday, he had a baptismal interview and did really well! Then he was baptized on Saturday morning! We were running around like crazy people for a couple of days, but he did it, and everything went really well. We are so proud of Antonio and his decision. It feels good to unite the whole family, as he was the last one to get baptized. This Gospel is so amazing.

We also saw a lot of people this week and had a musical talent show in the church on Satuday. The missionaries did a really embarassing number that I hope no one talks about again. But the thing that makes this ward the best ever was last night. Every Tuesday, we have English class and then the ward FHE by the missionaries. And after all this, all the YSA in the ward and the bishop's wife organized this giant party for the 4 missionaries leaving our ward with food and these cute posters for them. Wards in Italy don't just do this people!!!! Having to watch Sorella Dawson say goodybe to people was so heartbreaking. I don't know how I'm gonna do it when it's my turn! Navigli really is the best ward to serve in as a missionary.

Well that's about it for this week. I just wanted to leave you guys with this thought that we shared in English class last night. Matthew 6:31-34

"Therefore, take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewith shall we be clothed? . . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

I really love this message because soemtimes, as humans, we worry too much about the things that are out of our control and the things that we don't know for sure. That is something that I sometimes struggle with, especially in missionary work. But I have learned that when I put God first, keep His commandments, and repent, everything is going to work out just fine in the end. And maybe that's in the next life, but I can feel at peace in this life knowing that the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes everything right and that God is aware of every one of our situations.

Vi voglio bene! Until next week! Ciao!

Sorella Henderson

baptism of Antonio

Antonio's mother Rosa and sister were baptized shortly before Ashlyn arrived to Navigli

Final Distict meeting before transfers.  The missionaries are holding up numbers of transfers they have completed.  

"Funeral" of Anziano Dalton, who is returning home

Scambio with Sorella Cafagno

8 months!

Ciao tutti!!!! Well the last 8 months have FLOWN BY! I can't believe that my mission is already almost half over. ): Also Happy Father's Day to all you padri out there. You're ballers.

Well this week was great, as always. Last week for P day we went to Switzerland, and tried to do this hike, but it was too rainy. So we went into centro and bought some Swiss chocolate. Switzerland is so clean!!!! It was strange not smelling cigarette smoke 24/7 and seeing weird garbage on the street, like pantyhose and beer bottles. Milano is great.

Well, Antonio was supposed to get baptized this Saturday, but now we don't think it's happening. The last lesson that we had on Sunday did not go well at all. He was having a bad day, and he said that he didn't wanna be baptized anymore. He said that he likes the Church and believes in it, but he won't give a reason why he doesn't wanna be baptized. So we are hoping that he changes his mind because he is such a great kid and we can already see how the Gospel is blessing his life and his family! Please pray for Antonio!

Everyone else is doing well! We got 2 new investigators this week, one that we already had to pass to the Anziani because he was kinda creepy (happens often), and another 16-year-old girl named Andrea. Yesterday we went to the mission home and took Sorella Allen to go out and do finding with us! It was soooo much fun!!!! Mostly I just loved going to the mission and home and getting to see President haha. Sorella Allen doesn't speak Italian, but she was so fun to find with, and we found 2 potentials and gave out 2 Books of Mormon in only 90 min! And there weren't that many people out either so it was awesome.

I also got the opportunity to go to the baptism of Azucena, a girl that Sorella Dawson and I found in the metro over 2 months ago and had to pass to the Sorelle of another ward. She got baptized!!! It was so cool to see her. I got to teach her once on exchanges, and she was definitely prepared! I am so happy that we opened our mouths and found her. One of those rare occasions where just opening your mouth to say hello to someone turns into someone being baptized.

I know this Church is true! I love my mission! I love old Italian people and the rants that they go on about everything. I love Italian food. I love all the refugees in this country! I love feeling the Spirit every day! Missions are the best! Transfer calls are this weekend, so I will let you all know what happens in my next email! Vi voglio bene! 

Sorella Henderson

Rainy day in Lugano, Switzerland

Ghiaccio ghiaccio bambino

Ciao tutti!!! I can't believe that it has already been another week (well, 5 days) since my last email. Last p day we went to the science museum in Milano. It was so cool! I really enjoyed it haha we also went to Chinatown to eat Asian food and I found some Thai fruit at a market. I'm really sorry you guys, but I honestly didn't take 1 single picture this week... I'm gonna have to do better this week.

We saw Antonio a lot this week to try to prepare him for baptism. Unfortunately,  he's not going to be ready for this Friiday. But it's okay because we think it'll be good for him to wait another week. So he will get baptized on the 23rd! He is a really hard person to teach, and being able to work with him has definitely been one of the biggest growing experiences I have had on the mission. Maria also surprised us and came to church this Sunday! She left the old lady that she takes care of alone, but she said that when she told the old lady that it was because she had to go to church, she didn't mind. Yay! But she's not shown up to 2 of our appointments since then.

We got a new investigator this week, Emilie. She's from France, but also Italian and lives in America. She speaks a billion languages and has been working with the missionaries in San Antonio. She is just here for the summer, and she's hoping to separate her testimony from the testimonies of all of her Mormon friends while she is here. She is so cool! We did a pass lesson with the San Antonio missionaries on Skype, and it was really awkward to do on Skype. I had never done one before. Also it made me realize that stateside missionaries are so different from us... it was really strange. I felt like I was on the District. In a good way.

I wanna share with you a chapter I read in the Book of Mormon yesterday, Alma 48. It talks about Captain Moroni, and it says, "if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yeah, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
So after reading this, I looked back at how it describes Moroni. It says that he was strong, mighty, of perfect understanding, joys in liberty and freedom, has a heart swollen with thanksgiving to his God, and firm in the faith in Christ. How amazing is it that even us humans have the power to shake the powers of hell and wound the devil! As we all strive to be followers who are firm in faith in Christ, we are helping to win the battle against Satan.

Vi voglio bene! Until next week!

Sorella Henderson

random gelato pic (because why not?)

Bellagio

Ciao tutti!!! So this week was really great! My P day is on Friday because of Zone Conference and exchanges that we have had to do. Last week, we went to Bellagio, and it was beautiful! Probably the most beautiful place that I've seen in Italy so far. I sent some pictures that should have been attached, possibly in last week's email.

As for Antonio, he has continued to progress well! He will be baptized next Friday, the 15th. As long as he comes to church this Sunday. But we have a plan in place so that he will not sleep in! Maria, Mily's sister, is still progressing and gaining a testimony of the church. The only thing is she still hasn't come to church! But we told her to come one time this month, and she agreed! She knows she needs to be baptized, but she wants to wait until July when her family will all get here. And she wants to bring them too! So hopefully if all goes well, we can end up teaching her husband and kids.

Funny moment!!! On scambio with a young missionary I told a less active old lady that this Sorella wanted to marry an Italian (we do it to all the scambio people), and then we listened to a 15 minute lecture about why we should never marry an Italian and only marry an American hahahaha it probably sounds weird but it was so funny in the moment. I was dying laughing the whole time, and the Sorella had no idea what was going on hahaha.

We had zone conference on Wednesday, and it went well! Our training was on being a successful missionary and how success isn't defined by how many baptisms we have, but our commitment to obedience, trying our best to invite everyone we can, and living like Christ did. I think that is a message for everybody. God wants us to be happy! He is pleased when we are doing our best and staying on the covenant path. We can only worry about the things under our control.

Vi voglio bene!! Have a great week! 

Sorella Henderson

Bellagio Photos:

Scambio with Sorella Mason

June Zone Conference 

Milano Ovest Zone