Sorella Ashlyn Henderson: Rotten food stinks.

Ciao tutti!!! Well this week has been crazy busy and super fun! We saw some cool miracles and were able to serve some people, which has been a good opportunity. Last Wednesday was Sorella Button's birthday, so we went to Lecco and looked at the beautiful Lake Como and kinda explored. Then we went back and visited the Brazilians for dinner. Brazilians sure know how to do a birthday party! They are so much fun! They were singing like crazy haha it was so much fun. I just wish I spoke Portuguese haha.

On Friday we had Zone Conference, which was a really cool experience. We talked about not following the crowd and following the promptings of the Spirit instead. That was a really cool topic for me. Sometimes it can be hard to follow the Spirit, but every time we do we are blessed with more spiritual experiences and more responsibility. Life sure is easier with the guidance of the Spirit. We should do all we can to always be worthy of His presence.

So on Sunday we had to present this challenge to our ward in third hour called The Book of Mormon 21-Day Challenge or something like that (I don't actually know what it is in English.). This is a challenge that we are doing in the Europe area for the month of September. In Italy, it starts on September 10. Basically, there is a bookmark that you can find online and print with 21 questions of the soul, a scripture that answers the question, and a citation from a General Authority. It's super cool! It's just supposed to help us deepen our testimonies of the Book of Mormon. It's also a super cool way to do missionary work and share the Book of Mormon with your friends! We can also share the videos and scriptures on social media. I would encourage you all to participate or to participate in whatever they are doing in America. I know they are doing something but it's different. You can look it up on lds.org or on Facebook! Make the Book of Mormon a bigger priority in your life! If you don't read it every day, start now!

On Saturday, a member in our ward asked us to go over and help his wife clean their fridge that had been broken. So we went over to her house, and she did not know we were coming. At first, she didn't wanna let us in, but when she found out that we came to help her clean, she looked like she was gonna cry. And let me just say, the house was literally in chaos. Rotten food everywhere, the kids' toys, and 2 crying babies attached to their mom so she literally couldn't do anything. We cleaned her whole house for her, which was a cool experience. She was so grateful. I really felt so much love while I was cleaning for her. Tip: Never turn off the electricity in your house for a 3-week vacation if you have a fridge full of food.

We also had an awesome lesson with Johnson on Sunday! He came back after 2 weeks and had read so much of the Book of Mormon and so many questions! He literally wrote down 2 pages of questions. And they were all really good. He has so much potential. We have been in touch with him every day answering more of his questions. He's probably the coolest guy I've ever found on the street here in Italy haha.

So on Saturday, the Anziani's new converts called us to talk. They are leaving the church. They were baptized just 3 months ago, and they are letting little things that people have said to them destroy their testimonies. It is really sad to see how the situation has progressed. It just goes to show that we have to always be on our guard. Nothing anyone could say or do is worth losing our testimonies and the opportunities that we have to receive eternal happiness and be with our families forever after this life. The people in the Church aren't perfect, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and His Atonement is infinite.

Well I don't have much more time! And I've already written so much. This week was so crazy; I wish I had the time to write about everything that happened. But have a good week and make sure you read the Book of Mormon this week! You are all amazing! Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Henderson