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 

Ci Sarà Sempre

Ciao tutti! Well this was definitely a week full of ups and downs. Starting out with something good, last week for p day we went to Modena, which is a city smaller than Bologna about a 30 minute train ride away. We literally went there to eat. There's this restaurant buffet there called Caffe Concerto... Holy.... MI RACCOMANDO!! Guys Italian food is so good. Then we went to the best gelato place I have ever had in my life, La Romana. Mamma mia... it's terrible haha.

On Thursday we had a lesson with this old guy we met on the bus. It was probably the strangest lesson I have ever been to. We brought a recently reactivated member with us, and she left and was like, "I can't even imagine what your daily life is like." Because he kept going off about the matriarchy and all this weird feminist stuff. In his prayer he asked God to make sure that we are aware of our womanly powers basically.... But he came to the baptism on Saturday! So we will see.

Oh yeah we had a baptism here on Saturday! It was the STLs' investigator, but it was still awesome to go. Baptisms are the best. And speaking of investigators, we had to drop/got dropped by almost all of them this week. Even Ayisat who had a bap date coming up in the next few weeks. She has a different church now. :/ So that kinda stung. But we try to not let it get us down too much because there are still a lot of people out there who need help and want it! So we are just gonna keep finding.

The Church's Easter campaign is finally out people!! I recommend to all of you to go watch the video on lds.org. The theme of the video is "Peace in Christ." I've really only watched it in Italian, so some of my translations may be wrong haha sorry. But something they did is went around and asked people when they have felt Jesus Christ close to them, and people answered. For me, I think that I can feel Him close all of the time if I pay enough attention. Especially this week that was a little bit rough in terms of our missionary work, I have felt a lot of comfort and joy despite everything. I know that Christ lives! And He wants to help you in your life, if you will let Him. As the video says at the end (again my translation's probably not 100%), "He was there, He is still there, and He will always be there." Ti voglio tanto bene! You guys are amazing. (: Until next week!

Sorella Henderson

Modena Palazzo 

Modena Duomo

Modena Piazza 

Sorelle of Bologna Transfer 3

5 Months!

Ciao tutti! Well I hit my 5 month mark this week! Time is flying! This week has been super crazy and filled with bipolar weather, like always. To me right now it seems like Italian weather is even crazier than Utah weather... One day it's like 16 degrees Celsius and the next it's snowing. I don't really know what to think of it, but Italy is even more beautiful lightly frosted in snow.

As far as investigators go, this week we were only able to see Virginia and Arianna, our 2 university students here studying film. Virginia did a foreign exchange in Utah and was friends with someone in my MTC group, and that's how this all started. It has been very interesting meeting with them because it's a little awkward with them starting teaching because we are all the same age, but I think that they are pretty interested and have started reading the Book of Mormon. We will see what happens!

Ayisat, our investigator with a baptismal date for the 31st, failed to come to church again and so we have to push her date back. But we can't even see her because she got kicked out of her house. Last time I talked to her on the phone she said, "I'm running for my life," then hung up. But I saw her on a bus in Bologna yesterday and she was alive and still living here. So hopefully she finds a house and a job soon so that we can start meeting with her again and she can come to church. And Basirat and BJ we haven't seen in a while because they both got jobs now (which is good) and work on Sunday... I'm always happy when a refugee finds a job, but super sad when it conflicts with church! Something I never thought about when I got my call to Italy is how much I'd be working with refugees, and I love being able to. Even though it's insanely stressful.

Lately with the people we have been working with, we have been focusing a lot on the Book of Mormon. As a mission we've been doing this as well. It's been really cool to see how even reading a random verse somewhere, a person can find an answer to a question or something that helped them right then. My testimony of the Book of Mormon grows so much every day out here in the mission field. I know it's true and that everyone else can know that it's true as well if they read it and pray about it. There isn't a question he won't answer as long as we put in the effort and have the faith.

Vi vogliamo bene! Thanks for your emails and updates. Have a great week and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon. (: Ciao!

Sorella Henderson

1 Some of the best things in the world... Italian breakfast (coffee-free of course)

2 The snowy view from our kitchen balcony

3 Italian pigeons are the worst!!!! 

He Shall Prepare a Way

Ciao tutti! This week was sort of just like any other in Italy. We had zone conference yesterday (which is why my p day is Thursday this week), interviews on Friday, scambio (exchanges), and a lesson with Ayisat and some less-actives. Ayisat's progress wasn't as awesome this last lesson (she couldn't sit still and listen the whole time), but her husband finally stayed and participated for a lesson! So we are hoping to teach him too. The sad thing is, they are getting kicked out of their house and have nowhere to go, so we can only teach Ayisat in member's homes now, and the odds are that Akeem won't actually be there at those lessons. But hopefully they find a house soon... The problems with the refugees here are really serious right now and a lot are homeless and without work.

The weather outside has been so nice this week! Sorella Berrey and I did our studies outside during our scambio! Thank goodness the snow is finally gone...

I would say one of my highlights from this week was visiting a less-active member from Albania. We received an email from her daughter who lives in America asking to go see her because she had just moved to Italy and has a hard time getting to church due to health problems. Well we went, and it was one of the most interesting and spiritual lessons I have ever had. Her English is so-so, but she talked all about her overcoming breast cancer, and now has brain cancer. But she was soooo happy when she saw us that she started crying! She really is the sweetest old lady ever and has amazing faith.

I wanna share with you all a little spiritual thought that I learned in Zone Confence yesterday. I'm sure a lot of you know the scripture 1 Nefi 3:7, that says, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  Nephi had such amazing faith! I think sometimes this amount of faith seems unreachable in us "normal human beings." But there's another scripture a chapter back in 1 Nefi 2:16, that says, "wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behoold he did visit me, and did dsoften my heart that I did belive all th words which had been spoken by my father..." So we see here that Nefi's faith wasn't instantenous! He prayed for it, asked for it, and took some courage for him to believe it. But the Lord softened his heart, and he was able to do the hard things that he was asked to do. I know that if we will do the same thing, that we can have a similar experience! God will answer all of our prayers, and we can exercise the faith necessary to do anything that God asks of us because we know that He will prepare a way.

Okay so I didn't mean to go off on that long spiritual thought haha. But I love you guys! The Book of Mormon is awesome so keep reading and praying about it! That is something I'm trying to do every day. Vi voglio un sacco di bene! Ciao!

Sorella Henderson

zone conference March 2018

sorelle of Bologna (transfer 3)

Bologna district (March 2018)

SIMPS BAP DATES JOY AFRICANS

Ciao tutti!!!! It's been another AMAZING week in Italy! Sorella Frandsen and I are getting along so well as a companionship, and she's so good at talking to everybody! Presidente Allen has really been emphasizing the Book of Mormon in our missionary work and always carrying a copy around in our hands, and we have had some amazing experiences this week with people on the buses. We are seeing a girl from Ghana on Friday that we met through Book of Mormon bus finding! And another guy we met from the Virgin Islands has started reading the book! So that's so cool!

Well last night we had a lesson with Ayisat, our investigator. Maybe y'all don't really remember her because we hadn't seen her in about 3 weeks, but we saw her 2 times this week, and it was so great. The first lesson, we talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and she was not understanding anything we said. She is from Nigeria, and sometimes it is hard for them to understand. But today, the lesson was BOMB! We taught the Plan of Salvation, and it was amazing. She read the Book of Mormon and said now she understands about prophets and everything, which we explained like 4 times in the lesson before and she never got it. It was amazing!!!! I know the Spirit was helping so much. And she will be baptized March 31. It was seriously the best. Sorella Frandsen and I were whooping and hollering and praising Jesus the African way the whole mile run on the side of the dangerous highway to the train station! (We have to run because it's too dangerous to walk.)

We also saw Basirat and BJ this week, a husband and wife from Nigeria who are member referrals. We brought Friday, and it was so much better having another African there because they understood a ton more! And I think they are gonna get baptized April 7! They are still deciding on what date they want. The Lord has blessed us so much this week! It's been amazing! And I can see the blessings come as we have talked with more people, borne testimony, and exercised our faith. I love this work, and I have never had happier moments in my life than here on my mission! I know this Gospel changes lives, and I get to see it right before my eyes every day!

You people are great! Keep doing member missionary work and growing your personal testimonies! Allow the Gospel to change your life because it's so much better when you do. (: I love you all and I love to hear from you! Until next week!

Vi voglio bene,
Sorella Henderson

Pic 1: San Luca

Pic 2: when African children steal your phone

I was really bad at photos this week. Sorry folks!