Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 9:06 AM
Subject: FAMILIA y AMIGOS
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII couldn't even SLEEP last night because I was so excited to tell you all about the incredible things going on here in GENOVA. But then for Pday we went to this huge outdoor market at spent almost all day there and we have an appointment in like a half hour so...I don't have time! boo. I will do my best. Which is hard because really most these things I just feel like I can't even explain them with words. They are just feelings. How do you describe pure joy? This is how I describe pure joy.So yesterday we had interviews. Its kinda an all afternoon event, we learn lots of lessons while on by one the missionaries are interviewed. Well we were watching this little missionary clip and I just lost it. I was just BOMBED with the spirit. Brothers and Sisters. This work is REAL. In my first few transfers I caught myself thinking once in a whie..."is this just big game? I feel like I am just in a big game." Ha I knew it wasn't but sometims it all just felt pretend. OOOoh man though. Yesterday it hit me like a train the reality of this work, the great and marvelous work of the Lord. It is HUGE. The Lord has been preparing these people their WHOLE LIVES to accept His Son Jesus and His gospel. Preparing them to receive BLESSINGs upon blessings upon blessings- temporal, spiritual, and eternal. It was a beautiful sacred experience that I will never forget. I am humbled and so grateful. It is meraviglioso. Let me tell you a little (more) about Maribel because I am pretty sure I talked about her last time. Her daughter is Nicole who was baptized a few weeks ago. The faith of this mother is just mind blowing. Monday we had a family home evening with them, and the wwwwwwhhhooollllleeeeeee family was tHere. We ate delicious food made by the oldest daughter who is in chef school right now she is sooo sweet. Then we taught them about fhe and how you do fhe. we taught them the hymn families can be together forever one of my favoritest hymns and we all sang it together. Then we taught the restoration and it was soo spiritual and so good. We were super late so we grabbed the oldest daughters number and the brothers number and were out. So then yesterday we called her oldest daughter who wanted NOTHING to do with us just weeks ago but now is our best friend. We will be teaching her and her boyfriend and her son Thursday, they were so excited. Right after we hung up and called maribel's brother who was also at the fhe. We will be teaching him Satuday, he was stoked!. After we hung up we called Giuseppe, Maribel's husband to ask if he's be interested in having the lessons with us. He said VA BENE Sorelle, of COURSE! We will be teaching him tomorow. I jsut can't even believe this! This beautiful woman maribel, completely inactive fore YEARS, comes back to church, starts reading the book of mormon, receives a rock solid testimony of the truth, and with her FAITH her UNWAVERING FAITh she is bringing her whole family to God. Husband, two daughters, daughters family, brother, even her ex husband was at the dinner heis a member inactive as well coming back. Soo amazing and I am just blessed otu of my mind to be able to know these people. AHHHH!Whelp times up. Lesson time.Love you all!!!! Happy Halloween! LoveSorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:44 AM
Subject: hiiiiiiii
Mamma mia too much has happened last week my brain hurts just trying to think about it. So many great THINGS! Gotta flip open my agenda real fast. Ahheem.It is so beautiful living in a country where most the members are 1 generation converts. It is such a blessing. I get to hear the most amazing miraculous conversion stories from each of these members each day! This lady in our ward is my hero. She was baptized in her late teens and went on a mission in Peru, absolutely no support from anyone. She loves to talk and I wanted to hear her whole life story so she told me. Fast version: She was dating a returned missionary, had a dream that he was not the one for her, he convinced her anyways that she was the right one for him, they got married, hard hard life he cheated on her then promised he'd change and wanted to start over a new life that they'd come here to Italy and work and be happy and righteous but that didn't happen, they came her, and yeah lots of stuff happened. So this beautiful strong young mom with three kids never shook in her faith. She had a strong relationship with the Lord and was determined to heal her kids and raise them right. She taught them to build close intimate relationships with the Lord, to ask and seek and receive his guidance. She the two older children are both serving missions right now, and the youngest one comes to teach with us often and is as solid as a rock, she is incredible. I just love this woman, she is incredible! I am so humbled by these people who have been through SO MUCH but never let their faith waver. Never! This woman is happy, strong, steady, and wise. She has been richly blessed spiritually and temporally. Why? Because she is living the Gospel. She is obeying the commandments. She is F A I T H F U L. Ahh when I was in Milan I was sure I never wanted to leave that city, I would be happy there my whole mission! Now I can't even imagine who I would be if I hadn't had the chance to meet the incredible people I have met here!! I love them, they are my family. They have changed my life. This weekend NICOLE got BAPTIZED! It was beautiful, she is such a stunning young woman. OH man I forgot my camera cord I was going to send pictures. Next week!! Anyways she is 13 and the baptism was just beautiful. Her real dad came who was baptized yeaaarrrsss ago. It was his first time in a church for a real long time. Her sister who had quite the hard heart came as well and was touched. It was so beautiful. Nicole’s friends came. And after we were kinda talking to them, all these bitty 13 year olds, a few were kinda interested about learning more but for the most part they were just naa. In my head I am like oh man I hope they won't make Nicole feel bad or make her feel unsure. HA silly me for doubting. Nicole is solid. She just told them straight up this is the true church, I know it. One of our other investigators came, we had a lesson earlier that day, the baptism Sat night, then Sunday she came to all three hours of church. SHE IS AWESOME. We have a baptism date set for the 30th, pray for her! She has been through a lot, but she is one of these beautiful people that I feel like I was sent here to find and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love her deeply and we have a really strong connection. It just brings me joy, pure joy. This work is so real, the plan of God is so real and so big. Ahh it is so great. Then I went on scambio in.....TORINO!!! Ahh joy! I felt like I was in Salt Lake, it was cold and wintery, no snow yet, but the mountains are pretty and it just had that ski town feel to it. I was in heaven. OOH MAN I LOVE SKIING SO MUCH ha sorry I can't wait to do that again one day. Anyways Tornio was beautiful. AND I was on BIKE! Ahha I loveee being on bike. I really hope to serve in a biking city before my mission is up. It was exhilarating. SO peaceful, beautiful, blood flowing, fresh air..ahh definitely a big fan of the bike. We saw MIRACLES! I was with sorella alexander for 2 days, I learned soo much. She goes home in three weeks so it was weird talking about worldish things with her, ahh scary, but I learned a lot of great things from her and about her mission and just picked up on some things I like that she does when she teaches. Scambios are the best, I am all for exchanges. We learn so much from each other and for the work and for ourselves. We taught amazing people, found some amazing people doing street contacting and park, and really saw miracles. YAY!Now I am back here in lovely GENOVA! We might go to the aquarium today....it is the biggest one in Europe I hear.. Cool! Genova is so pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And WAY warmer than Torino.One more little learning experience. So sunday, before our exchange we were rushing around teaching doing last minute stuff before we had to go to the station and switch companions. On our way there the thought came to my mind, give sorella silva the cellphone, don't forget to give her the phone. And I thought back to that thought, I will when we get there, no worries. Just give it to her now was the response. She was standing a few yards away on the bus..Na I thought I will give it to her right when we get there. And went on thinking other things. We get there, the sisters are waiting for us, hugs, and HURRY we gotta catch our train back to Torino, says sorella alexander to me. So we say goodbye and rush off, get on our train, and are off. 2 minutes in...ahhh shoot. I have the phone in my pocket. Lesson: the Holy Ghost really does guide us. Warn us. The Holy Ghost TALKS TO US. The Holy Ghost told me clearly and simply, give the phone to your companion, not a drastic life threatening warning, just a sweet little prompting. So often we get those little suggestions and our OWN reasoning and logic just fires something back, ignores, justifies, or makes some excuse. One of my GREATEST desires for a long time now has been to be able to truly recognize and follow the guidance of the Spirit. And I learned this week that even those tiny little thoughts that pop into our head are from the Spirit and that I need to act upon them! What a huge HUGE blessing Heavenly Father has given us, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Our personal, all knowing GUIDE. WOW it is incredible!!!! SOO COOL! And so important that we live worthy of it in all times and in all places. And learn to follow. Not something I can master right way, but piano piano, I am working at it! I love you all! THANK you so much for all your prayers, I FEEL THEM. You are amazing. LoveSorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 3:54 AM
Subject: un'altra settimana. so much to do so little time.
ALO!OHhh man I am super out of time I don't know where this hour went. Looks like it will be another quick update. GENOVA IS GREAT. Such beautiful fall weather. Kinda chilly!! I'm gonna need to buy some warmer clothes. Or just gain more weight, that'll keep me warm. Everyone loves a chubby sister missionary, right?? :) HOW IS EVERYONE? What is everyone up to in the states? Send me some updates yeah!! YAY HERMANA MARSHALL going to SPAIN and my cousin Elder FIFE in Colombia is amazing!! Any other missionary news out there? OH BY THE WAY I don't think Talia Cont..(whats her last name, cant remember) or Lori Truman get these emails but Brooke will you let them know that some Elders when to Cinque Terre for Pday and took a picture of their message they wrote on the wall there! They wrote UTAH STATE and their names and a heart and stuff so the Elder took a picture, and he knew I went to Utah State so he showed me the picture and was like do you know these names!? I was just like HEEEY cool! I do know them!! So did they all travel to Italy this last summer? For what, just for fun? That is sweet!! Hope they had fun!! Tell them to write me an email! Thanks. ha anywhoo. My spanish is coming along horribly. I really want to learn. And with a peruvian comp I really should. I just can't seem to force her into listening to my 10-word-vocabulary spanish. Mannnnnagia. Nicole is getting baptized SATURDAY! She is sooo great. Teaching youth is the best EVERY they are so smart they just understand everything. We taught her the word of wisdom and law of chastity yesterday. Two of my favorite lessons, seriously. Those laws are so beautiful. So sacred. So divine. Ahh I love them so much and am so thankful we have them. We are blessed! We are teaching this sweeeeet girl from Capo Verde (eeeerr I don't remember what that is in english? Is it the same? It is in Africa..) Anyways she is SWEET! 22. Soo awesome I love her so much. We just taught her for the first time yesterday and it went so well. We are teaching another miracle named Agata who is incredible. I just love these people so much. It is such a blessing to see them progress in the GOSPEL and see their lives changggeeee mamma mia. The gospel is so TRUE! The best thing about Agata is that she has the DESIRE. Just this burning massive desire to feel the spirit to feel God's love and to be liberated from some ugly feelings she's had mixin around inside for years. And this just makes me so happy because I know without a doubt that this sincere desire she has will lead to some huge miracles right before her eyes, and some big changes in her life, because I know God loves her and is listening to her prayers and will respond. I knooww it. Ahh I can't wait. Whelp, really. Everything is going great here in Ecuador. I can't believe how fast the time is flying, it is terrifying. Weeks pass in blinks. Seriously, I look back and what happened this last week, all that I went through, all the experiences, all the highs, all the lows, all the everythings and I am just shocked. How is this possible? What time zone am I LIVING IN? AHHH! YIKES! LOVE YOU ALL!SOOoo MUCH!read your scriptures! love,sorella simkins
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 3:28 AM
Subject: Ohhhh MY! BUONGIORNO!!
Man isn't it soo cool that I am on the coast of Italy, teaching people the restored gospel, serving the Lord in His marvelous work? SO blessed.Genova is beautiful. It is still sunny warm here. We had a lesson like 30 minutes away yesterday and we just cruised up the coast on a bus. I was just in awe the whole time. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. People are still swimming in the sea, laying out on the beach. But surprisingly I didn't even have an ounce of jealousy or yearning. I am the luckiest person in the world to be doing what I am doing.
CONFERENZA GENERALE! Fantasticà! But...seriously...you just can't translate President Uchtdorf into Italian. It just doesn't work. I can't wait to get my hands on the conf ensign next month in english. We didn't get to see the last session sunday because it was 10 to midnight or something. Can't wait to read it. We had 4 investigators come! It was sweet! This week has just been completely out of control with miracles. We have been LEAD by the spirit. One evening we had 2 hours until we had to be in and no lessons planned. We started out, planning on going to pass by Edith, a contact we met early. It was a good plan, we knew she would be home, we even had an english book of Mormon with us because she is from Nigeria and Nigerians speak english. We get going..and I just get this sick feeling in my stomach. I think "ok..this is either hunger. Or anxiety because there are billions of people on this street and I am going to start talking to as many as I can. Or it is a sign that this isn't what we should be doing." We kept walking, I kept debating, then just turned to my comp and said this doesn't feel right, lets go this way. So we head up this alley, say a prayer, head back in the opposite direction. We immediately run into two people we taught in the park earlier that week, talked to them, it was great, reminded them about conference, they came the next day. Miracle two, we kept walking, and we were like..lets go to Maria's palazzo and do casa there. We are walking there walking past several palazzi and a thought comes into my head, walk into the next palazzo with it's door open. We walk past the next apartment, and a lady is just leaving. We turn and head right in. Go to the top floor, start doing casa, buzzing doors. First 5 doors we teach lessons, 3 or which with follow up appointments. Whaaaaaaaaaaatt???????????? HUGE miracles. HUGE! We would have never founds those people! MIRACLES! Ahh I only have 5 more minutes then my session is up. One more miracle, yesterday we taught this 13 year old and her family her mom is a less active who just came back to church so we are teaching here, and after invite her to baptism, she says yes because she really wants to follow Christ. She says the closing prayer and just starts bawling because the spirit hits her so hard. it was such a spiritual experience that I was able to witness, I am so thankful! Pray for Nicol, she is getting baptized in a few weeks!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!lovesorella simkins HOLA HERMANA KIME! you are so cool. did you know that my peruvian companion is AWESOME? I love her and I love peru. Papa alla huancaina ( I don't know how to spell that, but have you eatten it? it is delicious)love you!
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 4:20 AM
Subject: YAY!
HI! Well, I thought I was getting transfered to Genova, but instead I got transfered to Ecuador. Seriously it is nuts! I don't feel like I am in Italy, besides the tastey Faccacia and Pesto. Genova is absolutly gorgeous. It is a serious of little towns along the coast line, with TALL colorful, rustic, old palazzi (apartmets) all bunched together, windy, hilly, uneven streets, markets everywhere, landry hanging out of every window, and people walking everywhere! Open, friendly, ready for the gospel, Ecuadorian people! YAY! AND OH MY....the SUNSETS...I about throw up every evening looking at the sunset it is so beautiful. There are few things in life that give me that 'its so beautiful I almost feel sick feeling in this world', and sunsets are one of them. Gorgeous skys. Ahhh gorgeous. My companion is Sorella Silva! She is from PERU! She is 33 years old and a champion. SWEET! We speak noo english. My goal for this transfer is to LEARN SPANISH but everytime I ask my comp a spanish question its like I am asking her to wash my feet or something, I don't know why but I get the feeling she does not want to teach me spanish. Pazienza, I still study spanish during my language study, I need to get a good verb book or somfin. She is a great missionary though. Super bold, a great teacher, I really do love her. I have a lot to learn from her. So we got to Genova. Both have never been here before. We have a new apartment with like nothing inside, so it has been kinda crazy trying to collect our needs. The apartment is beauiful, right off the main street. and holy cow the miracles we have already seen. Out of control! Our second day we had a whole day just OPEN not one appointment obviously because we know no one! We go out our apartment, turn the corner, start talking with every moving thing in site. We get contacts left and RIGHT I filled up like 2 pages with numbers and people intersted! Families, youth, elderly, I couldn't believe it! We taught several lessons to several people in several different settings. Just like missionaries in the bom, we teach them EVERYONE on buses, in the parks, on the streets, in the stores, in their houses, on the stairs..it doesn't matter. Teach teach teach. So the next day we decided to go find the church. Are a little lost, I just stoppd the first person walking by, an Italian lady, 45 or so. Hey can you point us to via confalonieri? She says I don't know where that is. Oh ok.. thanks anyways! We are missionaries new her, looking for our church! She goes oh I know where your church is! It is new, I saw them fixing it up a while back. So she takes us down the street to our church, we have a nice convo, I ask if she has ever been inside, she says no, so we give her a little tour, invite her to church the next day, she doesn't seem like super intersted but was nice, and she left. Anyways, the church is soo sweet, so beautiful, it is nothing you can imagine ahha I can't even explain it. Our churches here in Italy are sweet. Nothing like the big brick chapels covering utah. This church is yellow. Tall and skinny. 2 floors. Really skinny and goes back far. Ha it is so funny but so beautiful, and has the same spirit as any other church. The baptismal font is beautiful, can't wait to use it!!! So we head out and start finding again, find a billion people, it is Saturday night so we are just inviting people to church like crazies. Oh man really I haven't experienced anything quite like it, the finding work we do here. Just talk to everyone in sight, no fear. My comp just gets right to the point, just dives right in with these people its funny man I love my comp I wish you could meet her she is so funny. But I am just blown away how many people we have met and taught already. It was like a big WELCOME gift from Heavenly Father. Miracles everywhere. So amazing. Even doing casa we have gotten in like 5 times which really is a miracle. So church the next day. Amazing members. FAMILIES. I am in a family ward, complete families, moms, dads, KIDS, it is weird I was just so joyed (made up word?) to see these complete, eternal families. Ah beautiful. A beautiful ward. And guess who comes to Church? Italian lady that showed us the church! Guess who else? Maria from Columbia we met the night before. I forgot to tell you, on the train ride to Genova I was pondering how my comp and I could open up this city with a BOOM and my goal was to bring one person to church, I was determined, to show the ward that we mean business! Sat night no one gave a clear commitment they would come. So...I was like ok..we did our best! And God provided. 2 people came!! So sweet. We have taught maria this week. You know want to know my absolute FAVORITE thing about being a missionary? Seriously..I think it is my number one favorite thing. I might have already mentioned it. It is people's first prayers (first prayer doing the prayer they way we do it). oooohh my heart. The simplest, most sincere, little prayers. So beautiful. But such HUGE TESTIMONIES TO ME OF HOW MUCH HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN! Ha cap lock went on and I just left it on for that sentence. Really though. I can't even count how many times i have seen these beautiful people in tears by the end of their first prayer. The Lord just DUMPS His loving spirit on them, and I am honored to hear, feel, and see it. I see the windows of Heaven open before my eyes. Maria's prayer was two sentences literally, but she cried. Heavely Father loves them so much and we see it. He is sooo happy when they talk to Him. Man, He loves them SO much, how does He do it. Incredible. I am happy to be her in Genova. I really gotta send you pictures, it is beautiful. Famous for Christopher Columbus's house, the aquarium, Focaccia, and Pesto. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm PESTO oh my mouth is watering. So tastey. Well gota go. LOVE YOU!! LoveSorella Simkins OH YES my address. Via Cantore 4116149 GenovaItalia WRITE ME! But...packages are risky FYI.. they get lost, stolen, never arrive. KENNY YAY I got your email. What is your address so I can write you backkk? You can email me I just am not supposed to email back. Keep sending me updates! You are SO COOL! Kenny can you forward this to Jen's missionary address, or send me her address or something so I can write her? Thanksss I love you so much!!
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:35 AM
Subject: HOLA HI EVERYONE!
oh my gash this week has been CRAZY! The craziest ever. Biggest rollar coaster ride of my life, I have bad whiplash. I will just dive in.
a) dinner with Saba from Ethiopia. HAHAHA what the world, just thinking about it makes me cry laughing. I don't even know where this lady came from, we just met her at a bus stop one day in the middle of no where and she invited us over for dinner. (this keyboard is pretty nasty so my punctuation and capitolizing is going to be pretty bad sorry.) so, a week or so later, we went over to dinner. it took us forever to get there. we miraculously found a book of mormon in her language which was swweeeeet, our book of mormon library has tonsss of languages and she speaks, man I don't even remember what it is called... amaric or something boh I don't remember. anyways so we head out to the boonies. we get inside and sit down and she just sits down and stares at us...we try making some small talk but she speaks very little Italian and very little English. Haha oh man...if someone just filmed the daily life as a missionary they would laugh sooo hard at all the hilarious situations we find ourselves in. so sheis just staring at us..we are asking some pretty basic questions to get to know her and try to talk..she just says yeh to like every question.. ha ok... so then we sit at the table and she brings out the food she cooked, which wasn't bad actually, real good. she puts in this dvd from her african evangelistic church I am just praying oh no. Luckly, she couldn't find the play button on her remote, so it just stayed at the menu screen while we ate haha. when I offered the opening prayer after every sentence I said she shouted AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. hahahahaa. after din we start into a lesson, teaching her about the book of mormon. hahahah oh man just thinking about it kills me. she was like GASPING when we started telling her about Lehi and his family and their story. I honestly don't know how much she was understanding, but she was gasping and saying YEH! lots so...hmm. So we are kind of just awkwardly going along..and then at the end it was so weird all a sudden it was just like her heart turned to stone! She looked at her bible and was like I NOOO CHANGE NEVER NO CHANGE EVER BIBLE STOP, BIBLE STOP, ONE GESU ONE GESU. we were just smiling...bearing testimony, and somehow wrapped up the lesson nicely. we invited her to say the closing prayer haha oops. My comp and I bow our heads. she stood up, held out her arms, and starts chanting and screaming halelujia then more chanting then a big HALELUJIA and more chanting and more halelujias. OH man I was using all my force not to burst. I was not expecting that it was hilarious. Then she walked us to the bus stop:) good ol' Saba.
b)next day, was NOT one of my most favorite days on the mission. Oh boy..our poor new converts and member are being BOMBED by the adversary. I don't know whatin the world happened but all a sudden they are all just facing huggee problems!!! We spent the whole day lesson to lesson hearing the heart renching problems they were giong through. I exaggerate not, we are on the fronts of the battle field. My heart just sunk to the bottom of the pits. By the end of the day I just slumped into my apartment dead and depressed. How do therapists DO IT? Holy smokes. The problems these people are facing are real, and they are painful. they are destructive. The ONLY LIFE LINE IS JESUS CHRIST. Ahh faith faith faith, where is your faith. Live the gospel. Keep the commandments. In this there is safety in this their is peace. It is as simple as that. There aren't any exceptions, there aren't. TRULY living the gospel is the only escape. For myself included! I was not. good. that night. but I testify that the atonement is real, and that it heals all the broken. So when Sunday rolled, during church and after, I was feelin really good. Then we went to visit some less actives. which reminds me, ANYONE who has served in the PHILIPPEANS please email me. I have a few questions about these amazing people and their culture, thanks:) Then monday came (day before transfer calls, tuesday night) We are in the middle of studies and the phone rings. It is president Wolfgramm. If you get a call from President the day before, it means somethin exciting is going on. And yes, I did receive some exciting news! I am going to....dm dum dum....GENOVA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAhahahaha. I am super excited. I am opening up Genova to Sisters with Sorella Silva from Peru!!! SWEET!!! My transfer goal (among many) LEARN SPANISH. I will learn spanish. I am determined. Anyways, I am super excited.I love Milano with allllll of my heart, but their comes a time when you know a little too much about the people and a fresh pair of eyes and perspective is really needed. Sorella Sloan and Sorella Baker will work miracles, which are already in full swing. Which brings me to c.
c) We have INCREDIBLE investigators right now! What in the world, how do we find these people! Margoth, 29, we have seen only 3 times. OH MAN she is just out of this world. Our first lesson was jsut a pure lesson on hope and our Savior because she was really down in the dumps. Our next lesson shewas alreayd changed. She hasn't prayed in years and is praying. We left her the Moroni promise in Moroni 10:3-5 and the introduction to read after our last lesson, we got there yesterday, started following up on the reading...and she is like well I thought I would need to understand better this moroni so I read the whole book. I really like the part about babies not needing to be baptized. I also thought it was really interesting how Moroni appeared to Joseph several time preparing him to get the gold plates. I also really like Nephi, how he is so faithful in following the Lord and his father and is about to go back to Jerusalem to get those other plates. HAHA my companion and I's jaws were on the floor. SHE READ A TON. Ahhh you would be SUPRPISED at how much this shocks people, when people actually READ and UNDERSTAND. you would think that would be an obvious simple thing that everyone did but NO it is like pulling TEETH sometimes trying to get people to read the Book that changes LIVES. So we were just exstatic. Margoth is AWESOME. We had a really good lesson yesterday, and yesterday she called me and was like...where were we reading about the plan of salvation today, I want to read more! Ohh I love her. Giovanna, also from Peru. Just incredible. We had our second lesson with her, and she just wants to follow Christ. She set her baptism date for October 15th. Mariella, an Italian who studied with missionaries like 30 years ago, awesome. She is getting an opporation and will be home all day everyday for like a month, like..she cannot leave the house. mwaahahah. a missionaries most favorite news. She is awesome. William and Giulia, had our first lesson with them yesterday...oh my the mom Giulia..just blew my mind. She is SHARP! I was just laughing with amazement at how well the Lord has prepared her, it is unreal. Her and her son William will be baptized next transfer. I kid you not. The work here in Milano is just exploding. It is unreal, we are overjoyed. I can't wait to see these same miracles in Genova, I have no doubt that they await us. It is exciting, the thoughts of opening up a city..who knows what challenges await, but I'm pumped.
Well, that is enough news for now! I can think of a million other funny, spiritual, awesome, sad things to tell, but this will have to do.
Missions are out of control.
I love you.
LOVE
SORELLA Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 4:00 AM
Subject: Another beautiful week CIAOOOO TUTTI
Come vaaa? Hows the weather there in ol Utah? Here we are melting still. HOT. But beautiful. This morning my companion and I went on a culture run! We ran to the Duomo and back, it was beaauutttiiifffuuulll and so peaceful. I love running in the morning. I am scared for the day when I get a companion who won't run with me. eek.
Ahh what a beautiful week this was! We started it out with a GREAT scambio, where I was able to go to the beautiful city of Bergamo with Sorella Mcfadden for the day. Scambio's are so effective, and needed, and good for missionaries. It was good for me to get out of Milan for a sec and get some new perspective and a recharge of new faith and spirit for the work going on here. Getting to know and talk to Sorella Mcfadden was a really good experience too. Again, I just am so thankful and so amazing how the REAL the gospel has become to me. ALIVE. The gospel is life. I will put it as simple as I can.
We are here to BE HAPPY. (2N2:25)
For us to BE HAPPY, God gave us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His PLAN OF HAPPINESS for us, His children.
Satan wan't us to be UNHAPPY. He will do all he can to make us unhappy.
So I guess you just need to ask yourself..are you happy? Whose plan are you living?
So yeah, scambio went really well. Got back and just had a week full of miracles with Sorella Sloan. Next week is transfers scary. I might be leaving my home here in Milan. Ahh there are such great things happening here though so I don't know how I feel about that, but I know where ever I go God's work will be happening so I'll do what I gotta do! Our Ecuadorian family is great, slowly growing their faith and making their way to Salvation. Our beautiful friend Grace from Ghana disappeared, sad! It is CRAZY how that happens on the mission sometimes. You find the coolest person ever, just super prepared and ready to accept the fulness of the gospel, then poof they are gone. What! We have found SOLID incredible investigators this week though. HOLY COW I just can't believe it thinking about it. One lady we found on the Metro, made an appointment, and went to teach her a few days later. She is soo sincere, just such a sweet lady, so genuine. When we were teaching the restoration we got to the apostacy and she just looks up at us soooo worried, literal FEAR in her eyes and she says to us.."Where is God's authority now!?? Where did it GO!??" Haha my companion and I just about exploded as we told about Joseph Smith and the first vision and the restoration of God's authorit to the earth. HA it was soo awesome, she is so GREAT. She called the otherday and was like..the book of mormon is a little confusing but I am trying to read it as much as I can! I was like have you prayed about it? And she is like OH YEAH I am going to start praying before and I read it and right after I read, everytime! Last night we taught Lucy from Brazil/Spain who doesn't speak Italian, little spanish, and lots of portugese! It was beautiful. We literally taught the Gospel in sentences small enough for a 2 year old to understand. Simplicty really is power. She is so great. Ha I LOVE PEOPLE! I love being on a mission. I just can't get over how amazing this is. When again in my life will I ever have the chance to live like this. Teach the gospel ALL DAY, go to bed at 1030 up at 630 to exercise eat get ready and then STUDY the SCRIPTURES for hours. HAVE YOU GUYS READ THE BOOK OF MORMON LATELY? IT IS OUT OF CONTROL. I just started it again and read 1 Nephi 13 this morning and DIED. That was written 600 years before CHRIST are you KIDDING ME??? Man I was hyperventilating telling my companion about all the stuff I read. People. You have got to read the Book of MORMON. It is the best book I have ever read. There is no possible way that it isn't true. No way at all. READ IT! and pray about it. ahh it will change your LIFE everyday.
Well I am outta time.
I LOVE YOU
Love
Sorella Simskeekinis
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Monday, September 12, 2011
More August and September
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 3:37 AM
Subject: Buongiornoo Hello!
It is a lovely day here in Milano, nice and cool. A little hard to focus with Rehanna singin in the background, but that's just how things roll here in this little internet place haha. Oh Bob Marley now, perfect...
What a great week. All kinds of crazy things happening here in
Sunday the 4 Libyan refugees (from
We are now teaching this wayy beautiful family from
I have been thinking a bit also how the principles of the Gospel are eternal, and what that means. It definitely means more than just that they exist in this life and the next. They are eternal in every sense.
Well, I have been thinking about lots of stuff lately haha. And doing lots of stuff. Teaching lots of stuff. Being taught even more stuff. Being a missionary is...well, you really just have to go on a mission to know. It is amazing.
I LOVE YOU!
Love
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 4:10 AM
Subject: Ahhh the TIME HELLO beautiful family and friends.
It is one of those days again..(every other day pretty much) where my anima(soul) is just on FIRE. JOY is pulsing through me VEINS. And since I have no time and my companion is super speedy fast and waiting for me to finish... I will type fast. hahah.
Monday...was out of this world incredible. I feel like a little chess peice on a gigantic chess board. God is just moving me around here and there, letting me witness MIRACLE after MIRACLE after MIRACLE. Why am I this blessed I have no idea. So we started out the morning, normal schedule, run, breakfast, a few ensign articles, shower, studies, out the door..and district meeting, which we have every monday morning. And we had some lovely visiter, President Wolfgramm and Sister Wolfgramm! Oooh they are fantastic, I love them. Out district consists of the incredible missionaries Anziano Morino and Anziano Reynoso(who was in the mtc with me! He is hilarious he reminds me of Moglee from Jungle book for some reason). Anyways we had a super spiritual, revelation packed district meeting! Got Sorella Sloan and I pumped for our day. We went to our first lesson, with Grace, a beautiful lady from
Seriously. I am just a tiny pawn in the Lords hands. He is letting me witness His work and I can't express how thankful and blessed I am.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love
Sorella
Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:14 AM
Subject: holaaa c i a o t u t t i
How are you all DOING? Sounds like crazy things are happening at the Simkins house. Thanks everyone for helping my dear parents move from our lovely home to our new little condo. It will be strange not coming home to
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 3:25 AM
Subject: "If we taught all the creepers here in
Last week I wrote a nice update, went to attach some pictures, pushed the minimize box and lost my email. Hate that feeling of writing something then losing it, but pazienza, I will update you now! It is such a beautiful sunny day here in Milano. and....very quiet and still...it is like a GHOST TOWN! Holy cow, they weren't kidding when they said in August
Sweet story number 1. A group 8 or so refugees from
2) It had been a nice long day full of work. We were heading home, done for the day, going down into the metro. We see this lady running up the stairs. And we see at the bottom of the stairs several suitcases. We ask if we can help, she just like BEAMS oooh yes thank you so much! So we help her grab her luggage and are pulling it up the stairs. Out of no where, the Elders come around the corner. We hardly EVER see the Elders in our area. So they start helping us. And this lady is just overwhelmed...Where are you angels FROM? She keeps saying over and over, just on the verge of tears. She had just barley come back to
Really I don't know exacly what happened but I feel like my mission just completely shifted to a whole new level this week. Everything just became..so much more REAL. So real. Like a young member said in his testimony a few weeks ago.."Anything is possible for two people, if one of those people is GOD." That is just pulsing through me. We can do ANYTHING with God on our side. Anything. Miracles are happening left and right. I love these people so much. Yesterday we went to the park for our next lesson to a new convert. And we got their a bit early. So we sit next to this guy on a bench and start teaching. He is from
I just don't know how to express in words what we have been experiencing this last week. It has been so powerful..just helping the people we teach, and ourselves, really understand how real God and Jesus Christ are. Christ isn't just this beautiful idea or peace giving concept. He is REAL. He LIVES. He lives and is the head of His church. He leads it. What does that mean to you!?
Oh man. So we live in four in our apartment, and one of the other sisters got transfered to Torino, and Sorella Modugno, from
WHELP I am out of time.
I LOVE YOU! and would love to hear from more of you!
Love
Sista Simkins
Friday, August 5, 2011
JUNE and JULY
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 4:19 AM
Subject: 6 months? HELLO!
How are you? A few things first:
1)Happy birthday KORI AND SUNNY! I love you and am sorry I forgot to wish you happy birthday earlier. I am horrible with birthdays. So anyone else that celebrated a birthday in the last few months, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
2) I can't believe 6 months of my mission are gone. Even typing those words made my stomach twist and turn and my heart beat fast..anxiety!! SAD! Whyyy is time passing so fast? Ohh man oh man oh man. Deep breaths.
Ohhh my dear family and friends. These last two days have been the most spiritual days I have ever lived in my life. I can't share in words what I and my companion have experienced, but they are moments I will never EVER forget. Yesterday Gelyn Abellido was baptized. She was originally planned to be baptized Saturday. Then Friday. Then they just moved it to Wednesday! Hah it was awesome. Oh my..I love her. She is a beautiful Philippino, young, married, mom to be. She is here working in
My soul is just completely filled with peace.
I know, stronger than ever, that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He loves us.
In Jesus's name, amen.
I LOVE YOU! SO MUCH!
Love
Sorella Simkins
PS
Tyrell, GOOD LUCK!!! Is his email address tyrell.fife@myldsmail.net?
I hear a cousin is engaged? a TWIN perhaps??? Congratulations!
Lizzie SPENCER I need to hear from you!
Any other news, let me know! I love you all so much.
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 3:48 AM
Subject: HELLO! Ciaoo a TUTTI!
How ARE YOU? It was so great to hear from some new people this week. Just because I am wrapped up and busy in missionary work doesn't mean that I forget completely about the people I love most in this work!! I love to hear how you are doing and what you are up to, so give me a shout out when you can! When I will write back is unsure..haha but I will try my best!
I love this time of year. July is such a great month. Especially the 4th and the 24th. I hope you all had an amazing pioneer day, with sunny skys, fun activities, good food, family, and hearts full of appreciation for our amazing pioneer ancestors. In the morning when I have a little time before the morning studies I love to read about my own heritage. It is incredible...I just have a whole new out look on those faithful saints who sacrificed everything for
The work here is going great. As in...we are teaching a beautiful mother to be from the
Something I learned this last week. And, like every other principle in life, it is something I already knew that I learned again. God answers prayers. So just think for a second...when we ask someone a question..what do we do next? We wait for their responce. It's not like we ask a question then just run off, hop in bed and fall asleep..or get in the shower. We have to wait...and RECEIVE the responce. God responds to our prayers, we just need to pay attention to His answers. Recognize His answers everyday. And thank Him for them. This week was a journey. All kinds of emotions. But I always plead with Heavenly Father to change me. To make me a better person. To continually shape me into who He wants me to be. And..and I just had to realize that that is exactly what He is doing! Everything I am going through, and experiencing, is an answer to my prayers. It is Heavenly Father molding me into the person I can be. The process isn't comfortable, painless, or easy breezy. But it is the answer to my every day prayers! So instead of bein a big baby about it I realized oh duh! This is the answer. Silly me!
Vi voglio bene tutti!
Con amore,
Sorella Simkins
RACHEL KIME!! You are an amazing missionary. Thank you for your letter I loved it. I will write back today hopefully.
Malorie ALLRED! Yay FINALLY! I am so happy you and TJ are doing so well. I loved your update. I had a scary dream you seperated it was horrible I was so happy to wake up and know it wasn't true.
Kori! You are so faithful I LOVE hearing from you. The pictures of
Ashley Snyder!!! You are the coolest. Keep up the member missionary work, you really are such a good example to me! Don't be affraid to bear your testimony to all these people! I will write back when I can!
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 3:13:02 AM
Subject: HOLA!
HELLO family and friends!
I hope you are all having FANTASTIC SUMMERS! I love this time of year. Especially because...here in Milano for some crazy reason God has blessed us with beautiful weather. Everyone since the beginning has been warning me how
What are you all up to anyways? I need some updates from my friends and family! Kori I got your pictures of
Well, the mission is incredible as always. This week I felt like my companion and I climbed a mountain. It was really good, really intense. Ha I just can't get over how human we are sometimes!! God has to teach us the same lessons 100 times before we even get it. It is really humbling, and kind of funny. My companion and I are different but have a few things in common. When we have something we need to get done, we get it done. We have to be careful though to not turn into robots haha. It might sound strange but my companion and I kinda forgot to have fun this last week!! We were just like ok gotta do this this this today and then this and then get this done and teach this and see this person- on and on and on. And then we had this mini like break down Monday. And we were like..woah...what do we teach people day in and day out? That our purpose here on earth is to HAVE JOY. Be happy! And BAM just like that, the whole rest of the day Monday and yesterday just went different. More smooth, more relaxed..same amount of work..we were just HAPPY though! We were able to feel the spirit really strong in our lessons. It was like God was telling us to calm down, and enjoy ourselves. I like that lesson :)
I feel like it is kind of hard to explain all our learning experiences that we have on a mission haha so I hope that made a little sense. I just want to share with you all, to be happy. Find joy in your daily lives. In your many blessings.
So! The work is going great! We had a few set backs..Like our beautiful Philippino couple that had baptism date for the 30th...they aren't married!! Whaaa!!?? They have been together like 20 years and both wear wedding bands. We had no idea! Until Cora, after our lessons last week, was like oh yeah by the way, we aren't married! Will that be a problem? HAAA my heart just dropped into my stomach. I am not worried though, the Lord will provide the way. We have had just really powerful, beautiful lessons this last week. I am overjoyed with the progress of our beautiful investigators. I know they will be strong members and instruments in the Lord's hands. He has great futures awaiting them!! It is exciting to be blessed to be apart of it all.
WELL! I love you so much. Gotta run. Please let me know how you all are doing!
Love
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 3:48 AM
Subject: OOHH the JOY! CIAO FAMILY!
oh my GASH I am so blessed to be a MISSIONARY. What in the world did I do to deserve this. I have never felt such joy in my LIFE. Heavenly Father LIVES and LOVES
So last week I was feeling this like pressure on me and the work, a little distress, a little worry. I was trying to lean on my own strength to do this work. OOH my...now.. I can't even count the blessings there are too many. Heavenly Father has just poored blessings upon my companion and I here in
Corra and Peter. A philippino couple. I found Corra on the Metro, got her number. Called, she didn't want to see us, said she would call me back. Called again a few days later, same thing. Called again (ha, persistance right?) And she let us come over. We taught her husband and her and 3 friends. TEARS. Oh my it was incredible. Corra and Peter came to all three hours of church, even after Peter the WHOLE NIGHT before. We taught them again Monday the plan of salvation. They just cried. They have been waiting for this. They bore such sweet testimony of how they know this is true and how much God has blessed them. They are getting baptized July 30th.
Giacomo. Italian. Degree in Philosophy. Foreign languages specialist. Extremely SMART. Knows the bible very well, a huge believer in Christ. And....HUMBLE. Humble. Oh my..this incredible man has his heart completely open to learning about Jesus Christ from two little 21 year old girls who know hardly anything. He also came to all three hours of church Sunday. We have had two lessons with him. He is so sincere. AHH I just can't even explain how amazing he is, being SO smart, yet humble and willing to learn and accept what ever path the Lord has for him. HE IS GOLDEN.
Veronica. A beautiful young girl from
Carlos. Ecuadorian. Works for 4life, I don't know too much about it other then the owners of this huge company, the Lisonbees, served here in Milano last year. I have heard nothing but amazing things about them, and I know that this company and product has changed the lives of many. Carlos has studied with Gehova's witnesses, Evangelists, ect, claims to be catholic. But he is in the search of the truth. He knows God has a plan for him and a future for him in His church, and he wants to know where that is. We have had 2 great lessons with him. He is sincere and spiritual. He is INCREDIBLE!!
Graziella. Italian. Former school teacher. Very smart. Brings her notebook full of notes and her Libro di Mormon to every lesson, underlined, ready to discuss. She knows that Jesus Christ is our Savior. She is a volunteer at some sort of hospital, she serves everyone around her, takes care of her family, she is an amazing women. Teaching her is a delight, even if she uses real big italian words that I don't understand half the time :) Ahh I love her.
Karina. A beautiful girl from Bolivian. Half her heart is soft as butter, half is hard as rock. Bolivians are AWESOME such firm believers but ahhhhhhh sooo testarda somtimes (stubborn). Gosh I love her so much. She is progressing slowly but surely. Every lesson her hearts softens a bit more. We had a beautiful lesson in
Gelyn. Philipinna. We haven't even taught her yet. She was came to all three hours of church Sunday. When I asked her, wait, are you a member of the church? She replied with a big smile, No, not yet! Hahahahahahaha. Ohh my how AWESOME. We teach her friday. Can't wait.
Can you see why I am crying with JOY? What in the WORLD! Heavenly Father is GRANDE. He is POORING blessings upon us. I feel like dust. I am honored to be a tool in his HANDS TO BRING TO PASS THE ETERNAL LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN! This is just a part of the work we have seen in this last week. MIRACLES. LEFT AND RIGHT. It is out of control. My heart is FULL!!!!!!!!!!!! Of joy. Of thanks. Of humility. OF LOVE. Love love LOVE. I love these people. I love them so much. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. GLORY TO GOD. Years ago when I was 17 and thought to myself "Ah, I am so blessed. I need to go on a mission to pay back even a fraction, to show how thankful I am." HA what a JOKE. Little did I know what even GREATER blessings awaited me. It is incredible.
A cool little thing happened yesterday. So we take the metro everywhere. I am on the metro all the time, talking to allllll kinds of people. Yesterday I sat down next to this nice youngish Italian couple. I started talking to them and immediately it was like my spirit started dancing inside of me. I was just over come with happiness, I still don't know why. I only had a short few minutes with them, bore testimony of the Book of Mormon, gave it to them, and got their number and a return appointment...but something was just so different about them. I literally got off the metro, just smiling and laughing with joy. Soo happpyy inside. I don't know what will happen with that couple, but I am excited to find out what! They are special.
Please, everyone. STOP TRYING TO TAKE ON THE WORLD BY YOURSELF. It is NOT possible. STOP TRYING TO DEPEND ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH. It will NEVER be ENOUGH! FOLLOW THE SAVIOR. Turn to Jesus Christ. Give yourself to Him and you will experience joy. You will be happy. You will find peace. Not joy, happiness, and peace that lasts a few days, maybe a week. But joy, happiness, and peace that is everlasting. He is near you, just WAITING to bless you. LET HIM. Please let Him.
I KNOW THAT GOD LIVES. And I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 4:24 AM
Subject: WOW HELLO!
This will be the shortest update YET! I am sorry! My new companion is a speed demon, she's already done and I haven't even started this email! Yikes!
Things are fantastic in
I love you so much!
Love
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 5:40 AM
Subject: End of my 2nd transfer.
CRAZY! IL TEMPO VOLA
I cannot believe another transfer has gone by. WHAT? It was only my second one and it passed in a blink! How is that possible? They say it only gets faster. I don't see how that is possible at all.
I keep wondering when I am going to get that tranfer from heck where all I do is knock doors 25 hours a day and have the worst companion and never teach and get nothing but pure rejection. I don't think it will every come, because these last few transfers have been absoultely incredible! I love
So Sorella Ryan and I are lucky and got to find out transfer changes early! We got a call from the President Monday! Because..Sorella Ryan will be an office sister next transfer. And I will be training. hahahahaha. Oh man. This is going to be interesting.
SO! What is going on. Our two investigators with baptism dates for July 16th are awesome! Old Satans been tryna get them down, but they are still going strong. Pray for them! One is from
I have been thinking about a few different principles these last few weeks. I don't know if I have ever mentioned it, but our mission has kind of like a battle cry. GEMS. So my first meeting in the mission, the President's Wife intruduced this theme. G.E.M. Grow Every Missionary. When I first heard this... I was like huh? Yay..gem.....uh....ok whatever. I thought it was kinda cheesy and didn't think too much about it. The more time goes on, the more profound and meaninful this simply little motto becomes.
We can change peoples lives everyday, and have our own lives be changed. Someone can say a simple comment in a class that can just hit you right in the heart, and totally change your way of thinking from that time on. Growing every missionary drives us to take hold of those opportunities. Do all we can to help your companion grow. I must do all I can to serve her, encourage her, better her. Do all I can to help her, change her. Bring her unto Christ. Just like I am doing with every investigator I teach. With ever member I meet.. and really...with every single person I encounter. That is our purpose as missionaries. To bring others unto our Savior Jesus Christ. But really...that is our purpose in life. In all we do we should be lifting others up. Helping them. Serving them. Growing them. Bringing them unto Christ. It can be a simple comment. A sincere testimony. It can be leaving a place better than how you found it. Sharing a talent, or a blessing. There are endless ways to grow those around us. We are all in this together. Don't leave anyone behind. God will inspire you with how to do so. He knows EXACTLY what you can do to help His children. Seek His help!!!!
I challenge you all to go now and CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES.
Also, I invite you to change my life! I have been thinking a lot about the power of faith in obedience this last week. And I would like to start expanding my understanding of love. Any of you who have anything you would like to share, please send me an email!! please please.
Con Amore,
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:43 AM
Subject: "CIAO RYAN!"
Holas Hermanos, Hermanas! Isn't it just Hola? Why does it always sounds like they say holas? Yo quiero aprendir espanol!!!! ahhh You would think I could speak it fluently by now, since I am pretty much in a spanish ward and teach muchos sud americanos. Ok I will stick to Italian since I have made already 100 spanish mistakes. I will learn someday. GREAT WEEK.Miracle number one: So weeks ago I talked to this girl, around my age, from
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:54 AM
Subject: l o v e Ciao famiglia!
MMMmmm it's soo great to be alive. Happy am I.
Soooo this week. Amazing. Last Thursday Sorella Ryan my companion and I were invited to go to mission council (second month in a row for me, I am a lucky duck). We were invited because the mission president wanted us to give some consiglio. It was a really cool experience! The assistents and zone leaders in the Milan Mission are incredible young men. Very humble and righteous. It is always a delight to learn from them.
Then, later that evening, we had a lesson with our beautiful Italian family. The mom and son, as always, just super pumped for their baptism saturday, not a doubt in their minds. The daughter..still amazing but hadn't made her decision yet. The lesson went great, we talked about how important prophets are and about our modern prophets. The lesson was very spiritual and ended very well, but the daughter still wasn't ready to announce her decision. Friday we had another lesson. Saturday morning, day of the baptism, around 9:30 we get a call. The daughter. Announcing that she is READY TO BE BAPTIZED! That she knew it was right and that all doubts and fears had been swept from her heart. REJOICE! OOOhh sweet joy. I knew she was going to be baptized Saturday with her family. So many prayers and fasts for her! It was still incredible to hear her say it! Later that afternoon we had lunch with them, went to the church, the daughter was interviewed. They all got dressed. I have never seen a more beautiful sight. A righteous, faithful family. Dressed in white. Ready to enter the gate to the path to eternal life. The hot water in the font didn't work! It was freeeeezing. But The baptisms were...incredible. The strongest most powerful spirit was there. So many ward members came and supported them. A miracle happened- The mom's mom came to the baptism (who is against the whole thing) And her aunt came (we we are now teaching!!). It really was a beautiful experience. The very very best part came last. After the great talks. After the little musical number my comp and I sang (my companion has a beautiful voice and loveess to force me sing in front of people which is terrifying but I am trying. we sang in sacrament the other week. eeeeeek) After the young womens president, young mens president, and relief society president gave big warm welcomes to our beautiful young family. After the bishop gave a beautiful welcome talk...ok here we are. The best part. The mom, son, and daughter, one by one got up and bore their testimonies. The whole room was in TEARS. They were so sincere. So spiritual. Straight from their hearts. It was incredible for me to see the strengh of a 13 year old and 14 year old girl, and their young mother. Bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His true church on the earth. To hear the young daughter boldly say that she wants to be a strength in this church, that she will not be one that joins this church and leaves it after a few years. To hear the son say that he has read the book of mormon and knows it is true. That he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. To hear the mom talk about the Holy Ghost and how it teaches truth. I just sat there..amazing..thinking..man I didn't tell them to say any of this haha this is straight from their hearts. It was just so powerful, something I will never forget. I know that I was close friends with this family in preexistance. I know that we will be friends for eternity. I love them so much.
Sunday was amazing as well. They all received the gift of the Holy Ghost and beautiful blessings from priesthood holders.
Monday I just woke up completely content. Ok I will be honest, haha I don't know what post-partem depression is like, but I think I might have had a little bit of that for a few minutes haha. My beautiful family. Reborn. ahh sigh. But I couldn't be happier. Now we are off again! The work goes on. Never stops! And I never want to stop. New people to bring unto Christ. Lots more! It is BEAUTIFUL!
So much to talk about, so little time. So much to learn. I hope you are all doing well. One last experience. Yesterday we had zone conference with a bunch of missionaries. And during a testimony I was just really overcome with the spirit.
I want you ALL to know. That I LOVE my Heavenly Father. I love Him more than words can describe.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love
Sorella Simkins
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 5:02 AM
Subject: Ahh this Church is so true. Hellloooooo
Another fantastic week gone by here in Milano. Ahh I can't believe how fast time is going. Make it stop, make it stop!!!!!
I am not in a "pensive" mood today, so much to SAY! I will start from last P-day.
-I was able to play soccer with a bunch of members and investigators! It was super fun. Except that I was playing in my vans so I was slipping all over the place. But it felt so great to run around and play soooccceerr with the South Americans and Italians. Yay.
-So, the beautiful family we are teaching, a few days after we set their baptism date for the 4th, called and frantically expressed how they did not feel ready for that date, that it was too soon. My companion and I remained calm and faithful. This family is amazing, SERIOUSLY amazing, and so prepared. So we knew everything would turn out ok. So last week they still hadn't decided a new date, we have been seeing them everyday, anyways. Last Friday they all went and had bishop interviews..just to get to know the bishop, talk with him, etc. My comp and I were getting ready for bed Friday night and we get a call and its the family. The mom is like..we have some bad news. We are not ever going to get baptized, in fact, we never want to see you guys again. My comp was the one on the phone and I just watched as her face just drop to the floor. Then I hear this scream, JUST KIDDING!!!!! HA I was like AHHHHHH my comp was like LUCY don't you ever joke with us like that again!! And we just all laughed. Anyways. She went on to tell us how she knows that bishops are called of God and inspired, that as she was talking to the bishop, she really felt as if God was talking to her, right to her heart. The son and daughter said the same thing, how they felt the spirit so strong while talking to him. AHH my comp and I were just over joyed. She then is like..June 11th! Me and (the son) are getting baptized June 11th! YIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY! The daughter, who is incredible as well, said she needed to pray and study extra hard this week and that she wasn't quite sure if she was ready for the 11th. Anyways, we have been seeing them everday and it has been going amazing. We have been able to have all the lessons with members, which is a hugee help to these (almost) new converts. For example, I just HAVE to write about what happened Monday. So we have been planning this nice family home evening with a Peruvian family in our ward (Mom, Dad, 2 daughts 7 and 13) with the family we are teaching for a while now. We went and picked up the family, went to the member families house....turns out she had prepared this wonderful dinner for us, which we did not expect. Anyways, it was...BEAUTIFUL. We were all just around the table, chatting, telling storis, laughing, joking, it was just such a great spirit! Of love! Of families! I was just over joyed watching this beautiful Italian family who is getting baptized this weekend, just totally bonding with this beautiful Peruvian family who entered the church 10 years ago. After we ate, the 13 year old daughter gave the most beautiful lesson about the Holy Ghost and how we recognize it, totally perfect for the daughter we are teaching. Anyways, everything went so well, and it just hit me...that is what this church is about. Strenghtening families. Strengthening each other. Love. Spiritually uplifting one another. It totally grew my testimonies on the importance of family home evening. And just how important it is for members to get involved with missionary work. Every lesson that a member comes with us is 1000 times better then when we are alone teaching.
-We had a few hours for knocking doors yesterday and were able to teach 4 different families! God directs this work!! I just wish I spoke arabic and romanian! Did I already tell you that I love Romanians? Ahh they are beautiful people. Everyone is beautiful.
Well I am almost out of time. Pray for our baptism to go well this weekend! I am super excited, it is going to be a beautiful day here on earth and in Heaven. I know for a fact that I was friends with this family in the pre-earth life. The moment I met them I felt like I had known them forever. They are so close to my heart. I will be friends with them for ETERNITY. Thanks to Heavenly Father and His beautiful, perfect plan for us. Rejoice!
Until next weeeeeeek!
Sorella Seem-keens
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)