This week was GREAT as usual, full of all sorts of little miracles and tender mercies!
First of all, I just have to say the mission conference with anziano Nelson was one of the coolest moments of my life! As soon as he walked in the room all of us missionaries stood up and the spirit was just flooding the room. We got to shake his hand (you can only imagine how sweaty my hands were) along with the rest of the general authorities and all I can say that I felt in that moment was LIGHT. Anziano Nelson was just this glowing ray of LIGHT! I felt so strongly as he walked past us that he truly is an apostle of Jesus Christ and that he has been called of God. What was so beautiful is that when he got up to speak he just completely spoke from his heart and expounded on the scriptures, and talked about the 12 tribes and gathering of Israel. It was so powerful and something different than I've ever experienced to be in the presence of an apostle right there in the mission field and engaged in the hastening of this work and gathering of Israel. This week my testimony of prayer has just been strengthened so much. We had so many experiences that tied back into prayer...first off was with sweet Danilo! Well, awesome member Alessandra just got back from her mission in Spain and is on fire and wants to help us every second of the day. One day she prayed to have a missionary opportunity and later that day was standing at the bus stop in the pouring rain and this guy asked her why her Italian accent was so weird and Spanishy so she got to tell him about her mission and she said immediately he started asking so many questions and was interested. Turns out later in the week she invited him to the Ward Conference with elder Nelson and HE CAME! Haha first time going to church and he meets an apostle of the Lord, well we meet with him and teach the restoration and it was beautiful, hes been raised Catholic his whole entire life, he's 24 years old and I don't think I have ever seen anyone in my entire life with more intent than he has. I see Joseph smith through him! He literally asked "what church is true and how am I supposed to know it?" I just sat there in awe...it's just a treat to see people so prepared for this gospel:):) Well that night he went home and read the chapter in the Book of Mormon we gave him and then he called us and excitedly talked about how he prayed after reading and these were his words....always more beautiful in Italian...but he said "sorelle I prayed and I felt....light....I felt a peace inside of me....no I felt like there were hands on my shoulders telling me that I am on the right path." It was so neat....all it took for him to feel that way was a simple heartfelt prayer....also forgot to say that was the first time he prayed directly to God...not through some saint or the Madonna. So cool to watch people develop that solid relationship with God :) it sure does bring us light and peace. And, I just want to say that every single one of us can receive those same confirmations every time we just kneel down and ask...no matter how many times we've done it before. He loves us enough to tell us again and again and to strengthen that answer. We've just got to show our faith first and do our part. Next experience was in tiny town of Scandriglia where everyone is past the age of 90 and is missing their teeth! It's so great we have so many amici there. One day we decided to pray and go knock some doors with a less active. He told us to knock on this house and we did...the wife came out and excitedly told us to come back in 10 minutes. We did and we were able to meet her husband and 2 children....beautiful Italian family, we asked if we could come inside and share a message, the husband said no but then the wife put her hand over his mouth and said we had to! We were able to teach a small restoration lesson and the wife wouldn't break her eye contact with us, she was so receptive and the spirit was just so strong. Unfortunately, they live in Rome and were just visiting for the weekend but she took the Book of Mormon and promised she would read it all before contacting the missionaries there. It's just so neat to see how quick God is to help us find His children who are ready and in need when we humble ourselves and realize we can't do this work on our own...and rely on Him. I'm just so grateful that we can have that one on one dialogue with Padre Celeste in any moment of the day and ANYWHERE! It's been such a blessing on the mission to learn the importance of solid sincere prayers and allowing God to speak back to us. He hears us and loves us and is waiting to hear from us daily.... One day this week I told my sweet collega how awesome it would be if one day we could sit down and call every single number in the area book because there's lots of people in the past missionaries have seen who could be ready now. Well the very next day she was VERY ill in bed and we stayed home for a good couple days haha! Most I've ever stayed home in my mission--I thought I was going to go crazy.....but we were able to call almost every single number in that book...and we're seeing 4 new potentials this week who want to meet with us again :) and a FAMILY. I absolutely love being a missionary per la chiesa di Gesù cristo dei santi degli ultimi giorni!! So con una certezza che questa chiesa è verissima!!!!! I know this is true....I wouldn't be going around every day for a year and a half telling people that it is. I know it is true because I asked Heavenly Father and He answered me....you can do the same :) I love you all! MUAH un abbraccio Buona settimana cari vi voglio bene Sorella Taylor
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January 2017
Crystal's current area is Passo Corese, Italy.
Her address is: Via Giacomo Matteotti, 187 02032 Passo Corese RI Italy |