Disse la pioggia un dì..."non
smetterò mai! " It is raining. A lot. We woke up to the rumbling sounds
of an Italian diluvio or flood as I suddenly recall we say in English. I
love the rain. I love my striped umbrella. I love singing. I love
serving the Lord. I love all of these things together. Which is
happening continuously the past few days. Quindi, sono contentissima.
Last Friday we went to the doctor. Sorella Brown was finally feeling
better but we chatted for a while with this 60 something American doctor
in a blue and white striped shirt and bow tie. It was like an old
movie. He prescribed Robitussin and hot water with vix vapor rub in it
so the menthol steam could be breathed in. I love traditional remedies.
He was funny. Sometimes. We went and saw Giovanna and the cute old lady
she works for again and I sang, "Misty" for them. I think my companion
thought I was crazy, but Signora Marzo certainly brightened up and
Giovanna is as awesome as ever. I hope she can get baptized soon. She
just still has to work on Sundays because Signora Marzo needs her. We
keep praying. We had a good lesson with Dylan's family, but then he and
his mom got into an argument and we had to sort of bring back the
spirit. We were really sad when he wasn't at church because we thought
he was still upset about the day before, but then we found out he was
sick and though that is sad, we felt better knowing he had still wanted
to come. Sunday we had thanksgiving dinner with the Friloux and
Criscione families and they invited two other families they are friends
with. It was good food and a beautiful time. One of the other families
was Italian and they were so excited to have their first American
thanksgiving. They have been to the states and love America and speak
terrific English. Cristina, the wife, was really enthusiastic and really
touched by our lesson. We talked about how god loves us and
the gratitude we can show to him for what we have and we all took turns
saying what we were grateful for and the spirit was really there. It
was beautiful. While waiting to pick up Sorella Brown's permesso we met a
cute girl from Cina who only spoke English. She doesn't believe in God
but is curious about Christianity and after a good chat we got her
number and hope to see her this week. We met two charismatic vacuum
salesman from Napoli while doing casa. It was funny because we were
ringing bells and they were just coming out from knocking doors in the
same palazzo. They were really funny and we had a great conversation
until they decided to talk again about vacuums. One of them gave me his
number with the promise we could talk more about them, maybe over
dinner. It was almost sweet. Until he joked I'd have to pay. I am so
glad I am a missionary. We had a great lesson with Franca Zocchi and her
family and helped her cute daughter Giulia with a
little English and then we had a chat with Cristina yesterday because
she was a little discouraged after finally talking to the bishop. But
all is well, because she wants to start over with her no smoking program
and do all she can to quit and she said she wants to talk to Dylan so
he will go ahead and get baptized anyway, even if he can't do it with
her. I know that isn't easy for either of them, but I know they will see
so many blessings for it. We were not expecting her to say that, but I
am grateful. I think Dylan really needs it, especially now, while he
feels ready. My companion and I have been talking a lot about repentance
and relying on the Lord and seeing ourselves as god sees us and I just
want to leave you all with something she said that really summed it up
for me and helped me out a lot. She said, "Seeing yourself how God sees
you. That's true repentance." And it is. Repentance changes our desires
and our vision of God, the world, who we
are, and who we were meant to become. That is why that daily commitment
to be better helps us so much. My invite to all of you is to try it
out. to use repentance as a tool to see yourself as you really are, as
God created you, and be happy in that knowledge and in the changes you
are making.
Con affetto,
Sorella Chandra Lloyd
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