Sorella Wiltbank: Italians, They Know What's Up!

What a week! Italian is coming along great and I have finally gotten to the point where I understand most conversations that we have! This next week I am going to try to be more involved in the conversations and speak as much as I can!

I love our area! There are mostly families here, which is great, and we have found 2 families that we are going to start teaching this week! Our favorite place to do finding is in the park! :)

On my second day here we went into a Tabacchi to do some English course advertising (we teach a free English course "ogni Venerdi alla sete in Fiano Romano"). And at this point I haven't talked to anyone! I'm way too scared to open my mouth! My trainer was talking to the girl at the cash register and I was standing behind her with my other companion. A man walked up and I said "Hi we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ (Dei Santi Degli Ultimi Giorni is way to long to try in get in around here).... this book (hold up the Book of Mormon) is the word of God and I know it's true" <--- awkward right?! I'm standing there not knowing what just got into me, my companion looks at me kinda shocked, then proceeds to tell him a little more and asks if we can come tell him more another time. He says "sure why not?" and we exchange numbers. So this week we finally got to come and teach him! We meet up and start telling him who we are and why were here (lesson zero) and tell him a little about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. My companion was sharing Alma 32:26-27 and she asked him "Do you have a desire to know if these thing are true?" and he says "Yes! I have been looking for the truth". I don't think there is any coincidence that I "randomly" started talking to him, and it probably isn't a coincidence that the only thing I knew how to say is "I know this book is true". So I am really excited to see where this goes!

.....Our neighbors have a parrot. They put outside, right by our window, every morning during study time. I'm pretty sure it knows better Italian than me.

The other day we were at our favorite place, the park, and we were talking to this friendly man with a stroller and we are telling him about our English course and he asks where we are from. We tell him America. He looks at me and says "I can tell! You have the face of an angel! (of course he is using his hands to talk, because he is Italian)... you look like a cowgirl who does lassos (still talking with his hands) (I have my hair in a braided updo)" Little does he know that I am from Arizona and live on a ranch.

Today we get a call from the Elders in our district. They went to Rome today for P-day and were going to pick some thing up at the office for us. We were talking to them on the phone and he says to me "Your cousin says "hi"....my cousin? "Who is my cousin here is Rome?" (we here the Elder talking to "my cousin" ---> sorry dude, she doesn't know who you are". Come to find out Kent Waters from St. Johns is serving in the Rome Italy Mission and is in my zone! We will even go home on the same transfer, maybe be on the same plane! Its a small world after all!

My District

So we have the most amazing branch here! We have been trying to get really involved with the members and the first stop was to the branch President's house. And it was the best.day.ever. Both him and his wife served missions in England and they speak English! So it was so great to have a normal conversation with someone....in English! And.... he is a famous videographer! You know those new Bible videos that are coming out? Well some of them are being filmed here in Italy and he is the man behind the camera! So we got to have some camera talk...in English....and he even let me hold his camera! Ah it was heaven. And he was so nice he said "On P-day, whenever you want, you can come and get my camera and take all the pictures you want!" (this family is seriously...the best). Then we start eating dinner and we are putting the silverware out and they start talking about Sorella Criscone's parents that live in the basement and he says "If you ever need a mom....a mom hug or mom food or a mom talk, she is always here and you are more than welcome to come over whenever you need to! If you need to use the bathroom, or need a drink of water....anything! There is always someone here" So Mom, no need to worry! I am taken care of right here in Rome 5 :) They also told us that next time we come over, they are going to make mexican food..... I'm telling you. This area that I am in, is Heaven. We are seriously so taken care of! A few weeks ago our neighbors brought us homemade olive oil and then last night she waited up until we came home and met us at the door with homemade cheese! The Italian are the best people I have ever met! And they are the smartest people too! Let me tell you why!

The put foot handle things on dumpsters. So you don't have to touch the gross dumpster when you put your trash in it.
The drying rack for dishes...is in the cabinet above the sink. (incorporating that into my future home).
The food that they eat, is the food that they have available right in their country. They eat what they have! And the fresh fruit and vegetables are the cheapest part! Our poor food is fresh fruit and vegetables that we can buy at almost ever corner.
Pranzo. Lunch time. They work until about 1:30 and then the whole town shuts down for lunch. All the stores close and there is nobody on the street. They all go home and eat the biggest meal of the day (smart time right?) with the whole family, and then they take a nap. And at 5:00 everything opens back up!

And that is just a few of the reasons why the Italians are the smartest people in the world. If I had time I could probably make a book titled "Italians, They Know Whats Up". And they live forever! And look young doing it! We met this lady the other day that was 90 years old and probably could go on for another 90! And the funny thing is, they have a problem with smoking. They start when they are young and cigarettes are super cheap. But I think its the pranzo time. If I could take a 3 hour nap everyday I would probably be able to live forever too!

Well I'm running out of time, but I love you all so much! I have been a little homesick with the 4th of July coming up, it's the first one I have ever missed! I think about you every day and love love love the heck out of you guys! Write me emails! Seriously...I get sad when I only have one a week!

Ti voglio bene!
Sorella Wiltbank