Yes I have the same address.
I left the packages with Sorella Wightman to send, but if not they weren't really big, so it's okay.
Trayser you looked so handsome at Homecoming! Miss you buddy :)
My name. Italians look at it and say "Sorella W....ww....Sorella." And our Italian Anziano started calling me "Sister Bank" So I have honestly been thinking about getting a new name tag that says Sorella Bank! haha (Editor Note: This is in reference to a post on the Steurer's blog in relation to the difficulty Italians have in saying American names. I asked her if they have a hard time saying Wiltbank.)
Sorella Nef! Yes she was in Sardegna and yes she is the really tall red head! And we are all still living in the same apartment. We only have one bathroom, so that is a little bit of a pain. One companionship studies first while the other companionship gets ready, then every other week we are going to switch off. Our apartment is pretty big other than that, so it is working out just fine. The hardest thing about having another comapnionship is that we have to divide the little work that we have. But Sorella Nef is a really hard worker and so we are getting lots of good work done and hopefully in the next few weeks we will have more investigators!
But yes, I am excited to stay in Palermo!
Let me know if Colten gets the letter I sent him for his birthday!
This week! On P-day we went to a new part of town to visit this random Chinese palace! Random fact...Sicily has been conquered a million times by a million people so there are random cultural things here. One of them being this gorgeous chinese palace! I was especially excited to see it so that I could imagine Blake the whole time! Because I just miss her so much, and I bet she sees these every day! But it was closed :( But I got some pretty pictures of the outside! (Editor's Note: Blake is one of her dearest girlfriends, serving a mission in Hong Kong, China.)
One Thursday we went in search for the Palermo commune (community center) and when we found it we discovered this BEAUTIFUL area. It had a fountain in it almost as pretty as the Trevi fountain in Rome. And there were a ton of people there! And I don't know how to describe it in words, but it was a fun little discovery! And, while we were there we started talking to the Polizia in front of the building, so that we could get more information, and again I am reminded how much Italians love to help! There were probably 10 Polizie there and they all started running around to find us phone numbers and names and addresses and bus numbers, so that they could help us organize a mostra (Editor Note: A mostra (translation - "show") is where they set up a display in a public place with pamplets, Book of Mormons, and pass-a-long cards they can give to the public.) And that isn't even part of their job. They just love to help! And I don't think that it was a coincidence that one of the Police men happens to be a lost less active that the church doesn't know about! hmmmm
And you are right. EVERY mission is so.different. That's why it is sometimes hard to give and take advice from different return missionaries about missions. I may be a little partial....but I know for a fact that the best mission is the Italy Rome Mission :) And I know every return missionary says the same, but I think it is because mission calls are inspired revelation from God. God knows that this mission is the best mission in the world...for me! And He also knows which other missions are the best in the world for other people.
Friday I picked up my companion from the bus station! We did some unpacking and then we had a dinner appointment with the amazing John and his family! They cooked southern american food for us! Empanadas and homemade hot chocolate. Yummy!!
Yesterday we had an amazing day of finding! Every Sunday the community of Palermo shuts down the main street, Via Libertà so that people can walk down and just have nice Sunday strolls. And there are literally thousands of people on this street!! Talk about missionary heaven! And it is Sunday, everyone is with their families, they are already thinking about God....So Sorella Nef and I hit that up and got 3 really good potential investigators and gave away lots of English Course pass along cards.
This week I read the talk by Elder Bednar called The Character of Christ.
It is amazing. It talks about how important it is to learn from the characteristics of Christ. Namely how in times where the natural man would turn inward and be selfish, Jesus Christ would turn outward and serve others. The main phrase that I took from that talk says "As we consistently ACT in a manner congruent with the CHARACTer of Christ, then perhaps we are indicating to heaven in a most powerful manner your desires for the supernal spiritual gift of CHARity".
Charity is easily the most important Christlike attribute. Without charity we are nothing. But it is not easy to have charity. I have learned that charity is something you become, it's not something you obtain that can add to the person you are, it is something that changes your complete nature.
So this week I have decided to study the New Testament and Jesus the Christ and look for the attributes of Christ that will lead me to show God that I want badly enough the gift of charity.
One aspect of charity that is hard, is the aspect of forgiveness towards others who have done us wrong. It is easy to love and serve someone you care about, but it is really hard to love and serve those who have offended you or done something to hurt you. But then again we are brought back to the characteristic of Christ. On the cross - "Forgive them for they know not what they do".
Sometimes people who hurt and offend us don't even know what they are doing. Actually I think most times it is like that.
But there is so much to be learned from this story of Christ. Forgive and Forget. It takes the burden off your shoulders. Even if justice isn't resolved, it feels better to be Christlike and let charity change your heart.
But there has got to be a line between being charitable, and being taken advantage of. At some point you've gotta stop doing things for people or else they won't grow. And where that line is, I'm not sure. So with your lovely parenting powers, if you could tell me what your view on that is, I would love that! :)
Well I'm about out of time! I love you guys! You mean the world to me!
VI VOGLIO BENE!!
Sorella Bank
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