Sorry, I'm taking a shower...

[Email from 8/31/11]

Ciao Tutti,

So another week has passed. It's still pretty hot. We have had a few
days that weren't as hot, but today is pretty hot again. I can't wait
for it to be cooler. My headaches are still here, but Sorella Kelly
was at Ikea and bought me a pillow like the one I have at home. She
said it is my pillow and I should bring it with me wherever I get
transferred. Hopefully that will help. She also gave me some more
medicine, so you don't need to worry about that mom.

We had zone conference on Thursday. It was pretty good. We practiced
this thing called 'lesson 0' and we just meet with people at first and
ask them what they expect of us and then we explain why we are here
and ask them to be baptized and ask for referrals and try to set up a
weekly schedule of when we can meet with them and end with a kneeling
prayer. It's a way to sort out those who are really interested in the
gospel and those who are not. It's actually been pretty good for us,
especially with a new investigator from India, Rimpi. And she was
found doing house. She is so sweet and humble and we came back to
teach her and she couldn't find her book of mormon. She said her
husband was reading it with his friend and they really liked it and
told her she needs to read it. so she called her husband and he said
his friend took it to keep reading it. So we got that man's number and
I am excited the call him and meet with him because he's already
engaged in the book of mormon. Also, we gave Rimpi lesson '0' and when
we brought up baptism and showed a picture she got excited and asked
if she could do that. Pretty exciting for us. So she aleady wants to
be baptized. I can't wait to meet with her again. She talks about all
the trials she has in her life, but she still is so sweet and loving.
I know that trials are given to us so we can be humble and that is
when the Lord works with us to help us grow and become better than we
could ever imagine. We then ended with a kneeling prayer all
together...the dad too. He got a cloth and covered his head with it
and took of his shoes. SUper respectful. SHe said she wants to make us
some Curry some time too. :)

So on Friday we were doing some house and had no luck. But then we
were waiting by the train station for a member to go teach with us and
we ran into one of our investigators (Rita) who we haven't heard from
in almost two weeks. She started telling us of all these family trials
she is having and that she doesn't want to meet with us anymore
because she doesn't feel like praying or reading scriptures or seeing
anyone. We told her that this is the time she needs those things the
most. So we told her that no matter what happens, she needs to meet
with us at least one more time so she said okay and agreed for
Saturday at 6. Then we met with her Saturday and read the talk from
Elder Cook, Hope you know, we had a Hard Time. She really liked it and
agreed with it. We also gave her a stack of 7 envelopes, each labled
for each day for the next week. And inside each envelope we wrote a
scripture, testimony for that topic and gave her a commitment such as
something specific to read and then pray for. The final one is for
this Saturday to get her to come to church. She texted us the next day
and said she feels so much happier and can't wait to meet with us
again. The Lord just put her in our path so he wouldn't lose one of
his daughters. It was a miracle we encountered her and were able to
help her.

We also taught a lesson with this 84 year old lady (Andreina) who is
an artist. Really good actually. I may ask to buy one of her pictures.
But she has so many questions because she studied with the TJ's. She
reads everything and loves to learn. But she never would say a prayer
out loud with us. That morning, we were practicing teaching someone to
pray (not knowing we'd use it that same day) but when Andreina didn't
want to pray, I knew exactly what to say. So in my broken Italian, I
did it, and she agreed. She prayed out loud and it was a huge step for
her. Next step...church!

We were walking to go to house somewhere and this group of teenagers
was along out path. And one of the girls jumped up and started running
towards us. Kind of freaky. She asked if we were famous....WEIRD! We
said no, and she asked if we were sure. We said we were normal
americans here to teach people about Jesus. And she was kind of
disappointed and said she wanted to get out autographs. Haha. Another
girl was this 12 year old (Martina), she asked if we could come to her
house and teach her family. And the others kept asking us questions
and Martina was getting impatient. So we finally went to her house and
her mom was not happy with her. We figured that would happen so we
left and Martina still wanted us to teach her. So we did and she was
just crazy and funny. She kept talking about how WW3 has started and
ended and will start again. Not sure where that came from but it was
funny. She was cute. And asked for one of each of our pamphlets so she
could read them.

Matthew and Patience, from Nigeria, moved to a new appartment. We've
been praying with them to find a new one for awhile. They found one
earlier, but the day they were supposed to move in, the owner turned
them away because they were black. So sad, but they found another
place and we will teach them there tonight.

Last that I have time for is a less-active from Argentina, Ruth. She
has lived in Ladispoli for 4 years and has a 3 year old son and she
has muscular dystrophy. She has to use a walked to get around in the
house and an electric scooter chair when outside. Her family back in
Argentina is really solid in the church, like stake president and
stuff. She was baptized when she was 8 and grew up in the church but
married a catholic man and hasn't been able to get in church because
she can't go up stairs. And no one had her records. We couldn't find
them so no one knew she existed but slla. foote and her old companion
found Ruth at a local pizza place. So this visit we got Ruth's
information so we can find her church records and get her visiting and
home teachers. We also told our ward mission leader that we need to
make a ramp for her to get to church and she needs help getting there.
But she said the opening prayer and it was so sweet and heartfelt, she
just said amen in tears and said she hasn't prayed like that in a
really long time and forgot how good it feels. It was incredible to
hear her talking about growing up in the church. She loved it and
still does, but doesn't know how to share the gospel with her husband.
So we are going to practice with her on that but for now she needs to
be praying and reading every day. Even if it is on her own. It's
amazing how someone can be so lost. It reminds me of the hymn, Dear To
The Heart of the Shepherd. THat hymn is the reason I am out on this
mission. Because the Lord has sheep, lost out there, lonely and
helpless and He needs us to find them--whether they are already
members or know nothing of christ. He wants them all back to him. It
was a really great experience to witness someone talking with her
father in heaven again and immediately feeling his love. I love it!

Dad, why were you in so much pain? That does not sound fun! Please
take care of yourself. ANd we shouldn't bribe people with
materialistic things to read the BOM, only blessings.

Mom, I can't believe Scot and Kevin are dating within the ward and so
quickly. Ha that is funny. Is Schiefer home yet?? Give him a hug for
me. And Chad Foulger should be coming home in September some time I
think. Watch for him and tell him hi for me.

Well that is it for now I think. Oh ya, I got my first letter in the
mail from grandma and grandpa heiner. Tell them thanks and send them
my love. As soon as I find time to buy stamps, I will write them back.
Everyone else, get to writing me! Ha

Okay. Love you all so much. Thanks for the love and the prayers.

Love always,
Sorella Heiner

P.S. Mom, can you send me the recipe for Sister Saunders' salsa? We
made tacos and want to make more mexican food because slla foote's mom
sent her taco mix. Tacos aren't the same without salsa and it doesn't
really exist here. It's more tomato paste.