Another week

[Letter from 12/14/11]

Ciao!

So I first need to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMIRA!!! You are such a big girl now! 3 years old...that is so big! Be a good girl and enjoy your birthday!

Okay, I was sick almost all last week. We stayed in two days and I just slept and slept and slept. I think I had some form of the flu. It was not fun, but my companion was able to pretty much finish Jesus the Christ. Ha she was happy about that. And Thursday (A day I was in) was a holiday. Apparently it was Imacolatta which is the immaculous conception of Mary into the womb of her mother. Because in order for her to be without sin to concieve Jesus, she too had to be concieved immaculously. Something like that. Everyone had a different interpretation, but it is something like that. I keep learning all these new things about the bible that I never new before. Ha. Oh it is so sad how lost people can be because people twist doctrine. But there were like big fires everywhere and fireworks and such. Pretty interesting.

Friday night we went to the talent show for the other ward in Bari. THere were some really good people there. Some sang, played violin, piano, and other stuff. It was really good. But there was this member, Fratello Curci, who likes to write music but is tone deaf and a little crazy. He wrote this song and made us sing background with him. It was horrible and some people were trying hard not to laugh at us. But it made his night and he was happy. So we did it for him. THe things missionaries do for people. Anziano Mickelsen performed a song from his opera he wrote. It was really good. Probably the best thing of the night. SOrella Ashman sang a song while Anz. Mickelsen played the piano. That also was really good.

Sunday we had to sing a song in sacrament meeting and then present a little Christmas devotional thing. I can't believe how much I have had to sing in front of the people here...only for the mission for sure. We watched the Christmas devotional from the first presidency Sunday night. That was great, but I miss hearing their voices.

Monday night we went to have FHE with the Valentini family. It was just the mom and dad. We watched Anziano Mickelsen's opera and had dinner and did the MAN CHALLENGE. Fratello Valentini always has elders over and feeds them something really gross to have them prove they are men. Ha and Sorella Hicks and I ended up doing it too. It was Tripe this time. Not the best thing I have eaten, but it wasn't as bad this way than when I had it with Matthew and Patience in Ladispoli. Italians prepare it better than Africans (no offense braden). Ha Anziano Mickelsen was about to throw up though and that was funny. I took a video of it, so you can see it when I get home in a year.

Sorella Hicks got really sick last night. She was throwing up in the bathroom while I was teaching English course. It was sad, but she feels better today. Maybe it was from eating the tripe. We'll see. I wouldn't be surprised if she is sick from what I had...but I never threw up. So who knows.

Well gotta go, love you all.

Sorella Heiner

6 Months already...

[Letter from 12/7/11]

Ciao!!

Yes, tomorrow is my 6 month mark exactly...how crazy is that. Part of me feels like I just started, but part of me feels like it has been the span of a whole lifetime.

Some great news!! We set a baptismal date with Dora (Who is one of our new investigators and the aunt of our bishop) for January 7, 2012. She has met with missionaries already, but dropped them a few months ago. We have been meeting with her at the house of her sister in law and she even came to church. When we talk about baptism, she gets really happy and smiles and wants it really bad. She is just recovering from depression and a hard life and so she is timid to do make big steps
but by loving her and making her feel confident about what she is doing, then she will enter into the waters of baptism on 7 Jan.

We also have begun teaching an investigator of the anziani, Carmella. Her husband doesn't like her letting any missionaries in their home so we meet with her in front of her door. We are going to try to see if she will meet with us in the church so we can really start progressing with her. When we saw her on Monday, we talked about prayer and then at the end, asked if she had any questions. So she says that she always asks herself why there are so many churches if there is only one God. And we both smiled and looked at each other and told her that we had the answer but it needed more time to share it so we gave her the Restoration Pamphlet and are going to teach her about the Restoration on Monday.

And then...Thursday evening. We were given the assignment to make Christmas Jello for Zone Conference which was in 3 layers. We only had an hour before we had to get back home to add the next layer and so we said, let's find a new investigator before zone conference. So we went out to do finding and the third door we knocked on was opened and we were warmly welcomed into the home of MariLu. We taught her about the Book of Mormon. She said she loves learning about religions and would love for us to come back. We went back and brought her a copy of the book of mormon and read 3 Nephi 11 with her. She believes it, but kind of openly accepts anything, so we are going to teach her the Restoration next and help her see how this is the only true church on the earth. She also wants her 22 year old daughter to meet with us.

Zone Conference was awesome...we acted out the Nativity Scene in Italian and I got to be the Angel/Star. We also got stockings delivered to us from "Santa" who was just President with a Santa hat on. But it was really fun. Oh and about the Jello we made for Zone Conference. It was a green layer, then white, then red. And we had the first two layers done and were about to layer the red one after it had set up a little in the fridge and we were in a hurry. So I grab the bowl of jello and put it on the table and grab a bag of rolls that was in the way and knocked the jello bowl over and it fell to the floor. I almost started crying. But then we kind of "saved" the jello and layered it on. I scanned that jello for anything gross for like 10 minutes and it cleared. We told some of the Anziani the next day and they were not happy. But oh well. We had to save it because you can't get jello here. Haha it was funny. Don't tell Sorella Kelly.

So I have been reading the Gospels in the New Testament along with Jesus the Christ. I am really learning and understanding the life of Jesus Christ. Oh man...it makes me so excited to see him again. And many times, I just wish I could have been alive when he was on the earth, but then I realize that I am so blessed to be here now in the latter days with his church fully restored and I get to be part of the movement of spreading this message to everyone. THe message of Peace on Earth from the angels concerning the birth of Christ is our same message today as missionaries. That through Jesus Christ and his restored Gospel the Earth will have complete Peace once again. It's totally
awesome!

Well gotta go, love you all and thanks for the prayers and support.

Sorella Heiner

P.S. Mom, I have no received that package you sent to Ladispoli with the Reece's cups. I would have assumed it would have come and Sorella Buma would have brought it to the office and they would have brought it down at zone conference, but it didn't some. I am really sad because I was expecting that for awhile. Do you know if it got lost
somewhere? WHat was in it?

ALSO...when would be good for me to call (or skype) home for Christmas? I have CHristmas day and the 26th to call. Are Parker and Brit coming home? Let me know a day and a time gap when would would for you all when everyone will be at home. Love you all and can't wait to talk to you! And does someone have a skype account that we can talk on? THat would be fun. If so, let me know all the details. If not, let me know how I can call without spending a ton of money.

Thanksgiving has passed...

[Letter from 11/30/11]

Okay...so I don't feel like writing very much, so I am sending alot of pictures. And the first one is of the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicolas. Pretty crazy.


ANd the second picture is the Chiesa Russa (russian church) sign. Both of these pictures are for all of my friends out there who served your missions in Russia. I get Russian religion too without the cold snow! Haha.


The next picture is Sorella Hicks and I eating hot dogs American style. We found this stand by the main train station and they sold hot dogs american style. So we just had to try. They still weren't as good...wait, I don't really even like hot dogs. I guess I just miss America. Ha But it was a good change from Pasta and Pizza all the time.


This is in Foggia on our way to the baptism there. The Anziani in Foggia (our district) had a baptism and the convert now (Salvatore) wanted us Sorelle to sing for his baptism, so we went. But this is a gas station with that wierd tower thing...we called it their Rameumptom. Ha Oh the jokes we make as missionaries...so pathetic. I always told myself I wouldn't become a dorky missionary with horrible style and bad humor...but a third of the way in and I am exactly that. THe worst part, which hurts me inside all the time, is wearing the same shoes every day even when they don't match very well. I wear my black comfortable shoes because they are the best for walking. I can't wait to have my shoe collection back and not have to wear flats with a skirt anymore. So yeah...the Rameumptom!


The next 4 pictures were in this glass display case also on our way to Foggia's baptism. These are all things made from cardboard boxes and paper bags. How awesome is that? I think they are amazing!! I don't know who did it or why, but it is cool. Some people are so talented. There is a violin, a couch, sheet music, a coat hanger, a dress, a tv with speakers, some tennis shoes, etc. Enjoy!








Then the other two are from english course on Thanksgiving. We (Slla Hicks and I) made thanksgiving dinner for our students and for the Anziani. The Turkey whole was impossible to find, so we got 4 drumsticks and two wings. They turned out yummy! But there were a few feathers on them still and the skin from around the ankles. It was REALLY gross! And we baked an apple pie, had rolls, and mashed potatoes and gravy. We had a lesson on gratitude and shared our blessings. It was really powerful with the spirit and all. Really great thanksgiving and the students were amazed!




Well we also set a baptismal date with the aunt of our bishop. It is for January 7th. Her name is Dora. More info to come!

Love you all,
Sorella Heiner