Humility in the humidity

Ciao tutti!!! 

This week was a little different. We worked with lots of less active members and ended up having 2 of them come to church!!! We were so happy. 

We also said goodbye to a friend named Ren who is headed back to Philippines. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she kissed it. 

We found some great potentials on the street who we hope and pray are ready for this joyful message we have to share. We found ourselves exactly where we were needed thanks to the Lord. 

This week I have been studying about humility. I have seen how important this is. The most perfect person who ever lived was the humblest of them all. I testify that if we humble ourselves we will receive direction that we need. I know we are each important to our Heavenly Father and he wants to help us. I know this message of the restoration is divine and true. 

I hope you all feel this love the savior and God has for you.

Love Sorella skinner 

The greatest, most capable, most accomplished man who ever walked this earth was also the most humble. He performed some of His most impressive service in private moments, with only a few observers, whom He asked to “tell no man” what He had done. When someone called Him “good,” He quickly deflected the compliment, insisting that only God is truly good. Clearly the praise of the world meant nothing to Him; His single purpose was to serve His Father and “do always those things that please him.” We would do well to follow the example of our Master.

Elder uchtdorf 

My testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has served as a guide and an anchor in my life. I am grateful to stand before you today and say with all the energy of my heart, “We thank thee, O God, for a prophet.” I am so grateful for the integrity of a 14-year-old young man who prayed for an answer to his questions and then remained true to the knowledge he received.

  Each of you has a part to play in this great and marvelous work. The Savior will help you. He will lead you by the hand. He knows you by name. I so testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Sister dalton 

Sorella deleeuw:Do what is right and it will most likely be uncomfortable

 

Up or Down

Ciao tutti!!!

This week was oh so great! Like many weeks. Here are some ups and downs:

We were doing finding in the big park and there was close to no one...it was about to rain and then this man hops off his bikes. He is about 65 years old. He tells us how nice our smiles are. Asks what religion we are. We start explaining the restoration to him. He basically tells us we need to get our heads on straight. Pulls out his phone...shows me a video of him singing and says this is how you feel the spirit. Haha. Then I looked him in the eye and told him I know the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph smith spokes with God and Christ. He shakes his head and says basically that we need to fix this and search more or we will go to hell. I could look at this situation and be so discouraged. In fact it was hard like a smack in the face. But man how good it feels to fight for those beliefs. We left him with saying vederemmo. Which means we will see. 

We met an Ethiopia lady and her Italian husband. We had a great lesson about the resto with them.

We had a great lesson with Rosa about the resto. And we invited her to church..but it was late notice. During Sunday school we look down and our phone is ringing. It's rosa!!! We ran outside the church to the bus stop and she ran to us. It was definitely one of those happy intense moments. Especially because I don't love running but I mean there is something about running to  English class, an appointment or to find a person that makes it worth it.

Rubens mom came to church...her son was baptized a few years ago. She said who she was and everyone jumped up and was so happy. 

I know that this work is clearly not from my effort. I have help from my Heavenly Father and I am sure family member angels on the other side. There are many ups and downs in this work but that's what makes it so worth it. Every day I am fighting for what I believe and I know the lord is on my side. The mission is the best thing ever. Sorry I am a chatty Italian. But I have the excuse.

Love you all dear ones. You are in my prayers. 

Love Sorella skinner

 

Shield of sweat, I mean faith

Ciao tutti!!!!

This week has been so crazy filled with some great hard days!!! Ok
biggest experience:

We had stake conference on Sunday in Firenze with a bunch of other
cities surrounding us that came. Elder DeFeo an Italian member of the
70 was the main speaker. He had about 1 hour to talk and we were all
so excited. Well...he got up and said I don't want to waste time...can
I have all the sister missionaries stand up? So we stood up. Sorella
and I were sitting pretty close to the front and of course I decided
to wear a bright pink shirt. He pointed at us and asked us to come
down. So we came down freaking out inside. He asked us if we could
share our testimonies. So I had Sorella go first and then I went. I
was so scared. It's hard enough to speak in big groups in
English...imagine another language??? Yeah with like 500 people. I
still wonder why Heavenly Father had me share my testimony. There were
so many amazing missionaries there that could have done amazing. I
don't know if I will ever understand or know who needed my testimony
but they did. It was the craziest thing ever. So happy and a bit
confused forever but it happens.

We had a cute less active come to stake conference we were so happy.
We met some potentials on the street. I know that I am being putting
exactly where the lord needs me when I follow his spirit.

Man it's a humid life in Florence. But you know what life is humid and
sweaty sometimes and we wonder....why!!!!

If we knew and comprehended all the crazy things of life's our heads
would maybe fall off. If it weren't for trials we wouldn't need God.

2 nephi 28:30-32
Hellman 12:1-3
Proverbs 3:5

I know I need to trust the lord. This life is crazy sometimes but I
know he loves me and has a great plan for me. That keeps me going. I
don't understand everything...but that's ok!!! Life is an adventure!!!
Enjoy the sweat and ride.

Best of all Ephesians 6:16 we can have that shield of faith when we
trust in the lord.

Sorella Skinner

Summer time in Florence!

Ciao tutti!

Today I email you from Firenze!! Florence!! Yep I don't know why I am
so lucky to be in the prettiest place!! I am so happy to be here to
help find people have as much joy as I have. Not because I am in
Italy. Not because my eyes are sometimes green. But because I know I
have a father in heaven who has revealed his gospel on this earth!!! I
know that Joseph smith like all of us had a question and instead of
ignoring that question he acted on it. And he received an answer from
God. Because of his experience and my own I know that God lives all
his children and hears and answers our prayers if we want those
answers sincerely.

Florence...well today I will explore it more with my cute companion
Sorella deleeuw. But for now I love the people and miracles I have
seen. We have found a couple people this week who have questions...we
all face that question Joseph smith once had. And it's been so cool to
look them in the eyes and know for myself that it's true..we can
receive this knowledge when we act and search with all our heart. We
can know of these things for ourselves!!!

We found 2 cute girls from Honduras that we started teaching who
wanted help praying for boy problems. Hey God listens to all our
problems. Each problem we have matters to Him. Even silly boy stuff.

Love you all!!! Have a great week

Love Sorella skinner

What time is it summer time!!! And boy you can smell it here in
Italy...they are beautiful people ...be thankful for that American
deodorant