Miracles :)

Dear Family,

We've been seeing lots of member miracles this past week and it's amazing. We're going around and helping different families in the wards create family mission plans and it's amazing to see their desires to share the gospel and the work they're already doing. We visited a family Monday night and the mom was working with just about every less-active in the ward. Afterwords she took us to visit an Italian friend of hers who will be coming to English Class with her daughter tonight!

We're getting a new ward mission leader in the American Ward. We're super excited because he's an amazing member missionary. We were talking to him last night and he has so many plans to increase work in the ward.

Last Sunday we went to visit an inactive for the first time. We found her name and number on the Relief Society list but no one seemed to know who she was. So we called, set up an appointment, and then asked a young couple in the ward to come with us. (I love that couple, cause they make me think of Melanie and Steve.) She made us some delicious Filipino food, had no idea that there was a church here in Pordenone, and will be coming to church next week.

The most amazing thing this week has been our investigator, S. We finished an appointment with her Friday evening, and half the ward was in the building for institute and seminary. So we introduced her to several people, including the bishop who she asked for an appointment with. In church we had  a wonderful gospel principles lesson on Fasting that she loved and three amazing, spiritual discorsi in sacrament meeting. She left the meeting feeling very touched by the spirit. We've been unable to see her since, but she'll text us and ask for scriptures on a specific topic. We've also had several members call and ask to come to lessons with her, and we're having to tell them no, because we already have another member planned!

Life is good and busy. Which is just how I like it. We went to FHE last night at the house of the senior couple serving in the American ward and the lesson was on changes. We were asked to write down one thing that has changed for us in the past day, the past month, and the past year. I think back to a year ago, and cannot believe the changes that I've made since I walked into the MTC. I am so grateful for the mission and the things I'm learning every day. This gospel is amazing and so true. It brings a meaning and joy into life that cannot be found else where. We truly are blessed.

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Pace

Blessings

Wow. I don't even know where to begin, because I'm feeling so blessed by the Lord right now. I have an amazing, hard working, dedicated, and faithful companion who teaches me every day. We've been seeing miracle after miracle, culminating in a crazy busy and productive week of missionary work. I don't know how it even happened, except that the Lord blessed and amplified our work.

Yesterday we were heading to try finding in a new area when we rode our bikes close to the address of an inactive, V, on the ward list. We passed by several times when I first arrived in Pordenone only to learn that it was the house of V's mother A who would not give us any contact information and seemed very closed. Yesterday however, I felt that we should repass by to try talking to A again. To my great surprise, she invited us in and showed us pictures of the missionaries who had first contacted their family. We said a prayer with her, and then to our great surprise again, V arrived! We were able to talk to her and get her phone number and address. And now we can go visit her!

We're still working with L, our bap. date. She needs your prayers but it doing well. She's so cute. We passed by the other day and taught about the Sabath, and we were talking about the sacrament and she says, "oh! I was just wondering yesterday what that meant!" Or when we asked her to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true she said, "I was just wondering how I could know that myself!"

I'm working to consecrate even more my work to the Lord, grow my faith, and really seek out his guidance. It's amazing how much he blesses us every day.

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Pace

New Companion!!

Dearest Family,

Wow. What a week this has been! We have seen miracle after miracle.

I love my new companion Sorella Carter already. She's so full of faith and hard work. She's been pushing me and I think I'll really grow this transfer.

All is going well with our bap. date! We visited her last night and she told us, "non vedo l'ora del mio battesimo." (I can't wait until my baptism!) We talked to her about the restoration and when we got to the Book of Mormon we asked her how she thought she could know if it's true. She said she had been wondering that and then at the end of the lesson she prayed and asked if it was true. She's so happy and content.

Then we've started teaching a lady from our English Class. We've been teaching her english on the side because her work schedule keeps her from attending class most weeks. A couple weeks ago we showed her the Family Proclamation and she remained very touched. The next time we saw her we had a really good discussion and now she's taking the lessons! She came to church on Sunday and is reading in the Book of Mormon.

I've been thinking lately about faith and desire. It's an amazing how much the Lord will bless us when we have the faith that He can. I've really grown a testimony of that this week. Sorella Carter showed up bursting with faith and we are reaping the results of that faith. We've seen so much more success in our finding efforts and teaching. It's amazing to see and has taught me so much.

I love you all!!

Sorella Pace

We went to Venice again today for Carnivale. There were beautiful blue skies and we had a blast.

Sorella Carter and I

Gondole