Read about Katie's adventures as a missionary
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Family, friends, fans, ettcetteraaaaa,                                                       October 20, 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMMA MARIE ON TUESDAY!!!  Emma, do you realize that you have the coolest mom in the whole wide world? Your party sounds like it was so fantastic.  I loved looking at all the pictures!  I felt like I was there! (except I didn’t have to do any of the set up or clean up..hahaha)  Grandma the decorations looked awesome!  You are women of many talents.  Emma Marie I got your letter this week!  It was written so well I thought it was from KEVIN at first.  But then I realized it was from YOU!  Ahhhhhh. You are getting to be an awesome writer.  I am going to write you a letter back soon!
WHEN DOES EMMA GET BAPTIZED?  And Like...maybe possibly answer my question this time hahahha.

Mom, thank you so much for your card.  I loved your dream.  You always have the best dreams (for example, when you dreamed my phone was in a field and then it was).  It seriously is a great metaphor.  Sometimes it’s hard for me to think I’m helping anyone because the language has been tough this week.  But I keep smiling!!!  You are the best. Also, I can’t believe your life.  It’s CRAZY.  Someone needs to help you!!  Hire a servant.  I’m serious.  I don’t know how you do it all.  Goodness I thought my life was nuts...Hopefully this week is more relaxing for you.  I’m glad that Adam and Allison got to come though.  Sounds like it was fun. 

Alright.  This week was good.  It wasn’t the easiest in the whole wide world but it was good.  I had my first day without an appointment (there was one scheduled but they bailed).  It’s a miracle that that happened the fourth week in my misson!!  Most people probably had that the first week.  So we did A LOT of finding.  But it was good practice and Sorella Marquis is the best so we had lots of fun.  She was sick this week for a day though so that was sad :(
Last p-day we went to a church with TONS of human bones in it.  And the pantheon.  I will send pics after this.  Google the human bone church though and look at pics because you aren’t allowed to take pictures inside of it. 

This week our investigators were all over the place.  Some of them we didn’t get to see. We did get to see Anna and Paola though.  I’m sending a picture of them soon! Goodness they are ITALIAN.  I love them soooo much.  This week we went to the beach with them (just to look, not to swim haha don’t freak out) and then they took us to this bar where we proceeded to have moctails and read the book of Enos together. haha life. 
We also went to this place called Bracciano this week.  It’s in our area and is where Tom Cruise got married.  To his wife.... but I have a mission veil so I can’t remember her name.  Anywhooo it’s BEAUTIFUL.  I didn’t get very good pics because it was kinda dark.  Google it. 
As of right now we are in a kindness war with our anziani.  Last night they left us brownies in our mailbox... hahaha.  It’s a blast.  Our district is fun.  Also so is our zone. 
Alrighty.  Time for "Storm of the Week" since apparently those always happen to us.  So this will be a thing I guess.  The storm we got caught in this week happened while we were going home from the church, after ward council.  It was POURING. But never fear, Anziano Kunz fashioned some real nice garbage bag ponchos for us so life was good after that.  I will send a picture hahaha.
So life is good in Italy.  I really love it here.  The people are so warm and friendly.  You asked about the ward and the bishop.  The bishop is awesome!  And the ward is stupendous as well.  The members are super nice and have very strong testimonies.  We are working on getting referrals from them though...it’s hard.  But they are all really strong awesome people.  Also lots of them speak English because the church translation office for Italian is here in Ladispoli.  So some of them speak English to me sometimes.  I love them! 
You might all find this amusing. I forgot to tell you.  I keep being called on to lead the music.  It totally freaks me out but so far I think it’s been ok.
Um...well..... it kinda happened.  I was doing the "kiss on the cheeks thing" with a nonmember friend of one of our GANS (young single adults).  I don’t know how it happened but I think we might have accidently brushed lips.  Those are the kind of adventures that happen here. haha.
Announcement for the general public.  This week...for the first time in my life...I bought perfume.  I know, it’s a real shocker.  But Italy doesn’t smell super great because everyone and their dog smokes (literally, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a dog smoking here) haha so I felt it necessary.  I’m turning into such a girl.
haha this story is funny.  The other week we went to the hospital to see a less active that was there.  We walked up to the hospital and right outside the front there were three doctors...smoking. haha it was so funny to me.  I don’t know why.  I just can’t imagine that happening in America.  Gosh I love Italy!  It’s such a crazy wonderful place.
What is Mary Brunson’s email?  I wanted to say happy birthday to her! 
Kevin.  I’ve been helping a kid with English named Kevin and HE LOOKS LIKE YOU! ITs soooo weird.  I’ll send a picture.
I think that’s all for this week.  I’ve been trying to think about this week’s spiritual part and I’m not sure what to write.  I learn so much every day.  I can’t really represent that too well in my emails but it’s so true. 
Did you pray when you left the house last week!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!  I hope so!!!  I love being a missionary.  I had the realization this week that I am here for the people I teach. That’s why I’m in Italy!  That’s why I’m learning Italian.  NONE of it is for me.  It’s all for them.  I know that probably seems obvious.  It just really clicked in my head last night.  I am thankful that I can help bring others to Christ in this country.  I really love Italians.  I love the culture.  I love the people.  I love the food. I love the small elevators, frizzy water (ok that’s not true. I hate the frizzy water), and the small Italian babies.  I love the mix of cultures in Italy.  I love seeing the ocean every day.  Life is great.  And I have never been more thankful. 
I love you all!
Have a good-great-greater-than-great week.
Love,
Sorella Brunson
Katie
Kathryn
Kate

Chadie

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