When In Rome....

Holla!                                                                                                    Monday, October 13, 2014

It’s been a grand week here in Italia.

We did a companion exchange this week because my comp is the Sister Training Leader.  It was fun though!  I was with a Sister who is training someone from my district in the MTC.  She is super awesome.  She actually served in Ladispoli previously so we ran around saying hi to old contacts.  And I mean literally ran.  Like we had to run to make it to an appointment so I ran 2 miles in a skirt and bad shoes.  hahahha.  Then we had to run back to the church and when we got there the Bishop was standing at the front door.  I was sweating a lot.  It was really embarrassing. hahaha 

Also this week I had the “wonderful” (that was a veeery sarcastic wonderful) opportunity to go get my "permesso" (the document that helps me not get kicked out of Italy).  The permesso office is famous because it’s terrible hahaa.  There was a guy in there and he was a nuttso Italian man. He was arguing with someone about politics in really loud Italian.  Let me take this second to tell you that most stereotypes about Italians are true.  They really do talk with their hands and they really are super animated.  I love it soo much.  Americans are boring haha.  Anyway, this guy was a nutso Italian.  At one point he was talking to someone else who worked there who was bald.  He started rubbing his bald head and then kissed it.  Then I imagined dad doing that to Jourdan Nicholls and started dying laughing in my head. haha. I got some fingerprints done and turned some documents in so soon I will be legal.  

I had my first Italian pizzeria experience this week with two of our investigators and their daughter (Anna, Paola and Samuela).  We went to this super nice pizzeria.  Ahh it was sooo good.  Our appetizers were as follows: fried mozzarella, fried rice with mozzarella, and fried pumpkin leaves. Then they brought out this huuuuuggee pizza that apparently I was supposed to eat BY MYSELF. hahha It was soo yummy with super thin crust. As we are on the subject of food I will answer your questions about it.  They really eat pasta all the time.  Everyday.  Most Italians don’t eat breakfast.  I sometimes eat cereal but lately I’ve just been eating fruit.  Fruit here is super cheap.  We got like 5 pears, 5 apples, 5 peaches and 5 tomatoes for about 5 American dollars.  They don’t eat breakfast, they eat a huge lunch, and like no dinner so it’s interesting.  Last night I had a dream about fruity pebbles.  I had a bowl of them and I was freaking out because I was so excited but I hadn’t had them in so long I forgot to put milk in and put coca cola in them instead.  hahahaha So I miss cereal.  I’m not super worried about my weight.  I work out every day (today I did 40 pushups in a row!!) and we walk a lot. 

This week was fast Sunday and it was good.  I knew I needed to give my testimony so I did it. I think I would have rather spoke to the MTC again than talk to that room full of 60 really nice people in Italian. haha I was scared out of my mind.  I’m scared a lot actually haha.  This week I wrote down all the things I’m scared of (talking on the phone, talking to random people about the church) and I’m going to do them this week.  That’s the only way to conquer your fears it turns out. 

Sorella Marquis continues to be amazing.  I love her sooo much and we have a lot of fun.  She is really, really, really good at teaching people and really good at just being real with them.  haha this week we saw this lady on a bench and were taking to her.  She was miserable with her life but wouldn’t listen to us at all.  Sorella Marquis ended up just saying, "Here is our number, you can call us when you want peace and happiness." She’s the best. 

As for investigators they are continuing to progress.  It’s reeeeeally hard to get people to go to church here.  We had Dara at church yesterday so that was awesome AND her mom took work off for next week so she can come to church.  YAY!

Alrighty, that’s all I have this week.  I love being a missionary.  Here’s the spiritual part. 

We’ve been talking about prayer lately.  Missionaries pray ALL THE TIME.  It’s awesome.  The best part of my night is talking to my Heavenly Father before bed and making sure everything’s good to go for the next day.  I feel so much peace all the time because everything I do Heavenly Father is beside me!  So... challenge for you.  This week, I want EVERYONE in the fam to say a prayer every time before they leave the house.  Just a quick little prayer.  But I promise it will bless you to have Heavenly Father with you all the time!  

I love you all so much.  Have a fantastic week!!!!!!!!  

Love,

Sorella Brunson

To Grandpa Brunson: I was cleaning out my wallet the other day and saw that I still have the picture of you from when you were 16.  It will stay there!!! 

To Becca: my neck was hurting this week and I used my doterra.  It saved my life.  You are the best!!!!!! 

To the Brunson children: I have Oklahoma stuck in my head always.  And also my 12 year old investigator was talking to us the other day and all of a sudden said, “Sibuna” and put her hand over her eye!! I ACTUALLY ALMOST DIED I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD.  Apparently they have House of Anubis in Italy too!!!! hahahahhahahahha soooo funny. 

To dad:  This week we attended a Spanish class that a member teaches in the church.  Oh my goodness.  Please imagine trying to learn Spanish with Italian.  They would be like "what does this word mean?" and she would say what it means in Italian and I’m like I DONT UNDERSTAND EITHER OF THESE WORDS. hahahah I was cracking up the whole time.  But I might learn some Spanish yaya!

Mom, I got the letter you mailed to me!  THANK YOU! How did you get my address?!?!  We saw we had letters and I was like, yay, Sorella Marquis got two letters.  BUT THEN ONE OF THEM WAS FOR ME!  It made my day.  I can’t believe you are teaching a class about decluttering.  The apartments here are so small the Italians don’t have room for clutter.  I’m sure you will do a fabulous job!!!!!  I have seen the Reese’s Peanut Butter cup video and loved it. hehe so funny.  Also, it took about a week for me to get your letter.  I love the story about you and Emma making brownies together.  She’s the cutest ever and she is very wise apparently and going to be a prodigy child.  I’m glad you enjoyed the Mormon Message I asked you to watch and Meet the Mormons.  idk if we will watch it or not. Thanks for the calorie info, I figured kilocalories were the same as calories.  I can’t believe Will and Kaili have another kid!!  SO CUTE!  Will you tell them congrats from me and also Happy birthday to Kaili on the 27th!  How’s Kev?  I don’t hear about him much.  I am going to try and send pictures at the church right after this (I’m at an internet point right now). So you should get pics!!!!  Have fun with Adam and Allison and Anders!!  That’s so exciting to see them.  They are awesome. 

I love you mom!