When In Rome....

Mama Mia.                                                                                            Thursday, April 30, 2015

It’s great to be emailing.

Everyone, gear up. This is going to be a long email, and also one of the most important ones to read! So just grab a cup of Dr. Pepper (I miss that stuff) and read away.

I know everyone wants to hear about the Anziano Bednar conference. It was the BEST thing of my life. 
But first I have to back up and tell you some stuff that happened last week!

I have to say, me and Sorella Vasilachis first week of the transfer was stupendous.  legit.  So GOOD. we taught a ton, we got some new investigators, and had a lot of fun. Some cool things that happened.

We went to see a less active. As we were giving her the message (kind of random, we felt like we should talk about Gratitude) she started crying and told us that this was exactly what she needed. There is nothing better in the world then being able to use to Spirit to help someone!        

We are still teaching Betty and her daughter Gaia.  Gaia read almost all of the Book of Mormon picture book in ONE WEEK.  She is so eager to learn. She loves coming to church.  I looked over at church this Sunday and her and her mom were sitting together, and singing the hymns. Her mom was tearing up.  It’s AMAZING to see them grow together.  We are really hoping that they will be able to be baptized together.  It would be fantastic.  I love teaching both of them because the Spirit is so strong and they have so much desire.  Betty is the best person EVER.

We met this lady named Diana in a park and taught her the restoration.  This isn’t uncommon.  HOWEVER we invited her to church kind of like "if you wanna come, Sunday we have church."  We tried to call her Saturday to re-invite her but she didn’t answer.  I was standing in church though Sunday and who did I see? DIANA walking through the doors.  THAT’S what I’m talking about.  She’s reeeeeeeallly cool.  

So yeah. We had such a good week, are working super hard, and seeing lots of miracles.  It’s grand.  I’ve been working in this city for 2 transfers and planted a whole lot of seeds.  Sunday, I felt like I got to see some fruits.  I can’t lie, fruit tastes REALLY good.  I’m thankful Heavenly Father let me not only plant the seeds, but eat some fruit as well.

Alright, Anziano Bednar.  Mom, I know you’re gonna want to know all the travel details and stuff. So here they are.  I apologize for how long this letter is.

On Monday we left.  We flew, got to the airport in ROME. I almost threw up because I love that city so much.  Then we took a train, and then a metro, and then finally got the the Rome two office.  We then started walking to the hotel, but it started POURING rain.  I was soooo wet, literally sooooo wet you can’t even imagine.  But we got to the hotel and I saw a BILLION missionaries and it was the best thing ever.

We got up at 5:00 the next morning, got ready, and then made our way to the conference.  Do you want to know how awesome it is to be in a room of 200 missionaries? pretty stinking awesome!  I got to see EVERYONE!  Sorella Gates, Tapia, Wineager, Sartena, Robertson, Barazoto, Dew, Decker, other super cool people.  I saw lots of Anziani I’ve served with too.  and sorella Mazzarella! So many happy reunions. 

Then we all got settled down.

When Anziano Bednar walked in the room it was fantastic.  The Spirit was so strong.  I can’t even remember if I told you this, but the conference was training for us to get ipads. I really think I might have forgotten to tell you that haha. He started the conference by having us all scoot our chairs up so we were sitting right next to the pulpit.  Then he told us he wouldn’t be giving talks or anything like that.  It was much chiller than general conference. He asked us questions, we answered, and then he commented.  It was really, really cool.  We talked about ipads, but we also talked about a whole bunch of other things.  I’m not usually that missionary that gives you indepth notes from a conference I went to, but I really want to talk about some things that Anziano Bednar talked about. Go refill the Dr. Pepper, if you’re my mom you’ll probably have to use the bathroom, and then keep reading!

Cool things you might want to know:

So we are a test mission for ipads. which is cool.  There are lots of test missions.  They are working right now on figuring out exactly how we are going to use ipads for missionary work but they have a lot of really cool ideas!  However, there are a lot of privacy laws in Europe so for now my mission will just be using Facebook mostly.

One SUPER cool thing Anziano Bednar told us about was how in the future, as soon as you open your call you will be assigned to a district.  Your MTC training will start from the second you open your call, and you will get tutors (RMs) to help you with language and Preach my Gospel before you’re even in the field!

It’s cool also to think about how this whole ipad thing affects generations and generations.  Think about it.  While we are on missions, we can learn how to use technology effectively and safely.  We will teach it to our children, who will teach it to theirs....etc.  It’s a great way to help keep church members aware of how great technology can be.

Some funny random things Anziano Bednar talked about:

-Someone asked him how the 12 apostles are doing. He said that Elder Perry is the fastest man on the planet and that he does that little punching bag thing every day! haha.

-He said, "If you find the perfect one, why would they want to marry you?!"

-He told us a cute story about how he used to read scriptures to his colicky baby (you guys should have tried that with me haha)

-He told us his process for writing a conference talk.  When he studies the scriptures he finds things called "scripture nuggets" and makes a manila folder of them.  His talks are always titled based off a scripture.  So he keeps the manila folder and as he finds things he likes, he puts the talk in the folder.  He has about 150 of these.  On planes while he travels he brings them with him and adds to them.  Before conference he pulls out 4 of them, prays and ponders, and then writes talks.  Some talks have things he has thought about and compiled for over 40 years!

Spiritual insights:

-At one point, Anziano Bednar paused and testified to us that we were sitting in a room with all the priesthood keys restored to the earth.  What an awesome, awesome thing to hear an apostle of the Lord testify. 

-Anziano Bednar testified of his love for us.  It was a stupendous thing to feel.  It’s amazing to me that God has made his gospel be so individual.  He really looks to help the individual.  Even though there are millions of people on the earth, He finds the way to touch each one of them.  I realized that as Anziano Bednar testified of his love for us.  He really loves us!  Individually.  Just as Heavenly Father loves us individually.  You know how much he prays and thinks about the members of the church and the people of the world.  He is like Peter of the bible!  AH IT’S SO AMAZING.

-Anziano Bednar is very humble.  Any comment or compliment reflected at him, he quickly reverted back to the Lord.  He really understands that WE don’t do things.  GOD does them.  We are only instruments in His hands.  HE moves HIS work forward.  It’s such a good lesson for all of us.  Especially in the mission, it is sometimes hard to remember this.  We meet someone, teach them a lesson and then think, "wow, aren’t I just the best person on the planet. I taught them SO WELL that they are going to be baptized".  We give the credit to ourselves, instead of to Heavenly Father.  It’s important to be humble, and realize who helps us with everything that we do.

-Anziano Txseria from the 70 was also there. He is awesome.  He talked about the missionary that met him and baptized his family.  It was a really cool story.  He testified of the importance of looking outward instead of inward.  He was so thankful to the missionary who looked out ward instead of inward, and helped his family have the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I hope to be that missionary for someone someday.  But I was also reminded at the conference that I have a companion who I can influence just as much as an investigator.  What a blessing it is to turn outwards.

-I got to shake Anziano Bednars hand!  It was cool.  He needed to leave but as he walked out he was shaking people’s hands.  I was standing near, but as he came nearer to me, I looked away a little, because I knew a lot of people wanted to shake his hand, and I didn’t want to bother him.  I looked back at him however, and he reached over to where I was and stuck his hand out to me.  It was such a blessing! 

You guys, I can’t really explain how great it was. I know this was a really missionary letter. I’m sorry! It’s just that I met an apostle of the Lord and I learned so much from him!  And I wish you guys just all could have been there.  I know this church is true!  We are part of a great work.  I’m thankful for all the chances we have to help those around us.  I love this mission!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, after the conference we headed out of the conference center...into pouring rain again haha but we made it to a car to put our stuff in, and then went out to do some finding....super wet still.  We finally, at the end of the night, made it to the Rome 2 Sorelle house. Then the next morning we saw the temple and left!  IT WAS THE BEST.

Alright, longest email ever ohhh my.  I love you all.  The church is true. I’m sooooo happy!

Love,

Sorella Brunson