When In Rome....

*Two emails from Katie this week.  The first one is from last week, which she forgot to send.  Enjoy!

Hey everyone!!!!                                                                        Monday, June 8, 2015

So shout out to Tyler.  He made it through that crazy high school stuff.   Also shout out to the Brunson BBQ.  I’m gonna be super stoked to eat that food again, let me tell you!

  

And happy wedding anniversary to the best parents to ever walk the planet!!!!!!!!  22 years.  Wowwwwwwww. Thanks for raising me for 20 of those 22 years. You are WONDERFUL. It’s crazy, as I was writing happy anniversary HALL AND OATES started playing on the over-head speakers at the internet point that I’m writing in right now.  Rich Girl.  hahhahaha So just know I’m celebrating your anniversary with some Hall and Oats.  It’s only right.

Comunque this week was FANTASTIC because GAIA got baptized!  But before I talk about that here is some random stuff.

-Last Monday Sorella Bray and I were on a scambi and we were talking to people on the street.  We were crossing the street and this lady was sitting in her car, and it looked like she was waving at us.  I pointed to us and was like, "are you waving to us?" and she shook her head, then we saw this old man walking and we were like "oh, maybe she needs to get that old man’s attention" so we asked her and she just shook her head.  Then we turned around and realized she was waving to her boyfriend up on a balcony.  He started laughing at us. so yeah.  I’m still awkward, don’t worry about that.

-Also cool thing this week.  We were in the park waiting to have a lesson with Ema.  We were just chillin’ in the shade because it’s SO HOT.  All the sudden this random lady looks at me with this face like "oh my goodness" and starts walking towards us.  She grabbed my head and said, "non ci credo, no ci credo" (I dont belive it).  She then explained, "I’m a member of the church, and I was just thinking about how I should maybe call the Sorelle and have them help me get back to church. And then I looked up and you two were standing here."  We were able to talk to her and get her contact information while we waited for our appointment.  She is awesome! It’s really cool how stuff like that happens on the mission.  We didn’t really plan it or anything, but as we do what we are supposed to do, Heavenly Father puts people into our paths.  It’s the coolest thing ever.  It doesn’t always happen like that, but when it does it’s a huge blessing.  I’m excited to work with her.

 

-On a more random note....this week I accidently kissed a cat!  I didn’t even mean to, it just happened!  For those of you that know me, I’m really not much of a cat kisser....like I’ve never kissed a cat in my life.  But the mission has changed my life in many, many ways, including being around cats all the time.  Italians love animals. So there I was, petting that little cat and it just looked so dang cute. so I kissed it on the head!  Sorry mom, I’ve failed you as a daughter in the not liking cats aspect.

- This week we are getting iPads!  actually tomorrow.  How many missionaries can say they got an iPad for their birthday? hahahah.  So that’s gonna be pretty exciting.  I’ll let you guys know more information next week.  But yeah zone conference is on my birthday and we’re all getting iPads. Today all the missionaries are here for pday so we’re gonna play Frisbee and watch Meet the Mormons!  It should be pretty sweet.  I’m excited.  Also the package you sent me came! Yippie!  I’ll open it tomorrow.  I also got all your guys letters!  THANKS.

Ok so the baptism!  It was sooo fantastic.  Gaia was so excited.  She said that all day on Saturday the time went so slow.  The baptismal service was way cool.  I’ll send you guys a program in the mail.  I gave a talk.  Man, I used to be such a BOSS at speaking in public but in Italian it’s a little harder. I was nervous but I think it went pretty well actually.  I talked about the Holy Ghost. It was short and simple.  Then Anziano McGuire baptized Gaia!  I asked her how she felt and she said there was just joy all over!  She gave her testimony and talked about how she knows the Book of Mormon is true and how thankful she is for the gospel.  You guys can’t even imagine how cool it is to see someone who’s changed her life because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Gaia is so excited about everything!  YWs, personal progress, everything.  The more she learns about the gospel, the more she wants to know.  She has increased my testimony a ton, for reals.  It’s cool to see how much DESIRE changes everything.  Gaia has so much desire to do what is right.  She has some family members who are less active in the church, and they came to the baptism and then church on Sunday so she’s not only affecting herself, but also tons of others.  WHAT A STUD.  It was the best birthday gift I could have asked for.  The spirit was so strong, especially as we sang, "I am a Child of God" at the end of the baptism.  We are all children of God.  It sounds simple but when you understand it, it changes everything.  ahhhh how cool.  I’m so blessed that Heavenly Father let me teach Gaia. She’s a wonder.

So yeah, I’m super happy, it’s super hot outside, I super like cats (note from Mom: I seriously wanted to delete this part), and I super want to keep being a missionary for a long time.

Vi volgio bene!

Sorella Brunson 

Hello!                                                                                        Monday, June 15, 2015

SO SORRY about last week.  I was in a super rush and so the email accidently didn’t get sent. It was in my draft box the whole stinking week. I feel bad!!!!!!!!!  But two emails this week, so at least that’s somethin.

My birthday went so cool.  I pretty much got the coolest mission birthday ever. Monday for pday we were chilling with a bunch of missionaries because they were all here for zone conference. I got to play some ping pong, frisbee, and run around.  It was just sooooo great.  The Sassari Sorelle slept at our apartment. The next day was Tuesday, my birthday and zone conference!  We got the iPADS!!  Happy brithday, hahaha.  They are soooo sweet.  It seriously makes everything like a million times easier. I’m loving, loving it.  We can’t use facebook yet, but soon we will be able to. I’m way stoked even just having gospel library and being able to use it to study and show people videos is so cool.  Also we are allowed to check our emails throughout the week....we just can’t respond.  So when you guys send me an email, I can read it right away.  That’s kinda cool.  You guys, these iPads are going to CHANGE missionary work forever.  How exciting to be part of it.  My kids are gonna be like, "mom, you had an AREA BOOK with PAPER?" hahah They are gonna think I’m so old.  Anyway, after zone conference we had lunch, and they brought out a cake that an English course student made for me and they sang for me!  I was blushing, of course.  It was fun!  It was cool to be able to see everyone.  Here in Sardegna there aren’t a ton of missionaries, so it’s fun when we are all together!  I’m stoked for this next transfer and just the msision life.  Conference was so good.

So yeah, my birthday was awesome! Mom, your package came I think the Friday before my birthday so that means it took about 10 days. Grandma’s came on the 10th but I was never home to receive it....so I had to go pick it up in the post office and I ended up getting it on the 12th or 13th.  Thanks SO MUCH mom, the package was perfect.  It is seriously sooo nice to have new clothes.  I feel like a new woman!  I’m serious.  They are all so cute and fit well.  The downeast skirt was big but with a belt it’s totally fine.  THANK YOU. and I’m looooving the pens so much and the ice trays!!!!!  hahaha that’s the best.  I haven’t had ice in so long.  We have a freezer, don’t worry.  The candy was perfect too, me and Sorella Vasilachi are loving it. THANK YOU!!! The crumb bars are perfect and I almost cried when I ate one. ahhhhhhh they are so good.

 

To answer your questions about iPads:

Do we need to send you money for it? 
No, in Europe missions we cannot buy the ipad.  We turn it in at the end of our mission.

In what ways are you allowed to use the iPad? 
Right now we have four apps hahaha. gospel library, lds pamphlets, lds music, and lds tools (and all the stuff that comes with ipads that you can’t delete). We will get more next transfer.  We have to do some online training and stuff.

What are you not supposed to do with the iPad?
We can’t take goofy pics. and we can’t go on the internet except lds sites. It’s blocked though, like it’s not possible for us to go anywhere else.

Will you have internet in your apartment?
NO. haha def not.

Is there internet in the church building? 
Yes, church building, and free wifi in Piazza...idk what those are called in English, like....ummm....idk how to explain it. ummm so there are a bunch of shops and then in the middle the Piazza and they are everywhere.

What if you drop it and break it? 
I have to pay 300 bucks.

What if you leave it on the bus?

I have to pay 300 bucks.

Ugh, don’t do either of those things.

I’m not going to do either of those things. haha.

Anyway, yeah life is going really good.  Gaia has a friend that we are teaching now!  She's told her ALL ABOUT the Book of Mormon!  She has read with her up to 1 Ne 8 and has explained the whole thing to her.  Literally the other day Gaia told us they read about families in the Book of Mormon, True to the Faith, and For the Strength of Youth just when they were hanging out together! haha and Gaia brought her to church this week. HOW COOL. Her name is Maura. She’s the cutest.  We are so excited to teach her!  How cool is Gaia?  We got 5 new investigators this week, so that’s really exciting!  Lots of new people to work with. It’s so fun!  This week we are going up to Sassari for a scambio. whoooo hooo. It will be shweet!

So yeah, life is really good.  Missionary work is awesome.  Technology is a great tool.  and I LOVE ITALIA!

I hope you are all great and partying a lot cause school is out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VI VOGLIO UN SACCO DI BENE!

Sorella Brunson

PS. ahhhh go swimming for me!  I MISS IT and everyone here goes to the beach. bleeeeh. hahahh.