Fotografie!!

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Hey all! This week has been so full! There are so many everday miracles. 

One day this week, we walked all the way across town to go to correlation with the ward mission leader, but when we got to his house he was strangely not there. At first it was frustrating, and then I had the thought that everything is for a reason. Maybe we were supposed to talk to someone. We decided we would do some finding as we made our way back to the house. Partway home, sure enough, we started talking to a guy who was interested in taking the discussions. 

Another day, we were walking through town when a women came out of her apartment to take the garbage out. We said hi to and then from there started having a conversation with her. As she walked down the road to the dumpster we talked to her about her faith and told her about the Book of Mormon. We bore our testimonies and told her to read and pray about it. The whole time I just kept thinking, "What if we hadn't opened up and said hello to her!" It is so amazing to me what God can do when we just open up our mouth and try. My Italian improves everyday, but I still have a long ways to go. As a result, I'm not very independant when I try to talk to people and most of the time I need Anziano Melling to translate. 

This past week I really felt how even when it is just me, God can make up the difference. Sometimes, it almost doesn't make sense, but yet everytime I am bold and reach out, something good comes of it, and all I can do is wonder why I was even afraid to speak in the first place. One time this past week, I called a past investigator to see how they were doing. I started by saying I was a missionary and then she just took off speaking so fast. I didn't understand what she said, but I could tell she knew our church and she had a positive opinion of it. At one point she stopped. When I hesitated to speak, she said in slow Italian something like, "You don't speak Italian very well do you?" We both just laughed and I was like yeah I am learning. She then asked about our English course and said she would really like to come. I gave her the details and then hung up the call. I just stood there shocked. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I barely even understand what she said, my Italian was horrible, and I was a complete stranger to her, but somehow the message had got across and the call had been successful. I know that wouldn't have happened if God hadn't had some hand in it. Somehow, He can take my small effort, and do something that to me seems impossible. I found a quote in my Preach My Gospel book that said, "The feeling of the spirit will be its own invite." Even if all I can do is simply show up and put forth my menial effort, if I have the spirit and I trust God, I will fulfill my calling and that is all that matters.

One more story. This week, as we were walking past a fruit stand, I saw a random man that we had talked to in a store the day before. I smiled and stopped and asked him how he was doing. He looked at me with a confused expression. At that moment, I realized it was actually not the same guy, but another man who just looked very similar. We started talking to him though. He was religious and very kind, but didn't want anything to do with organized religion. Before we left, Anziano Melling mentioned that he really liked the man's scarf. Then, to our surprise the guy took off the scarf and gave it to Anziano Melling! We tried to tell him no, but he insisted. It is so amazing to me how kind of selfless the people are. I love the people here and I love this place!

Love, Anziano Stucki.