dodici giorno

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Happy Sunday to my favorite people in the whole wide world!

It’s been a wonderful Sabbath day here; even though I’m continents away from the people I love the most. I think homesickness hits me hardest on Sundays… I hate knowing that I’m missing out on Sunday dinners with all of you and Mama’s delicious cooking. I’d give anything to spend those few hours of my week with ya’ll. But, this Sunday in Italy came in a close second to our rowdy Sundays at home.

We were able to sleep in a little bit and take the metro to one of the four LDS wards in Rome. Rome is HUGE, yet they only have 4 wards. We have over 10 times that much in itty-bitty Springville! It goes to show how we really take the church for granted at home. Me, at least. I can walk to my chapel, yet these people may travel for hours to take the sacrament. What an example!! Church began at 11:20 and we made it just in time. There were about 10 of us and Steve who attended Sacrament. One of the missionaries in the area sat by us and translated the meeting for us. It was a really unique and special experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to attend church in a different country. The only thing different about their sacrament meeting was the language; everything else was exactly the same. It felt like home. No matter where you go, the church is always the same. It is common ground between people that are so different and who would otherwise have nothing in common. It is such a comfort and a reassurance to see how consistent the gospel is. Whether you’re in Utah, Hawaii, or Rome, it’s all going to be that same strong, familiar foundation. The gospel spans the entire world and reaches into the hearts of all of God’s children. The spirit speaks all languages. No matter where you attend, the church will be the same. That testifies of the truth of our church. The sacrament is blessed the same way, reverence is observed at the same times, talks are given in the same format, hymns are sung to the same tune, we address each other and shake one another’s hands in the same way, the bishopric sits in the same place, and the Priesthood holders pass the sacrament in the same way, and the spirit feels the exact same. Anything that can hold true throughout the entire world is a prophesy to its Lord and leaders. There is absolutely no way this church isn’t true. Funny how sitting through a meeting where I couldn’t understand a single word had such an impact on my testimony.

After church, we came back to the hotel room in the pouring rain, so we danced out on our deck as the warm, Italian rain soaked our skin. Even the rain seems a little bit better in Italy! (Sorry, Portland J)

A group of us girls went into town and grabbed a yummy bite to eat at an authentic Italian restaurant called PizzaRe. The pizza here is so thin and cheesey! They put some of the most unusual toppings on it: eggs, potatoes, whipped cream, or tuna are a few of the peculiar options they offer here. We’re going to have a lot of risks to take on our homemade pizzas when I get home, Mama! The food here (as long as it’s eaten somewhere other than our hotel) is really yummy… But it still doesn’t hold a candle to La Casita or a bowl of cold cereal! Am I set in my ways, or what!?

I hope you guys have a wonderful day and know that I’m thinking about you all the time. How on earth was I blessed with such an amazing family? It will forever remain a mystery to me and I’ll probably never manage to show it just right, but I hope you know you mean the world to me! Thanks for everything!

Love FOR-EV-ER,

Wit

Ps, Mom, I wore the skirt you made me the other day and it was a hit! Not only did I love it, but all the girls in my group loved it too. They all complimented on it and asked me where I got it… I was beaming with pride when I told them that my mom made it. Long story short, it turned out so cute and everyone agrees with me. Thanks so much!