Sorella Rebekah Tiffany Acton: Week 7 ITALY!!!

Monday March 11, 2019

This week has been the most stressful as well as a huge testimony builder of faith and trust I have had, maybe ever!
Friday evening I found out that my Visa did not go through and I would not be traveling with my group. It was heart breaking and I was bitter about it, wondering why this had to happen to me.

Saturday I had the opportunity to go to Temple Square and spend the day learning how a Visitor Center Mission goes. I was blessed with a wonderful Sister that had been there for 4 months now. We started with the call center taking online requests for Books of Mormon and the Bible and answering people who had questions. Then we went to the North Visitor Center and walked around talking to people and teaching those who we could. I was so scared starting conversations with actual people and not just MTC workers. But I started to enjoy myself when I just shoved the fear away. We talked to many people and we even gave a Book of Mormon away. As my companion went to go get it, I stayed and visited with him and answered his questions. After that it was our time to give tours. Sadly it was snowing so we had to stand outside holding a tour sign in the cold and there was no one because of the bad weather.
Sunday was Fast Sunday, and I bet you can guess what one of the things I fasted for was!? That I would make it to Italy before the Temple Dedication and if not, then I would be able to find peace and understanding. The whole day was super sad, it was the last full day with the District and we had tons of meetings to go to. We had departure devo, regular Sunday devo and safety films after that. When I said goodbye to the Anziani (Elders) in my District it was like saying goodbye to life long friends.
I started my Monday off sending all my friends/MTC family, my Italian Zone, to Italy. I woke up at 3:30, helped the girls get their stuff all ready and sent them off. It was exciting but so devastating watching them leave while I had to stay behind. I went back to bed crying and pleading with my heavenly Father that He would allow me to make it to Italy in time for the Temple Dedication. I told him that I had enough faith and trust that I knew if I didn't get my Visa then it was His plan for me to go somewhere else first, because I knew if it was His will, He would get me my Visa. Sad, but also luckily, there was two Anziani left with me Monday as well, and one was from my District. We stayed together all Monday and tried to make the best of our day. I bought a "I'm sad, cheer me up" dress at the store, haha. We tried to stay positive and went to class, one good thing was that I got to see my teachers again! They were so wonderful, one of them taught us and had us learn new words all the way to the store where he bought us all our favorite drink. Then at night, the other one just talked to us, gave us advice and lovingly told us to "suck it up". We all needed to hear that.
Tuesday, the Anziano from my District left, which was really sad, but I did find out there was a Sorella who was there so we were together all of Tuesday. We went to class, she found out she could leave early the next morning and I found out my Visa was accepted and on the way!!!! Then we went to devo that night which was so good. Carl Cook of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke and he had all his 17 grandchildren come. At the beginning, he had them all go on the stand and watch while all us 1500 missionaries stood and sang "Called to Serve". I started crying, I felt so much peace as I sang and saw their bright precious little faces. He talked about surrendering our will to the Father and it was just what I needed to hear that night.
Wednesday morning I woke up at 4:00am to take the Sorella to the shuttle. I went back to sleep and when I woke up I was officially all alone in the MTC, yayy. . .Thank the Lord though, the two Romanian Sisters in my room were still here and they saved me from complete sadness. I studied in my room, watched Christ videos and cried, cleaned, ate, and then at 1:30 I went to class where I met all the new Italians coming for the MTC. Eventually, I didn't want to be there listening to the first day news again so I went to harass the travel office about my Visa. They told me it arrived in Salt Lake and they were working on my travel plans! It was an answer to my prayers!! They told me I would need to be leaving by 2:30 in the morning so I had to wake up by 2. I went back to my room, put on youth church songs, and packed up all my stuff. I went to dinner by myself and tried to go to bed early but I could not fall asleep, so I laid in bed till around 11 when I finally fell asleep. I woke up at 12:54 and half slept till 1:50 when I got up to get ready. At 2:45 I left to get on the shuttle and went to the airport, my flight left at 6:00 and I got to fly First Class! It was pretty neat and they fed me breakfast! I got to Dallas and had a 6 hour layover, so I went to a restaurant and ate lunch, then walked around and looked at the stores. Then I decided to treat myself and go to a Salon where I got my nails done and sat in a massage chair. I walked around more, took a little rest in a corner and got on the plane for 9 hours to London. This plane was huge and I got to sit in the Business Priority Section, which was so fancy! They had chairs that lay down! They served a three course dinner and I passed out. I woke up two hours before landing. When I got to London I went right to finding a phone to call home, but I couldn't find one. A nice man saw me struggling and let me use his phone, then I found out how to use a payphone. However, you should not do that $$$, but I needed to call home. Then on the plane to Rome I sat next to a man that was raised 26 years in Rome but now lived in London. He looked a lot like my Dad and Uncle Kurt; bald, blue eyes, prominent nose (not bad though) and similar body structure too. We talked the whole way and he said I was the first Mormon he met. He gave me a card with names of good food and restaurants in Rome, and even gave me his business card and said if I'm ever in trouble I can text or call him and he has friends in Rome who can come help me. Haha, little awkward but a nice gesture. I got to Rome, got picked up and went to the Mission Home. I was super tired in the car but from then on I was fine, oddly enough. But my tummy was really hurting, probably from all the fake food. I had an interview with the Mission President and he told me I would be serving in the Rome 3 area. I wouldn't be in the Visitor Center until I learned the language. So, I'll be a regular missionary for at least a couple transfers. I got to my apartment, met my companion(who doesn't speak much English-which is hard but good for me to learn the language). I unpacked and was told I could sleep but it was 6:45pm and I didn't want to, so we went finding down town. It was so overwhelming because I was exhausted and don't know the language. I came home after that, showered and went to bed at 9:30. I passed out hardddd.
Saturday in the morning we went finding and went to the church to set up my phone. We don't have wifi anywhere else. We then went to lunch for my companion's birthday, walked around and got Gelato. It was so so yummy. Then there was a youth broadcast from the Prophet and our District watched it on the computer at church. It was so good. He talked about the importance of purity, preparing for parenthood, continuing an education, studying the scriptures, knowing your physical and spiritual identity, and paying tithing. Then it was evening time so we went back and studied and then slept at 10:30.
Sunday we had to get up at 5:30, get on the metro, and head to church in the Rome 2 Area for the Temple Dedication broadcast(Tuesday at 2:00 we get to actually go to the temple for it!!) When I arrived, my MTC companion ran to me crying and hugged me. We didn't know we'd see each other. I also saw 4 other girls from my MTC Zone. Then we watched all 3 sessions, starting at 9am and ending at 5pm. I had the hardest time staying awake but they were all so good! We learned that this is the first time all Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency, including the Prophet have been outside the U.S. together! The Prophet met the Pope and they are really doing historical things here. It has been a really busy week for everyone!
Things I've learned about Rome and the mission so far. . .
The air smells like cigarette smoke always. There is litter everywhere. They Love their graffiti. They drive INSANE! It's like mario cart driving, there's no rules, motorcycle drivers drive on the side walk sometimes and people park everywhere! The police are intense. Everyone talks really loud. Dogs are allowed everywhere it seems like. They don't eat dinner because they have a huge lunch at 1!(I still eat because I'm always hungry). I don't know whether I'll get fat or loose weight!! It is dirty but still really cool and pretty here, I just live in the ghetto kinda. The pizza is so good and pizza shops are everywhere. And they have the cutest clothes!!

That's all, I love you all and wish me good luck this week! xoxo

Sorella Acton