Sorella Rebekah Tiffany Acton: Week 2 in Palermo

Monday, October 14, 2019

Fun fact that I learned this week is that people here have wolves as pets; like a dog but it's a wolf. So that's different. It's kind of cool but it's scary because it is a wolf and they like eat people.

Tuesday we got up and went to the post office to start my permesso process. Then we went over and had a lesson where we shared the Book of Mormon video and talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. After that we had District Council and to prepare for District Council we read a talk called "Return and Receive" by Elder Ballard. It was a super good talk; I recommend reading it. It talked about goals; how to make goals and the importance of goals. Goals are the broad thing you want to have happen or accomplish and then the plans are the ways you are going to make that happen. After District Council we had some studies and another lesson.
Wednesday we got up and went to ask if we could change the date to get my fingerprint appointment for my permesso because it was on the same date as Zone Conference. But I wasn't in the system yet so were weren't able to change it. Afterwards we came back to the apartment and had studies and pranzo and then we went and did some finding. We also went and tried to visit some less active members. That night we went and had a lesson with Anase. (We were going to be on exchanges with some Sorelle from another district but one of the girls was feeling sick so we didn't end up having exchanges.) We had a really good lesson about sacrifice and tithing with her. We put her on date for baptism and she said that if her son agreed to go to the baptism, then she would be baptized. We went and prayed super hard that, if it was the Lord's will, her son would say "yes" and that she would be baptized.
Thursday we had ward correlation and we went and talked about the people that we are teaching and who we are working with. Then we went to go and visit some members who are less active but they had moved so we just did some finding.
Friday we got up and went to do some finding with Sorella Cara, who is a lady in the ward. She is amazing! She is very bold with her finding and her testimony of the Book of Mormon. That day I was feeling really down on myself; finding is really hard for me. We're in parks and on the street and I get really nervous to go up and talk to people. And so I was really nervous to do that and the language barrier was really affecting me that day. I want to talk to the people so bad but I can't because I don't know the language yet. It was making me really sad. I just broke down and was feeling really inadequate to be a missionary. I don't know the language, I don't know how to understand, I don't know how to teach. I was just feeling really inadequate and unprepared. I cried for two hours, straight. My companion had me read from "adjusting to missionary life" and my patriarchal blessing but nothing was really helping. I went to lay down and as I laid down, I was in my room by myself in the dark. I just laid there not being able to sleep because of a headache from crying. I was just praying; Heavenly Father please comfort me and please forgive me for my weaknesses. I knew that anything is possible through Him and that He knows everything that we go through and every pain that we have. I prayed really hard to have His comfort. After half an hour I went out to eat lunch and I was feeling better. I was really relying on the Lord to help me through the rest of the day. Then we went out and did a couple lessons and then we had the Ward party. At the ward party there was a big dinner and Sorella Cara is the one that cooked dinner for us. This is the most I food I have ever eaten in my entire life, all at one time. First this guy came around and gave us pizza, so I ate a slice of pizza and then Sorella Cara put on a full plate of pasta; which was with red sauce and sausage. Then when we were done eating that she put on another plate of a different kind of pasta, which had eggplant and zucchini in it. Then when we were done with that she gave us potatoes and chicken. And then after that another ward member came up and gave us some more potatoes and chicken; that was more of a curry looking dish. So we ate that. And then after that Sorella Cara's husband offered us some melon, they always eat fruit after their meals here, and so we ate that as well. I have NEVER ate that much food before, I thought I was going to die! But we made it. Then there was a group of women that performed for us on drums and an accordion and one of the ladies sang.
Saturday we did weekly planning, did some finding and had a few lessons. I wasn't feeling good that day but I tried my best to put on a good face and work as hard as I could.
Sunday was Fast Sunday and it was much needed. I was able to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting. I was praying that I would be able to remember all the things that I wanted to say in my testimony and. . . I was able to. I feel like it went pretty well. Then we went and had some more lessons after church. The language is still super hard for me; I still can't understand much at all and I can barely speak. But I just decided that I'm going to have a good attitude and that it's important that I learn the language of love before I master the Italian language. People can really feel when you love them and when you are genuine so even though there is a language barrier, I can still be a good missionary if I work hard and show my love for the people.
Today was P-day and we played soccer. It was super hot and humid but it was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we went and ate as a Zone at a hamburger place. Tonight we are going to do exchanges.

I know that Christ can strengthen us through anything. He really loves us and He knows our talents and our gifts; we just need to trust Him and put our faith in Him and we can accomplish anything. I am so grateful to be here on the mission and be able to share the Gospel to these people in Palermo, Sicily. I love you all and I hope you all have a wonderful week.
Ciao, Ciao, Ciao!