Simple as a peanut butter sandwich..

So we had interviews this past week, and for lunch the heavens blessed us with peanut butter.. That may sound like it has no significance at all until you realize the fact that Italy doesnt have peanut butter unless you want to pay 10euro. Not my cup of tea...I dont think i have loved something as much as that simple PB&J. Now is when i get to make a great connection to the gospel and the significance of a sandwich!! The gospel is simple! Every time i go searching for more, or make things wayyyy to complex, to complicated, it always comes back to the fact that the simple answers and the simple things in life are what brings the most happiness. Everything we have in the gospel is simple! 

...now that i have related a sandwich to the gospel, i will explain the reasoning behind it and my week.  

We have been dropped, not listened to, and sick(literally) Some of my least favorite things in the world! But seriously. I sometimes lead things like that to what am i, as a missionary doing wrong? What can i fix, and where is the punishment coming from.. And than a moment of AH HA hits.. and i realize it is not punishment. Yes, there is ALWAYS room for improvment. I can always be more diligent, but that does not mean we are punished for what we have yet to do.... but this work cannot always be a piece of cake. I am not going to lie... It has always seemed a little too easy. I have always felt like there was something that needed to happen bad because i have seen so much good here in Sanremo... I have no idea what i am getting at here. I told President that i feel like there is this big spiritual pool that every time i learn more i think i am filling it...WRONG. I am not filling the pool...i am growing the pool, and that means i have to continue to fill it! Never ending! But than i come back to the basics (Back to the PP&J sandwich) basically a sentence i say at least 3 times a day. We have, LITERALLY have a loving Heavenly Father.. Can i just say the word Father again.. With the word Father entails all the other words (loving, caring, all knowing, wants the best for us personally, listening, waiting... we could keep going...dont get a big head dad) and that is the moment where i realized whatever line we miss. How ever short i fall of a goal, of being a better desciple of Jesus Christ, He is literally watching me and is that push of comfort we have ALL felt to continue forward... and it is as simple as that. That is where the simplicty of a PP&J comes in! (Weird analogy, but it works!) He is waiting for us to open that door to Him. To really accept Him as our Father and accept his gospel, which in the end, just brings simple contentment.. When we do that, that is when we are converted! That is where we find that simple happiness that doesnt come from some grand event, or some material item in this life..we dont need that garbage. What we have as members of this church is special. We have this knowledge, and i think i forget about it sometimes....BUT when i do...i go back to the beginning... when in doubt, we have a loving Father, and He knows all. 

Simple as a PP&J. :)

Love Sorella Woods

And they said we'll never get baptisms in Italy

but they were wrong! 28 lessons taught in one week by us three.. At least one new investigator a day, and two new baptism dates. I am amazed by the blessings that we are reciving here!!! Sanremo is literally exploding with missionary work.. We went over to a members house on Sunday after church and we recieved 7 refferals.. They love doing missionary work and i love them for it!! What i have really been wanting to learn, and am actually noticing that i am learning is being guided by the spirit. It is different than feeling the spirit, and having it with you, but actually being guided on where to go and who to talk to. It is amazing what happens when i listen to those thoughts in my head about who to talk to and what street to take... Once i was the one that had the responsibilty of being the one who knows the city and the people, i really had to start relying on Heavenly Father...because i didnt have my trainer who did everything with me anymore. It has really let me grow in ways that i havent yet here. I keep thinking that there is still so much that i want to do and change about myself, and than i read about patience this morning. Usually i associate patience with having to have it with others, or in a situation, but i dont usually apply it to myself and my personal progression. That was a little bit of a humble slap to the face this morning. I cant change over night. But through the atonement i can change and become who i need to be! Its great! Its like getting a kids meal and thats the magic prize inside! So obviously three girls walking around in weird clothes is different as it is, but than when people realize we are foreign, they start to talk about us thinking we cant understand Italian...usually it consists of creepy groups of men.. but that is when Gillette turns around and hands them a pass along card and we start talking to them... than they realize that the crude comments they were making were all understood, and than they feel as stupid as they should feel... Gotta love it.. We have been sick this week, but we are still getting the work done..It is not my favortie walking around trying to speak Italian when my voice is gone, but hey, im trying! Thats all that is asked!! The Italians just keep saying what did you say ??? And since Gillette is sick too, Van Alfen takes control of the situation. Good thing we are in three... like the three nephites!...that may be pusing it but... We conquer Sanremo. HUZZAH!

Love Sorella WOods!

chillin in three is the best. (:

I B-E-LIEVEEE IN MIRACLLEESSSS!!

Especially when you are in Sanremo with the power of three! Three investigators in one day, and eight lessons in two days.. That just doesn't happen, but than again Sanremo is being hit by three of us. Sorella Van Alfen, and Gillette are the new victims here... and they are SO GREAT! I didn't know what it would be like in three, but i dont think i can ever go back to two..We are the only ones in the whole mission not just in two. They got here on Thursday last week. It has actually been really fun introducing them to everybody, and doing finding in the city with them. I have really been asking Heavenly Father how to find new simps and this week has really just been filled with REALLY elect people! Thanks to the big guy, we are seeing success. Something i am really just learning this past week is listening to the spirit in finding work. Where to go, and who to talk to. When Sorella Egbert left, i felt like i had to take responsibility because i am the one that stayed here. My new comps knew nothing about the city or the members, so i had to be the one to know everything, and that just changed me. It changed how i do the work that i am doing, and we are having soo much success. They both just bring different strengths to the table. I love to work with the both of them... and they're totally okay that i'm super weird!! Because lets get real here, they're super weird too... everybody is. Sorella Gillette has been here in Italy for just over a year, so she is almost done. Sorella Van Alfen is at six months. Sooo i am the baby of the group!! Woot, woot! Third transfer, here we go!!... in Sanremo with the best people that i can never think of leaving. I have been thinking about what Heavenly Father expects from us. Not just as missionaries, but as members in this church. How much should we expect from ourselves? I don't know exactly actually. There is so many things that i want to learn here. There are so many things that i want to be. I always think about how can i be more converted, and strengthen that relationship that i have with Heavenly Father. Its hard at times, because i cant see Him, but He can see me. He knows exactly what we all need. Whether temporal or spiritual, but what do we need to do in order to receive those blessings? Is is the harder i work here, the more blessings my family can receive, or is that not part of the equation.. How do i know if i am a successful missionary. We may have baptisms and simps, but is that what success is. I want my success to be in my work. I want people to have what we have. The truth and the happiness. Everything in life cannot be perfect. Without trial, we would and could not know the good.. I want to have that relationship with Heavenly Father that i have with my Dad.. There is something that is missing for me this week. I think it may be the lack of diligence, or the lack of truly looking for that relationship. I hope we can all look for that more in our lives. I pray that we can sincerely be converted, that even in times of difficulty, we continue to put one foot in front of the other. We cannot always open our eyes up to see every obstacle that will be in the path, but we can open our eyes up to Heavenly Father. Because he knows. He sees everything, and He will not fail us. He literally cant if we are doing what we need to do. i Love being a missionary.. but i want to be more than just the average missionary... I feel like that is what i am being right now. I am still Cristal, but i have Christs name on my tag.. and that is so much more important.. We shouldn't be average because we are not doing average work. It is the work of salvation. I want to be more, and i want to do more. Heavenly Father should always be first in all things that we do. I love you all! Have a great week! 

Love Sorella Woods

Transfer 3...

and the verdict is....IM STAYING WITH MY ITALIANS IN SANREMO!!! I am very posessive over these people actually, and im in Italy so they are all Italian but these ones are MY italians. I cant imagine the day that i do leave... my heart will be ripped out. My city, my brach..etc etc. Sad news, Sorella Egbert is leaving me. I really thought it would never happen (of course it would, but i can always hope) But you know when Presidente has called three times in a row, that it is probably important, and we should probably answer. She, being the most amazing missionary ever is the new Sister Training leader close to Milano..in Nevigli! I am so excited for her, but rather upset by the fact that we cant be companions ffoooorreeeevveer. So i she hands me the phone after Presidente tells her that, and i am not getting a companion in Sanremo, but companions! Three sorelle in Sanremo! I am not sure how its going to work, but it will because its the Lords work. Our baptisms were beautiful, and i get the opprotunity to continue to work with all of them! I am so happy to be here. It is weird what being handed responsibility does... It is making me stretch and grow... oh no, im becoming a real missionary! I am so used to being under a trainer.. Sorella Egbert insists that she didnt train me but just woke up in the morning and did what she was supposed to do every day. I say otherwise... She really is an amazing missionary, and has shown me how to better serve my purpose and how to use this sacred time we are given. I will forever be grateful. It is amazing how much trust Heavenly Father has in 19 and 20 year olds. I could stay here forever though! I love doing what we do everyday. I just have such a love for everyone that we meet....maybe not so much the creepy old men that grab my cheeks (some fascination that they have) as much, but hey, they are still children of God. I dont really have much else for today. Its like spring outside... i dont want to eat anymore pasta... seriously, these people dont stop feeding us. We had two meal appointments in one day.. Sorella Egbert leaves me tomorrow, and i have to learn independence.. I am just a happy camper though. Todays Christlike attribute is Faith!! Work on it! I am! Come, follow me, the Savior said! and im trying to be like Jesus.. those are probably my theme songs here.. and you cant do any work without a theme song, and last but not least, i love the nuns here. They just make me so happy. I always poke sorella Egbert when i see one and say... SiiiSSTTER! (BUT WITH A LONG E sound like the italians) They never fail to whip their head around and look for who is calling them . (: Have a great week! Love you!

We survived World War 3!

Or so i would think after being woken up at 12 last night by what sounded like we were being bombed.. not even exaggerating the slightest. They sure as heck were not fireworks... i do not know what they do here for new years, but alas! We have survived! Sorella Egbert and i got to be little rebel missionaries last night and stay out tell 10.30! We couldn't be on the streets though, because Italians go a little nuts, but we had a nice dinner with some of our members, and our newest member YOSMAIRA!!! And by nice dinner, i mean they just keep filling your plate once it is empty.. Sorella Egbert was full by the first plate, but me being me, i kept eating.. Fratello Cangialosi(Ciro) said we needed to grow some more, so we needed to eat more. Than this little old man who is not even a member bought a cake (well not really cake, but more of bread thing that is basically their cake) that weighs probably a good 15 to 20lbs. No joke there either. Basically it was just a really great New Years and i am so excited for this next one! Kevin and Yosmairs baptism was truly amazing. They are completely different people. They just glow. After Kevin received the priesthood, he just radiates this spirit. And he is baptizing his mom and sister this Saturday whom we also have been teaching.. There is just so much joy that comes from seeing these people change their lives. Especially families. I just think about how important my family is to me, and the fact that we have the option to be together forever.. That is what we are bringing to these people every day! So the bible dictionary is my new google since i cant use google here. Bible dictionary word of the week is Earnest. I would suggest you all go read it, but basically it is the deposit paid by the buyer of any item. In the words of Sorella Woods or from what i got from it is, Heavenly Father is the buyer and has paid the 'deposit' which is the Holy Ghost. We are the item that is being bought. He has put down this 'deposit' of the promise of the full amount paid which is eternal life. There in lies the secret of why the Holy Ghost is soooo important to everything that we do here on this life! He has given us the Holy Ghost because that is what testifies of the truth of his great eternal plan which is to return to him! I am so excited for Kevin and Yosmaira. They have this gift now like we do, and they treasure it because they know what it is like to grow up without it. A lot of us grew up in the church, and i know that i didn't listen as much as i should of before my mission. I am realizing here how much we need to base our lives on the direction that we receive from the Holy Ghost. There in lies our success in this life, and in the life to come! Another thought that i have been rolling around in my ever moving brain is Family night. Our church leaders have specifically set aside Monday night as family night. I think that there is importance in that. It gives us another night in the week where we are pulled away from the distractions of the world and are able to spend it with our families. I have seen it change families here and i really have a testimony of the importance of it! Prophets wouldn't give us this specific for no reason. It is direction from Heavenly Father through his prophets. Facciamo serata familiare LUNEDI! It brings blessings! Well i am out of words for today! I love you all and am grateful to be here with Sorella Egbert as a representatives of Jesus Christ. Until next week!