Week 49: I'll go where you want me to go...

Ciao a tutti!! Hey everyone! PSA: If you read any of my emails this is the one to read:)

 

So about 2 weeks ago I was having a really rough time. Sister Tia & I both just felt like Satan was throwing punches at as. Most of our lessons fell through, we had to drop some people we love but aren't progressing, no one answered their doors or gave us the time of day to talk with them, and pretty much we just felt like the worst missionaries in the world. So yeah, not super fun!! I remember getting on my knees at night and just praying for God to show me if He was there, and if He even cared about what I was doing out here.

 

And BOY did He answer my prayer. In so many ways! On Monday, I was so ready for a new week. Fresh start. In my studies I studied the section in PMG called, "Talk With Everyone." And wow. I decided I needed to be better. Let me tell you something, I struggle talking with everyone! You all remember that 12 year old Maddy who would bawl everytime she had to say a line in the school play or give a talk at sacrament or just talk to adults in general?? Hahah well let's just say I've come a long way, but that sacred little girl still lives inside me & I get nervous to talk to people! It's still a scary thing, even after 11 months of doing it. But I was determined to be better. I made it a goal that day to talk to everyone I saw!

 

So for lunch, Sister Tia & I walked across the street to grab something at the local deli. As we were walking in, I saw a man standing in the parking-lot playing the accordion. I thought to myself, "you are gonna talk to him." So, on my way out of the store, I literally ran over to talk with him. I quickly realized he didn't speak English. I assumed he was Hispanic so I tried my best to speak Spanish to him but it just sounded like drunk Italian or something...he looked pretty confused & I was about to give up, but then he asks me, "Tu parli Italiano?" WHAT?? SI! YES I SPEAK ITALIAN. Come to find out, this guy is straight from Italy. Lived there for 20 years. And I got to have a 10 minute conversation with him, in Italiano, about God & Jesus Christ & our church:) Invited him to church and he was so stoked. Blessings people. Nicolae was an answer to my prayers.

 

What are the odds that I met (most likely) the only Italian in all of my mission! It was no coincidence at all. I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude to God for giving me that experience and helping me to open my mouth & talk with everyone. It was like God himself was telling me. "I hear you. I know you. Keep going. I'm so proud of you!" I will never forget that experience. 

 

I've learned that God is pretty good at these things. He answers prayers, it's just what He does. He answers them when & how they need to be answered. And I don't know why I ever doubt his timing. As if that wasn't enough, just the next day, I received the news that I will be leaving for Italy on June 3rd.  

 

My brother Preston's favorite scripture keeps coming to my mind: 

 

       "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."   Isaiah 55:8-9

 

His ways are higher than ours. He knows the big picture. He is in every single detail of our lives & is so willing to pour down blessing on our heads if we just trust His timing. I'll forever be indebted to Him, for giving me these past 10 months in the FOCO mission. I wouldn't have had it any other way:) 

 

Tanto Amore,

(Officially) Sorella Pitt 

 

CONGRATS you made it all the way through the email!! Now stop what your doing & go pray for my Italian!