July 7th email

Hello!!
This week was so awesome. I got a lot of studying in and I had a little bit of fun too haha. But for those of you who know me, you know that studying IS fun for me! 😎 I've been reading "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard and it is sooo good! I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially to someone who has questions about the church. It's pretty short, too, like 120 pages.
On Sunday afternoon, Slla. Cook and I were on the "Match the Message" panel for the new missionaries. Basically what "Match the Message" is for is to talk about how we need to be modest, how to act, and what to say as representatives of Christ. On the panel, we answered frequently asked questions so the new sisters could hear it from someone who's not old haha :)
On Sunday night we had a devotional given by President Martino's brother who came and sang songs about the Restoration. After the Sunday devotionals, we always have a "movie night" of a Mormon movie or really good talk by a General Authority. This last Sunday night, me and some friends watched Legacy, which is about the Mormon pioneers and the Restoration. I loveddd the movie so much because it was a little bit chick-flicky because there were like 4 kisses 😱 I miss watching chick flicks like I did back home hahaha.
On Tuesday afternoon Sorella Cook and I had our first TRC, which is where we teach a lesson/have a discussion with someone who's already a member. It was all in Italian, of course, and when we were done, our TRC's told us that we were already speaking great Italian. It's nice to hear that.
On Tuesday night we had another devotional with F. Michael Watson, who used to be a secretary for the First Presidency of the church. Now he's very old and also very wise. 😅 He talked about the Book of Mormon and the importance of Preach My Gospel. He also talked about how God has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His work, which is so true; this feels more real to me now that I am a missionary and everything I do is for the Lord. John 20:21!!
Instead of social media, I just go on Family Search and pretend I am looking at the Instagram/Facebook profiles of my ancestors, so I guess you could say I have been doing some family history work in my spare time. Also, when we have exercise time, I go on the elliptical by myself so I can read or memorize/study Italian more and get ahead. My companion always says I work too hard but I like it 😂
Right before I came to write this letter, I put my laundry in the washer, and right before I did that, I had lunch, and before THAT, my district and I went to the Provo Temple and helped clean (it's closed this month for renovation/cleaning), and it was actually super cool. I didn't have a boring job like vacuuming-- I actually got to take apart the main crystal chandelier in the first sealing room piece-by-piece, clean each piece of crystal, dry each piece, and put the whole chandelier back together again. It was an awesome experience, because it kind of reminded me how God is mindful of each one of us and cares for every person that lives here and that has ever lived here on this earth. He listens to each of us and wants to hear from us! We are each important to Him. Dio ci ama 😋
I only have 18 days left in the MTC and then I will be flying to Italy!! I'm super excited and also nervous.
I didn't take many pictures this week but I am attaching a few pictures: an MTC for ants, the picture Slla. Francom drew on the board (to try and show us how to say the "gli" sound which is actually kind of hard at first), and a picture of me and Slla. Cook and Slla. Stolk (another girl in our district and dorm room).
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." -2 Timothy 1:12
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. You are all so special to me.
Ciao,
Sorella Johnson