Hiking and funerals

Have I mentioned HOW HOT IT IS? Well it is pretty hot here and humid. Walking to appointments...I just feel like I'm swimming! 

Hiking

Hiking

 This week we had a fun ward activity! We went to the mountains to go HIKING!!! Dream come true! The only part I was missing from home :P But turns out that Italians don't really like the outdoors so no one showed up...besides us missionaries, one family, and a couple English course students. We drove out to this city and hiked up this mountain. It was so hot, but it felt SO good to be in the outdoors and get some good exercise in! So we had this great hike, ate a sandwich and some snacks at the top, and then came back down...only to find that the relief society had a five course meal waiting for us!!! So after our great, refreshing hike where we all feel great...we were forced to eat for the next two hours and we all felt awful after that. I really love Italians and their food...but I can't wait till I get to control what I get to eat! Why do Italians have to be the most generous people? 
 

Hiking

Meal after hiking

  
So last week I told you about how we decided to drop Rosaria because she's still way catholic? Well this week she invited us over for lunch right after church because her dad wouldn't be there (which is always her excuse for not coming to church) so we're like “COME to church! And then we're come and eat!” and she's like “fine.” So she came! And loved it, but at the same time...complained about everything, and made a huge fight out of it. Also, she heard that some members are getting some money from the church and now she's really interested in that...sooooo idk what to do about her. We'll see. 

the mail man car haha so small.

Then do you remember Gerardo from last week? Well last week we gave his brother a blessing (the elders came and gave the blessing)...and this week...we had an appointment with Gerardo, but then he called and canceled because his brother was doing really bad. Then we talked to Gerardo's nephew and found out his brother died. We gave Gerardo and his sister Teresa (who we are also now teaching!!) a call and they were both pretty upset. They invited us to the funeral and we went the next day. The funeral was in a catholic church and we had to watch mass (their sacrament diciamo)...and that was interesting. It's just basically a priest reading from a book and everyone repeating prayers and lighting incense and things. Gerardo and Teresa were really touched that we came and Gerardo told us that we've been a really great comfort to him. Every time we go over to one of their houses...there's always a new family member that we get to meet therefore at this funeral...we knew a ton of people! We walked around and said hi to everyone and then they would introduce us to more people and by the end we knew almost everyone! The cool thing is that two members of this family are already members, two of them are now serious investigators and the rest of them at least know the missionaries! This family is prepared! I can feel it!

Also, Gerardo came to church again this Sunday for all three hours! At the end he told us that he felt rejuvenated and was glad he came! We are so excited for this family! 

Cute man. Real Mustache.

Cheese

  
I am doing really good! Battipaglia is growing and I'm grateful to be a part of it! Sorella Williams and I are working on studying Christ and trying to become more like him. Every morning I want to write something I learned from him in my study and try to apply it. Like yesterday I studied the temptations of Christ and how he didn't give in to any of the temptations because he knew who he was and he knew he had to complete his mission on earth. Today I know that many temptations come my way, but I am a missionary and I am here to complete my mission and help other people. 

And that's all folks. 

Sorella Knudsen