Baptism of Emilia!!!

Baptism of Emilia Rosello

Another Baptism picture off Emilia

Inside the catholic church

The Big Catholic Church

Chieti, gelato

Okay...this week--Ah so great!!!!! First off, last week after I wrote Sorella Mckenna and I went to this city named Chieti and spend our Pday exploring there. This city is BEAUTIFUL--on the top of a huge hill with a great view and all these beautiful old buildings and churches--exactly what you would imagine Italy to look like. We had so much fun taking a million pictures, buying gelato, and looking at churches. We went into several Catholic churches and we were seriously the ONLY ones in these churches! One of them was HUGE with a ton of beautiful art and we didn't see anyone else in there so we went exploring around the church in these creepy tunnels and stuff. It was beautiful to look at, but the thing that was so interesting to me was the spirit in these church. There's definitely a spirit in these churches...but it's so different from our church. I almost felt intimidated by all the crosses and everything. I feel like these people FEAR God, while in our church people LOVE God and you can feel it. When I came out I just thought "No wonder no one here goes to church!" If my investigators think that our church is exactly like that...no wonder they aren't coming. I'm so grateful for the spirit and the love that we can feel every time we go to church! So now I am in love with our little chapel here in Pescara with it's white walls and a few pictures of Christ. 

Also this week...WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Emilia Rosello is now a member! Planning a baptism was way stressful (especially since our ward mission leader was gone and the bishop didn't want to help and we had no idea what we needed to do), but we did it all and it was beautiful! We had a ton of people come (including three of our English course students!) and the spirit was so strong and it was beautiful! Okay so Emilia's daughter was so interested in our little blow up font before the baptism and she kept trying to get into it. When Emilia went into the font--her daughter started screaming because she wanted to get baptized too and she couldn't understand that she wasn't old enough. It was the cutest and funniest moment! Ah I am so happy for Emilia. She has known the church for six years and has met with the missionaries so many times--and now she is finally baptized! So grateful to be apart of this moment! 

Okay another miracles...I BROUGHT A JEHOVAH WITNESS TO CHURCH--AND SHE LOVED IT. Yeah. Her name is Mattia, we met her on the street the other day, she let us into her house, we talked about the BOM, she asked us what the name of God is (okay dad--homework for you...all these Jehovah witnesses keep asking me what the name of God is...why?! Why do they care?), she said she was interested and just wanted to see our church. She was true to her word and she came! During the sacrament meeting we had the confirmation of Emilia and an 8 year old boy who was also baptized and Mattia cried during the whole thing!! I was sitting with Emilia, but Slla Mckenna was sitting next to her and said how she couldn't stop crying and kept saying how beautiful these blessings were. I asked her after sacrament what she thought and she was saying it was beautiful and she wants to learn more. Che forte!! We have an appointment later this week and I have so much faith for her! Pray that all goes well.

We're also teaching this lady named Anna Pantalone and she is the best! I already talked about her, but recap: we met her in corso d'inglese and now we're doing private English lessons with her as well the class because... I think she just likes being with us. She's been divorced and has three kids that have all suffered much from the father; she's the strongest little lady and does the best she can. It's very interesting to see how different the people are that we teach--for some this is a search for the true church, but Anna she doesn't care about Joseph Smith...but she loves the spirit that she feels when she's with us. I love how here people can recognize a difference in us and know that we have something that they don't. I love being a missionary. Love you all. Till next week.

Sorella Knudsen