Operation...Get out the Catholic

So...this week...has been just a wee bit difficult. Pretty much all our plans fell through every day and usually that's fine because that means God has prepared another miracle for us to see and usually we fine some awesome person or something. But this week that didn't really happen. But that's okay, God was just teaching us something! But it was a great week and we did a fun pumpkin carving activity with the young women that went great--first time any of them did pumpkin carving! Halloween is not that big of a holiday here, especially compared to All Saints Day, November 1st, where they worship...all the saints ever. Most people hate Halloween, especially our bishop, but somehow we were able to do this activity and he actually loved it! Whoo!

So...Dintino...first off--HE QUIT SMOKING!!! We taught him the word of wisdom and he hasn't picked up another cigarette since! Instead every night he sits in his house and plays his accordion to keep himself from smoking so he could be baptized on the 7th. But for some reason he decided to go on vacation this weekend and didn't come to church...he has to come to church three times before baptism so now he actually can't get baptized. It's weird because he was so committed. Actually to tell you the truth Sorella Mckenna and I have been a bit confused about him and if this is the right time to get baptized. He believes everything, he has shown great signs of faith (stopped smoking, worked all night to come to church), but...we haven't even taught him all the lessons and I don't think he's reading everyday. Then it hit us--he's still catholic. Our ward mission leader explained this to us: Italians are LAZY when it comes to religion. To be catholic means to wear a cross and go to church once a year--no reading the scriptures, no going to church every week, no serving others (for the most part, not everyone is like this). So Dintino believes everything, is almost willing to act, but wants to be very lazy with the church. Sorella Mckenna and I have started "Operation: Get out the catholic" where we're going to move his date back a couple weeks and teach him the importanza of coming to church every week, reading the scriptures, acting, serving others, paying tithing. We want to help him realize how big of a blessing these things are and how blessed we will be when we do them. We feel really good about taking this extra time, because we don't want him to get baptized and then become inactive. Hopefully he'll stick with us though! Prayers!

Also yesterday we found a new investigator, named Cherry! She's from the Philippians (shout out to Ashley Mecham!) and the cutest thing ever. We taught a lesson yesterday...in ENGLISH! It was the easiest lesson I've ever taught. Man you should've heard me explain that apostasy, I described it so beautifully in English! Ohh Italian. Haha well I guess it's a good thing I have to learn a language to always keep me humble.

So today I'm heading on a bus to Rome to finish my Pday and for zone conference tomorrow! I'm so excited! Rome! We're going to the Coliseum!
Also no pictures today because this computer is old school and it won't work ahha. Also this week I celebrated my SIX MONTHS IN THE MISSION. How has time gone by that fast? One more year until I will be in your arms again! ahha. If you can get me out of Italy. I can't leave Italy yet. And the cheese (seriously who knew cheese was so good, you should see these stores here).
Vi volgio bene!
Sorela Knudsen!s