Pescaaaaaara!

HOWDIE ALL!

Wow, so much has happened! It's great. I don't even know where to start....last week when I wrote, it was probably the most ADD email, because I was in shock by the fact that I was being transferred. I really had noooo idea I would be going anywhere. President Acerson even told my companion that SHE was being transferred! She had started packing and doing her laundry when the transfer calls came, so when I found out it was me, I had to hear it twice!

I bet you're all itching to hear about my beautiful new city! Pescara is on the mid eastern shoreline of Italy. I can see the Adriatic sea from my window while i'm studying in the morning. Let me tell you, it's a SIN to put missionary apartments with a view of the ocean!!!! We go running to the sea and back in the morning. We don't see much though..there are umbrellas EVERYWHERE on the beaches. There's a bus that we take to do finding on, that drives through this cute little seaside town called Franca Villa, and we can see the ocean from there. I got really distracted the first time we were doing finding, because the view is so pretty!

I love this little city and all the people here. Missionaries have been living here snce the dawn of time, so we run into people everywhere that know us. People here even come up and talk to US, which is so strange, because in Rome people wouldn't even make eye contact with us! I love it here with all my heart. It is so beautiful, and we have some incredible members and new converts. The work is going really well too. Sorella Dalia and Sorella Skabelund were able to find 3 investigators just last week. Oh, I forgot to mention! I took the place of my MTC companion Sorella Dalia. So her trainer is my follow up trainer! Sorella Skabelund is incredibly cute. She is such a hard worker, and I am so excited and motivated! I've really realized my potential with her, and the importance of faith. I feel like I can talk to anyone! It's such a miracle and a blessing. She is from Mesa, Arizona, and she is studying music, and has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. We are practically the same person, and have all of the same interests. We are becoming good friends really fast. I love her!

Speaking of talking to everyone, I was talking to this man named Mario on the bus the other day, and we ran into him yesterday and he asked us to go on a date to get some ice cream. My companion told me that in Pescara we get asked out on dates every day. We went on a "date" with this 18 year old from Romania named Vio the other day. We told him that we were only allowed to talk about the gospel though, and he said we could even invite the elders to come with us, which was PERFECT because we were able to pass him off to them. We also have these two other investigators named Eric and Destiny from Ghana. They are so awesome....they want us to come over and have a date and eat African food, so we introduced them to the anziani...passed! haha, Don't worry, we aren't really going on dates though. We just call them that as a joke.

My second day here the Elders had a baptism with a lady named Gloria. She is incredibly beautiful, and has a son named Gigi. She is also super PUMPED about the gospel, and tells everyone about it that she meets. All of the new converts in the ward are so super enthusiastic, and are better missionaries than we are! There's a member in the ward named brother Bosco, and he is practically a full time missionary. I was told that he's responsible for almost all of the baptisms in the ward. He just goes out and finds people, then brings the missionaries to appointments while he teaches lessons, and then they get BAPTIZED. It's so cool. I seriously love this ward.

Our district is super small compared to my last...they just took out a pair of elders because the mission is getting down sized, so we only have 4 in our district, compared to how I had 11 in my last in Rome! It's so weird. The elders are really great and funny though...Anziano Bennet and Koozer. We had DDM on monday, and we ate about 5 sugar cookies each, so it was probably the most ADD DDM I have ever been to! We were all on sugar highs. Here's a piece of advice...never eat sugar cookies during church meetings.

I love you all! I love Pescara! This work is a miracle and a blessing. I want to share with everyone that there's hope in this world, and there's happiness! That's the number one thing I hear from everyone, is that they are searching for happiness, but they don't know where to find it. Well hey, I do!

Baci e ambracci,

Jenessa

PS...can someone send me the address for Jessica's mission home, and Krissa's address in Florida? I have a super old letter for Jessica that I need to send out! And could someone forward me Krissa's weekly emails? I want to know how she's doing! And if you get this krissa and Jessica HI I LOVE YOU I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T WRITTEN BUT I DON'T HAVE YOUR ADDRESSES! The church is true and I pray for you both every day!

Pictures:1. I can make italian food...SO GOOD!!!!

2. The portable baptismal font that we use. It takes 4 people to take it down.

3. Gloria's baptism with Elder Bennett. He NEVER stops smiling, and he had the BIGGEST grin I have seen in my entire life during her baptism that I couldn't help feeling such an incredible joy!

4.My companion Sorella Skabelund, with a new convert. (the little one wearing the tag isn't my companion! She's going to marry Gian Pierro one day. I talk about him all the time with her)

5. Flying squirrel pants. These are huge in Italy, and possibly the silliest things I have ever seen! I'm pretending to be a flying squirrel in the picture, if you haven't guessed. I think everyone will probably be wearing them in the United States by the time I get home.

My Favorite Song

1. Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.

2. Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I’ve come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.

3. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.

4. O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.

At Kristen's graduation the choir sang my favorite song "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and President Samuelson gave a very inspiring address. He spoke about Faith, Commitment, and Gratitude. At the end of his address my heart was full. The spirit was very strong in the auditorium and my testimony was renewed and strengthened.

Kristen's Graduation

Kristen graduated from BYU Idaho yesterday with a lot of attention from her family. Kent, Jonathan, Janilee, John Miles, Kerry, I, Bryce, Marva, and my Dad came to celebrate along with Arlen, Laurinda, Joshua, and Krista. We looked at Kristen's art displayed in the Spori building, then we enjoyed meeting together at Craigo's the local pizza parlor before Commencement. Afterwards we bought a flower for Kristen's hair so that we would know where she was and headed to the Hart Auditorium.

I loved listening to the beautiful music and the inspirational speakers before we left to watch the diplomas being presented. The graduates were given an empty folder until all the grades had been certified to make sure they passed the last semester. Congratulations Kristen!

The Simplified Life

"One generation abandons the enterprises of another like stranded vessels. --Thoreau

I often think of how hard my generation worked to keep socialism out of our government but here it is in the form of progress. I wonder what will happen when our health care system is on the verge of collapse because government took it over. At risk is the health of all Americans if the red tape of government converges on a system that works. Already we see advertisement about how much doctors make but in reality the salaries of doctors has been diminished by overcharging insurance companies who have to pay out charges for malpractice suits. No. The solution to health care is not the government takeover of our health care system. That has already been tried in Europe and Canada.

Canadians can tell you that if you want good medical care to come across the border to the United States. A Canadian friend of mine lost her father because he could not get into see a doctor in a timely manner. Choice of doctor is not an option for our Canadian neighbors. They play a game of Russian Roulette when they go to see one. The choice lies with the government. All doctors make the same amount because the government pays them so there is a dearth of doctors wanting to specialize. Why go to the trouble if you will make the same as a general practitioner? What about new research in the medical field? American doctors lead the way because of the freedom they have in enterprise. When government takes over many great minds will go to waste because government is a slow moving organization. So there must be a better way to have general health care for everyone. Wake up Americans. Watch what the legislature is doing now.

I believe in a simplified life without government interference. The more government puts their fingers into our lives the more taxes we will pay. Yep. If you want it they will provide it for you but YOU will pay for it. The government solution is not the best answer. Americans start taking care of yourselves in the private sector and quit asking government to do the job that you should do yourselves!!! If you don't your freedom to act will be taken away by the government. Perhaps that home you wanted will never come to fruition because the government takes your money or maybe that new car because the government has taken over the auto industry.

How do we live a simple life?

First of all take care of your health...follow the Word of Wisdom. Right now I am working on getting adequate rest, eating nutritious food, and exercise. I have started doing Yoga which in my imagination I never thought I could do. Yoga is an exercise in balance and strength. I watch the Yoga instructor on the BYU channel and challenge myself to do the exercises. A couple of days a week I am getting on the elliptical for a half an hour and last night I went for a leisurely bike ride through my neighborhood.

Second I am working on dressing and acting in a modest fashion. I think of the simplicity of Thoreau's words when he spoke about clothing that perhaps we have lost the concept of function and more move ourselves towards the idea of not having enough in the need to look fashionable.

"As for Clothing, to come at once to the practical part of the question, perhaps we are led oftener by the love of novelty, and a regard for the opinions of men, in procuring it, than by a true utility. Let him who has work to do recollect that the object of clothing is first, to retain the vital heat, and secondly, in this state of society, to cover nakedness, and he may judge how much of any necessary or important work may be accomplished without adding to his wardrobe."

I have a closet full of clothes which I look at every day and wonder if I will ever wear all of them. I find myself seeking out the few that are the most comfortable and have been startled to find that I have worn the same dress three weeks in a row to the temple even though I have about 10 skirts and the same amount of dresses hanging there. I don't really need all of those clothes and find myself wondering how I can simplify my life by getting rid of some. Many of them are worn out and should have been recycled a long time ago but I find myself staring at them everyday.

Third Kerry and I have simplified our lives by putting away money for the future. We try to live within our means and stay out of debt. Debt is a taskmaster that never sleeps. We don't pay interest we try to earn it which is hard today because the banks are paying less that 1% on savings and so we have to find other ways to earn interest on our money. Living within our means is another way that we have worked towards living a simple life. Both our cars are paid for and we are working towards paying of our house.

The Fourth way that I am simplifying my life is to read my scriptures, go to the temple, pray, listen to uplifting music, and search out ways to help others. My visiting teachers came to visit me this week and I was really inspired by what one of them said. She wondered how often people think about God in our society anymore. I agree that if we did that much of the stress we go through in life would be diminished.

Simplifying our lives will relieve stress in life.

Crazy Goose Chase

My newest creation is called Crazy Goose Chase. When I was in Utah last year I found this quilt pattern and wanted to make it. The center reminds me of a stained glass window with a lattice of stars and triangles on top. I designed the border with the leftover stars that I had made while making the quilt.

It is a fun quilt to look at and Kerry absolutely loved it when he saw the finished product. Of course he wanted to put it on our bed but it didn't fit because it is a queen size quilt. In my opinion the quilt is very masculine and bold, which I love about it.

My Beautiful Daughter Cherie

My daughter Cherie was very upset about this picture because she felt that she looked "UGLY". Cherie was at girl's camp when this picture was taken and a really beautiful young lady. I could see a beautiful girl who in every sense was perfect. I asked my husband Kerry what he thought about this picture also and all he can see is a beautiful daughter just like me. I could see the beautiful glow in her eyes that told me about my daughter's loving spirit. In every sense I have always felt that her eyes were her most beautiful feature because they were the window to my daughter's soul. Cherie's blue eyes are brilliant and full of life in this picture. Her smile is radiant and she glows with the joy that every mother wishes for her daughter.

Iraq

I mention Iraq and the war and I get all sorts of people looking at my blog. I figure that is the way to get more international traffic. ;) Who knows who is reading my blog out there. How do I feel about Iraq? I want the best for everyone and world peace. It is like the answer to the question of what is the greatest thing that I would wish for? It would be world peace and to have everyone have the freedom to live without fear under governments that work for their people's welfare.

I have read "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" about the people of Afghanistan and the corrupt governments that they have lived under. I have listened to a book review of "Three Cups of Tea" and I wonder how women, men, and children can be bullied and have their freedoms taken from them in Afghanistan. Wow. I live a great life and have been blessed to live at this time and in this place without fear.

Hello from Rome

Hi family,

I don't know why, but i'm really struggling to write this email right now! I've probably started it about 5 times...haha. I don't want to have to repent later for saying anything bad, but siblings, i've only recieved letters from Mom in the past 3 weeks and we'll just leave it at that. I love you all and I need your letters! I'm sure you all remember on your missions how much they mean. Okay, now i'm really done. On to the good stuff!

Yay! Marcelo is baptized! He was baptized on the 4th of July...all the fireworks were really in recognition of Marcelo. The service was really great. I put together a musical number with all the missionaries in our district (there are 11...yeah, it's really big) and it was really beautiful. The spirit was strong througout the whole service. Afterwards we gave marcelo a scripture case with a triple combination and BOM in Spanish. I also found a CTR ring that I had and gave it to him (he and Rosita wanted to buy them together, but they don't have any money!) We also gave him some old missionary clothes that were left over from when some Elders went home that were his size so he could have a white shirt to wear to church. We also found some other clothes that we're going to give to him. He still hasn't been able to get into his old apartment to get his stuff, so we're trying to help him out as much as we can. The new apartment didn't work out, and it was another huge trial of his faith. We're kind of a little bit more than upset because the members gave the apartment they had promised him to another member and now Marcelo literally faces the idea of living on the street this Saturday. He would have been searching for one, but he thought that they had it all worked out, even though he hadn't asked for help. He's going through an incredible amount of hard things, but we call him and he says he's reading the Book of Mormon that we gave him often to try and stay happy and have hope. When we found out about the apartment, we went home to our apartment to pray, and neither of us could barely talk. I started praying, and I felt I needed to pray for a miracle, but then I thought, no...we can pray for miracles! Then I felt prompted again and again to do so. I didn't tell my companion this, and the next day she felt prompted to do the same thing. We'll see what happens! I know prayers are answered, and God wants the right thing to happen with Marcelo. All we can do is help him as much as we can to stay strong in the gospel, and keep praying for him.
We had a great appointment with our investigator Valentina last night. We went over to her apartment and made dinner together, and watched the Testaments while we ate. She really liked it, and had a lot of questions. She is so accepting of everything we teach her, but we are trying to get her to start to make commitments. The food we ate was sooo good. We cooked these gnocchiolini (which are just really small potato gnocchi) and fried in olive oil. some chopped up eggplant with garlic and smeck (this type of cured ham it Italy...they love cured ham here). Then we added the gnocci to the fried stuff, took out the garlic, and added this sweet provologne cheese. YUUUUUUUUM. There's definitely a reason why I feel like i'm gaining weight! haha. Then for dessert I made brownies with white chocolate, and we heaped on the ice cream, whipped cream and other toppings to make a brownie sunday. The italians loved it, but they think americans are crazy. We really do eat a lot of sweets and fat in america!
Let's see, in other miraculous news...we were going to visit an inactive sister that lives about 2 hours away from us, so we had to leave super early Saturday morning, and just as we were about to get on the train, a sister from our ward called and asked what we were doing, and if she could come along with us. It turns out that she was reading her scriptures, and she felt prompted to call us. It was really a miracle, because both she and the inactive sister have children with mental disabilties, and the inactive sister has been upset with the church because no one has been out to visit her. She was overwhelmed with joy when we showed up with the other sister. It was seriously a miraculous appointment. I've really learned how incredibly important visiting and home teaching are for this church. If you haven't done it this month...repent! haha I'm not even kidding. This church needs it. You don't even realize what a difference it makes in the lives of members and helping them to stay active.

I love you all even though you haven't written to me. (I'm probably going to have to repent for that later...)

baci e ambracci!

Jenessa

The Fourth of July

Image via Wikipedia

Holiday??? For me the 4th of July was just like any other day except for the loud crackling fireworks that seemed to go from dinner time up until 12 AM. I went to sleep at 10 and then was awakened at 11 by Kerry when he came to bed. The fireworks were still going. Usually there are fireworks at Fort Vancouver but they were cancelled this year so I planned on watching them on the news. Apparently the city did not have the funds this year to do it and last year they lost money. When we went to church this morning the remains of the fireworks were all over in the middle of the streets.

Today in church we sang patriotic hymns and had a lesson in Relief Society on the 4th of July. I enjoyed remembering the history of the events leading up to our nations independence and talking about the men who were instrumental in leading the nation to independence.

Not only did we talk about patriots but we spoke about pioneers. Last week the kids in our ward went on a pioneer trek. Peyton and Trevin also went with the youth. I hope that they had fun. I spoke to my friend Diane who is in the Stake Young Women's presidency and she said that the trek was successful. The youth went out to eastern Washington and used handcarts on a 4 day journey across the plains there. There were many girls crying when they buried their babies (dolls) on the trail. I helped a young man in our ward by taking his names to the temple for processing the night before the stake did baptisms for the dead so he could bring his family names.

In our Relief Society there are two women who served in the armed forces. One of them came to church today with a black eye. She broke 3 bones in her face while trying to put together a hammock. She looked like she had been in a battle. She served in Iraq for a year while her sister watched her children. It was quite a transition to come back. We paid tribute to their service.

I saw Lily, Cherie, and Keith today on the internet. Lily has learned a few words since I last spoke with them. She is learning body parts like elbow, hair, mouth (she opens wide), and shoulder. A cute thing that she does is blow kisses. She also climbs all over everyone and does not stop moving. I think she takes after her Grandpa Olsen that way. She also has a new phrase..."What's that?"

Walking

Last night I went hiking on the trail around Round Lake. As John and I walked through the trees we saw many people fishing, picnicing, and enjoying themselves in the outdoors. We walked up the hillside and looked through the trees and the peaceful setting as we talked. I really enjoyed the walk.

I have been walking with my friend Jennifer around this area and we are discovering more about where we live. We take different routes which all lead back to home but have discovered that we don't know our neighborhood like we thought we did. For example, we have learned different ways to get home and how to overcome being lost in the neighborhood. It's a little bit funny but driving places is totally different than walking.

This Week from Jenessa

Buongiorno!

Hello all, I miss you! This week has been so crazy. Wow. But things have gotten a million times better!

After Marcelo lost his apartment, things were a little overwhelming. When you really care about someone and their welfare, it's hard to see them suffer. I really understand what Alma and the Sons of Mosiah felt when in Alma 17 when they felt fatigue because they labored much in the spirit. Missionaries put not only all their physical energy into this work, but also their spiritual energy, all their love. When Elder Kopishke came for zone conference, one Elder asked about a phrase in preach my gospel about being devastated because people aren't keeping commitments, and what that means. He taught us that when we teach clearly, and do everything within our power to bring these people to repentance, then we have reason to be devastated. But I don't have any reason to be devastated, because Marcelo had his baptismal interview last Saturday, and he's going to be baptized in 3 days! The 4th of July...he chose it (and reminded me that it's American Independence Day, because I honestly forgot!) =) It's sure was a rollercoaster ride to get him to this point, literally all the energy that I had. I remember mom sent me Kristen's last email during her mission, about how she had to fight for that baptism. I understand what she means. I was fighting harder than I ever have last week. Satan knows when something really good is about to happen, so he goes after us to stop us in any way that he can. He knows too that if he tries to get the missionaries, then that's even better, so he focuses all his energy on us! Lame. But we overcome, because we have been literally set apart from the world. Isn't that so beautiful? So anyways, up until Saturday we were really fighting. Then on Sunday, the miracles started coming. First, we received a Missionary Ward Leader after being without one for a month. And this man is truly a blessing, because he loves the missionaries, missionary work, and he has a strong testimony. As a matter of fact, his fiancee Marilena will be baptized in two or three weeks! I sent a picture last week of them with my district last week. The second miracle, is that a member told us that she has an empty apartment and she wants to give it to Marcelo. And the bishop wants to pay for it until he can find a job. Wow. And we also found a way to find Marcelo some clothes for free. All I can say is, thank you god!

This last Saturday there was a baptism in the ward for Gian Pierro, an Italian 17 year old boy. I don't know if I told his story before, but it is such a miracle that I'm going to share it again. A few months ago, Gian Pierro was studying the catholic church. He had grown up in the Catholic church, his family was extremely religious, and he went to a Catholic school. The more he studied it, the more he knew that the pieces didn't all fit, and the church wasn't true. So he went searching for the truth. One day, while reading a Sherlock Holmes book, Gian Pierro read about a man who had 10 wives, who was a Mormon. He thought this was strange, and he wanted to find out who these people were. So he went online and found LDS.org. He read the entire Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Preach my Gospel. He prayed about it, and he knew it was all true, and that he needed to do something about it. So he called the church building, and Gabrielle DeMattheis (the man who baptized him Saturday) answered the phone, and they set up an appointment with the missionaries. He started going to church every week, with the permission of his father. The missionaries told me it was difficult to teach him, because he already knew everything, though he would never admit it. One day when they were teaching him the Word of Wisdom, they couldn't remember what section it was located, and John Pierro said, "Section 89." They were dumbfounded. Haha. The hardest trial he went through was asking his Dad for permission to be baptized. Every sunday I would ask him if he talked to his Dad, but he said that his parents would kick him out of the house if he was baptized, and he was terrified. But the week of his baptismal interview, he got up the guts to do it, and his father asked him if he knew it was true. He said, "yes," and his Dad said, "You'd better be baptized then." The service was incredible, and Gian Pierro was so happy and excited. He asked if he could bear his testimony, and he got up there, and bore one of the most powerful testimonies about the restored gospel and priesthood that I have ever heard. Then this last Sunday, he and Harold received the priesthood.

Truly, miracles are happening in italy. I know that it's for this temple. God wants a temple in Italy, but these people have a loooong way to go in order to keep it up.

Keep me in your prayers, I love you all. The gospel is true, and miracles happen every day. It's hot here! But i'm alive...just a little more sweaty than usual. Stay strong.

Congratulations to Kristen on her graduation!

Baci e ambracci! (hugs and kisses!)

Jenessa