A Meter?, Walter's BAPTISM, Enrica‏

Well hey hey guys!We had a marvelous Zone Conference on Friday. It's always great to get more trainings and learn new ways to improve and be more effective. President Acerson always gives an amazing training. This time he was trying to demonstrate "vision" and this is how he started his training. He asks about our ability to run. He wanted to ask us different distances and then we had to raise our hand if we felt like we could run it. The point wasn't actually the running, because afterwards he asked us WHY we could run the different distances. The point was to see our vision of ourselves and help us to see that we can go great distances in the mission but it takes work. BUT the blip that I would like to share with you is a "Mallory moment". OH dear. So President started with "Let's start easy, how many of you could run a meter?" Now in my defense, we don't use this measuring system right?! So everyone raises their hands and obviously I know that I can run it but I just wanted to make sure that I knew how far it was. I leaned over to Sorella Millis and said, "That's like a mile right?" She laughed and didn't answer me. So I asked her again, "hey, that's just like a mile right?" ha ha So President looks at me and says, "Sorella Hansen..." (Me obviously being the only one in the room with their hand not raised---but I wanted to make sure I actually knew how far it was!) And then Sorella Acerson is in the row behind me and lovingly says, "That's like 3 feet sister Hansen." ha ha I started laughing. Then from then on whenever he said a distance, Sorella Acerson would say--from behind me-- the corresponding translation ex., "That's about 2/3 of a mile Sister Hansen." ha ha How awkward is my life? I seriously died laughing and the whole zone had a good laugh about it. Ah yes, put the metric system on my list of things to learn! Yipers!Walters baptism was on Sunday and it was such a great day! Walter and his cousin came to church (in ties! Which was marvelous!) and then we had a lunch together in church afterwards. I had to prepare a talk on Baptism and then Anziano Polelli was going to give the other talk on the Holy Ghost. We understood that they were supposed to be brief. So I had been fretting and worrying about what to say in the talk and I seriously finished throwing it all together like a half hour before the baptism and made my poor companion listen to it because I'm still in 5th grade like that. I was so nervous and THEN at 3:50 --yes, this would be 10 minutes before the program is to start-- our ward mission leader informs me and Anziano Polelli that he will not be speaking. So I was now the only speaker and had to somehow eloquently throw the Holy Ghost into my BRIEF talk. They're kind of big deal topics right? Baptism AND then add the holy ghost into a talk in a foreign tongue in 10 minutes---"Oh and also, would you mind playing prelude music, the hymns, and postlude music?" My thoughts were as follows, "excuse me sir, could you pass me a brown paper sack?" Don't worry, it's not like I made a scene or anything. In fact, I'm certain that nobody noticed a bit that I was a bit nervous but alas, I learned that I can work under pressure--but it IS something that I can work on. ha haSo I got to play the hymns, go give my talk, and then watch two bea-utiful baptisms! It was the greatest sight! Paolo hugged Fratello Floris when he came out of the water and I'm pretty sure I almost cried all over myself!...but I didn't. It was just so beautiful I can't even explain it. I just felt like, "yeah, that's why I'm here." It was so cool to see these two wonderful investigators--and friends--make the decision to be baptized. They are so amazing and I am so grateful that I got to be even small part of the experience. It was so cool.The weather has been all kinds of crazy. I love Sardegna with all of my heart. I have looked like a complete sweaty mess for months but I have loved every second because this place, the people, and the work are my favorite! BUT it has completely amazed me the weather has taken a change. Downpoor rain. It's nuts! On Monday we went to our meeting with our district. The weather seemed pleasant. Our meeting got over at 12:30 and we had a half an hour to get to our lunch appointment with the Sanna Family. We took off to the bus stop, the dark clouds rolled in and the trickling went to downpour very quickly. We being the unbelievably awkward sister missionaries that we are, know that we need to keep all of the things in our backpacks protected from the rain. (Preach my Gospel, scriptures, planners, etc) So...we put our backpacks on the ground... underneath our skirts (not joking) and kind of snuggled trying to stand under this sparse tree giving mediocre coverage, waiting for the bus to arrive. We probably waited for the bus for like 10 minutes and every now that then a car would wiz by and splash us. ha ha We were seriously DYING laughing the whole time. I mean, it was really the only solution! We tried to protect our backpacks, and then just laughed because there was really nothing else to do. We got on the bus and the bus driver (and all of the passengers) were laughing and teasing us but I think they like us more now. There's gotta be something endearing about a pathetic wet missionary right? Then we got off the bus and had to walk for about 10 minutes to the members house. We just continued to laugh and tried to make good time. I suggested that we should do some house because maybe people would feel bad for us and listen to our message. We arrived at the appointment, like 5 minutes late but they just laughed at us. Good times! It was really a moment that I'll never forget. Everything that got us more wet, was just more funny. I love moments like that. Sometimes inconveniences are just hilarious to me. I don't know why exactly but when I find myself in misfortune, it's somehow humorous. I can find things hilarious instead of whine about it--and it's SO much more fun that way too. So...win win! As enjoyable as that day was though, no worries, I bring an umbrella with me these days. :)Well remember Enrica? We're officially back together!! ha ha We had another appointment with her this week and it went really really well. We taughter her obedience, pray often, and study the scriptures. She hasn't wanted to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon because she's scared. I tried to lovingly call her on it this appointment and she just went off on how she knows that the Catholic church isn't true. I asked her again and she almost started crying. She knows exactly what we have. She knows exactly how huge it is. Ah, I can't even explain how I feel about it. She's pretty difficult to plan for because we pretty much have to do everything 110% by the spirit, and I'm still trying to figure that out. :) But everything's going well. She's making progress and keeping the commitments that we give her. It won't be easy, but I know that we can help her. She's amazing. Bah, I just love it here! There's so much to do and so many people who need the gospel!Well, I will end this eternal e'mail. I love you guys very much. Thanks for all of your love and support. Sending lots of Italian love your way, (how many meters it takes to get to you?...I'd be the wrong person to ask but...it's goin' in your direction.) Sorella Hansen