Week 23 - Happy Easter Week

I hope you're all having a wonderful Easter Week. I've heard that the Italians get really into the celebrations, so I'll document well and report on that next week. All we've seen thus far is people selling huge olive branches to give to one and another as a sign of peace. 

There's not too much to report on this week. I was out of Battipaglia for 3 days on a double scambio. Lugging around three days of clothes in a huge backpack was not my favorite, but  Caserta and Pozzuoli were beautiful. We had an interesting discussion in Caserta English course about how the older generation of italians are better adapt to the cold because they grew up without heaters. It quickly turned into all the older Italians sharing their various "my walk to school was uphill both ways in the snow" stories. From there, it became Americans versus Italians in a debate as to whether or not colpa d'aria exists or not. (Italians have this strange made up disease where if you got from too cold to too hot too quickly, you die.)

Sorella Barnes and I were able to meet with two cute new referrals this week. One was a referral from the Spain Madrid sisters, a girl from Kenya who's doing an internship program in Italy. We talked a bit over Facebook before we were able to meet, and the second she saw us in Salerno, she ran up and gave us both hugs. She's an amazing person with a huge heart. The only problem is that she lives an hour and a half away from the church in Battipaglia. But. We think she might be able to make it work! 

The following Sunday, one of our members brought a friend to church! For those of you wondering how we could have possibly noticed on new person, the batti branch has roughly 25 people, on a good day. So anyway, this friend told us that she was looking for a church focused on family and service... interesting, we missionaries might have just the thing for you. We're hoping that we will get the opportunity to see her again before transfer calls. 

For a spiritual thought this week, I wanted to shared the Easter campaign! In Italian it's called Ci sarà sempre,  or He Will be there always. I can't begin to express how true that is. Jesus Christ has been my support when I felt alone, inadequate, and useless. But it's rarely in the moment that I'm able to acknowledge it. When I look back at the most difficult times in my mission, and in my life, I can see exactly how I was prepared for them, and guided through them. For those of you who feel like God has forgotten you, I promise you he hasn't. Christ suffered to support us through our trials, not take them away from us. I wish I could express that to you all individually, not just via email, but I want you all to know that I know that it's true. I can't begin to express my gratitude for my Savior.

I love and miss you all!!

Sorella Maxfield