Way south. Wayyyyyy down south. I want you all to open up a map. Find Tunisia, head east and a little north until you've almost reached Italy's toe. Congratulations, you've found Messina, my third area. I've been transfered down to Sicily, where the people are shorter, the food is cheaper, the culture is more intense and we're closer to Africa than we are to Rome. La bella Sicilia.
This transfer week was more than a little exciting. We recieved our call monday night, and were really surprised to find out I would be leavint after just two transfers, and Sorella Nelson would be staying in Rome 3 for a fourth. After giving us our assignments, they informed us that we were also moving apartments, and if we would be so kind as to box and clean everything. By wednesday night. The day before transfers. So we spent tuesday hunting for boxes at various stores (even tried the italin "Home Depot", called OBI. but get this; €2.50 for one box! ) we even ended up trying to pull some out a recycling bin before calling our senior couple at the Friendship Center if they had any. Miraculously, they had recieved boxes of donations that day, so we carried twenty cardboard boxes from the center of rome to our house.
In between packing, we had some time to say goodbye to some members and investigators. Leaving an area is my least favorite part about the mission. I felt so close to the people in Rome 3, and leaving them was so hard. I'm so grateful for technology though, I know that we can still keep in touch some how.
The train ride down from Rome to Sicily takes 8 hours. We made a stop in Napoli (unfortunately, none of the pizzerias were open yet so the STL couldn't bring me a pizza. Tears may or may not have been shed), Battipaglia, Sapri, Paola, and lot's of other cities down the west coast. THEN. Our train split in half and drove on to a boat, that then ferried us across the straight to Messina. It reminded me of Green Eggs and Ham, where Sam I am is offering the green eggs and ham on a train on a boat. Something like that.
My new companion is Sorella Muçe. Born in Albania, raised in Italy, speaks perfect Italian, English, Albanian, French, and German. Now no one can say they don't understand us as an excuse for not talking to us. She's a little italian fireball of energy, who says things like "holy flipping cow" when she accidentally drops something, and "that little stinker" when the bus doesn't stop for us.
I haven't had much time in Messina, but I can already tell I'm going to love the city and the people. We've had a couple opportunities to teach together, and our best thus far has been with our newest Investigator. She was a referral from the sisters in Bologna, but she's down here looking for work now. We were able to go over to teach her the Plan of Salvation, and it was really powerful. When we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the spirit was almost tangible. It was so beautiful to feel the spirit testifying of the reality and importance of His Atonement. Without Him, we could never return back to Heavenly Father. Without Him, we'd just drift farther and farther away. Without Him, we could never experience the fullness of joy Heavenly Father has prepared for us. So my invite for you all this week is to thank Heavenly Father for his Son. Thank him in prayer or in thought or in action. We are so blessed to have a Savior. I know that He lives.
I love you guys!!
Sorella Maxfield
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