Week 68: Italia sta fiorendo

I started out this transfer by unpacking my freshly packed suitcases into the exact same closet, bathroom, and bedroom from which I had just previously gathered everything. Why? Because the APs called me, just as I was about to take my suitcases across Rome into a new apartment, to say that I would actually being staying in the same place and could just settle back in to where I was. They said all that packing was "good practice." In my personal opinion, it was Heavenly Father showing me how much cleaner the house would be if I picked my clothes up off the ground and cleaned my desk more often. (Sorry mom, I swear I'm becoming more of an adult. Piano piano ok?)

On Thursday I dropped of my cute trainee and my best friend, Sorella Brooks so she could go help the people in Taranto. I cried. She cried. It was sad. Then I picked up my new companion, Sorella Allen. I would describe her as the youngest sister from Despicable Me, except blonde. Some of my favorite quotes from her this week are:

"I had a nightmare last night. The most popular girl is school tried to feed me a poisoned grilled cheese sandwich and so I prayed that heavenly father would bless it to nourish and strengthen my body"

"I wear highlighter because it makes me feel like a unicorn"

"One time I had a pet caterpillar and I got so excited when it made a cocoon and then it turned out to be a moth. Now I hate caterpillars"

Sorella Allen is fun, smiley, and very spiritually profound. I'm really excited to be working with her for these next transfers!!

The most exciting moment of this week was having a lesson with a cute 17 year old we're teaching, Flavia. We've been teaching her since I got here to Rome and she is so incredible. This last Friday, Sorella Allen and I made her a calendar to prepare her for baptism. Sorella Brooks and I had already invited her to be baptized twice before, and each time she said she didn't feel  ready yet. We went into the lesson and we read and talked about Mosiah 18. Even with her broken Italian, Sorella Allen promised Flavia that she would see blessings from following the example of our Savior, and even though her family doesn't support her, that her example would one day help them. We invited her to be baptized on the 16th of February. She looked at our calendar for a second and said "So my birthday is on the 11th... and I might be having a birthday party on the 16th... So is there anyway we could move it earlier?" We all freaked out. I've never seen Flavia happier or more relaxed. She was glowing. I can't wait to continue helping her and learning from her. 

This week I read the last chapters of the Book of Mormon again and then restarted! After I finished, I thought a lot about it's role as another testament of Jesus Christ. I thought about the prophecies about Him. I thought about all we learn about His life, His death, and His resurrection. And I thought of all we learn about His Atonement. This book is truly a testament of Him. I know that for myself. I invite you guys to read it and try for yourself. 

"4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

I love you all!!

Sorella Maxfield

Week 67: #nunsquad

We just finished our second week of temple tours and they were just as amazing as the last week. One of my personal highlights was watching a group of the tiniest nuns go through the tour. I talked Sister Catarina and Sister Teresa and I felt pretty inculded when I got to introduce myself as Sister Maxfield. At the end we took our "Rome Sisters Squad Pic" 

Other than the nuns, we spent a lot of our time guiding people around the center, explaining things, and teaching. During one of these visits, I had the chance to teach the restoration to an incredible family. We were talking with them about the temple and how there visit went and towards the end of the conversation, on of the brothers asked how there could be so much negative publication about our church. He said he saw a light that each member there carried in their eyes and he couldn't understand why one, people would speak so negatively about our faith and two, what was different about us. I then explained to him the difference of our church. While I told about the restoration of the fullness of Christ's gospel right there in front of the Cristus statue, the twelve apostles, and the temple, there was a spirit stronger than I can describe! I felt again the truthfulness of what I was sharing and I could see that why were feeling something too. At the end of it all, they filled out an information card and requested that someone pass by to teach them about our church. 

I'm so grateful for the temple and the chance it's giving us here in Italy to explain who we are and what we believe. More importantly, to explain the plan of Heavenly Father, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the Restoration of His Gospel. I love what we read in the scriptures about knowing something or someone by their fruits. My testimony grows every day when I look at the fruits of what this gospel has brought to my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve here in Rome at this time. I know that this is His church. 

I love you all!

Sorella Maxfield 

P.s. Another 6 weeks have passed and for the first time since Battipaglia, I'm staying put for a third transfer. And I'm so excited about it. I love Rome 2 and the people we're working with and there are going to be great things coming!!

Week 66: Il Tempio di Roma

I have gained a lot of respect for visitor's center sisters this week. Those girls have stamina. It takes a lot of energy to be smiley, welcoming, cheerful, and answer gospel questions all day. 

As probably many of you have seen on social media, the Rome Temple is officially completed and ready to be shown to the public. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I can't wait to watch the italians as they walk through it and finally learn about what it actually is. 

This past friday we had an all sisters conference in the temple chapel. Every sister from Sicily to Sassari met in Rome and it was the coolest reunion ever. I got to see lots of my old companions and all the sisters I've done exchanges with. It was like a big family reunion without any of the awkward 7th cousins you've never met before. On top of all the excitement, President asked me to play prelude on the brand new, never been touched, baby grand piano. After playing on electric pianos with only 85% of they keys working, it was amazing. We all just sat in the chapel for 30 minutes and listened to the music before our speaker arrived. 

After a run down of all the logistics, we took a tour of temple all together. Even though it isn't a dedicated temple yet, it was filled with peace. We walked through all the rooms, taking our time, and then all sat in the largest sealing room. President and Sorella PIckerd bore their testimonies about the importance of a temple sealing. Watching them hand in hand talk about their deep love for each other and for their Heavenly Father is not something that I will ever forget. 

The next morning we all got up bright and early for the contractors tour, only to sit at a bus stop for 30 minutes waiting for bus that wasn't passing. After a lot of prayers, phone calls, and more prayers, we were able to make it to the temple before the tours started and we all got into our places. Sorella Brooks and I manned the Visitors Center along with 6 other sisters, and like I said. It was exhausting. But in a good way. Here are some of the things that went on during the day:

1. I got the head architect of the temple a snack because his blood sugar was low and consequently got to talk to him and his family for a good amount of time. 

2. We got a full description of the stained glass mural presented by the artist and his team. 

3. A family from our english course went through and I got to bear my testimony on eternal families and explain the significance of the sealing room to them. The mom then told me that her son is terminally ill and the doctors told them this week that they didn't know what to try next to cure him. She cried and told me how great of a spirit she had felt while in the sealing room. We hope we get to meet with them this week to explain more.

4. A dad and his son were walking back from their soccer game (for those who don't know, the temple is right by a set of soccer fields) and they decided to just walk in with all the contractors. After watching the introductory video he went up to the sisters and said "I've been looking for God for years and I know that He is here. This is my address and phone number. We'll be back to our house at 7, and I want to meet with your missionaries at 7.30"

5. I learned that the reason our church became a recognized religion in Italy was because the assistant to the woman in charge of all that, had visited Temple Square. While he was there, two italian sisters took him around the square and showed him everything. He said that if our members were as eloquent, charitable, and spiritual as those two italian sisters in Temple Square, than to have that religion in Italy would be a blessing. After officially recognizing the religion, the assistant asked if Italy would one day have it's own center like the one he had visited... 

6. Elder Bednar came. And he shook our hands. and it was incredible. He came to look through the temple and visitor's center, and we were just there, trying to go about and do normal visitor's center things while he looked at the statues and art work. 

This temple here, and all temples every where, have such an amazing spirit. And I know that's because they are literally the house of God. I'm so excited for the people here in Italy. This temple is already bringing miracles and I know that it will continue to do so. 

I love you all!!

Sorella Maxfield  

Week 65: Like Widipedia for Radiology

If any of you have caught on to how I like to write my emails, you'll have noticed that I always like to start with a funny story from the week before talking about the work and spiritual experiences. This week, I couldn't bring myself to just write about one moment, so if you're reading this at work at and only have 2 minutes before your boss yells at you, skip to the last two paragraphs.

Dr Bacci Pt 2 : We went back to our good friend Dr. Bacci to ask him about some new mirgraine medication. He was typing on his computer like a mad man while my companion explained her symptoms. We assumed he was typing it all down on her record until he said "yes, ok. This says what you need to take. I have found everything on migraines on this site. It's called Radiopedia. Like Wikipedia but for radiology." I wish I was exaggerating, but this is the direct quote that I wrote down as we left the appointment. 

I ripped my last good pair of tights tripping up the escalator because I was trying to race my companion who was taking the stairs. I ended the night with two scraped up legs, a huge bruise on my knee, and a great gospel conversation with the lady behind me who watched the whole thing.

We had an encounter with two Jehovah Witnesses this week. I really dislike bible bashing because nothing drives the spirit away faster than arguing about spiritual things. But these ladies would not let us be. We started out the conversation by explaing the restoration and the gospel truths that were lost after the death of Jesus Christ and His apostles, and this lady just looks at me and says "Where?" Apparently she wasn't quite sure what the word "lost" meant. We told her these truths had been restored to the earth, and my companion bore an incredible testimony of the Book of Mormon. And this lady said "Girls, just because you believe something, doesn't mean it's true" At this point, I was so fed up with what was happening, but luckily my companion just testified again, emphasizing the fact that the spirit had testified of the truth to her. We left the conversation a little riled up, but I've been thinking a lot about that; that through the spirit we can know the truth of all things. What an incredible promise!!

With the coming of the temple, Rome has seriously been full of miracles. This week alone we saw too many to reccount, but the best one we got to be a part of was Maria. She lives right by the temple, and has watched it's whole construction. For the past 2 years, she's been trying to get a hold of the missionaries to learn more, but her emails and messages would never go through. Finally, she was sent to the assistants as an online refferal, and they started teaching her before passing her off to us. This past sunday was her second sunday in church, and not only has she been consistent in her Book of Mormon reading, but she's participating fully in the Come, Follow Me manual. She's been such a miracle and truly has answered so many of my prayers. 

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. I know that this is their church restored on the earth again, and that the principles taught here can bring us closer and more personal understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He has given us the ultimate reason to hope and to rejoice!! I love this gospel so much. 

Sorella Maxfield

Week 64: Buon Anno

Buon anno a tutti!! We started a the new year off with a bang. A lot of them. Right outside our window. From the hours of 10pm to 2am. Though not as intense as the New Year I had near Napoli last year (there, they throw random household items and all safety rules, out the window) it was a good thing we were in our house before the chaos began. 

This week has been a week of both miracles and meal appointments. Some of those miracles included the fact that our stomachs were able to hold all the food we were given at said meal appointments. I know that I have absolutely no room to complain; Italian food is amazing. But, picture this: Three sister missionaries sitting at a table completely covered in food with the hosts telling us they prepared it all for us and even already eaten so as to not take away from our joy, while sister number for is throwing up in the bathroom because of the amount of food she'd eaten. Suffice to say, we all made resolutions to work out a little bit harder this year. 

Besides making it through mountains of food, we were blessed to see some really cool miracles, all of which I contribute to the opening of the temple here in Rome. In 2017, we were promised as a mission from Elder Ballard that we would have a "pentecostal experience" here in Rome with the new temple. In just these past couple weeks, I've seen so many miracles in people wanting to learn more about the church and I know that it can be attributed to this promise with the temple. 

Yesterday, as we were going to do our grocery shopping for the week, we met one of our old english course students on the bus. As we were talking with him in english, a 20-something year old girl, interrupts us and says in english, "Where are you guys from?". We told her we were American and her next question was, "Are you Christian?". and just like that, we were talking about the Restoration and exchanging numbers. Later that day, as we were walking to an appointment in church, another 20-something year old girl, stopped us on the street and told us she was a member from Peru who had been here for 2 months and was looking for the church. We exchanged numbers and she said she and her non-member boyfriend would come on sunday. THEN in that same day, Sorella Brooks practiced a little bit of her high school french on a group of three fabulous french woman, who not only promised to come to church, but also gave us their number AND the address of one's father and sister who are currently looking for a church to join. 

I'm so grateful for the things happening here in Rome. This new year in Italy is going to be unforgettable. With the opening of the temple and the huge increase in missionary work that is happening, I thank Heavenly Father every day for calling me to this mission at this time. I love this gospel and that chance that I have to share with the Italian people the teachings that have brought me so much peace and joy. 

I love you all!!

Sorella Maxfield