Week 3

Ciao Famiglia e Amici!!

Sorella "S" and Sorella Rogers

Writing letters on P-day

At the temple today

Mamma Mia is RIGHT! We had a CRAZY week! On Thursday night they told us that they made a mistake with transfers and that this transfer is actually less than 5 weeks, so we are flying out to Italy a week early than we expected! Sooo, we'll be in Italy in 10 days!! That means 4.5 weeks to learn the fundamentals of a language haha. I had a little bit of a freak out for a minute, but the more I've thought and prayed about it, I understand that we're going early for a reason. I'm so excited to get to Italy and find out why:) I've totally put my trust in Heavenly Father this week and when I've felt discouraged or frustrated, I just remember that He is in control, and that everything will work out how it's supposed to.

We had a pretty cool tender mercy the next night after we got the news! An Elder across the hall from us is going to France, and he is from Sicily (an island at the bottom of my mission). He came in and talked to our district in Italian about how excited he is for us and how much we're going to love Italy. It helped me get rid of the fear and replace it with excitement:)

The Elder on the left with glasses (in front) is the Elder from Italy

I've been praying to be patient with myself this week and not compare my speaking abilities with others, and I've noticed that when I'm not concerned about the language, but the Spirit, that I can speak so much better.

On Sunday we had our first Sacrament Meeting in all Italian. We each have to prepare a talk in Italian and then the Branch President picks 2 random missionaries out of the zone to come up and speak. Hahahaha, you guessed it! Sorella Hess got picked haha. At least nobody really understands Italian so they had no idea what I was saying (and neither did I;))

We had a devotional on Tuesday by Sister Wixom, the General Primary President. It was so great! She shared a quote by President Monson from 2011 that says, "When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help." I LOVED that!! We we're being faithful and obedient, God will help us! 

I'm so excited to get to Italy in 10 days! I love this gospel and the Spirit and happiness I feel when I testify of it. I know our Savior lives and that through His Atonement, we can return to our Father if we are faithful. 

Vi voglio bene!!! 

Love, 

Sorella S

(They don't pronounce H's in Italian, so everyone calls me Sorella S haha:)

Today at the computers

Twinning is winning

Week 2 2/18/2016

Feb. 18, 9:47 am

Hello everyone!! How are you all?

I've made it another week here in the MTC! It's such a special place. I'd love to teach here after my mission just to keep this special missionary spirit in my life. Our teacher, Sorella Bucco, taught us this week to be a "G.E.M." It means to "Grow Every Missionary." We shouldn't want to be the best missionary in our district or zone, but we should want our companions to be. It's our duty to help them by praying for them, serving them, building them up, and doing our best to make this the best experience for them. I've noticed this week that my love for each member of my district/zone grows exponentially when I do this and my relationship with the Savior grows stronger when I forget myself and serve others.

We had 2 amazing devotionals this week! Sunday's was by President Heaton, the Administrative Director at the MTC. He had 2 missionaries who are recent converts stand up and share their conversion stories. It was so powerful! What stood out to me is that neither of them talked about what the missionaries did or said, but how they made them feel. Our job as missionaries is invitare le persone a venire a Cristo aiuandole ad accetare il Vangelo restaurato mediante la fede in Gesu Cristo e la Sua Espiazone, il pentimento, il battesimo, il conferimento del dono dello Spirito Santo e perseverando sino alla fine. We are here to invite others to come unto Christ, to help them feel the Spirit, to know that they are a child of God, and to know that we have a Savior who atoned for us.

Sis. Hess with companion Sis. Rodgers

Tuesday night Elder Rasband from the Quorum of the Twelve came and spoke to us on his talk from 2010, "The Divine Call of a Missionary." This has always been one of my favorite talks and I recommend that you all go watch the Mormon Message! :) He talked about his experiences assigning mission calls these past few months since his new calling and how they pray and fast before to know "perfectly" where each missionary should be called. It gave me another confirmation that I'm supposed to be going to Italy. :) 

The MTC is so amazing. It's definitely a rollercoaster, but when the days get hard, I say a prayer and Heavenly Father helps me get through it every single time. Missions are the greatest. :)

I love you all!! Hope you're all doing well!

Love,

Sorella Hess

Ps. It's super fun to get letters... ;) Haha love you all!

Sister Whitney Hess

2005 N. 900 E. 

Unit 99 MAR15 ITA-ROM

Provo, UT 

84602

Week 1

Feb. 11, 2016  11:33 am

Ciao Tutti!!

Come state?! 

I'm a missionary! This week has been so incredible. As I've been reflecting on what I've learned, I've just felt overwhelmed by God's love. I know we are all His children and that He hears and answers our prayers. 

Mia collega (companion) is Sorella Rogers from Riverton. I love her so much! We get along great. Mio distretto (my district) is amazing. We have 2 anziani (elders) and 6 sorellle (sisters). We have so much fun together. 

On Friday (just 2 days in) we had our first lesson in ALL ITALIAN!! We were pretty nervous haha, but we said a prayer, did our best to prepare, and let God do the rest. The Spirit was so strong and I was actually able to understand pretty well what was said and bore my testimony. The Gift of Tongues is real!! Last night we taught our 4th lesson and I felt prompted to ask him to be baptized. My heart was pounding and I felt the Spirit so strongly. He said he would pray about it, and as he said the closing prayer, he asked if it was what he's supposed to do and there was no denying the Spirit in that room. We walked out of the lesson and just hugged each other and were SO happy. I can't imagine what it will be like teaching real investigators and having them accept il Vangelo (the gospel).

It can get easy to get frustrated with the language, but I know that if God calls us, He will qualify us. There is a Sister in our Zone from France and she's such an example to me. She knows a little English and is trying to learn Italian. I can't imagine how overwhelming that must be. She bore her testimony on Sunday in simple English and it just reminded me that I don't think any less of her for making some mistakes with the language. In fact, it makes me love her more and know that she's passionate about what she's teaching. I know that the Spirit has no language. We've memorized how to pray in Italian, nostro scopo (our missionary purpose in English and Italian), how to bear our testimonies, and simple conversations/lessons. I'm so excited to keep learning this beautiful language! :)

On Tuesday about 12 of us had to ride the Frontrunner up to Salt Lake to meet with the Italian Consolate for our Visas. It was cool to be out in public with our nametags on, and it made me so proud to be a representative of the Savior. 

We have had some amazing devotionals and lessons already so I can't wait to see what other speakers we will have in the next 5 weeks. On Sunday Jenny Oaks Baker (Elder Oaks' daughter) came and performed for us, and on Tuesday Elder Dube from the 70 came and spoke to us. They were both such powerful nights. Also, there is no greater feeling than standing with 1200+ missionaries and singing Called to Serve. I felt overwhelmed with love for my Savior and so excited to share the Restored Gospel in Italy.

I am so happy here and am so thankful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord. My testimony has grown so much in the past week, I can't imagine how much it will grow in the next 18 months. :) 

I just wanted to thank you all for your support! Thank you for the letters, packages, Dear Elder Letters, etc. :) I am so blessed!! We are only allowed to email and write letters on P-day so I will do my best to respond to all of you, but know that I appreciate it so much and I love you all!

Keep praying and reading the scriptures!

La vita e bene:)

Con amore,

Sorella Hess

Our FIRST picture of Whitney at the MTC!!