BARI :)

Buongiorno guys!

Well I did it! I finally left Caserta. It was harder than I thought it'd be! I sure loved my time there but I'm excited for this next adventure down in..........BARI LIBERTÀ!!! Monday night I was with the Battipaglia Sorelle in Caserta when we got transfer calls and we found out that they were getting blown out too so this past week was insane with getting everything ready to go for the 4 new Sorelle coming in. 

We packed and left Caserta Tuesday and spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Battipaglia getting their apartment clean and packed up. 

Bye to Luana and Veronica 😭

Wednesday was crazy haha. We got all-you-can-eat sushi with the Anziani in Salerno (which is so so beautiful) for pranzo and then later that night we had a dinner appointment with a member. They fed us a ton come sempre. We wanted to stop by one last lady right before going home that night and turns out she had made us dinner too!!! Sooo, it was 9:20pm and we had to be home at 9:30 and we still had a huge plate of food and we were already stuffed from eating literally right before it. We pounded down the food in like 2 minutes flat and ran home hahaha. The stuff we put our poor bodies through on the mission😂

Thursday we took a train up to Rome for MLC. All the Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders in the mission stayed in the Villa (mission home). It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot!! Sorella Pickerd gave an addestramento and talked about the word "peculiar" and how it's used in the scriptures. In the Bible dictionary it's defined as "One's very own, exclusive, or special; the Lord's own special people or treasure." 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." I love this!! We are different from the rest of the world! We have the light of the Spirit with us! I read the talk, "Zion in the Midst of Babylon" by David R. Stone from April 2006 this week during studies and I really liked it. It talks about how to live in the world but not be of the world and how to have courage to be different from the world. I encourage you all to read it! :)

I got to Bari Friday night and finally got to unpack my bags!! It feels so nice after a couple weeks of living out of a suitcase :) My companion is Sorella Sargeant from Boulder City Nevada. We were in the same MTC group and we actually met at BYU before we left. She's the sweetest thing ever and we're gonna light up Bari Libertà this transfer!!! Also, I'm so excited to be back in Puglia just about an hour from my first area :) You know what that means? I get to eat panzarotti again! 

Panzarotti from La Maddalena 

Sunday was crazy being back in a full-Italian ward. They're all so in gamba here. Bari is the promised land!! After church we had a meal appointment (they have a missionary feeding calendar in the ward!!!!!) and they started eating these things called "cozze" (mussels). Well some of them told me to try it and I wasn't gonna say no, so I ate some raw cozze. Let's just say I now have food poisoning and don't feel that great today hahaha. Welcome to Bari!!

Sorella Seargants mom sent a Valentines Package

I'm excited for this next transfer! It's gonna be a blast. Thank you guys for your prayers and support! Love you all :)

Con amore,

Sorella Hess

Piazza Monte Gemma 9

Roma 00141

Italia 

1- Bye to Luana and Veronica 😭

2- MLC Training Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders
3-Panzarotti from La Maddalena 

4- Lungomare in Bari today 

Pasti, pizze, e pigiami! (2)

Hi guys! Our wifi stopped working last night before my group email sent so we had to send them off this morning! Not breaking rules :) I hope everything is going well for you guys! We're so blessed to be here in Caserta right now.

Il battesimo di Gianfranco!
Gianfranco was baptized this Saturday! It was amazing! So my companions and I have been teaching him and his best friend Rory together since July when I got here but Rory left for Chile for a few months so we passed him to the Anziani because he's a man. The baptism started on Standard Mormon Italian Time...it was supposed to be at 11 but it actually started at 12:07 haha. We have to do the baptisms here on the military base in the "nondenominational chapel" (covered in everything catholic haha) because we don't have a font in our church. The font was super shallow and only went up to their knees and Gianfranco isn't a small guy. He's easily 6'2" haha so they basically pancaked him flat on his back on the ground haha! But they got it done and he is now a member of the church!! It was a great day :) We had lunch and dinner with American families on the base afterwards so that was fun! I'm so thankful I was able to be here to see it.

Zina our cute Ukrainian simp & babushka :)

Our cute little 9yr old Nigerian investigator is all set for her baptism on Feb 3rd! We are so excited for her--not only for her baptism but also because her family has started coming to church again. We've been visiting them several times a week since I got here and the first time they came to church was Christmas and they've only missed one week since! I get teary-eyed every time they walk into church as a family. 

Pizza party with Veronica (our new convert) and the rest of our English Course friends :)

A few nights ago we were at our favorite pizzeria and our friend Gerry from English Course walked in and paid for our pizza for us! I felt like I was serving in Utah haha. I always hear about that happening to other missionaries but it's never happened to me haha! So blessed!!

Comp item. Matching "ciao bella" pajamas hahaha...matching white fleece pants and all.

We had a few meal appointments this week which was really fun. Sorella Neuberger had her first Italian meal appointment because typically the Americans are the ones to invite us over here. Italian food is the best. I can't count how many times I've said that on my mission haha.

I'm so happy to be here as a missionary at this time. Last night we were doing finding as a district in centro and I just felt so grateful that I get to constantly be sharing my testimony of Christ and the Restoration of the gospel. What a privilege that is!! Sono veramente grata per il mio Salvatore Gesù Cristo e per tutto ciò che lui fece per me. So che Lui espiò per ognuno dei nostri peccati e se ci pentiamo, possiamo tornare al nostro affettuoso Padre Celeste. So con tutto il mio cuore che Dio e Gesù Cristo apparvero a Joseph Smith e che Joseph restaurò la vera chiesa di Cristo sulla terra di nuovo. Cristo vive e questa è la Sua chiesa! 

Spero che la vostra settimana sia fantastica! I love you guys!! 

Sorella Hess

Piazza Monte Gemma 9

Roma 00141 Italia 

Il battesimo di Gianfranco!

Zina our cute Ukrainian simp & babushka :)

Comp item. Matching "ciao bella" pajamas hahaha...matching white fleece pants and all.

Pizza party with Veronica (our new convert) and the rest of our English Course friends :)

Auguri e Buon Anno!🎆

Hi guys :) Buon anno!! Happy New Years!  I can't believe it's 2017!! We were talking the other day about how when we were freshmen in high school and it was almost 2012 and we thought the world might end hahaha. That feels like last week!!

We had a great week despite the majority of our people we work with being out of town for the holidays. 

I'm in love with Napoli

Wednesday was really special. Remember our investigator Veronica who was baptized back in November? She was baptized on the same day as the anziani's investigator Evans. He's been able to receive the priesthood in the past month and he baptized his 9yr old son Joshua this week. It's been amazing watching them progress and now in a year they will be sealed together as a family with the wife who is already baptized. Yay for eternal families!!!

New Years in Italy is insane--especially around the Napoli area! Mammmma mia haha. It sounded like we were in a war movie. We could see easily 40 different massive firework shows just from our apartment window. We couldn't fall asleep until 2am because it was literally shaking our apartment they were so loud and close to us! 

As we start this new year I encourage you all to sit down and make some goals for 2017!! Let's make it great!! I read a few really great talks this week and here are some of the quotes I loved from them:

Last district pic! Holding up what number of transfer we just finished. Going into transfer 8 this week! Time needs to slow down!!!!

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

"There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment."

"Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be--not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity."

"Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.’” “I say that to myself every morning,” President Hinckley told a congregation. “If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us.”

I know these things are true and that the Lord will help us with anything we put our mind to if we put Him first in our lives! I love you all and being a missionary❣️ Forza Italia!! Here's to 2017!!

Handstand/self-timer gone wrong. Happy New Year💥

Con amore,

Sorella Hess

Via Caduti sul Lavoro 3 

Caserta, CE 81100 Italia

Handstand/self-timer gone wrong. Threw my back out for this pic hahaha. Happy New Year💥

Last district pic! Holding up what number of transfer we just finished. Going into transfer 8 this week! Time needs to slow down!!!!

I'm in love with Napoli!

No comment hahaha

Buon Natale Amici Miei🎄❤️

Buon Natale a tutti!! I hope you guys had a great Christmas!! People aren't lying when they say the best Christmases are on the mission. It's been such an amazing week. The members here spoiled us. We're so blessed! It was awesome talking to my family yesterday too. I love those guys :)

We had two HUGE Christmas miracles yesterday. There is a less-active woman we've been working with since I got here back in July. We visit her several times a week and she's never been to church but yesterday she CAME. Sorella Neuberger and I both got teary-eyed as she walked in. We were so happy!

Right before sacrament meeting started our investigator Gianfranco came up to us and  said he's ready to be baptized as soon as we can do it!!! He's been coming to church for the last year or so but he's in a tricky situation and hasn't been able to get baptized until now. We both cried again right there when he said that!! We are so excited for him. He has the strongest testimony and hasn't missed a week of church since I've been here. Best Christmas gift ever❤️

It's been such a special week. I gotta keep this short because we are doing something reeeally cool for P-day today. Stay tuned for next week!! 

I've been studying this week from the Harmonies of the Gospel. It's right after the Bible Dictionary and before the JST. Mamma Mia, it's helped me a lot with understanding the New Testament and the chronology. My testimony of the Savior has grown so much this week as I've read about His life. I'm so thankful that He was born and that because of Him we can have eternal life with our families. I love my Savior and am eternally grateful for His atoning sacrifice. 

I hope you all have an amazing week. Don't party too hard for New Years 😉 

Con amore,

Sorella Hess

Via Caduti sul Lavoro 3 

Caserta, CE 81100

Italia

Christmas Eve with a cute family in the ward

Merry Christmas from the Caserta Sorelle :)

Best Christmas ever 💕

Quanto sarà grande la vostra gioia💛

Sorella Hess comin' at ya live from the Amalfi Coast round 2!! Easily my favorite place on earth.

The wind is INSANE today so this is as good as the pics from Amalfi got haha

It's only been 6 days but we've had a crazy week with so many miracles. The biggest had definitely been Veronica (the girl that showed up at church a few weeks ago and said she wants to learn more about our church!) She's incredible and hasn't missed a night of reading the Book of Mormon since we met her and has been to church every week :) She's preparing for her baptism for next Saturday the 12th!! She's so prepared for the gospel. We meet with her almost every night and just walk away from each lesson so amazed by how amazing she is. Her testimony is so strong already :)

With Veronica after the Halloween party :)

I could stay here for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

Our mission has been doing a mission prayer every night right at 10pm where each companionship prays to be able to reach our new standard of excellence for the mission. It's amazing how many miracles we have seen from it! The Sorelle from Battipaglia came to Caserta and did exchanges with us this week and it was fun to blitz a city and get a lot of work done! We're doing an exchange with them in their city tonight and tomorrow so it should be fun! :) On Saturday night we did a Halloween Party for our English course students and the ward and it was super successful! Several of our investigators came and were able to meet members of the ward :) Member missionary work and fellowshipping is crucial!! The mission is amazing and it's making me pretty sad to think that this journey is halfway over this week! These past 9 months have FLOWN by and I've grown and learned in so many ways. I'm so excited to see what is in store for the next 9 months :) I am thankful that as missionaries we have the opportunity to see a small glimpse of God's love for His children. It's humbling to know that someone loved us enough to give His life for us so that we can overcome sin and return to our Father in Heaven one day. I testify that if you pray, God will listen. He loves us more than we know and wants us to be happy :) Vi voglio un montagne di bene!! Prego per la vostra felicità ogni giorno :) Con tanto amore, Sorella Hess :) With Veronica after the Halloween party :) The wind is INSANE today so this is as good as the pics from Amalfi got haha I could stay here for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

Conferenza Generale, Scambi, 8 Mesi!!(11) Oct. 3, 2016

Buonasera cari miei!!

Come va? I seriously cannot believe it's October. Today's my 8 month mark in the mission!! I want time to stop. The mission is incredible. Also, wanted to give a quick shout out to my little brother Sam on submitting his papers this week :) Keep your fingers crossed he comes to the Great Italy Rome Mission :) 

We had an exchange with the Sorelle in Battipaglia from Monday night to Tuesday afternoon and I was with cute Sorella Shubin from Alpine!! We found a 14yr old girl on the street and taught her the Restoration right there. She was really interested so I'm excited to see what happens with her :) Scambi (exchanges) bring miracles!

We visited an older man in our ward and his wife who isn't a member this week. They fed us lunch (ovviamente haha) and it was delicious. He is the coolest member ever and has a full on baptismal font in his house. It was the biggest and most beautiful house I've seen on my whole mission. Out in the middle of the country with a huge garden. It was amazing. We love Fratello Izzo. 

We had a busy and awesome week and conference was the icing on the cake!! Wasn't it incredible? I loved all of the talks!! I took way too many pages of notes haha. Here are some of my favorite quotes/thoughts I had while listening: (sorry if they aren't exactly worded right)

"Even though storms will beat on the ship, we need not fear because the Savior is on board. He is our captain! Even the winds and seas obey Him. He will never abandon any of us." -M. Russell Ballard

"As we become more familiar with something, we lose our sense of awe. The same thing goes with the gospel. We've been given so much!! The message of the gospel is exciting!! We should be proud of our message! We have unimaginable glory to come." -President Uchtdorf

"Let the Savior be your caregiver. Turn to Him." -Robert D. Hales

I could go on all day, but I encourage you all to go back and read the talks again. 

I LOVED the talk called "The Master Healer" from the Women's session. You should all go read it right now :) and of course "Fourth Floor, Last Door" by President Uchtdorf.

We get transfer calls tonight after 8 so it will be fun to see if we stay or go! I love Caserta so much. I could honestly serve here until I go home and be happy. Caserta is the promised land and Napoli Zone is the best 😊 I love you all. I love this gospel. I love the joy that comes from sharing the gospel. We are SO blessed. Pray for an opportunity to share your testimony!

Vi voglio un mondo di bene,

Sorella Hess

Positano last P-day

Amalfi!!

Amalfi

Positano