La settimana piena di miracoli!!!

Hey mom and anyone else who reads these anymore hahaha

This week was straight INCREDIBLE. We saw so many miracles I can't

even begin to describe them all haha but I'll try to share a couple of

the coolest ones.

MONICA E MASSIMO: they are perfect you guys. Sorella Holmes and I were

on scambio Friday night and we had such an awesome lesson with them.

We had it at Stefania's house (a member here who is our mom away from

home). It was one of those lessons where you walk away and say to each

other, "wow that should've been filmed for the district 3." Haha it

was nothing WE did...they're just that amazing and are SO prepared for

the gospel. Yesterday in principi evangelici at church, Monica told us

that she was just so happy the other night after the lesson and she

said she just felt "that feeling she feels when we are all together in

church or a lesson or when she's reading the scriptures" and she

couldn't fall asleep because she was just so happy 😍😭 Those are the

moments on the mission that make it ALL worth it :)

Grazia, Sofia, e Silvia: We called this ex-investigator on Tuesday to

see if we could meet up with her sometime, and she goes, "yeah!! How

about tonight at 8??" What. Hahah that never happens. She's one of the

strongest people I've ever met you guys. She told us her whole story

and we just KNOW that this is the right time for her for this gospel.

She's been through a lot this past year and is still facing some

really really hard things but she has so much faith and is incredible.

Her little daughters came with her :) They're 9 and 10 and so stinkin

cute!

Sonya: As we were leaving the church after Zone Conference (missionary

Super Bowl) a couple weeks ago, we were super pumped up and ready to

hit the pavement and we saw this cute girl waiting at the bus stop.

I'd seen her before but we didn't get the chance to talk to her but

this time we took it as a sign that we needed to talk to her :) We

finally got to meet with her this week! Her name is Sonya and she's 22

and from Nigeria! We are excited to continue to work with her.

We've just been able to see so many miracles this week. We've been

really trying hard to work with the members and get them involved in

missionary work because we know that's the most effective way to do

it.

This week we felt super prompted to share the talk, "The Master

Healer," during two different lessons. We weren't planning on sharing

it but both times it ended up being exactly what that person needed to

hear. Then our RS lesson in church yesterday was on it too! As I've

been thinking and studying this week about it, I've just been so

thankful for our Savior and that He really is there for us. The

Atonement isn't just for those who have made mistakes. It's for each

and every one of us no matter what we are going through. "His love is

there for us whether we feel we deserve it or not."

I love you all and pray for you everyday :)

Con tanto amore,

Sorella Hess

Via Orazio Flacco 13/3

Bari, Italia

70100

Le foto:

Service Projects!

Closest I've been to the ocean for a while :)

MY FAVS :) L-R Me, Leonarda, Sorella B, Giuliana, e Monica 💕💕💕

Pranzo with la famiglia Cutrignelli yesterday ❤️

Il bello Lungomare di Bari with Sorella Holmes!

Zone Pday Beach Volleyball today

Le feste di Bari!!

Ciao tutti!

Another week! It's been great down here in Bari. This transfer is flying! Transfer calls are next P-day!

Friday was for sure the highlight of the week! We had a stake Relief Society activity for all the women in the Puglia Stake... so know what that means?? ALL the sisters from Taranto (my 1st area) came up to Bari for the evening 😊😍 It was easily one of the best nights of my mission. So much fun to see them all after almost a year and to actually be able to communicate with them now haha. I got to see a lady who was a Less-Active while I was there but then re-activated herself during my 3rd transfer. She told me that she just got a calling as a RS instructor!! I was soo happy to hear she's still doing well! Seriously such a powerful night. There were around 200 women there which is AMAZING for places outside of Utah haha 😉 I was blown away by how strong these members are. They truly are the pioneers of the church here in Italy since the church has only been here for about 40 years.

Bari and Taranto Zone Sorelle

Also, Monica (that lady from last Sunday who showed up at church) came to the activity and they officially own a house in our ward and are moving in the first week of April! We are so excited to teach her :) She's golden!

Sabrina from Taranto

Other exciting events of this week: we were trying to pass by the home of a less active member. When we found the one we were looking for, we rang the citofono. Immediately after the "chi è" (who is it) and our "salve siamo le sorelle," (hi we are the sisters) we were buzzed in. We were pleasantly surprised and went up to the first floor. We rang the bell at the apartment and a woman asked who we were through the closed door. We explained that we were the missionaries, and she told us she couldn't open the door because she was just the badante (caregiver) and didn't have the keys. We were about to leave and come back in the morning, and I asked, "Ma, c'è Paola?" And the woman said, "Aspettate, vediamo se trovo le chiavi." (Wait a second, I'll see if I can find the keys) And she opened up the door and let us right in. Her name is Maria, and she told us that sadly the less active we were looking for died last year from cancer, and she is the badante (caregiver) for the mother of this woman. BUT Maria had met missionaries in the past and always wanted to be in contact with them again, but had no number or anything to contact them! We have been talking to her and are trying to meet with her again, we just have to find a time in her busy work schedule. Isn't that amazing?!

Guisi!!!

We had a party with our English course where we made British, American, and Canadian treats. It was really fun! There were lots of people there. Lots of potentials!

My Fav people

Cool graffiti

I gave a talk in church yesterday on why we need the restored church and as I've been studying it this past week, I've been able to reflect a lot on all of the blessings in my life thanks to the church. I invite you guys to sit down and make a list of all the ways the gospel has blessed you. It'll take a while, I promise haha but it's a pretty special experience. During 2nd and 3rd hour we got to watch the full Joseph Smith movie in English with our African Gospel Principles class. It's amazing watching it as a missionary because this is what we share with people every single day. I am thankful for the Restoration and that we have the priesthood again on the earth today. We're blessed guys!!! I love you all! Have a great week! 

Elisabeth--spelled like my middle name :)

Bari is good for a lot of things....but Pizza isn't one of them haha:)

Con amore,

Sorella Hess

Via Orazio Flacco 13/3

Bari, Italia

70100

Le foto:

Bari and Taranto Zone Sorelle

Sabrina from Taranto

Giusy!

My fav people :)

Elisabeth (spelled like my middle name) :)

Cool graffiti 

Bari is good for a lot of things but pizza isn't one of

them haha :) 

Digiuni, miracoli, funerali!(2)

Ciao guys, 

I swear we just had P-day 5 minutes ago haha. Time really needs to slow down. We had such a cool miracle yesterday so I'll start with that! 

"Shoot, we haven't taken any pics this week....smile guys"

Sorella Sargeant and I fasted yesterday so that we'd be able to find more truly interested investigators this week. No joke, right at the beginning of sacrament meeting this couple walks in. We didn't know who they were so I went and sat by them. Massimo--the husband--is a member from Taranto (my 1st area!!!) but has been living in L'aquila (up north of Rome) for 8 years and is inactive. His wife, Monica is from Uruguay but moved to Italy when she was 11. She's not a member (yet😉) but is seriously soo sweet and interested in the church. They're married and in the middle of adopting a baby and ARE MOVING TO OUR WARD IN A FEW WEEKS :) :) :) She texted US after church and said thank you so much for making her feel welcomed and that she's coming to the Relief Society activity this Saturday night. A random inactive man just shows up at our church and brings his non-member wife. That doesn't just randomly happen while we happen to be fasting for miracles. Fasting works guys!! Punto.

Saimo noi, la luce less'amore

Bishop asked me to play the piano for a funeral on Friday of an older man in the ward who passed away. It was such a spiritual day. His wife and daughters aren't members of the church and it was hard to watch them so heartbroken thinking they wouldn't be able to see their dad ever again. That morning we had taught a lesson to a new convert on the Plan of Salvation and then being at that funeral afterwards just confirmed my testimony of it even more. We are so blessed to know that death isn't the end!! I'm so thankful for the knowledge we have of where we came from, why we are here, where we are going, and how we can reach the highest kingdom of glory. The gospel brings so much peace and comfort in our lives! 

Visiting older ladies in the ward is the BESST!

New mattress today, we live in the old elder apartment so it was a necessity hahaha

Other than that, not much out of the usual happened. Getting creeped on, eating pasta, teaching English Course, preachin' the gospel...all that good stuff :) I love you guys! I love this church and all the blessings that come from being a missionary. You don't have to wear a name tag to be a missionary though ;) Pray for opportunities to share the gospel! Vi voglio un mondo di bene! 

Baci da Bari

Sorella Hess

Via Orazio Flacco 13/3
Bari, Italia
70100