Can We Love Him More?

Ciao everybody! 

This week was a good one! Not a lot went as planned, as usual, but things still went! On last PDAy we were at the beach for a little bit enjoying that freedom while it lasts, and a bird decided that I was going to be its next target. As in I felt something very cool and refreshing slap down on the right side of my neck... Luckily it didn't get in my hair. But you know what, it made me realize that that attitude of "come what may and love it" really helps you out on a mission and just when things are hard or strange in general. Luckily i have never been pooped on by a bird before, and so maybe it was a one time deal. Plus they say it's good luck here, so maybe it balanced out the bad luck of me breaking a plate that same morning. 

Also, while we are on the subject of breaking things, I went into our bathroom yesterday morning and was reaching to open the window when I tripped on a flip flop and barely tapped our scale and it literally burst into a thousand obliterating pieces.. If that wasn't a fat joke I don't know what is, really. 

Other than breaking things and nature playing its part in life, this week was lovely. We got to see Elly (grocery store miracle) twice this week and she is just amazing. She came to church again yesterday, and the gospel principles lesson was on baptism and she was loving it! She asked some really good questions and basically I have complete faith she is going to be a golden member here shortly. 

On the other hand, the one with the bap date I spoke of last week has now sort of fallen off the cliff of uncertainty and she doesn't think she wants to be baptized anymore. So that's disappointing but we are going to try to still work with her. 

We are going to Rome for PDAy today because Slla Holiday's trainer, Slla Battezato, is going home this week. And also, because Roma is beautiful and my dream city. So watch out for some lovely pictures next week. 

Allora. I was reading the talk "Yielding Our Hearts to God" from a few conferences ago. I think I'm going through a general conference obsessed phase, haha. But they are all just too GOOD! This one is amazing. I love it so much. But I just wanted to share a small part with you. 

I have struggled to banish the mortal desire to have things my way, eventually realizing that my way is oh so lacking, limited, and inferior to the way of Jesus Christ. “His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.” Can we love Jesus Christ and His way more than we love ourselves and our own agenda?

Some may think they have failed too many times and feel too weak to change sinful acts or worldly desires of the heart. However, as covenant Israel, we don’t just try and try on our own to change. If we earnestly appeal to God, He takes us as we are--and makes us more than we ever imagined. Noted theologian Robert L. Millet writes of “a healthy longing to improve,” balanced with the spiritual “assurance that in and through Jesus Christ we are going to make it.” With such an understanding, we can honestly say to Heavenly Father:

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I’ll be what you want me to be.

When we offer our broken heart to Jesus Christ, He accepts our offering. He takes us back. No matter what losses, wounds, and rejection we have suffered, His grace and healing are mightier than all. Truly yoked to the Savior, we can say with confidence, “It will all work out.” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. -Neill F. Marriott, Oct 2015

I love that! I think that is what I am learning most here, is that God has a plan, a literal blueprint for each of us. And if we follow him and his Son, Jesus Christ, we can return home with a strong foundation.  But, another phrase from another talk I love says: 

Heavenly Father knows our divine potential. He rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed. Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged. We will have to go beyond the grave before we actually reach perfection, but here in mortality we can lay the foundation. “It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today.”- Elder Larry R. Lawrence, Oct 2015 "What Lack I Yet?" 

I love that. Because we aren't going to be perfect here, ever. But we can begin to be. We can try to become complete. That is what our Father in Heaven is, he is complete, and that is what perfection is. Is being absolutely completely. I don't know about you, but I'd like to be complete someday! 

I love being a missionary! It is really quite hard always, but the joy I've felt here makes all the hard times worth it a million times over. I've seen in people's eyes their desire to know the truth, and their desire to know God loves them. And I've seen those eyes light up when the spirit touches their hearts and their prayers are answered and they know it is true, every inch. But I've also seen them crumble in doubt or fear, and I myself have done the same. But don't give up. Fear and doubt are real, and they happen, but don't lose hope. Always remember something better is coming. Something better will come, if we just hold on and believe. Stay in the boat, okay? 

I love you all and I miss you. Remember to keep trying and keep going. And just do what you can. The Lord knows you and he knows what you're capable of, and he will make it work for your benefit. Happy summer! 

Ps. I am staying in Pescara with Slla Holiday for another transfer! 

Vi voglio bene!!!! 

Sorella Jarnagin 

I'm just awkward, okay? Sorella Holiday is HALFWAY! 

#interpretive 

Judge not, lest ye be judged. ;) my first arrosticini 

For the Win!!! 

Pull Out the Weeds and Water the Flowers. 🌸

Not sure if I sent this already, but this is a pretty decent selfie of us.

Ciao tutti, 

This week was lovely!!! I don't remember everything but I remember there was a distinct miracle every day! Follow up on last week's miracle during spesa-- ELLY came to church yesterday!!! She is a dream divine! We didn't even know she was coming she just straight up showed up in the middle of sacrament meeting and I almost died of a heart attack. Whenever a new  simp comes to church it is like the Christmas of all Christmases! Like literally though! She is wonderful. 

 And another miracle follow up, the guy named Mark Slla Holiday and I met at the park in Rome during Zone Conference has a bap date for June 11!!! It is so COOL. 

We had a scambio that literally changed my life. I went with Sorella Davison who goes home this transfer and she is Australian. Just thought that was an important detail. But she was also born in Pescara, and so we went up to Chieti and visited a less active who used to be really active and was best friends with Sorella Davison. It was really good to see her and she is so cool and still wants to help me with my Italian! She speaks fluent English too so that was cool. But I learned a lot about the kind of missionary I want to be, and it really helped me!!

Saturday we got to go to a baptism for this couple from Venezuela. They are the most beautiful human beings ever. :) 

Also Saturday we had planned to drop an investigator who has been kind of crazy lately. But instead she wants to get baptized. JUNE 11th BABY! Same day as Mark, so cools. 

This week has been a lot of simply desiring to be better and then figuring out how I can bring to pass those desires into actions. I was reading the talk In Praise of Those Who Save by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from this past GC, and it was my second time reading it. But as I was studying it, I realized it was just about overcoming pride. And how pride is usually why much of our trials come about, especially when it comes to family and relationships. He talks about how "pride may be a common human failing, but it is not part of our spiritual heritage." I love that. I also love how he defines pride. He says: 

Pride exaggerates its own strength and ignores the virtues of others. 

And gosh that hit me right in the soul! I think that is where mostly eight seven point five percent of unhappiness stems from. Is us wanting things to be about us, to be for us, and for people to always read our minds and seek out making us happy without us putting in the same or more effort to make them happy. Because I have noticed the days I am the happiest here are the days when I don't give any thoughts to how I am dressed, how hungry or tired I am, how many hours of sleep I didn't get and how much I just want to do different things, or how much i want to just instantly speak Italian and instantly have every Italian listen to me and want to be baptized. Pure happiness is found in the moments where I am tired, and I am hungry, but none of it matters because I'm having a conversation with a woman on a bus in Italian. And it's God magnifying my abilities, and putting his hands over mine, lifting me up enough to help others see that the truth is right in front of them. None of it is me, it's all him. I'm simply just another tool in His capable hands. That's when the miracles come. When we forget ourselves and get to work. 

One more thing I'd like to leave with you this week, is a promise. That if you truly desire to do the Lord's Will, and you forget about what you want now, and you start wanting better things, and wanting better things for other people, those things will happen. I know that for a fact. I have already seen so many miracles in my time here, out of situations that seemed fruitless or impossible or pointless. Never believe that there is not something to hope for, because there always is. Always. And those miracles come when we forget that things aren't perfect, and we stop expected them to be, and we find joy in those imperfections, those in-betweens, and those times where it seems like nothing is working our way. That's because it isn't! It's God's way! And his way ALWAYS turns out way way way BETTER than anything we could have ever dreamed up in our limited human imaginations. Trust him. Just let whatever is holding you back go. And let him show you what he can make of you, because I promise it's more than you could have ever dreamed. 

And last, one more quote from that talk: 

Build bridges; don’t destroy them.

Even when you are not at fault--perhaps especially when you are not at fault--let love conquer pride. If you do this, whatever adversity you are facing will pass, and because of the love of God in your hearts, contention will fade. These principles of saving relationships apply to all of us, regardless of whether we are married, divorced, widowed, or single. We all can be saviors of strong families.

Vi voglio bene!! 

Sorella Jarnagin 

Bellisimo Chieti 

Hoper, someone wrote this for you! ️

The Real Life of a Sorella Missionaria. 

Sometimes, you just take a selfie. Because selfies make you happy. 

Oh Italians, and their lovey dovey graffiti. 

Hi, my name is Miss Sunshine. ️

Fun fact: Chieti is older than Roma. 

We Are Not Alone

Buon Giorno!!!

Today was a miracle that I can't pass up talking about. We were just casually doing spesa this morning, and as we were meandering around the produce aisle, a woman walks up to us and asks if we are American. We said yes. And then she asked if we were Mormons and we said yes.  and then she said, " are you serious? I have been looking for you for so long!!! . And we were floored. Her name is Ely and she is from Brazil and we are hopefully going to see her tomorrow. But what was crazy was I had prayed not twenty three minutes before that we would find a new investigator today.... So cross your fingers and pray that Ely works out! :)

In other news,

I was reading Anziano Holland's talk yesterday called "The Cost and Blessings of Discipleship". One thing that I loved was he said:

You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it, because the alternative is to have our “houses” left unto us “desolate”--desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods, and desolate nations.- Jeffrey R. Holland

So that was really lovely. I needed to hear that. Just remember, when things are tough and you want to throw it all away, just remember it is worth it. It is, because the alternative is desolation. And we all know what it is like to be alone. And it is not fun or easy or anything anyone should have to be forever.

So just remember how worth it it is, and how worth it Christ thought you were when he suffered and died for you. He didn't just do that with general pain and general heartache, but with your pain and your heartache. Each drop of blood he shed was just like yours. For you, individually. It wasn't some kind of check he wrote out or some sort of blanket insurance. It was pieces, every piece of sadness and hurt you have felt and will feel. Every drop. All accounted for. All suffered for. And all FORGIVEN if you will let him. I was reading in PMG and it says repentance means healing. It's not God wanting to punish you. It is giving you an opportunity to be healed. How amazing and merciful is that? I love it. With everything that I am. And I love the Lord and his incredible, incomprehensible love for us, and for you. And he wants you back. So be healed. Let him heal you.

We are teaching a woman named Naima and she is having a hard time with her daughter who has some bad back issues. And we just. We love her. And we want her to come unto Christ more.because he can help her. We showed her the Mormon message "Mountains to Climb" which is one I always cry during cause it is so touching. And I was strong with her though haha. But after, I felt inclined to share with her Alma 36:27. It's a scripture that touched me deeply during a difficult time. And I just told her Christ will be her anchor. And he is. If we choose to hold onto him and all he has promised. He will keep us strong and safe. He is our anchor. I know it. Hope is the anchor of our souls, but Christ is hope. Believing in Christ, is having hope. I know that is true without any doubt. He is sometimes all we have to hold onto. The only person we can talk to. But he is there. He is someone. He may not seem tangible, but his love will fill you. And he will carry you back to shore during those rough storms. I know he will if you just ask and you believe he can.

27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.

Have a great week, and never ever give up. Vi voglio bene!!!!

Hope

Ciao tutti,

Gosh it's been another wonderful week serving the Lord. That subject line basically sums up my life here in Italy.  Gelato. Rain. Walking. And a whole lot of things in between that I don't remember. I think I have short term memory loss. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

This past week we were in Roma twice for zone conference on Wednesday and stake conference yesterday. On Wednesday we got to eat sandwiches bigger than any normal sized human head,
And also we met a guy named Mark from the Philippines who spoke English and was super interesting in the church so we referred him to the Rome Anziani, so hopefully he gets baptized and all that awesome stuff! He was super cool and it was super awesome and super spiritual. 

We got two new simps this week so we are super excited. They are both really awesome and nice and one lives in a sick villa on top of Pescara. I love them both!!! 

I have been thinking a lot about hope this week. Hope is trusting God that he will keep his promises. I also loved what President Uchtdorf said last conference, that if we cannot muster faith, to simply have hope. And sometimes that is all we can do. But it's enough. Hope is no less than faith to me. It's just a simpler type of faith. A more patient type. And if we have hope, then we believe that good will come. And if we believe good will come, then we can work towards faith, or knowing that good will come. I just love that. God wants us to be happy because he loves us. God wants us to do what we can, and give our best, and he will quantify that beyond our wildest dreams. 

Also, profound thing in the LdM this week. 

Alma 7:23. 

Ask for what you need, and God will give it to you. And then be so grateful and continue to serve. I love that so much!!! 

I love you all and I love being a missionary and I love the people of Italy. 

Never give up. On yourself or on God or on anyone else. Keep going and keep fighting and keep loving. Because you cannot regret loving too much. But you can regret loving too little. So get out there and show people you care about them!!! Especially your mom!!! Happy Mothers Day!!!

Love, 

Sorella Jarnagin

PDAy lunch today. Everything was authentic except the oil and vinegar next to the ketchup :)

Don't worry, I'm still weird. 

Zone Conference with President Waddoups taking a swig in he background... 

The coolest storybook Italian villa in all the land!!! 

Happy Mother's Day all the moms of the earth!!!

First Zone Conference

Bellisima

Ciao ciao!!!

I finally made it to Italia to the lovely city of.... PESCARA 
it is two hours ish est of Roma and it is lovely. It is a more modern
city right on the beach. Our apartment is probably the nicest In the
whole mission, so we are hashtag blessed. Also I have yet to run into
anyone too creepy. So it is basically heaven on Earth.

We arrived in Rome last Tuesday morning and got to stay at the mission
home for about two days, and we met our trainers and arrived in our
areas Thursday morning. My comp is Sorella Holiday and she is a
dream!!! I love her so much already. My first day we had a lesson
with Maura, and she loves the Book of Mormon, but she just doesn't
feel spiritually ready yet to be baptized but that is okay because we
love her and will keep working with her. Friday we did a lot of things
I honestly don't remember, but I do remember that it was a lovely day.
Saturday we went to the ward primary activity which was on eternal
families and it was so cute! They had the girls and boys be princesses
and princesses and had their parents like slow dance to Disney songs
which was weird but really cute and funny.

Ah... And then we had church yesterday!!! And I was forced but
enthusiastically obliged to bear my testimony in Italiano. And it went
better than expected. But then after like in the evening we ran into a
member and he brought to my attention that I had accidentally said the
masculine plural for "lives" which is feminine. But other than that I
think they approved! Haha Italians are very particular and very bold
and love to correct you but honestly it helps SO much. So it is a
blessing!

I had my first gelato on Friday I believe, and it was HEAVEN. America
does not know what it is missing. Seriously. It was lovely. And that
was another funny moment. Sorella holiday and I were chilling on a
bench outside the gelateria waiting for the bus to come, and this
random italian man just states "ciao bellisima" at me as he goes in.
And Sorella holiday and I just laughed. Also that man must throw that
out there oft, because my appearance was not up to par but I'm a
missionary not a kardashian so what do you do?!

And yes, my hair has grown about three sizes and is now the size of a
baby lion. So that's fun.

I'd say my favorite part of Italia is all the crazy people and also
how fun and nice they are. And also how they think we are TJ's all the
time. (Jehovah's Witnesses). Like yesterday we were walking to a
different part of Montesilvano, which is where we live, and we stopped
to talk to this lady but she was like "I've already heard your story.
I've already talked to the TJ's before". It was funny but sad she
didn't want to hear our message.

The icing on the cake of Italia was yesterday when we were walking and
we had walked like eight miles or at least an hour to this less
actives house, and she came out and was like "sorry, we decided to be
Catholic again, because when you're born into s religion you just
don't give it up."
So that was super fun. But we got a good bit of cardio out of it.

No what was really wonderful was hearing the Waddoups bear their
testimonies to us right before we opened our golden envelopes of our
areas. I think pictures are on the mission blog,
romeitalymission.blogspot.com, but I don't know for sure. But Sorella
Waddoups is AWESOME and president is AMAZING. This mission is the
BEST. I Love Italy and it's wonderful crazy crazy wonderful people.

This week I read the conference talk from President Monson about
choices. I think it is immensely important to remember how significant
our choices are in our life. Who will we be? Where will we go and what
can we do to be better? Let our choices continue to  lead us towards
lasting happiness and Christlike attributes.

Well, I will let you all get back to sleep since it is like 4 am in
Utah or something crazy. I'd love to hear from you and I'd love to
write you back when I have more time.

Vi  voglio bene!!!!!!!