Week 5 of MTC

Dear Family,

I can't believe it's been five weeks. I've loved the Mtc, but at the same time, we're all ready to leave and get to Italy. When I first arrived, I felt such a powerful surge of the Spirit- I'd never experienced such a strong feeling of the Spirit before in my life. The first two weeks were filled with new experiences. Growth, adjusting, struggling, loving, basking, stretching, being low and becoming high through the mercy of the Lord. Wow, my english is...hope you can understand this letter.

Ivo came back with Silvana this week! Even though we'd asked him for a little Italian snack, Silvana had made us an entire dish of lasagna just for us!!! It was absolutely divine- a small taste of true Italian food. We were so flattered and appreciative that they had gone to the trouble to do that for us. Our teacher later told us that he was surprised that they had gotten by security because visitors are not allowed to bring us food. I think it's because they don't want it to become a distraction for the missionaries, and some elders might feel bad if they don't receive food in the TRC. We did receive special permission to eat it in the lunchroom later. Both of our Italian districts shared. Anyways, enough about the lasagna. We invited Ivo to join Silvana and us in one of the rooms. He was very very trusting and open with us. He even brought a big coffee table book of Italy. He showed us every single picture and talked on and on about his hometown and their traditions. All throughout the hour, my sorelle and I kept wondering if we should try to share our testimonies or bring up the gospel, but the Spirit kept restraining us. He and his wife needed to receive our pure love and we needed to respect his desires. At the end, we asked if we could say a prayer and he immediately closed up again...Silvana gave a beautiful prayer. In the middle she began to cry. Her heart aches because she wants to be sealed to him for eternity so badly and for him to receive all of the blessings of the gospel. Ivo is a good man. We have been praying and pondering a lot about him lately and have felt that the Lord greatly desires for Ivo to help him in this great work. He is a strong, firm man, and could have a great great influence on many people in the kingdom of God. We feel peace and great hope for him, and trust in the Lord's plan and timing. Ivo needs to exercise faith, and only he can do that. At the end of our visit he greatly complemented us for our goodness and service. It was interesting...he counseled us to be bold and confident in teaching people and sharing our beliefs in Italy. You could tell he has a testimony of missionary work and its importance. He even explicitly said that he's witnessed how families in the gospel conquer their hard hard trials with security and peace. He knows its true. I think he's worried about losing his idenity and link to italy and his heritage if he "gives in" and becomes baptized.

I've learned a lot this week about measuring progress and receiving further instruction from the Lord:

- setting daily goals is vital. It is much much simpler to accomplish my goals if I focus on small things each day. Elder Zivic of the 70 spoke to us last night for our devotional. He told about one progressing investigator who struggled with giving up coffee. The missionary simply challenged him to not drink any coffee for one day. The next day, he asked him if he could do it again. Slowly, but surely, the man was freed from his addiction.

- we must ask Heavenly Father for the things that we need and desire. As I have asked more specific questions, I've received more specific and meaningful answers. I now keep a separate personal prayer journal. I write down my questions that I ask Him, and as I pray, I keep it close to my bed. As I pray, I seek to slow down, and to ponder about what things He wants me to ask. The purpose of prayer is to make our will the same with Heavenly Father in the name of Christ. Prayer is a form of work. (Bible dictionary on prayer). As I ask questions, I am learning how to pause and wait for impressions and feelings. I have had prayers where I have a distinct clear thought enter my mind and I know that is my answer. Often times, I receive some inspiration but feel as if He wants to give me more instruction later, when the time is right. Most times, He gives us revelation by increments. As I read the Book of Mormon, many many of my questions are answered.

- learn how you personally feel the Spirit and receive daily, personal revelation. I have learned that I personally receive revelation and understanding by writing a lot in my journal or on a piece of paper. As I write, thoughts enter my mind in the moment. I say a quick prayer with a specific question in mind before I study my scriptures and as I study, I become in tune with the Spirit and it is absolutely amazing what I learn. One of my companions receive a lot of revelation by simply pondering. She'll sit and look around the room for ten minutes thinking. I think the key for all of us is to have a prayer in our heart, be pure, teachable/humble and worthy to receive the Spirit into our hearts AND we need to be still. We need to set aside time each day to be in a quiet, secluded place so we can hear the sweet, still small voice.

My testimony is that God is the best teacher there is! No matter what our profression, our talents, our pursuits, our everyday questions and problems, we can go to Him and receive the best instruction. The instruction that money cannot buy. He is teaching me Italian! His spirit increases my understanding, and quickens my comprehension and capacity so that I can do His work. He speaks all languages. He created all things. He's the greatest artist, mathmetician, scientist,etc. All things denote that He lives and He orchestrated a perfect plan for us. We just need to recognize Him and open our hearts to receive His love and istruction. With Him, we can become better and grow more than on our own! Elder Nelson is an amazing example to me of this. He is one of the most accomplished and well-known men in the medical field for his contributions to heart surgery/replacement. Read his bios on Lds.org! simply amazing how He gives all his credit to the Lord. His testimony of the power of the priesthood is being the greatest way to heal the human body...I esp liked "Applying Divine Laws" and the article about Obedience. Must reads!!! Only through Jesus Christ can we be saved and he can do nothing by himself. He is a living apostle on the earth today.

All of my love,

Sorella Oakes

MTC Letter #4

Caro Famiglia,

Vi voglio benissimo! I love you all so much! Please send me letters via DearElder or mail, cause I only have a half hour a week to be on my email account. Then I'll have more time to slowly read your letters and more time to use this half hour to type a general letter.

My comps and I agree that there haven't been a lot of new things that have happened this week. The most eventful thing was meeting Ivo and Silvana in the TRC monday. After a week of prayers and preparation, we excitedly went into the TRC. Our teacher told us that Ivo had come, but that he didn't want to participate, so he was waiting for his wife in the hallway on the couch. The three of us knew that the advesary was doing his best to give him negative feelings of doubt and persuade him from meeting with us. This happens with all of us- before any amazing, good experience that the Lord has prepared for us to enjoy in our life, Satan tries all he can to stop us or that thing from occuring. So...lesson is, if you're struggling with something, and you're being as righteous as you can be, something wonderful is on it's way, so stay strong and faithful. Blessings await you!!!

We said a brief, but heartfelt prayer for him to become more open to receiving Christ into his life and to our friendship and help that we can offer. We prayed to be sensitive to the Spirit, and to follow the inspiration that Lord had for us. We walked out into the hallway, and I went right up and shook his hand. In Italian, "Well, hello Ivo". Skeptical look, "How do you know my name??" "From your wife Silvana of course:)". He stood up and within a few minutes his countenance became more happy and trusting. We simply talked all about Italy- the food, the beauty of the places where he'd grown up. It was obvious that he loves Italian culture more than anything else. He is proud of his heritage and his catholic background. That is wonderful- he has his priorities straight concerning family and heritage. We talked for an hour, all in Italian, fast fast fast. It was incredible that we could understand most of what he was saying and respond back. At one point, I said, "Let's stop talking about Italian food- we only eat cafeteria food every meal. He sat down and wrote down his address and phone number. He said, "Come to my home, and my wife will cook you a real Italian meal". We expressed our gratitude and were super flattered and pleased that he was so kind. We explained that we couldn't meet with him while we're in the MTC but we exchanged emails and suggested he bring an Italian snack next week to the TRC. After a few more minutes of chatting, his wife came out and the first thing that he said was "We're going to bring these sisters Italian snacks next week. I got their addresses and emails". He reallly enjoyed talking to us, especially because we love Italy and were interested in learning about his culture and speaking his language. It reminds of teh scripture in 1 Nephi- ...don't have time to find it. It says that the Spirit of God speaks in simplicity and clarity, according to men's understanding, and to their language. If we seek to influence and love other people, we must first learn how to speak their language. Comparable to showing love in ways that each individual wants to be loved- some people don't appreciate words but they like hugs.... The gospel, the scriptures, are for each person's benefit. They give us counsel concerning our own personal desires and goals, our daily concerns and struggles that we face. As I said in my last email, the Book of Mormon and prayer are two of the most powerful sources of strength and comfort.

This week I've learned a lot about the power of diligent preparation and work. The Lord's way is a daily process. Faith grows as a seed (Alma 32). In order to develop our faith/hope/eventually firm knowledge of Christ as our Savior, small daily habits make the most difference! In order for a seed to grow into an incredible redwood tree, it needs the proper amount of water and sun each day. A little seed cannot handle too much water all at once or it will drown, and too much sun will scorch the seed. Elder Bednar's talk about receiving revelation perfectly sums up all of the things that I've been thinking about and learning personally this week. I also like Moroni 7:21-22. It explains the result of being "overzealous" to inherit the things that God has planned for us to learn, to do, or to receive. It is good to have strong and righteous desires, but we must also trust in the Lord's way and in his timing for us. He wants us to excercize the gifts/tasks that he has given us now. Once we have made these simple these become strong and solid and learned what we needed to learn, often times patience, he will give us more blessings and responsibilities. Moroni 9: 3-4 once again. Moroni 7: 33 "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL and pleasure, deliver you..."

I'm sure that I've grown a lot this week, more than I realize. I've been consistently trying my best to learn the language. I cannot recognize what I've learned, or how my testimony has grown, but I feel that I have. In times when I am tempted to get down, discouraged or impatient with myself or my investigators, I am so glad for the words of the Lord in the Book of Mormon. He always sets my perspectives straight. It was encouraging to receive a lettter from Weylin this week. His testimony feeds mine as well, and wow! It is strong. What a man! He said at the end of his letter to stay strong for him. I am trying my best to work hard and serve others to bring blessings of Heaven to you all. One other quick thing- I am grateful that the Lord has blessed me with these things- the opport. to serve a mission and to have the gospel. I don't deserve it more than anyone else. It is a gift from Him! All things are blessings from Him and His plan. He loves us so much I promise.

All my love and prayers daily,

Sorella Q Oakes

Week 3 of MTC

Caissimo famiglia,

Many people are confused concerning why missionaries leave their families for two years to preach the gospel all around the world. Why do they have limited contact via phone, visits, etc. during this time. All we are allowed is email once a week for a half hour and letter writing. I've learned a lot this week about the reasons why Heavenly Father has inspired our Prophet with this counsel. I'll explain further in a bit.

A few nights ago, I prayed to Heavenly Father for some letters, because I was missing you all, especially mom and dad. As I said my prayer, I knew He was listening- i could feel Him near by. I loev what it says in the Bible Dictionary about faith : faith "enables the mind of man to place confidence in him [the Lord] without reservation...faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical or mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for..." Read all of this- it's incredible. You will be amazed, like me, about how much you'll learn about the meaning of faith and how you can cultivate it. How faith is "a principle of action and power", how faith is a gift and how we can each personally develop this...

...Back to my experience. As I prayed before bed, I felt a peaceful assurance that Heavenly Father heard me, and wanted to give me my desire. I felt as a child. I felt like being a little girl again. Daddy, my loving mortal father cared about the things I wanted when I was young, a doll, to play with a friend, or even just receive a big daddy hug! Even if some of these things seem insignificant and unnessary, he wanted me to be happy. He cared about the things that I cared about, because he loved me so much. I will never forget those things, and the love that my dad showed me, by reading bedtimes stories, or learning how to french braid my hair so I could feel special at church on sundays. How many fathers can do that?! I love you dad. I can't find the scrip in time, please look it up and post it- I love the verse that says something along the lines of "if ye, being evil [imperfect and mortal], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven, He being perfect, bless and give excellent gifts to His children.

Comparably, I know that our Heavenly Father feels the same way about each of us. We are literally His precious and beloved Spirit children. He is the Father of our spirits. Before we were born, we lived in the premortal world with Him and all our other brothers and sisters. Have you ever thought about this- it came to me as an epifany today- He misses us. Just as each earthly parent cries (with joy and pride, but also a bit of sadness) when their children leave the home for college or marriage, Heavenly Father misses physically seeing us and conversing with us in the flesh each day as we did in the premortal realm. He has taught us that we can pray, so that we can still interact with Him, personally, each day. He wants us to talk to Him, to let Him know that we know He is there for us. He wants us to express our gratitude to Him for all of the many many blessings that He gives us each day. Indeed, each day He gives us everything that we have, through others, through the beauty of the earth that He created, through the comfort and guidance of the Holy Ghost, His messenger. He sends us multiple "packages" each day- temporally and spiritually. All we need to do is receive these gifts, and RECOGNIZE that they come from him.

I prayed to receive some letters to come from my family. I hadn't received anything in a week. Sure enough, the following day, (yesterday) I received five letters, and two packages, all from my family. Thank you! I especially loved the letters from weylin, grandma and mom. Mom, "they were manna from heaven" for me as well :). Dad emailed me and I read it today! This was a little miracle/package that the Lord gave me. He helped me to know once again how much my family supports and loves me. He also wanted me to know how much He loves and cares about me. All I needed to do was ask Him. Yes, He knows all that I need, even before I ask Him, but through this experience, I was ABLE to recognize that He played a hand in this blessing. I'm glad that I didn't receive letters for six days. I came to desire a blessing, then come closer to Heaenly Father in prayer and receive an answer. Without this experience, I would have never recognized that this gift came from Him. I love my daddy in Heaven and know that He cares about the little things that I care about.

I am grateful for the letters that Heavenly Father gives to me. He gives me instruction and counsel for my happiness and safety in my life through the Bible and Book of Mormon. If I am obedient to these instructions, He can bless me to understand more of their meaning and how they apply to my life. He will give me further instruction as I receive His counsel. The reason why the true gospel of Jesus Christ is restored to the earth again is this- after Christ's death, as well as most of His apostles, there were so many evil people on the earth that did not want to obey God's counsel that He decided to take His complete truth from the earth. Evil men distorted the truths of the bible, and took out plain and precious parts to confuse us, or because they didn't have the inspiration of God, so they made their own decisions concerning how to correct and translate the bible. There are many truths in it still, but there are things scattered throughout that are confusing and not complete. After years and years, there were people who wanted to have the real and whole truth of God again, and obey His counsel. People such as Martin Luther and other reformers prepared a way for us to have the freedoms we enjoy in worshipping and believing what we want. Joseph Smith, a boy of 14 years old (!) was so confused about which church was true! He said a simple, humble but sincere prayer with all His might to know which church to join. He hadn't expected anything spectacular, but God and Jesus Christ appeared to Him in personage, and told Him that none of the churches were [completely] true and that He would be their servant to restore His truth.

Our central focus is Christ. We worship Him. The Book of Mormon is for our day, and was preserved and hid in the earth so that the wicked men could not distort it. It enhances the bible and they accompany each other. It is a perfect Book. Joseph Smith translated it through the power of God- He wasn't perfect by any means. he was a simple farm boy, a teenager. But he was humble and pure. God molded him, and could use him through his obedience and worthiness to restore the truth to the earth. I know these things are true because as I read the Book of Mormon, my relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ grows so much! I can feel the power of God so strongly in my whole soul and I know that it is the word without a doubt. I have no doubts, and I unreservedly would defend and testify of it to any person- even President Obama if I had too. I do not entail any of my political values in making that comment...haha. I love the Book of Mormon so much. If you want to strenghten your testimony to know if this church contains the FULNESS of the truth of God and Jesus' Christs' church, read it every day, little by little with a sincere prayer in your heart. Obey God's word, and He will give you all answers and blesses that are necessary for you. This gospel brings more happiness to me that anything else I've ever had. I feel closer to you, my family, more by coming closer to Christ. The family is central to God's plan for our happiness.

Love,

Sorella Oakes

Week 2 of MTC

Dear Familia,

I grew so much this week. Humbled, sanctified, made low, brought high! Our elders and sisters feel as if the days are long, and the weeks go by fast! This is true. Elder Simmons (who spoke to us for a devotional last week) said that you don't necessarily have "bad/good days, or months". It's more like an emotional/physical/spiritual rollercoaster by each hour, even by each minute. Haha, this is true as well.

One of my favorite experiences this week- monday night was time for a district meeting/ "aka family night". Our district of six combined with the other district who have been here for as long as us. Wow, it was very chaotic at first. Everyone has become so close/like best friends with each other that sometimes it is hard for everyone to settle down and take turns talking. Finally our two district leaders took charge and suggested we sing, pray and bear testimonies. They are both very shy, not very confident, BUT humble and diligent. It is very apparent why they were called to be our leaders and we respect them very much. They will grow so much in this calling.

As each anziano and the three of us sorelle went around the circle bearing our testimonies, the Holy Ghost became stronger and stronger. I loved each person's testimony- it was sincere, and from their heart. We all agreed that we KNOW that this gospel is true, or else we would not remain in the MTC now. I particularly liked something that one of our district leaders, Anziano Rosium said during his testimony. He has the biggest smile! He looked into our eyes and said, "Many people would tell me before my mission, 'wow...you're not going to be able to baptize many people in Italy. That's going to a rough mission for you'. But, I don't believe that for one second! The italians are ready for us! We have received a promise that our mission is to invite those who have/are being prepared to receive our message."

All of us feel this way. Somehow, we know that we are entering a new stage in Italy's acceptance to the gospel. Our leaders have testified of this, Elder Perry said something amazing that I will write to you in a more personal letter, and all of the missionaries in our zone know that there are many Italians who will receive the gospel. I feel this excitement...I can't describe it. I am so grateful for the previous missionaries who have helped to prepare the way, and have planted seeds and prepared the Italian soil to become fertile...I was reading Jacob 5 this morning- I learned a lot of things, and received a lot of insight. Verses 21 and 22 better describe how I personally feel about the gospel of Jesus Christ in Italy now. Verses 71-74 are incredible as well! I am so grateful that the Lord has given me the gift and opportunity to experience the glory of His work and His power by serving a mission. I'm grateful to be a part of this great and marvelous work (D&C 4). When I pray to Heavenly Father, He sends His Spirit to bear me up- I need to pray constantly during the day, to stay awake, to concentrate and to have the Holy Ghost.

Love,

Sorella Oakes