The Spirit testified today...

Tonight I had the privilege of participating with Sorella Stebar and Sorella Nufer as they shared another lesson with a woman they are teaching. This was the second time they had invited me to teach with them. I knew the Spirit had prepared this woman to hear the gospel when I met her last week. She is so eager to know the truth. We had a great lesson about the Word of Wisdom and she accepted everything the sisters taught and agreed to strive to live it. Sorella Nufer made a promise to her that she would not speak any English for the entire week to show her support. I felt impressed to make the same promise on behalf of Sorella Stebar and I (without consulting Sorella Stebar :) ) and we had a great week. I know that speaking only Italian here at home helped our family.

This evening when we taught, we introduced priesthood authority, the Atonement, and baptism. The Anziani were with us and gave her a blessing of strength. She was touched by the power of it. A while later, she began to recount to us how she had asked if the Book of Mormon was true and how the Spirit has born witness to her that it is. The Spirit was so strong while she spoke and we were all moved by her first testimony. I sat there thinking "Wow, why am I so fortunate to be sitting here like this, witnessing this incredible miracle transpire?" It was a VERY emotional meeting. She shared that she suddenly felt like she wanted to shout to the world her joy and peace. I waited until we got down the stairs and to the car before I shouted for joy :)

Our new nametags have been ordered, but may take a while to arrive because of ferie.

We played soccer with the YSA group in Siracusa last week. we are all a little sore, but we had a great time.

The bishop called a new Ward Mission Leader - Cristian Rosano. He is awesome and will help us move the work forward.

We spent Ferragosto with the Gibilisco and Caraffa families. We enjoyed, so much, getting to know them.

Yesterday we passed the evening with Bishop Grasso. He loves the members of the ward and we enjoy his friendship. He was called for this time!

We finally got DSL this week, thanks to Fratello Miranci, so you can call us at (801) 277-5433. It's a Vonage number so you won't pay any long-distance charges to Italy.

We love this work. Some days now as I drive around town, the sites are so familiar that I forget we are actually in Italy. Then I will read a sign, or see something very Italian that brings me back to the astounding reality that YES, we are missionaries serving in Italy!!! ...and I am amazed! Blessings to you all...
Hurrah for Israel!!!!
Sorella Patti

The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning...

The words to this hymn have never been more relevant. And although I am certain that this is only the beginning of what we have yet to see in the Lord's work in this part of the vineyard, I am overwhelmed at the miracles and blessings that we are seeing poured out from Heaven here in Sicily.

First I want to explain the photo. It was done by a dear brother here in Siracusa. I have known of him for years. I taught his brother's family in Palermo thirty years ago. I know his son in Salt Lake City. In March of this year I met him and his wife for the first time. We have gotten to know them well since arriving here in Siracusa. We enjoy and value their friendship. We love them. Last Sunday he presented this amazing piece of work to us. I could not hold back the tears. A snapshot from my iPhone does not do this piece justice. The image is burned in wood. Did you ever have a wood burning tool as a child? Well, I did. I had fun with it but my designs were elementary at best. Each line, dot, element of shading, is carefully burned into the wood. It takes many many hours to complete a picture. The amazing thing is that this dear brother is afflicted with cataracts. He will have surgery later this year to correct the cataracts, but for now he uses a huge magnifying glass to see his own work. When we leave Italy in two years (I hate to even think about that), I will carefully carry it home on my lap. I am sure it will solicit comments from other passengers. What a great way to share the gospel :) I would carry it on the streets of Siracusa and share it with all who would like to stop and admire it, but I am afraid of it being damaged or lost. Hmmm... there is an idea.... a display of some of his works in a square somewhere... street tracting! Michael likes the idea.

We are working closely with the awesome missionaries here. Anziani Quiroz and Migliori are from Peru. Sorelle Stebar and Nufer are from Georgia and Utah. I have been out working with the sisters several times and feel as though we are just a threesome of sister missionaries.

They have all become dear to our family and with transfer calls due tonight... well... we are all a bit nervous. Everyone is working hard to move the work forward. We have prayed as missionaries together and feel the that the Lord has prepared a family of five that is ready to hear the gospel. We are visiting the members and they are being great about helping us identify who they are, as well as committing to select a less-active family which they can strengthen and support.

We LOVE working with the Young Single Adults! We are amazed at their love for the gospel and their strong testimonies. Their enthusiasm is infectious! This last Wednesday was our third FHE with the Siracusa group. There were sixteen people in attendance! (including the missionaries, of course) It hardly seems like missionary WORK. They are so fun to be with and their faith is inspiring.

Last evening we were in Messina with the young adults there. We had an activity on the beach. Besides the beautiful surroundings, we were blessed to get to know some of the good members in Messina. We were having a great time with the young adults, and were later joined by several of the adult couples - Adriana Lanza, the Calipristis, and the Maggettis. It was especially fun to see the Maggettis again, as I had known them 31 years ago in Palermo, when they lived there.

It was an evening of old friendships renewed and new ones created. I am continually amazed and inspired when they share their stories of life after having joined the Church. Challenges are often greater but their ability to overcome is fortified by their faith. I am learning so much from them.

We have a game we like to play with the young people that involves toilet paper and helps us all get to know each other. Soon after the game started, it turned into a testimony meeting. We heard such deep, heartfelt, sincere, and profound sentiments about their love for the gospel and for the Savior and His atonement. As I sat there on the dark beach (a patient young man held up a lantern the entire time so that we could see each other's faces), occasionally looking upward at the beautiful stars, and hearing powerful testimonies, I was made acutely aware that I was the one being blessed by this missionary service. I still can't believe I get to be a part of this.

Earlier in the day we traveled over the Messina strait onto the mainland to Reggio Calabria. This city is important to me. it wasn't open 31 years ago, but our son Daniel served there almost two years ago. He was in the right place at the right time. A young woman there was looking to improve her English. She had heard about an English class taught by Americans and decided to attend. She wasn't looking for anything but English... or so she thought. One day she stopped the missionaries on the street. Our son, Elder Kinzie was one of them. After getting the information she needed, she attended her first English class. She felt something powerful when the Elders spoke and stayed after to ask if she could know more. she was baptized in the sea between the mainland of Italy and Sicily. Her name is Sabrina and we spent the morning with her yesterday. She told me everything about her conversion. She showed us the piazza where she regularly met with our son and his companion to hear the truths of the gospel. She showed us his apartment. She shared her testimony with me. She is converted - truly converted. As Elder Kinzie's mother I was proud - or pleased is maybe the better word... pleased that he had made good choices to serve the Lord. What if he had chosen not to accept his call? I know our son is a better man for having gone and shared the gospel. I know he is better for having known Sabrina. You can't spend any amount of time with her and not be made better by her love and testimony. How many mom's get to experience something like that - getting to know the people with whom your children shared the gospel. Not all great rewards are reserved for after this life. Once in a while we get a glimpse of them right here.

Tonight we are traveling back to Messina. A 13 year old boy is being baptized. His brother was baptized two weeks ago. They live in the same building as the Elders and admired them. They wanted to know more. One night at 10:00, their father knocked on the Elders' door and asked if they could teach his sons!

Miracles are happening here in Italy. We just have to find them, or notice them in the moment they are occurring. The greatest blessing is when we are privileged to participate in them!!!

I still cannot believe sometimes that our prayers were answered and we are here. The gospel is true. Missionary work is the greatest, second only to raising a family - which is actually missionary work to the people closest to you!

Until next week...
Hurrah for Israel!!!
Sorella Adams (officially)

The passing of Elder Marion D. Hanks

Michael and I just heard of the passing of Elder Marion D. Hanks. Although we have not seen him for several years, due to his failing health, he is in our hearts as a great leader and beloved friend. Several years ago, when we were heading our school, Deseret Academy, we discovered we were neighbors and our fondness for him blossomed.

We had established a pattern of training our teachers every summer, on our philosophies of education. Elder Hanks, or "Duff" as he was called by his friends, was always a great teacher and we used much of his ideology in training our teachers. One summer, after our first day of training, one of our teachers who lived across the street for the school, shared with us that Elder Hanks was her next door neighbor. She suggested we invite him to come to the school the next day and share his thoughts in person. Imagine our excitement when, the next day, we spied him crossing the street to join our training! The meeting was a feast and our friendship was born.

He was always good to offer encouragement and support during a difficult time for the school. We decided to dedicate our building and he agreed to offer the dedicatory prayer - blessing our building as a place for our students to feel the Spirit of God and to have peace as an environment of learning. It was an evening never to be forgotten.

Several months later I was being plagued by daily intense headaches that were no longer responding to medication. I sensed something serious and finally consulted a physician, who concurred with the possible seriousness of my condition. Without going into personal detail, I would like to share only that Elder Hanks offered a priesthood blessing. The power of his lifelong worthiness and spiritual confidence were, in a few moments, concentrated on my behalf. I feel I owe my healing and my life to his willingness to share the priesthood of God. Within three days, the headaches were completely gone and I have been symptom free ever since.

Elder Marion D. Hanks was a true example of "enduring to the end." While he was physically and mentally able, he gave and blessed - in innumerable ways. We will miss him, but we know that freed from his well-worn mortal tabernacle, he will be able to wield an even greater influence for our good - and the good of many others, from the other side of the veil. I will continue to work to be more like him.