Monday, March 31, 2014

See You Thursday!

Well here we are, my last weekly email as a missionary. I can't
believe it. It seems like it all just went so fast. Since my interview
with President last week I have been thinking alot about everything
that has happened these last 18 months and it has been incredible. Its
amazing what we are capable of when we trust in the Lord and let him
work through us. Everyone keeps asking how I feel. I dont know how to answer it. 

I apologize if I'm a little

weird when I get home, I'll probably be in culture shock or something.
But I will let you spoil me I guess :) Mostly I just want to sleep
haha.

 Is Christmas still going to be Friday
morning too! Because I have some presents too. As far as the clothes
go...that is from Guatemala. Its a long story but there isn't a whole
lot of remaining culture here in El Salvador (Ill tell you about it
when I get home). The clothes that they sell here are like America
haha.

This week was GREAT! Eva was baptized! Miracles Happen!

Love you! See you Thursday!

Hermana Giossi

A Week of Miracles!

Thinking about this past week it has been full of miracles. We are improving in everything. We visited more people, found more people to teach, had more investigators in church. Things started clicking this week and yesterday it just all came together. 

The day started pretty low. The people we went to bring to church didn't come, and we showed up to sacrament meeting pretty much expecting to have no one in church. Then one-by-one investigators started showing up. As my companion put it "I started to fill with hope." We are teaching a family, she is a faithful member and comes every Sunday with her young daughter  she is not a member and has TONS of doubts. But we have visited and promised not to pressure her too much to baptism and she has now come 2 Sundays in a row. I know that it makes her happy that her whole family is in church on Sundays. 

In the afternoon we were able to do divisions with a member. The best is when we can do it with ex-missionaries...they just know how to do it. We were able to find new investigators and teach less-actives. We went home feeling pretty good about how the day went. But it didn't end there...Eva, our investigator who has a baptismal date for this weekend called. She told us that a family that she had never even talked to visited her after church and really strengthened her faith with their message and she is feeling better than ever about her baptism this Friday. We were THRILLED! But then, the young women's president called with more good news. We are teaching a 13 year old, her sister is a recent convert and the young girl wants to be baptized. Her mom had always said she needs more time. Last night the YW presidency went to visit them and said that the lesson was so great that they almost put a baptismal date. The Mom said she would give her daughter permission to be baptized and that she herself would like to learn more and be baptized. My mouth was hanging open. They say God works is mysterious ways. I say that's true. He does things His way and in His time. We just need to have faith. 

Today I had my final interview with President. It was mixed emotions. But at the end he reminded me that it is not overr and I still have 10 days to give it all I've got. That's the plan. Looks like Pres. Martin will be releasing me. Could you coordinate that with him? Thanks.  

Loved all the pictures of Daddy flying and of you girls in NH. The girls look SO big. I'm sure everything is going to be so different when I get home. I don't know if I'm ready for this. Can you believe it has been 1 1/2 years...this is the second to last email. WOAH!

I love you! 

Hermana Giossi 

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

By Candlelight

Hi Family,

Mom, where are the pictures of this baptism! I was starting to think that McKenna never got baptized! Haha. I am so happy to hear that she is active and participating in Temple work. They say that the faster new converts go to the temple the more likely they are to stay active. I miss the temple. I wants to go lots when I get home. Once every six months is just not enough. 

That´s very touching to read about my blog. I am glad to hear that it is helping others. My purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ and I am learning that there are many ways to do that. I have many plans to keep doing so even after I am released. 

This week we had a special training meeting with President and Sister Glazier. They talked alot about LOVE and how love should really be our motivation for everything. I think if we really understood Heavenly Father´s love for His children sharing this TRUE gospel would be so easy. Fear would not even play apart. Are we not all willing to throw away our fears to help those we love. Thinking about this has really helped me this week to talk to as many people as I can about the gospel. And as we testify of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for them, they usually accept the invitation to hear more. Hermana Romero said something really inspiring. ¨When I start testifying of Jesus Christ it doesn´t matter if they accept or not, I feel good.¨Wow. 

At the end of the training they handed out our new CELL PHONES! We turned in our house phones and all companionship's now have a cell to ¨hasten the work¨ The LORD truly is hastening his work in this day! And I am learning how to text again haha. 

It´s a good thing too because this week, thanks to a big mix up, our electricity got cut off and we were without power for 2 days. I just have bad house luck haha. It was fun though. Like a sleep over. We planned, study and journaled in a little circle by candle light. Always an adventure. 

Just one more thing. We have an investigator named EVA. She has been an investigator for 2 years. Yesterday her children were blessed and are now on the church records. We are trying to have her baptism on the 29 of March but she needs lots of prayer. Please keep her in mind. 

I love you! Dont cry. Time is short. Just enjoy the blessings of these next few weeks. 

Love,

Hermana Giossi 

photo planning by candle light.


Thursday, March 6, 2014

In a Nutshell - I'm Coming Home

Hola,

Things of note this week:

On Tuesday I got a phone call that went something like this: 
"Hermana Giossi" 
"Yes"
"It's Elder Lowry " He's the Travel secretary and a friend of mine in the mission...great guy
"Hi Elder Lowry! How are you?"
"Great! Just here with the phone call I know you never wanted to receive...I need to know what airport you want to fly home to." 
"Boston...or Logan. Something like that." 
Yeah, so that brought some weird emotions. I have forwarded my travel Itinerary to you. I don't know exactly what needs to happen once I get home. but I imagine I will need to be released by President  Ward...unless they want to reassign me to another area in the Boston mission haha. 

We had a little earthquake the other night. Usually I dont tell you about these things but whatever it was awesome. It happened at 4 in the morning and it was pretty strong. A 6.0 I think. I remembered when I was little and always asked Daddy what earthquakes were like and he said "It feels like someone is shaking your bed" EXACTLY!

I met a woman from Ukraine that has been living here since 1998...she spoke to us in a weird mixture of Spanish, English and Russian. She also sells delicious cakes on the street in our new area.

We went to contact a referral from a member. We got there and she told us that she had already read the Book of Mormon. She finished it in 1 and a half weeks! Less than 2 weeks! And she'd never even met missionaries. It was amazing. We taught her a little and she told us that she is going to pray to know if what we teach is true because even though she read it she hadn't prayed about it. Small Miracles. 

Mom, is everything okay. I don't know. But reading I just felt like you seemed a little down. Hope everything is okay. 

Love you and Miss you!

Hermana Giossi


Still in a Trio

February 24, 2014

Hello Again,

Sorry, but I seem to be running out of titles and opening lines for the emails. Last week were changes and we sure did have them. I have a new companion. Her name is Hna. Romero...but really its Hna. Baratta, but that means ¨cheap¨in Spanish so she had to change her last name. because Sister Cheap just doesn't cut it for a missionary. She is from...BELMONT MASSACHUSETTS! And she knows the Bowen's, and a bunch of other people. Its weird. We talk about MA alot...it's really bad for the both of us, makes us a little homesick but its also really fun. 

We also had a little change in area. Previously there were 3 sets of missionaries in the ward but this change they moved one pair of sisters out so now we only share it with the assistants. Well the problem is that the assistants old are wasn't producing and they have to have THE model area in the mission so...they took the part that the other sisters had (the most successful member missionary area in the mission) and half of our old area and gave us their area. I don't know if that all makes sense. But basically I have to learn another new area. It basically looks like a bunch of neighborhoods in California...I feel like I have been transferred to a States mission haha...maybe President wants to help me avoid culture shock. We are excited for the opportunity to work in a new area and have been brainstorming ideas all week. 

Sounds like things at home are going really well. What happened with the baptism...did it happen? Can you send me pictures? Also, Hna Romero has a book written by a member in Belmont called Powerful Everyday Missionaries. Its from Deseret Book, I thought maybe with all your member-missionary work you might like it. 

Love you! 

Hermana Giossi

Photos: 

1. The finshed map of our area...but really our area is only half of it 

2. My Companions. I will "die" in a trio. 



Don't Get Baggy on Me Just Yet

Hola, 

Please dont get so baggy on me just yet. Haha. Baggy is what we say when someone is like ready to go home...we also use it here to mean a lazy missionary sometimes haha. But I'm excited that the bed is underway and that Shelby appoves. I also laughed to hear about Emily's mom posting pictures of us. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. But I still have 6 weeks to give it everything I've got. You will receive an intinerary soon, don't worry. I think I will be coming home around April 3rd...but I dont really know. 

I'm so glad to hear about all of your missionary effeorts. How awesome that the mission President baptized McKenna!  One on the other Sisters in my zone is from Belmont and she was so excited to hear about him, she says he's great! I know that if you keep working and the other ward memebers keep working we will see miracles! It's the promise of missionary work in this time. 

This week President has assigned us to study about Faith. This quote really impacted me. 

"I say emphatically that faith is not the power of positive thinking. Faith is not the personal resolve that enables us to will some difficult situation into existence. Faith is not always the capacity to turn tragedy into celebration. Faith is a principle of power, of God's power. We do not generate faith on our own, for it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). We do not act ourselves into faith, for faith is a gift of the Spirit, given by God to suit his purposes and bless the body of Christ, the Church. People act in faith when they act according to the will of God. To say that another way, I have sufficient faith to move Mount Timpanogos to the middle of Utah Lake only when I know that the Lord wants it moved!......We are further counseled to doubt not because we see not, for we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith. (Ether 12:6) This is the nature of the leap of faith, a leap from the safe and the secure to the anticipated and the hoped for. (see Alma 32:21) The disciples of Christ are not called upon to proceed wholly in the dark, to leap from the precipice without evidence of deliverance. Rather, we are asked to rely upon the unseen, to trust in the quiet but persistent whisperings of the Spirit, to lean upon the prophetic promises. In the words of President Harold B. Lee, we must "learn to walk to the edge of the light, and perhaps a few steps into the darkness, and [we] will find that the light will appear and move ahead of [us]."

It changed how I looked at faith. I realized that to truly have faith one must understand how it is that the Spirit works. One must be able to recognize the promptings of the Spirit in order to know the will of God and then follow it. Faith isn't blind at all. Faith is knowing what God's wants and being brave enough to act on it, no matter what! God has power and He manifests it through us, his servants, how amazing is that! 

Thanks for the pictures...talk about flashback with that oldie haha! I miss snow! It looks so foreign. 

Love you! Miss you! 

Hermana Giossi

                                                          Making Empanadas
                                                         A typical meal
                                                                   Cleaning the "pila"
                                                  English Class "Mother May I?"

A Whole Lot of Nothing

Monday February 10, 2014

Hola Family!

I don't really know what to say about this week. It was pretty uneventful. But it went super fast because we worked really hard. I should stop working hard so that the time goes slower...just kidding. Events of note with attached photos:


The highlight of the week was our Zone Conference with president and Sister Glazier. President talked about the importance of seeking first the Kingdom of God and then riches. He used Jacob 2 and talked about how if we seek God's Kingdom, we are promised riches if we are to use them for the good of others. He also talked about Fast Offerings and how we should be as generous as possible. It is the price of 2 meals and if we have the means we should pay 10 times as much as that. I remember thinking, I just hope my future husband has a mission President like this. Haha...but really.

Maybe Zach should listen to the missionary discussions. And do the things that they are asking the investigators to do. He has to find his own conversion. Just remember, Zach, that you don't have to KNOW everything...you will never know everything...you need to have faith! I love you. I know that this is the only TRUE CHURCH. Other churches might be good but they will never have the authority to perform saving ordinances. 

I am happy to hear about your missionary successes. You're having more baptisms than I am haha. But I am happy to know that there will be lots of work to do when I get home...that I can still be a missionary but my family will be my companions...SWEET!


I love you all! Stay strong! 

Love,
Hermana Giossi


Beautiful View of my little country




Aguas Negras! Gross!

February 3, 2014

Hi Family!

It was an interesting week here as well. On Tuesday I went on a companion exchange. When we showed up to a missionary correlation meeting my companions informed me that during lunch something happened with the plumbing and our house flooded with "aguas negras"...basically sewer water. Apparently there was so much that it was just spilling down the hill we live on. Luckily the elders were eating lunch with the same sister from the ward. And my companion said the elders rolled up their pant legs and started cleaning the house. We share the ward with some awesome elders. Our house reeks...its not as bad as the first day but it still smells pretty bad. I have had such interesting experiences here in my little country haha. 

We are working hard and having success. This week a General Authority, Elder Duncan came and it was amazing. He talked about change and how we should always be trying to improve. He really inspired me to just be a better missionary. To work harder and LOVE more. Love the people even when they aren't easy to love. I think that is one of the things I have learned the most about out here. That charity really is the answer. If we can just see people as Heavenly Father sees them we have no choice but to love them. And the best way to see this way, is to serve them. My goal for this year is to serve more. Serving makes me happy! 

I love you! I hope everything really is okay! I'm proud of you! 

Love,

Hermana Giossi





Almost Luck Strikes Again!

Monday January 27, 2014

Hello Family. 

This week was wonderful! We had interviews with President and Sister Glazier which is always amazing! President is so loving and wants us to be the best we can. And Hermana Glazier just always has the spirit with her. 

On Thursday Elder Cook can and spoke to the 3 missions. I was sitting 2 rows away from him. It is something amazing to be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He left us beautiful blessings and his testimony of the Savior brought a truly incredible feeling to my heart.

As far as my "almost luck" goes. Sis. Cook was also in attendance and scheduled to talk. Well, she speaks English and most of the missionaries only speak Spanish so she needed a translator. They had one planned for her and everything but as the time came for Sis. Cook to speak the translator was nowhere to be found. According to Elder Acosta (the AP and my former Zone leader) they came to him and said "Find me the sister you know that understands english and speaks the best spanish." So there I was sitting and taking notes and he comes up "Hermana Giossi. Come here, the translator hasn't come we might need you to translate for Sis. Cook." I almost had a heart attack as they brought me up on the stand and sat me three seats away from Elder Cook. About two minutes before the talk, the translator showed up and I didn't translate. Anti-climatic I know. But I felt very grateful that Heavenly Father has answered my prayers and allowed me to learn the Spanish language. And that I was sitting so close to Elder Cook and his lovely wife...haha.

Other than that the week was pretty normal. We walked alot. I took some awesome pictures but I still wont be able to update them. Sorry. One day you will get to see how beautiful my area is haha. 

Also, I am beginning to buy souvenirs (is that spelled right?) so if there is anything in particular you would want let me know. Or some sort of idea.

What shop did Zach choose? Looks like dad has transformed my bedroom into a cockpit (you thought I wouldn't notice). And woo, Dad with two callings...excellent. Should be fun with Pete. 

Love you. Miss you!

Hermana Giossi

Not That America!

Monday January 20, 2014


Hello Family,

I laughed out loud imagining Nana running to find me in the States. Sorry for the false hope. I'm starting to adjust. My legs dont hurt anymore from all the climbing and I can do it much faster now. Its cold here. I mean its like 72 degrees. But I walk around with a sweater every night. Haha...I-m gonna die when I get home. 

I should probably tell you more about my companions. Hermana Garcia is from Guatemala. She's a convert of about 4 years. She is really humble and down to earth. She loves to cook, its kind of her thing and we don't touch it when shes helping the members in the kitchen. Hermana Merrell was trained by Hermana Sosa (who i trained), making her my granddaughter in the mission. She is awesome. Such a hard worker. Seriously she is keeping me working hard. And she is super obedient which makes life alot easier...it's hard having a disobedient companion. 

We are teaching some great people. One of our investigators owns a bakery. He always tells us that we are welcome and that it is our bakery too. The bread he makes is amazing...which isn't so amazing for my figure. Haha. I am so excited to start working out again when I get home. 

I am proud to hear of the spiritual progress the family is making. And I am so happy to hear that you are member missionaries. When I get home I dont want to stop being a missionary, you can let the sisters know that. The mission isn't just a year and a half...its forever. As we beocme converted our desire to share this gospel with others grows. I only wish I had been a better member-missionary before my mission. Haha. 

I love you all. I think about you often and pray for you always. Let the ward know that I love them! And tell the missionaries to keep up the good work. And thank them for their service. Thanks them for being there and giving their all to edify us. 

Hugs and kisses. 

Hermana Giossi

Friday, January 24, 2014

Mountains To Climb

Monday January 13, 2014



To my frozen family, 

I've also been feeling cold this week. I had changes and am no longer in San Miguel :( But I am in America (NOT THE US AMERICA). I had a exchange here about 8 months ago and since then I always felt that I would serve in this area. So I am happy to be here. I was worried about being out of shape when I got home. Well I think this area might help me. Its full of hills and lots of stairs. I basically go hiking in a skirt everyday. My legs are killing me haha. I am with two companions, one of them is my mission granddaughter, so that's pretty cool! 

I am also reading Jesus the Christ and loving it. I am learning so much that I didn't know about the Savior's life. I just found out that Hermana Glazier has a blog called "Children of the Same God" you should look it up :) 

I love you and miss you a ton! I pray for you always.

Hermana Giossi




Photos: Making pupusas with the other missionaries in the ward. There are two more sisters and the APs...it's fun. 

Oh, and could you look up the Mormon Messages video "Mountains to Climb" on lds.org. I watched it last week and would like it shared on my blog. Its really incredible.








Back in San Miguel

January 6, 2014



Did you not get the email from Hermana Glzier about the volcano? Oh well, like I said it was cool. I did not however like being taken from my area and being back in San Salvador. I felt like I had abandoned Gavidia. We came back here on Tuesday just in time for New Years. They sent us with masks and everything but when we got back there wasn't anything here...all the ash and smoke and everything went to the other side (toward San Salvador). 

We spent New Years with an investigator. She lives alone, her husband died 19 years ago and her children live in San Salvador. She made us "Panes con Pollo" and it was delicious. Then we went home and slept because I was beat! Traveling to and from SS takes alot out of you. 

Apparently the gases from the volcano are still in the air on the other side of the volcano and President took the 6 sisters that were serving there out of the area. So we are a trio again with Hermana Walstrohm from Peru. She is my first companion from South America. 

There are changes this week. I'm pretty sure that either Hermana Fuentes or I will be changed. We've been together for 5 months now and that almost never happens. I really want to stay here. I hope to finish my mission in this area actually. 

Things are going well. I am happy. This week I didn't take any pictures...sorry. But I will send you this one that I sent to Shelby. 

Also, could you start looking for job opportunities for me that would be awesome. 

I love you and miss you. Pray for you always. 

Hermana Giossi 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

All is well...All is well

December 30, 2013

Hello Family,

Well it has been an exciting week! Talking to you was great! A little
weird too though.

Hermana Fuentes and I had a week of little miracles. We worked hard to
turn our weaknesses into strengths and prayed everyday for the ability
to do so. And we saw it happen.

Then there is the miracle that is Katherine's baptism. I love this
little girl. She lives with her grandma because her mother basically
doesnt love her. She was supposed to be baptized this Saturday but
went to her village for Christmas and we didnt see her all week so she
couldn't have her interview. We decided to fast for her so that she
could be baptized this weekend...and it worked. Thanks to some
superhuman efforts from her uncle (who we have been re-activating) she
was able to be baptized Sunday morning at 7:30am right before church.
She was SO HAPPY when she came out of the water and had the biggest
smile on her face. And then Sacrament meeting was the primary program
so she bore her testimony. She almost cried saying " I know that Jesus
loves me . I'm so happy that I could be baptized this morning. Thanks
to my Uncle and the Hermanas." It was so sweet.



Then Sunday got really exciting. I'm pretty sure President wrote you a
letter, but if you don't know the Volcano in San Miguel erupted in the
middle of sacrament meeting. It wasn't that bad, no lava or anything
just a lot of smoke and ashes. President was close by and within
minutes they had a bus waiting to evacuate all of us missionaries. The
members where amazing and cared for us like their own children. We are
now all safe in San Salvador and will be working hard here until we
get the okay to return to San Miguel. Really I just want to go back. I
miss my area. I know that Heavenly Father was watching out for us and
that he really does protect His missionaries. NEVER in my life did I
imagine I would be fleeing from an errupting volcano but just another
adventure right? I promise that I'm fine...just a little cold...San
Salvador is chilly. haha.






I love you and miss you. You are always in my prayers.

Love,
Hermana Giossi

Christmas Time!

December 16, 2013

First, I'm totally for the Christmas in April idea...and I vote for the one in the dining room because it looks amazing! So warm and cozy! I loved the pictures...
On Tuesday we went to Presidents house to celebrate Christmas with him. (No my package wasn't there, I'll let you know when it comes). It was so fun, just like last year...I will send pictures when we get them. We ate ALOT of amazing, not greasy or super fatty foods, played games, and shared our testimonies of the Savior. It really is amazing to be a missionary in this time in the history of the church and also this time of year. I know it's weird that I will miss two Christmas at home but I really do enjoy it here.
Last night a whole bunch of members from the ward piled into a couple cars and we went Christmas caroling to the less-active members. I was SO happy! Seriously, I just felt so much joy. We also had made them small gifts and they let me give them to each member, it was so special. The people here don't have much but they have really big hearts.

We are teaching a little girl right now, she is 11 years old and very special. Her name is Katherine, she is the niece of a less-active member we have been working with. She also has an aunt who brings her to church every week, Ambar...shes amazing too, and an uncle in Bolive serving a mission right now. This little girl has a rough life. She lives with her grandmother and her aunts and uncles because her Mom doesn't love her, and denies being her mother. Rene (her uncle) told us that she loves meeting with us and going to church because it helps her forget the problems in her family. Last night we taught her and I asked her if she loved God and why and she said "Yes, because He loves me, and is always there for me when I feel sad and alone. When everyone else leaves, he never leaves and always loves me." We're hoping she can be baptized this month, the Primary President is helping us alot because she just loves this little girl.
I love this work. I love this Gospel and I work diligently to share it everyday. Most of all, I love my Savior and want to serve Him the best I can.
Love you,
Hermana Giossi


Noche de Luz


December 9, 2013

YOU WENT TO NEW YORK What!? But hey, there's always next year..just tell Andrew we're going to need space for 5 because I totally plan on being married by next Christmas...just kidding! Engaged maybe...also kidding. Single as always...not kidding. Looks like it was super fun! Zach is huge! What is happening? Also, loved the Elf on the Shelf gag! Pretty funny.  

I'm glad you got my package! it got there in less than 2 weeks...wow! I hope to see pictures of all of you in your matching jerseys...I feel like "Daddy looks jacked" means, "Daddy's fits really tight and mommy likes it" Hehe. 

Meanwhile here in El Salvador, I hit my 14 month mark as a missionary. It's weird. Definitely flying by way too fast. In this time I have forgotten a lot of things, English, the United States, what it is to be cold and what its like to wear pants in public. But on Tuesday we sang at a going away for the son of the Ramos Family (the rich one that feeds us all the time) and his parents bore their testimonies. I started thinking about home and how I just want to make you all proud. 

Remember how last year I talked about how these people celebrate everything. Here in San Miguel they celebrate more. We just got through all the craziness of Carnaval and this week we celebrated the "Night of the Lights". Everyone had huge BonFires in their yards, and were setting of fireworks...its was pretty cool. It rained a little but that couldn't kill the spirits of our neighbors...fireworks...all night. 

This week we also went caroling in the center of San Miguel as a district. I have sung alot in public as a missionary, maybe my voice is getting better...but I doubt it. 

When did you send my Christmas package?I am hoping to get it before Christmas so we can put stuff under the Tree (see photo), yes, we actually have a tree this year. I was not going to do the water jug thing again...fun as it was. Tomorrow we're going to President's house for the Christmas celebration (remember last year?) and next Tuesday to the Temple (to see the new movie)...so maybe I will be able to get it one of those days. 

Love you! Miss you! Talk to you soon.

Hermana Giossi


It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas




December 2, 2013

Its December, which means its Chirstmas time. And to welcome in the Christmas season its been a little chilly these last couple days. You're not going to believe this but I woke us these last couple mornings so cold that I didn't want to shower (we dont have hot water here so its not that fun to shower in the cold). One day it even got down to 74 degreess...hahaha. But seriously, I was cold. I started thinking about the weather back home in April...its not that warm-I'm going to freeze to death!

We did have changes this week, but I am still here in San Miguel. But I'm not in a trio anymore, just me and Hermana Fuentes...we're going to spend 6 months together! Hermana Martinez left for Argentina today, along with Hermana Sosa. So there goes 2 of my 3 mission-daughters haha. Anyway, this week was also CARNAVAL! So that was exciting! Not really it just meant we had to be in the house early. Spending all day in your house as a missionary isnt that fun. There's not a whole lot to do. We watched the Restoration in like 4 languages. I'm totally learing Portugese when I get back...its SO easy to understand!

I loved the pictures from this week! Alyssa is SO pretty. Uncle Jared looks like a lumberjack...or a Patriots lineman. I laughed until a cried looking at Daddy's photoshopped picture! You all look really cold.  Oh, last Monday we went to a fancy restaurant here. I ate lizard soup...so that was fun! Its not quite Nana's Thanksgiving Turkey but it was pretty good.

This week I was studying the blessings of the Atonement and started meditating about forgiveness. I have always thought about repentance and forgiveness as the way to clean ourselves from sin. But I started thinking about my dad and what it was like when I had to say "sorry" for something I had done to offend him. I did it not because I didn't want him to be mad at me but because I felt bad for making my dad sad. I realized we do the same thing to Heavenly Father when we sin. He is sad because we have disobeyed and offended him. When we repent we show our love for him and he forgives us with love and patience. I am so grateful for the Savior and his sacrifice so that I cant feel the love of my Father. 
Well, Im off to buy a Chirstmas tree, because I WONT be using water bottles again this year haha!

I'm doing great! I love this work!
Love you tons! 
Hermana Victoria Giossi

A Miracle in the Philippians

An email was received from Victoria this week but after reading the email I (Mom) sent to her regarding a miracle that happened in the Philippians during the awful Typhoon; she requested I post my email to her blog for this weeks entry. We hope you find this story as amazing and awe-inspiring as we did. God is present at all times!

November 18, 2013

You may have heard about the awful Typhoon that hit the Philippines recently. It has been devastating to see the destruction. Of course I have been following the stories of the 204 missionaries serving in the Tacloban Mission where the storm hit.

Well there is this amazing story of 10 Sister missionaries that were all staying in a 2 story apartment during the storm because they were told to come more inland as they had been on the coast. They did have their 72 hour kits etc. But by 5:00am the flood waters had risen so high it quickly was over their heads on the second floor - I can't even imagine. They were swimming trying to find a way out - some sisters couldn't swim so they were hanging on to other sisters. One sister was able to kick a hole in the flimsy wall and they made there way out but they were still swimming and the current was very strong! Those who couldn't swim were still hanging on to those that could. One sister threw a rope and managed to get it tied around a gutter so they could all get to safety on a roof top - They said the waters were rising so fast that soon it would be over the roof top - they prayed and in the prayer they asked that the flood waters would stop rising and in that moment nothing short of a miracle happened - they described as the sea just stopped and the waters stopped rising! I was just crying reading this. Finally all missionaries were accounted for after lots of miracles and coordinating - some scraping $$ together to take a boat - others walking for hours on end they got to the airport - the airport had massive holes blown out of the side of the walls - it didn't appear that they were going to be able to get out of the area (There were mission leaders or Zone leaders and Mission Presidents helping to coordinate it all) but the prospects looked grim when suddenly this happened - This is copy and pasted:

Some sisters, their feet blistered, could barely walk. The looting had become more severe, and the missionaries had heard rumors that prisoners at the jail, which had lost its electricity and its guards, had simply walked out. The assistants stood at the front and back of the long line of missionaries — dozens and dozens — as they made the long march to the airport.
As they walked, Elder Ardern tried to arrange a flight out. He had booked flights in Manila, but thousands of other survivors had mobbed the Tacloban airport. The ticket agent told him if he wanted a flight out, he’d have to pay more to get his 204 missionaries to safety.
As Elder Ardern tried other options, the missionaries milled about what was left of the airport terminal, its walls blasted out by the gale force winds of the storm. And then, a final miracle.
An Army sergeant with a C-130 airplane, assigned by the U.S. government to fly Americans out of the disaster area, said he had a feeling he should walk through the terminal one more time. As he did, he saw out of the corner of his eye what looked like the nametag of a Mormon missionary. The sergeant, a Mormon himself, asked if the missionary was American. When he said he was, the sergeant told him he could arrange flights out for all the Americans and foreigners in his C-130. 

This Sargeant managed to get all missionaries out.

Well my love I thought this story was awe-inspiring and just another example of Heavenly Father's Omnipotence and the power of Divine intervention.