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

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.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/198?v=2176618422001http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-c

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 

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