A Thoughtful Gift

Sorella Kelly usually does the blog posts, but this one comes from her kids. We just wanted to thank all the missionaries who have supported our parents these last three years. They have worked with hundreds of amazing senior missionaries and younger missionaries. Your love and concern for them has meant so much to us.

We were very touched to read about the thoughtful gift that the mission office gave to our parents. A special thanks to the Steurers and Patriarch Calabrese who devoted so much time to creating this gift.

You can read more about this gift by reading Anziano and Sorella Steurer's blog.  http://steurersinitaly.blogspot.com/

A Person's Conversion is the Result of Many Fingerprints

I heard someone once say there are often "many fingerprints" on a person's conversion. The Savior is the "Light of the World" who offers salvation and peace to His children. He invites us to be "lower lights" to help bring others to Him. During my service in Italy, I have learned that the Savior often has more than one person be a "lower light" to an individual who is searching for His Gospel.

Two months ago, I received an impression. A faithful member in one of our branches had done something nice for our missionaries. The thought came that I should ask the  missionaries serving in the branch to express appreciation to this member by delivering flowers to her. These were faithful, obedient missionaries. They teach the Gospel at every opportunity. When picking up the flowers, they shared the Gospel with the florist. They invited her to learn about their message, and she accepted.

Two weeks ago, she was baptized, and I had the privilege of attending her baptism. It was a wonderful and spiritual service. She has now shared the Gospel with her friends, and two of her friends now have scheduled to be baptized.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, we read: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." In missionary work, many people play a role in a person's conversion. There are many "fingerprints" when a person is baptized. I asked the missionaries to express appreciation to someone; the missionaries followed through and then boldly invited the florist to learn about the Gospel; and members provided support and encouragement. In the Lord's work, we are all on the same team. We should never care who gets the credit for a baptism. The credit always goes to the Savior, because it is His Gospel. I am grateful that He allowed me to play a small role in helping to bring His Gospel to another person.

---Sorella Kelly

Senior Couples Dinner and New Missionaries

Senior missionary couples greatly bless our mission.  We are so thankful for these wonderful couples who have joined us in the Italy Rome Mission.  Senior couples help in so many ways.  They help with member support, military relations, young adult programs, teaching English, inspecting apartments for younger missionaries, teaching seminary and institute, helping in the office and I could go on and on.  They make a huge difference, especially with our mission being so large geographically.  The young missionaries love working with the senior missionaries.  We really are a "mission family."  Here is a photo of some of our senior missionaries at  the mission home. We love all of our senior couples so much.  Thank you for all you do and thank you for choosing to serve a mission! 

On June 12, our mission was blessed with 23 new missionaries from the Provo MTC. What a wonderful group! They are so bright and capable, and we are sad our mission service will overlap with them for only a few short weeks. President and Sorella Waddoups will love this group of new missionaries.