Week 2 in Gulf Breeze

Dearest family-

So yesterday we (Elder Sanders, Elder Parsons, and of course me and my companion) all spoke in church. It went well and I was grateful for the opportunity to speak before the ward so that everyone could see who we were and get to hear our testimonies. Afterwards we had a line of people coming up to talk to us and we even got 2 referrals on the spot!!! So that made our day haha. but really...we also had an awesome lesson with the Lemery family for dinner get this- Sister Lemery is a returning less active after 9 years and Brother Lemery is a nonmember but we had no idea because he comes to church every sunday! 

  They are a BEAUTIFUL family- we love them so much. They have 2 little girls, Ethne who is 5 and Clarissa who is 3 :) they could not be cuter!! They danced for us, and showed us all their little treasures and then after dinner we were singing primary hmns with them and we were singing and teaching them all the hand motions to "The wise man and the foolish man" song and they LOVED it, they were singing with all their might and their dad came in and just sat there watching us interacting with them and he had the most beautiful look of wonderment, peace, and love in his eyes. It was a really beautiful moment i'll never forget- the spirit was there. Afterwards we had a lesson on how the gospel blesses families from preach my gospel and we gave them the Family Proclamation to the World. The whole time we were teaching the Lemery's sat listening smiling at each other and holding hands. We are praying to touch brother Lemery and get him baptized before they move to Utah! I dont know when it will happen, but I know it will because this little family is so beautiful and so in tune with the Spirit. Sister Lemery really wants to get back into the Church for her kids sake and they are doing FHE every monday! We felt so blessed to be with them.

So because today is memorial day all the libraries are closed so we are emailing at a members house right now, the Stubbs and they are too cute! Theyre a young newlywed couple that we are pretty much best friends with already! 

   Also Haley- I wanted to say congratulations on graduating!! I wish i could've been there or at least called and talked to you but know I am thinking of you and am RIDICULOUSLY proud of you and excited for you- I am literally your biggest fan and have so much faith in you. I cannot wait to hear about all your college experiences and wish the best in your swim experiences, the best friends, the best guy friends, the best classes, the best student ward, all of it!! and your roommate sounds awesome- ah! So excited for you. Love you hale. Cant wait to laugh my head off with you again too :)

   Me and sister treiber continue to become best friends- I took her out tracting saturday night haha and man what an experience!! We had one woman totally rip our heads off- not gonna lie it was rough! Sister treiber cried :( But we said a prayer and moved on. Then later we had a man approach us in awe of what we were doing. He couldn't believe we were going door to door like that to share a message of Christ and of truth and of the gospel. He said, "what are you?" we told him who we were and he told us about his life and he is a retired marine- we explained that we are Christians and tha we believe in both the Bible and Book of Mormon- he was so touched, his countenance was so softened. We gave him a pass along card with our number and referred him to mormon.org to learn more and if he has any questions to call us! He jokingly asked us to help him weed so we are thinking that we are going to go back and surprise him by weeding his lawn and then give him a lesson after haha brilliant trade off right?! Anyways- it was a great experience to follow our hard one and I know it was a good learning experience for both sister Treiber and myself. 

  The Church is true- that is why we can have the confidence to share it like we do because truth is truth is truth is truth- people will feel it and know it too if they have a humble heart and are truly searching for truth. 2 Nephi 32:20 talks about how important holding out hope is- we have hope because of christ- christ has overcome the world. Hope gives us the power to endure even through times of trial and adversity when it feels like God isn't listening or that we will never see the attainment of our dreams and desires. But we will- as we remain faithful even without seeing the fulfillment of our dreams and hold out that hope- God will grant us the righteous desires of our heart after the trial of our faith (ether 12:4-6). 

   Oh! and I got a letter from Chelsea Rosendahl this week!! made me so happy haha so chelsea if youre reading this I love you SO MUCH and I am writing you today :} and I got Amanda's letter too!! I am writing you too cuz! love you- cant believe you are graduating!  And my beloved Chelsie Brown I know is getting married this week so please family be there since I can't! I love and think of all my friends and love hearing from you. Got Lindsey's play CD too and it was precious I loved it! And dad- this friday at zone conference I am singing "come thou fount" in honor of you for fathers day. I love you all so much. Things are still very busy but I like the fast pace.

  The southern heat is really picking up now since we are now closer to Alabama and on Wednesday I got heat stroke  we both got sick but we drank lots and we are starting to adjust to the humid 98 degree weather- somewhat! haha I really love these people though. I am learning so much. Also! we have our first baptismal date for Taven Hernandez June 29th! he's the 9 year old boy I was talking about last email. He is precious. Hope all is well hope to hear from you soon!

Much love Sister Bertoldo

*funny of the week*

We were fed a plantain and ground beef CHEESE casserole with green beans by an elderly woman this week and haha poor Sister Treiber threw up when we got home so then I did too because hearing her sent me over the edge!! It was hilarious- then the lady told me I looked like Jennifer Aniston so I was all flattered and she looked at Sister Treiber and said and you look like....(sister treiber was all excited) Mona Lisa! haha we tried so hard not to laugh haha. Also we went biking and I fell flat on my face, in a skirt, with a helmet on..all pride gone haha the end. I included a picture of our biking adventure! also note the poster in the background- we made a giant spiritual quote board we add to it everyday :)

Gulf Breeze

Dearest Family <3

It's crazy to think I have been out almost 4 months now...time feels so different on the mission! Much has happened since last Monday- in fact it feels like a lifetime ago!! 

To start I have to tell you about my new companion, my "greenie"- I LOVE her!! Her name is Sister Treibar, and get this- she's from BYU and she lived at Alpine Village with me!!! We were almost in the same ward!! She is a cheer coach and majoring in Physical Education and coaching so we get along soooo well- everyone thinks we are sisters because we look so similar haha and she is HILARIOUS! man does she make me laugh :) we are planning on rooming together post mission to finish up our last 2 years. What a blessing to have her! She is also a spiritual rock. 

   Here in Gulf Breeze everyone is in the Army, Air Force, Navy or the Marine- it's the coolest thing. Many families we meet are mothers and children with their husbands deployed for months at a time- here it is all about strengthening the women and children and me and Sis. Treibar are touched inspired and honored to be working with such brave and faithful women!! 

   The Bishop here is amazing- his name is Bishop Clark and he is a fulltime seminary and institute teacher for the church so his knowledge of the scriptures is UNREAL!! I love it- he really pushes us and missionary work. He has a different and inspired approach- instead of going out tracting, he wants us teaching members so that every member of the ward is a missionary and they provide the people and referrals for us, so that way anyone we teach will not fall away because they will already have a friend and fellowshipper in the ward! I think its amazing- very inspired, but it will take some getting used to so we are praying to learn and become effective and fruitful servants for the members and people here. We do a lot more teaching and lessons here than in Destin (which will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart and all the people there who I will see again someday) so as a missionary- I am happy about that!!! We are BUSY BUSY BUSY BUSY from morning til night. We also have the area split with the Gulf Breeze Elders! Elder Sanders (the tall blonde one) who is also the District Leader, and Elder Parsons, the missionary he is training. Bishop Clarke doesn't want 4 missionaries- he wants "400"! that's the number of members in the ward here. He is very passionate- all 4 of us have been asked to speak on Sunday- my topic is "hope" :) you know I love that topic- so hopefully that goes well!! 

    We have been tirelessly working on color-coding and getting to know the roster, filling our phone with all the contacts and getting to know the area- it's A LOT of work!! But its really coming along- I look forward to getting down to the missionary work part of it all!! We are already teaching a boy "Taven" who is 9 years old and trying to prepare for baptism. What a joy and privelage it is to teach a child the discussions!! It's an entirely new and different experience. I feel blessed and excited to be here and working with such a ward, bishop, women, companion, and Elders. The intensity is really amped but I know thast the Lord is at the head of this work so He will lead us on in it!! 

   I love you all so much. My new address is 7730 Navarre Pkwy #107 Navarre, FL 32566 I look forward to getting letters. A walmart gift card would be greatly appreciated!! We are lacking many basic supplies in our apartment and its costing a small fortune :/ thank you for your prayers and support my beloved family- I depend on them in this new area with so many new peoplel. 

These pictures are of my last day in Destin (it was a perfect calm day, I cried it was so beautiful) and also one of my new companion Sister Treibar and our GB Elders! I always think of Jared with so many military men and men of god- he would love it out here. Love you all so much. all ya'll. just kidding :)

<3 Sister Bertoldo

Saying Goodbye to the Smarts

Saying goodbye to Sister Barton

Saying goodbye to Sister Johnson 

Saying goodbye (tearful!) to Claira and Cynthia

Getting Transferred!!

Dearest Family-

 

  First of all- what a joy it was to talk to all of you yesterday!! Mom- happy mothers day. I love you and think the world of you. my dearest friend and greatest teacher. And dad- happy birthday again. I look up to you in every way and always have. you are my rock. 

  So yes- big news!!! I am getting transferred to Gulf Breeze. It's still right on the coast and beautiful but it does not have the touristy quality of Destin. I am getting a new sister missionary straight from the MTC to train, and we will be whitewashing the area. I will be one busy little missionary!!!! I can't wait for the new challenges, experiences, and people that I know I will grow to love as I serve and teach and work with them. It is hard to leave the people here that I have grown to love so much- I am being bombarded with branch members calling to say goodbye and wanting to take us to lunch and dinner and breakfast before I leave!!! So touching-  there are many people I have to say goodbye to before I leave- all of their faces flashed through my mind when I learned I was being transferred so that was hard. I got a weeeee bit emotional ha but I ran to the bathroom and said a prayer and was flooded with instant peace and excitement. So I know all will be well- I am in the Lords hands and He has led me safely thus far so I know He will continue to do so. The crazy thing is that I had a feeling I was being sent to Gulf Breeze- I could feel it- when President said the name my heart just lept! But i do sooo love Destin and the people here- I will never forget them or my time here and I will always treasure it. I will send my new address as soon as I have it! 

   It will be hard to say goodbye to everyone here, I know that the most important thing in this life and the next is the relationships we have and make with other people. They are Eternal. That is where we can obtain our greatest source of joy- my mission has only further taught me that. 

   Earlier this week we went to the nursing home for mother's day and sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" to an elderly woman named Nettie. It was beautiful- she just closed her eyes and tears streamed down her face as we sang. She soaked it in like a sponge- this frail old woman at the end of her life- it was so beautiful, I will never forget that experience. Among us singing was Sister Smartt who I love DEARLY and Cynthia Hoffer, and Jeannie Simmons. My beloved Jeannie :) oh how I love those women. 

   Also this week we met with a big giant mormon family from Salt Lake visiting before their son Dallin leaves for his mission in July and we got to take family pictures for them!! It was so fun- they have 9 kids!! I loved being in their home- it felt like being home with all of you. I included some of the pictures we took with them and for them :) Also included are pictures of the tiny little frogs and another big toad I found and fell in love with! Destin is heaven- and the people here I have come to know and love only make it harder to leave. I feel so blessed to have been here and serve with these people. I will come back one day!

 

All my Love,

Sister Bertoldo

Saying Goodbye to Sister Decker 

Cooper Family

 Pink house that made me think of Stacey - it was so cute!

A Week of Small and Simple Things

Dear Family-

 

   This week was one full of "small and simple things" that brought to pass great things. On friday during our library service, the manager asked me if I would help a woman at the computer to fill out her online order. I went over and helped her, and as I did she kept asking me all these questions about my nametag, my name and the Church- wow it was almost like a missionary moment or something!! haha welllllll good thing I'm a missionary :) She said,"Sister BERTOLDO? Ha! you can't be an Italian AND mormon- I've never heard of such a thing!" (I've found the name "Bertoldo" leaves quite and impression on people, its apparently quite the statement name and conversation starter, more than I had thought!) I happily launched right in to explaining who I am, what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is, and how I came to serve a mission. She was an older woman, named Jean, from Brooklyn New York. She was a nurse all her life. I told her all about Grandma and she was THRILLED at all the similarities and she glowed with pride when I told her she reminded me of Grandma! She said, "Oh hun, you're so kind, so kind." It was adorable. She told me her whole life story. I always love meeting new people because I love that moment when they see they can trust me and then everything shifts from stranger to friend, and when that happens they then confide in me the precious details of their life. I love that. I cherish that moment with every new person I meet. I call it "Stranger to friend conversion". Basically- she was riveted because she didn't know the "mormon" faith is Christian.  After a lengthy conversation, she said- "I want to see you again- you look so happy." She said she has been watching us come here every Friday and when she asked the library who we were they told her that we were Mormon missionaries, so that's why she had asked the manager to have me help her- she said, "I was curious- very curious. And I still am! I want to know more." Oh! how those words are music to my ears! haha on the mission those are the best words to hear, "I want to learn more." She will be coming in every Friday to talk. Small thing- big potential. 

   Also- Wednesday I woke up with a fever and sore throat. Allergies and summer fever is going around right now, its a southern thing I guess, and apparently I caught it. We had a long list of appointments that day that I didn't want to cancel on so I just prayed and asked Heavenly Father to remove this from me as fast as possible. I was all stressed out inside, and went to bed with every fan on in the apartment. When the members heard I was sick (I don't know how, I didn't tell them) I was overwhelmed with their love. Truly it really touched me. When I woke up there were several texts and messages from members in the branch calling to see how I was feeling. I was shocked! Also, Beverly Henry, a sweet older lady in our branch brought me over some homemade chicken and veggie soup, all organic- I was so touched and felt so loved. She said, "Well all my grandchildren are gone, I consider you my granddaughter who's sick!" It was such a tender mercy from the Lord, and I was so overwhelmed with gratitude towards these members that I love so much and their love for me- the next day my fever was gone and we went to work all day. Again, small thing, but big blessing. 

   One of the families we are teaching has a son, Matt, who is in a wheelchair for life due to a severe car accident 3 years ago. He is trying hard to come back to church. He is my dear friend, I have come to love and respect him immensely, and his family. He is truly making so much progress- he is working towards the priesthood and receiving his patriarchal blessing. I am so proud of him. His 23rd birthday was this Friday, he had tried to keep it a secret from us, but we were having dinner with him and his family the night before (he had bought us both a steak and grilled it for us himself- it was so sweet!!!) and his mom let it slip!! haha oh yes- there was no way we were not going to give him a birthday surprise. To make a long story short- we found him a camo cake because he loves hunting and was planning on being a navy seal before the accident, and we made him a really awesome card. We dropped it off at his house the next day and he was so surprised :) again- little thing- great importance.

Dad- Happy Birthday!!!! I love, love, love you. :) I hope you had a great Birthday. I will be calling Sunday afternoon for mom on mothers day and I can't wait!! Mom I love love love you too. After hearing of Grammy's little hspital visit please know I prayed and always pray for her. I love her so much- please give me Grammy's address so I can write her and know how she is doing.

I know the Lord works by small and simple means (Alma 37:6) to bring to pass great things. Let us always do those things. I know God lives and hears and answers our prayers. He also uses us to answer other people's prayers if we are listening. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. I know the scriptures are the words of God- The Bible, The Book of Mormon, all of it. I am grateful for these people here and their love. I am grateful for you, my friends and family back home!

 

Love,

 Sister Bertoldo

My district