Wednesday, October 23: bittersweet

October 23, 2024

Wednesday, 23 October 2024: bittersweet

If bittersweet was a week it would most definitely be this one.

This Sunday was a miracle. It was the senior couple, the Hanna's, last sunday and I think the full chapel made it obvious what a huge impact they have made here in Oristano. 30 people in church and 8 non-members!!! For the first time in a year Anziano Hanna put out two sacrament trays:). The Spirit was so strong and the chorus of voices singing I know that my Redeemer Lives might have just been the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I love our little branch

The Coppia Hanna have been a home away from home and they will be sooo missed. Something that has always stuck out to me is that even with the language barrier how much the people here love Sorella Hanna. If you've ever met her you would know her bright smile makes everyone happy everywhere she goes. People can feel her love and God's love through her and it has been such a blessing to know her and serve with her!

Miracle number TWO of the week came when we set our friend Alessandro on baptismal date for December!!!!! This is a huge miracle because we met him on the street literally one week ago!! He grew up Catholic, then became Buddhist, but said he felt an emptiness in his life. We had a lesson with him and our amazing member missionary Bobò, and you could see joy just flood into Alessandro's life as we gave him the church tour and explained the covenant of baptism! It was so special! He is so prepared and I know God has big things in store for him.

Miracle number three. Sorella Hanna's brother who recently passed away gave her some money to take the branch to the temple. After lots and lots of coordination, work, and a huge miracle, 8 members of our branch were able to take a trip to the temple together. Tuesday was a very special day at the Rome temple as well as in heaven as work was done and families were sealed for eternity

(also they got to see Sorella Taylor hehe).

The bitter of the bittersweet came from transfer calls where I found out I will be leaving my Oristano.

This place and these people are so special. They have taught me what pure Christlike love looks like and that has changed me forever. As Sorella Hanna said in her testimony: these will be days never to be forgotten

After mission conference in Rome this week with Elder Stevenson (!!!!! yayyy more on that next week!!!!) I'll be heading to mainland Italy to the coastal city of Pescara! Thank goodness I'll still get my runs by the sea

This week I was studying the lyrics to the song "come thou fount of every blessing" because I played it on sunday in sacrament meeting. One line I absolutely love is

"Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee."

I learned that a fetter is a chain, usually put around the ankles of prisoners. We are each prisoners, singing this song to our Savior Jesus Christ. He has rescued us from danger, and through His precious blood set us free from the chains of sin and death. Yet as our hearts change and we come to know our Savior on a deeper level we will want to use those chains, those fetters, to bind ourselves to Him. This process of giving our heart to Jesus Christ is life changing. I testify that there is no other profession, degree, addiction, sport, anything that will bring you the joy that comes from giving your heart to Jesus. Give it to Him. He will take it and seal it for the courts above.

<3 Sorella McCune