Okay,
this week was insane!!!! So first, Sorella Burkman and I are becoming
very close and will definitely be friends for life. We have many of the
same characteristics and her favorite Disney Princess is also
Pochohantas (what up, I cant spell) so we are a match made in President
Wolfgramm's office and in Heaven. We laugh through the frustrations and
are patient with our weaknesses. We grow each day together and it has
been a wonderful blessing to our companionship. She also sleep testifies
in Italian so who does't love that?!?
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| Sister Burkman and I |
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| I made waffles with Nutella for my kid! |
Adventure #1) last wed night, we met with Emilio
(branch mission leader) at the church. After we walk out, Sorella
Burkman starts dying with laughter and points. I look to see STAUNCH
NAKED italian man sitting in the middle of the road that leads into the
chapel!!! Yes, in all his earthly glory, he is blocking our only way
out. Thankfully a few minutes later he gets up, walks a few feet and
puts pants on. Now is our time to escape. We quickly dawn the helments,
and make a run for it, meanwhile Emilio cant even say goodbye he is
laughing so hard. So he has a Chester Molester van parked two feet away
from the gate, we must close. As we go by he looks at me and says
something. This is what happened....
Creepy man: mumbling in italian and looking at us
Sorella Alley: ignoring him
Sorella burkman: "Sorella, what did he say?"
Sorella Alley: "He asked if we wanted to come look in his van....RIDE FAST!"
After
further discussing the situation, we concluded that his man had obvious
just killed a man in the forest, had to remove his bloody clothes and
had stopped for a few minutes of lovely sunbathing before escaping the
scene. I love this country.
Adventure #2: Remember Joy?! the wonderful Nigerian
woman with the crazy awesome testimony that we found and started
teaching about 2 weeks into the first transfer? Well, Last thursday
night rolls around and we get a call from her. "I want to be baptized tomorrow
or I cant until October because of work". So we scramble to plan a
baptism and between the communication barrier managed somehow pull off a
baptism on Friday
night! However, turns out that a six foot woman doesnt get baptized
easily in 1 foot of water in a 4 by 4 font. 7 dunks later, she is a
member of the church! woo woo!!!! I have been there with her from the
very beginnging and it was amazing to see the change in her life and too
see how happy she was after being baptized. No better feeling in the
world.
Adventure #3: Paolo - the investigator from prison
who has a heart of gold. We taught him before the baptism and because he
is from Napoli, I have a VERY difficult time understanding him and
sorella Burkman doesnt understand anything. So we have a member present
who translates his italian into english and we respond in our italian.
Paolo had said that he doesnt believe that if Christ was truly sinless
He would willingly take on the sins of the world and espeically not his
(Paolo's) personal sins. Well, my heart literally almost broke and I
testified of the Atonement and the selfless love Christ has for each of
us individually. I suppressed the tears but boy were my eyes swimming.
As the fantastic companion she is, sorella burkman also testified and
the tears flowed freely. The Spirit in that room was so strong I could
have literally cut through it. I have never felt anything like that
before. Paolo visibly changed that lesson and the light of Christ shined
(shown? Showned?) a little brighter in his eyes. This is why I am a
missionary. It is weird to look across the table from a man I barely
know and feel 100% love for him. Missionary work is incredible.
Adventure #4: This Monday
night, I found out what I was called to Milan Italy, and to Rimini.
This is how I came to this knowledge. Sorella Burkman, me and an awesome
member Emmanuele, were at the church waiting for an appointment. He
never came. Emmanuele offerred to teach us a little Italian and sortly 5
minutes later, The heavens opened up and egg-yoked size hail began
dropping everywhere. Then followed the crazyiest rainstorm I have ever
seen. Suddenly we notice water seeping in from under the doors. Do you
understand the signficiance of this event. I am an Alley. For 21 years, I
have been a faithful member of the Alley Family Flooding Bucket
Brigade. I spring into action!!!! in just a few minutes the inside of
the church had flooded to foot of water!!!!! Fast, but no fast enough
for the 3 of us!!! We litterally ran from room to room, frantically
unplugging everything and lifting everything up to higher ground. A few
things were destroyed but we saved most everything! So yes, everything
the basement has flooded, has prepared me to save the Chapel in Rimini.
Mom, doesnt that bring you peace. Dad, you would have been so proud.
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| Editors note: The Alley Family Flooding Bucket Brigade is an established and well practiced organization. We drill regularly and prevent major disasters on a regular basis. Please do not attempt without adult supervision. |
So, Life in Rimini is wonderful. We are currently
underwater but life is better as a fish. Also, its fun to push tons of
smart cars through waste high water...little floating chitty chitty bang
bangs.....
Just keep swimming.....
Sorella Alley
Saying goodbye to the Wolfgramms. I am going to miss them so much!
This is Carmine. He is 100% blind but plays the accordion like a rockstar. SO COOL!
yes, a bug...becca this is for you. Argentina will probably have these also
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