Hello once again from the land of leathery-skin, pomodoros and mozzarella!

What a strange week it has been! I shall explain. Sorella Ervin, the 3rd companion, was dropped off to us last Thursday. Friday, we spent all day preparing for the furniture to be dropped off and cleaning the cantina (a garage downstairs). Very important minuscule details seem to get lost between missionaries because I was never told we had a cantina. We opened it up and grazie al aqua (thanks to the flood) we had a month ago, everything was moldy and soaked still! The land lord refuses to throw anything away so we spent all Friday cleaning and combating the mold. Saturday, we spent all morning putting furniture together as we are now proud owners of ikea bunkbeds. We are now comfortably and frigidly (THANK YOU AC) sleeping 3 in a room.

"The first picture of the 3 of us. Sorella Alley, Ervin and Burkman.
This picture describes how this transfer will most likely turn out."

"A portrait of Mother and Daughter. Doesn't she just sparkle?!"

It's transfer day...

Calm your horses, actually dont, ride em like in honor for me! Transfer news tutti!

After painfully waiting 36 hours longer than normal, the news came. I will be staying in Rimini with Sorella Burkman. We were absolutely thrilled to hear this! We had the best transfer together and it flew by. Then came the second part of the news, we are adopting! Yes, we are getting one, just one, additional sorella. Hahaha this makes three in our companionship! This will be an adventure because 3  people fit on the park benches where we teach most of our lessons, now with 3 sorelle........i do believe i will be one cheeking in for the next 6 weeks. Hello toned future thighs....We will be receiving Sorella Irwin, who is the same transfer as me. I know her from the MTC and  she is an opera singer. Guess who cant hit note, well you all know, so I wont be singing for the next 6 weeks either! haha but She was trained by Sister Emily Stewart so that is fun! 1st warders of the stake unite! 

In other news, a few miracles we saw this week. 

Hello from the land of scantily clad tourists, sweet smelling pastries, mouth-watering gelato, sweaty missionaries, and catholics!

 

 

 

Let us all start off with a laugh, shall we?! This week's edition of "What Ridiculous Thing did Sorella Alley Say!" 

Let me set the stage. 

It is Sunday morning, approximately 11:00 am and I am looking forward to a delightful, relaxing sacarament meeting. Sorella Burkman and I are seated on the front row. During the opening song, Fratello Andy, a counselor in the branch presidency, makes his way towards me. In my head begins the famous movie anthem JAWS. nahhhh nah, naaAAAHHHH NAAHHH, NAHAHAHAHA. He quickly states that I will be sharing my testimony about missionary work when he so indicates. An innocent little fish swimming along, suddenly trapped in Jaws. 

Emilio (branch mission leader) and Emanuale (our third companion) gave wonderful talks about missionary work and that Sorella Burkman and I are powerful missionaries. They set the stage perfectly for my grand entrance. Fratello Andy: "Sorella Alley will now share her testimony"

Heart literally jumping up my throat, I manage to drag myself the two feet to the podium, silently pep talking myself, "Oh Sorellla, che la faccio! (I CAN DO IT!!!!) No worries, I will speak from the heart and let the Spirit testify!"

All eyes on me, silence throughout the land. 

"Buon Giorno Fratelle e Sorelle! Sono molte eccitazione di essere qui! con voi" 

Spoken like an angel...if only I hadn't said....

La mia carissima famiglia e amici

Let's start with the 4th of July. We spent the day as normal missionaries and then we went with Emanuele, his dad Paolo and his beautiful little sister Elena to American Grafiti. We walked in and immediately Sorella Burkman and I were transported back to the land of red, white and blue. We ate wonderful hamburgers, onion rings and oreo milkshakes while listening to the best of american country songs. My heart was huge with pride and it was a fantastic celebration. 

American Graffiti for the 4th of July!

Hamburgers!
Editor's Note: When I told Christine she looked radiant she responded with, "Sweat and humidity are good for the skin. Who knew!?!?"

      So Sunday was horrendous. Some days I just understand more Italian than on other days and Sunday was definitely an off day. IN relief society, I was asked to translate and couldn't keep up with the 7 Italian woman arguing....so i just instead made up my own lesson and talked to the sweet woman from Canada. God bless Canadians but America is still better :) We had a less active come who was shall we say, a bit woozy, ending up making a huge disturbance during sacrament, and being asked to leave. He has since decided he doesn't want to be Mormon because we aren't Christians....people drugs and alcohol are bad....stupid Satan. We left church feeling like utter failures and down in the dumps. Thankfully to a few members who invited us to lunch, we felt loved. I love the members here in Rimini. 

    Oh, I almost forgot! We met President Dibb and Sorella Dibb last Wednesday. I really like them already. In my interview with President Dibb, he said that my future holds a lot of training opportunities.....yikes! 

"3 generations of missionaries :) Daughter-Mother-Grandmother!"

But we have 3 miracle lessons on Monday! All were in English (no that is not the miracle, haha) but we left some super strong testimonies with them and spiritually face punched them! We came home feeling so happy and content to be missionaries. Lesson learned: After enduring sucky Sunday, we were rewarded with miracle Monday! 

But can I just tell you I have the best companion in the world. Thankfully, she was keeps me laughing at we have become such good friends. (Hi Nancy, Sorella Burkman says hi since you are probably reading this somewhere....hehehe) Let me share a few of our conversations this week....

Burkman:"Where are the famous Romans from? Like Julius Cesar"

Alley, "Uhhhh Rome, like Italy. 3 hours south of us...."

Burkman: "Oh my gosh!!! REALLLY?!?!"

Alley; "Are you being serious?"

BUrkman: "what I didnt do well in school"

.........5 minutes later........

Burkman: ''Are the greeks from Rome too?" 

I love her. 

Also, Italians are very blunt. haha they say anything and everything...

this includes fat jokes.....haha 

Pace Fouri (peace out)

Sorella Alley

"This is a Olivia, a new convert with a heart of gold and the testimony to stop a lion! "

"Sorella Burkman has a cool little talent called the inchworm. I witnessed for the first time last night and I have never been so happy...."

4th di Luglio.....

Happy wonderful 4th of July friends and family!!!!!!!! 

What a wonderful occasion to be writing all my dear folks back in the USA. Today, sorella burkman and I are rocking the red, white, and blue. We sang every patriotic song in the English Hymnbook, enjoyed some nice pancakes, and will indulge in meal of hamburgers and milkshakes tonight at a shop called American Grafiti. There is no land like the soil of America and I miss the freedoms we enjoy. Although, i almost cried to here the Supreme Court legalized "alternative marriages" and it does seem that the original values that made America the home of the free and brave are now being tossed aside, I am proud to be an American. And Mitt still should have won. Dang it.

However, I am slowly becoming Italian.

I love boxed milk. 

How strange. TO all you siblings that complained about how horrid it is, what is wrong with your taste buds? Maybe it is the fact that I am in Italy and I am pretty sure the asphault would taste good. But I am becoming quite the cook and am going to bedazzle you all with my abilities to cook when I get home! Sorella Burkman and I have decided it is better to experiement our cooking on each other instead of on all our poor future husbands. This week I made stir fry from a frozen soup package that turned out mighty fine. Sorella Burkman made some mustard and brown sugar chicken, which was also delicious. This week, we are trying homemade french fries!

Companions: Can you tell we like each other?

Truck: Italian Style

SOOOOOO we are refocusing our attention from find investigators (rather difficult to do when you can talk fast enough to grab anyones attention) to building relationships with the members! This Monday we spend the day with Emilio and Ilaria, and 2 other members at the place where they have girls camp and boyscout. Basically it is a huge open field behind some members property in a little town. We hiked around and spent the day in the Italian countryside. It was a wonderful day full of fun and laughter. 

How a story for all your language-learners-or-learned. On SUnday we shared our thoughts about temple work with the Canuti Family. I said, "I believe that when we do the ordinances for the dead, each person becomes our personal angel." Deep, right?! Yes, well it could have been had I not said, "I believe that when we do the ordinances for the dead, each person becomes our personal sheep". Yup, still killing peoples testimonies here in ITaly. Later, one asked me why they become sheep after we do their temple work. hahaha F.A.I.L Sorella Burkman and I now believe Heaven is just full of sheep running around everywhere doing good works. 

It is also way hot here, so dont feel bad Salt Lakers. Its close to 90 F but 100% humidity. Slap a-way-to-small helmet on good ol thinker and guess what happens to my head? yup, I constantly have a red intent that is sweaty. Love being a missionary!

A truck caught fire right in front of the chapel!

Latest edition of Gospel Principles learned from a bike! 

1) use hand signals, no matter how uncool it may be.

          These hand signals are like our standards. People may mock but they let people know where we are going (heaven) and how we are going to get there (following the commandments!). THis also helps when a crazy italian cuts you off and you want to use a certain hand signal....swallow the anger and keep on biking.

2) Always wear your helmet.

          Helmets are like Garments; not the most attractive thing to be wearing but definitely the most protective and safe. 

3)When you get bugs in your eyes, blink hard.

        When you sin or mess up, repent immediately! Address the problem and your spiritual eyes will be clean again.

God bless America, share the gospel, eat some apple pie, don't wash colors with whites, and wake up happy in the morning.

sorella alley!!!

On P-day we took a hike through the gorgeous Italian wilderness

Editor's Note: Nothing says Italian men like white capris.

Emmanuele surprised us with Chinese food!!! It was delicious