Ciao tutti!

Shall we just jump right in? This week has been incredible- full of exhilarating highs and devastating lows. Mission emotions are wack people, but they make me a better missionary so I can deal with them. 

Just another beautiful night in Rimini:

Miracle 1) Abraham is a friend of Sunny, a convert of almost a year. Both are from Nigeria and we all know how much I like black friends. Well, we have been working with Abraham since June because unlike most Nigerians, he had no concept or foundation of Christ. We have taken lessons extremely slow and meet 2-3 times a week. This week we reviewed the gospel with him and asked him to pray at the end. Usually this process takes 10 minutes to convince him to pray but this time he knelt and gave a simple and probably 10 sec prayer. Then he jumps to his feet and like a crazy man starts flapping his arms while spinning yells, "I have got the Spirit of God in me and it feels GOOD!" Then like its no bid deal he does a black flip!!! Sorella Burkman and I just looked at each other in amazement. Abraham felt the spirit for the first time and he accepted a baptism date! As my many African friends say "By God's grace, hallejuiah!" 

Miracle 2) You are probably tired of hearing about Luisa but for real's she is my home girl. On Saturday Sorella Burkman and I found a dress for her and after purchasing it we literally skipped to her house. We gave a lesson about the Touch of the Master's Hand and at the end we had her close her eyes because we had a surprise. She looks me dead in the eyes and says "You better not have spend any money on this old woman". After reassuring her that I didn't, we pulled out her dress. Her reaction was priceless. She immediately put it on over her clothes and wouldn't stop stroking it. At this point I am biting back the tears and she says the closing prayer, thanking Heavenly Father for sending her two american miracles who could help her feel important and cared about. We left and the tears exploded! Luisa has taught me that I cannot give up on anyone. The love of Christ - the pure, undeniable, selfless love - changes lives. I love this woman with complete charity. Oh ps, she just finished reading the BoM. Took her less than 2 months. You go girl, you go! 

"introducing Luisa Ricchi!!!!!"

"We now call her Nonna Luisa and she chastizes us for spending money
on her but we cannot help it, she is our grandma!"

Miracle 3) Sunny, as mentioned above, is a fantastic convert. He studies the Bible and the BoM everyday and loves to meet with us. We met with him yesterday and we shared a message about the Rock of the Redeemer. He has been fighting some strong temptation lately and as I sat and listened my mind was completely clear and I shared my testimony that the Lord will never abandon our side. It is a beautiful thing to see the Spirit working in other people but it may be even more beautiful to feel the Spirit working in you. I love being a missionary because of moments like this - the spirit takes over and takes me, a quirky and simpleminded girl, and molds me into a powerful tool in the Lord's hand. A fantastic moment of the mission. But I think I might have somehow promised to meet him the Celestial Room of the Salt Lake Temple.....apparently he popped the question and I was in missionary mode and didn't even catch it. Bless me in 12 months, this RM will need all the help she can get. 

Update with Cristian and Valentina: They have a date to be baptized this Friday at 8:30. However, it seems like every single person and element is working against them. However Sorella Burkman and I both feel very strongly they are ready to enter the waters of baptism and it needs to be this Friday. Please pray hard for them and remember them! They deserve this and have beautifully simple faith. 

Wow, my fingers are tired....

Okay, to wrap it up, I love you all and pray daily for you individually. I am so blessed to be an Alley and am fighting for peoples salvation like an Alley. LOVE YOU ALL!!!! 

pace fuori!

Sorella Alley 

"Dont you wish your companion were hot like mine?! Dontcha?"

"Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer this missionary's prayer?!
Some say that Heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me in Rimini...."

"Tracting in a grape Vineyard. Mostly just eating "free" grapes."

"Companions that eat together, literally stay together for ever. "

"FHE with the Zufolini's, a spiritual message then table tennis, literally on their kitchen table. "

"Sorella Burkman and I are the Table Tennis champs."

"Nothing like a smize from the sorelle. Tyra would be proud."
(Editor's note: S. Burkman is KILLING it!)

"The next door neighbor keeps turning our power off and it literally froze the
freezer open. Sorella Burkman and I spent a solid two hours defrosting and
chipping away the ice. Haters gotta hate but next time he does it,
I am giving him a baptism date!"

"Sorella Burkman and I almost ate the death-inducing berries this week.
The capitol cannot win! (hunger games joke, Mom)"

"Dang skeeter, give me back my blood!"