I cannot believe it is 2014!!! How did that happen!? Somehow, a hop and skip across the ocean makes time FLY past and we are welcoming in the new year, tis the year I will rejoin you on my beloved soil of America. God bless 2014. To celebrate the new year, President banished us to the apartment. We had to be inside be 5pm. In Italy, you put a little alcohol in the bloodstream and it becomes a good idea to celebrate the new year by throwing out the old refrigerator. So to protect ourselves from flying refrigerators, we spent the evening inside the house. I did a little studying of the language, made scones, gave Sorella Smart a make over and cleaned. Turns out Sorella Smart is a bit of a light weight and fell asleep, so I read from Jesus the Christ and had my mind blown! That book is genious. Anyways, I woke her up for the new year and we watched fireworks from our porch. at 12:05 I was in bed. Hahaha welcome 2014!
I think this email, I will spend a bit of time reflecting. Let us take a stroll down memory lane insieme. Lessons learned from 2013 -
LOVE: Love is the strongest emotion that we have. This year I learned how it feels to be loved, and how it feels to love someone else completely. Especially while serving this mission, I have learned that love literally can overcome anything. It can turn a hardened bitter woman into a sparkling and happy grandma. It can soften the hard of the atheist and bring joy to the angry. Ultimately, it is entirely why our Savior atoned for us, thus relieving us of our sins, pains, and illness. Love is why I am here.
STRENGTH: We are so much stronger than we think we are. I have done things I never thought I could do and I have overcome moments of fear to grow and become stronger. God doesn't give us weaknesses to handicap us. God gives us weaknesses to grow us. If we stop relying on ourselves and yield to the will of the Lord, we will be made strong.
HAPPINESS: It's stupid to wait to be happy. Everyday we can find something to make us happy. Being happy is a choice. Ya, we all have bad days, that is normal and come with being human but I would much rather choose to be happy. When we focus on making other people happy, our happiness is guaranteed. It is not always immediate but it does come.
Those are just a few of the lessons I learned this year. There were many more and 2014 is going to be even greater! But for this past week, here are some details -
Maria, is ON FIRE! She literally tells everyone that she's found the true church and she sparkles with happiness. She also buys me my favorite juice, just for me. It tastes exactly like green jolley ranchers. She was called to a relief society teacher on Sunday and is so excited to learn about everything! If all goes well, she is planning on going to the temple right when I finish the mission, so we can go together!
We have done a bunch of tracting and finding work. It can be a bit frustrating and the more time I tract the more I begin to think the great and abominable church are the JDUBBS. TOo many people associate us with them and dont give us the time of day. But in the end, everyone wants salvation and that is something only our church can give them. Sorry JDubbs, better luck next time. So if anyone has ideas about how to set us apart, i am all ears!
Well I love you all and wish you each the best new years ever! Until next pday....
vi amo!
Sorella Alley
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| "Christmas for Sorella Alley " |
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| "Holiday Pizza and also celebrated the big hump day with it!" |
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| "Christmas eve with Maria! I will have you know, I have gotten over my fear of doing the dishes and now, do them every time we eat at a members. Maria said, "Sorella Alley, you are girl to marry!" |
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| "Don't mind the hooker makeup.
2 sister missionaries and hours insides does dangerous things...But i love the shirt! "
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