March Madness, Birthday Madness and Missionary Madness!

All in the same month! Let's jump right in...giovedi we had a Zone conference and I totally had a "clicking" moment - hastening the work doesnt mean that we are going to find golden contacts after hitting the pavement for 72 hours every week. Hastening the work is being done through members because THAT IS WHERE golden referals are and that is where the Lord wants us missionaries. Click. So after that, we visited a family, the Eusebio's. Shout out for Elizabeth, they have been in Italy 10 years, but are BRAZILIAN! They were instantly loving and I felt at home within minutes. I loved being in their house and look foward to developing a real relationship with such incredible people.

I have developed a new method of contacting people. it's called "lucky Helmet". My helmet is not big enough for my head, so every time i put it on, i have to redo my hair and squish it on and smash it on. So, instead, now I only take it off when i absolutely have to. So I walk around with it on and do the errands with it on. This week the I taught 3 lessons on the street with Lucky Helmet. I shall describe my method with first lesson example - we stopped (on our bikes) for a stoplight and I looked to the person next to me. naturally he knew I was american because I had on a helmet. He said, "nice helmet American." So i said, "Thank you, would you like to come to church with me on Sunday?" hahaha nice transition Sorella Alley. Well we had a quick lesson, prayed with him (still on my bike) and sent him on his way. Guess who came to church on Sunday?! Lucky Helmet proves itself! So it has become part of me, I only take it off when necesarry. Building the kingdom of God, on awkward helmet stop at a time. 

Another concept I realized this week. I accompanied a sister to the doctor's office because she was nervous and my calming demeanor soothes the anxious soul...So off to the doctor's we went. While waiting (2.5 hours.....VOTE NO TO SOCIAL HEALTHCARE IF YOU VALUE YOUR TIME AND LIFE) I struck up a conversation with a cute woman sitting next to me. She is the epitome of an elegant older italian woman. Like Audrey Hepburn but Italian-inspirational. Anyway, I realized from talking to her that people are forever searching. we read in PMG that as members of the church (not just missionaries, contary to popular belief) should be forever finding: cioè looking for people with whom to share the gospel with daily. well on the other end, people are forever searching for the truth! When the forever searching and the forever finding cross paths, that is when magic happens and the Holy Ghost grooves in anticpation. Boom, elect souls are found. I am on the hunt now for forever searchers. 

To end the email off, we taught a lesson to an italian woman, Angela. She is a retired nurse and very educated. She was very sensitive to our message of the restoration and it went as follows.

A "So you are saying that your church is the only true church." 

US "Our church has the fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, so yes."

A "And you are telling me that a boy saw and talked with God and Christ and became a profet?"

US "We know this to be true."

A "I guess I will have to read that book to know for myself."

US mentally "Welcome to the Kingdom Angela, Salvation is just around the corner."

Literally, this woman is so prepared and we are so excited to teach her again. She is very committed to finding and knowing for herself. Basically she will do all the work and we just sit there and bare testimony. My job rocks. 

Well, that is it from me. 

Sorella Alley 

JUST KIDDING: Saturday marks a big day for me - 22 years of birth and 2nd mission birthday! So Naturally it's been planned. We are teaching lessons today so we can have a nicer relaxing lunch Saturday. At a castle. From the 12th century. There will be celebrations and i have decided 24 hours is really to short to celebrate 22 years. So now it is birthday week! Tanti Auguri! 

"Family picture: Verona Sorelle"