Working hard in Siena

Ciao da Siena! This week I am writing to you from the beautiful city of Siena. I have lost my heart here in la toscana, there is no beauty that can compare to it. However, I still can't figure out why people choose to farm on the rollings hills.....but I did offer to help a man squish his grapes for wine so maybe when we provide that service, I will receive my answer. Vi faccio sapere.

It seems like I havent really been in Pisa this week as I have had done two scambios and only been in Pisa for Part of Friday, Saturday and Sunday but the few days were jammed backed and rocking. On saturday, Sorella Bennett and I decided we wanted to serve our GANS, so we planned a classic alley favorite, "Breakfast for Dinner". We made scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and pancakes. It was a hit and my pancakes speak for themselves. We did a spiritual thought about the Motto della Libertà and acted out the title of liberty. I absolutely love all our GANS members and think the world of them. I also feel like they are the future of the church in Italy so that is where our focus should be! 

To celebrate the 24th of July, my companion thought I had forgotten but I am just sly, I made a fort and set up a "park the wagon in" movie. We watched Legacy in our "tent" and even rocked the bonnets. Sorella Bennett thinks I am nuts but she doesnt grasp that Alley's dont do anything slight or little. But in my personal studies I focused on the one thing that changed the lives of so many: The Book of Mormon. I literally cannot imagine the humility of the pioneers to accept the BoM and the Prophet Joseph Smith and then put everything up for sacrifice to follow into an unknown future. That is power, that is the power of the Spirit. Having ancestors from both sides been some of the originals who left EVERYTHING for the gospel I feel so grateful. So little. So much less than these spiritual giants. They are among the very elect and I hope that I am doing them proud in my little spot in Italy.

Patience and Diligence

Buon giorno carissimi miei! I feel like someone is playing a really mean trick on me and stealing days right out from under me. How in the crazy world is it Wednesday?! The beautiful think about working hard is that time FLIES past. The bad thing about working hard is the TIME FLIES past. You just cant ever win can you?

Working hard is what we are doing here in Pisa. Some of my favorite moments this week include Dad's Birthday. To celebrate, I did a scambio in Pisa with a verdina and we taught 5 lessons and literally ran from appointment to appointment. It feels so good to work hard and to be able to say at the end of the day, "Lord, I did you proud today!" 

"Dont have a poncho? That has never stopped an Alley.
Garbage bag and scarf. Mission accomplished."

"Apparently something about this says "please drive past me at a close distance so I can be even more wet".
Soaked to the bone."

Mercoledi

I literally cannot believe it is already mercoledi. It freaks me out how fast time is going and how much work that needs to be done. I am thinking about extending.....just kidding, that is not even given as a option anymore. But I just have to work harder and sacrifice lunch time :)

"What the heck, I saw Dad the other day,
busy holding up the tower. Happy Birthday Dad!"

First - Buon Compleanno al mio babbo! Happy Birthday Popsicle! Seriously, I dont know what I did premortalty to have merited a dad like you but it must have been HUGE. All 6 of us hoodlins (and side now, pretty sure our family is like going to explode during the milennium because there are a lot of souls who still need a family and pretty sure ours is the best so we can expet the Lord to send them to us....) really did luck out. Thanks for teaching us, making us laugh, and doing all our projects that we all know we procrastinated till the last second so you would just do them....oh wait, that was just me? ....but still thanks! The 17th of July will be dedicated in your honor and the 21st will be dedicated to another stallion of a man - Grandpa Alley! I have the best in the world! 

Andiamo avanti - First, I have to say the best part of Pisa is the Gans. Gans in the YSA in Italy. We have a wonderful group of Gans and I seriously learn so much from them. Mostly, it is not easy being a member in Italy but these homies are so strong and wonderful examples to me. We had an activity with them just last night and I best a large part of the evening thinking and reevaluating myself because they make me want to be better. I am so grateful for the Gans of Pisa! 

"Gans! Martina and Serena!"

This week we had a lesson about the temple with a less active who wants to get to the temple and do her own work. The lesson was powerful (hopefully for her) but mostly for me because I realized how much I truly miss the temple and the temple blessings in my life. Yes, I still receive the blessings from the

'Murica!

"D Will is even famous in Italy...."

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty- of thee I write! Tanti auguri to the Red, White and Blue. Ti saluto! So this 4th of July was spent in travel to Milano for consiglio della missione. They did give us an American filled lunch with hot dogs, baked beans (there was no bacon or pineapple so not nearly as good as ol' Pierre's, and marshmellow pistacchio salad). We welcomed back President Dibb and got right down to business. At the end, President looks me and my companion dead in the eyes and says, "We need to speak." I naturally looked at Sister Bennett and said, "oh no, what have I done now?!". Turns out, it was just interviews again and it went very well. He complimented me on my work and said he is proud of the missionary I have become. :) Success.

"My American 4th of July lunch - Burger King.

I understand why America has an obesity epidemic."

But, I couldnt let the Fourth of July slip past without doing something American but we were limited to the Milano Centrale train station, so we ate Burger King. Nothing says Murica like Fast Food. Then the 4th was over and I will have to wait till next year for fireworks. Tear. 

Because of my faith...

Ciao tutti!

Where to begin....well, let's just say that there have been far better weeks of my mission than this last. Since I have somehow become the grandma in the mission (how did that happen, I am still green!) I have noticed that just in the year of time I have been here, the work has gotten harder. Perhaps it is this area of Italy but it seems that as the Lord hastens His work, poopface satan hastens his dirty hands. But, nothing stops the Army of Israel so slap that sunscreen on satan cause you are gonna be feeling the heat! 

I was very inspired after reading my counterpart, my partner in crime, my fellow soldier in the faith, and the cabuss of the family's letter last week about faith. So in honor of Hermana Becca Boo 

1) because of my faith, I have seen mafiosi, forgotten old women, bitter divorcees, and rebellious youth changed by accepting the light.

2) because of my faith, I have done things that at the moment I thought, "this is going to kill me!"

3) because of my faith, I have accepted every call to serve in whatever way the Lord asks

4) because of my faith, I open my mouth and speak knowing the Creator of the World will not let me fail

5) because of my faith, I have learned, lived and loved the Atonement. 

6) because of my faith, I can still smile an be happy even when people spit at my face and beer is thrown at me. 

7) because of my faith, I have ridden my bike in torrents of rain, hike hills in blistering heat, and fallen on slippery ice but weather doesn't stop a worthy servant with the good word on her lips!

8) because of my faith, I have learned that life is better when I willingly yield to the will of my God.

9) because of my faith, I have learned to follow the subtle promptings of the spirit, counsel of priesthood blessings, and the words of both ancient and modern prophets. 

10) because of my faith, I know death will never separate my family. 

11) because of my faith, I have learned to kneel in humble supplication even when I feel forgotten, angry, pushed aside, or lazy.

12) because of my faith, though I am no where near His perfection, I improve every day and my life is in His hands.

That was all the wisdom of the past 15 months. I am tired. Working hard to the end! 

Vi amo tutti quanti! 

sorella alley