Week 5

I cannnnnot believe that it is already week 5 of transfers! Next week are transfers so hold off on any mail. I feel like I will be out of here next week (especially because I told President that Sorella Smart should be considered for a training opportunity....she's not so thrilled...hehe) so perhaps next week I will chatting in between packing!

But let's just jump right in. This week, we had Alessandro's baptismal interview and he needs a bit more time to prepare. He is having a harder time quitting smoking but honestly recognizes the need and the blessings that will come from living the word of wisdom. However, when a person does not meet their date for baptism it is always heartbreaking. I was pretty upset and hit the knees hard for a solid 20 minutes seeking direction. Sorella Smart and I talked and decided that time is this man's worst enemy considering he received a Book of Mormon 15 years ago. We headed back to his house for the second time that day and had an incredible lesson about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ and what it means. There are moments in my mission, when I realize that I love these people with every fiber of my being and I know it is just a smidgen of what our Savior feels for them. At one point, I looked Alessandro straight in the eyes and said, "There is no one on this earth more important than you are for us. We will do this together." I am a representative of Jesus Christ and I could not be happier with my current full time job. I just may never come home. 

A big surprise...

The time is approxiamately 8:17 am and I am intensely studying when I am startled by the citofono goes off.

"What the heck, who could that be?"

"Chi è?" (Who is it?)

in an awful arabic sounding accent "Sorella Alley, do you do corso d'inglese?....corso d'inglese?" 

"Si, ma in la chiesa e il martedi. Chi parla?" (yes, but in the church on tuesday, Who is talking?) ((in my head - OH no!!!! Armondo the creep has found my house!!!!!)

"uhhhh Fratello Alley..:"

"SHUT UP YOU ARE AT MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 

I then ran, through the rain, in my socks, to find gooood ol' Richard P. Alley standing at my gate. What the heck, the best sorpresa (surprise!) in my entire life! Literally, i was so happy i had little happy tears explode from my eyeballs. Well We then sat outside my door and chatted for about 48 minutes hahaha and then he had to go on his way as I was on an exhange. I then got to talk on the phone while being totally Italian and chatting on the metro. But seriously it was such the bomb surprise and brightened my entire transfer. Basically what I am saying is that I have the bomb diggity oldest brother who thankfully likes surprises more than anyone does! Also, he gave a little cash (A LOT; THANK YOU!) to the Sorella Alley Italian Shoe Fund (sorry Dad, i am coming home with double the amount of shoes!). Oh how wonderful! 

Other than that, I was a good old boring missionary. Except we taught Mima this week about Prayer. She loves that we prayer directly to our heavenly father but she says "non sono capace" (i am not capable!). Well Sorella Alley wasnt having that negative thought from little red horns any longer. Sorella Smart offered a prayer to calm her down a bit and then I asked her to pray. She was so nervous and shy that I just sat down (practically on her) and took her hands in mine, looked her dead in the eyes and said, "Mima, you Father is waiting to hear from you." and closed my eyes. Her hands were shaking in mine but she offered the most sincere and humble prayer I have ever heard! The Spirit immediately filled the entire room and it was incredible. Prayer is something that I personally struggle with and often have to really convince myself to pray but oh baby does it work!!!!!!!! Mima is progressing towards baptism and she changes daily. 

To my friends and family apparently withering away in good old drought utah....

This week has been an intense week or hard work. We have pushed ourselves to be better and concentrate 100% on the work.As a result we have been out of the house from 10 until 10 with appointments and service. But we have also seen the miracles and blessings of our consecration.

On Monday, we worse pants and ugly clothes under normal missionary clothes so that we could start the day of with some service. We cleaned the mold that was taking over a member's apartment and I never thought I would hear this but I was praised for my "height". haha I was the only person with height adequate to stand of the very top step of the latter and reach the ceiling. So I inhaled mold and bleach to get in a lesson about the mold in our lives. I was preaching while bleaching. La Muffa (mold, hahaha how fun is italian) is part of this world and pollutes our lives. It is up to us to clean ourselves of this muffa and we are the only ones who can being the cleansing process. Christ is the candeggina (bleach) that purifies us of our muffa. Totally killed the muffa and the lesson. And I rather liked teaching from a latter, totally felt like my boy Samuel the Lamanite. 

"You find interesting things in rivers near grocery stores..."

Let's start with a Poem:

Another day has come and gone, another moon has set. I am in this land of Italy, working hard you can bet. I think instead of a companion, I will turn my companion into a pet. I learned new word this week, salumi...english for cutlet. And Now i have run out of words that rymth with et.

Hello dearest family! 

We had a baptism! Fiona entered the refreshing waters of baptism Saturday the 18th at 730pm! And technicallllllllly, it was a double baptism because she is 7 months pregnant! Nah, we are just warming that little guy up for his own baptism in 8 years.  The ceremony went wonderfully and I gave a nice talk on baptism. She enjoyed it. Then she was baptized and it WAS PERFECT!! When we ran into the bathroom to greet her she was shevering and exlaiming, "I am freezing because I dont have any sin keeping me warm!!!!!" Amen, praise to heaven YOU ARE CLEAN! 

I love baptisms. 

Another P-Day? Already

Mamma Mia, un altra settimana ha gia passato! Come?! Hellllllo Family! Literally, I am pretty sure pday was two days ago but nope here it is again. To start of the week, hear's a little story and you can judge me if you'd like. I "woke" up this morning literally terrified that someone was after my six color scripture marking highlighter pen. So after locating it, I did the best thing I could do to keep it secure, and I slept with it. Yes, this morning, the alarm went off and I thought to myself, "that was a weird dream" only to find my pen tightly clenched in my hand. But alas, I can resume morning studies with a secure pen.

Miracle Time! I dont even know where to begin. 

Fiona! She is a cousin of a recent convert that we have been meeting with for bout two months. She totally wants to get baptized but we had to set her date for the 1 feb because she wanted to get married first. She was married Tribally in Nigeria but wants a legal marriage in Italy. Well Sunday night we meet with her and all timid like, she says, "I am really tired of waiting to be baptized, can I just get baptized and just not see my man until we are married?" ummmmm, did you just ask to be baptized earlier?! Welcome to the fold my sister, salvation is just around the corner! After cleaning her situation with President Dibb and her moving in with her cousin, she will be baptized Saturday! She is so cute and cannnnnnot wait to take the sacrament. 

Cara Famiglia Mia,

   Che cosa posso dirvi?! Io so, SONO UN NUOVA ZIA! Ben venuta alla terra mia nipotina! Tu sei bella come la tua mamma!

So excited to welcome little Leah into the world! She is beautiful beyond words and is going to be so spoiled. I LOVE HER. Anyways, transfer news. I am staying in Lodi with Sorella Smart for another transfer. As last transfer ended with a dud, and almost 0 investigators, we are hoping to start of stronger and stay stronger. 

In this weeks edition of "Thank you various siblings for preparing my investigators" we travel to......drum rolllll..... BRAZIL! Sit back down in your seat, Elizabeth. We met Leah on the street on Dec. 6 and were finalllllly able to meet with her this Monday! She is passing through some trials right now but totally accepted the BoM and wants good change in her life. So we have a return appointment with her and we are planning on bringing her heaven. Did i mention she's a professional cook? Oh, and she's beautiful! It's kinda intimidating. We are the ugly missionaries. hahaha

2014 New Year's Day

Buon' Anno Famiglia Mia!!!

 

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 -