Buona Sorpresa, è giovedi!

Buona Sorpresa, è giovedi! We traded our pday to feast our ears on the inspired words of the Church Historian, Elder Snow and Elder Kearon (member of the seventy) that were touring the mission. It was a wonderful day of spiritual insight and rejuvenation. I was also a lucky mother and got to sit between my babies Sorella Quinton and Sorella Burkman. They are so cute and fighting over who is the favorite daughter...I just smile and see my own mother's face in my head and say sweetly, "You are equally my favorite daughters" Even though I am really Sarah's favorite daughter, right mommsie?

"A proud mother with her daughters!"

"One year in Italy, gelato!!!"

Hastening the Work

I cannot believe it is already Pday! This mission time wrap is getting crazy....it's already May!

Cool moments of the week!

1) We visited the Benasutti's this week, the older couple who referred themselves (haha poor people never know what they are getting into) and we planned on teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, we got stuck on infant baptism and I wasn't having it. Usually, I am very calm and rational but after listening to the "doctrine of original sin" a memory came to mind. The first time I was really exposed to a baby was Caleb (ya geez, thanks Mom and Dad for not ever giving me little brothers...I prayed forever for that....) but I remember looking into his little eyes and seeing nothing but innoscense (?) and purity. So I just blantly looked at them and asked, "How old were you when you were baptized?" "I was 8 days." "Did you choose to be baptized?" "No of course not, my parents chose." "That is the problem, you did not choose." We then read Moroni 8 while I added points to Team Righteousness. The concept of original sin is the most bogus idea ever. But then it got worse but in a different way. They wont act for themselves. They know they are sick and are literally waiting to die but they will not reach for the light. Why? F.E.A.R.Something inside of me said, "You did not fly thousands of miles away from your family to be afraid" I dont know what happened to me but my chest grew about 8 sizes, in fairly adequate italian i looked them straight in the eyes and said "listen to me. If I had the power to heal your bodies, i would do it in 2 seconds. But I dont- But we do hold keys that will heal you spiritually. As representatives of Jesus Christ, we have the power to help you but you have to want it. If you want to be healed, act now and stop waiting to die." Sometimes literally crying repentence feels SO GOOD! And these two italians listened to me without interruptin for about 55 seconds....

An American on an Italian train...

Buona Pasqua Tutti! I hope you all had a wonderful day of love and chocolate goodness. I hate lamb and felt like a murderer...

So this week was quite different than last week. Thursday, we had a scambio and we headed to Mestre to drop off the Sorella Quinton and pick up my companion for the day, Sorella Montagnoli. On the train back, the train was completely packed and in walked a young mother with 3 small children. Immediately I jumped up and offered my seat to the woman, who was speaking english to her children. Sorella M started talking to this woman while I sat on the floor and engaged the little ones in games. I had a very stimulating conversation with a 6 year old about her ponies and unicorns. Turns our this woman, grew up athiest and found God in china, of all places. She met her future american husband there and they now live here in italy. Next year they will move as missionaires to china. She was really interested in our belief that families can be together forever. After about 20 minutes her american husband walks in and starts talking to us. I stood up and we engaged in conversation. He asked me what the gospel of Jesus Christ is, and I am thinking to myself "this is going to be great conversation with a fellow missionary." Well, faith is the first principle. Faith unto repentence. The man exploded. He whips out his bible and begins asking me questions about insane doctrine. How long it take for abraham to be saved according to his faith? What is faith? How many years did it take for abraham to be righteious and then sacrifice Issac. After about 20 minutes of trying to teach with the spirit and testify, i was hit with the realization that I could not feel the spirit. This man, brutally attacking me and my faith, had driven away the spirit. 

A story about a nun...

Highlight of my life: This morning while riding on the way to the internet point, I stopped at a light and looked to the person on my left. I am a huge fan of awkward bike conversation so I immediately struck up conversation without even really thinking. The victim: a 80 year old Nun.

Sorella Alley "Oh how are you? Today is sure a wonderful day!"

Sister Veronica "I am fine, and you?"

Sorella Alley "Oh I am great! Just enjoying the sunshine."

Sister Veronica "What is your name?"

Sorella Alley "I am Sorella Alley"

Sister Veronica "..........no, I am Sister Veronica. Who are you?"

Sorella Alley "I am Sister Alley. We are both sisters."

Sister Veronica "But how can that be?" 

Sorella Alley "Well, if you would like, I can come to your..........cathedral? and teach you how that can be..."

Sorella Veronica " No thanks, I believe you."

Sorella Alley "okay, well remember CHrist was resurrected. Have a nice day"

I have a super important question

I have a super important question - It literally cannot wait.

What do you can an alligator in a vest?

An investiGATOR! 

oh ya, missionary jokes all day long! 

How about that general conference?! Each talk just sent my spirit a boogin' with joy and I was spiritually feasting the entire time. Mashed potatoes, who nees them? I have Anziano Holland. Turkey - that is for the weak. Elder Bednar offers better. Still hot rolls, not even a temptation. Dieter is totally a temptation. Rainbow jello, okay that I could do but I would still trade it for President Monson. Oh golly, la conferenza generale was the best one yet! I prepared myself for a week and prayed that Heavenly Father would make known to me what HE thought I needed in my life. I did not focus on receiving answers to questions or thoughts, instead, I said, "Padre Celeste, you know better than I do, what I need......I will do my best to open my heart and listen with my spiritual ears. Aiutami." And help me HE did! I received wonderful very personal revelation and my testimony became a bean stalk that I might just scale my way to the CK. 

Thanks to the big fam for having my italian people to the house and giving them some wonderful BBQ cibo. For reals, they are my people and I am so happy they got to experience the Alley way of life. Siete Bravi! 

Sorella Alley turns 22...

Buon compleanno a me!!! Tanti Auguri a me!!! Well, ya'll know me, and I believe in birthday week celebrations and not just birthday day celebrations. Luckily for me, my sweet companion and the other sorelle caught the fever! The sick details follow....

Get it, sick...fever......oh I am funny.

"Sunday Birthday Lunch! Quintonator made the
cake and it was delicious! Sono una mamma fiera.

Well, we started off Friday with celebrations. The cutest couple in the world since Gordon B and Marjorie Pay, Remo and Edda Ramini, invited us over for a birthday lunch. Remo, who has been blind for about 10 years, made the meal. Blind chef. Cool. After, they brought me a gift - a beautiful silk and woven yellow scarf, swiss chocolate and 2 pictures of themselves. I was so completely surprised and overwhelmed that these little weird things called lacrime - cioè a foreign liquid that accumulates in the eyes, fell down the smiling cheeks. I have a moment every transfer when I am completely overwhelmed with a confirmation of "Yes Sorella Alley, this is where you are supposed to be." It's the Lord confirming His choice to little ostinata Sorella Alley. It was a wonderful day to start of the celebration! 

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.