A volte Cristo calma la tempesta. A volte permette la tempesta imperversa e calma la nostra anima.

"Luisa and her dogs, Stella and Sandy.
She loves them more than her own kids. "

Cara Famiglia Mia! Let us jump right into another week of Sorella Alley's current life. This week was a bit of a slower week and Sorella Burkman and I came up with some creative ways to do missionary work. We have one favorite Italian in particular and her name is Postina. Yes, for those of you with any knowledge of Latin language, the mailwoman is our favorite Italian because she brings us tidings of joy and happiness. Since we basically stalk her daily, we decided to be less creepy and just write her a note. So we said, "Postwoman, thank you for bringing us mail. You make life better. We love you. thank you!" With that taped to the mailbox, we watched out our window waiting for her. Sure enough, never failing, she came on her yellow vestba. She saw our note and was instantly all smiles. Her smile was so big I though it would darn near pop her eyeballs out. It was a good missionary act. 

Last Friday we had pizza with the Zufolini's who invited Cristian, Valentina e Serena Bazzocchi. It was a really fun night of laughter and pizza (pitsa for all you uneducated Americans...). We haven't given up hope on them and Cristian asked if he could still read the Book of Mormon. So he is still reading and we are counting on the Spirit to spiritually face punch him and then we will sweep in make the kill, fondly meaning we hope to start teaching this chosen family again soon. 

Hardest Week of My Life

Se Dio ti guidasse avanti un ostacolo, ti guiderà di superare quel ostacolo.

Because I do not trust google translate to actually translate this sentence correctly, I will render my service. 

If God brings you to an obstacle, He will guide you through it. 

And that is what this week was, full of obstacles and trails. This week was definitely the most difficult and trying week of my mission and in the same sense, probably my life. The evening of the last pday we met with Cristian and Valentina again to prepare them for their baptisimal interviews that were to be conducted the next morning. Everything was golden and in controll. At the end of the lesson Valentina did a complete 180 in the opposite direction. Everything spiraled downhill and they were speaking to Emilio in rapid italian. Thus making it extremely difficult for Sorella Burkman and I to understand but it was apparent that it was good. To make the story short, we ended with cancelling the baptism and saying our goodbyes for perhaps, forever. I have never felt so much heartache and disappointment. We rode our bikes to the church and prayed, asking Heavenly Father to help us understand why. We hugged each other and just cried. I believe this week we experience just a smidge of what Heavenly Father feels like when His children choose to reject Him and His divine Son. On the other hand, Satana is a jerkface and knows exactly how to kicked the downed missionaries. However, we don't give up without fighting back and we refused to dwell in the darkness. We have rededicated ourselves to being 100% obedient and we are expecting Heavenly Father to gives us miracles. We need a win right now. 

Ciao tutti!

Shall we just jump right in? This week has been incredible- full of exhilarating highs and devastating lows. Mission emotions are wack people, but they make me a better missionary so I can deal with them. 

Just another beautiful night in Rimini:

The last week of the transfer... the start of a new

Another transfer has come and gone, and I have completed 1/3 of my mission! How? I have no idea. Well folks, I know you are all anxiously awaiting transfer news. Monday night we received the news that we needed to prepare to have another Sorella join us in Rimini. We took down the bunk bed and moved into the next room (which can I say, Sorella Burkman and I are fantastic with this stuff. We literally fix everything in the house that needs fixing and we built our own bunk bed in an hour. took the elders for hours....) Tuesday night rolled around and we finally received our transfer assignments. Sorella Ervin will be splitting off and welcoming a new companion (Sorella Strong, trained by Sorella Acerson so my mission "sister") and ....drum roll.....Sorella Burkman and I are staying together in Rimini! This will place me at 4 transfers and 7 1/2 months in Rimini, which is bittersweet. Sorella Burkman and I have made some new goals to keep the excitement up and push ourselves to grow. Keep the letters coming the Rimini Address :) 

"Our new studyroom-converted-bedroom. I once had a huge apartment to myself. Now we live in a closet. :)"

"The Bazzocchi family! Cristian, Valentina and Serena!"

This week in pictures (August 28, 2013)

"Family photo!"

Editor's note: "Sorella Alley looking stunning in yellow!"

This is the la famiglia Scarpulla's that I wrote. He is rocking Grandpa Alley's button pants and she is just adorable! I love them!"

Let us begin again dear ones,

 

First, this is week five in the transfer - so today is the last day you can send mail to guarantee that I will receive it before Transfers, so after today, no more mail until we hear about transfers! Get your transfer guesses in :) 

Second, welcome to the family the newest baby girl edition in Rachel's belly! I could not be any more thrilled or excited! Keep the family growing (cough cough Tammy and Richard cough cough your turn) because lets be honest, the Alleys make the best babies! 

Third, okay mission details. We met with Valentina and Cristian twice last week, and they are elect people. They have been prepared and are ready for the restored gospel. The second time we met with them, Cristian said, "After we had the first lesson, i felt more peace and serenity than I have ever felt before. I liked it and I want that always." I was like, "1 point for team Holy Ghost!!!" That is the best part of this mission, seeing the joy and the happiness that the gospel brings people. INCREDIBLE!!! So Cristian was able to come to Church on Sunday and he stayed and participated in all 3 hours. The branch accepted him immediately, put their arms around him, and welcomed him to the family. Before the end of the day, members had invited him to FHE, set up our teaching appoints with them, and had a barbecue planned with multiple families! MIRACLE! Later that night, we took Valentina a BoM in Bulgarian (she is from Bulgaria) and by the next day she had read 16 pages. Haha That is more than I read in my study each day. hahahaha Go Valentina! This Monday we had a lesson with them and they had a list of prepared questions. Thankfully Emilio came with us and was able to explain the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Urim and Thumbimim (haha, Cristian asked what it was and I have never heard it before in Italy and I am sure I looked like a deer about to get hit by a nice manly truck...) We are set to teach them again today and on Friday. Also, they have asked if they can be baptized sooner than the 27th! Pray for them, because they are ready I WILL NOT LET THEM FALL TO SATAN!!! 

Buon Giorno tutti!

    Another week has come and gone and it may be one the best weeks thus far! Here are the deeeeets as to why. Agosto 15 is a huge Italian holiday called FerroAgosto. It celebrates Saint Maria's ascension into heaven or something stranno (strange) like that, so Italy basically shuts down for a week. 

"Obedient Sorella Ervin and I dutifully guarding the members as they play
in the river. Listen, you can hear our souls longing to join."

 Instead, our members planned a day at the river, invited us and Luigi (the investigator). We spent the entire day planning in the sand, playing volleyball and soccer, before taking naps in the shade. It was so much fun, we built stronger relationships with the members, fellow-shipped Luigi and spent time with 3 meno attivi (less actives)! It was a huge success. Later that night we stopped at a buger joint, where Paolo the owner is less active but loves the missionaries so ate free. THE BEST HAMBURGER i have ever eaten. Ghettoburger is its name hahaha. But on the way home that night we had about an hour drive. At one point, the sun was setting over the beautiful tuscan countryside, Emilio and Ilaria are holding hands 

"Italians know how to travel lightly to the beach..."

in the front, and we are all singing along to Andreà Bocceli at the top of our lungs. I felt so completely happy but was overcome with love. Love for this country, love for the members and the people, and love for being a missionary. I tried to hide my tears but I glanced at Burkster and she had tears so instead we just literally cried together. It was an incredible moment where you can honestly feel a little of the selfless love of the Savior. The ability to love unconditionally is magnified as a missionary and I never want to let it go. 

"Just another afternoon in cuorso d'italiano with Emanuele.
My homework and my gelato sandwhich.
Yup, Italians eat this and don't gain a pound.They eat it and it goes on my butt."