Happy Thanksgiving!

"Richerd, 11 and Maria, 50. Thank you Dominican Republic."

I have much to be thankful for, especially the four baptisms on last Saturday! Maria, Richerd, Dino (taught by the elders) and Edem. President surprised us by coming as did Elder Oscarthorpe and Ridd. Yes, the general authorities of Sunday school and ym. But the baptisms went off without a flaw and 4 more souls have been added to the kingdom of God. I  couldn't help but think of Hermana Alley, sweating and having her own baptism the same day. We are so far apart from each and the family but this is our purpose - to invite others to come unto Christ. We are getting work down! Good job boo! Well, the next day they were confirmed members in sacrament with again the general authorities in presence. My favorite line i have ever heard, "Receive the Holy Ghost." Major chills after hearing it four times. Funny story, because I conduct the hymns (hahahahaha) in sacrament, i get up after the confirmations to lead the sacrament hymn. Halfway through, I totally get lost in my thoughts about the epic magnitude of the spirit and naturally, got lost leading. So I apparently thought it was a good idea just to close my book and begin to sit down. When I realize Sorella Killpack is still playing the piano, I let out a huge "ahhhhhhh no!!!" jump up and try to pretend like nothing happened. Clue every red blood cell in my body to swim toward my face. I couldn't stop giggling and blushing. I am sure the general authorities appreciated it.....

Oh by golly, it is Wednesday again...

... How strange, I am pretty sure Wednesday was yesterday.

So Saturday night we had an appointment with the Ruiz Diaz family. They are from Argentina and they have a son who served in Hermana Alley's exact area! I almost hugged him just to get a little Argentina on me but Sorella Killpack has fast reflexes and held the tiger back. Anyway, we were teaching Simone and Diego at their house and we've been working with these two investigators from my first week in Lodi. We knew they needed to progress towards their Baptism Date but it wasn't going to happen if we didn't bring a strong lesson about prayer. We read Matthew 7:7-11 with them and asked Simone, the son, what it meant to him. We sat in silence for about 2 minutes and the Spirit was working with him, you could see it visibly. Then his dad, Diego came to the rescue and told us as a father, himself, he would do anything for Simone. BOOM!!!!! That is how it is with our heavenly Father! To further demonstrate our point, we held a blanket up in a door frame with Diego and Simone kneeling in the separate rooms with the blanket in between them. We asked Simone to tell his dad about his day. It took him a while to warm up but once he got talking it was easier. Then we asked Diego to respond with the what he thought was most important for Simone to know. Then I heard the most powerful three words ever. "Ti volgio bene." I love you. Oh what is that glistening in my eyes, you ask? Tears. It was beyond touching and again, I was not the missionary, I was simply the mouthpiece. Then to end our lesson, we asked Diego to pray. Very reluctantly we taught him how to pray, and he started one of the most humble and beautiful prayers i have ever heard. He thanked his Father in Heaven for his two angel missionaries (commence the tears again), and he asked for guidance to raise Simone to be a future missionary. He shared that it was the first time he had prayed since he was 17. That was 23 years ago. This is the beauty of being a missionary. Someone like Diego, a declared atheist, now KNOWS that there is a God and God does love him. One of the most powerful lessons of my mission. I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

Mercoledi (We think that means Wednesday)

""Posso usare il suo bagno?"- Sorella Alley
"Certo!" -cafe owner
"This is your bathroom....I'll hold it." -Sorella Alley "

It's mercoledi, mercoledi, gonna send emails on mercoledi. Wensdays are the bombdiggity but mercoledi sounds so much more exotic than Wednesdays. Look at that, I can't even spell it anymore.

 

Ciaooooooo, let's begin with a message to Pierre. Dad, there is an area in the mission that is actually in Switzerland. So, only those with an European citizenship can serve there. So basically like 0 sorella. however, we learned this week that if a parent was born in Europe then the child just has to apply for citizenship! Hello, my name is Christine Marie Alley - that is like 66.6 % (crud, i hope that is right....you know me and fractions) so can you look into that for me Pierre Andrè. I am pretty sure I hear Switzerland calling my name! Thanks pops.

Halloween in Italy

Another giorno di preparazione has come and I am freezing in a little internet cafe. Oh how the times change, and Italy is strikingly similar. Yesterday - freezing cold. This afternoon - beautifully warm. Now. Freezing again. Home sweet home.

Well let us start of with Halloween. The day was very uneventful until the evening. We had planned a party for the ward members that night so we were excited. The Clock struck the appointed hour of seven thirty and not a soul to be seen. Now, I cant say that I blame them, I definitely wouldn't ever go to the sister missionaries Halloween party either pre mission but after....I will be throwing it down with them. Anyways, we are packing up to leave and 3 members from our weekly English class show up! We gave them a quick tour of the building and then we had a beautiful lesson with them. Manuele and Nelli and their family are so ready for the restored gospel- They accepted baptismal dates and now we work our behinds off to grow them! 

From Rimini to Lodi...

We are not in Rimini anymore, Toto.

But we might actually be in Kansas, considering how many random farming communities are in my area....anyways besides the fact. 

Let's jump into this week! 

So last Thursday, Hermana Alley flew to Argentina and what did Sorella Alley do? Well we had FHE with, drum roll for a tender mercy, an Argentian family! They moved here from Argentina 10 years ago and they have family there that might be in Becca's same mission! Well I instantly loved this family, Riuz-Diaz, and now that Becca will be taken care of because the Italians and Argentinians are incredibly linked. We are closer than we thought, Boo. 

Mamma Mia (Fun Fact, literally translates to Mother of Mine!)

 Another week has come and gone, another leaf has fallen, and soon enough it will be snowing!!!! Around herrrrre in Lodi, the locals say about -17 degrees cel. is normal for the winter. For you Americans, 0 cel is freezing. Basically I am about to freeze to Death. I am going to have to find lots of people to save to warm my soul.

 

So, let us start with the end of last transfer. For our last night in Rimini, Sorella Burkman and I ate dinner with Emilio and Ilaria. The evening was wonderful and then we gave Emilio a surprise. Burkster and I had made a shirt with our faces on it and when we presented it to Emilio, his face exploded with pleasure! He was so happy and now he will Always have his two favorite missionaries with him :) So we said goodbye to Mamma Ilaria and surprise, tears. We packed, went to bed and then woke at 5 to catch our train to Milan. Emiilo took us to the train station, helped put our luggage on the train and then we said our goodbyes. Okay, now that really sucked. He is hands down the best person I know I literally saved my life so many times in Rimini. He went out of his way to make sure I was happy and okay. He wrote me a beautiful letter and I am contemplating being buried with it. hahaha :) Well we made our way to Milano, and actually passed Lodi on the way....

 

Goodbyes in Rimini, part 1

Here are some photos of Sorella Alley saying her goodbyes to her family and friends in Rimini. The ward members have really taken her under her wing and been her home away from home. Thank you Rimini for taking care of our Sorella Alley!

Gelato with Babbo (Daddy)

I'm "totes" the fav daughter

"Many tears were shed saying goodbye to Nonna Luisa (grandma)"