"First Gander of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!"

"first gander at the leaning tower."

 Buona Sera famiglia mia! This week has been full of miracles and full of laughter!  Let's just jump right into it! So mostly, the miracle this week comes in the form of Sorella Condie! Finally, I was able to reunite with my bestie from the MTC and flat out just bestie here! I did my first scambio as sister-whatever-you-call-it with the Condster and I was so excited! Or goal for the scambio was to share the gospel through service and singing. We arrived in her little town and started looking for service. Well not many people were out at noon in the rain, so we decided to find a couple service organizations that were basically dead ends. It's pretty hard to find service here or to do service here - everything looks at you skeptically and asks "why do you want to do service?" Hahaha So we out of change, find a convent of nuns and we look at each other, shrug shoulders and head on it. Well after asking around a bit we were ushered into an ancient dining room style room and there Suora Elisabetta (nun elizabeth) came to meet with us and talk to us a little - mostly to make sure we arent sketchbox americans. It turned into a perfect teaching experience and we left her with a restoration pamplet, knowledge of Joseph Smith and a prayer. Yes, we prayed with a nun! She then did Padre Nostro (our Father) after and gave us two umbrellas for the rain. So per forza, we have a return appointment! Of course, This would happen with Sorella Condie and we were so proud of ourselves! That was just the beginning of the miracles!

"The house of the nuns."

Fun story of the week - we got an emergency call about our pipes having some leaking problem so we were ordered to be at home all monday so the workers could fix our pipes all day. Turns out, the pipes were leaking poison gas (ecco the hives) and we then were ordered to clear out the kitchen (this including taking apart a huge shelf in a little closet) and covering everything. The workers ordered us to the balcony where we were not allowed to leave. Essentially, we were locked out of our house at our house. I literally was going nuts. When a companion is sick at hone, it blows. But it is even worse with both parties are fine and well. We did as much missionary work as we could from the balcony and about 10 blessed hours later, we were given the okay to go back in the house. At this point, to say I was a little hyper was an understatement. But we had to put our house back together and that is when i spotted wet cement.....oh man, it was just calling my name and I couldnt resist. So now there will forever be my name in the cement in Pisa :) But then we put back our shelf, and that is harder to do when it is blasted hot, and a tiny space and broad shoulders (thank you both sets of grandparents for that legacy). I realized, i dont like humidity and tight spaces. 

First week in Pisa

It doesn't matter where you serve, but how you serve. - David O. McKay

I am definitely learning this lesson, this week. It has been a rough start from the very beginning. Leaving the other sorelle, Quintypoops, Haslem and Miller was very tough, as we have grown to be best friends in our 2 transfers together. From there, 4 of us sisters, loaded ourselves onto a train to Firenze. The local gypies sneakily put all our luggage (mine was the lightest might i say and i only had 3 pieces, go me!) above our heads on the train. Well 4 hours later after an hour delay we are approaching our stop accept, wait, no one told was where to get off or where to meet our companions (this is why 19 year old elders should not be in charge of people's travel plans.....) So in a frantic, sorella smart and I begin pulling everyone's luggage down when the bag slips her grip and......pulls the emergency breaks and the train comes screatching to a halt....angry conductor comes hallering and whooping down the hallway and when he see's us starts demanding 500 £. (that is more than all 4 of our MONTHLY allowances). So as she is grumbling about the "rich american girls on vacation on daddy's card" we pull out our visas, speak to him in Italian and he walks away in a huff, never to be seen again. Meno male. So, then the train doesn't even stop at firenze------so we travel an hour south of firenze, oh what up ROME! oops. So we jump off at the next stop, i rush to get return tickets for all of us, load back onto another train and finally end up in firenze...where we wait 2 hours for further directions. We ended up staying the night at got to bed at 1130pm. the next morning up and out and we arrive in Pisa. 

The tower leans way more than it looks....

Transfers news... this is exciting!

Transfer news - I was feeling like Sorella Guintypoops and I would stay here for another transfer. I was actually convinced this would be the case because of how awesome we work together and our fantastic relationship with the members so I was pretty convinced that we would stay here. Well Monday came around and at about 330 we got a call...I am headed to PISA!!!!!!!!! I will be joining Sorella Bennett and I will serve as a sister training leader (essentially a ZL for the sisters)  for that area of the mission. I was shocked to say the least, mostly heartbroken to leave Verona because I have the sensation that there is work still to be done in Verona. I feel like I am leaving strings untied and golden people but I trust Sorella Quinton will do the job better than I could and she will work hard. Sorella Var Daeo will be her companion (the only italian in the mission......flippin so lucky!) and so my baby will be singing sweet calls of repentence in perfect italian fra poco. Changes are a coming!

So Now I have been running around saying goodbye and trying to get some last work in. These two transfers have literallly been the best two of my mission. We came in literally with a clean slate - no work, no investigators, nothing really working out and we turned it all upside down. Now the sisters will work closely hand in hand with the members and we have incredible potentials. I couldnt be more pleased with the work that we have done. And oh buddy, Sorella Quinton that girl is on fire. She is an incredible missionary and is just going to be a great asset to the Lord here in italy. We have laughed, gotten lost, laughed harder, worked and played in the rain, and learned so much from each other. I am so grateful the Lord trusted me to be her trainer because she will be a best friend for life! 

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"