A week of Consecration

Famiglia Mia! Oh blessed family. How I have longed to be with you this week! This last week was a week dedicated to consecration and we had some very lofty goals. We worked on eliminating the task of the day that are "still good for missiionary work" and focused instead on the tasks that are "the best for missionary work". It was one of the best weeks ever for numbers and for miracles but it was also one of the hardest weeks of my mission.

It got me wondering about why it seems that trials or poopy times always seem to accompany miracles. And while I still don't have my complete answer, I am sure that trials are handpicked for us by the almighty maker. I have often thought that it is not fair that the "really righteous" seem to have the most trials while joe smow who doesnt keep any commandments skips through life whistling. This week made me realize that maybe, trials are given to the righteous, to the already stronger to just make us stronger. To make us more like our Heavenly Father- In one talk i read this week, it mentions that we "arent earning Heaven, we are learning Heaven." I have learned a little bit more about Heaven this week. 

My bike got stolen. Dang. Haha it wasn't even the better bike out of the two but still, someone is riding around on my Lady Mara and it wiped out my bank account. But thanks to the ever trusty Sorella Sarti, I have a new bike. It has been lovingly named, Midge. Why? Because I am pretty sure it is built for a 12 year old. Haha for 60 euro I thought to myself, "i have it for 3 weeks, it doesnt matter to me if my legs are above the handlebars..." So Midge, short for Midget and I are new best friends. 

August 20, 2014

Ciao cari miei! This week has beeeeen incredible! This has been a special week that President Dibb has asked us to dedicate to being more consecrated. I still am not sure what that means because it seems silly to me that for one week we all stop being a little less lazy for just 7 days. Why don't we make it 18 or 24months of consecration? But, consecrate ourselves we did and pop open your umbrellas because it's about to be raining miracles!

We had a wonderful day with the Marino and Sereni families for Ferriagosto. Sorella Sereni brought her neighbors so we were able to fellowship a couple and enjoy a wonderful afternoon together. It was great to be invited and I love both of these families. Fratello Marino is exactly like Dad and I just giggle at him all the time becaue he even grumples the same even though behind th grumppy mug he is all love and smiles. We didnt have to spend the entire day street contacting so it was a miracle.

Saturday, everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. But at the end of the day, 2 buses missed and 2 trains missed, we arrived in Pisa and I almost kissed the nasty station ground. But from across the platform I spot a girl, who spots me who sees my tag and instantly her entire countenance changes! MEet Tais, 23 from Brazil! She had been in italy for only 3 days and has come here to study. She was feeeling very homesick and lonely (been there, felt that girl) and when she saw us she burst into tears. In broken english she told us she had been praying to meet us because she knew if she could find the church in Pisa, she would be okay. It was a huge testimony that Heavenly Father was tweaking my plans to answer the prayers of one of His children.. Quanto Dio ci ama!!!!!! 

A really funny story....

La vita è veramente bella. Sapete perché? Vi lo dico. Vi sto scrivendo dalla Arezzo, la terra famosa per il film La Vita è Bella.

I am writing you from Arezzo this week - the exact place that the famous film "Life is Beautiful"  was filmed. Can I tell you how much I love this land. I have seriously given my heart to this country. Alright let's jump into business. First, my mission mom is home now and it's a little weird that my group is now the oldest in the mission. Gulp. But it is also  been an wonderful week in the sense of working. We have not stopped running and most of the time, I am in a sure panic because there is not enough time for everything I want to do but I LOVE IT. Working hard is the only way to finish! 

So Sorella Bennett and I planned a "girl's night" for all our girl GANS. I have missed these nights with my own sisters and besties so we thought it would be a good way to bring us all closer together. We all met at Karen Perez's house and we did each other's hair, makeup, nails, ate and enjoyed being girls. Sorella Hoffman and I shared a message about being Woman of Christ and it could not have gone better. The Spirit was so strong and we testified of own our unique and vastly important role as woman. It was a wonderful night and our relationships and testimonies were deepened. 

We also had a ward FHE put on by yours truly. President Dibb once said, "i like to party" so I figured we might as well party in Pisa! So I filled up 100 water ballons and we played some water games as a family. Except no one told me Italians don't really like getting their close wet. Oops. Best moment of the day, I nailed an elder 3 times in a row with waterballons. Dead chest. Fratello Marino asked me why I could throw like that and I said, "My daddy taught me and I have 2 brothers." All the members were proud of me. Look Mom, I cant play the piano every week when asked but I can throw waterballoons. :) 

Scripture of the week Luke 19: 10"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." even Jesus had to do finding work! Not all the people found him or came to him. He hit the streets in search for the elect! Strada just got easier. 

Well, i am off! Vi amo tutti! Auguri a Richard and Tammy for 5 years of marriage! and to Bubbus for 28 years of life! 

Sorella Alley 

"Mission Leadership Council - July 4, 2014"

The start of Sorella Alley's LAST transfer!

Famiglia Mia! Non ci credo che è già trasferimento 12! No so dov'è andato il tempo ma c'è un pò ancora quindo devo lavorare piu forte! Devo dare il mio tutto al Signore. 

Trasnfer 12 is coming up like an unwated case of the winter sniffles. This transfer President Dibb changed the transfer policy and transfer calls were made sabato instead of lunedi so that we could say goodbye to members in church. So, sure enough we received a call from President Dibb during lunch. Sorella Bennett is headed to Mestre (includes Venice) and she couldn't be any happier. I am staying in Pisa (praise The Allmighty) and Sorella Hoffman will be coming to Pisa to work with me. Best news though is that Sorella Quinton is coming down to Pistoia so I will be her Sister Training Leader. FINAL SCAMBIO WITH THE BAMBINA! I prayed super hard for both my babies to come down to toscana for my final transfer but I know Burkster is working hard far away....

Please open up your scriptures with me to D/C 4. This is my battle cry - to give with all my heart. But There was a phrase in there I have never seen before. I donated my first body limb to this great cause. Yes, it was required that I give my left pinky toe nail. I have always been prideful of my feet - the toes all slant at a nice level and really I had quite beautiful feet. Now I am humbled. My heels are cracked and calused and I have only 9 toenails. But I painted a fake toe nail so all is well in Zion. 

Working hard in Siena

Ciao da Siena! This week I am writing to you from the beautiful city of Siena. I have lost my heart here in la toscana, there is no beauty that can compare to it. However, I still can't figure out why people choose to farm on the rollings hills.....but I did offer to help a man squish his grapes for wine so maybe when we provide that service, I will receive my answer. Vi faccio sapere.

It seems like I havent really been in Pisa this week as I have had done two scambios and only been in Pisa for Part of Friday, Saturday and Sunday but the few days were jammed backed and rocking. On saturday, Sorella Bennett and I decided we wanted to serve our GANS, so we planned a classic alley favorite, "Breakfast for Dinner". We made scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and pancakes. It was a hit and my pancakes speak for themselves. We did a spiritual thought about the Motto della Libertà and acted out the title of liberty. I absolutely love all our GANS members and think the world of them. I also feel like they are the future of the church in Italy so that is where our focus should be! 

To celebrate the 24th of July, my companion thought I had forgotten but I am just sly, I made a fort and set up a "park the wagon in" movie. We watched Legacy in our "tent" and even rocked the bonnets. Sorella Bennett thinks I am nuts but she doesnt grasp that Alley's dont do anything slight or little. But in my personal studies I focused on the one thing that changed the lives of so many: The Book of Mormon. I literally cannot imagine the humility of the pioneers to accept the BoM and the Prophet Joseph Smith and then put everything up for sacrifice to follow into an unknown future. That is power, that is the power of the Spirit. Having ancestors from both sides been some of the originals who left EVERYTHING for the gospel I feel so grateful. So little. So much less than these spiritual giants. They are among the very elect and I hope that I am doing them proud in my little spot in Italy.

Patience and Diligence

Buon giorno carissimi miei! I feel like someone is playing a really mean trick on me and stealing days right out from under me. How in the crazy world is it Wednesday?! The beautiful think about working hard is that time FLIES past. The bad thing about working hard is the TIME FLIES past. You just cant ever win can you?

Working hard is what we are doing here in Pisa. Some of my favorite moments this week include Dad's Birthday. To celebrate, I did a scambio in Pisa with a verdina and we taught 5 lessons and literally ran from appointment to appointment. It feels so good to work hard and to be able to say at the end of the day, "Lord, I did you proud today!" 

"Dont have a poncho? That has never stopped an Alley.
Garbage bag and scarf. Mission accomplished."

"Apparently something about this says "please drive past me at a close distance so I can be even more wet".
Soaked to the bone."

Mercoledi

I literally cannot believe it is already mercoledi. It freaks me out how fast time is going and how much work that needs to be done. I am thinking about extending.....just kidding, that is not even given as a option anymore. But I just have to work harder and sacrifice lunch time :)

"What the heck, I saw Dad the other day,
busy holding up the tower. Happy Birthday Dad!"

First - Buon Compleanno al mio babbo! Happy Birthday Popsicle! Seriously, I dont know what I did premortalty to have merited a dad like you but it must have been HUGE. All 6 of us hoodlins (and side now, pretty sure our family is like going to explode during the milennium because there are a lot of souls who still need a family and pretty sure ours is the best so we can expet the Lord to send them to us....) really did luck out. Thanks for teaching us, making us laugh, and doing all our projects that we all know we procrastinated till the last second so you would just do them....oh wait, that was just me? ....but still thanks! The 17th of July will be dedicated in your honor and the 21st will be dedicated to another stallion of a man - Grandpa Alley! I have the best in the world! 

Andiamo avanti - First, I have to say the best part of Pisa is the Gans. Gans in the YSA in Italy. We have a wonderful group of Gans and I seriously learn so much from them. Mostly, it is not easy being a member in Italy but these homies are so strong and wonderful examples to me. We had an activity with them just last night and I best a large part of the evening thinking and reevaluating myself because they make me want to be better. I am so grateful for the Gans of Pisa! 

"Gans! Martina and Serena!"

This week we had a lesson about the temple with a less active who wants to get to the temple and do her own work. The lesson was powerful (hopefully for her) but mostly for me because I realized how much I truly miss the temple and the temple blessings in my life. Yes, I still receive the blessings from the