Two more weeks!!!

December 28, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

In exactly two weeks from today, I'll be on my way to Italy!!!  I get my travel plans (hopefully) on Thursday, and it's crazy how fast the time is flying!  Days used to feel like weeks, but now they feel like hours!  Weeks used to feel like days, but now they feel like minutes!  But I'm learning so much here, and Monday is still my favorite day of the week! 

It seems like every Monday is long, tiring, and almost discouraging, until I say the prayer before the TRC.  Then The Spirit just FLOODS into my heart, mind, and soul.  Yesterday (because of the holiday) we just taught our teachers.  The TRC was supposed to be closed, but all of the Italians went in and watched each others' TRC lessons.  I got to observe Anziano Ellsworth and Anziano Jeter (missionaries from the new districts).  It was like a music masterclass.  I was supposed to "evaluate them," but I also got to evaluate my own teaching while watching them.  Then I taught with the Sisters from the other district (S.lla Lecates and S.lla Salyer- both going to Rome).  It was so nice to teach with sisters again!  I mean, I really enjoyed teaching with elders, but there's an extra connection with sisters.  And we got to teach Sorella Swenson (my Italian teacher).  We had a "lesson" prepared, but we felt the Spirit guiding us to scriptures and topics that weren't necessarily in the Plan of Salvation lesson.  It was all in Italian, and all 4 of us were close to tears the entire time.  It was very special, and I am so grateful that we have these little 'tastes' of teaching here.  I know that we were teaching S.lla Swenson as well as the "Christine" that she was acting as.  Actually, I think it's her first name also, but she was pretending to be a woman who had just lost her brother, gone through a divorce, and was drinking to take away the pain.  We talked about how Moroni and Jesus Christ had been alone, and yet had faith to conquer their trials.  We shared a message about the Atonement, and we all shared our favorite scriptures as well. 

If any of you have time, read Mormon 8, Ether 12, Mosiah 7 & 24, and Doctrine and Covenants 6.  They all speak of trials and having faith to overcome.  We all came out of the "teaching" experience edified by the Spirit.  It's amazing how the Spirit is "one-size-fits-all."  When we have the Spirit with us, we will receive a message suited right to us.  This week I had an incredible experience with this.  The emotions we experience here are magnified.  On Wednesday, when Sis. Tirell and Anziano Schwing left, I had a very difficult time saying goodbye.  The longer I'm here, the more goodbyes I have to say.  I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, and I spent a good ammount of time on my knees praying for strength.  In class we read Mosiah 24, and I decided I would turn all the feelings I was having over to the Savior.  As I prayed that night, I felt he was kneeling right next to me with his hands outstretched to receive my "burdens" and make them light.  I even looked up once to see if I could see Him.  It was beautiful.  I know that Jesus Christ truly does live and loves all of us so much.  I truly learned about the Atonement as I prayed for my burdens to be made light, I felt them all melt away.  He truly took them, and I have had an amazing week since!  I still miss my friends, worry about my family, and have a lot to do, but the weight of it all is taken.  I know that if any of you have trials that are weighing you down, the Savior wants you to turn them over to Him!  He has already experienced all that for you! 

My scripture that I'll quote for this week is Moses (Mose') 1:39:

"Poiche ecco, questa e la mia opera e la mia gloria, fare avverare l'immortalita' e la vita eterna dall'uomo."

It is Christ's work and glory, and now I am making that my mission for the next 16 1/2 months. :)  I have felt my love and excitement for the Italian people grow so much, and I feel the Lord stretching me in so many ways to help me be prepared for them.

Thank you all for your love and support!  I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a great New Year this week!

Keep the faith!

~Sorella Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

3 Weeks Left!

December 21, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been quite the crazy week!  I have been placed temporarily with Anziano Osborn and Anziano Schwing as my "companions,"  but Anziano Schwing is leaving tomorrow for Germany.  He'll be serving in the Frankfurt Germany mission until he finishes physical therapy on his finger.  Boy am I going to miss him!  He's the best at speaking the language, and he's basically fluent, so we can always ask him when we have questions about anything language.  This week he taught me passato remoto... I know.  I don't have to learn it, but it's been really helpful in scriptures and hymns. 

Last night and tonight I'm on splits with an Portugese sister... She's not actually Portugese, but she's been here learning Portugese for her Brazil mission.  Because of visa problems, almost all of the Brazil missionaries have been reassigned (temporarily we all hope).  But she was reassigned to SLC, and most of her district left, and all of her roommates, so I'm sleeping in her room and hanging out with her while she packs all day today.  It's funny, because we know a bunch of the same people.  She is from Provo, so we made a lot of connections last night.  It's such a small world here at the MTC.  Everyone knows someone who knows someone else, who's related to or used to date someone else.  Really funny.  :)

We got 2 new districts of all elders.  All going to Milano.  They are so impressive!  They've done all the memorizations that took us 2 weeks in 2-4 days!  They're language is fantastic, and their spirit is amazing!  Missionaries just keep getting better and better!  I had actually connected with one of the elders on facebook from Oklahoma beforehand, so it was funny to meet someone in person whom I had "met online" first.  So many great people here!

It has been one of the harder weeks.  A couple of times I've been thinking about my departed S.lla Diehl, then I think about my departing A.no Schwing, then I think about Brother Johnston, and now I'm losing Sister Tirell... The other coordinating sister in the branch with whom I'm on splits right now (How'd you like that grammer, Cat?).  But I've found faith in thinking about all the people that I'm going to be meeting in Italy, trying to serve the people here, and falling in love with the gospel and the Savior.  It's really true that sometimes He allows us to be tried so much that we fall to our knees, and then he allows us to stay there so we can bring Him closer to us.  Boy I miss you all and love you so much!  What a wonderful family I have been blessed with!  And how could I ask for better friends who support me and inspire me to be better? 

We watched the M&SW broadcast on Sunday and I saw all my dear dear friends in the Orchestra and Choir!  Boy, the cellos got a lot of camera time.  I definitely cried the entire broadcast!  But it's good to have great friends and things to come home to.  A lot of the elders and sisters here are talking about how they have no idea what they're coming home to.

On Saturday, Anziani Schwing and Osborn and I had an english fast (digiuno inglese). :)  It was amazing.  I messed up twice and said probably about a total  of 10 English words.  But other than that, I spoke only in Italian for 26 hours strraaiigghhtt!!  And forgive the double letters, the power went out in the middle of this email, aanndd  ssince then, my computer is making really funny mistakes.  Luckily it saved most of the emaaiill,,  bbuutt  now I only have a few minutes left.  :) Eeek!  Wow, tthhaatt  wwooaass  funnny though.  I'm in the laundry room.  The lights went out, and then everbody simultaneously said "NOOO!!!"  Luckily the machines just stopped where tthheeyy  were, and all we had to do was press restart.  They all started back with the same amount of time left on them.

My testimony of Jesus Christ and how His Atonement works for me everyday in my life.  I love Him,  aanndd I feel so much closer to Him as I teach and learn about the Gospel.  Yesterday II  wwaass  hhaavviinngg  aa  hard day in the morning, and when Anziano Osborn saaiidd the prayer before we went in to teach "Allessandro" again in the TRC, I felt thee  SSppiirriitt  come into my heart, and a great love for Allessandro and desire for his welfare.  I can't wait to be meeting with people every day in Italy!  I'mddoowwnn  ttoo  tthhee  three week countdown, and boy am I excited!

I love all the people here!  I lovee  tthhee  Spirit that I can feel surrounding me and buoying me up wherever I go.  I'm going to miss the huge devotionals singing the hymns of Zion with thousands of other eenndowed members who are all united with the same purpose and love of God!

I'm going to quote thhee  llaasstt  three verses of D&C 4 in Italian.... hope there's time!

"E la fede, la speranza, la carita' e l'amore, conn  occhio rivolte unicamente alla gloria di Dio lo qualificano per l'opera.   RRiicordate, la fede, la virtu', la conoscenza, la temperennzza, la patienza, la gentilezza fraterna, la pieta', la carita', l'umilita', e la diligenza.  Chiedete, e riceverete. Busate, e vi sara' aperto. Amen."

I love you all, and I love this gospel!  I know it's true!  I know it!  I'm so grateful for this amazing opportunity to serve and feel the love of God in my life so  ppoowwerfully.  I've never felt the love and approval of God quite in this way.  I can't wait to get out and share it!  I  feel like I could just burst!

Thaannkk  yyoouu for your support!  Thank you for being miracles in my life!

Keep the faith!

~Sorella Elizabeth Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Mama Mia!

December 14, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

What a crazy week this has been!  Last P-day, right after email time, Sorella Diehl and I went to the temple.  While we were there, she felt prompted to go home and marry her boyfriend.  !!!   And for the next 6 days, I just had to sit on that and help her through her decision.  It was really hard, and she finally decided that she would in fact go. It was wonderful to see her so happy with her decision, but it was so hard to say goodbye to the person who had been by my side constantly for an entire month. Yesterday morning at 4:00AM, I became a "solo sister."  My new companion is my district of six elders.  They have been so kind to me, but it is quite lonely.  Yesterday at the TRC, I taught with Anziano Osborn.  Because Anziano Schwing has already taught all the lessons, Anziano Osborn would have been teaching with the "trio," but now we're "teaching companions."  It was really fun, but I really missed teaching with Sorella Diehl.  I hope the best for her.  She is so wonderful!

The language is coming along so much better!  Anziano Osborn is fantastic with Italian, and I feel like we're about the same level (in different areas), so when I couldn't think of a word, he filled in and vice versa.  It was a little embarrasing when the "investigators" in TRC asked if we were married.  Hahaha.  He's got a faithful girfriend waiting for him, so it was even funnier for him.

I'm learning so much about the Spirit, and I'm amazed at how my prayers have been answered!  I'm praying for you all the time!  I'm so grateful for each of my family members, and I feel blessed to have so many wonderful friends!

And for my district spotlight:

Anziano Andersen (with an e) is from Alpine, Utah. He's headed to Milan also. He's a rugby player, and has become the district "polar bear" because he's so loveable, friendly, and towers above us. He's the quietest one in the district, so if you walked into the classroom, you might not notice him much.  But when you get to know him, he's got the greatest sense of humor, he's incredibly perceptive, and he always says the right thing when he does open his mouth. :)  He always gives me reassuring looks when I'm down, and if I make a joke that nobody laughs at, he laughs.  He also knows Ben Ballard (Jenny's brother, for those of you who don't know).  It's amazing to think that half of my district lived 15 minutes away from me before the mission, and now we're all going to Milan together!

Perche' non e' molto tempo, non dico Dottrina e Alleanze quattro tutto, ma il primo parte e':

Ora ecco, un'opera meravigliosa sta potere sorgere tra i figlioli degli uomini.  Percio', o voi che vi imbarcate nel servizio di Dio, guardate di servirlo con tutto il cuore, facolta', mente e forza, per potere stare senza biasimo dinanzi a Dio all'ultimo giorno.  Percio' se avete desiderio di servire Dio, siete chiamati all'opera. . . .

Piu' venira' piu' tardi.  :)

Grazie tutti per tutte cose!   Vi volgio bene!  Tenete la fede!

Con tutto il mio cuore,

~Sorella Elizabeth Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

The Gift of Tongues

December 7, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

What a beautiful week I've had here!  So many miracles have happened, and I hope I can include everything in this email!

Last Wednesday, Sorella Diehl and I spoke in Italian during our companion study.  It was over 30 minutes of straight Italian.  Then as a district we all shared information, pictures, and stories about our family members for another 30 minutes or so... straight Italian again. :)  Wow, the gift of tongues is real!  On Friday, we picked up a "progressive investigator," (Fratello Jarom Auna acting as a contact, Nicola, he had in Florence on his mission).  He seems so real to us, and we taught him on Friday.  An entire hour of teaching the gospel in Italian!  We both felt the Spirit guiding our 'lesson' and giving us words to say.  Afterward, F.llo Auna said he understood every word. WOW!  Yesterday we taught  again at the TRC, and again taught 100% in Italian (there were a couple of "come si dice" - english words included, but we pretty much were all in Italian.  My grammar is pretty awful still, but I'm getting there, thanks to S.lla Diehl's beautiful Italain and patience with me. :) 

I played another "special musical number" on Sunday for the entire MTC.  It was prelude to the "First Presidency Devotional," which I LOVED!!!  Elder Solesbee (an elder from California who searched me out after the last musical number) and I played O Come O Come Emanuel.  It was so fun to perform again.  We only had 2 quick rehearsals and a sound check, but it came together great, and we were blessed to have the Spirit with us as we played.  The Spirit here is so strong, and I can't believe how clear it speaks to me on a regular basis.

As for my district spotlight:

Anziano (David) Osborn is from Highland, Utah.  He's 21 years old, and is a pretty powerful personality.  He has blown us out of the water with his Italian study.  He's currently companions with Anziano Schwing, so he gets a little extra help there, but he has a beautiful accent, and works SO hard.  I wouldn't be surprised if he passed everyone up by the time we go.  He loves Italian so much, the language and the people.  He has some Italian heritage as well, and he's an inspiration to us all in his friendly spirit and incredibly hard work.  He faithfully writes his girlfriend, Leah, and it's fun to see him light up when he gets something from her. :)

Wow, the time is really flying this week!  Not just the email time, but all the time!  I can't believe it has been almost 4 weeks!  And we'll be in Italy before we know it!  Next week I'll include D&C 4 in Italian.  I memorized it yesterday, but it would take all the time I have left to type it today. 

I love you all, and I am so grateful for your friendship and support!  What a beautiful world we live in!  So many wonderful people and amazing experiences here!  I never expected a mission to be quite as amazing as this!  I've learned so much, and my testimony  is so much stronger than before!  I'll never be the same after this!  Thank you all for making it possible for me to be here!  I have learned so much from you all over the years!

So che questo Vangelo e' vero, che Gesu' Cristo e' il mio Salvatore, e che Dio ci ama! 

Keep the faith!

Always,

~Sorella Elizabeth Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

MTC Week 3!

November 30, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

This has been such an amazing week!  I've seen so many miracles, and learned so much!  Last Tuesday, I may have mentioned that I was auditioning to play a "special musical number" for one of the firesides here.  After Anziano Nelson and I finished playing, the sister in charge came and asked if we'd play on the Thanksgiving Morningside... this past Thursday.  !!!  It was AMAZING!!!   Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came and after we finished playing, he went to the pulpit, thanked us, and then told us to thank our mothers for making us practice. :)  So thank you, Mother, for making me practice and for all of the opportunities you've given me over the years!  Thank you all for your constand love and support as well!  Thanks, Dad for bringing my cello by.  It was nice to play on my own cello.  After the fireside was over, as Sorella Diehl and I were walking back to the office to lock up the cello, we happened to see Elder Holland again.  Two kind elders had offered to help carry my cello, and he shook their hands.  Then he gave me and Sorella Diehl a hug and kiss on the forehead!  He apologized for breaking protocol (sp.?), but he was so kind, and we all felt it was a miracle that we were able to meet him and feel of his authority and testimony.  The elders were pretty excited that they'd offered to carry the cello too.  :)

Let's see, so much to share!

This week I was praying for some very special blessings for my district.  We needed to find more unity, and I felt that we needed some outside help.  Yesterday both of my teachers came back (they had been out of town for Thanksgiving), and they both addressed both of the concerns that I was having!  It was amazing to see the Spirit working through them as they told us just what we needed to hear!  There are so many more examples of this, but that was the freshest on my mind.

And now for my district spotlight.  This will be a little longer because it has a backstory.

Today the older districts flew out to Milano and Roma!  Now there are just two districts of 3-week-old missionaries left.  Mine and one other.  Except, on Friday evening, Anziano Scwing, an amazing elder from Germany, broke his fingers playing volleyball.  He went in for some tests, and found out yesterday that he has to get surgery (in just a couple of hours), and he'll be joining my district for the next couple of weeks!  He's one of the most gifted with the language, but he also works incredibly hard.  He'll be so good for our district.  Ever since I got here, I've had the deepest respect for him, but now I am even more amazed by his attitude and excitement to go wherever the Lord wants him to go.  He's going to have to wait another 6 weeks before he flies to Rome.  In the meantime, after a couple more weeks in the MTC with us, he'll be in the Provo Mission for a few weeks.  He bore his testimony last night that everything that happens is for a reason.  We'll be so lucky to have him in our district.  He's splitting the "trio" into two companionships, so now we have an even number of everything.  Which is such an unimportant detail, but it's fun. :)  Anziano Schwing (Georg) is actually 26 years old.  He was in the army, and he got special permission to serve a mission even though he was a few weeks too old for the deadline.  We're so blessed to have him here, and please pray for him in his surgery today!  I believe he starts his appointment at noon, so pray for him please!

On Sunday, because of the other districts leaving today, Brother Johnston (from the Branch Presidency) asked me to be the "coordinating sister" for the Italian Zone.  It comes with a few extra responsibilities, and a few extra meetings, but I've learned so much and really enjoyed being able to serve my sisters.  Sorella Diehl is very supportive and helps me out with things whenever I have to go to extra meetings, etc.  She's so great.  I really love her, and I'm learning so much from her.

For my last couple of minutes, I want to quote from Joseph Smith's History.  This is in his words (translated into Italian) his experience seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove:

"Vidi essatamente sopra la mia testa, una colonna di luce, piu brilliante del sole, che discese gradualmente fino a che cadde su di me. . . Quando la luce stette su di me, io vidi due Personaggi, il cui splendore e la cui gloria sfidano ogni descrizione, ritti sopra di me nel'aria.  Uno di essi mi parlo, chiamandomi per nome, a disse, indicando l'altro, 'Questo e il mio figlio diletto.  Ascoltalo.' "

I know that this is true. I know that Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son, and that through him, the true church was restored.  I have gained such a strong testimony of this.  I've felt the love and Spirit of God resting on me as I have striven to be obedient.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he that He lives!  I know the Book of Mormon is true.  I have learned so much from my study of it these past few weeks, and my entire life!  I know that President Monson, and all of the apostles of the Church are guided by God.  What a beautiful world we live in! 

I love you all so much!  I love hearing from you, and I'm sorry that I'm not able to write more of you individually by hand!  My Preparation Days are very limited in time, especially now that I have extra meetings and responsibilities.  But I do love you, and hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thank you again for your love and support, and please forgive my spelling (and the lack of correct symbols in the Italian, for those of you who know!).  No time to double check or question my spelling!

Keep the faith!

All my love,

~Sorella Elizabeth Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Dear Family

November 23, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

What an amazing week I've had this week!  Sorella Diehl and I have learned so many lessons and experienced so many emotions and spiritual experiences!  One of my favorite experiences this week (aside from our TRC teaching that we have every Monday) was when I lost my "blue card."  I use it to buy meals, get into my dorm, etc. etc. etc.  At breakfast, I asked if someone had turned it in, and the lady told me that not only had nobody found it, but the office that replaced them was closed for the entire weekend.  When I sat down for personal study, I said a prayer pleading that I'd be able to find my card.  At nearly the exact moment that I said "Amen," a little voice in my head said, "It's in your purple jacket pocket."  I was surprised because I don't usually wear my jacket, but when I thought about it, I realized that I had worn that jacket to gym the previous evening.  It was amazing.  And that's just one of the many examples of the love that the Lord has shown me since I've arrived here.  My prayers have become so much more personal, and I really feel that even while I'm praying, aloud or silently, the Lord is speaking to me and putting things into my mind that I should pray and ask for.

Last night, Anziano Nelson and I decided to try out for the "fireside special musical numbers."  When I went to check out the MTC cello, it had been taken to the shop, and wouldn't be back until Saturday or Sunday!  But I really wanted to be able to play for the half of my zone that's flying out to Italy next week.  So, the lady at the office called home, and my dad, (thanks, Daddy!!!) dropped my cello off!  We ran through an arrangement of "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee" by Marshall MacDonald, and this morning we took our audition.  After we finished, the lady running the auditions told us she wanted us to play for the Thanksgiving fireside!!!  ... Ummm, is Thanksgiving this week?  I have really lost track of time.  But it was so nice to be able to play on my own cello.  At one point I was going to have to sell it, but thanks to a miracle, it all worked out!  Thank you!!!

So, for my weekly District 33B spotlight.  I've chosen Anziano Macmullen.  He's from England, and, of course, has the shnazzy accent to go with it!  He's one of the more outspoken elders in our district, but always has an uplifting thought.  He has introduced us to fun phrases like: "Are you winding me up?" or "Lets have a walk about," and "That's just rubbish," and "Do American's like banter?"  Imagine the most amazingly British accent, and it sounds even greater. :)  He's struggling a little with the language, but he's got a heart of gold, and last night we were conversation "partners," and he made "a load of improvement."  It's so fun to watch these young men grow into their calling, and I'm learning so much from all of them.

I hope you all are doing fabulously well!  I miss everyone so much, but I'm grateful and so blessed to be here now!  Every day the Spirit confirms to me just how important this is for me.  I know that if I'm obedient and faithful, I'll be able to have His Spirit with me when I meet my Italians in just 7 weeks!  The past two Sundays I've been able to watch Music and the Spoken Word.  It's my only window into the outside world besides letters, and it's so wonderful to see all my friends and MoTab/OTS family on the huge screens in the gym!

Well, I suppose I'd better hurry and print off the emails I have received this week before my time limit expires!  There's no such thing as proofreading my emails anymore.  I just have to type as fast as I can and hit "Send!"  This is probably the most stressful 30 minutes of my entire week!  S.lla Diehl and I have to take notes during the week of what we're going to type so we can send it all in time.

Thank you all again for your love and support!  I love you so much, and wish you the very best in all your endeavors!

Keep the faith!

Love always,

~Sorella Elizabeth Willey

P.S.  I don't remember if I sent this in my last email, but DearElder.com is the best way for me to receive mail.  <3 <3 <3

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Greetings from the MTC

November 16, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

What a wonderful week this has been!  I have seen so many miracles and felt an incredibly strong Spirit here!  We are studying the gospel over 10 hours a day, with a little food, gym time, and Italian sqeezed in as well.  :) 

I have a beautiful companion, Sorella Diehl, and an incredible district of 5 Anziani (elders) and 2 Sorelle (sisters- S.lla Diehl and S.lla Willey, that's me).  I'll tell you about one of them each week because I only get 30 minutes of email per week, and they cut you off whether you finish or not! 

Sorella Diehl is from Michigan, and she is 22 years old.  She has beautiful curly hair, and impecable style.  The only hard part about being her companion is that I have to be really careful about my outfits.  She could be a model!  She went to Smith Women's College in Boston, MA, and is incredibly spiritual!  One of the greatest things about being with her all the time is that her Italian is beautiful!  She's the most advanced in the entire zone, probably.  She spent a year in Firenze (Florence, IT) studying and learning the language, so she helps me a lot!  I just want to quote to you my purpose in Italian.  Just because I can:

Il mio scopo e invitare le personne a venire a Cristo aiutandole ad accettare il vangelo restaurato, mediante la fede in Gesu Cristo e la sua espiazione, il pentimento, il battesimo, il conferimento di donno dello Spirito Santo, e perseveranto sino alla fino.

In Inglese:  My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

I did that without peeking, so spelling might not be perfect yet..  :)  My next project is the 1st Vision...  I've got one sentence which I won't write here now.

One of the lessons I have learned this week is that charity is the most important quality I can attain.  Yesterday we taught an "investigator," and S.lla Diehl and I felt such a love for him!  I really am beginning to understand that there is a power that comes with this calling.  I can feel the Spirit weighing on my mind and heart, helping me know what I need to do.  I know there are people in Italy who will be able to benefit from this beautiful message if I can just be prepared to have the Spirit with me and learn the language!

I love you all!   Thank you all for your love and support!

Keep the faith!

Love always,

S.lla Elizabeth Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sister Elizabeth Denise Willey
MTC Mailbox # 194
ITA-MIL 0112
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Called to Serve!

When I decided to go on a mission, I had received an incredibly strong and urgent prompting.  Within 3 weeks, I had my mission papers in, and then I received my call in another 3 weeks.  During that time, I was surprised how at-ease I felt about the whole thing.  Two years ago, a mission felt like the last thing I should do.

While I was preparing and waiting for my call, a dear friend directed me to this talk from the Priesthood Session of the April 2010 General Conference by Elder Ronald A. Rasband. When I read it, I knew that the Lord would call me to exactly where I needed to go!  When I received my call to the Italy Milan Mission, I knew it was from God.  What a remarkable blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit testify of truth!  There are so many things I have learned from the Spirit, and I know that on this new adventure that starts in just a couple of weeks I will learn so much more about how to follow and learn from the Spirit!

I can't wait to get to Italy and meet the wonderful people there!  I know I'll learn so much from them, and I hope that I can be an instrument in the Lord's hands for good!


Here's a link to the talk:  The Divine Call of a Missionary by Elder Ronald A. Rasband


I know that my calling came from God, and I can't wait to share the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the world!

Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-81
  77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom
  78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
 79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—
  80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
  81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.