Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you for all your letters and emails! I'm sorry I can't respond to all of them, but they are much appreciated! I think and pray for you, and I hope you all continue to have wonderful miracles happen in your lives!
This has been another amazing week! Once again, there's not much time, but I do have to share some guilty pleasures.
First of all, I got my first pizza AND gelato this week! I actually got the special buffalo cheese kind, and yes, my life has changed forever. And you know how they say that chocolate is better in Europe? Well, it's true. And unfortunately (and fortunately depending on how you look at it), my dear Sorella Noteware buys a ton of it! So I am eating lots and my clothes still fit. We'll see how long that lasts...
But now to the important things. Paola and Sofia are getting all ready for their baptism this weekend! They are SO BRAVA!!! We taught them the law of tithing and fast last weekend. They said that even though they didn't know how they could do it, they still would pay tithing at the beginning of the month because they knew they would be blessed for it! They are in such a rough spot right now with their family situation, so if you have a minute to pray for them, they can always use more prayers! But we know that they'll be blessed for their faith and obedience! I haven't found out from the president yet, but I might be able to teach Paola piano lessons as a 'missionary service' because she wants to learn, and the church needs pianists! I'm officially the pianist for Relief Society AND Primary, so I have to run from room to room to play for both during the first hour of church. And poor Sorella Noteware has to come too, so I drag her from room to room. She's so great! I just love her to death! We've become pretty close the last couple of weeks, and I'm learning a lot from her!
Rosa, Sorella Noteware and I had a fast last weekend so she could decide on a baptismal date. She's so ready, but she just needs to be able to have the faith to set a date and then she can work on improving her situation. We worry that if she doesn't set a date soon, we'll have to drop her because she's progressed as far as she can except for baptism! But we meet with her again tomorrow, I think.
Giovanni actually signed up to clean the church last night, and we taught him a lesson afterwards. He really wants to change his life, so we're praying that he will read and pray with real intent so he can gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He says that if this church doesn't work for him, he's going to give up. I know that if he prays with real intent to change his life, then he will receive an answer! I realize every day as I read from the Book of Mormon that it is truly an inspired book and the word of God. I wish I had more time to study!!! I realize how horrible my study habits were before I left on a mission. Even though I have over 2 hours to study every day, most of that is studying for lessons that we'll teach. So it's pretty wonderful when I get a few extra seconds to just feast upon words of the Book of Mormon!
Let's see, anything else that I ought to share... Oh! Anziano Newton (Josh Newton) is in my district! He's also my zone leader! How fun is that!? For those of you who don't know, his mom, Julie Newton, is a cellist who is one of my dear friends from California. I stayed at her home in La Canada a couple of times even before I started college at USC. She was also in OTS when she lived in Utah, so we go way back. Needless to say, small world. Oh, and Naomi Harper is also in my mission! Dad, she said she loved your class back in 9th grade. She looked familiar and I recognized her name, so you must have talked about her and showed me pictures at some point.
I forgot AGAIN to bring my memory card reader so I could send pictures, but next week I will for sure! I know most of you haven't even seen pictures from the MTC yet! One of these days I'll be on top of my game... hopefully.
On Saturday night we got home, and someone had broken into our kitchen window! They pulled a lot of stuff out of our drawers, but apparently nothing was stolen. That was a miracle. All of my important things were well hidden, but a couple of the Sorelle had their passports and expensive jewelry right out in the open! Truly a blessing. Wow. Yesterday some brothers from the GANS (Giovane Adulti Non Sposati) ward came and put locks on our windows, so now they are pretty secure. We think it might have been a construction worker because we live on the 4th floor, and they are building a 5th floor above us. Otherwise someone would have had to get through 2 other locked doors to get to our window. I guess they think that Americans are rich... haha. Not us! We're pretty sure there were guardian angels hiding our things from the robber. It was really too miraculous, and he went through everything.
But, anyway, we're all fine, nothing is lost (except one of my favorite earrings, which is probably just under the bed or something. But it wasn't stolen because the other one was there, and I'm pretty sure it looks about as cheap as it is... $5 at target 3 years ago).
I hope you are all doing well! I wish I had the time to write each of you personally, but suffice it to say, I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support! Have a wonderful week, and keep the faith!
Love always,
-Sorella Willey
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Sorella Willey
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Sorella Willey
Sorella Elizabeth Willey
Via Gramsci, 13/4
Via Gramsci, 13/4
20090 Opera MI
ITALIA
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