Verona 1 - Transfer 7 - Week 5

October 26, 2011

Dear Family and friends,

We had some crazy experiences here!  One of our investigators had a pretty rough week.  He had the day off work, and his wife invited us over to teach a lesson, but he had wanted to spend the day in the mountains.  There ended up being some fights while we were there, and when we called the next day, he said, "I don't want to get baptized anymore, and I won't be coming to church." We told him over the phone that reading from the Book of Mormon and praying would help him to find answers, and left him with Enos.  30 minutes later, he called back and said, "I got my answer, and I want to come to church  again.  Let's keep this baptismal date."  It's beautiful how the Lord really loves His children and wants them to have every chance possible.  The Lord is really answering our prayers as we pray specifically for our investigators.  It's amazing.

Yesterday we had scambio (exchange) with Bergamo.  Sorella Pastano, one of the Italian sisters serving who is from Taranto, came to do some work here with me in Verona while Sorella Hanks went to Bergamo with Sorella Jacobsen.  It was SO fun to work with Sorella Pastano!  Before I left the MTC, I heard about Sorella Pastano from one of my teachers, and I have always wanted to serve with her.  We had a great time!  We taught at the bus stop, at the door, and found some less active members who just fell in love with her!  She's so sincere in her teaching, and she really helped me to see how missionary work really can just get better every day.  She was so good with invites.  I sometimes just get shy or in a hurry and forget to talk to everyone, but she really helped me see how everyone needs to be talked to.  We're not just here for a few people.  We're here to share the good news with everyone!

I'm feeling much better.  Thank you all for your prayers and advice.  I've exhausted the medicine cabinet, so I'd better be on the upward!  :)  My poor companion came here with tons of medicine, and I just used it right up.  Well, she still has some left, just not as much as before.

It was sad to see Dorina, Fernando and Cristian leave.  They had to move, but where they're headed in Romania, they have information for the missionaries and the Church and everything.  Hopefully we will be able to hear from them soon. 

I hope all of you are doing well!  I am still having crazy dreams every night!  Last night I had a dream that I was at the SLC Tabernacle, and there were so many of you!  There were people from my whole life with a couple of random mission friends there too.  Weird.  I miss you all, but I know that I am in the right place. 

Thank you again for your prayers.  I know that prayer is really one of the most important things we do every day.  We have seen a lot of ups and downs this week, but prayer helps us through it all.  And I know that the scriptures are often where we find our answers.  And in church, of course! :)

Have a wonderful week, and if you want to read a great chapter about the purpose of the Book of Mormon (one of the many), I'd like to recommend Mormon 7.  It's the some of the last words of Mormon that he wrote before handing the book over to his son, Moroni.  And it's only 10 verses long!  So powerful!  My favorite snippet is from verse five:
"Believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up."  We will all see our families and loved ones again after this life.  We will all live again!

Love you all! Thank you for everything!

Keep the faith!
-Sorella Willey



--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Verona 1 - Transfer 7 - Week 4

October 20, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, it has been a hard week!  About a week ago, I started getting those same dizzy spells.  Just like in Milano.  My head would spin around in circles, and I couldn't get out of bed or stay out of bed for long.  We miraculously have been able to still teach people.  Just like in Milano, I'm just fine during the lessons.  The Spirit sustains me when we're with investigators, but pretty much any other time, I'm in bad condition.  I mean, I'm fine.  No need to worry, but I just don't feel fine.  Luckily Sorella Hanks is just the sweetest little companion anyone could ask for.  Incredibly obedient, supportive, and studious.  She'll close all the windows and have just enough light to be able to read so I can sleep off and on during the day.  The worst was when we went with an investigator and her friend to get hot chocolate by the lake, and on the way home, we had to pull over so I could... well, undrink the hot chocolate.  Ooops.  Then the elders came to our apartment and gave me a blessing.  That was a little strange to have anyone else in the apartment, but particularly the missionaries.  The blessing was beautiful, though, and I felt much better.  I was even able to make it through ward council and church the next morning.  The power of the priesthood is undeniable. And I also have really grown a testimony of it as I have been studying to teach it to my dear investigators.  Two of them, Unity and Monday, young men from Nigeria, have been particularly interested in why they'd need to be baptized again.  We actually carried our toaster from the apartment to the church and gave them the 'unplugged vs. plugged in' toaster lesson to demonstrate why baptism needs the proper authority.  Monday thought it was hilarious, and Unity got it.  Unity is set, and Monday still needs to decide to read the Book of Mormon.  He loves the lessons, though.  It's funny.  He says, 'I'm the kind of person who cannot be convinced,' but then when we taught them the Word of Wisdom, they both agreed to try it for a week to see if they didn't receive the blessings.

We brought our family (the Meneghini family) to church again, and the primary program was so cute!  Their son, Gabriel, also participated in it.  I'm pretty sure I've already described their family, but they are all pretty awesome.  She is from Brazil, near Rio in a place called Salvador, I think.  He's Veronese, and the kids are SO cute!  She started introducing her friends to us now, and it's been fun to see the gospel bless their family.  Her whole family has been members for years, the Reis-Lago family...  I think that's how it's spelled.  But now they're going to join together as a family.  It's just so lovely to see them progress.  Reading the scriptures as a family, as a couple, and receiving answers to their prayers.

I've really missed my studies this week.  I can usually get in about 10 minutes of Book of Mormon reading, but after that my head spins.  I feel that mancanza... that's not English... Let's just say that I miss it a lot.  I think I'm going to have to keep up 2-3 hour scripture study after the mission too.  Hopefully I won't have anything else to do at 8:00 every morning.  :)  But this morning it was really great because I was able to wake up only an hour late and read from the New Testament a little.  It's pretty incredible how diligent and blessed Paul the apostle was.  He really knew his duty, and he did it.  I want to be more like Paul.  Paolo, in Italian. :)  I finished Acts and started Romans.  It is amazing how the Bible and the Book of Mormon really do go together.  We were planning a lesson on the Book of Mormon, but I was able to find awesome stuff in the Bible to back it up!  

Anywho, I'd probably better start wrapping it up.  Thank you again for your emails this week!  It was great to hear from each of you!  I hope that the Lord continues to bless you and help you in your families, work, school, etc.  I pray for you, and I'm so grateful for your prayers!  I really feel the Lord supporting me in hard times, and I know it's because so many people pray for me with faith!  Say hello to the temple for me!  I've been particularly missing it this week.  All those of you who are temple going people, go once for me this week!  And those of you who aren't, pray about how you can prepare.  I know one of the first best ways is to read from the Book of Mormon.  

May I recommend Helaman 5 to those of you in search of a chapter.  I just love the description of the voice of the Holy Spirit that it gives in verses 30 and 45-47.  It also inspires me to be a better instrument, more faithful, and less fearful.  But then, of course, the scripture mastery verse, vs. 12, is incredibly powerful.  It talks about how we can only be safe if we build upon our Savior.  He is "the rock... our Redeemer . . . Christ, the Son of God."  I know that the more sure we are in our testimony of Him and obedeient we are to His will, the less power the adversary will have over us.  He really is our 'sure foundation.'    I am getting to know Him more personally, and I am so grateful for what He did for me!  And for everyone!  It has been great to see prophecy fulfilled out here in Italy as the Gospel is literally preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.  I am grateful for the chance I have to be here.  

Thank you all for your support, sustain, friendship, love, prayers, and everything!  

Keep the faith!

Tanti Saluti da Verona,

-Sorella Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Verona 1 - Transfer 7 - Week 3

October 12, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

I just got a ton of beautiful emails this week from so many of you!  Thank you for the good news, kind words, fun stories, awesome dreams, etc.!  I have been just loving reading them, and now, as usual, I probably won't be able to respond to most of them.  But I am so glad to hear of all the good things going on in your lives!  Thank you for your good examples to me!  

So, let's see.  What happened this week.

 

Sorella Hanks has been suffering from a sore knee, and she's been a real trooper.  It's been hard to plan lessons because we can't always use the bikes, but she is still going strong on passing out Books of Mormon.  Yesterday she tried to give one to a teenager who looked like she needed some direction, and was flaty refused.  She bounced right back and wasn't at all offended.  I just love how energetic she is about the work.  She is just up to doing anything!  Some of you asked where she is from, but I don't remember who asked.... She's from Boise, Idaho.  She's so great, and we just giggle.  I hope not too much, but she keeps me from getting too stressed out.  That's for sure.  Sometimes things just don't go how we planned.  But that's ok, because usually it's because the Lord needs us somewhere else.  We've been really loving working with our families and other investigators.  Yesterday we had an investigator bring 4 friends with him to the lesson.  Luckily, we had Alex there to help us teach the lesson.  It was really powerful, the SPirit, that is.  It really helped me to realize (again, and again) how very little I have to do with the work.  THe Spirit really bore witness, and I could see people making decisions right then and there whether or not to accept the Spirit.  I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  It's hard to say just when I got from believing with all my heart to knowing with all of my being.  But there is no denying it.  When we talk about the first vision, about the BOok of Mormon, about Jesus Christ restoring His Church, I just feel the Spirit bearing witness right along with me and my companion.  

Of course it's also fun to see other people realize that for the first time.  It seems that all of our investigators (or at least most) are now at the point where they are waiting for their 'answer.'  It's been amazing to see how they understand just what they need to do, and they all talk about the great feelings they feel when they read the Book of Mormon.  

I do know that the Book of Mormon is true.  With all of my heart.  I am now reading it in 3 languages in 4 different places.  I keep learning new things every day!  Even up the 4th time I've read certain passages, I learn something brand new!  Such an inspired book.  Punto.

We actually dropped the bikes off to get them fixed today, so it'll be lots of bussing for us!  

Oh my! 5 minutes left!  Time flies!

May I take this moment to tell you all how much I love and appreciate you all!  I have had lots of crazy dreams (also my companion, sister, and various other people have been telling me about their dreams), and it is fun to see you.  Even though it's just in dreams.  Particularly those of you who write me show up in my dreams from time to time.  It's fun.  :)  One of these days.... fra a few months, we'll actually see each other, and I'll expect some grande hugs!

Have a wonderful day, and keep the faith!

Always,

-Sorella Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Verona 1 - Transfer 7 - Week 2

October 5, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

We have been so busy this week setting up appointments, going here and there, and preparing our dear investigators for baptism!  It's so amazing how the Spirit is really teaching them what they need to know.  Sometimes (like last night) we can hardly understand what they're saying, but the Spirit tells us what they meant, and somehow they understand us too.  :)  Our sweet family (Agostino, Natalice, and Jonathan) who is preparing for baptism later this month has been learning all the commandments little by little.  We had a fun experience last Friday when hopped on the wrong bus to go to an appointment with them.  I felt like I should give Slla Hanks the chance to ask the driver- even though I knew it wasn't the right bus.  She asked if he was going to Corbiolo, and he said, 'Yes,' in so many words.  But we both knew it was the wrong bus.  We also both knew that we needed to stay on the bus though.  It was weird.  As the bus went along, we got a little worried.  I asked the bus driver again, and he said, "I'll tell you when to get off."  We moved to the front of the bus, and as we were sitting there, we got talking to him.  We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon!  And he seemed to really want to read it.  Unfortunately we couldn't get his number because then we had to jump off the bus.  He said, "It's that bus right there."  We also knew that bus was wrong, but we hopped on, and asked, "Corbiolo?"  The driver (who was also on the phone) said yes.  Then he said, "Oh no!!  Corbiolo is that bus!!"  The right bus was just passing the bus stop, and he waved it down for us.  We hopped on the right bus, and made it to our appointment just in time.  We taught tithing, and they accepted!  :)  But now everyone on this bus (we take it almost every night) knows who we are, and say, "Salve Sorelle" or "Come va, Sorelle?"  It's interesting to see how people know who we are even before we talk to them. 

Our dear Dorina and Cristian keep having crazy experiences, and last week, poor Cristian got in a car accident, broke his wrist, part of his neck, and got glass in his head and nose.  He said, however, that he knew now, thanks to an experience in a dream and his time thinking in the hospital, that Jesus Christ is his Savior and that he is now completely ready to obey all of the commandments.  His experience was, for those of you who know Alma the Younger, very much like Alma 36.  We ended up reading it at their lesson on Thursday, and it was incredible.  It is amazing to see people who suffer so much have such great faith in the midst of trials.

Let's see.  Sorella Hanks is SOOO FUN!!!  We get home and just giggle.  She and I go running every morning, then we ride our bikes all around.  We get plenty of exercise, but then we eat plenty of food.  It's my job, afterall, to introduce her to Italian culture (aka gelato, pizza, kebab, pastries, ciocolato, etc. etc. etc).  But we have a pretty good time.  We have been giving away lots of Books of Mormon, and seeing lots of fun miracles with our investigators.  She's great.  All of my companions have been great, but she's pretty special.  I call her my 'firstborn in the wilderness.'

Well, I'm excited to be here.  I keep having these strange dreams that I'm already home, and I'm sure the time will keep flying by and pretty soon it will be true.  I really love it here, though.  It's plenty hard, but it's worth it all to see people changing there lives and be blessed by the Spirit as I pray, study, and participate in all of the Church and missionary meetings.  We have a great district.  6 Elders (including our zone leaders, district leaders, and two elders who are also the young men president and sunday school president in the Montova branch).  I can't believe it will be a whole year since I went to the MTC this November!  Time really flies... even though it seems like I've been here for decades.  Crazy.

I love you all, and I am so grateful for your letters and news!  I have been so lucky to have such a great family and friends like you in my life!  

Keep the faith!  

Love always,
-Sorella Willey

P.S.  Wasn't General Conference GREAT?????   I got to see the first session in Italian, and then the 2 middle sessions in English.  I sure missed my choir as they sang so beautifully!  Can't wait to get back to Temple Square!  If anyone missed any sessions, go to LDS.org and watch it!  I won't get to read the last session til we get our Liahona magazine next month.  Maybe we can get permission to watch it on a P-day, if we have time.  

P.P.S.  Pray for Luc!  :)  His family is trying to come to Italy, and all he has to find now is an apartment.  Then they can all get baptized together, and he won't have to live away from them anymore!



-- 
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA