Milano 1 - Week 6

February 23, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

It's going to be short again this week.  Maybe some of you will like that better... ;)  

Rosa had a beautiful baptism, and she has a peace about her now that is hard to describe.  She was getting anxious before, but now she is so calm.  We taught a new member lesson to here yesterday about the temple, and she invited a friend to come too!  Geovanni ended up moving his baptismal date again.  He knows he wants to get baptized, and he knows this is the right step for him, but he said he wanted to make some more changes in his life before he got baptized.  He went to visit his son in Genova a couple of days ago, and gave him a Book of Mormon too!!!  He's really growing, and I can't believe how much he has changed!  

Last night he gave me a scarf because I usually don't remember to wear mine.  It was so cute!  We taught the plan of salvation again, and he seemed pretty excited about the Celestial Kingdom!  Then he gave us more food.  He's a pretty good cook!  I am so amazed by how good the food is everywhere here!

I'm still a little sick.  But I get plenty of rest, and I still feel fine during the lessons.  I just need to get rid of this cough.

We had a really neat lesson about the Atonement earlier this week.  We talked about five points that the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers.  I know there are so many more, but these five general points are interesting and wonderful to think about.  I wish I could give you all the scriptures that back them up, but maybe you can make it a scripture hunt if you have time.  I remember some were in Alma 42, D&C 19, Mosiah 24, Moroni 8, and 2 Nephi 9.  

1. The Atonement makes the Resurrection possible

2. The Atonement makes it possible for us to repent of our sins

3. The Atonement makes it possible for those who have never heard of Christ to only be held accountable for what they know AND to receive the missionary lessons in the next life

4. The Atonement makes it so that innocent babies who die before baptism will still be saved

5. Because Christ suffered ALL of our pains and sorrows, He can make them lighter or give us the strength to bear them. 

I know my Savior lives and did all of this and MUCH MORE for us!  What a beautiful plan we have, and what an amazing gospel!  I don't understand everything, but I do know that through Christ, everything is possible and without Him, all would be lost.  

Hope all of you are doing well!  I love you!  Thank you again and again for your love and support! 

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

Milano 1 - Week 5

February 16, 2011


Dear Family and Friends,

Another crazy week, which is usual I've decided.  But this week I came down with something ridiculous.  I have never been sick for more than a day, but I was sick ALL WEEK!!!  I still got to go to lessons most days, and during the lessons I felt excellent.  But as soon as we said the closing prayer, I would get nauseous again.  I ate next to nothing from Thursday until Monday, and then I started getting a little better, and our investigators started feeding me again.  Mamma mia, how they feed me!  Especially the families from Ecuador!  I still get pretty dizzy from time to time, but I'm getting used to it now.

On Sunday I accompanied the hymns in sacrament meeting AND gave a talk!  They told me I'd be playing the piano about 5 minutes before sacrament meeting, and I was already starting to feel nauseous, so of course I stressed myself out.  Luckily everything went OK, I think.  But who knows if my Italian was even understandable!  I was pretty dizzy, and I had to hold the podium to stay standing.  Luckily Sorella Noteware told me that I have a good poker face, so people probably didn't know that I was about to faint the whole meeting.  I've decided that after the mission I never want to get sick again.  I know that as I'm sick here, God is taking care of me, but everyone dumps medicine down my throat, and I don't know if it actually helps or not.

Rosa is all set for the baptism, and if we can find a cello, I'm going to do the musical number.  If not, we'll just sing something.  There's a member that thinks he can find one pretty easily.  Geovanni had to move his date to next week because we didn't teach all the commandments in time for his interview, but he's getting excited for his baptism!  Hopefully I don't get transfered.  I really want to be there for his baptism!  He absolutely LOVED the lesson about tithing last night!!!  He sounded more excited about paying tithing than even getting baptized!  It's amazing to see how these people have been prepared to receive the gospel.

We got 3 referrals yesterday, and a new investigator!  Her name is Elena and she's about my age.  She's from Brazil, but she's lived in Italy for about 5 years.  We are also working with MariaElena, who's husband, Alex, has been a member for most of his life.  He's been inactive, but we taught their family the Plan of Salvation, and she really seemed excited about it.  Now we just have to see if we can get her to take off work on Sunday so she can go to church.  Hmmm.....

Anyway, I'm still loving it, I'm still learning a ton, and my testimony continues to grow every day!  But I'm going to stop rambling now.  I love you all!  Hope all had a great Valentines day!  I did, during the lessons and the few minutes that I wasn't sick.  ;)

Keep the faith!

Love always,
-Sorella Willey


-- 
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Milano 1 - Week 4

February 9, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

WOW!!! What a crazy week it's been!  We are getting Geovanni and Rosa ready for their baptisms next weekend, and trying to figure out who our last 2 baptisms are for this transfer.  Our 'vision' for the transfer was 6, which is, from what I've heard, a lofty goal.  But I believe in miracles now more than ever, and I know there are two more people at least who need the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost this transfer.  If all of you could pray for us and for our investigators, that would be wonderful!  Right now, we have Rita, Gasman, MariaElena, Cristina, and her two children who are old enough to be baptized Noemi and Dillon, and all of them could be ready if they could receive an answer.  Pray that they'll recognize the confirmation that they receive!  We just know that they could all be baptized, and we love them so much!  Some of them have really difficult situations, but with enough faith, anything is possible!

Yesterday I was REALLY sick all day, but today I woke up early and went to 'Consiglo' at the mission home with all the zone leaders.  No, I'm not a zone leader, but they sometimes invite sister coppias to go to those.  I was the 'youngest' one there, in the mission that is. In years I was probably 5th from oldest, but everyone else has been on the mission for at least 5 transfers.  I got a blessing of health from President Wolfgramm, and I feel so much better already!  I know that the priesthood really is the power of God, and I have witnessed miracles every day!  President and Sorella Wolfgramm are SO wonderful, and I know that they are people that I needed to meet, mission or no mission.  We are kindred spirits, and they have been way too good to me!  Sister Wolfgramm and I had a neat experience sharing stories this afternoon after Consiglo.  Wow, she has so much faith!

Unfortunately there isn't much time, but I think I've shared the most important things to me right now.  My investigators and new converts are everything to me right now!  I love them so much!  I didn't know I could love people so deeply that I've known for such a short time.  More than anything, I know that what I do and say has very little to do with the actual work.  The Spirit does the real teaching.  Sorella Noteware is fabulous, and I'm learning so much from her, but even with her better Italian and teaching skills, the Spirit is what converts people, and they have been prepared for years before they met either of us.  We just have to be in the right place at the right time so they can find the truth they are searching for.  The gospel is for everyone!

I know that is true.  My testimony grows every day.  Even yesterday morning, I gained a stronger testimony of the Plan of Salvation.  When I was too sick to get out of bed, I got dressed, went to the first appointment with Rosa, taught about the Plan of Salvation, and promptly lost all the energy I had.  I needed to be at that lesson, and that's all the energy I was alllowed.  Throughout the rest of the day as I tried to sleep (I had a pretty bad headache so I did a lot of tossing and turning), I thought about that appointment and what I had 'taught' in my broken Italian.  I realized again what a beautiful plan God has for us.  That one 45 minute lesson teaches us where we came from, what we are doing here, and where we are going!  All of the big questions in life!  It's so simple, but everyone wonders these things.  I started memorizing a scripture in Italian this morning:  Prendi consiglio dal Signore in tutte le tue azioni, ed egli ti dirigerà per il bene.  Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good.  It's true.  If we just do the simple things like pray each morning, read some of the words of God (counseling with the Lord) and ponder upon 'the words of life continually' each day, He WILL guide our paths for good.  (Alma 37:37)

Vi volgio bene!  I love you all!  Thank you for your support, prayers, and great friendship over the years!

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

Milano 1 - Week 3

February 2, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

So, I guess my memory card isn't compatible with the card reader... photos will have to come later. 

Yikes!  Today we went to see °The Last Supper° and a ballet at °La Scala°   I wouldn't have chosen to do them both on the same day, but the Lisonbees, a missionary couple who are leaving this week, bought us a private tour to °The Last Supper° and we had already planned the ballet (which rarely happens on Wednesday matinee).  I just cried for the first 10 minutes as I heard the orchestra playing.  Yes, I miss music, but I am also having the most incredible week of my life!!!  In the words of my mission president, 'I am not a cellist who is serving a mission, I am a missionary who used to play the cello.'

So, this was BAPTISM WEEK!  Sofia and her mother Paola were baptized and confirmed on Sunday evening, and they bore the purest, sweetest testimony!  I just know that they have been prepared for such a long time, and I had very very very little to do with it.  Yes, I was present for some lessons, and bore my testimony when I could, but the Spirit taught them the most important things.  I was just a very small piece at the edge of the puzzle.  I'm so happy for them to be able to be full-time members and have all the beautiful blessings that come with it!  What a blessing to have been here at this time to witess that miracle!

This week we also taught some gypsies from Romania, an adopted girl from Ethiopia, a return missionary from Peru, an Equadorian gentleman who has lived an incredibly interesting life, a new member from Switzerland who was baptized in Portugal last year, an excommunicated Italian who really wants to be rebaptized, and an Albanian who was taught by missionaries in Albania, but is living in Italy now with his girlfriend.  We also taught some other people, but I thought you all might enjoy the variety of people we come in contact with every day.  We might actually begin teaching a muslim young lady, but I don't know if it can be approved.  The whole time I am teaching, Italian comes more easily.  Then when the lesson is over, and I'm talking to people about 'non gospel-related things' my Italian seems to leave.  I realize that I am learning a lot very quickly, but the Lord gives me the gift of tongues at the most important time, and allows me to swim a little when I don't absolutely need it.  But I am getting to the point where I always get at least the gist of everything.  New words through me off, but I'm sure I'll continue to improve if I keep working at it.

I've been pretty sick this week, but I always get my energy back when I'm teaching.  What a miracle!  The cigarette smoke and smog here is pretty thick, but every once in a while, we get to see a tree, a bit of sky, and even some grass a volte.  I sure wish I could tell you all everything about everything that's happening, but I've got to go.  We have a teaching appointment tonight, and I still have to email the president.  Molto importante!!!

Every minute I get a confirmation that this is where I'm supposed to be!  It's hard work, but every second is worth it when I hear someone pray for the first time, tell me that they feel something warm in their heart, baci me and thank me for sharing the gospel with them, or tell me that they know that we have a living prophet, even though they've never seen or heard him speak!  The power of the Spirit is SO strong, and my life is changed forever!  The hardest thing about every day is that we only get an hour of personal study, and there are SO many scriptures that I just want to feast upon!  They are truly inspired words.  The words of God for us.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I just know it!  It gets truer every time I read from it!  And it might even be truer in Italian...

Have a wonderful week!   Love you all!

Keep the faith,

-Sorella Willey
--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey
Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Milano 1 - Week 2

January 26, 2011

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

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey
Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Hello from Milano!

January 19, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

Unfortunately this will be a rushed letter.  Today is my first P-day in ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!  I spent the whole day cleaning our horribly dirty apartment.  We moved into an apartment with the Sorelle in another area, and the previous Sorelle left a lovely mess for us.  But it was lovely to have a clean apartment finally and all the stuff organized.  We're here in Milano 1, and living outside our area makes things a little tricky sometimes, but I love the other Sorelle from Milano 2 are so full of life and energy!

Speaking of we...  My companion is Sorella Noteware (Rachel) from Austin, Texas.  She is probably the only Sorella who is older than I am, but she only has 2 transfers left. She studied ballet at Northwestern with a minor in Czech studies.  She's teaching me a little Russian too, and just today we got to use our Russian on the Metro.  We ran into a girl named Katerina, and she might come to our English class!  Sorella Noteware is wonderful, and we've been SO busy with teaching the last few days! 

We have two baptisms coming up next week!!!!  Paola and her daughter Sofia who is 14.  They are solid gold!!  We also just encouraged another sister yesterday to pray about baptism.  Her name is Rosa, and she has a two lovely daughters, Sabrina (14) and Kati (5).  Sabrina has been a member for 2 years already, but because of family circumstances, Rosa has had to wait.  But we just know that she can do it!  We're also teaching Giovanni, we taught him 2 lessons so far.  His brother and sister-in-law, Patrizia and Washington, were baptized last year, and they brought him to church last week for the first time.  We also have a few others we are teaching right now, but there isn't time right now.  We have to run to an appointment to teach Paola and Sofia.  Next week I'll have much more time, and hopefully a keyboard that doesn't stick.  I'm getting quite the workout- exercising my fingers :)

But I'm having a wonderful time here, and I hardly remember the life I used to have.  The Spirit is so strong when we're teaching lessons, and I find myself saying Italian words I don't remember learning.  I just love teaching with Sorella Noteware!  She is wonderful, and next week I'll send pictures too....if I can figure out how. 

Thank you all for your love and support always!  I wish I had the time to write each of you individually, but for now this is it.  I need to write my letter to President Wolfgramm.  He is WONDERFUL!!!  I really love him, and Sorella Wolfgramm is incredible as well!  I just know that I was sent here at exactly the right time and with exactly the right people!  What a wonderful blessing the gospel is!  I am watching peoples lives be changed as they learn the truth and begin living commandments.  Oh how I love these people!

I know that this church is true, and my testimony of the Savior continues to grow every day!  Everything just makes SO much sense, and watching people light up when they understand a principle of truth is just worth every second of walking in the cold and smelling the cigarette smoke!

I love you all!  I hope you're all healthy, happy, and saying your prayers every night! I appreciate the prayers so  much, and I pray for you too!

Keep the faith!

-Sorella Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Flight Plans and LAST week at the MTC!!!

January 4, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

 

I can't believe how the time has flown!  Actually, it has felt like much longer in some ways, but it has been so wonderful, and I can't believe it's almost over!  The Spirit here is so amazing, and my testimony of the Savior grows every day.  I can't believe how wonderful and powerful the Atonement truly is!  If you haven't experienced this wonderful feeling, pray tonight to understand the Atonement better, and watch as you receive an amazing answer to your prayers!  Life still throws challenges at you, but your burdens will be shared, and sometimes completely taken away!

 

So, I know, you're all excited to hear about my flight plans. Or your not, and I'm just so excited that I can't keep in in a second longer!!!!

 

Next week, Tuesday, January 11, 2011 (thats 01/11/11), at 4:00 A.M., I will get on the bus to the airport, pick up my visa, passport, and plane ticket, and fly from Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Frankfurt to MILANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   That's right, I'll be in Milano as everyone in Utah wakes up on Wednesday morning!

 

We had our final TRC yesterday, and it was amazing!  Our "investigator" was a sister who is actually from Sicily!  Her husband served in her area, and now they're expecting their first child!  It was great beacause I actually understood everything she said, and in my broken Italian (with the help of S.lla Lecates and S.lla Salyer) we taught the Plan of Salvation, shared a bunch of personal experiences, and answered one of her actual questions!  She said she felt we had taught HER and not just the lesson, and the Spirit there was so strong!  Regardless of the fact that I mostly used Progressive Past instead of Imperfect, and my Congiuntivo was pretty shaky, and I kept conjucating into VOI instead of Lei, and Noi instead of Loro, the Spirit carried the message to her heart that she needed to hear.  We all left the room feeling edified.

 

So, I realized this week, that I failed to spotlight one of the Anziani in my district!  I don't know how I left him out, but here goes Anziano Winward:

 

Anziano (Robert) Winward is from Highland, Utah, but he's been going to school in Logan so claims it as his home.  He was adopted, but he keeps in contact with his birth parents as well.  He's a poet, and he's the best example of SYL we have.  At first you could hardly understand him, but when he bears his testimony in Italian now, it's pretty amazing.  His parents are going through a pretty nasty divorce, so it's hard to watch him struggle with that.  I've watched so many people struggle with marriages, but divorce seems to be pretty rough too.  I've watched so many people have their families and hearts torn to pieces, so we're all praying for his family to be able to feel love and comfort from the Savior.  Anziano Winward always encourages us to all speak the language, and usually he's got a joke or two up his sleeve. :)

 

Wow! My time is running out quickly today!  Where did it go!?

 

No time for an Italian scripture, but next time you hear from me, I'll be IN ITALY!!!  Thank you all for your emails, letters, packages, and the love and support you have shown me!  I have learned so much her, and I've truly felt the power, comfort, and love that God sends His missionaries!   I can't wait to go and shout it from the rooftops!!!  And the Alps!!!!!

 

I love you all so much, and I know that this gospel is the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I KNOW that Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son, and through him, the Book of Mormon was translated.  I love the Book of Mormon, and I know it's truly the word of God.

 

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