Cuneo - Transfer 10 - Week 1

February 1, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission.  I have been seeing so many blessings in my life, in the lives of others, and sometimes almost feeling like I have a part in it.  It's more that it's having a part in me.  The scriptures have really been coming to life.  Especially the Book of Mormon is beginning to have a greater influence on my everyday life, more than I ever really thought possible. 

 

Last week I wasn't able to write an email.  Maybe nobody missed it.  But in that time, my dear Sorella Oakes was transfered to Varese (where the sisters have never been), and I got a GEM of a companion straight from the MTC!  She is AMAZING!  Her Italian is better than some of the members' here, and much better than mine.  She is so humble, sweet, and easy to get along with, and lets me try out crazy recipes every day.  I also got a fun email from her grandparents (thank you!!!), and found out that her Great Great Grandfather was the settler of Pleasant Grove!  Small world.  I knew we were related somehow.  :)  

 

This week I have started the Book of Mormon again.  I'm still reading in the other 2 places, but I felt like I should start again to read along with some of our investigators whom we have challenged to start and finish the Book of Mormon this year.  I have found that in just the first 5 chapters there are SO many parallels to my life!  Too many to share right now, but I thought I'd at least share a couple of verses that hit me pretty hard. 

 

1 Nephi 5:8 reminds me that whatever the Lord commands me, I can do. He will protect me and my family, and deliver us as promised.

Verse 9 reminds me that in all things I should give thanks.

Then verse 10 inspires me to search the scriptures, thoroughly.

 

The rest of the verses have lots of cool meaning to me, but in verse 20, I had a thought yesterday that really changed my outlook on life. It says, "And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commmandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us."  I thought about what the Lord had commanded Nephi and Lehi, and realized that it wasn't just to "be nice, help others, etc. etc."  The Lord had a very specific plan for them, and involved so much more than just being good people.  Here was my thought:  Being obedient isn't just doing good things and avoiding sin.  God has a specific and personalized plan for each one of us, and it involves so much more than just passive compliance.  We must actively seek for inspiration by searching the scriptures and words of prophets and leaders so that we can reach all the promised blessings that God has for us personally.

 

Verses 21 and 22 talk about how important the records (or scriptures) were, and particularly it hit me that to reach my "land of promise," I must carry with me (in my heart, mind, actions and scripture case) these inspired words.  God truly speaks to us through these inspired words.  I know that the scriptures are for us.  They are for me, and I love them so much!

 

Well, updates.  Hmmm, the ward is great, and we have really seen them opening up their hearts and homes.  Particularly the new converts are being treated like royalty!  David, a recent convert, brought his mother, Rosy, to church a few weeks ago.  We taught her last week, and she had so many questions.  We kind of taught a round about lesson, trying to answer her questions.  We have been asked to invite people to baptism at their first lesson.   We were a little afraid, and ended up giving her a weak invite to think about baptism.  Then, 3 days later, she came for another lesson.  We had planned to read Alma 32 with her, but the Spirit and her questions said, "Tell her about the Restoration and 1st Vision."  We simply taught the message of the Restoration, and as we finished the 1st vision, she said, "E' vero."  "It's true."  Then we followed it up with an invite to be baptized, and the Spirit testified to her that it was the right thing.  She accepted, and though she said she is not ready to commit to a date yet, she came to church, even though she said she probably couldn't!  Wow!  What a wonderful miracle!

 

There is power when the Spirit is the one teaching, and not us.  We are striving to have Spirit guided lessons, studies, planning, etc.  It is hard, because sometimes we have to make decisions before we get the go ahead from the Spirit.  But we're both really learning how to teach together and invite the Spirit into the work.

 

Thank you all for your letters and support!  I am so happy and blessed to know you!  I love you all!

 

Happy February!

 

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

Cuneo - Transfer 9 - Week 5

January 18,  2012

Dear Family and Friends,

 

What a crazy week!  I didn't think we could get much busier than last week, but then we did.  It was pretty ridiculous.  We are just seeing so many miracles, and we can't keep up with all our people!   Well, not on our own.  We have a lot of angels helping us though. 

 

This week Omar got his interview, passed with flying colors, and he's so ready to get baptized that we both wish we could do it a week earlier.  But it will be great for the ward to have one more week and really make it a special affair.  Tomorrow we're going to Milano (my old chapel in Milano 1) to Zone Conference, (but with about 5 zones!) and Elder Kosea from France will be speaking to us.  I am in charge of a musical number, and hopefully everyone will show up on time to practice.  It looks like I'll be playing the piano. or singing.  I was supposed to do this really cool arrangement, but then it never made it to me, so now we're doing my own arrangement of 'Lord, I Would Follow Thee.'  Hopefully it turns out. 

 

I was reading in Mormon 9 last night.  Wow, so beautiful!  It really is true that faith precedes the miracle.  But it's also true that miracles happen all over the place.  I particularly love verse 27.  It says, 'O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.  Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.'  Our Heavenly Father loves us.  If we truly have faith, we can ask Him for those righteous desires, and He will bless us!  I have been doing that every day, and it really works!  He is blessing me more than I deserve, and I am coming to love Him so much!

 

Next week I should be able to send photos.  Hopefully.  :)  As usual, we're a little behind on time.  Just so much to do!

 

I love you ALL, and I so appreciate the letters and friendship! 

 

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

Cuneo - Transfer 9 - Week 4

January 11, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

It was so fun to get all sorts of emails this week!  Thank you for your updates, miracle stories, and fun news!  I really am grateful that even though I'm over a year gone, you still remember me and pray for me!  This week has been incredibly difficult.  Incredibly.  Not because it wasn't amazing and miracle filled, but we have been SOOO busy!  I mean, yeah, I like to be busy.  I was born busy.  But this week we have seen so many people and I think they're going to have to send another copia of missionaries here.  There's just so much to do!!!  Omar is continuing amazingly!  Pray for him to make it to church.  He works from 7pm until 8am every Friday, Saturday, and Suday.  It's really his only obstacle.  He bore a beautiful testimony of the word of wisdom, which he began living last Saturday, and he knows the BOM is true, and he just accepted tithing, saying he can't wait to pay it!  He's such a proof that God is truly preparing people to receive the Gospel in every place!  We've been trying to teach, find, and do the work more closely with the principles of Preach My Gospel, and we're just seeing miracle after miracle.  We've been guided to the very apartment building where we needed to be to find that one (or 2 or 3) child of God who needs the message.

Last Sunday night, we were completely worn out.  We decided since 'Sunday is the best day for proselyting' that we would forget scheduling more lessons, and go proselyte.  We prayed about where to go, and were both prompted to go to a specific area through another specific area.  We ran into our new convert, Osagie, and while we were talking to him a bit, Alessio walked up to us and said, 'Hello sisters.'  I asked if we had met before, and he said, 'Maybe a few months ago.'  We hadn't, but he had been perfectly prepared to receive the message of the Gospel exactly now.  He had some pretty hard struggles just a couple of weeks ago, and when we asked if he believed in God he said, 'I used to not, but now I'm starting to.'  He originally wanted to come to English class, but now he is learning about the Gospel.  He didn't even stay for the class.  He has very little background, in religion, and even asked us, 'Are you expecting me to know about these prophets? Did Jesus Christ actually work those miracles?'  It was beautiful last night to see him as he prayed for maybe the first time in his life. 

Right after we met him on Sunday, we headed to the apartment building, and the very last person on the citofano let us in.  Donatello had essentially been waiting for us.  She said, 'I'm far away from God, and I don't know if He'll let me back.'  She LOVED the message of the Restoration and really opened up to some of the words of the prophets.  She also invited herself to church, and one of her sons graduated from the Conservatory here in Cuneo as a violinist. Top in his class.  They're going to find a cello so we can do another musical fireside.  Our branch president said he'd pay, and I'm pretty sure her son will also be able to participate.  SO FUN!!!

There are so many more miracles and fun stories, but we have to run home a little early today.  Before I close though, I just got a letter and baptism photo from that family we were teaching for 2 transfers.  !!!!!!!  I feel like I'm on cloud 1000009!  We worked so hard with them, and then as I was leaving, I wasn't sure what was going to happen.  But now they're on their way to eternal life! 

I love you all, and I'm so excited to hear all your good news and fun stories!  There are so many chapters that I'd love to recommend to you this week, but I think I'll go with Mosiah 4.  I've just noticed that when we are trying our best and repenting where we fall short, the Lord really fills in the gaps and makes it work out even better than we expected.  I know that the Savior Jesus Christ really was the Son of God, and that what He did for us is more than we can ever really comprehend.  But it helps me every day.  I'm so grateful for this chance to share this with others all day long every day!

Keep the faith, and happy 11th of January!  Tomorrow marks 1 year in Italy for me, so go eat some pasta or pizza tomorrow on me.  Ok, so I can't pay for it, but t least enjoy a tomato with mozzarella cheese, basil and olive oil.  YUM!!!

Always,

-Sorella Willey

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Cuneo - Transfer 9 - Week 3

January 4, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Wow!  I can't believe how time is flying!  Next week I'll have been in Italy 1 year!  We have been incredibly busy this week, as usual, and of course I'm down to the wire again on time.  It was fun to finally read all the letters you all sent!  But now I don't have more than about 5 minutes to respond.  Thank you so much for your Christmas greetings!  I can't promise personal responses, but I absolutely will be writing, calling, and visiting you all in the next 6 months or so when I get home!  :) 

 

Osagie got baptized, and he bore a BEAUTIFUL testimony of the Book of Mormon and Prophet Joseph Smith.  It was incredible to see how he gained his testimony essentially from reading the Book of Mormon and praying every day.  Something simple, but something that you have to decide to do.  We met a wonderful man a couple of weeks ago.  His name is Omar.  He's from Colombia, and he's really been progressing quickly.  He felt the Spirit very strong a the baptism, and he's going to get baptized on the 28th.  I can't beleive I'm already half way through the transfer!  Crazy!

 

We have an incredible family here in Cuneo. The Cicciò family (from Argentina originally).  They have been helping us out so much, and we ended up spending Christmas and New Years Dinner at their home.  I've decided that I'm going to somehow marry into their family or at least get adopted.  They're so missionary centered in everything they do, and they're also some of the happiest people I've ever met.  They've really taught me a lot about how to be a good missionary, during and after the mission.   They always invite our investigators to lunch, dinner, and even just to hang out at their house. 

 

Well, time is up!  But I love you all, and I'm so grateful for the examples you've been to me and the kind letters you all sent me! 

 

Congrats to Jenny Ballard who is engaged and will be getting married in February!!! WOW!!!  I'm SO excited! 

 

Keep the faith and have a great 1st week of 2012!

 

Love always,

-Sorella Willey

 

P.S.  I reread Isaiah 43 this week.  There are a few references that remind me of New Years goals.  I don't remember the verses, but I'd recommend it to everyone!

--
Sorella Willey

elizabeth.willey@myldsmail.net

Sorella Elizabeth Willey

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via Gramsci, 13/4

20090 Opera MI

ITALIA

Cuneo - Transfer 9 - Week 2

December 28, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

I was so excited to get nearly 20 emails today, and then incredibly disappointed when the computer I am using wouldn't let me read more than the 1st paragraph of each.  I've used about 90% of my time trying to figure it out, and now I just have a few minutes to write.  Thank you so much for your love and care, letters and greetings!  I hope that next week I can find a computer that will let me read them!

This week has been one of the hardest weeks in my entire mission.  Not because we aren't seeing amazing miracles or anything like that.  We just decided at the beginning of the transfer to be 100% obedient, and really giving our all.  We're both always really tired, and we just fall into bed at the end of the night.  But it has been SO amazing!  We have met people every day who want to listen to us, and we are both just eating up the Book of Mormon, studying Isaiah a little together, and really working hard on teaching simply and with the Spirit. 

This weekend we will be having our 1st baptism together, and we have a few more scheduled throughout January. I have a fear that this might be a 1 transfer city, so we're trying to make the most of it together. 

It was fun to get a package from the young women in the ward!  If you could send my thanks to them, that would be so great!  They sent me a pillowcase with colorful messages from each person.  Very thoughtful.  Thank you!

Time to write letters seems to dimish each transfer. There are so many people to call, things to fix up, apartment to clean, etc. etc. etc.  But I love all of you, and I am so grateful for you all in my life! 

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us, and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  Very simple truths, but not known by enough people.  It's so hard to talk to people who don't even believe that.  I'm really starting to understand how Alma felt when he wished that he were an angel and could 'declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redepmtion, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.'  But I also understand that everyone needs to be able to seek for the truth and exercise faith to learn the spiritual truths.  The most beautiful thing is the Spirit which is not a voice of thunder, but a still small voice.  Usually it only gently prompts us, and we must listen to and obey in order to understand.  I am in 3 Nephi 11 right now, and I loved it how the small voice testified to all the people, but they only heard and understood when the listened the 3rd time.  I have felt that peace and begun to understand that voice.  Sometimes it's harder than others, but when I truly open my ears, I know that He is speaking to me.

I hope that you all start off the year 2012 with lots of love and peace! 

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

Cuneo - Transfer 9 - Week 1

December 19, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow!  What a crazy few days I've had!  I started working in Cuneo (which means wedge in Italian, maybe I already explained that last week), and now I'm back in Verona for my permesso di sogiorno... which means the little card that I have to have to be legal.  I got one last year, but I had to start renewing it before the end of the year.  We spent all afternoon on the train yesterday, and slept on the spare mattresses in the other room of my old apartment.  Today we went to my appointment, and then planned for the rest of the week.  We're taking a little pday time because we have zone conference tomorrow, so starting Wednesday we will have lost 2 full days of work in Cuneo.  

Sorella Oakes is WONDERFUL!  She's such a sweetheart, and we have seen SO many miracles already in just 3 days!  We're a little bummed to not be in our city finding right now, but we know that we'll be blessed if we continue to be obedient.  We met a few really cool people in the bus the other night, and one of them came to church the next morning!  He's almost too good to be true!  He actually had said that he couldn't come before, but after reading Alma 32, he called us to ask what time church was... The Book of Mormon works miracles for us!  We run to the 'edge of the wedge' every morning and shout, 'We made it to the edge of the wedge!!!'  It's a tradition to encourage us to keep working all the way to the end.

Another fun thing that happened was that I got to see Anziano Andersen from my MTC district at the transfer circle!  My dear Elders from my district became such good friends, and I hadn't seen him since April.  We only got to exchange a few words and a handshake, but it was good to see him happy and healthy.  I also saw Anziano Winward, who I haven't seen for a couple of months.  The only one from my original district (of Milano missionaries) that I didn't see was Anziano Osborn.  I'll be excited to see the other elders and sisters I knew from the MTC who are in Rome too.  It's amazing how close we got in just 9 weeks.  Serving together on a mission really creates strong friendships.  I was thinking about all of my former companions, and I really am so grateful for each one of them.  Each has taught me so much!

I can't believe Christmas is this week!  It's always been my favorite holiday, and I have never seen it creep up so quickly.  Today we were trying to plan for lessons, and we said, "OK, let's schedule this on Saturday, that on Sunday, etc, etc."  But then we realized it was Christmas and said, "Oh no!!! It's Christmas Eve and Christmas!"  Then we had a good laugh.  :)   Bah Humbug!  I guess Christmas will be coming just the same.  No, I'm actually very excited for Christmas here in Italy!  Slla Oakes loves to sing, so we've decided we'll be doing a lot of caroling to find activities.  

Right now we're working a lot with our branch here in Cuneo.  We've made Alma 32 our chapter for the transfer.  We're trying to help the members strengthen or nourish themselves so that they can get the missionary spirit and desire to share and strengthen others.  We drew a little picture of a tree with strong roots.  It shows the roots of the tree connecting to a smaller tree, which in turn makes both trees stronger.  The branch here is WONDERFUL!  This Friday we're having a Christmas concert where there will be over 30 non'members attending.  WOW!  It will be fun.  I don't actually know if I have a part in the program... which feels kind of ironic. But I'll probably end up getting to sing with some group or another.  One of the members teaches a bunch of violin students, and they're doing a little orchestra thingy.  No cellos.  Oh well.  :)

I miss my cello still, but I wouldn't trade this experience for any Stradavarius.  It was fun to watch the 1st Presidency Devotional.  I LOVED every second of it!   It was so fun to see so many friends and hear my favorite music sung and played by my favorite group, accompanied by 3 of my all-time favorite speakers!  I miss you all!!!!

Well, we're about to go do a 'blitz' with the Verona sisters.  I'm going to team up with Sorella Laratro (my former companion from Modena who replaced me in Verona) and my companion Sorella Oakes will be with my dear Sorella Hanks.  We plan to find tons of people tonight.  

Thank you all for your absolutely wonderful friendship, and for the support and prayers!  I know that this season is beautiful because of what and Who it truly represents, but the only way to truly enjoy the season is to follow His example and turn outward to people as He did, rather than worry about things.  It's the people you spend time with that will really make the difference in the joy and peace of the season.  Speaking of people, I love all you people! 

Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas, and I'll be writing you all at least once more before the new year!

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

Verona 1 - Transfer 8 - Week 6

December 14, 2011


Dear Family and Friends,

I am going to CUNEO!!!! For those of you who don't know, that means 'wedge' in Italian.  It's a tiny city up right next to France.  I guess I'll be pulling out some of my old French, maybe.  

My new companion will be Sorella Oaks (no relation to Dallin H.).  She will be starting her 3rd transfer, and her trainer was AMAZING!!!  Sorella Ryan is one of the dear sisters I lived with in Milano my 1st two transfers.  I've got some big shoes to fill.

I read some awesome scriptures this week in the New Testament.  I don't remember exactly where, because I was skipping around a lot.  We've found some really great people this week.  I've been really loving knocking on doors.  Yeah, I know. That sounds ridiculous, maybe.  But we've been just finding and finding.  After Unity's baptism, we started back at nearly zero.  Some of our investigators pushed back their baptismal dates and are traveling, so we had a lot of free time  to just go for it.  S.lla Hanks was feeling really good last week, and we probably taught lessons to 10 new people.  It was really fun!

Well, my moniter says I have just a couple of minutes.  I don't have my scriptures with me today, I left them on top of my suitcase.  But I would like to recommend the new movie "17 Miracles" that my president showed us last conference.  I don't know if I wrote about it already, but if you have a chance to see it, DO IT!!!

I love you all, and I am so grateful, as always, for your friendship and prayers!  Consider yourself hugged, and pretend I sent you a personal Christmas card.  I would if I could.  :)

Merry Christmas and take a moment to say a prayer of gratitude for the blessings you have today!

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