In which Sara becomes one of the OLDER missionaries - she's passed the half way mark!!!

Allora,

number one, thanks SO much for the picture of Magui and her little baby! Why is Magui the most beautiful person in the world? Not fair. I love her hair. Haha. Anyway, thanks for that! :) And, yes, dad I was able to see the other pictures of little Tanner and GIANT Abby (she's not even a little kid anymore, she's a NORMAL kid! What?! Weird.)

Well, things to tell you for this week? I love kumquats! They're so yummy :) Also, I love eating (thanks to Sorella Bush) a bowl of greens, and throwing a ball of mozzarella on top... delicious! I eat it almost every night when I come home. Yum :) Haha.

Also, last Wednesday we had a picnic! I'll send a picture of that. Just a few of us from the branch. It was so fun. It wasn't super "fun", but it was just so nice to eat with all of them, and chill with them for a couple hours! :)

Also, we had our lesson with our referral the other day! It went pretty well! The only thing is, we don't know when we can see her again, cause she works a lot! But, our member said she was really content after the lesson, really happy, SO if y'all could keep Alexandra in your prayers, that would be wonderful! Grazie!

Thanks for all the pictures, and updates, and everything.

Tonight we're headed to Rimini (I've never been!) for a Blitz! I'm excited, I've never been there! You know what's the wierdest?! Sorella Seare and I are going to work over there with the Sorella at Rimini. The Sorelle at Rimini are a sister who came out with Sorella Seare (2nd transfer) and her TRAINEE. She's already training. That's not even the weird part. The weird part is that I'm the boss. I'm the senior companion out of all of them. I'm the oldest in the mission! When in the world did that happen!? I find myself in a lot of situations like that now, though. That I'm one of the older missionaries/the oldest. It's so weird. I so don't feel like an old misisonary. We just did a blitz with some of our training sister leaders (like, ZL sisters!) and it made me realize how much I still have to grow! How much more I still have to learn! How can I be one of the older missionaries, be the one others look up to, when I'm no where near where these wonderful sister training leaders are?! Then I remember I'm not supposed to compare. So I don't. So, no worries, I'm not comparing! I'm just realizing where I need to grow :) (PS: Kaycie Foster, Sorella Forbes is the greatest. She's one of our sister training leaders, and I adore her! I'm so sad she's finishing this transfer.)

What are y'all up to these days? Missions, weddings, temples... y'all are busy people! I'm so excited for all these changes :)

Babbo, good luck with your talk! And mom! And Elisabeth! Are those the thoughts you've had lately, or are those your topics? Those are quite the topics! Haha.

Well, I dunno if I told you (I thought I did) that we're planning a Hoe-Down, Western Night activity! We (Sorella Seare and I) just made invitations, and we're super excited to get them around to all of our members, and have people start inviting! Next Friday! Keep the Siena branch in your prayers, that this activity goes well! :)

Oh! And, I got that package from the Youth (and the achievement days/little scouts? Or, are they all just growing up?! Weird). Thanks so much! Y'all are the best! :)

Oh, one of the most amazing things is there's an excomunicated member (ex-ed for a misunderstanding,  he really shouldn't have been), and we talked to him the other day,and he wants to have lessons with us to help him out, and then he called us the other day and said, "I was just reading my scriptures, and I was thinking about how I need to quit smoking/how I've tried in the past, but I just can't do it. Then I thought maybe y'all could say a prayer for me." Ah! Of course! So great, I love him. So keep him in your prayers, too! So many prayers! Also, we taught the most adorable lady the other day - from Ethiopia, who I adore to bits and pieces, and would LOVE to teach her more, only she works a lot. But, she's the sweetest most beautiful person, she looks like she's 25, but she's actually 35, and I love her. Keep  her in your prayers, too.

Mom, thanks for the address of Michael Williamson! I'll definitelly shoot a letter out to him! :)

Well, I think that's all I got for y'all today. It's been strangly cold, lately (strange for me, I dunno if it's normal for Italy), just cause it's been so nice and warm lately, so the temperature dropping so much is just oodles of cold. Haha. That makes no sense. 

Anyway, that's about all. When does Sam Buhler finish her misison? I thought she told me June... and I haven't gotten a letter back from her in a little while, so I just dunno. Quindi, if she gets home next month, tell her how much I love her! 

Well, y'all are the greatest!

Thanks for all the support, and prayers, and packages, and everything! 

Vi voglio tanto bene!

 

Okay! Picnic from last week! Sorella Seare, Anziano and Sorella Capece, me, Chiara, Sandro, Alex (the BYU student who I told you about last week), Simone and Luca! :)

In which Sara stops eating Nutella! O_O

Helloooo! :)

Number one, caro babbo, the attachements you've been sending lately, I can't see. Well, I could if I downloaded them. Maybe I'll just download them. Anyway... ha.

Well, what's up? Long list of random things to tell y'all today!

Number one, we went to this awesome place in Chianti last week, and we stopped by this photographers shop... he has the #1 photo (international) for the year 2002, or something. That photo was great, but there was another one that I adored! I didn't want to buy it, cause I didn't want it to get crinkled in carrying it around Italy for another 9 months, but I'll probably buy one when I get home (online!). His name? I forgot. But, he gave us cookies, and we took a picture with him (I'll be sure to send it!).

Number two, CHELSEA WISER (my EFY daughter)! So, I just met Matthew Gainer the other day! He's the greatest! I saw his name was Anz. Gainer, so I walked up to him, and the first thing I mentioned was Chelsea, and he exploded. We are now best friends, cause we have this Chelsea Wiser connection :) Crazy story? He's being trained by an Anz. Fiorentino... from Miami! Who knows all of my favorite Miami people! Conclusion? My EFY worlds have combined. It's crazy. Awesome :) Haha. 

Also, I used to have this really bad problem with nutella... aka I would eat it all the time. Because, it's yummy. But, I don't want to eat it anymore. It's too addicting. So I'm not :) Haha. I set a goal, this transfer, to not eat ANY nutella, and it's really not that hard! Haha. We even have it in the house, cause Sorella Seare still loves it, but I just chose not to eat it, so I'm not. I forgot how much will power I have! Ha. 

Also, we have a BYU student in our ward, and I basically love him to pieces! Alex Luke. He served in the Rome mission, but he's studying up here, now. He's such a good help! He offered to come out with us whenever we need, and he's called one of our investigators (who he's never met) and tries to set up appointments with him, for us... he's a boss. 

Also, so... you know the greatest family ever, the Gori's (family, you already know about this, but this is for the rest of the world who wants to see a happy little missionary miracle!). Well, they're amazing, and they share the gospel with all their friends! And a few weeks ago we were leaving their house after a lesson, and they dropped us off at the train station... well, we just barely missed the train. It was pulling out as we walked up to it! So, they took us back to their house for a little while to wait for the next train. At first we thought maybe we should go out and do some finding work while we waited, but we decided to go back, because they were preparing/having dinner with a friend of theirs! We got to meet this friend, and she has a beautiful little boy. We talked for a little bit about who we are, and what we do as missionaries, and just got to know each other a little bit. She's wonderful! Then we left for our train. Then that night the Gori's did an FHE with her (focusing on Faith in Christ, I think). Long story short, this past week, the friend called us one day, and said that Cinzia (Gori) told her we wanted to meet with her, and share our message, and she said that would be wonderful, and asked if we could meet next Thursday (tomorrow)! We were floating on air after that phone call! The greatest miracle we could have ever asked for! We're so so sooo excited! :) 

Also, y'all should know, the other day on the train I watched someone pull some lunch out of a bag, and start eating it (..."I watched", that sounds way creepy. I saw it happen, okay) and it looked like a tamale... it wasn't. Then I realized I had forgotten tamales existed! Then I realized how much I missed them! Especially Rosa's! How is Rosa and her family doing? Y'all go eat some tamales for me, soon :) Haha.

Also, MOM, can you send me Michael Williamson's address? I can't write him if I don't know where I'm writing to!

Also, Magui! AUGURI! Someone tell Magui I say "Auguri/congrats", and that I had no idea she was pregnant, and to name the baby Sara! :) Hahaha. Pictures? Would be wonderful!

Also, dear Elisabeth, "Non innamorarti di un Anziano a Provo." Va bene? Hahahaha :) True story, I knew that word (to fall in love with), but I forgot I knew it. Then when I realized I knew it, it was because of the song "Estoy Enamorado" (or something like that?)... then I remembered how much I loved that song. Then I remembered how much I love spanish music! Then I put it all in the back of my mind. Haha.

So, something to think about. We've been hearing a lot lately about concecrating ourselves as missionaries, and being exactly obedient. It's great! There's this thing that I love that talks says, più o meno, 90% obedience brings 10% of the blessings. But, as we do that little 10% more, that's when we recieve the other 90% of the blessings! Don't settle for 90%! Go for the full 100%! 

Well, dad, thanks for the picture of little Tanner man and his little green smoothie moustache! I loved it! I didn't get to see the other pictures, though.

And, hey.... are you telling me that Elisabeth is getting her endowments out 8 giugno, AND Jess, AND Ben and Jess are getting sealed on that day?! That's spectacular! Take zillions of pictures! We have 8 June circled and starred up, because we're gonna try and get a baptismal date then... but, if not, I'm sure we circled and starred it because it's just such a special day, in general! :) Ha. (Do Ben & Jess have permission to have both of the girls sealed to them, too?)

Well, I don't think I have anything else to write. And I'm gonna go try to write to everyone else, too (and make sure y'all get some pictures!), so I better finish up.

Love y'all! Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Willis

Oh, ps: It was SO much fun talking to y'all on Sunday! Be good! Be great! A natale! :)

We went to a Chinese shop today (just a shop that has a bunch of little everythings/nothing), and we found these magnets! Check it out! (I assume they just searched pictures of God/Christ online, found those, and made some magnets out of them...? Mormon-y things are NOT common out here! I can't explain it! Haha)

In which Sara has an early Pday!

Good and bad things about doing p-day early - bad: I have zero emails from anyone! good: I can catch up on all my emails I need to respond to! Hahaha. So, we had to switch p-day, because we were just getting lessons fortomorrow. So, here I am, on a Tuesday. What's up? Haha.

Well, this week, it's been goood :) I think/hope the work is gonna start picking up here in Siena! Me and Sorella Seare are really excited! :) So, I've realized that less-active work is some of my favorite missionary work to do! I dunno why, but back at Collegno, and also here, I just love working with the less actives. So, OP, just you wait till I get home! :) Haha. We went to go see a less active this past Sunday, and she was so sweet, she's just had a lot of problems happen in the last few years, and is having a hard time getting by. She said she wants to come back to church, but not just to fill a seat, but to be there because she feels the spirit, feels like she needs to be there. We told her to pray for that desire to come to church this sunday, and we told her we would pray every day for her to have the desire to come to church (specifically this sunday), so we'll just keep praying! :)

Then, we also stopped by a referral, and she's wonderful! She has an adorable little beautiful family, and told us we could come back! True story: I literally accidentally let our LDM (BOM) there, with a Family: A Proclamation to the World. I had brought it to give to them, but I forgot to give it to them, but turns out I forgot a lot of stuff! I dunno how I forgot it, cause I carry the LDM basically everywhere I go... it's like putting on my shoes, or something. It's weird when I don't have it in my hand. Anyway, I set it down on their counter, while the mom showed us the view, and completely forgot it was there! Haha... maybe something will come out of that! :)

Then yesterday, oh, it was great! Our member present lesson (we don't have a lot of those, by the way - so,  a member present lesson was already a miracle!)! We have an investigator who is from China who has been seeing the missionaries for a good while (almost a year), but still struggles with believing Joseph Smith's account - he says it's like a fairy tail, not real. So, we decided to take a different route with him, and talk to him about Christ, and see his thoughts/feelings about Christ. And, we also had one of our members with us, who's a recent convert of 3-4 years, who's from China! I looove him, he's the best! So, they were able to talk, and relate, not having the Christian background... it was amazing having our member there! He got through to him in ways we couldn't. Everything isn't picture perfect now, but we're making progress! Yay! :) 

Well, this week I gotta keep short. I was trying to respond to other emails, then it came time to write this email, and I didn't have much time left!

Give Harkers Island my love - Aunt Phyllis is at peace now, and we have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation :)

Oh, and, I have no idea what we're doing for Mothers Day skype calls - they'll tell us on Thursday, I assume. 

So, my comp has to call her family at a certain time, 4pm our time, which is 8am their time... aka 10am y'alls time. Will y'all be in the middle of church? Well, I maybe have to call in the middle of church. Or, if we can get permission to do skype twice, but a little later, I might call around 12noon? I have no idea. So, just expect a morning/afternoon call from me (isn't Mothers Day this Sunday?) Just cause, no one has mentioned anything about it to us, so I really have no idea. But, we have a training meeting on Thursday, so they'll inform us then. Haha.

Okay, vi voglio bene!

Sorella Willis

In which Sara doesn't get transferred! Not yet...

Okay, well I have no time to write today! (I'll respond to all the other emails next week! I promise!)

Really quickly, things to say - HAPPY BIRTHDAY (THIS PAST WEEK), BABBO! :) And, HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Ben and Jess! :)

So, we just got transfer calls - I'm staying in Siena with Sorella Seare! Wonderful. I know I haven't learned everything from training/Sorella Seare that I need to. Also, I just have a lot more work to be doing in Siena. Oh buddy.

Well, this week wasn't all that crazy. We had 1 day full of lessons this past week! I haven't hardly had that at all here at Siena! So, hopefully we're doing something right with the work here! Haha. We taught this awesome part-member family who I ADORE! And they have the most adorable little 5 year old boy, Ludovico (like Ludwig). And the two greatest daughters. They were just honestly the most wonderful family in the world, and it makes me sad that they're not sealed in the Temple. Maybe on day. But, we asked them for a referral (is that how you spell it in English?), and they thought of everyone they knew, and then gave us one, right then and there! That's more than anyone has ever done! Everyone is usually like "Hm... I dunno, I'd have to think about it. I'll let you know if anyone comes to mind." But this wonderful, non-member mom, sat for a second, thought about everyone, and gave us a name, and directions to her house right then and there! It was wonderful! Oh buddy, I can't wait to give riferimenti to the missionaries when I get home! Haha. Missionary work just goes so much better with riferimenti/a member contact. Then we went and contacted them (the referrals) another day, and they weren't home. So, we went and knocked some doors, then a little while later tried to stop by again, before going to make some phone calls, and at that moment a lady and her little son were walking up to the door. She asked us if we were looking for someone, and I told her who, and turns out, it was her! We talked a little bit at the door, and we asked if we could come in and share a message with them, but they were getting home late, about to eat dinner, but she said any other day, and the afternoon would be good, too. Ah! So, we're super stoked to meet up with them! :)

Then we taught Laura, from Australia, the other day! I love her! She's sooo sweet, and we just laugh and have fun when we're together. Sometimes I wonder if I have too much fun with people... if I'm acting more like Sara instead of Sorella Willis. But, aren't we suppoesd to make strong relationships? And let people see that we, although  missionaries, are normal people? But also, as we get super comfortable with people, they don't see us as missionaries (aka, servants of the Lord) and things get too casual. Agh! The hardships of finding the middle ground of everything in life. That's so hard for me. Cause I like things to be specific, exact... you know? Agh. Oh well.

So, the reason we don't have a lot of time today is because we went to San Giminiano today! An adorable town. And, we went with the Dean family! Now, who is the Dean family? I didn't know until today! Haha. So, there's an Anziano who served here a year ago, and he was visiting Italy with his family. And, we met him on Sunday (Stake Conference). Then, him and his family invited us to go to San Giminiano with them on p-day! And, they're wonderful! Turns out, they have a beach house in St. Augustine! And, Sister Dean is the sister of Sister Pielstick (not in our Stake, but in one of the Jax Stakes). And, they're related to Esther Piestick, one of my EFY girls! Agh! Craziest smallest world ever, right? Well, they took us around all day, and kept paying for us, and giving us stuff... and I didn't know what to do! Obviously I was grateful, but I wanted to do something for them! And, all I could say was thank you! They were the wonderfulest!

Well, I'm running out of time. Sorry, it's super short today, but I'll send some pictures! :)

Vi voglio tanto bene! I'll write more/respond more next week!

Sorella Willis

 

Sorella Seare and I at Monteriggioni (I think is how you spell it)

Me and my best friend, Luca! We weren't sure if I was getting transferred, and he was leaving for a week to go visit his family, so we weren't sure if we'd see each other again. So, we got a photo!

 

Me and Gabriele - Sorella Bush served in his ward, then he happened to be visiting Tuscany this week, and came to our Stake Conference, and he walked up to me and said, "You're Sorella Willis, yeah? I know Sorella Bush, I read her blog..!" ...quindi, he knows me! Haha. It was fun :)

 

Me, Sorella Seare, and ex-Anziano Dean! (aka Chris) (cousin to Esther Pielstick? Tell Esther I said hi, and I love her!) :)

He was quoting some awesome Dante stuff, with some nice harp accompaniment. You know, the usual.