Wednesday, September 24, 2014

09.24.14 {week 61}

Hey, hey! 
Well, another week come and gone!  It's been another quicky.  (I don't know if I'll have any slow weeks from here on out...)  Today is my 14 month mark!  Weird.  I realized about a week ago that I was still telling people that I had six months left when they asked me.  But, nope.  Now I'm at four.  Where has the time gone?  I'm realizing more and more that I'm getting closer to the end because every time I tell someone I have 4 months left, they get this worried look on their face.  And then they usually say something like, "Wow, that's really no time at all..."  And then I'm like, "Nah, I've got all the time in the world!"  And then their face just gets covered in...pity.  It's okay.  I really do still have a TON of time left.  I mean, I'm no Taylor Orton or anything.  ;)
I HAVE A NEW BABY, GUYS.  Her name is Sorella D'Ambrosio.  And, no, she's not Italian.  Her dad is Italian, but she was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona.  She is just....the biggest ball of energy I have ever met.  We just...laugh all the time, basically.  And not just those wimpy little laughs, but big throw-your-head-back-and-bust-up-laughing laughs.  It's been a great week.  Unfortunately her dad, although he's fluent in Italian, like never spoke Italian to her, so that's what she's having the hardest time with right now (um, hi, I understand...) but she's doing great.  I do feel kind of bad that she has to be so busy with scambios for her first couple of transfers.  I mean, that's not normal for a new missionary.  She'll be doing one a week, pretty much, for the entire transfer.  She's a champ!  Anyway, between last Thursday, when she arrived here in Alessandria, and now we've basically just been going around so that she can meet everyone.  It's been a packed week!  (Except for Sunday night when she was ill.  But it's all good now!)  And we've got another packed week ahead.  Tomorrow is our scambio.  Friday we'll be doing service to help decorate for a wedding that will be at the church on Saturday.  Saturday - WEDDING!  Sunday will be...normal.  Monday we'll go to Milano again for New Missionary Training.  Tuesday will be normal and then before we know it, I'll be writing you all again!  And then we'll have mission consiglio and General Conference and all sorts of good stuff!  I can't wait for these next couple of weeks.  :) 
Update on G. and S.:  They're doing great!  They've really been integrated into the ward well, which is such a huge relief.  That's one of the hardest parts about progressing investigators and new converts - just getting them friends and fellowshipped.  I remember the first couple of times they came to church, S. wanted to leave before the third hour (Primary), and now she loves it.  They actually stayed at church for, like, an hour after church on Sunday.  Haha we had to pretty much kick them out so that we could go home and eat lunch.  So that is really, really nice.  We had another miracle this week because we were able to see two of my favorite investigators that basically dropped off the face of the earth for the past two and a half weeks - C. and F.  We went to see them on Monday and I was basically just like, "So, hey, do you want to still learn about Jesus?"  (More tactfully though, of course...)  And they do want to keep learning and trying.  They're going to start reading the scriptures and praying again because they said they really did see/feel a difference in their lives when they were doing these things.  The next step is getting them to church.  That's a toughie sometimes, but we can do it!  Anyway, we're just seeing miracles everywhere we turn and it really does help me realize how much the Lord's hand is in our lives.  He is mindful of every single person.  And I know that when we pray for people to be put in our path, He really will put people who are ready in our path, and then all we have to do is open our mouths!  It's easy, if you think about it!  I remember I used to be so afraid to pray to have a missionary experience when I was a regular member, because I knew that if I prayed for it, it would actually happen.  It can seem somewhat scary or intimidating, but don't worry.  Heavenly Father wants you to help his children.  He won't let you fail.  So that is my invite for you this week - pray for a missionary experience and then when it comes your way, do something about it!  Will you do it?  :)  Good.  You will be blessed and you'll start to understand why I'm just so...happy to be a missionary.  It's the most incredible job ever.  I'll be following up next week, so don't forget!  ;) 
I love you all tons and I'm so grateful for the support system I have at home.  Even when I get zero emails from my siblings, I know you all still love me.  ;)  Really though, y'all are great.  I hope you all have an amazing week.  Look for miracles!  AMORE.

Sorella Gunnerson
Sorella Roth and me on her last full proselyting day.  Celebrating the fact that we didn't get trunky by eating a Tronky!  Ha, get it?

Me, Sorella D'Ambrosio, Sorella Natividad, Sorella Jackman - I basically just took this picture for Sorella Palumbo because it has one of her daughters, two granddaughters, and a great-granddaughter!  Just look at her family tree grow!

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