**Email from 12/18/13**

Baptism, American Junk Food and Love!

 

RANCESCA GOT BAPTIZED!!!

It was indeed a miracle. Hands down one of the best moments of the mission, cioè my life. Me, Astel, Gross and Condie were all in the side hall watching her get baptized by Anz. Colemere, and when she came up out of the water and back to us we hugged her and she cried and pretty much bore her testimony to us. It was beautiful. I couldn't stop smiling. I said the closing prayer and even said words can't describe how happy we are. That was probably one of the strongest moments I have ever felt of the spirit and just how much love I have for her. Grateful grateful grateful.

During her interview a couple days before she bore her testimony and said how much she loved me and was grateful and was hoping I wouldn't leave, made me get a little choked up!

So it's been a very high chance that I would be space transfered, since being in 3 is not super normal and whatnot, EVERYONE thought I was out.

I AM STAYINGGGG! I am so happy!!! President at the conference was like "well, I don't want to ruin any of your Christmas plans", and I was like "I am so happy!" He said "Good, I like happy."
But the scare of me leaving really helped me to know how much people loved me! A lot of the young women and some members and investigators were saying they would pray for me to stay. They all were texting and making an effort to see me too. One of the people I have been teaching since I got here, my sweet little peruvian man was like, what about the 28th? You won't be here? (That is his baptism date and I am surprised he remembered and made it out like he really would get baptized that day!) And he was so sad that I could be leaving.

It gets worse\better. We visit one of my favorite innactive families, the ones who barely speak italian so my spanish is improving. They actually came to church Sunday! I told them during our visit that I might be leaving, they were like that's it we are going to buy pizza! So they get us pizza and make it a little festa! The 2 little girls are Peruvian dancers and they do a dance for me! Then  they are like 'close your eyes' and they brought out this GIANT stuffed dog with a huge card that said "Sorella Kassi" and they all signed and decorated it. Then the mom in broken Italian told me how much she loves me and is grateful for me and how I was so consistent and persistent with her family. I started crying. I told them I never cry so they did a good job. When we left their house I balled like I did when I left Bergamo. My companions haven't seen me cry so that was funny. I sleep with that stuffed animal every night now.

Seriously tender mercies. I didn't think the people here loved me as much as I love them, so it was a great week of cheesy love.

Even tho the members love us, we still haven't been invited anywhere for Christmas! But neither has Sorella Walch and her companion in Vercelli so we might all kick it.

Buon Natale!! Vi voglio un sacco di bene!

Sorella Gillette

 

 

 

 

 

** 12/11/13 EMAIL **

FORZA ITALIA! RIOT!


Well you heard it folks, Italy as a whole has been in rebellion since Monday. Monday there was a huge strike and nothing was open and there were people blocking off streets and stopping cars all by our house. It was so cool!! Coppers and Swat and fights about to break out. I was so excited. Anziano Johnson said I would be the crazy that jumps in the crowd yelling Forza Italia! hahaha. yes. I hear downtown is worse and especially more north, yeah rebellion!! 

So monday was our district meeting and Sorella Condie and her comp couldn't get back to Collegno after because no buses were going, so they had to spent the night! It. Was. Awesome. We did a Blitz in our area so Condie and I went together. She was singing "Guess who's back..back..back..back again.." haha. It was so great to be with her again. I love her. 

This has been one of the slowest weeks of my mission. Last pday all us girls kicked it and it was by far one of my fav pdays ever. 

So let's see, Sorella Astel and I chuck Lindor chocolates at the wall like we are pitchers to soften up the chocolate. Sorella Gross and I had a mattress war yesterday morning like Sumo wrestlers. We played hide and seek with the Sorelle and it was the funniest thing with 5 people. Our house is seriously a maze with tricks everywhere. Sorella Astel and I trapped Gross in the bathroom using 2 mattresses, 3 chairs and a christmas tree. 

Finally got to visit one of my favorite inactive families after a long time. I cried in the lesson, the mom is having a hard time being here in Italy, their whole family is struggling. It was a really strong lesson. Then she took her two girls to the Primary activity last night and we are seeing them tonight. 

Also...WE ARE HAVING A BAPTISM! This saturday we hope! Francesca's interview is tonight! I still can't believe it, but I think that is just how I am about the big moments haha. Constant state of shock. 

Pray that it will happen! 

Thanks for all the emails!!! 

Vi voglio un sacco di qualcosa buona haha. 

Sorella Gillette

*** 12/3/13 EMAIL ***

Cocopelli!

Well, my new compie Sorella Gross speaks Navjoo. Idk how to spell it. But it is sick! She grew up on an Indian Res and pretty much has the most interesting life. I have a feeling my Mom and her would really get along haha. 

So this trio is pretty awesome. It's like a big hang out. But contacting is kinda weird. Funny story. So as we all know I am a big prankster. Well joke is on me. Sorella Gross was telling us yesterday how she has an epipen because she is allergic to radishes haha. So she takes it out and it starts talking and beeping about injections. She comes at me out of nowhere and attacks me with this epipen, I am confused, running around the giant living room around chairs and our ghetto Christmas tree (which is being held up by a giant roll of paper towels.) and at first I am like is she serious? Is this real life? Am I about to be injected with whatever epipens are made of? I don't want to get shot? So sorella Astel is just laughing and I am a little concerned haha. I hear it say 'Injection in 5...4...3...' So I am pushing her off me and we end up like wrestling on the floor and I had to kick her off me and I ran and hid in the bathroom.

Pretty traumatizing. 

Well. Turns out it was a training epipen and not real. They felt bad that they actually put real fear into my soul haha. 

I figured out Sorella Astel is writing home about this story at the same time because she is just creepily laughing to herself. If only you could see my face. :| 

Miracoli! Well my dearie investigator who has had one problem from the next about baptism I am pretty sure will finally get baptized the 14th! We went to her house the first time yesterday to meet her grandparents, they actually were okay with us coming over, and a few days ago she brought her older sister to a lesson and she became a new investigator and is okay with her getting baptized! So if I happen to leave in 3 weeks for the crazy space transfer that is happening, I will be here for the baptism!

I have been praying for that so much and I have been fasting today and yesterday for it, and immediately my fast was pretty much answered but I didn't realize it till later on in the day. Sometimes I just don't recognize the answers I do get, or realize that they are answers. Another thing I have learned in the mish is that I am teaching people how to do all of these things when I am not good at it myself. But you know what they say, you learn the most when you teach. So moral of the week, try to practice what you preach? haha punny.

Allora, today we are having a pday party with all the sorelle, dance party at our house! yay Jerico road! hahaha. Man I miss music lol. 

Vi voglio un mondo di bene! 

Sorella Gillette

*** 11/27/13 EMAIL ***

TRANSFERS AND THANKSGIVING

Soooo. I have been praying daily that I would stay in Torino and the Lord has answered my prayers!! I am staying here for transfer numba 3 in this loverly città, menomale with sorella Astel too. 

But here's the catch...

We are going to be in a threesome!! 

Picking up Sorella Gross tomorrow! She is in Sorella Walch's group and Sorella Clawson trained her. Kinda crazy that Clawson was in a threesome with my baby and now I will be with hers haha. 

Let me tell you why. In 3 weeks about 3 or 4 sorelle are going home early along with about 4 anziani, the week before Christmas so they can go home in time to start school. Anyways that means there will be space transfers midway. 

In conclusion, it seems as though I would be leaving at the end of 3 weeks. But who knows. That's just based off of logic. But I actually prayed to atleast remain for Thanksgiving, we are going tomorrow to the Dallon family's for a big dinner feast! So stoked!!! They are American, and turns out I am friends with their niece from Dixie. Small world. 

Most people are staying the same in the zone, so I will still be with Walch, Condie and Astel in the zone! Anziano Colemere is also staying, this will be 6 transfers together in the same ward. 

Investigator news! People are still progressing, kind of having a hard time getting new investigators here in Torino. Finding is way different. I thought people were cold in Bergamo but I didn't know anything haha. Having a hard time trying to get our baptism dates to stick. Our most elect chicka busted her leg pretty bad and crutched her way into the church on Sunday. So lots of problems are being presented. 

I am really grateful my family was chill with my decision to get baptized. At 14 too, that's just crazy. Guys I am going into my 7th transfer. What the freak. I've almost been out for 10 months! 

Side note, saw some random music videos like Brit Spears, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars when I was in a kebap shop. DUDE. What the satan?? I know it's not cause I am in weird mission mode, well maybe a little but holy cow! straight up jank. Astel was like oh dang 2nd coming is happening! haha. 

Hope you all have a wondiferous Thanksgiving! I am thankful for ya'll. hehe cheese. 

VVB.

Sorella Gillette

p.s. *cough send me some packages for Christmas cough.* 

:)

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**2nd EMAIL**

Livin on a prayer

Bon jovi is on in the internet point...I am stoked. I forgot a couple things and realized I don't tell you guys too many details about my life hahaha.

We have been super poor with food, I have eaten some gross things man. Even the anziani feel bad for us and gave us some cookies haha. 

One of our investigators that I have been teaching since I got here gave me a Spanish-Italian dictionary and signed it in spanish, so nice of him! I gave him one of my bibles the week before and he was super stoked about it.

Our old man investigator yesterday bought us a thing of Lindor chocolates and came to FHE. I almost got him to play nascondino! (hide and seek.) a tradition I accidentally started last transfer after every FHE. the kids love it and us adults (adult haha sike) we get way into it running around the chapel. One of my favorite people in the mission goes home tomorrow so we got to say bye to him yesterday at the FHE too. I just love all the friends I have made here. Can't imagine life without all of them! 

Oh and another thing you should know. Sorella Astel is the Queen at would you rather. We literally play would you rather on the daily and she is crazy haha. You know how I get super hyper at night and go buck wild? Well she does too and I have calmed down a lot haha. 

One last funny story. Saturday night we had our stake conference broadcast. One of our rad simps came, i am sitting in between him and Astel. I look over at him and he is praying! cool. then I look at Astel and she is too! I was like wth did I miss the prayer memo? She raises her head and opens her eyes and I was like bro were you praying? She was like nah dude I was asleep. 

hahahahaha. yes. 

Okay Ciaozies!

Slla G