** EMAIL 11/13/13 **

Just hustled a Sri Lankan for some cheaper scarves

I figured maybe random subject titles would entice the reader.

haha then sometimes I think I should be more serious for ya'll, but then I think ehhh...better not.

So. life's good. weeks are fast. Never remember which week is which when I come to write you. We are at an internet point right by the Mole. I love walking around downtown Torino. Probably my favorite sight in the world. Sorella Astel saw a ghetto little house and was like 'I bet that was built before America was America' haha.

In regards to our investigators, there are some great people progressing. Some people that are so elect and ready, they just can't see it themselves! I have kind of noticed that with people this transfer, whether it be missionaries or investigators, they can't see how great they are like I can! So I can only imagine Heavenly Father's frustration with us, because I sure do get frustrated with people haha. I really feel like I am learning to see people the way HF sees them. And how much I love people after not knowing them for very long. It's crazy. So long story short, the problem in Torino isn't the same as Bergamo, people are more likely to come to church here but they are too scared to get baptized, even though we bear testimony like crazy and do everything we have been taught and feel impressed to do and say.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. People's agency man. pshhh.

So what have we done this week? Well miracle week for our district, as a whole 10 new simps and a new bap date. As a companionship we had 3 new simps and the bap date! Really cool, first new simps of the transfer.

We went to Milano last Thursday for that conference, got to see a lot of my friends, which I always look forward to. Everyone was like 'Hey I heard you got robbed!' haha. I'm like holy hannah how do you all know?! It was a good conference. learned alot, you kinda feel like a cruddy missionary after tho haha the list of imperfections that you need to fix. Ehh vediamo.

In other new, my baby girl is coming to this zone! I AM SO STOKED. That means Walchie, Condles and Astel will all be in my zone. I have been so blessed to have had such great companions who I consider my best friends. Have I mentioned how funny Astel is?

Sono fortunata. So ya. bout it I suppose. I want some Christmas cards or something, even tho I have no room to talk because I am the worst at snail mail. Must give shout outs to my amazazazing friends back home that have consistently written me loverly letters for all this time. It doesn't feel like I have been out very long until I hear from the Italian kids about new movies and music and whatnot haha.

Buona Settimana!

Siete il mio mondo e Vi Voglio Bene!

Sorella Gillette

** EMAIL FROM 11/6/13 **

Getting robbed at knifepoint​...oh the mission haha

Everyone! I got quite a few letters and I loved and appreciated it. but I am fine people! I swear to you I wasn't scared, you would actually be proud, I feel like I handed it like a champ.
So for those of you that want the story. Sorella Astel and I were walking home after an appointment, bout a 15 min walk to our house at 8 at night. not too late. We were on a main road, there were people on the road, not a ton but still. It was a holiday in Italy so less people were out. We were about a block from our apartment and a man about my height and stature (little italian homie) came out of nowhere from the cars...in italy all the cars are just parked on the side of the road. I was closest to that side but he walked a bit past me and stood more in front of Astel because she was a stride ahead of me. First I just noticed that he had a bandana covering his face and said "Dami la borsa!" Which means give me the bag, so I was like Wth? then I look down and see a fatty butcher knife, it was closer to astel. So she jumps back and says Ok a bunch of time and throws it to him. My only thought was "dang I hope he doesnt ask me for mine." haha then he turns to me so Im like ok ok. then he just walks past us, I turn around and notice he is walking at a normal pace so Im like "Bro Go!" So we run home, Astel was really scared, tried to stop a couple people for help which was funny bc no one cares haha so I call the zone leaders as we are running and I kinda made a joke, "so if all your stuff was taken at knife point, what would you do?" lol anyways get it all squared away with president, he makes astel feel better. next morning we file a report with our bishop at the police office (kind of a waste of time).
So we dont have our italian triples, wallets, any cards, my mini dictionary that i use on the daily, my mini book of mormon in english, lots of other random papers and stuff...but saddest of all..MY CAMERA WITH ALL OF MY MISSION PHOTOS AND 2 FLASH DRIVES. When I realized that I started kicking air angrily hahaha. But whatevs whatja gonna do?

So thats to answer the big questions. We are just having a difficult time without all those things, it has made it a bit harder to do missionary work when we didnt have money for a couple days or bus tickets or our triples haha. Especially when your investigator in church asks about D&C bc that happens to be ALL THE SCRIPS that day. Sorry bro, your missionary cant help you haha.

Also that next day we realized our fridge and freezer were turned off for a full day. lost alot of food haha. IT WAS A GOOD WEEK!

But we really have seen a lot of miracles and we had 5 people in church! People are progressing, we are feeling the spirit in lessons. Really hoping that the miracles we want are scene. I really hope Astel and I stay the same for next transfer. I want to be here for Thanskgiving and Christmas so bad.

I really appreciate everyone sending me some emails! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. CANT WAIT TO KICK IT!

Today we went with my old compie/bestie Condie and her comp Hoffman to a town really close to France. It was so pretty! saw the alps covered in snow. I dont have a camera but i have pics on other ppls cameras, but theres no way for me to upload them bc the doohikey is gone too haha.

LOVE YOU ALL. Always praying for the safety and health of my dearies back home!

Sorella Gillette

** EMAIL FROM 10/30/13 **

Ciao to everyone and their parents...​literally :)


Well, funny story from emails this week, some of my friends in the mission told me today that their parents wrote them about things they didnt tell them...quindi my letters sure are getting around to all the parents back there haha. 

So this week is another blur, we made Anziano Day a crown for his birthday. Sunday we went to some strange medical conference to try to do some missionary work with some members, it was so long but we got free food. i feel like im back at home eating like a chubster that sure can pound food. for example, lunch today. i wasnt super hungry but Astel was. We get pasta, halfway thru she is like 'man i am full.' So not only do I eat mine, a big thing a bread, I then take her bowl too. Benefits of being the fat companion :) hehe. 

So this whole contact everyone on the street competition kinda sucks haha people are so mean lol and we havent gotten any potentials out of it, only a referal for the anziani. but i do feel like i am doing missionary work, unfortunately probably the most uneffective missionary work besides knocking doors. or should i say ringing citofoni. 

Well two of our investigators are progressing toward their bap dates still. We had a greattttt lesson with our little peruvian man. The spirit was really strong and the member in the lesson was perfect for him. I really hope I get to see these people get baptized. Unfortunately the kids havent come to church, so they cant get baptized on the date we planned. I am def learning a lot about parenthood out on the mish. Its prob the most christlike experience and you have to put yourself to the side and think about whats good for them. cough cough baptism cough. 

speaking of cough, my cold is slowing but surely going away. yay cold weather! but i know the weather will only get worse. 

I am super grateful for everyone who has been keeping in contact with me, everyone is happy Im hitting the halfway point, and I feel like it has flown by, but then thinking about how people are getting married when i didnt know they had a boyfriend, or theres new songs and whatnot that are now considered old, dang ive been out for quite a bit of time haha. 

OH. funny crazy stories of the day. Well the Gallarato fam are still probs my fav people of Torino. So funny and I feel like they are family, We just go around and make fun of each other. Seriously gotta be related. Sorella Astel and I had an interesting lesson with a less active about some CRAZY conspiracy theories hahaha. I had to stop her in one of them and correct some false doctrine, most of the others I just let her go. Made my personal study a lot more interesting haha. Just remind me when I see you to give more deets haha.

Well, I seriously love the gelato out of you. 

These photos are from the egyptian museo today, Astel hadnt been. Thats me next to mummified cats hahaha. 

VVB!!

Sorella Gillette

** EMAIL FROM 10/23/13 **

Long email, but it is worth it haha.

I MISS YOU ALL. So as you know transfers happened, I have talked with Sorella Condie almost everyday hahaha that is the perk of being in the neighboring district pretty much in the same city. like literally every time i tell a member or someone where she went we all kind of have a good laugh :) Her and her new comp are coming to our house tomorrow for lunch in our NEW APARTMENT. 

Dude it is so ridiculous haha. 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATH, giant living room, big kitchen. Me and my comp just have our own bathroom haha. all the walls are cupboards. you literally press on a wall and it opens. Not to mention the house style is like funky 1965. My bathroom has like pea green toilet, sink. crazy funky mirrors are everywhere. the door to my bathroom is like blue glass with a giant silver round knob. im not kidding austin powers came to italy and lived in this apartment. 

and its all to ourselves! the anziani are jealous. but since Torino is so big, I am even more lost than I was before because I dont know the bus routes near our house. so frustrating!

Sorella Astel is super patient with me tho. I love her. she is so sweet. She is from Idaho Falls, idk if I already mentioned that. She turned 20 a few months ago and is the transfer below me. 

She says my italian is really good...then i totally botch something up in front of people and i know she is just being polite haha. 

Miracle for the week, the palomino family came to church! this is really cheesy but...whatevs. so it was the primary program during sacrament, and i kid you not little kids speaking italian is the absolute cutest thing you will ever here. especially when they are talking about jesus christ. oh my lanta. so after sacrament the family walks in and i see them, astel doesnt know anyone yet and i was GASP ITS THE PALOMINOS! And I started to tear up hahaha. WHATS HAPPENING TO ME. im melting. 

So beautiful tho. and then Hermis, our rad bap date who i loveeee came for all 3 hours and participated in gospel principles! 

Ettore, the cute little old man we are teaching, well long lesson later ALMOST accepted a baptism date. ahhhhh so close! 

We have a competition going on with the old district leader (Briscoe) that we have to talk to 1000 people by the end of the transfer, me and astel are doing it too, so thats double as a coppia. unfortunately we are only at 78 each right now. in one night we talked to 30 people each. this is just walking down the streets too. haha so much rejection i just laugh. italians are soo mean lol.

BUT FUNNY CRAZY STORY. in closing of this long email, I needed 2 people to hit my goal on Monday to talk to 30 people...we were waiting for a bus and there was no one around...except...An Albanian hooker and a mini scarier verson of Christopher Walken. For those of you who dont know, I cant stand that actor and he scares me. So JUST IMAGINE. hehehe Astel and I both were like heck yes lets go contact this lady and ruin this guys opportunity to take her home! so we go up and I ask them if they have heard of the book of mormon. He looked so evil. His eyes were so...heebie jeebies creepies bro. 

Comunque, dropped a passalong card after he told us to get lost haha. sadly that girl is probs younger than me. so we go back to the bus stop. we see him walk away so we were like score! and we didnt get a chance to really talk to her or give her a passalong card so guess what? 

WE GO BACK AGAIN hahahaha. Gave her a plan of salvation pamphlet, she said she saw missionaries in albania, told her we both have an albanian friend (gjika shoutout!) and i was like oh hey slla astel knows a phrase in albanian! (from gjika). and she says it and the girl laughs....because (i didnt know at the time) sorella astel told this Albanian prostitute she looked good..in albanian. HAHAHA. man i hope you find this as great as I do.

Sure do love the mission! and you all!

a dopo!

Sorella Gillette.

p.s. christmas is coming up...wink. wink.

p.s.s. idk if i mentioned how condie and i gave everyone disney characters and she said i am the guy from goofy movie, 'leaning tower of cheese-ah.' Briscoe gave us all Harry Potter characters...I am Fred and George. hahaha. Because I am never serious and play pranks on people. I noticed these are both gingers. Then astel and i decided to label everyone in the district as a junk food, we voted i am a cheese puff. again, orange. any opinions? lol. and yes this is what we do for entertainment.

** 10/16/13 Email **

This transfer will be my halfway mark!

Crazy right?! So it is transfers yet again, and my comp is leaving me. well kind of haha. She is going from Torino to Collegno...which for those of you that dont know is about a 20 min bus ride hahaha. So she is in the same zone, neighboring district and even our baptisms are at her church building hahaha. We have been making jokes about it all week.

Well I am getting a new comp named Sorella Astel. I have seen her a few times. She is also in Condie's group and is from Idaho. its always nerve racking to get a new comp, speriamo bene! 

today has been weird, off and on the comp all day. we do our grocery shopping tomorrow bc ill wait for my new comp to get here. It is exciting to hear about the other missionaries and where they are going and whatnot. I am glad I stayed! So much work to be done still and I feel like I havent done anything. 

Well this letter is short. Thanks for always writing me guys. I cant believe Halloween is coming up and I will be at my halfway point soon! 

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Sorry I couldnt be there!

VI VOLGIO BENE.

SLLA GILLETTE

Heres some photos from last pday when we went to palazzo reale. so a fancy palace haha. and then we took some goodbye photos after fhe. transfers are always so sad! its like moving from family everytime. 

** Email from 10/9/13 **

WAIIIILLLL​L HELLLOOO!

The weeks are going by so fast, I cant even remember what happens. Well meat fast was a success, our district leader told us we looked healthier, but we know he was just saying that so we would keep our vegetarian on. But for lunch today we are going to try to find a south american restaurant, an investigator told us about it, apparently there are tacos! I MISS MEXICAN FOOD SO MUCH.

Conference was so dang good yall! We had like 15 people in a small cramped computer room all watching it on one computer in english haha. all missionaries and a couple investigators. it was rough. BUT. My fav talk was def by Anziano Uchtdorf. So amazing! 

Monday we went to the Gallarato's for dinner and fhe, they are my fav people. SO FUNNY. I was dying laughing. Then last night we did our fhe at the church and there was more people there than I had ever seen, were talking like 6 besides us 4 missionaries haha. we played ninja all together and it was all adults. super funny. 

I had a dream that I would be the one getting transfered and it was really hard. With transfers coming up, I am pretty sure Sorella Condie will dip out, hopefully not tho. I am still lost all the time without her. I better not be leaving tho! 

So some photos, there is a gorgeous park called parco valentino, and yall know how much i love orange leaves and autumn. i was so excited. then some other random stuff. some photos from the final district meeting of the transfer. it was our district leader's bday and we made him band tshirts hahaha cause he was in some really bad punk band back in the states lol super funny. 

Cant complain. Life is good. but...it is getting cold! I dont know how to handle it! 

Love you all! Thanks for writing me, I feel the love! So glad the lord is working through you!

Slla Gillette

** Email from 10/2/13 **

c'è lo posso fare!


Name that disney song people.

HOW IS EVERYONE?! This has been a great week. I dont have much time today, spent some time at a cinema museum at the Mole, super cool! 

Allora in somma, Alexandra the cute 8 year old we were teaching was baptized! we have set 5 baptism dates in the past week and a half!!!! yeahhh. 4 new investigators too this past week and a half! 

can i get a what what?!

Yesterday was our new investigator/bap date who is 17, from Peru and speaks english as her 3rd language and she is really good at it. She reminds me of me! Alot of her concerns, beliefs, curiosities with the church, so similar! I was worried during the lesson that she was too good to be true, something must be wrong because no one is this prepared. Then a bit after thinking that she straight up said something like "im being sincere, not saying this just to say it, i really am excited about this, it just feels right to me, i dont really know where i stand on my belief in god but going to church and being here with you just feels right." and she accepted a bap invite and....I cried haha. The spirit was so strong and I felt like it was such a testimony to why I am here. We had GREAT LESSONS yesterday. 

Since conference is coming up we are talking about prophets with everyone. 

Also on saturday was a YM/YW activity for both the Torino wards, it was a talent night with food and after a dance, it was so funny! they told us missionaries the day before they wanted us to sing...sorella condie and i did them one better.

Picture us, sunglasses, crappily coreographed dance to A Goofy Movies song Stand Out...ya it just reeks of Sorella Gillette huh? 

We went last and is was a huge sucess, they turned off half the lights as if it was a real performance and then ALL OF THE YOUNG WOMEN OF BOTH WARDS CAME UP AND DANCED WITH US! FOLLOWING OUR MOVES! and im going to answer your question right now, YES THERE IS VIDEO. but sadly, cant upload on this dang diddly site. haha. 

Last but not least...I AM GOING VEGETARIAN THIS WEEK. Started yesterday. day and a half goin strong! that photo of me and the pizza is a veggie pizza haha. PERCHE? 

Well lemme tell you. 

We eat at a members house for lunch, she is sicilian....most dont know what this means. they feed you and if you dont eat they get offended and angry! and i cant eat as much as they must think i can, the fattness is deceiving. 

long story short after pounding so much food, some nastyyyy sausage/intestine looking crap comes out of the microwave and i was so scared. luckily she cooked it on the stove but still. i said a prayer that i could chug it, good gravy it was nasty. looked like roadkill insides with fat chunks. idk if  thats descriptive enough. Sorella Condie didnt even finish hers and wanted to throw up haha. so I was like, I am going to follow the example of our district leader and be vegetarian haha. We called and told him, he was very proud. 

Well. Thats about it that I can type out real fast. 

Love you all to pieces! I love the mission, I love these people!!!!!