** 5/28/14 **

mi dispiachh


So we screwed ourselves on pday. half an hour forinternet. But I am printing everyone's emails, even all the forwards (first time for everything) and I haven't received any in about a transfer so I am stoked to stalk my dearies again. 

Side note the keyboard is whack here. Miracle. I found little mermaid for 9 euro.

Well quickly, We had some crazy cool miracles, I set a bap date on a scambio on Monday with a brand new investigator! long story short her husband was baptized 10 yrs ago, kinda fell off the face of the earth I guess, he seemed super interested still and had a testimony of everything and I was like dang he is totally coming back! Then at the end of the lesson after we invited his wife to baptism he was like, Oh btw didn't I tell you guys I am muslim now? hahaha. He even brought his prayer rug with him I guess lol. They are super hardcore hippies but really chill people as you can imagine. 

We got 4 new investigators last week, which is the first time in like a month that we have investigators haha. I will have to explain those miracles later. 

Ummm...I love you? haha. 

Read your scriptures erryday! 

 

Sorella Gillette       

Kassi and her previous companions Dad that stopped in to say hi, Mr. Montagnoli, her new companion, and the elder in the middle is from our new ward! Anziano Lindsey.. Small world after all!

* 5/21/14 *

Turning over a new leaf, to the first one?

Man I just feel so good after reading these letters. I have felt a lot of love and spirit from my besties back home. It's so cheesy but I really do feel the spirit when I read their emails and they talk about their experiences.

I also really appreciate people asking about who we are teaching. Let's face it, that is all I care about haha. 

Well Sorella Strong is great, we are alot of like. Which is bad because we are both chatter boxes, need to do some self-evaluation on time management haha.

We have been really going back to basics, strada, a little bit of casa, even pulling out my classic complimenting lines on the tram haha. Really having flashbacks to Bergamo. 

And at times I'm thinking, oh we didn't get to pray on the street, we don't have new simps technically, only potentials. Well that is how it was done in the olden days in the BG. and you know what, we didn't teach a bajillion lessons there. I never hit the standard until my 3rd city. But we had 3 beautiful baptisms there. So I am very hopeful and excited. I really think we will see a baptism together. And some less actives are really showing interest in coming back, I want to activate!

Luckily Sorella Montagnoli is with my Palomino family in Vercelli, they moved there and I am so glad she can follow up on them for me and love the heck out of them.

I remember when I said in Milano I didn't know what was worse, not having enough time to visit everyone or having plenty of time and no one to visit. Well let's just say I know what I would choose now haha. 

I think we are converting to bike-ism. Never had the desire until recently. We found out ghettooooo bikes and we are going to try to get the tires repaired. I guess I deserve it, I have dodged bike cities like the plague and go figure now I actually want them. (my comp is a die hard bike loving missionary). 

Anyways to sum up the week, we are trying to do a bunch of different things to get new investigators. 2 cool miracles sarebbero:

1. WE HAD SOMEONE IN CHURCH. As did the anziani, and we found their person too! Our woman was a potential I found last transfer in the area book who I guess came to english class once before? Montag knew who she was. We scheduled an appointment ma, she wasn't able to meet with us. Long story short, tried to set up another one, she said she would come to our 'ceremony' on Sunday. I'm like okay sweet, little doubtful but hey. Then Strong texted her Sunday morning and she came! all 3 hours! We are meeting with her tomorrow, and she knew the Nonna! 

Side note miracle, I got in with the young women! We are going to start going there I think instead of Relief Society, there are only 2, one just turned 12 and the other needs a lotttt of help. I don't know how to help her. 

2. NEW INVESTIGATOR. A Romanian woman who was on her bike on the sidewalk. Now usually I don't stop bikers, but she was moseying along and we were searching for a bike shop so I asked her. And usually Romanians are pretty tough and not super interested in talking with us. (Atleast that is my experience). We should be seeing her Saturday and she was relatively interested and superrrr sweet to us! WOOT. 

Well, after a long, boring letter, vi lascio in pace. 

Vi vogliamo bene! 

Sorella Gillette

p.s. pics. from one compie to the next. numero 11 o 12. Depends if we double dip Slla Montag in the counting.

*** 5/14/14 ***

Best Surprise Ever

Picture this. I hear that my dearies from Bergamo are coming to visit Venice. So, I tell Mikhail to shout when they are there. We meet up at the bridge of Venice, first just him then we walk to see the rest of the people. He told me my dear mission mamma Blanca will be there, and some of the Botta clan. Well. We get to the Venice train station where they all pit stopped at the bathroom and he turns to me and says he has a surprise for me. Then not only do I see Blanca walk out but also YLENIA. She walks around the corner into a side alley exit, I run and hug Blanca and scare her haha then run after Ylenia and it was like a movie, she turned around and we freaked out and ran to each other and hugged. 

Neither one of them knew I was coming! It has been like 9 months since I have seen them! 

One of the best days of my life was walking around my dreamy Venice with my mission mom and my Ylenia, with a splash of the Botta fam bam. Words can't describe how Heavenly that was. Only Heavenly Father understands.

So a little something I have realized. Everyone asks when they find out I am an only child, "Oh, so you're spoiled, right?" haha. You know what, I am! Heavenly Father spoils me. This whole past week has been just a dream. Seeing a bunchhh of my mission besties, old companions, my Bergamo's, Skyping for Mother's Day, hanging out with American's on the base, eating American food, and then the BYU chamber orchestra was here for 3 days and I talked with them alot. I got all my fixes! 

Oh forgot to mention haha. This week is transfers! I feel like it's always transfers. Well, Sorella Montagnoli is going to Vercelli to bottle break Sorella Jones, I was her sister training leader last transfer! And Vercelli is super close to Torino, and to make it better, my activated family the Palomino's, I heard they just moved to Vercelli! So she can go take care of them!

I am getting Sorella Strong, coming from Firenze. She is is Sorella Gross and Walch's group. She is really sweet from the little interactions we have had. Ironically I am pretty sure we chatted on Instagram or something a couple of times before the mission haha small world! 

And, I am slowly but surely starting to feel more at home with the members. I am really excited about that! Feeling at home where you go is super important. My invite of the week...yes I am going to start doing that...is to GEM someone and help them feel wanted! Look at them how Heavenly Father does. 

Side note shout out! Thank you Courtney and Derek for sending my Mom a card and flowers for Mother's Day. She needs some loving as I am away and I know it meant the world to her. I am very grateful for my supportive dearies around the world. Love love love. 

Transfer 11/12...here we go.

Just remember, you only have 4 minutes. 

VVB. Especially Sorella Montagnoli.

Cuore Sorella Gillette

*** 5/8/14 ***

Seeing the cari!

Friday was mission consiglio in Milano, Wednesday was a 5 zone conference, and next week is already transfers! mamma mia. I got to see some of my dearrrrriiiiieeees yesterday, including my ex-colleghe Sorella Walch, Gross and Woods. It was so great! I just want to live in mission world forever. Also Monday to Tuesday I did a scambio in Vicenza with Sorella Carlock and I went to America!!! I ate TACO BELL. I was like a kid at Disneyland. We taught a lesson on the base housing, then the member that took us took us to the real army base and we went to the post exchange. I bought Doritos and Bugles. Any trunkiness was insta-allieviated (cant spell in inglese). 

But ya know what, I loved the culture of these military families, it was such a cool experience. Not to mention...the hype for American food is so not worth it in the end. Good lesson learned of making me want to stay in Italy even more. 

I also received a letter from the Hacienda Heights ward again. So sweet! I had no idea so many people read these little emails, I should probably hold off on so much slang haha. Thank you for your love and support! 

Our conference Wed was soooo edifying. Elder Kearon, Snow and Nielson came to speak to us. It was very uplifting and there was a funny joke that one of them said from serving in Germany. For every door you knock on, someone gets baptized in Mexico. hahaha. We all died laughing. 

I am so very grateful to have these opportunities to hear general authorities and constantly be striving for more spiritual enlightenment. Also for my dear companions and friends in the mission that have shaped me. 

So my family is moving into a house in Santa Clara, St. George today. So strange! When I read the email my eyes got kind of glossy and Montag was super stoked too. Stress relieved! Guess I will check out the house Sunday during skype!

Slla Montag is super gemmy, always making me breakfast and my bed and stuff. So I was like, how can I gem her back? I can't keep up. Well ladies and gents, I do say I found the ultimate payback. I brought back a family pack of POPEYES. So that has lasted a couple days. 

Today we put pants on the do some service for an orchestra concert Fratello Frani is doing, when we put our skirts back on we were sooo much more comfortable! Who am I? haha. 

Oh I almost forgot the best part! Edoardo got baptized! He has been an investigator of the Anziani for a long time (I almost wrote a sack of time...daiii italian!) and he finally and literally took the plunge! It was beautiful! Couldn't stop smiling, so much so that my mouth was dry. Now that my friends is a good measurement of your joy. How dry your teeth are. 

In somma. Vi voglio bene, come sempre. 

Fate la brava! 

Sorella Gillette

**4/30/14**

Blah Blah

Last pday we went to Trieste and saw the most beautiful castle that I have ever seen. My scambio with Sorella Bollwinkel was great, then I just had one with Sorella Haslum who came to me from Verona. I feel like I am the one getting trained and learning the most from these Sorelle. I feel like a sponge! 

I read the best thing ever today. A man's vision about the spirit world from 1920 and I dare say it changed my testimony. I felt like I was there and the feelings brought me back to the temple. It felt very sacred and real. Everyone should read it. 

My favorite senior couple is going home tomorrow, so sad I didn't call them beforehand so they could've come visit me! Stupid. But saying 'see you later' was so strange. 

In Trieste I talked to a young teenager who was kind of less active, especially about seminary. I know I took it for granted, but he was complaining about the hour. I told him, my Dad woke me up every morning and drove me 20 minutes at 5 in the morning to Seminary and he wasn't even active. So I wanted to publically declare my gratitude to my Dad. Happy Birthday! 

And to mom too, but we can do that for Mother's Day.

Well Mestre so far might be the refiner's fire round 2 for me haha. Very different, time is flying and I feel like I haven't done anything. Not much has happened. But I am grateful for the daily small miracles and that we are planting seeds for when it will be the booming city. (hopefully fra alcuni transferimenti haha). 

Read conference talks! You only take your knowledge with ya, ya know.

love love.

Sorella Gillette

**4/23/14**

Notizie strane!

So, the folks are moving to St. Geezy? Weird world clash. Very indifferent to this idea. But I guess by next week they will send pictures of the new place. That's 2 moves in 2 states since I have been gone! #nomads.

I am writing from Trieste! Always wanted to see this city, we are going to a castle by the ocean today. That's now 2 different oceans in Italy! 

Gang, Venice blew my mind. I cannot comprehend how it was built. We got to visit the Jewish Ghetto, where people were forced to live in WWII. It was very hollowed ground. We ate sandwiches sitting on steps of the water by a tiny bridge there, I couldn't help thinking how nazi soldiers had stood where I ate. Everything was written in Hebrew and there were authentic traditional Jewish people with yamacas and sweet curls. Lovedddd it! Can't wait to go back. 

It is truly a magical place. Couldn't stop smiling like a 5 year old at Disney World. And the masks! Ahh I want one so bad! 

Pasqua was great, ate lunch with a really cool member and he told us his conversion story and testimony and we watched that new amazingggg video about Christ on lds.org. It hit me yet again that that is something I want to do for a living. Make videos like that. 

This week I felt the spirit super strongly on a solid daily basis. Had some great scambi, one with Sorella Quinton, who I guess is friends with Fish and Lyd! small world!! Then I went to Pordenone with Sorella Burkman. Man the sorelle are awesome. Next I am going to scambi with Sorella Bollwinkle in Trieste tonight and tomorrow. 

The thing I have noticed here is going back to teaching to very specific needs. There are some amazing people, and I am pretty positive they won't be baptized while I am a missionary, but I know they will be and when they are, they will be phenomenal members that will change the world here. 

Yesterday we taught a family how to dye eggs for Easter. I love them! The girls are sooo cute! The mom and oldest girl come to our English course. We also hung out with dear Laura and a girl that came in from Denmark. Since we are in Venice, we are missionaries/tour guides/ insta friends to foreign members. Pretty cool. 

Con un sacco di amore e cuccioli, 

Sorella Gillette

4/15/14

Gocapio. Next stop, speaking Venetian.

So. I got to go last week to Venice to visit a less active on the island she lives on. No big deal. Today we are going for pday so I can see the real Venice Venice, I haven't visited centro yet or anything. I. Am. Stoked. Not to mention Montag told me there's a cool Jewish neighborhood that was established in WWII. ya'll know I love that kind of stuff!

Man there are a lot of Americans out here. When tourists come to church, we translate. And I am not a fan of translating haha my brain can't switch quick enough, I end up speaking Italian at people. But it was cool bearing a quick testimony on my first Sunday because all the tourists came up to me, I forgot what it's like being around American members...weird! 

Side note. Still obsessed with conference. 

Time is going fast and there's so much to do still. Mestre reminds me a lot of Bergamo in the sense of the work pace. I always said I wanted to open and even go back to Bergamo to do a redo, looks like this is Heavenly Father's way of answering my wishes. Also including Venice. Can't complain.

We met some people from Chicago yesterday here for a volleyball tourny, a lady we were talking to knew about the church and things and was like 'you guys scored Venice?! GET ON YOUR KNEES AND THANK GOD!' She kept telling us to get on our knees and pray hhahaha so funny.

Also yesterday, I asked a lady on the tram where she was from and she yelled at me and said 'I'm from here! What a stupid question!!' hahahaha i couldn't stop laughing when we got off the tram lol. 

Then after a lunch appt with some cute little older ladies, we were walking on a side street and a little old man with a cane asked if he could walk in between us for good luck....hahahaha. 

So this week is starting of right. I'm really trying to exercize my faith more with talking to people in giro. Because I know that if I am just trying, we will be finding miracles in various places, even the ones we don't expect. Well we have 3 new investigators, one of which is the boyfriend of a less active, who I guess never would sit in on lessons before. Miracle! 

It's a lot more pressure being the STL for numbers and all that jazz. But it's a good push. I'ts cool being with Slla Montagnoli again, we have lived such different missions that have brought us together again. 

My spiritual insight as of lately is this: we are nothing. I don't understand the patience God has. I fall so short all the time, I barely put forth effort and instantly see the fruit. It's like he has to baby us. 'it's okay, you sucked most of the day but here's a lolipop.' haha but of course a lot more loving than that. 

Read Mosiah 3 and 4, it's where I'm at in Italian and kind of along these lines. 

With a sack of love to the moon and back,

Sorella Gillette

p.s. last miracle. We hopped on a bus after leaving the church with the anziani and a member, Anziano Thompson starts peer pressuring me to go talk to this African girl who is far away on the semi-packed bus sitting on the inside seat next to another man. He was like 'she looked at you, go talk to her, here's a book of mormon.' hahaha. and mannnn i was so pansy about it! but I went, awkwardly squeezing past people up to her and the italian man...like a scared little kid I asked, 'Have you ever seen this book before?' He said no and I could tell she was about to nod. He was like 'I'm not interested.' So I was like okay, so have YOU seen this book? She said yes! Then I asked her if she spoke English. Bam she has been to church in Nigeria, She is from my favorite tribe, so I asked her how she was in that language haha and she is good friends/neighbors with a super elect member. oh ya, she has read parts of the book of mormon. got her digits. 

So what do we learn from this? A. humble slap. B. being a pansy does nothing and there are miracles waiting. C. Dang diddly anziano was right. 

:)