Dear Family,
How is everyone of you doing? How is school, work, life, the kids, everything? Life here in Genova is going pretty well. I have noticed that the Lord blesses us when we obey His commandments, even if it is small and we think that it will not make a difference. I'm sorry that I really don't have anything to say.
Nancy, yes and thank you, we did receive the letters, awhile ago. But if you want to be on the safe side, it's ok if you send them to the mission office\home, which ever one it is, I can't remember.
Well, I am learning lots and Italian is coming along. Yesterday we were speaking in Italian for a lot of the day and my head hurted a lot.
I've never really had seafood before but I've been having it here it Itali. Sorella Harris said that this morning :) It made me laugh :D But the other day I had mussels and octopus which the octopus is not my most favorite thing in the world.
Mom, I was wondering if you would be interested in creating an email account so I could email you :) And you can practice using the computer. I love to write letters but last week I did, I'm going to send them today, and I got really distracted and well at least for now, email is pretty good. But this doesn't mean that I'm lazy or that I don't love you all! It just means that email is what is working best for me, but I will have time and I will write and send snail mail before I come home ;)
Last Thursdsay, we taught the 3rd lesson, The Plan of Salvation to Silvana. It went really well. During language study I prepared some things that I wanted to say and I also made a little diagram thingy for her. When we gave the lesson, I spoke up a lot, I explained the diagram and it just went great! I'm excited to be more of an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Well, thanks again for all the love and support and letters! I love you all. Even though at times, being on a mission has been hard, I know this is where the Lord wants and needs me to be. Besides, I can do hard things :)
ETTE and RWYA and RWH and CTR and NGU because "because you are loved" Alma 7:11-13
Until next week this has been
Sorella DeVocht
Reporting live from Genova, Italy
19 October 2008
09 October 2008
TEMPLE IN ROME, ITALY!!! (8 Oct 2008)
Dear Family,
I am SO stoked, you don't even KNOW about the temple in Rome, Italy. We were able to watch General Conference, but it was all in Italian and I didn't understand a lot. But when I heard about the temple, at first I wasn't really paying attention, and then I looked at Sorella Harris and she was crying her eyes out and I said, "The temple?" and she said, "Yes, oh my gosh." Then I started crying and could not focus on the next talk. Ben, the Italians cheered. It's crazy because when I was in the MTC, one of our teachers, Fratello Garlick, told us that there was a rumor going around that they would be able to build the temple soon. And then Anziano Hooker said something like this, "Yeah, we'll be in conference, and they'll annouce the temple in Rome, and all the Italians will cheer." And that's excatly what happened. So our district in the MTC guessed it right!!! Ben! That is SO exciting about Billy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it. I remember that letter you sent me in the MTC telling me about him taking an Italian class in school and you were saying wouldn't they be cool if he went to Milan, Italy? And I thought, yeah, he's going to go. I am SO stoked!!!! I told the missionareis who are here now doing email, my companion, Anziano McKinnon and Anziano Robbins. We figured that Billy will come in when Anziano Robbins leaves because he leaves in March. Then Anziano Robbins said, "Man, I won't be able to train him." ANd then Anziano McKinnon said, "I can." That would be crazy if he did.
The other day after district meeting we went to get kebabs, but the zone leaders didn't come with us. As we were sitting on our bench eating, Anziano McKinnon says, "I feel pretty young. I'll be going home the same time Sorella DeVocht does." It's weird to think that he still think he's young, when he has beeen out here for about 6 months and I have only been here for about 2 months.
Well, life is real real good here in Genova :) We have zone conference next week, and Elder Per Malm wil preside. I'm pretty stoked. President Dunaway gave us some promises so I'm going to work on those things. I'm feeling pretty good just about right now. My companion and I had a real great bonding experience/time last night. I am so glad that we are companions!!! I am SO glad that she is my trainer!!! She is "THE BOMB" you don't even KNOW!!! I know this is where the Lord wants me to be. I was talking about this with Sorella Harris last night and telling her about that this is right. This is the right time, the right place, and everything. I woudn't trade this for anything. Even the hard times I had because it has made the goood times stand out even more. I am know that the Lord wants me to be a missinoary and that He has a plan and purpose for me. I haven't figured it out yet, but I am so grateful to be here. I just KNOW that this is EXACTLY where the Lord wants me to be. I am so grateful that we have this gospel and that we can have assurances like this that we KNOW something. I love you all and I love all the support you give me. Being away from home, and living a completley different lifestyle, you start to appreicate the things you had back at home more. You start to realize that your family is the BOMB!!!! Thanks for all the things you have said to me in the past, whether for my mission or not, because they have really helped me. Nancy, I told Sorella Harris about the thing you told me about music and if you're having a bad day and your favorite song comes on, just listen to it. We were having one of those days last transfer and we were in the metro and a song came on that just calmed us. And now whenever we hear that song, it reminds us of that day. And we are closer too because of that. Sorella Harris said that she's started to do that now, she never did it until I told her about it. so i wanted to say thank you. the things all of you say really help me and change me and affect me, but they can also do the same for those i come in contact with and so by you saying just that little thing, you have affected people's lives. Thank you.
I love being a missionary and I love inviting others to come unto Christ. I am learning tons out here and I am also changing tons too. Last night I was thinking about how I was just a couple of weeks ago, which feel like months, and I thought to myself, "I've changed a lot." Time is so funny and strange on the mission. Something that we did last week feels like a month ago. This is only the 2nd week of our transfer and it feels like it's been forever. it's not because it's bad, it's just how time rolls here.
I always feel bad about not writing actual snail mail letters. I might be able to today, but I am so thankful and grateful for the letters you have sent me. Thanks so much. It's great to get something in the mail from home :)
I love you all so much!!! Thanks for being a great family and being so awesome!!!
Until next week
This has been
Sorella DeVocht
Reporting live from Genova, Italia
I am SO stoked, you don't even KNOW about the temple in Rome, Italy. We were able to watch General Conference, but it was all in Italian and I didn't understand a lot. But when I heard about the temple, at first I wasn't really paying attention, and then I looked at Sorella Harris and she was crying her eyes out and I said, "The temple?" and she said, "Yes, oh my gosh." Then I started crying and could not focus on the next talk. Ben, the Italians cheered. It's crazy because when I was in the MTC, one of our teachers, Fratello Garlick, told us that there was a rumor going around that they would be able to build the temple soon. And then Anziano Hooker said something like this, "Yeah, we'll be in conference, and they'll annouce the temple in Rome, and all the Italians will cheer." And that's excatly what happened. So our district in the MTC guessed it right!!! Ben! That is SO exciting about Billy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it. I remember that letter you sent me in the MTC telling me about him taking an Italian class in school and you were saying wouldn't they be cool if he went to Milan, Italy? And I thought, yeah, he's going to go. I am SO stoked!!!! I told the missionareis who are here now doing email, my companion, Anziano McKinnon and Anziano Robbins. We figured that Billy will come in when Anziano Robbins leaves because he leaves in March. Then Anziano Robbins said, "Man, I won't be able to train him." ANd then Anziano McKinnon said, "I can." That would be crazy if he did.
The other day after district meeting we went to get kebabs, but the zone leaders didn't come with us. As we were sitting on our bench eating, Anziano McKinnon says, "I feel pretty young. I'll be going home the same time Sorella DeVocht does." It's weird to think that he still think he's young, when he has beeen out here for about 6 months and I have only been here for about 2 months.
Well, life is real real good here in Genova :) We have zone conference next week, and Elder Per Malm wil preside. I'm pretty stoked. President Dunaway gave us some promises so I'm going to work on those things. I'm feeling pretty good just about right now. My companion and I had a real great bonding experience/time last night. I am so glad that we are companions!!! I am SO glad that she is my trainer!!! She is "THE BOMB" you don't even KNOW!!! I know this is where the Lord wants me to be. I was talking about this with Sorella Harris last night and telling her about that this is right. This is the right time, the right place, and everything. I woudn't trade this for anything. Even the hard times I had because it has made the goood times stand out even more. I am know that the Lord wants me to be a missinoary and that He has a plan and purpose for me. I haven't figured it out yet, but I am so grateful to be here. I just KNOW that this is EXACTLY where the Lord wants me to be. I am so grateful that we have this gospel and that we can have assurances like this that we KNOW something. I love you all and I love all the support you give me. Being away from home, and living a completley different lifestyle, you start to appreicate the things you had back at home more. You start to realize that your family is the BOMB!!!! Thanks for all the things you have said to me in the past, whether for my mission or not, because they have really helped me. Nancy, I told Sorella Harris about the thing you told me about music and if you're having a bad day and your favorite song comes on, just listen to it. We were having one of those days last transfer and we were in the metro and a song came on that just calmed us. And now whenever we hear that song, it reminds us of that day. And we are closer too because of that. Sorella Harris said that she's started to do that now, she never did it until I told her about it. so i wanted to say thank you. the things all of you say really help me and change me and affect me, but they can also do the same for those i come in contact with and so by you saying just that little thing, you have affected people's lives. Thank you.
I love being a missionary and I love inviting others to come unto Christ. I am learning tons out here and I am also changing tons too. Last night I was thinking about how I was just a couple of weeks ago, which feel like months, and I thought to myself, "I've changed a lot." Time is so funny and strange on the mission. Something that we did last week feels like a month ago. This is only the 2nd week of our transfer and it feels like it's been forever. it's not because it's bad, it's just how time rolls here.
I always feel bad about not writing actual snail mail letters. I might be able to today, but I am so thankful and grateful for the letters you have sent me. Thanks so much. It's great to get something in the mail from home :)
I love you all so much!!! Thanks for being a great family and being so awesome!!!
Until next week
This has been
Sorella DeVocht
Reporting live from Genova, Italia
08 October 2008
1 October 2008
Ciao Family!
Time is so weird to me these days. It feels like a year that I last wrote my 'weekly' email and I don't even really remember what I wrote. But I can't believe that I have been here for a whole transfer already! At first, time was going by really slow and I thought about the future all the time, which didn't help with the days going by slow for me. But now, time is going by slightly faster, and I'm thinking less of the future. Ok, you are my family and you all know me, especailly Mom because I was around her all the time before coming on my mission. You know that sometimes, or a lot of times, I am unmotivated. So, a couple weeks ago, I think, I was feeling like that. And I didn't want to go home, but I was trunky. Now I know I've only been here for less than six weeks at the time, but yeah, that's me for ya. I was trunky, but different. But, I've decided that since I was trunky in the beginning of my mission, I'm not allowed to be trunky at the end of my mission. Just like with my calling in with the stake singles: At first, I didn't do a lot and felt kind of bad about not doing anything. And then towards the end I was working hard and I was doing just about everything I could do. Now don't worry. I'm not doing nothing here in Italy, but I do struggle with some rules and I beat myself up a lot for not being better. A few weeks ago, I wrote to Presidnet Dunaway and said something about it's taking me awhile to get into the groove of things. He wrote back the next week and said: It takes a while to get all the elements of missionary work and life in place. Don't be hard on yourself if it's not all clicking just yet. Keep doing your best and striving to make those little improvements. I'm very pleased with the progress you have made and the direction in which you are headed. -Presidente Dunaway. That really helped me out. I'm like a lot of different things, like a child learning how to read and write for the first time. I guess that's basically what I am, I'm a little child in missionary work because I do not know a lot of things. But I hope that soon, once I start striving my hardest everyday and keeping all the rules, even the ones I struggle with, the Lord will see my willingness and I will be happy. Just so you aren't freaking out or anything, the rules I'm struggling with are, going to bed on time, beause I'm busy writing in my journals or getting other things done, waking up on time, mostly because I don't want to exercise, and exerising in the morning. And also small ones, like being completely ready to go before starting studies, leaving the house on time, having language study everyday, talking to people, and little rules like that that make ALL the difference. But I am working on these things so do not worry.
Well, I love you all and I appreicate all the letters and packages and emails and prayers and love from all of you. I also feel bad for not writing ANY letters to ANYONE. HOPEFULLY, today we will be able to.
Anytime anyone is online when I am, feel free to write back :) That would be a pretty cool experience!!! It would totally make my day!
Well, until next time,
Love from,
Sorella DeVocht
Time is so weird to me these days. It feels like a year that I last wrote my 'weekly' email and I don't even really remember what I wrote. But I can't believe that I have been here for a whole transfer already! At first, time was going by really slow and I thought about the future all the time, which didn't help with the days going by slow for me. But now, time is going by slightly faster, and I'm thinking less of the future. Ok, you are my family and you all know me, especailly Mom because I was around her all the time before coming on my mission. You know that sometimes, or a lot of times, I am unmotivated. So, a couple weeks ago, I think, I was feeling like that. And I didn't want to go home, but I was trunky. Now I know I've only been here for less than six weeks at the time, but yeah, that's me for ya. I was trunky, but different. But, I've decided that since I was trunky in the beginning of my mission, I'm not allowed to be trunky at the end of my mission. Just like with my calling in with the stake singles: At first, I didn't do a lot and felt kind of bad about not doing anything. And then towards the end I was working hard and I was doing just about everything I could do. Now don't worry. I'm not doing nothing here in Italy, but I do struggle with some rules and I beat myself up a lot for not being better. A few weeks ago, I wrote to Presidnet Dunaway and said something about it's taking me awhile to get into the groove of things. He wrote back the next week and said: It takes a while to get all the elements of missionary work and life in place. Don't be hard on yourself if it's not all clicking just yet. Keep doing your best and striving to make those little improvements. I'm very pleased with the progress you have made and the direction in which you are headed. -Presidente Dunaway. That really helped me out. I'm like a lot of different things, like a child learning how to read and write for the first time. I guess that's basically what I am, I'm a little child in missionary work because I do not know a lot of things. But I hope that soon, once I start striving my hardest everyday and keeping all the rules, even the ones I struggle with, the Lord will see my willingness and I will be happy. Just so you aren't freaking out or anything, the rules I'm struggling with are, going to bed on time, beause I'm busy writing in my journals or getting other things done, waking up on time, mostly because I don't want to exercise, and exerising in the morning. And also small ones, like being completely ready to go before starting studies, leaving the house on time, having language study everyday, talking to people, and little rules like that that make ALL the difference. But I am working on these things so do not worry.
Well, I love you all and I appreicate all the letters and packages and emails and prayers and love from all of you. I also feel bad for not writing ANY letters to ANYONE. HOPEFULLY, today we will be able to.
Anytime anyone is online when I am, feel free to write back :) That would be a pretty cool experience!!! It would totally make my day!
Well, until next time,
Love from,
Sorella DeVocht
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