Dear Family,
Yesterday we had interviews. It was really great. New missionaries bear their testimonies at the beginning of the conference and missionaries that are going home bear their testimonies at the end. When one elder was bearing his testimony at the end, it kind of hit me that I too will go home. I've been away from home, serving a mission for almost a year; but it doesn't really feel like it. The time will go by fast. But, I'm actually not worried. I'm not care free either, but I feel good. I feel like I am doing the best that I can, even if that's the 100% or even if it's enough. I am doing what I can. This morning I realized that I am really weak. I have a lot of problems. But this doesn't discourage me. Actually, it helps me to lean on the Lord more, change my will to His will, even if it hurts. I have about six months left of the mission. I'm not counting; I don't really have a concept for time, in that sense. That is really helpful actually, not really having a sense of time; there's always something to work on and improve. It feels like I haven't been here for very long, but at the same time, it does. With all these amazing experiences we have each day, sometimes one day really feels like two. And this transfer feels like it has been forever. Not a bad thing. Because I've been in two areas, different companions and new experiences, new ward, new missionaries, new investigators. So I can hardly believe that transfers are next week. Tuesday night is the night, we get the phone call from the Zone Leaders. I really want to stay in Milano. I really do love this place. I am been so blessed to be here for this long. I remember sometime between when I received my call to the time before I left for the MTC, I felt strongly, that I really wanted to serve in Milano. I have no idea why I felt that because I didn't know anything about Milano. But I have been in Milano for almost 8 months. And all of Milano too! Milano 1, 2, and 3. A lot of people have been commenting on that. I'm very grateful for it. But I will go anywhere that the Lord would have me go. But I will be sad to leave my Milano, my home away from home. I love this place!
Well, Italy is suffering from an early heat wave. Everyday I sweat buckets and I have to take a shower at night, otherwise the sweat sticks to my skin and it starts to itch. We just received an email from Sister Dunaway about this and that we need to drink lots and lots of water. We need to be drinking at least 2 liters of water everyday, but with hard work and hot sun, we should be drinking more. That is defintely something that I need to be working on. Last night it actually cooled down and it was really great to sleep. Whenever I look at my companions faces, their faces are wet like mine, dripping with sweat. We all suffer from it, but I'd probably say that the elders suffer the most because they have to wear their white shirts buttoned up all the way with a tie. Yikes!
Everyday we teach lessons, do finding work, talk to everyone about the gospel and invite them to learn more, strengthen the ward, help other missionaries, and help one another. It's tiring but it feels great. The other night, we came home, I was hot, sweaty, sticky, hungry, and tired, but I felt great. I love those days.
Transfers are next week so we'll see where I'll be. We need to go over to the apartment in Milano 1 to clean some stuff up and I will check the mail. By the way, thanks for all the emails this week, they are really what I needed. I love you all! Looking forward to hearing from y'all next week.
Much love, Sorella DeVocht
27 May 2009
26 May 2009
May 20--randomness
Ciao Family!
WOW!!! A lot has happened! So, Thursday came, and President called me and told me that the decision was made for Sorella Booth to go home, which meant I was going to be with Sorella Acerson and Sorella Stevens until the end of the transfer and then who knows what will happen. Which means that I no longer live at Via Cantello, but you can just write to the Mission Office because who knows what will happen and next week we have interviews, which means we will get mail from the mission office. I packed all my stuff and the Dunaways took us to the Milano 3 apartment. I had like 2 minutes to say goodbye to Sorella Booth. It was really hard. But things are going good now. I can now say that I have served in ALL of Milano, 2, 1, and 3. Ch'รจ bello! I really do love Milano SO MUCH!!! It's not that beautiful but I love it. I don't know what it is about Milano, why I like it so much but I really do love it with all my heart and I am so glad to be able to be here for so long. I would like to stay here for a least 1 more transfer, but that's just a wish. Life is pretty good these days. The sun is out and I am getting sunburned. But today I put on sunscreen so hopefully that helps. My face is, not red, but close to, especially my nose : ) This past week we had an Enlgish Fast. It has been AMAZING!!! The only time we could speak English was during nightly planning, weekly planning, and companion study. It has been such a blessing and so great. I love the mission! I am going to now close this email. Good bye. That is all.
Love, Sorella DeVocht
WOW!!! A lot has happened! So, Thursday came, and President called me and told me that the decision was made for Sorella Booth to go home, which meant I was going to be with Sorella Acerson and Sorella Stevens until the end of the transfer and then who knows what will happen. Which means that I no longer live at Via Cantello, but you can just write to the Mission Office because who knows what will happen and next week we have interviews, which means we will get mail from the mission office. I packed all my stuff and the Dunaways took us to the Milano 3 apartment. I had like 2 minutes to say goodbye to Sorella Booth. It was really hard. But things are going good now. I can now say that I have served in ALL of Milano, 2, 1, and 3. Ch'รจ bello! I really do love Milano SO MUCH!!! It's not that beautiful but I love it. I don't know what it is about Milano, why I like it so much but I really do love it with all my heart and I am so glad to be able to be here for so long. I would like to stay here for a least 1 more transfer, but that's just a wish. Life is pretty good these days. The sun is out and I am getting sunburned. But today I put on sunscreen so hopefully that helps. My face is, not red, but close to, especially my nose : ) This past week we had an Enlgish Fast. It has been AMAZING!!! The only time we could speak English was during nightly planning, weekly planning, and companion study. It has been such a blessing and so great. I love the mission! I am going to now close this email. Good bye. That is all.
Love, Sorella DeVocht
May 6--HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!
Dear Family,
Hey! How's it going? I am so excited to talk to the family this Sunday!!! I will be calling from a Utah number, so I won't have to buy a calling card, and it will be free! This sister is American, married an Italian, and they have this line through the computer, so it all works out great.
Life is pretty great here in Milano 1. Yesterday we saw our new investigator, Ester, who is from Bolivia and she is amazing. Sorella Booth and I think that she is one of those people that all we need to do is to remind them of of the plan that God has for all of us. This was our second time meeting and when we asked her if she read the Book of Mormon she said, yeah, of course. and then she went on to tell us what she had read. I LOVE it when investigators tell us what they've read. It always makes me so happy. : )
Well, sorry this is a little short this week, but I have a few other people to write and not much time. But know that I love you all and that I am so very grateful for your prayers and love!!!
Love from,
Sorella De Vocht
P.S. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY KEVIN!!!!
CIAO
Hey! How's it going? I am so excited to talk to the family this Sunday!!! I will be calling from a Utah number, so I won't have to buy a calling card, and it will be free! This sister is American, married an Italian, and they have this line through the computer, so it all works out great.
Life is pretty great here in Milano 1. Yesterday we saw our new investigator, Ester, who is from Bolivia and she is amazing. Sorella Booth and I think that she is one of those people that all we need to do is to remind them of of the plan that God has for all of us. This was our second time meeting and when we asked her if she read the Book of Mormon she said, yeah, of course. and then she went on to tell us what she had read. I LOVE it when investigators tell us what they've read. It always makes me so happy. : )
Well, sorry this is a little short this week, but I have a few other people to write and not much time. But know that I love you all and that I am so very grateful for your prayers and love!!!
Love from,
Sorella De Vocht
P.S. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY KEVIN!!!!
CIAO
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)