Life

Hi. 

I haven't blogged in six months, but I felt like the events that transpired on Saturday warranted some kind of public description, so here we are.

Actually, every week since I've been home from my mission, I've sent an email to the sisters in my mission. I call it my "sorelle email." It's been over 18 months that I've been writing these emails. There are only two sisters on my email list still in Italy, and I've only met one of them - when I went to Italy with my parents in May. Many of the returned sorelle, however, requested to keep receiving my emails, and so now I don't really know how to categorize these emails, but whatever. I always include a pop culture update, an update about other returned missionaries from our mission, and of course a Sorella Soh update, which usually leads into a spiritual thought. I've decided to just cut and paste into a blog post what I just emailed out to the sorelle this week. 

Don't ever forget how much I love you.

Katie

...

Sorella Soh update: Welp, here we go. Most of the returned sorelle already know about this (sans details), but I literally almost died in a car crash on Saturday evening. My roommate, Aubrey, and I had watched the first two sessions of conference at home in Lehi, and decided to go down to Provo to her sister's house to have a girls' night with her 3 sisters and mom (and bambini) while the boys were all at the priesthood session. We were driving down I-15, just north of the Pleasant Grove exit, in the left lane. The HOV/carpool lane was closing (there must have been an accident there because two cop cars were parked in the HOV lane), and there was a car up ahead that needed to get over, so all the cars in front of us started braking and we did, too. The girl in the car behind us, though, must've been distracted somehow because instead of braking, she slammed into the back of my roommate's car at about 70-75 mph. I think at the last second she realized she was going to hit us and turned a little bit and smashed more into the back driver's side than the passenger side, which sent us spinning to the right into the middle of I-15. My roommate saw the car coming up fast behind us about a second before the girl hit us, but there was nothing she could do. I had no idea what was about to happen; I was just sitting in the car when suddenly I heard a loud POP and CRUNCH from the tire popping and the back of the car collapsing, and the next thing I knew, my seat crashed into the back of my head which sent my glasses flying off my head (I didn't wear my contacts that day), and the glovebox opened and everything in it came flying out at me. I was also holding a bad of pre-popped popcorn to bring to the girls' night, and on impact it also burst open and covered me in popcorn. Aubrey tried to control the car as we spun, obviously to no avail. Once we stopped moving, we both were in shock and asked if the other was alright, and then a few seconds later, the police woman who was in one of the cop cars that had been parked in the HOV ran to our car and yelled at Aubrey to move before we got T-boned (aka hit again), because her car was turned in such a way that the passenger's side (my side) was turned to face oncoming traffic. Miraculously, Aubrey was able to drive her destroyed car over to the left shoulder. I was left searching through the glovebox papers on the floor for my glasses, Velma from Scooby-Doo style. I thought for sure they'd be broken, but I eventually found them in the back seat, completely unharmed. My door wouldn't open, so I had to climb out of the driver's side to check out the damage to Aubrey's car. The back wheel was destroyed, and the trunk had just folded on itself like an accordion. The front of the car was fine, though, and the radio was still playing. Both of our phones were fine, mine was in my hand the whole time and Aubrey had hers tucked under her leg. The girl who hit us was driving a 2015 Nissan Versa (it was a rental bc she had just gotten in an accident last week), and Aubrey's car she had bought new a few years ago - 2013 Hyndai Elantra. Both cars were totaled (I'm attaching a pic of Aub's car). The whole front end of the Nissan was totally gone.

Anyway, so spare you from a lot of the inconsequential details, everyone was fine. The other girls' airbags deployed, but she was okay, and no one needed to take the ambulance. I went to the doctor yesterday and got the all-clear, and Aubrey went to the chiropractor this morning and had some vertebrae realigned, but we're both going to be totally fine. We both have some good bruises/scratches, but nothing serious. We've mostly just been sore. The other girl is okay, too. When Aubrey got the police report, I saw the girls' name on it and found her on Facebook. I actually sent her a message because I wanted to make sure she was alright and that we aren't mad at her. (Since the cops were right there and witnessed the crash, they handled everything. We didn't actually meet the girl because the cops took care of getting the insurance info and calling the tow truck and everything.)

Sorelle, I should have died on Saturday. Aubrey and I have talked about this all weekend. Her parents came and picked us up from the tow truck place, and we went down to her sister's house where we were sufficiently mothered by her mom and sisters. We also got priesthood blessings from her dad. That's when I broke down. I had been cracking jokes, offering popcorn to the ambulance guys, and Aubrey and I were literally standing on the side of I-15 looking at her destroyed car just laughing. But we both knew we'd break down later, and that moment was when her dad gave her a blessing. I lost it. I haven't cried so much in years. In Aubrey's blessing, he specifically said that Heavenly Father sent angels to protect us. Sorelle, I know with all my heart and soul and all of the life I have in me that angels were protecting us because I should not be alive right now. I keep replaying the scene over and over in my head and it doesn't make sense to me how we weren't both killed. The initial impact didn't kill us. We didn't hit ANYTHING once we got launched into traffic. In fact, it was as if all traffic on I-15 had disappeared. I'm serious. Aubrey had commented minutes earlier about how congested traffic was, but we didn't hit anyone, nor did anyone else hit us. How did no one else hit us? We were stopped in the middle of I-15 with no warning! If we had gotten hit again, the car would've hit my passenger door and I would have died, probably instantly. Angels are real, and God sent them to keep us from dying.

Surprisingly, I'm not really shaken up too bad about all of this. I mean, yeah, it was pretty traumatic, but I'm alive; I'd rather think about that than dwell on being almost dead. I'm going to make a full recovery - physically and emotionally (probably already recovered from that). I would add "spiritually" to that list, but it wasn't even damaged. Rather, it was enhanced. There are several things I've learned from this experience, and I want to share a few of them with you: 1) It's not my time to die. I've always felt that there is still a lot left on this earth for me to do, but this experience confirmed that to me. I've got a lot of work left to do. 2) The Lord loves us. 3) There are a lot of people that love us. I posted something about the accident on FB and it's been insane how many people have come out of the woodwork and said how glad they are that everyone was okay. People I haven't spoken to in years, even. Your influence never ends. 4) Your testimony can make you invincible. I had another traumatizing, potentially emotionally damaging experience in my second to last transfer with Slla Lyman (I think I've talked about it before), and it didn't harm me or have any lasting effects on me because my testimony had grown so strong throughout my mission. Getting in this car crash was similiar for me, in the sense that I'm totally okay. I have zero feelings of anger; I haven't had any at all, even though it was clearly the other girls' fault. I'm not mad. I have peace. Peace in the midst of uncertainty. Peace in the midst of confusion. Peace because I am confident in the Lord's plan. How else could I possibly feel? This is the kind of peace intended when we learn that the gospel brings us peace. It's incredible.

I love you all so much. Nothing is happenstance. The Lord is intricately involved in the details of your life, whether or not you notice it. Prayers of protection are answered. Spiritual strength can compensate where your physical strength fails. No effort is ever wasted. Serbate la fede.

Con tutto l'amore che ho,

Sorella Soh

La morte non è la fine

(This is exactly what I wrote before...only this time it's in Italian. Sorry for the horrible grammar!)

Questo è esattamente quello che ho scritto prima in inglese...soltanto che adesso c'è scritto in italiano :) Perdonatemi per la grammatica orrenda!

Non ci stancheremo mai

Ieri è stato un anno da quando sono tornata dalla missione. Oggi è un anno da quando sono stata rilasciata come una missionaria a tempo pieno per la Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni.

Che anno ch'è stato.

Stavo pensando a tante cose questo weekend, e non so se il mio cuore le capisca ancora. In questo anno passato, ho avuto tante opportunità di continuare a servire il Signore in altri incarichi, prima con le giovani donne e poi come presidentessa della Società di Soccorso nel mio rione alla BYU. Non volevo lasciare le GD allora a luglio e non voglio lasciare le mie sorelle adesso nella SdS. Le cose che ho imparato e l'amore che ho sentito sono tante volte di più di qualsiasi altra cosa che potevo immaginare per me stessa.

I più bei giorni che avrò mai

In verità, la mia vita in generale non è come potevo immaginare per me stessa. Eccomi qui, un anno tornata dalla mission, e in tutta verità, non sento di essere più vicino a capire cosa farò quest'estate di come sentivo l'estate scorso. A questo tempo l'anno scorso, la mia preoccupazione principale era di affrontare il trauma di andare al centro commerciale da sola, portando i jeans. Adesso, i miei pensieri sono cambiati (abastanza considerevolmente) a pensare che cosa voglio fare con la mia vita dopo mi laureo mese prossimo.

Pace. Paz. Pax. Peace.

Mi manca l'Italia. Mi mancherà sempre l'Italia. Una ex-collega mi diceva che quando le persone la chiedono come si sente di essere una missionaria tornata, lei dice che <<essere tornata è come imparare come vivere con soltanto una metà del tuo cuore, perché l'altra metà sarà sempre in Italia.>> Un'altra collega mi ha detto che la sua missione, per lei, era come le acque di Mormon per il popolo di Alma: il luogo dove lei <<è giunta alla conoscenza del suo Redentore.>> Per me, Italia e la mia missione sono delle fibre che sono state tessute nel tessuto della mia vita e della mia esistenza. Ci sono giorni quando sento di essere più italiana che hawaiiana. Amo le persone che ho incontrato in missione così tanto che a volte non lo posso sopportare! Non sono molto brava a rimanere in conttato con le persone in Italia, ma quelle persone ci sono ancora nel mio cuore, e penso a loro spesso.

Gente, guardate! La luce vien!

Non posso immaginare come sarebbe la mia vita se non fossi una missionaria. Non intendevo di andare in missione, ma è capitato così. Mi sentivo bene di andare in missione. Sento che tutto che sono e tutto in cui credo sia reso chiaro a me e sia stato rafforzato in missione. Una missione non è per i deboli. La mia missione è stata la cosa più dificile che ho mai fatto, e questo perché dovevo avere dedicazione e persistenza nella faccia del fallimento. Che cosa dai quando non hai nulla? Che cosa daresti come sacrificio? Dovevo pormi regolarmente queste domande, ma non potrei essere più felice con la persona che sono diventata. Guarderò sempre alla missione come il punto nella mia vita quando ho imparato come essere invincibile. Il Vangelo di Gesù Cristo me l'ha fatto.

Siate forti

Nel linguaggio della missione, quando uno finisce la missione, si dice che lei <<è morta>>. Io sono morta un anno fa. Ieri, quando stavo pensando della mia <<morte>>, mio padre mi ha chiamato per dirmi che mio nonno Soh è morto l'altro ieri. Io ho pianto, come ho fatto quando sono <<morta>> io. Ma in quelle circostanze, non erano lacrime di tristezza, erano lacrime di conclusione. La morte non è la fine. Tutti devono nascere e tutti devono morire. Come posso essere triste che mio nonno è morto quando so che il Piano di Salvezza è vero? Come posso essere triste quando so che questo non è la fine, che noi ci riuniremo? La morte è soltanto la separazione. Non è la fine.

Come ho detto prima, stavo pensando a tante cose questo weekend. Sto pensando sempre al mio futuro e che cosa farò nella mia vita, e come conseguenza, sto facendo tante applicazioni per trovare lavoro per quest'estate. L'altro ieri, quando ho ricevuto il mio quinto <<no>> come risposta alla mia applicazione, sentivo un po' avvilita. Ma poi ieri, alla conferenza di palo, mi sono resa conto che essere rifiuta è esattamente quello che volevo. Almeno nel senso che il Signore non può essere più chiaro che dire <<no>> direttamente. Dovrei essere felice che invece di essere soprafatta con tante scelte, il Signore mi sta aiutando a scegliere la scelta migliore - quella che c'è. Da allora, sento benissimo con tutto. Visto che è stato tanto tempo da quando mi sono sentita così, è un granché!

Tutto torna ai belissimi mesi che ho passato come una missionara messa a parte a tempo pieno. Le lezioni che ho imparato come una missionara sono riflesse constantamente nelle esperienze che provo, e anche se ogni esperienza è unica, posso pensare alle esperienze che ho provato in missione come una guida per capire il presente. Come avrei potuto vivere senza queste cose?

Quando la tempesta si avvicinerà...

Il Vangelo di Gesù Cristo è vero. È reale. Con tutte le mie domande e i miei dubbi, the veridicità del vangelo non è stato mai l'argomento principale nella mia mente. Il vangelo è la mia fondazione, e la mia missione  me lo ha reso possibile. La missione ha solidificato la mia testimonianza e mi ha cambiato per il bene in un modo che non posso capire neanche spiegare. Amo il Vangelo perché fa migliore la gente. Mi fa migliore. L'Espiazione di Gesù Cristo ma dà il potere e la possibilità di cambiare, di non essere contenta con la mediocrità, e di diventare anche di più di quello che potrei immaginare. Prego che ognuno di voi possa avere delle esperienze simili, per il bene o il male, in modo che anche voi potrete lasciare le debbolezze mortali e diventare le persone che dovete essere. Divento sempre frustrata quando la gente dice <<Io sono fatto così!>>. NO!! Non dite quello! Non siate mai contenti di essere come siete fatti. Siate chi VOLETE essere. Fate sì che DIVENTATE chi volete essere. Dare la colpa a le circostanze non è una scusa. Esercitate la vostra autorità di agire, e create la persona che volete essere.

La mia missione è tutto per me, e nessuno me la può togliere. Il Vangelo è vero. Le famiglie sono eterne. La morte non è la fine. Vi voglio tanto bene tutti, i miei cari fratelli e sorelle.

Nel nome di Gesù Cristo, Amen

Death is not the end

Non ci stancheremo mai

Yesterday marked one year since I've been home from my mission. Today marks one year since I was released as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What a year it has been.

I've been thinking about so many things this weekend, and I don't think my heart understands any of it quite yet. In the past year I've had some incredible opportunites to continue to serve the Lord in other callings, first in the Young Women and then as Relief Society President in my BYU ward. I didn't want to leave the YW back in July and I don't want to leave my RS sisters now. The things I have learned and the love that I have felt are beyond anything I could have ever imagined for myself.

I più bei giorni che avrò mai

Actually, my life in general is unlike anything I could have ever imagined for myself. Here I am, a year home from my mission, and in all honesty, I don't feel any closer to knowing what I'm going to be doing this summer than I was last summer. This time last year my biggest concern was trying to handle the emotional trauma of going to the mall in jeans by myself. Now my thoughts have shifted (rather considerably) to wondering what I want to do with my life after I graduate next month.

Pace. Paz. Pax. Peace.

I miss Italy. I'll always miss Italy. A former companion was telling me that when people ask her what it feels like to be a returned missionary, she says that "coming home is like learning how to live with only half your heart, because that other half will always be in Italy." I had another companion tell me that her mission to her was like the waters of Mormon for the people of Alma: the place where she came to know the Lord. For me, Italy and my mission are fibers woven into the fabric of my life and existence. Some days I feel more Italian than Hawaiian. I love the people I met on my mission so much that I can hardly stand it. While I'm terrible at maintaining contact with people long-distance, those people are always still in my heart and I think about them often.

Hark, all ye nations - hear heaven's voice

I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't served a mission. I never really intended to go, it just all sort of happened. It felt right. I feel like everything that I am and everything that I stand for was made clear to me and reinforced on my mission. Missions aren't for chumps. My mission was the hardest thing I've ever done, and part of that was because of the dedication and persistence required in the face of seeming failure. What do you give when you feel like you have nothing left? What are you willing to sacrifice? I had to ask myself these questions regularly, but I couldn't be happier with the person that it has made me. I'll always look to my mission as the point in my life when I learned how to be invincible. The Gospel of Jesus Christ did that to me.

Be not troubled

In mission lingo, when you finish your mission, they say you "die". I died a year ago. Yesterday as I was thinking about my "death", my dad called and told me that my Grampa Soh had passed away the night before. I cried, just as I did when I "died". But in neither instance were they tears of sadness; they were tears of conclusion. Death is not the end. Everyone has to be born and everyone has to die. How can I be sad that my grandfather is dead when I know that the Plan of Salvation is real? How can I be sad when I know that this is not the end, that we will be together again? Death is merely separation; it is not the end.

As I said before, I've been thinking about a lot of things this weekend. I'm constantly thinking about my future and what the heck I'm gonna do with my life, and as a consequence have been applying to all kinds of jobs and internships starting this summer. The day before yesterday, when I got my fifth "no" as a response to my application, I was feeling a little disheartened. But then yesterday at my Stake Conference, I realized that rejection is exactly what I've been asking for. I mean, can the Lord be any clearer than "no"? I should be happy that instead of being overwhelmed with options, the Lord is making it easy for me to pick the best choice - the one that is available. Since then I've been feeling totally fine about everything, which, considering how long I've been feeling the opposite of that, is a pretty big deal.

It all comes back to the beautiful months I spent as a set-apart, full-time missionary. The lessons that I learned as a missionary are constantly being mirrored in the experiences I have, and while each experience is unique, I have been able to draw from my mission experiences to comprehend the present. How could I have survived without that?

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed...

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It's real. In all of my questions and self-doubt, the veracity of the gospel has never once been the topic of discussion in my brain. It is my constant and foundation, and my mission made that possible for me. It solidified my testimony and changed me for the better in a way that I will never fully understand, nor could I ever possibly try to explain. I love the gospel because it makes people better. It makes me better. The Atonement of Jesus Christ gives me the power and possibility to change myself, to not content myself with mediocrety, and to become more than I ever thought I could be. I pray that each of you is able to have similar experiences, for better or worse, so that you, too, may shed your mortal weaknesses and become the person you need to be. I always get frustrated when I hear people declare "This is who I am. I was just born this way." NO! NEVER be content to just "be who you are". Be who you WANT to be. MAKE yourself BECOME what you want. Placing the blame on your circumstances is hardly an excuse. Exercise your authority to act, and create yourself the way you want to become.

My mission means everything to me, and no one can ever take that experience away from me. The gospel is true. Families are forever. Death is not the end. I love you all, my dear brothers and sisters, very much.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Oi. Yeah.

I've been home for six weeks already. I don't really have anything blog-worthy to say, but I figured I'd change up the layout of my blog to reflect my new post-mish life. Maybe once I re-train my brain to have a more blog-friendly mentality, I'll start cranking some new posts out.

So, to thank you for stopping by, here's a little evidence that some things never change:

Circa 1995

Ritornata!!!

Hello everyone!

I'm back!!! Did you miss me?...don't answer that.

Well, I have no idea what to say, but I figured I should at least write something. I've been home about a week already. I've been sucked back into the black hole of Facebook, so you can find me on there, and I've also got the same phone number that I had before I left.

Seeing as how I don't know what to say because I have no idea what I'm doing with my life anymore, I'll just post a couple of airport pictures. :)

 With my MTC Sorelle! They all served in the Rome mission, so I hadn't seen them for about 16 months! My mom got the travel office to book me on their same flight!

Seeing the fam for the first time in 19 months! 

My GIGANTIC little sister got the first hug...while I just cried and cried

Mom got the second hug! (With my sister crying in the background)

Barbara, it's time to come home...

Buongiorno a tutti!

Well. This is it. The last email. My last pday. My last few hours in Italy. My suitcases are mostly packed. The new missionaries are here. My ministry as a full-time missionary in the Italy Milan Mission is ending.

So you're all dying to know - how am I doing???? To be honest, I've been doing okay. Well, at least up until the past few days. Mostly I felt like the end of my mission would never come, but now here it is, right around the corner. I'll kind of randomly start feeling major butterflies in my stomach, and today was the worst because transfers are tomorrow. But I'm doing alright. Mostly because I know that my time is up. I know that I've done all I could. And I've done a lot. I feel so satisfied with the past year and a half of my life. I feel fulfilled. I've been so beyond blessed that I can't even believe that my life is real. I've learned how to love. I couldn't be happier. That doesn't mean that I've been happy every second of the past 19 months, but I know that every one of those seconds has contributed to the missionary/person/woman that I've become. Dad, I know that you keep telling me about how Squeaky has grown so much that I won't even recognize her, but to tell the truth, I'm not sure if you'll even recognize me. I am 5000 times better than I was before, if you can believe it. I feel like the fulfillment of the scripture in Luke 9:24: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." What I have now is better than anything I left behind.

Well, now that the mushy part is over (for now), practical things! Transfers!!!! I'M GOING TO BE A DOUBLE NONNA!!!! Yep! Slla Bunker AND Slla Heupel are BOTH training!!!!!!! Slla H is staying in Rimini and Slla Bunker is training AND opening in Bergamo! There are all kinds of wonderful things happening all over the mission with all of the new sisters coming in. I'm so proud of Slla B and Slla H. Slla Lyman is obviously staying here in Milano, and Slla Stewart (who was in the same MTC group as her) will be coming up from Genova to be her new companion. I'm super excited for them.

Oh! And the Sorella conference! It was awesome! I was so nervous the whole time because in the morning Slla L and I played our duet of the mission hymn and then in the afternoon I had the incredible opportunity to bear my testimony to all the sisters. It was the first time I've cried about going home. I wasn't the only one crying, either!

This week has positively flown by. We've been super busy with appointments and stuff. At the end of church on Sunday, at the end of RS, I asked if I could say something and so I stood up and told everyone that I was leaving and thanked them and told them that I loved them. Some of them clapped...and yes, it WAS awkward...and I had a lot of people come up and talk to me after. Everyone told me how much they'd miss me and how I had brought so much joy and happiness into the ward. I feel kinda bad for Slla Stewart who is coming to replace me here because I'm a tough act to follow!!!

I spent most of this morning packing (or rather staring at my suitcases feeling overwhelmed), and then this afternoon we went to meet all the new sorelle that just got here - all ELEVEN of them - and take them to the Duomo. I met Slla Lopez! She is AWESOME!!! I had actually written to her in the MTC and she even wrote me back. I kinda selfishly hope that Slla Bunker or Slla Heupel will be her trainer so that she can be part of my training family tree!

I feel like I don't know what else to say. Partly because I want to be able to talk about SOMETHING when I get home, but partly because everything seems so trivial with respect to the end of my mission. I told Slla Lyman this morning, "I can't believe that when I get home I'll be able to tell people that I'm a returned missionary." It's true. Who woulda thought that little Katie Soh would grow up one day to be a full-time missionary in Italy? My full-time mission isn't over - just completed. Next comes the new mission of "real life". I'm excited. I'm excited to put into practice all of the things I've learned. I'm excited to be a full-time member missionary. I'm excited to have a new calling and help other people. I'm excited to see my family. I'm excited to be able to talk with the friends I've made on the mission and my former companions. I'm excited to just love everyone I see. I'm excited to speak in English, even though I probably won't be very good at it at first.

Thanks for reading along, everyone. I'm sure all these emails have been probably mostly just boring, but I just can't express in words what has happened to me. You'll see it when you see me...you won't have to wait long. 

I love you all, really truly.

Con tanto tanto affetto,

Sorella Sobeck-Walton-Bunker-Jones-Silva-Heupel-Nilson-Lyman-SOH

***note from Nicole that the title this time comes from a song from the LDS musical "My Turn on Earth."  You can listen to it here if you're interested.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmR3DNBRrzo

The Final Countdown

Hello everyone!!!

Well the biggest news is that the Church has just changed the email policy and so now missionaries are allowed to email friends and new converts in addition to emailing their family members!!! And now we have 90 minutes of internet time instead of 60!!! Of course this news is coming on my second to last pday...dangit! [Note from Nicole: she said I can give you her email address, so if you want to send her a short message here it is: katherine.soh@myldsmail.net - send it by Tuesday night, probably, since we never know what time on Wednesday she'll get online and she will be home NEXT FRIDAY!]

Yeah. It's my second to last pday. Tomorrow is the sorelle conference. And then I start the "last days" - "my last Friday in the mission", "my last Sunday in the mission", etc. YIKIES!!!! To be honest, I haven't really been freaking out about it. I thought I would be, but I'm not. Mostly I just feel like my mission will never end. We had a Zone Training Meeting on Monday and I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in front of the zone (dying testimony) and it went fine. I think a few people kinda cried, but it's because I talked about moms, haha. I already asked President and he said that he's going to let me and Slla Hanks give our testimonies at the end of the sister conference because we're both going home next week.

Next week. Yikes. It does mean, though, that I have to ask something I've never asked you all before. I have to ask you to NOT send me any letters! Any letters that haven't been sent already probably won't get to me, so if you have a letter waiting, just send it to my house in AL...not that there are any.

I heard through the rumor mill that Flavia got baptized!!! Down in Battipaglia, probably. Is it true!??!?!?! I hope so. She is so awesome!!! I love her so much!!!

I got letters from Slla Walton, Slla Lopez and Erilyn this week! It was a great week! OH!! And Slla Nilson - I met Claudia!!!! She's in my Stake and so I met her at Stake Conf this past Sunday. I went up to her and was like "are you Claudia?" and she said "how do you know?!" Apparently she saw me last year while I was serving in Torino...I was SUPER surprised about that - I didn't think ANYONE would remember me from Torino, let alone someone who wasn't even a part of our ward! She is a total babe and loves you a ton. OH, and I also saw Fllo Fergnani there! They just moved to Milano 1 a couple of weeks ago! I was SO shocked to see him.

This week has been kinda nuts. Let's be real, my whole last transfer has been kinda nuts. We had a scambio with the sorelle in Varese last Thursday and I was with Slla Pearce again! I scambioed with her a few transfers ago down in Rimini. She is a rockstar and contacting and I learned a ton from her. She told me "I know I'm not really that cool of a person, but if you ever want to hang out after the mission, I would be down." I told her "...I'm not really that cool." haha

So our Zone Training Meeting on Monday was in Como. This time we took the train to a different station in Como and it stops right by the lake. Holy quack, Como is BEAUTIFUL!!! I always wanted to serve there...and not because George Clooney has a house there! The church building there is really cute, too. It looks like a former villa or something. Super nice.

I feel like I don't really know what to write today. Most of what I remember about the past week is just how much I love all these people that we teach. Jennifer is so awesome and is still progressing so well, even after her baptism. I ordered a Spanish Triple Combination for her and we're going to give it to her next week...after I attempt to write a note in the cover in Spanish! Good thing we have some native spanish speakers around that can check it to make sure it makes sense! Mishell is so cute and I love being with their family. The members all keep asking me how many days I have left. They're so funny. When I was in Torino, I picked up a coat that used to belong to a former sister and I've had it all my mission. I'm wearing it in a few pictures - it's a black and white speckly pattern kind of . coat. Anyway, I never planned on taking it home with me, and I told that to Jennifer's mom, Crista. Well, Crista said "Well then I want it!!!" and she even tried it on, haha. So in exchange for the coat (which wasn't even mine to begin with) I told her that I want a meal! So on Tuesday we're going over to have a typical El Salvadorian lunch with her! Not a bad deal, right?! haha

Well, that's about all I've got time for. Hopefully I haven't bored you all to death, but even if I did, you've only got one more email left from me to be bored with! OH!!! I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON IN ITALIAN!!!!! I finished on Sunday morning. Keep chugging along in your reading! Ce la fate!!! I love you all very much! See ya real soon!

LOVE,

Sorella SOH 

Marching Along

Hi.

Well. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what to write this week. It's not that nothing has happened, but it just seems bizzare to me that my release date is this month. Like, in two weeks. That really weirds me out. I don't really know if I'm "trunky" because I don't even know what is going on in my brain anymore. Mostly when I think about going home I think "What the heck am I gonna do all day??" because the thought of sitting around doing nothing because there isn't anything for me to do kinda weirds me out. Good thing Slla Lyman is here to help me out! I had a mini panic attack last Wednesday night and she helped talk me through it, haha. 

We've been going scambio (exchange) crazy these past few weeks, and this week is the craziest of them all! Yesterday we scambioed with the Milano Lampugnano sorelle and then tonight and tomorrow we are doing another scambio with the sisters in Varese! It's definitely been keeping me on my toes, that's for sure. And the best news of the week? We're having another Sister Conference!!! Next Thursday!!! Apparently mission presidents are discouraged from having sisters-only conferences, and so I think this'll be the last one. I just got super lucky because they're having it before I leave! I'm really excited to be able to see all of the sorelle in the mission one last time. President has already asked Slla Lyman and me to do our ukulele-violin version of the mission hymn for the conference, so we're excited about that.

Geez, I feel like the week has gone by so fast that I don't even have any cool experiences to share this week! Oh! Wait, Mishell was confirmed on Sunday! That was cool. She's officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! We were a little bit nervous because this past Sunday was the first Sunday on the new schedule - that is, the first Sunday of having Sac Mtg first and RS/EQ last. Mishell lives kinda far away and is usually a little late to church, so we were just praying really hard that they would be able to get to church on time so they could do the confirmation and it worked! They walked in just as we were about to start singing the opening hymn. Whew! Last week we went to go see them and we gave Mishell her own Triple Combination scripture set. She was super excited about it, but probably mostly because the edges of the pages have gold on them...her little brother was super jealous - "I want the gold book!" haha. Slla Lyman and I both wrote a little note in the front cover. Hopefully she'll be able to make out my handwriting!

I don't know what it is about this ward, but I feel like I'm friends with everybody! Even the kids! During Sac Mtg, three Primary kids were sitting in the row behind us...that is, they were sitting behind us until we sat down and then they came and sat with us. I had like three little Filipino kids hanging all over me, cuddling up next to me and drawing pictures of me and Slla Lyman in my planner. And then after church as I was scrambling around in the hallway as usual trying to talk to everyone, I kept having these two tween-aged girls (sisters) come up and hug me around the waist from behind saying "this sorella is my favorite!!!". And then later on that day we were visiting a less-active sister who has three kids. We watched a little movie called "Il Mediatore" (which might be called "The Mediator" in English, but I'm not really sure), and sure enough, the kids snuggled right up next to me on the couch while we watched it. One of them even climbed up on my lap, which is against mission rules, haha. Next week is Stake Conference, so we'll see if any little bambini come and find us...

Wow. I've written like four gigantic paragraphs. I hope my emails don't just bore everyone to death!

On that note...time's up! Is anyone else really freaking out about how I'll only be sending two more emails after this?? Hope they won't be as boring as this one has been! Have a great week! Keep reading your scriptures! I read Ether 10 and 11 today - I should be finished by next week!!! I love you all lots and lots and lots!!!

BUCKETS O' LOVE,

Sorella Soh

Yowza!

Hi!

I can't believe how fast Wednesday got here. I know I say that every week, but it really does surprise me. First of all, Slla Nilson, the news from your email this week got a gasp-and-groan from me...good thing I'll be hiding in Alabama when I get home! Also, Sarah, I'll be happy to finish off your bag of Cadbury mini eggs while I cheer you on along the finish line of your half marathon...and afterwards I'll buy you a cupcake :)

Well, Mishell has been baptized by water! She'll be confirmed this Sunday. The baptism went really well. I gave a little talk about the Holy Ghost and then Anz Herrington and I sang the "I like to look for rainbows" baptism song while Slla Lyman played the piano. The Italian translation of that song is a little weird (they have to add in an extra note and it kinda throws me off), but it was really good and Mishell's mom got all teary-eyed while we were singing. But it was good. There were a pretty good number of people there and even a handful of primary kids. The only weird part was later that evening when Slla Lyman and I were out knocking on doors and I looked at her and said "remember how we had a baptism today? Weird!" haha.

Oh, I'm attaching a couple of pictures. They're all from Slla Lyman's camera. The first one is a self-portrait of me in front of the famous Teatro alla Scala. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the inside is super cool. 

The second is from right before Jennifer's baptism. Me, Slla L, Jennifer, Crista (Jennifer's mom), and Fllo Ramos (who was the one who baptized her...as apparent from the white clothing). 

The third one is of us and Mishell. Poor thing, she is really shy and I don't think she liked having all the attention on her, but she was a good sport about it. 

So last week we were walking down the street and we walked past this guy who had just walked out of a store on the corner with two bottles of beer in his hand. He passes us and then says, "Hey, wait!" and so we turn around and he says "Are you from God?" and we say yes. So he puts down the just-purchased beer and walks over to us. I introduce myself, offer a handshake and he accepts, then kisses the back of my hand. Then he starts going off about how awesome God is and how everyone needs to know about Him and he's a missionary too and how no one cares about spiritual things anymore and all this stuff. He asks us what church we're from and we tell him and show him our nametags. He was super impressed about the nametags. He said "Hey, how can I get one of those?" so I tell him that he should talk to our other missionary friends and give him a pass along card with the Anziani's phone number on it because I could smell the alcohol on his breath. Then as we go to leave, he kisses our hands again, and then pulls us both in for a double hug. It was so awkward, but he was just happy to talk to us. He really was harmless, but it was a fun, kind of crazy experience.

Then the other night we were out in the middle of nowhere and it was snowing. We decide to catch the bus and get back to where there would be more people. Unexpectedly, there was a woman at the stop, so I started talking to her. We ended up following her around from bus to bus (she knew we were following her but she was okay with it...we didn't follow her all the way home) because she wanted to keep talking to us. She'd heard of Mormons before, but didn't know anything about them. So in the end we gave her a pamphlet and got her phone number. She was busy this week, but said that we could call and set up something for next week. It was really cool and she was really really interested and wanted to read the Book of Mormon because she'd never heard of it. Anyway, it was just really cool.

Well, I'm out of time this week! I feel like this is a kinda short email, but I take comfort in the fact that I've included some pics, so hopefully that'll help make up for it. I love you all very much! I read Mormon 2 this morning! I'm on track to finish in two weeks - a week ahead of my goal! Manca poco, eh!

Buckets of amore,

Sorella SOH

Take me to the water

Chee-yowwwwwww!!!!!

Hi. Well, first of all, shout out to the exmissionaria Slla Nilson who is flopping around like a fish out of water on out there on the other side of the mission veil! Love your emails! And I'm STOKED about Cinzia and Chiara!!! Forse dovrò dare uno squillo alle sorelle...haha. Also shout out to Slla Baker, my faithful correspondent. And I think everyone in the Internet point looked at me as I gasped at the engagements of Anz Osbourne and Slla Jones!!!! (not to each other, haha). I can't even believe it!!!

Well, before I forget, Dad, I'm pumped for the color run! When I first read about it in your letter, I looked at Slla Lyman and said "Um, Sorel? I think we're gonna have to start running in the mornings..." and she just looked at me and said "well, I guess I'll have to go buy some tennis shoes...I don't have any" hahaha. I'm hoping, though, that the fact that there's no time limit means that the actual running involved in our family will be minimal...if not, let me know ASAP so that we can go buy Slla Lyman some new shoes! 

Last week for pday we met up with the Milano Cimiano sorelle (Hanson and Eaton) and went to the this DaVinci Science Museum place. It was super cool, but I don't remember what it's real name is. Google it.

So this week...BAPTISM!!! Jennifer is now a baptized and confirmed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!!! YEAH!!! She's a pretty low-key kinda person, and her baptism was really nice and spiritual, nothing too crazy. She felt really good and was really happy. It was awesome! And a cool story about that - I had the chance to announce her baptism at the pulpit the Sunday before (when we had the missionary sac mtg) and I said "yeah! Jennifer is getting baptized on Saturday!" The problem, of course, is that I didn't say her last name, and the Anziani are teaching a family with a teenage daughter who is also named Jennifer. When I made the announcement, the second Jennifer was freaking out because she thought I was talking about HER! Well, the young women had an activity right before the baptism and the second Jennifer went. Her member friend, Allison, invited her to stay for the baptism, so they did. Then later that night I had to call the Anziani for something and they told me that they had just had a lesson with the second Jennifer and her family. They said she really liked the baptism and was really involved in the lesson that night and even accepted a soft invite to baptism ("when you know these things are true, will you be baptized?"). So miracle upon miracle!

It's been a crazy week planning for the baptism and then also getting plans together for Mishell's baptsim on Sunday. We saw Mishell yesterday when I was on scambio (exchange) with Slla Morley, and she's really excited about getting baptized. We're seeing her again tomorrow. I love having baptisms, but I don't know what I was thinking planning two baptisms in two weeks - I've been CRAZY busy planning out the program, calling people to give talks, planning baptismal interviews, trying to prepare a musical number, washing the dresses, filling out the baptismal certificate and making sure that people actually come! And to top it all off we had two scambi (exchanges) in the past six days. Whew! Talk about going out with a bang!

I've gotten some really positive feedback, still, from the missionary sac mtg from two Sundays ago. Before the baptism, one of the men from the ward came up to me and thanked me for my talk and then said "anche volevo dirti: grazie per esistere / I also wanted to tell you: thank you for existing"...kind of a strange comment, but from him it was definitely a compliment. And then that sister who came up to me after and wanted us to come over to her house? She brought her non member cousin to church last Sunday and introduced us to her. And I guess after the mish sac mtg a sister came up to Slla Lyman and said "sorelle, do you want to come over for lunch today? Or do you already have a lunch appointment?" Unfortunately (or maybe not unfortunately) we already had one. And then someone else told me after "Sorella, ci porti la gioia! / you bring us joy!". It's probably because after church I just run around like a crazy trying to talk to everyone we want to see before they leave. Eh. Who knows.

Well, that's about all I've got time for. I've read up until 3 Nephi 11! Hope your reading is plugging along as well! I love you all and I love the Gospel - that's what REALLY brings the joy!

Have a fantabulous week! 

L.O.V.E.

Sorella Soh

The Final Countdown

Hi.

I'm writing to you from my 12th transfer. The last one. I can't believe it. I got a letter from the mission office in zone mail yesterday about having to declare stuff for customs as I leave Italy. When I think about it, it makes my stomach burn and I don't even know how to feel. Slla Nilson is home! Ciao bella! haha. As we were eating lunch on Friday the thought popped into my head "Slla Nilson isn't in Italy anymore" and it made me want to just barf everywhere and I could barely finish eating. And then on Saturday the thought came "Slla Nilson is released by now" and on Sunday "Slla N is giving her homecoming talk" and it kept freaking me out more and more. I don't think I'll be able to eat or sleep by the end of all of this. It's a good thing we have lots of scambioes (exchanges) and baptisms and stuff for me to stress out about because I don't think I'd be able to function otherwise.

Shout outs this week to Slla Williams, who finally wrote to me (and yes, I do like bagels), Fllo Morenson, whose letter unfortunately got ripped in half somewhere in the postal system (they taped the envelope back together, but the letter was still in two pieces), and Mary Carleton, who sent me a very nice New Years' letter (Sloane Sparks can't really be 16, can she???? Please say no!!". I finally got all the Christmas cards and letters that had gotten sent to Siena, so that's why it took so long. One of the Italian Anziani, Anziano Scisci saw my huge stack of letters and said "ma Sorella, quanti ragazzi le scrivono?? / Sorella, how many boys are writing to you??" and I just gave him a little smirk and shrugged my shoulders, haha. (Slla Baker would've been proud of me!)

Oh, I forgot the big news about transfers - I'M A BISNONNA!!!!! Aka I'm a great-grandmother! Slla Lofley is training...IN TORINO!!! So I trained Slla Bunker, who trained Slla Lofley, who is now training Slla Palumbo!!! And we all link back to Torino!!! I'm so proud. So proud.

Well, the work here in Milano Navigli Ward is chugging right along! Jennifer is getting baptized on Saturday!!!!!! She is so ready. We have been so blessed to be able to teach her because she is just awesome. I've almost been a little worried because she seems TOO awesome. The other day we had a lesson with her and at the end I always ask if "hay preguntas?" which is spanish for "any questions?" and she said "No... ma solo volevo dirvi questo.../ No... but I I just wanted to tell you something..." and I prepared myself for the worst. I thought, "here it is, she's got a friend that's talking bad about the church or she's got some kind of doubt" which was probably bad of me. But instead she said "Solo volevo dirvi questo, che tutto quello che mi avete insegnato, è vero. Tutto è vero. / I only wanted to tell you this, that everything that you all have taught me, it's true. It's all true." And as she said it was just stupefied in my chair. She is set up so perfectly to receive so many blessings in her life, I can't even stand it.

So Jennifer is getting baptized on Saturday and then Mishell is getting baptized next Sunday, the 24th! She's only 9, but she's really opened up to us over the course of these past few weeks. We're really excited for her and she's really excited to get baptized. It's been really cool for us to teach her with her mom because we just know how much being active members of the church is going to help them. I'm kinda sad, though, because after her baptism we'll go from seeing them twice a week to just once a week, so we won't see them as often! But that's just the way the cookie crumbles I guess ;)

One last thing, on Sunday we had a missionary-themed sacrament meeting. It went awesome! There are lots of missionaries in our ward - us, the assistants, the traveling assistants, the office couple and the Wolfgramms. Each of the younger missionaries gave a little 5 minute talk, and then we did a musical number, which rocked the house. We sang "Bisogno ho di te" aka "I need thee every hour". Slla Lynch (from the office) played the piano, Slla Lyman played the violin and I sang with Anz Herrington. I saw at least 4 women in the congregation crying through the whole number. When I told Slla Lyman that, she said "well, I guess it was a success, then" haha. I got up and talked about how the Gospel has blessed my life. When I first got up I said "buongiornoooooo!!!" and was just smiling like crazy and then I said "volete sapere un segreto? Quando sono nervosa, sorrido. / Wanna know a secret? When I'm nervous, I smile" and then just smiled at them. Everyone was laughing and smiling right back at me. It was really great. And then right after the meeting was over, I got swarmed by members and they all wanted us to come over. One sister basically told me that she wanted us to be in her home. So that was really cool, and we had 3 member appointment set up in about 5 minutes! It was really great. Everyone wanted to baci us (do the kiss on the cheek thing to us) and have us come over to their houses. I was a little stressed because all of our investigators were leaving and I kept getting stopped by members so finally I had to say "Un attimo! I nostri simpatizzanti!!! / Wait one second! Our investigators!!!" and then dash off to go talk to them before they walked out the door.

Well, that's the excitement of this week! Oh, well I guess the other excitement was that it snowed ALL DAY without stopping on Monday. That's why our pday got changed back to Wednesday this week because President had to rearrange everything because they didn't want to have to drive all the way to Venezia in the bad weather. Anyway, it's been a busy week and will continue to be busy! Pray for Jennifer on Saturday, it's her day to shine! I love you all very much - I finished Helaman 14 today (and I didn't even cheat ;) ). 

Treasure these last few mission emails from me;)

LOOOOOOVE,

Sorella SOOOOH!!!

The 11th dimension

Hi.

It's transfer week aka the end of my 11th transfer aka the beginning of my 12th transfer aka my last transfer. Yeah. Sort that one out.

We're staying the same! I will be finishing my mission in Milano 3 with Slla Lyman! I'm excited about it. Milano is the best city to work in. I've also been given a special assignment to help the sorelle in Milano 1, so I'm excited about that as well. It's going to be a crazy, busy, awesome transfer. Two of my favorite Anziani (Herrington and Sciarretta) are going to be traveling assistants this transfer, which means that they'll be in our ward on Sunday for church each week, even though during the week they will be out and about in the mission. This is the last transfer for all three of us! Yikes! Slla Nilson is going home in TWO DAYS! I can't even believe it. Craziness.

Last week was Senior Companion week for Slla Lyman! I don't think she was expecting to have to do so much (I hardly did anything to help) but I know she learned a ton and it's gonna help her more than she even realizes now, because I can almost guarantee that she will be training next transfer! 

So I think the ward likes me. I've really made an effort to try and get to know the members, and it's been really fun to visit them and talk with them. Everyone always asks me how much time I have left, but I suppose that could be that as soon as they hear me speak Italian, they know I speak too well to be a new missionary. I guess it wouldn't be better for them to ask how long I've been in my mission as opposed to how much I have left because As of last Thursday I've been a missionary for 17 full months. SEVENTEEN. Technically I'll do 18 months and three weeks, but geez loo-wheeze that's crazy. I don't know if I really feel trunky, but I do feel like I've still got some energy left in me and I'm excited to just blow the roof off of these last few precious weeks I have. We're going to start this next transfer off with a bang, because Jennifer is still on target to get baptized next week Friday. She's so ready! She already knows that everything we teach her is true. And then the week after that, week 2, Mishell should be getting baptized as well - Feb 24th. The Anziani also have a woman who is getting baptized on the 23rd, so I guess it's just baptism season in Milano Navigli Ward!!! We are so excited to be able to help all these people and I personally feel just so blessed to be able to teach people who are so open and accepting of the Restored Gospel!!!

Oh - before I forget, Slla Baker! Got your letter! The Assistants gave it to me last Wednesday night before ward council. We all felt very well informed about our peepz, so thank you.

I feel more busy now than I have in a really long time. This week especially because we are having a missionary themed sacrament meeting on Sunday and so I have to give a short talk and also we have to come up with a special musical number. Then on Friday we have planned to do a kind of missionary/friendship night where we'll have a spiritual thought and an activity (we're gonna watch "Legacy") and just give members the chance to come to the church on Friday night and have something casual that they can also invite their non member friends to attend. We hope it will become a weekly thing, so we're looking forward to that. And then to top things off,on Monday we got a call from the office and were asked to host one of the new missionaries for the night last night. The Italian missionaries all get here a day before the other missionaries because they come from Spain and not from Provo, so last night we went and picked up Slla Vardeu (who is from Roma 2nd ward and knows Slla Teichert because she is serving in that ward!) and were with her last night. Then this morning we went out and talked to people on the street for a little bit and then took her to the Milano 2 meetinghouse (it was weird to be back there!) and dropped her off again to be with all the other missionaries that just got in. That means that we had to reorganize our schedule at the last minute, and most of our pday we will have to do tomorrow. It's a good thing neither of us is getting transferred because I just couldn't handle that! Too much to do!

Anyway, it's been a crazy, busy week. The rest of the transfer looks like it'll be pretty busy, too, so that should be really fun. I'm so excited to have this chance to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause" - that cause being the work of the Lord! I just want my last transfer to be full of working and helping and teaching and growing and all kinds of crazy, wonderful experiences. It's gonna be great!

I love you all! Have a great week! Keep on reading your Book of Mormon - I finished Alma this morning!!

Un sacco d'amore,

SORELLA Soh

Missionaria alla milanese

Bon-jurr!!!

Wednesday again? Yikies! Last week the Bergamo sorelle (Slla McNamara and Slla Harward) came down and had pday with us. We went to the Teatro alla Scala which is the famous opera house here in Milano. IT WAS AWESOME!!! First of all, the guy at the box office let us in for free! We went up the stairs to the little museum thing that had a bunch of paintings and stuff of famous composers and opera singers, and then we got to go into one of the audience boxes and see the theater. Unfortunately, the lights were all out so we didn't get to see everything in detail...BUT! It was dark because they were doing a dress rehearsal for the opera "Nabucco" so we got to watch part of it!!!! It was so so awesome!!! It wasn't with the orchestra, just with the piano, but we heard some of the singers - a soprano, a tenor, a bass, and a mezzo soprano. It was really cool. Slla Harward was a vocal performance major at Utah State and so it was even cooler for her to be there.

Oh, and mom, two weeks ago I bought new boots. They were on sale for 40€ and they've turned out to be probably the best purchase I've made all winter because they're super warm and also waterproof! They're not super attractive, but such is my life. Sigh.

I'm happy to hear that the fam is reading in Alma 50ish right now because I just read that chapter today! I guess I'll finish before you guys, but that just means that I'll get to read the end of the BoM with you all again. Hopefully that will help start to make up for all those times I've read 1 Nephi 1 and never gotten to Moroni 10...

So scambio this week! I went to Bergamo! I really liked it. Bergamo is really beautiful, and really clean! It's an interesting contrast to Milano, and the two cities are less than an hour apart on the train. Slla Harward is really good friends with my friend Mary Kremer who studied abroad in Siena with me, so that was cool. Slla Lyman and Slla McNamara stayed here in Milano and they set a baptismal date with Mishell (aka Michelle), the 9 year old girl we are teaching. February 24th after church! That brings our total baptismal dates up to 3! We're super excited to have so many people who want to get baptized. We've also had a lot of referrals from members of less-actives that they'd like us to go see. The best part is that these people are really in situations where they want and need our support and so that has been really neat for us as well. Ideally the ward takes care of teaching new converts and less-actives, not the missionaries, but it's definitely nice to feel needed.

Our awesome investigator, Jennifer, is doing really great. I almost feel bad that we have to wait until the 16th so she can get baptized - she's ready right now! I feel so blessed to be able to go over and teach her because she knows everything is true. I feel like we don't really do anything! I just feel really good when we have lessons with her and I know it's because the Spirit is there. We just all feel really good, really comfortable when we're in our lessons.

Um. It's week 5 of the transfer! It also means that Slla Lyman is senior companion for the week!! I know she's not particularly excited about it, but none of my trainees have ever been excited about it, so she's in good company. She's doing great though and hopefully she'll make it to the end of the week without wanting to strangle me! We did have kind of a weird experience yesterday, nothing to freak out about, but extra prayers of protection and safety would really be appreciated.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather! Here it's been pretty much just foggy and cold every day. The other day it rained and rained and then snowed and then rained again. Luckily our heaters work really well in the apartment, so we're safe from that! I've just been extra glad to have these new waterproof boots! One day of walking around with soggy boots and socks was enough for me!

Well, it's that time again. Keep reading your scriptures and look for the miracles in your lives! I asked Slla McNamara last week what things she felt like she has learned on her mission and she said "Miracles. Before my mission I kinda glossed over them and was like 'yeah, whatever', but they are real!!! They are so real!" So! Look for 'em! I love you all very much! Have a fantastic week!

AMORE,

Sorella SOH