3...

Ciao!
     Im sitting in an internet point in Rome just dying!!!  Its soooo hot.  Holy cow.  I dont even know how the elders do it.  At least im in a short sleeve shirt with sandles.  Thats a plus.  I dont know how it is back at home but its just hot here.  Im so glad that im in ladispoli.  Its better there because we are right on the sea and there is a breeze.  Plus there just arent as many people.  Its insane how many tourists there are here.  And really weird when hear americans talking because in my 2 areas that pretty much NEVER happened on the streets.
      First i want to tell you something SWEET!  Cristian.  Remember him?  he had a baptismal date but then had to move.  Well, i heard from him the other day and he got baptized!!!!!  he was so excited to tell me and it was just so great to hear!  He needs the Gospel and he finally did it!  I was screaming when i found out and im sure that my companions thought i was nuts but i really was just so happy for him.  that baptism was a long time coming.
     Other news is that Elisa is getting baptized!  Its going to be on the 7th instead of the 8th.  And we are going to be doing it in Ladispoli in the sea!  Im really excited about that.  She asked me if i would talk about baptism at her baptism and im honored.  I love her so much.  She prayed to know if the church was true and she said that heavenly father answered her and said it was true but she will understand it all more as she gets older.  It was the cutest thing.  Also, her mom wants to give the talk about the Holy Ghost and we are just praying that this will be something that will bring her back.  Its the craziest thing.  She is the most normal person and has such a strong testimony.  I really havent meet tons of people in my mission like her.  But she just cant take the hard step of getting back in church.  Even though usually kids are baptized and confirmed right after, i hope that she gets confirmed in church on sunday because then her mom would come and i think thats what she really needs.
      We havent seen that family in a while.  They have been out of town and they are going to be moving soon so its been hard.  Mom, the pic you saw from Sorella Ivory is of a family in our ward.  They are so great!  Im trying to be better about taking pictures... Thankfully sorella sudweeks is a photographer so she makes up for what i dont do.  Giorgia is doing well but still working.  Im proud of her though because she is working a lot and it is tired but is still reading the book of mormon every day.  I hope its something she will keep doing when i leave!  Right now we are in alma 14.  we should be finished in august or something.
     No one else really has updates.  we have some referrals we are going to be meeting and hopefully that all goes well.  I need to make sure i leave ladispoli in the best way possible.  I just love this place.  the members and everything.  i know i have life long friends here. And free places to say:)  We have been doing lots of finding these days.  I love finding.  the best stories come out of it.  I talked to this lady yesterday and this is what she said to me, "Im Catholic.  Anyway, we'll see each other in heaven."  Then she tapped my shoulder and walked away.  haha.  it just kills me the way people respond.  We also were ringing people trying to get in an apartment complex.  one guy says "Ya.  Im on the eighth floor."  So we get up there.  HE IS A WEIRDO!!!!  haha.  he is in the middle of shaving his face and he curly strange hair and it was SOOOOO awkward.  Then he pretended like he wasnt the one that let us in... haha.  Knocking doors is so great cause you just never know who is going to be behind the door!
     I think thats it for me this week.  Its hot and im getting hungry:)  We are off to see the Vatican for my last time!  Im soaking it all in.  I LOVE ROME!  its such a beautiful city.  Hopefully i can come back and visit many times.  Im also going to get in the sea the next time i come!  thats a little hard when its so hot outside.  Thanks for the letters by the way!  On friday i got 9 letters!!!!  its was sweet!  Postcards from my family in Ireland and letters from Utah!  I felt so loved!  Thanks for your love and support!  I have 2 more weeks to really work hard!  Its going to be busy and good!  Tomorrow is zone conference and i have to give my "dying testimony" (weird mission terms).  I cant even believe that day is here in my life.  Its coming to the end of a chapter in my life.  I want to finish it off well!  Im grateful for the time i have to serve my heavenly father.  I know this work is important!  And im grateful for my savior that gives me the strength to do it every day.  Have a great week!!  Until next week!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea

Being weird...

Me and Delby

Ciao Tutti!

Ciao!!!
Man, i love getting to come and write my family about all the great things!  This week has been good and we are going to do some great things in the next couple days.  I just want you all to know first how grateful i am to my heavenly father for all of you.  I pray for my family and friends a lot and i hope you really know that.

First things first.  Its going great in our 3 some.  Its so fun!  In some aspects, yes a little bit harder but its been great.  This is my 4th 3 some for just a couple weeks.  haha.  Heavenly Father knows that i have a lot to learn so he has given me lots of companions to learn and grow from.  Hopefully im learning what i need to be learning from all of them.  we get transfer calls on saturday and it will be interesting to see what happens.  For sure either im out or sorella Miles.  I would love to stay here but lll be happy with whatever.  I love Ladispoli though and everyone that i know here!  The thought of leaving makes my stomach hurt a little bit.  Not that it was easy by any means to leave my family and friends but its just so different on a mission.  I know my family (and most my friends.  At least the ones that write me.... haha) will be there when i get home.  Yes, some things will be different but for the most part its going to be the same.  Leaving a city in the mission though is hard!  There are so many people that even though i want to stay in contact with, i know it probably cant be that way with everyone.  Definitely one of the hardest parts of a mission.  BUt maybe im not even leaving here so i dont need to think about that yet:)

We had zone conference this week and it was soooooo good.  I love Anziano Texiera.  Im so glad that he came to us twice since i have been here.  He and his wife are just incredible.  I always have such a strong desire to work harder but it was especially big this time.  I had a little break down in the train on the way home.  Not big but so many missonaries just kept telling me that im pracitically  dead (a mission term for when you go home).  Its not even true but it just scared me a little.  So it got me thinking and i was just a little overwhelmed at how many more things i want to learn and change before i get home.  I dont really think about how long till i go home so it was just a weird moment for me.  Anyway, its not over so i still have time to work hard and develop into the person i want to be.  We are hitting the pavement though.  ITs great!  I cant tell you about our goals yet but next week i will.  We want to see some good things here in Ladispoli!  Pray for us and our goals this week!  We really need it!

As for our weekend here, we are really excited.  All the baptismal interviews are done and everyone is good to go.  Keep Jessenia, Giorgia and Edoardo in your prayers this week.  I hope saturday and sunday are such special days for them.  Our ward is so excited because they havent had a baptism in like 3 years.  Hopefully that will help with the turn out.  Also president kelly told us that he is going to try and come to at least one of them.  That would be awesome!  They are all so ready and so excited.  Jessenia is telling all her friends and wants them to be able to be a part of this.  She has waited for so long and she is just dying to be baptized.  I hope all goes well.  We arent the ones filling up the font so hopefully that goes over better this time:)  The baptisms will be at the Rome 1 building and there will be pctures to come next week!.

Thats all for me this week.  I want you all to know that i know this is the true church.  What we have is incredible.  I love the plan of salvation.  That has brought me so much comfort so many times!  We were teaching Jessenia's mom the plan of salvation and she was just so confused about who God is.  That he and jesus christ are not the same person and that he isnt not just some spirit floating around but that he is a person that has a body and we are literally his children.  KNowing that makes our prayers so much more meaningful and real.  Joseph Smiths vision is proof that this is right.  And the book of mormon is proof that he was a prophet.  It just all goes together and i love it.  sorry if that doesnt make sense.  I hope you all have a great week and know that i love you!  Talk to you next week!!!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea

At a Chinese Restaurant

New Finding Technique

2+1=3 :)

Ciao!!!
     Well, President seems to always have a good surprise for us.  Me and sorella Miles were planning on thursday night and we got a call from President Kelly.  He told us that sorella Ivory would be joining us the next morning in Ladispoli!  She just needed a change of  scene and is now with us!  Its so great and i really think that its helping her a lot.  We are all getting along great and having a lot of fun together.  Just what she needs:)  We dont know exactly what is going to happen.  We will probably remain in a 3-some till the end of the transfer and then we never know.  President asked if i would mind staying in Ladispoli one more and i told him I would LOVE it.  He laughed and said he didnt think it would take too much convincing from me.  We still really have NO idea who will go and who will stay but at least now i know that there is a possibility that i might get to stay for another transfer.  I think for sure sorella Ivory will stay here so its just a matter of which one of us will stay with her.  I love being with her.  I have really lucked out with companions.  I have met some people that i know will be my life long friends.  Im grateful for them and how much they have helped me grow and for the love and support i have felt from them.
    One little bit of sad news.  Remember Leonardo, our neighbor/chef?  We went down to say hi to him the other night and to give him pictures we had printed off for him.  He told us that he is moving back up to northern italy early this year because he has to have surgery on his eye.  We knew he would be leaving but just not so quick.  He got teary telling us goodbye and it was the cutest thing. That is the hardest part of missions.  Saying goodbye to people i love!  He said that we are welcome to come stay with him in his house in Northern Italy any time we want.  I'm going to take him up on that.  He is my Italian Grandpa and i love him!  He gave us our last meal and it was so good!  I will miss him and our wonderful meals!
     Next, Jessenia is doing great and will be baptized March 3rd.  She has her interview on Friday and other than that is good to go.  Our bishop is going to baptize her and she couldnt be more excited.  I think we are going to sing a song with her at her baptism.  We were teaching her and her mom the other day and it seriously was incredible.  She is a missionary just minus the tag (and i guess the baptism part for now).  Sorella Miles accidentally said, "And just like sorella Jessenia said..."  we all laughed and she loved it.  I asked her if she could explain to her mom who Thomas S. Monson was.  She holds up a picture of him and just gives a perfect lesson.  Even with good questions to ask her mom.  It is too early to tell but i really hope she serves a mission.  She would just be perfect!
     Giorgia and Edoardo will be baptized on March 4th.  That will be a good weekend:)  THey also have their interview on Friday.  They are excited and ready to go too.  We did a lesson with them the other day and Sorella Ivory was blown away by them haha.  Its just crazy seeing 2 kids so serious and smart in the Gospel.  Especially considering the fact that their mom is lesson active and their dad wants nothing to do with the Church.
     Our other investigators are pretty much all just the same.  We need to really find more. I am so determined to find a family here in Ladispoli.  That is what this ward needs.  Another family and some kids for the primary!  We have been doing finding using family night.  We havent been able to find a family yet but onward we go!  It will be great im sure.
     Oh another piece of great news/miracle.  So i didnt tell everyone but i broke off a part of my camera a couple weeks ago.  it was still usable but just really annoying.  Well my best friend from english course (Giorgia, she is 35 but i love her so much.  I dont know how much i have told you about her but she is great.) took us to Rome last week to a Canon store to get it fixed.  They just happened to have the piece i needed from another camera they had fixed and they just gave it to me for free and it works perfectly!  Can you believe it?!  That was a load off my mind and i was soooooo grateful for nice people in this world.
      Other than that i dont think there is anything new.  Tomorrow is Zone Conference.  Elder Texiera is coming again.  He is in our area presidency and im not going to lie, it was really intense when he came last time... haha.  He is just opposite from President Kelly and all of us are really nervous for tomorrow.  It should be really good though.  I learned a lot from him last time but more than anything, i had such a motivation and desire to do better.  He is the one that gave us the 21 lessons a week goal.  Im glad i reached that before he came again:)  Ill let you know about it!
     Well, i love being a missionary.  I know i say that a lot but i really do love it.  I think with every day im more tired but find even more joy in what im doing.  I know that Heavenly Father is in this work with me .  I have been reading d&c a lot in this days and its incredible how many revelations were given for missionaries.  I love that to pretty much all of them the Lord gives 2 great promises.  First, that the field is white and they are going to find lots of people that are prepared for the Gospel.  Second, that they wont be doing it alone.  That the Lord will be by their side in all they do and say.  I have seen those 2 promises in my life so many times in the past year.  I know heavenly father is preparing people for the Gospel.  That there are people just searching for it.  Delby the other day was telling us that she goes out with her friends and does lots of fun things but at the end of the night, she still feels alone and that something is missing in her life but she just doesnt know what it is.  I know that she isnt the only person that feels that way and i feel so blessed to help her and others find that missing part in their lives.  I know that my Savior is with me every day in all that i do and through His atonement im learning a lot and am able to become a better person, missionary, and daughter of my Heavenly Father.  Im grateful for the atonement that makes up for all of my lackings.  No matter who we are, we all need the atonement.  Its for everyone!  I hope you all have a great week.  Know that you are all in my prayers.  Ill talk to you all next week, Wednesday like normal. Vi voglio un sacco di bene e sono multo grata per tutto ciò che fate per me!!!  Buona Settimana!!!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea
P.S.  Buma and Moss family.  I got your packages this week!!  When they brought sorella ivory they brought the packages as well.  Man, we have been eating a lot of candy:)  Thanks though so much.  It was all perfect!

me and raffaella cooking:)

Me and Jessenia

Mom, these are those great gloves you sent me.  I left them in Internet point and then went back to get them a couple hours later.  Only to find that someone had BLOWN THEIR NOSE in my gloves!   I was not too happy...  I had to throw them away.  Luckily i have another pair.









Me, Sorella Ivory, Sorella Miles, Sorella Jessenia and Delby

Last meal from Leonardo

Buono San Valentino!

Buon Giorno Famiglia!!!
     Well, we are finally back in good weather here in Ladispoli.  It was soooo fun though.  It snowed a lot here but just didnt stick too much.  Saturday i saw the biggest snowflakes i have ever seen in my life.  It was just so fun because these people never see snow like this.  THey were all outside taking pictures and it was great.  Anyway, the sun is back and I love it.  It was seriously weird to be able to see the sea and then there was just snow everywhere.  Doesnt seem right that way! :)  I hear Mar got snow too and sara right?  Maybe my quick read throughs were wrong.  But its great.  I will have to say that the snow makes it a little harder to do work around here though.
     We had another small group sunday in church but it was such a good sunday!  So many miracles!  First of all, Raffaella's boyfriend came to church!!!  Oh my gosh i was SHOCKED when i saw him.  i really didnt know how to react because i was just so shocked.  ANyway, he apparently came to church one other time during the summer and because church was only an hour this week, he came!  And he is reading and praying.  Not every day but oh if you only knew him you all would be shocked like i am.  I love miracles!!!  Have I ever told you about Giovanni?  He is from Romania and has been an investigator for like 8 or 9 years.  He is on and off with the lessons.  He had been teaching him constantly till dec and then he stopped answering our calls.  Then i was leading the music and saw him walk into church!!!  Im sure i looked so dumb cause i was just smiling away.  I couldnt help it!  Ok, then we are sitting there and even though there was snow Delby and Jessenia were able to make it to church and that was awesome because it snowed a lot at their house.  But miraculously all the roads were cleared and they made it!  Then the miracles continue.  Before church, i had talked to delby and she told me that jessenia needed to talk to us.  Usually in those circumstances it isnt good and i have to admit, i lost a little faith in march 3rd that she was praying for.  So after church we had a lesson with them.  Jessenia is BEAMING and told us that she is ready and it so excited to be baptized on march 3rd!!!  OH man.  i am sooooooo happy.  SHe is great.  ITs like having a member present lesson everytime we teach her and her mom.  Her testimony is so strong and i love hearing it!  I hope all goes well with that!!!
     Yesterday we had a lesson with just jessenia because her mom was sick and it was so good. We taught the plan of salvation and she loved it.  She has already heard most things so its fun having her teach us what she knows.  Its great teaching her because we are the same age, more or less, and so all 3 of us really relate to each other.  
     As for giorgia and edoardo, they are still getting baptized but it will be the 3rd or 4th of march because of the snow we couldnt see them and it was just coming too fast.  But they really want to get baptized while we are still here and im content with that:)
     Other things about this week?  I think thats all.  I have been studying about angels this week and exactly what they are.  Its SO cool.  You hear all the time that we can be the angels for other people but it hadnt really hit me till this week.  I was reading about how God sends his angels to preach the Gospel!  So all of us as we are talking about and sharing the Gospel are God's angels he sends to others so they can know the truth.  I always knew that but being a missionary has made it more real for me.  It has made me feel an even greater responsiblity in sharing the Gospel and being the best missionary i can be.  My heavenly father has put his trust in me to be his angel here in Ladispoli right now. I dont want to let Him down!
      OK, well, i better get going.  Thanks for everything.  Oh, and Preparation day is going to be tuesday next week.  So dont forget to send emails early:)  Thanks for the emails!!!  I love you all!   Have a great week and know that im always praying for my family and friends.  Heavenly Father has put some amazing angels in my life:)  CHeesy but its true!  LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea

P.S.  THe other day i was reading the Liahona during personal study.  In the middle of the talk i decide i should look at the picture. Bryce??  What??  Haha.  SOOOOO random. Anyway, you are famous now.  You made it in the Liahona!

p.s.s.  Pictures are coming in another email.  ONce again my computer doesnt have a USB thing.  at least not that we can find!

Beach and cold weather

 Check out my bangs...

 You can't really tell, but the snow really stuck a little bit for one night.

Snow and goodness!

Ciao Famiglia!!!
   Well this week was a really strange week for Rome.  It snowed
quite a bit there and hadnt snowed in 26 years!   So crazy.  So that
put a little damper on our week this week...  It really hardly snowed
at all but some of our investigators and the majority of our members
dont live in Ladispoli.  They live more in the mountains and were
pretty much stuck in their house.  All of our appointments friday
night and all day saturday were cancelled because there werent any
buses.  And there were like 20 of us in church on sunday. haha.  It
was still a great sunday and all is well now.  We are in Rome right
now and most of the snow is melted.  They say it might snow again
later this week.  Just PRAY for us that it doesnt.  We have a really
important lesson on thursday and on saturday that we really cant miss.
 Ill get to those in a min.  Anyway, it hasnt snowed in Utah and
apparently we brought the snow with us here.  Sorry!
    Well, first i should say that we have 2 baptismal dates!!  With
those 2 little kids, Giorgia (12) and Edoardo (10)!  They still need
to make sure its all ok with the dad but we talked with them and their
mom and set it up.  Feb. 25th.  What a perfect day:)  haha.  Im really
excited.  They are just the cutest things and i have never meet 2 kids
their age that just have this pure desire to know everything and they
ask great questions to make sure they understand.  They are great!  We
are going to see them Saturday so we should know better everything
that the dad said.  Giorgia really wants her baptism in the sea but i
just think they would die from the cold.  I hope that she will be ok
doing it in the church.
   Really quick, Diana Marchetti from the ward wont be going to the
MTC till the middle of March now cause her visa isnt done.  Im
guessing that she will actually be at temple square in May.  Im SOOOOO
excited for that.  Ill make sure to keep in touch with her because you
need to go see her!  She is the cutest!
    Oh, one more really quick thing.  Could someone check on the U's
website and tell me what the pre requisites i need to do to get into
an occupational or physical therapy school?  that would be great
information to know so i can figure out my classes in less time.
Thanks!
     Ok, on to better things.  Jessenia and Delby (Miracle story from
last week)  are incredible.  We had the most amazing lesson with them
on thursday!  I asked jessenia what her feelings are for the book of
mormon.  She told us that she feels joy and peace while she is reading
it but has tried to share it with her friends and they give her
doubts.  She said there are just sometimes when we doubts what she has
felt.  I dont even remember what we said to her next but then she just
started crying and said that she couldnt deny it and knows the book of
mormon is true!  She said she couldnt believe it has taken her 3 times
of coming in contact with the church to realize it.  Then we all bore
our testimonies to her mom about how she can have a testimony like we
all have if she will continue to read and pray and come to church.
And she really is doing it.  They are both reading every day.  And not
just reading but really studying and reading slowly so they understand
everything.  We also invited Jessenia to be baptized yesterday on
march 3rd.  She is praying about it to see if its right for her.  Man,
I love them.  She is just so prepared!  And they are coming to Utah in
September to visit family!
     Well, i think thats it for us here in Ladispoli.  I just feel so
much more blessed every day to be here and be with Sorella Miles.  we
are best friends and it makes this work so much easier!  I love it!
Its going to be really hard when one of us goes... Thats for sure.
Anyway, I love you all so much.  I love this work.  I feel joy and
love serving these people.  They are such a great passionate people!
And im turning Italian... haha.  If you think i talked with my hands
before my mission... haha.  You should see me now. :)  I know that
this Church is true.  it just all makes sense.  I am so grateful to
know that im a daughter of God.  Knowing that all these people here
are children of god and He wants so badly that they have the truth is
the best motivation.  Thanks for the love and support you have given
me!  Alla prossima!
Love,
Sorella Buma
P.S.  Nathan Broadhead.  I got your package!  Thanks so much for that!
 It came on my year mark.  PERFECT!  Letter coming your wayr!
THANKS!!!

Happy birthday Year Mark!

Fighting with the wind....  I lost...

Snow!!!

Natalya (member going to Ukraine on her mission next month) and her mom

 Birthday cake we enjoyed at District Meeting.  Thanks;)

One Year????

Ciao!!
    Che incredibile!  I cant believe that tomorrow is my year mark in the mission.  THat is NUTS!!!  I have been with sorella miles for pretty much everything big: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday, Year Mark and her 6 month mark (she has that the end of February).  Man, time just flies.  I feel like im just a baby in the mission and im one of the older sisters.  Thats crazy. 6 months ( i guess a little less) to really work hard and give it my all.  I am so grateful to be where i am!  I love my companion, Ladispoli, the ward, my mission president and the people we are teaching.  I cant imagine a better place to be.  We had a great week this week!  A great HUGE miracle that i made a recording about.  SO you can listen to it:)
    Anyway, we are calling this transfer "Operation Miracle Transfer"  Because that is just what it is going to be.  We have a goal of seeing 4 baptisms and i really think its going to happen!!!  I think i have told you about Giorgia and Edoardo.  Their mom is a member but the dad is pretty against the church.  They have been waiting for permission to be baptized and finally have it.  They wanted to wait to be baptized in the sea but then found out that one of us is probably leaving in march and so they decided very quickly that it will happen in february:)  Im sooooo excited for them.  Giorgia is 12 and is incredible.  She has such a strong testimony and just thinks and ponders about the gospel a lot.  SHe has great questions and a sincere desire to know.  Edoardo is 10 and is the same!  Its great!  So we are going on Friday to set a date for them to be baptized.  Pray for them!  This will be Giorgia's second time trying to get baptized.  The dad interferred last time.  It was a miracle that he gave them permission again!
    Jessenia and Delby are our miracles.  Jessenia already has a testimony and i think she would get baptized tomorrow.  They just showed up on church on sunday because finally after 3 years the mom wants to know about our church so her daughter can be baptized.  She is SOOOOOO cute and is 21 so we are all basically just great friends.  The mom is so funny and its going to be great teaching them.  Listen so the recording for more info.  It really was such a miracle to find them.  I have been praying so hard that we can find someone here in Ladispoli that is just ready to be baptized.  We have so many investigators that are so close but just wont make the step.  We arent giving up on them but to reach our 4 baptism goal its going to be necessary that we find people that are ready now.  ANyway, i think on sunday we are going with Jessenia and Delby to see the temple site and ill get some good pictures and send them your way.
    Next great thing, Mimoza (the blessing lady from Albania) is awesome!!!  Oh my goodness.  She is really scared to come to church and that is going to be our next big hurdle but she is reading the book of mormon.  LIke studying it.  She remembers all the stories and everyone's names and it is INCREDIBLE!  We have to go piano piano with her but she is really just doing it and its awesome.  We hadnt seen her last week because she was sick and stuff and when we went yesterday she told that she has been reading a lot and goes back over it if she doesnt get it. She is almost down with first nephi.  She said the most amazing prayer and at the end she said, "Thank you again for sending these girls to me.  I know that this was a sign that was sent to me from you and i love learning with them everytime they come."  Missionary work is the best!!!
     I am learning so many things.  Im really gaining such a strong testimony of the prayer.  That heavenly father is ready and waiting for us to pray.  What a powerful tool we have on the earth!  Its crazy to see how little people know about the prayer here.  They pray for the most basic things like for the world to have peace and for all the children in the world but dont understand that prayer is when we open our hearts and talk to our Heavenly Father.  That is something i LOVE about this work.  When someone gets it and offers a simple prayer but one that really is meaningful for them.  I love sharing that.  We dont have to memorize a prayer but its much simpler than that.  We open our hearts and tell our heavenly father what we need.  Then that is when the blessings really start coming.  I know that Heavenly father answers our prayers!
      Last thing.  We went to a members house not this sunday but the sunday before for lunch.  Then on thursday, this same member came and talked to us and told us that he can tell that me and sorella miles have a great relationship and because of it we  are able to bring a different spirit into people's home.  I always knew that was important but i guess i never really thought that people can just feel the love we have for each other and it makes the biggest difference in our teaching.  I love it!  I felt SO inadequate to train but i know that we are supposed to be together and it has worked out perfectly!
    Well, thats all.  I love you all so much and i miss you!  Thanks for your emails and love!  I feel it all the way here in Italy.  I love being here.  I sat in church just smiling and feeling so happy.  Im sure the bishop thought i was a weirdo but i couldnt help it.  I just felt so happy.  Thanks for being supportive while im here.  I need it and i feel it!  Have a great week and ill talk to you next week!!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea
4 Person bike:)

 Happy birthday package!

 all of us after the bike ride

 Us with the Del Core family.  Less actives that we love!

It's a beautiful day!

Ciao!!!
      è una bellissima giornata qui a Ladispoli oggi!!  I feel so grateful to be here.  This has been a great week, birthday and everything.  I have so many reasons to say that today is a beautiful day.  Man, i love ladispoli and the good news is that I get to stay for at least another transfer!!!  Me and sorella miles are staying and we are really happy.  We work really well together and i know this transfer is going to be great!  I thought for sure one of us was gone but nope, my prayers were answered.  I'm sure she will be the only companion that i spend 3 transfers with because after this ill only have 3 more transfers and i cant imagine it will all be with the same person.  So the good news is, all the packages that are coming to the office will still be easy for me to get:)  Its just taking FOREVER!!!  Sorella Miles still doesnt have the package her sister sent for Christmas.  Which was sent well over a month ago.  Italians just take their time:)  But im sure eventually they will make it.  HOpefully in the next 6 weeks would be nice.
     Next, we met our goal of having 21 lessons last week!!!  Such a great birthday present.  Miracles happen and it was an awesome week.  WE were just running around from appointment to appointment and it was great.  Lots of them were in the presence of members and that is always WAY better.  I have a huge desire to do member missionary work for the rest of my life.  It is so helpful for missionaries but even more so for the investigators.  Especially here because they see our church as just a church for Americans.  Its great when they can see that we are the only Americans here in this ward and that there are lots of Italians just like them that have found the truth and changed accordingly.  SO great.  I just didnt even know before serving a mission how vital it is.  We hear our leaders say, "Every member a missionary" and it took me going on a mission to really understand the importance of that little phrase.  Anyway, now we just have to keep that up.  It was hard but i know that we can do it!
     My birthday was a great day!  Thanks for all the emails you sent.  I have the best family and friends in the world.  So, in the morning we got up and got ready and went to Civitavecchia to get sorella miles permesso.  Well, they had changed their hours and told us we had to come back the next day because they no longer give people their permesso except on thursday and saturday.  Of course... haha.  So we turned back around and went home.  We had to do a couple things for a member and then it was lunch time.  We made MAC AND CHEESE (thanks mom) and ate some chocolate cake.  We laughed and talked about how Italians would be so discusted to know what kind of pasta we were eating... haha.  I love that fake cheese.  Anyway, then we went and had a little appointment with the girl we met a couple weeks ago.  it was great but I think she is mostly interested in the fact that we speak english and she wants to learn.  Then came the best part.  Rosaria, Antonella and Maria had requested that we come stop by their house for my birthday.  We talked and read from the book of mormon and it was great!  I seriously just feel so much joy when im with all these people.  The love that we get to feel as we share the gospel is incredible!  Then we went to see Anna and her 3 kids.  I dont know how much i have said about them but they are great. they had a little croissant cake thing there for us and it was perfect.
     Finally Bruna, the lady that had us over with her family for Christmas Eve, came to corso d'inglese yesterday.  We had called her and she was just too busy to come for a little while i guess.  Anyway, she is really interested in the church and told us that we can start coming to her house to teach her about the gospel.  Her husband isnt too into it but she is awesome.  She was looking at a picture in the church of the first vision and we were explaining a little bit and she had goosebumps all over her body.  So sweet!  And she already wants to come to church so that makes it a lot easier!  Then we met another lady the other day at a less-actives house and she knows lots about the church because of her 2 sister-in-laws (she is divorced from her husband but still has contact with them.  One is this less-active and the other is a very active lady in our ward, Sorella Silva).  Anyway, she knows so much and i asked if she had a copy of the book of mormon and was shocked when she said no.  So i gave her one and she said she would start reading it.  Plus Enriquetta, the less-active, wants to be ready to go to the temple when its built here.  I REALLY hope we can see her come back to church.  She has been a member her whole life but married a non-member and after years she just kind of lost the habit.  But she will come back.  I know it!
     I think thats it for us.  Oh ya, one more thing.  So on Friday we get a text message from the assistants and they told us that we needed to go to the store the next day and buy at least a 10-days supply of food because of a big strike they are doing in Italy.  Well, it started already in Sicily and NOTHING is opened.  You cant get food or gas and the sisters in catania told me they are just in a crisis.  That was a couple days ago so maybe its better now.  Not sure but i just know it was pretty bad.  Nothing has happened here for far and we are praying it stays this week.  Rumor has it that Rome will start in February.  Who knows??  I dont know they details but apparently they arent happy with their government here.
     Anyway, we are off to Rome to go ride the 4 person bike around again:)  Its a beautiful day!  I love Rome, I love being a missionary, I love the people i get to talk with every day, I love my companion and most importantly i love this gospel.  How blessed we are to have this knowledge in our lives.  I know what we have is true.  It makes perfect sense and brings me joy!  Thanks for all your support.  I will write you all next week!  Until then, I love you all and miss you!!!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea

Trevi Fountains

birthday mac and cheese:)

This is a gift from America To civitavecchia. It is here for a couple months and then off to somewhere else.

Just in case you have missed my scary eyes:)

Thanks!

Ciao Famiglia e Amici!
     Grazie mille for the birthday wishes.  It was so great to get on the internet this morning and have all the birthday wishes.  I cant believe that it could even be time for my birthday.  It feels like just yesterday i turned 22 and was waiting to enter the MTC. Lots has happened in this year... haha.  I feel so blessed that i can celebrate my 23rd birthday here in Italy.  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.  I will forever be grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me this experience.  I have great family and friends and i feel your love and support. So, Thank you.  It means a lot to a missionary in Italy.
     Well, i want to say that this week is going to be great.  Its going to be a miracle birthday week.  I can just feel it.  Our mission goal for everyone is to teach 21 lessons (not including less-actives or new converts) every week.  I have been close to that several weeks but never made it.  This is the week.  We really feel it!  We are praying a lot for this and really doing everything in our power to reach this goal this week.  That is the birthday wish i want from Heavenly Father.  That and a baptismal date:)
   OK, remember that lady that we went and sang for and she let us in and told us about her son in the hospital and i asked if she would like her son to receive a blessing?  Well the blessing never worked out because her husband really wasnt helpful.  Not that he was totally against it, but just didnt allow us really to set anything up (and he is the only one with a phone so it was a little difficult).  Anyway, we have been teaching this lady though.  Her name is Mimoza and she is from albania.  She is muslim but not practicing and believes in Christ as our Savior.  Until 15 years ago she really didnt know who God was or Christ. She had heard of God but because of communism was never able to know who he is.  15 years ago she saw a movie about Christ and cried the whole time.  Anyway, we had asked her to read the introduction to the book of mormon and she not only read it but read it like 5 times to really understand it.  She was like, "can we talk more about this book?"  So i start telling her the story of the BOM and she knew the whole thing!  It was incredible.  Her prayers at the end of the lesson are amazing.  So simple but from her heart.  Our obstacle with her is going to be her husband but I feel like she really is going to be baptized.  SHe just has just a desire to know the truth.
    Anna (romanian lady) and her kids...  well yesterday we tried to set a baptismal date with them... The kids were all for it.  We explained that they still have a lot to learn but that with our help and them doing their part, they can really have a testimony of what we have been teaching them; That the church of jesus christ has been restored.  The mom wasnt so happy and excited about it.  She is evangelist and doesnt see any need to be baptized again.  The hardest and most important thing that people understand is the importance of authority and how our church is the only church on the earth with the right authority.  We are hoping that as her kids continue to grow and desire this her heart will be softened.  And it was so cute because they told us that we have to come on my birthday because they will be waiting with a surprise for me.  haha.  I love them.  Its going to be a good birthday!


     Next thing.  Well in church on sunday i had to do my first translating!  It was just insane.  First of all, there is a guy in our ward that for his job he translates for the church so i was just confused why they would ask me.  (Even though i understand as a missionary it just kind of comes with the territory)  Anyway, is was for these 2 american members that are here in europe to make a video for EFY in europe and they came to our ward to film our primary singing.  He was SO nice and told me how well i did even though it was SO hard.  I could understand everything the speakers said but when i was speaking, i couldn't really hear what the speaker was saying and i got a little lost.  I guess thats a hurdle i would have had to cross at some point in my mission.  Definitely an experience.  That translating isnt easy!
     Last thing, we had zone conference this week.  That is the most inspired thing.  I think all of us as missionaries need that every transfer.  Its one of my very favorite things.  Anyway, president kelly gave us all an assignment to study about Charity for 12 weeks and then to write a little paper on the things we learned.  Im really excited.  He told us that he wants us all to become experts on charity.  Its already been great studying and learning.  Its always been a quality really special to me and something i really want to work on.  We'll see how it goes!  If any of you have learned some great things about charity i would love to hear it!
     For now i have to be done.  I hope you have a great week.  We get transfer calls on saturday.  Im really nervous.  The work is going great here and i love my companion!  I dont want to leave Ladispoli...  we'll see what happens!  Talk to you all next week!  Thanks again for the birthday wishes!  I thank my heavenly father for you all every day!  Vi voglio tanto bene!
Love,
Sorella Buma

Sunset literally 2 min from our house.  So beautiful!!!!
last district pic before transfers... President said its going to be a big one!  IM SCARED!!!  I just want to stay here!
Me and Lidia (youngest of the Romanian family) for her birthday yesterday.

The Atonement and Black Mold

Ciao!!!
     Holy Cow!  I seriously cannot believe that today is the 11th!  I keep looking at the date when we are planning at night and time just seems to slipping by.  Man...  We had a great week!  Definitely some ups and downs but a good week.  We will start off with the atonement and black mold.  THat has pretty much been our concentration this week.
     So on friday, a mission couple, the Kruegers, came to our apartment to check it out.  Well, we got an A which is great but we have some black mold on our ceiling and they told us that we need to try and get that off.  So they told us that its important that we try and do it ourselves so to do it in the next few days because if it doesnt come off, they need to hire someone to come and get it all off.  So that was our Monday morning.  Buckets of bleach water and just scrubbing our ceiling.  The good news it that it looks SOOOOO much better.  It took us awhile and some of it is stained but it really looks a lot better.  We should have taken before and after pictures.  The Kruegers also told us that we can use our heating all the time in our house!  (Lets just say the rules on using our heating have changed.  That would not have been ok when i first got here) I felt really bad turning the heating on because it costs so much money.  And we were pretty much living in an ice box...  Its just an air conditioning thing that we use so its still a little chilly but we are feeling a lot better!  Warmer apartment without mold!  Man, we are starting this year off good!
     The best part of the visit from the Kruegers was their lesson they taught us on the atonement of Christ.  It was SOOOOOO good and me and Sorella Miles just had so many lightbulb moments.   We asked a lot of questions so we didnt quite get to finish but they had everything typed up for us to study and so we have been doing that a lot.  Its been so great learning how better to apply the atonement in my life every day!  Thinking of it as something that is still happening now instead of just a moment in the Savior's life.  I wish i could tell you all that i have learned but I just dont have the time.  I love personal and companion study.  I dont know if i ever told you this but there is a new program now that trainers and the new missionaries do 2 hours of companion study instead of just one every day for 2 transfers.  It has been great.  We have lots more time to practice teaching and im definitely growing as much as Sorella Miles if not more.
     As for the not so happy moments this week.  Pino told us our last lesson with him was on monday because he cant find work here so he is going back to Calabria.  He is so great but just has so many problems because of choices that he has made earlier in his life.  Im sure there are missionaries at least sort of close to where he is going that can continue to go and see him.  We will for sure send the referral down to them.  He did call us yesterday though and said he hadnt left yet...  So maybe we have a little longer than he has said.  I guess we'll see.  I just hope in some way he can have a new start to his life.  He wants to change but even after we have repented and changed, there unfortunately consequences that follow.  He is definitely experiencing that.  We love him and want him to stay but i think it will be better for him where he is going, back to be with his mom and sister.
    Next sad appointment (which happened to be the same day) was our appointment with Cristian.  He told us that for now he has somethings in his life that he needs to sort out and doesnt want to see us for now.  I asked him if he would read the scriptures and pray at least in this week because i know it would help him and basically he said no...  He doesnt have a relationship with God he said and then he told us he doesnt even know if he wants to have one.   It was like going through a break up.  It was really sad!!!  There is a happy light to this one though.  Some Anziani in Rome called us yesterday and told us that they were in the train station and Cristian stopped them and wanted to talk with them.  He told them he has some problems that he feels uncomfortable talking with us about and would like to talk with the elders instead.  I cant believe that Cristian stopped them!  Such a sign that he really does have a desire to find this relationship with his heavenly father.  I really really hope meeting with Elders for a little while is just what he needs!  We also met with his sister last week and she is great!  Hopefully we can start seeing her too!
     As for every one else, not much new.  I still love Andreina with all my heart and hope we can help Raffaela find a way to be baptized!  Starting monday this week all the holidays ended and so we are happy to get back to our normal schedules.  More like that everyone else will be back to their normal schedules:)
     Well thats it for me this week I think.  Tomorrow is Zone Conference and im so excited!  I LOVE zone conference.  Its so fun being around so many other missionaries and really feeling the spirit together.  Hope you all have a great week!  Thanks for everything you do for me.  Especially for your emails and letters!  I LOVE getting mail from my family and friends!!!  Vi Voglio TANTISSIMO bene.  Mi mancate!  Ci sentiamo la prossima settimana!

Love,
Sorella Chelsea

Present from our best ward missionary, Fratello Papi!  He is awesome!

Cute stocking Teri sent me!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Not such a great pic of me but this is the famous Pino.

Off to a good start!

Buon Anno!
    I seriously cant believe that it is 2012.  Its just kind of seems like 2011 didnt exist for me.  Ill be talking about the summer before my mission and say "Last summer..." and my companion gets really confused because last summer i was in Catania.  Its just so crazy how fast time has gone.  This transfer has flown by (even though we are only 1/2 way through).  I hope that all of you had a great New Years!  2012 is going to be great!  We were in our apartment by 6 and SOOOO thankful for that.  While we were walking home there were people just throwing fireworks everywhere.  It was so scary.  One went off right in front of us and luckily the kid walking next to us stopped and so we stopped because we didnt see it.  Then we just planned some lessons at home and tried to go to sleep on time but everyone in all of Italy was lighting fireworks the whole night so it was a little hard.  We were SO lucky though because some of the other missionaries said that their neighbors were having parties so literally they couldnt sleep.  At least everyone in our Palazzo was really quiet.  We roasted some marshmallows and drank some hot chocolate.  It was a great new years and i loved having a great excuse to go to bed instead of staying up!
     Other news of the week.  We have been going to see lots of members recently.  We have eaten with members every day since friday... haha.  Its great because i love them but so many meals all in a row.  We have another one tomorrow and then another on sunday.  Im excited.  We want to really try and get the members to trust us because that is the best way that we can find families to teach.  I love our ward though.  They are such great members.  THis ward is famous in the Rome stakes.  Its a small ward but has really really strong members.
    Before i forget i better tell you about our little cleaning disaster.  Well, we were doing a great job and cleaning everything.  So we are cleaning the bathroom and unscrew the drain in the shower to clean it out.  We put it back together and went about our business.  At the end of the day, before going to a members for dinner, we took showers.  While we are at this members house, like 30 min away in a car, we get a call from our chef neighbor saying that water from our bathroom was leaking into his.  After about 2 hours the dripping stopped and so it was clear that something had gone wrong with our shower.  ANyway, long story short, our landlord was SO mad and just screaming at me on the phone because we touched the screw...  but that just seemed like a normal thing to do.  Thankfully the member that took us home (diana, my age and coming to Temple Square to serve a mission in feb so you all need to go visit her please) took the phone and explained everything for us.  She was SOOO sweet and it was just the biggest tender mercy that she was there with us that night.  ANyway, they came and just tightened the screw yesterday and all is well now.  WE know now that we cant clean our drain.  ANd we are going to make a sign for the next sisters that follow us:)  A little scare and i felt AWFUL but all is well now.
     Well, just one thing really quick before i go.  I love that the Gospel is so simple.  We were teaching Andreina and a couple other people this week and talking about how great it is that we just have to get one question answered to know if our church is really true.  We just need to know if the book of mormon really is a true book on the earth.  We dont have to know the doctrine perfectly and have all of our questions answers because everything falls into place if the book of mormon is true.  There is a great take that elder Calister (maybe i messed up on his name) gave in conference about the book of mormon.  Its been so great studying it because it really answers all the main questions we get from people every day.  Im so grateful for this book that we have!  So many times in my life i have taken it for granted.  But i love it and i know that it is a book written by prophets called of God for our day!
     I think thats pretty much it for us here in Ladispoli today.  Thanks for all your prayers and love and support.  We were talking last night about how blessed we are to have such great families and friends.  You really realize it when you are talking to people all day that dont have these things.  Hopefully next week ill have some great investigator updates.  yesterday Maria turned 11 and we took some brownies and lipgloss to her and she LOVED it.  It was so fun.  Pino is basically homeless and doesnt have a job still and just has so many problems.  I dont know how he still has so much faith.  He is so great!  Everyone else pretty much has been out of town.  They all come home this week!  Thank the heavens!!!  Love you all!  Hope you all have a great week!  Good luck getting back into the swing of work and school:)  Love you and miss you all!
Love,
Sorella Chelsea

 most of our district

 the sisters

 Us and the assistants moving SOOOOO much stuff from our house

New coats from a member

Happy New Year!!

Ciao Tutti!!
     Merry Christmas to all those i didnt get to talk to!  I hope your christmas was great!  This email is going to be more difficult to write because i really dont have anything new to say.  its seems really weird that im writing and that i just barely talked to you.  But all is well here.  We are workng hard and we are excited for the holidays to be over...  Not because we dont love the holidays, but because its just a little harder for the Italians to find time i their schedule for us.  Anyway, I hope you all know that i was thinking about you on Christmas!  It was a great christmas here!  Ill give you a brief update on what we did for christmas in case i forgot anything on the phone.

Christmas Eve:  We went to Rome and sang in Termini (the big train station) with some other sisters and then on the metro on the way to the Valentine's house.  they are a couple in the office and made us a great lunch for Christmas eve.  President and sister Kelly were there and it was so perfect.  it was the perfect way to kick off christmas.  it almost felt like being at home with our families.  I just really love being around the other missionaries.  its a good thing i really love my companion because we dont get tons of time to spend with other missionaries.  its  a lot different than being in catania in that sense.  Anyway, I picked up my package at the lunch too and then we headed home for our dinner!  Haha.  Basically we just ate a lot for christmas.  Then we went to the church and Bruna and Franco came to pick us up for dinner.  We were really nervous because we have only spent time with them in english course and we really didnt know how it would go.  But it was so great.  They had a little gift for us and the house felt so Christmasy.  They had their daughter there and her 2 kids as well.  And they just took us in like their own.  Plus i ate... Drum roll... this is big... Oysters (I think thats what it was.  Unless that is different than muscles because that is the literal italian translation) and then we had clams in our pasta.  Me and my companion kept looking at each other and just laughing at what we were eating.  ANd it actually wasnt terrible.  I wuld never just choose to eat that but it was great.  Then we went home and slept but i was so excited for christmas that it took me a while to fall asleep.

Christmas: We went to church and then went to Civitavecchia for lunch with one of our investigators and her family.  It was such good food and we were so grateful that they were willing to basically let 2 strangers come over for christmas lunch.  Anyway, it was great.  A couple awkward pauses but other than that it was good.  Then we went home and did the Nativity by ourselves and wrote in our journals.  Its was a great Christmas!

Christmas Continued on Monday:  We went to rome and watched Tangled with our district.  We watched it in Italian and it was one of those shocking moments when the movie was over and i realized that i had understood a movie in another language.  it was so weird.  Then we all went and had lunch at a peruvian place.  SOOOOO good and so fun.  I love our district.  We dont see them tons but its always fun when we get to.  Then we headed back to Ladispoli to call all of you!  Funny story, so we were like in a panic because with computer problems our second calls were a little more difficult.  SO we look at the clock at it says 9:25.  Luckily we live really close so we said bye and made it home on time.  We go and plan for the next day and then go get ready for bed.  (By this time its like 10... at least in our heads)  Sorella Miles looks at her clock and it says 915.  but her clock resets sometimes so i just told her that her clock probably reset.  Then i get all in bed and then i look at my clock.  It says 930.  SO i check the phone... 930.  Well, with 3 witnesses we decided that we could believe that it was actually only 930.  The clocks in the computer point must have been off.  I dont think they have changed them since daylight savings.  Haha.  Anyway, we were home in PLENTY of time and had some time to just talk about what our families had said.  It was really great!

Its so weird that Christmas is over!  I have been thinking about this christmas away from my family for over a year now and its over already.  Time is FLYING.  Its the craziest thing and a little scary.  But it was a great christmas.  I love that its something i know ill never forget.  my Christmas in Italy was great!  We are really going to miss singing christmas carols for people. We LOVED it.  it was so fun and just so many good stories.  Im going to have to make a list in my journal about all the excuses that we heard from people. haha.  Or maybe we will just sing the operah we made up with our excuses on the recorder and email it home next week.

And this weekend is another weird weekend.  Saturday we have to be in at 6 and then monday we are cleaning all morning and afternoon till 6.  Then the next week should go back to everything being normal.  Our investigators are all doing well and we have lots of people that gave us their number and said we could call them after the holidays.  2012 is going to be a great year!  Im excited to see what our new mission goals are and what this year has to bring.  We have lots of work to do in the first half of this year!  Im going to set some good new years resolutions.  Anyway, not much more to say this week.  I hope you party hard for me on New years and think of me while im sleeping:) haha.  Do a little new years dance for me!  You can record it and send it to me.  Haha.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  Have a great week and know that i love and miss you all.  Ill talk to you in 2012!

Love,
Sorella Chelsea

Me and Leonardo.  Our neighbor/chef.  we saw him this morning and he told us to come get our dinner when we get home from Rome:)

Christmas Eve lunch at the Valentine's apartment

Us in front of the big tree at the vatican.

Christmas eve crew at dinner

Nativity #1 angel speaks to mary

#2 Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus

#3 Angel tells the shephard(spelling??)

#4 Wisemen come bearing Italian gifts

Anz. Larcher in our district has a rap CD... haha.

Dinner at the Peruvian place day after christmas

Eating COW HEART!!!  At least thats what they told me it was.
The whole crowd at the Peruvian place

Me and Andreina eating an Italian favorite, Pandoro

Buon Natale Tutti!!!!

      Non posso credere che è gia Natale.  Mamma mia!  Il tempo vola!  Anyways, im soooooo excited to talk to all of you on monday and hear all about your christmas.  Its going to be great.  Im soooooo excited for this weekend.  Let me tell you all the wonderful things we are going to be doing. Well, saturday during the day we are going to pick up packages that have been sent to us at one of the homes of one of the senior couples and they are going to have a christmas eve lunch for the missionaries.  Im pretty stoked about that.  Then that night, an older couple in our english course has invited us to come have Christmas eve dinner with them!  We have never taught them before and are so excited for this opportunity.  They seriously are so great.  The lady tries to speak english with us and comes to the advanced class and its just really funny because she isnt advanced... Haha.  Then on Christmas morning we are going to get up and open our presents and then go to church for an hour and then head to a city about 30 min away on the train to have lunch with an investigator and her whole family.  We have only met with her once and then we never heard from her for a month so basically we thought she read something on the internet or something and was ignoring our calls.  Then she called a week ago and invited us over for christmas!!  What in the world????? Such a miracle.  We feel so blessed that we are going to be spending these 2 days with these people!  We will come home that night and study the life of the savior and do our best to do our reinactment of the birth of Christ.  haha.  We are going to maybe go and have Rosaria and antonella and maria help us if we get home in time.  Then on monday we get to sleep in an extra hour!!!!  Then we are headed to rome to watch Tangled with our district and go have lunch with them.  Then is the best part that we get to come back to Ladispoli and call our families!  Its going to be a great christmas.  For sure one that i will never forget.  

     As for this week.  Man, it was a little rough at the beginning.  The recordings will basically tell you all our miracles but it was probably one of the most amazing couple days.  We did SOOOOOO Much finding this week by asking people on the street if they believe in christ and then ringing people at home and asking if we can sing for them.  We got let into 6 houses this week!!  and i have only been let in one other time on my mission!  SUnday night was literally a night of miracles.  

     Here is our miracle that happened last night.  We were doing house and got into a big Palazzo and were asking people if we could sing.  We get to this door and a lady opens it and says we can come in.  We didnt even get to sing before she is asking us about our church.  Then she gets teary eyed and says, "Right before you rang my doorbell i was so desperate.  My son is 10 years old and is in the hospital right now with heart problems."  I had the strongest impression to tell her that the true priesthood has been restored to the earth and that because of that we are able to receive blessings.   And then i asked her if we could go with someone from our church that holds the priesthood to give her son a blessing.  She immediately said if we really could do that without bothering a member she would love it.  She told us that she is Muslim but is so interested in talking more about christ.  We got her number and told her that tomorrow (so today) we would come to the hospital with someone.  I walked out of that appointment really 100% knowing that i was in the right place at the right time and was able to tell her what she needed to know in that moment.  So tonight we are going with our bishop (who is seriously amazing) to give her son a blessing.  Im soooooo excited for tonight.  I hope that everything goes well and that this mom really feels the spirit.  THis message is exactly what her family needs right now.  

     That is just one of the great miracles we have seen.  I have really, really had my testimony strengthened this week about the fact that none of our work goes unnoticed to heavenly father.  That miracles really do happen all the time but we just need to be willing to look for them and work for them.  Sunday night after we had gotten let into the fourth house i was walking down the stairs to the next floor and just couldnt even believe all that had happened that night.  That people were just so much more receptive to our message and i knew that it was me being able to see the miracles the Lord wants to do and does.  I dont know if that made sense but it was just a great week.  

    As for our investigators, Cristian has moved so Sicilia for a while and we dont know when he will be back.  Andreina SLOWLY makes progress and we love her more than anything.  The girls are great and Maria (10 years old) fell asleep reading her book of mormon the other day:)  So cute!  Raffaela fasted on her own to know what to do with her boyfriend.  We are praying that she receives the strength to do what we know she knows she needs to do.  Pino is doing great but was crying to us yesterday because he really doesnt have a home or a job.  Our ward is being so great about helping him.  yesterday we bought him a notebook to write down what we learn because he wants to study it throughout the day.  He made sorella Miles write every little word that either one of us said about the plan of salvation.  Haha.  I love him.  ANd then we have some new investigators that we are really praying for.  Work is going great and we are happy to be where we are.  

    I should also say that i love sorella miles.  We get along so well and its great.  I cant even tell you how many times during the day we are just crying because we are laughing so hard.  It has made finding so great because we are making the most out of it.  We are praying that we will have 3 transfers together:)

     ANyway, thats it for me this week.  if i forgot anything, ill talk to you about it on monday!!!  You have my phone number so if something isnt working on monday, make sure you call me.  Thanks for everything!  I sure love you all so much!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!  eat some honey baked ham for me.  that sounds really good right now!!  Ill be thinking about you this weekend!  Have fun with all you do. BUON NATALE!!! AUGURI!!!!!

Love,

Sorella Chelsea

p.s.  I tried to figure out how to send pictures a different way and i have NO idea.  Im sorry that im not good at the computer....  hopefully its fine.  Love you all!!!