One Degree Hotter

Received an email and this picture from a family vacationing in Venice. 

They said, ""Look who we literally ran into in Venice when we walked out the door of our hotel! They all looked healthy and happy; bright lights in an incredible part of the world. Beautiful examples for our daughter (second from right) who is anxious to get home to open her own mission call delivered while we are traveling. We hugged them for you if that is OK!" 

lost

I was reading Kaitlin's email from last week, and I was literally laughing out loud (in this less-sketchy internet cafe we found).  She has no clue. hahah.  She thinks she is lost...We are so lost ALWAYS, but really, it's fine.  

I just don't even think I can accurately explain everything that has happened this week.  Literally, it's so funny.  

Our first real day as companions we had an appointment set up that Sorella Astel's companion made for us.   We call this lady and as she is telling us where she lives,  we realize she lives like an hour on train and isn't even in our zone.  But she gave us a referral to see her SISTER who lives down the street from us, so were just like "Cool, we'll do that then." 

sorella needs a weave

We call this lady (they are all African so they speak English--thank you), and she wants to meet with us so we walk to her house.   She sits us down on her couch and starts showing Sister Astel different hair pieces and extensions.  

She thought Sister Astel wanted to get her hair done.  We were just in total shock and had literally no idea what to do, hahahah, so Sorella Astel was just like swatting her away because she was trying to do her hair!  

I had to yell at her and say,  "We are not here to get our hair done. We are here to talk to you about Jesus!"  It was.. an experience. hahaha

phone call

Then that night after like two hours of contacting, I got my first Italian phone call without Sister Pearce with me.  It was a fratello in the ward!  He knows I don't speak well, and he was talking very slowly so it was fine. until. he explained to me that they want me to give a TALK. in church. this Sunday. in Italian.  I said "yes" then hung up the phone and cried. ahhhhh.

my mom writes my talks

So that is what I did for Father's Day.  But it's fine, because Sorella Pearce is just like Mom and helped me write it.  Okay, she wrote all of it.  Okay, I'm a bad missionary and I have my mom write my talks.  Whatever, it's fine.  No one else has to know.  

But it went fine.  Everyone thought I wrote it and they were telling me how much my Italian has improved. blah, blah, it's all a lie, I'm a fake and I still don't speak well hahaha.   

Anyway, the ward is literally freaking out that we are together and they call us all day to make sure we're doing okay.  It's a really good learning experience.  

baptism

But it's also extra hard because I am technically transferred to Astel's copia which means I lost all of my old investigators and my baptism on Friday. (That's fine though. I still get to go because I'm giving the prayer)  But it's hard losing the American ward and my investigators.

legendary

We went to a zone conference in Verona on Monday and all the missionaries already knew about our copia--apparently it's the talk of the town.  Someone came up to me and said, "I heard two sorelle on their second transfer are now companions." then laughed.  When he found out it was me, he laughed even harder. I know. 

Sorella Pearce and the new sorella, Sorella Hunter (She is literally so cute! She's from Colorado and Mom would be friends with her mom.)  She actually has an uncle who is a bishop in Ventura.  Don't know his name, sorry.  Anyway, they are doing really well.  Sister Pearce is helping us a lot, but we dont want to be a burden so we try not to bug them too much. 

Also, it's so hot in Pordenone.  Literally I have never felt like this before in my life.  First summer in Italy yaaayyyyyy. 

quote me

I've been saying the most missionary things lately.  I quote Preach My Gospel and everything.  I feel normal, but let's be honest, that's so weird. hahah.

Although Sorella Astel and I have no idea what we are doing, we are just taking it a day at a time trying not to get deported and talking to people about the Book of Mormon.  I haven't had gelato in a week, but that's on purpose. 

one degree hotter
Keep up the good work family.  And whenever you feel sad or overwhelmed, just think, "Sister O'Connor is probably giving a talk in Italian on Sunday.  It could also be one degree hotter." 

(Paige is referencing this talk:  BYU Devotional "What Happens When Life Gets One Degree Colder" by Dallan R. Moody, March 6, 2012 -- Read or Watch it HERE

With love, from a very green sister missionary out alone with another just-as-green sister missionary in a very hot Pordenone, but she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, 

Sorella O'Connor

(Email Sent - June 19, 2013)

On Our Own

I have been transferred!  But I'm staying in the same place.

O'Connor and Astel in the MTC

no joke

Literally that is not a joke.  So everyone in Pordenone is getting a new companion.  Sister Pearce is staying and getting a new new sister straight from the MTC.  She likes to run and dance but we don't know her name yet.  Right about now she should be tracting at the Duomo hahah.  Sister Lofely is getting transfered to Florence (no big deal right?) and... 

o'connor and astel

President Wolfgramm has seen fit that Sister O'Connor and Sister Astel should be companions. in Pordenone. ha. This is serious. So we are going to make it work, hahaha.  Who needs trainers right?  The 12-week training program is now officially non-existent, but it's fine.  WE NEED PRAYERS.  

anziano nelson

But it really IS fine, because on Sunday we had the opportunity to see Anziano Russell M. Nelson speak!  It was so cute; he tried to speak Italian.  I love him.  Anyways, he gave some good advice to the Italians.  

My favorite was, "Memorize the sound of your Father's voice reading the Book of Mormon." cute, huh?! 

Also he said our sweet prophet is having a hard time with his wife passing. sad, huh?

So Anziano Nelson said they're making a huge announcement on the 23rd about missionary work!  We have no idea what it's about, but they are having the MTC sing at it so hopefully kids from our ward will be there.  

He said it's gonna change everything.

random info and inside jokes:

It's been really hot in Pordenone during the day then it pours whenever we need to go anywhere at night. 

I'm so excited for this Bergquist baby girl. seriously. totes called it. 

We have a zone meeting Monday and I can promise that I've been through a transfer without getting one letter.  You all are awful.  But it's fine;  I'm not counting. 

I sent mom a letter today with some flowers in it I picked.  The poppies grow like crazy here. 

Italian men are literally so creepy.  I'll have some good stories to tell you when I get home. hahaha (Don't worry, Mom!)

We got a bike!  It's so cute, but it turns out I'm not very good at riding it. hahahah.  Everyone yells at me in Italian and I just wobble and look crazy with my helmet. 

I just don't know what I'm doing, but apparently the Lord trusts Astel and me because ALL of the other new missionaries still have trainers. gosh. It's gonna be crazy.

Sister Pearce drank some super sketchy water that was coming out of the ground and it even had a sign in Italian and English that it wasn't drinking water (we didn't see that until after) and the thought came into my mind, "I wonder if I will still get a Celine bag if i am honorably discharged as a missionary." hahahah....  (post-mission shopping plans with Mom and Kait)

Literally EVERYDAY I think about how i can injure myself enough to get sent home without messing up my face.  (joke from her farewell talk)  but it's the best. and the worst. but the best.

I'm craving a good green drink.  If youre sending Kaitlin a cute dress, send me one too.  All of my clothes are so hot.

I need another flowy stretchy skirt or dress.  I am riding a bike. Okay, none of my skirts fit.

I'm trying to eat healthy but literally we went to dinner at a member's house with some new converts and old single adults, and they feed you so much.  I can testify that I fit 6,000 calories of food in my body.  

Gelato is so good I want to cry.  

Also we we had to literally run home from that dinner appointment and Sorella Pearce threw up hahahah 

Did I tell you I ran into someone on my bike? 

Also I went to talk to an Italian on the bus and she had no tongue. 

Also there was a flood in Pordenone and we were trapped because our investigator's car couldn't make it.  I'm pretty sure I got bit by something not good, but don't worry about me! 

Also we have an investigator from Honduras.  She's sweet but my Spanish skills extend to, "Can I go to the bathroom?" and "Where are the keys?." soooo her daughter translates. 

And Sigur Ros is coming to Pordenone this month but they aren't playing Wednesday (pday) afternoon, sadly, so I will have to miss it. 

Last week for shopping we only bought veggies, but then we went out for kebabs twice. oops. 

Red Ledges looks so pretty.  Scott is going to have so much fun. I bet he won't be able to catch as many fish as me, but he will still probably get more than Dad.  It's easy to do that. hahaha 

Paige fishing with her dad - Heber 2012

(Email Sent - June 12, 2013)

La Settimana di Crisi

crisis

It's Week Five of my first transfer. That means I'm senior companion for a week, and it's AWFUL! hahaha  

It's so hard being senior companion, and I've cried every day, and it's barely Wednesday.  

But Sister Pearce is a gem like always and just laughs at me when I "vado in crisi," (which reminds me of home).  But this time I'm on the other side of the bathroom door. karma. hahaha 

hard things

But yesterday when I was stressing out about having to talk on the phone in Italian and figure out bus times and things, she sat me down and had me read a talk her brother gave at some BYU thing and it started with... "I can do hard things."  

Whatever, it was perfect. My companion is just literally perfect.  She reminds me a lot of Mom; is that weird?

Paige and Sorella Pearce

lost

Oh so we got lost in Budioa which is like a 40-minute bus ride out of Pordenone, and it's beautiful.  But it was raining, so that was not beautiful.  And we had to be home in two hours.  And there were no more buses that day.  Perfect right?  

found

Anyways we called a member in the American ward to help us.  She picked us up, drove us home, and on the way took us to Lidl to pick out our favorite 10 things each.  It was such a miracle.  So then I was thinking.. everyone should be like Sister P.  She's literally fantastic.

scambi

We had our first SCAMBI (missionary exchange) this week as well. that. was. a new experience. hahah  No, it was good!  I was with a sister in her last transfer, so I was just trying to soak up as much information as possible.  She's so cute and smart.

I also taught Gospel Principles in the American ward while Sister Pearce taught it in the Italian ward. We're allowed to do that as long as I have a fake companion and she does too.

extra mayo

You will never guess what happened to me.  So we were at my favorite Italian member's house for a ghans (YSA) activity, but it was just our coppia (companionship) and our awesome investigator and their family.   

So it was super low key and we were eating pasta.  Suddenly the dad starts talking to me in Italian, so I'm just smiling and saying, "Si, Si, Si"  like always.  Then he starts putting MAYONNAISE all over my pasta!!  all over my perfectly good pasta! and made me eat it!  

It was really funny apparently to everyone else. ha. Anyways I still love them, but I can never look at mayo in the same way.

venice

We went to Venice for Pday today, and it was perfect!  Couldn't be more cute and charming.  

The shopping is to die for, but I'm a missionary so i just kept walking.  Start saving Dad. 

healthy appetite

Ugh! I don't want to get fat.  It's terrible when they give you 20 euro for the whole week's food and pasta is .35 and apples are 6 euro.  It's even worse because I know how to eat healthy, but I literally can't afford it.  WHAT DO I DO?

I love being a missionary.  I love teaching the people here.

Sorella Paige O'Connor

(Email Sent - June 5, 2013)