Some Solid American Girl Eyes

I don't have anything NEARLY as beautiful as Justin Beiber's mug shot but...

I got a ticket this week too!  I still don't know why, hahaha, but I had to pay 15 euro!  I was so mad. 

getting tickets like I'm JB

We were riding on the bus and there are guys that come on and check everyone's bus tickets.  I showed him mine (which is the same as my companion's) and he gave me a ticket!  I asked "why?" and he was so mean and was acting like he didn't understand me.  

w h e n i w a s  s p e a k i n g p l a i n i t a l i a n.  

My original ticket was like 38 euro but I went to the place to pay the fine and was just like... 

"guarrddaaaa"... gave him some solid American girl eyes...  and he said I only had to pay 15.  It's fine.  I'll get over it.  So I paid thhaatt yesterday, then we got pizza with the extra 5 euro I had left. 

Theenn I had to do promesso stuff which took like a half a day & the office said they put money in my account, but it hadn't gone through yet..  

sorry dad

So I had to pay with my personal card (sorry Dad) and I'll just pay myself back when it goes through..  Since I have no money on my mission card,  I'll have to buy my food this week with my personal card (sorry Dad). 

Thisss weeekkk was weird & full of a lot of unexpected practical bumps in road.  Also McPeek gave me her cold!  

talk to me

So Sorella McPeek LOVES that show "Once Upon a Time."   I'm more of a Breaking Bad/Band of Brothers type.. but because she LOVES to talk about EVERYTHING, I started having her tell me a play-by-play of the show.  

This week our investigators brought FRIENDS to church & we had 13 people in church!  

I was so happpyyy

Also I gave you the wrong address to my apartment #oops.

gift exchange

I'm so excited for my package!  I've been trying to think of creative/appropriate Valentine's Day cards, hahahah.  get excited.

I'm happy you and Anna are friends.  She's so funny. 

I'm literally terrified of the snow. we all are. even the Anziani...& that says a lot because usually they're pretty tough. 

how many is a brazilian?

So we have like 1,000,000 baptisms coming up & probably 50% of them are Brazilian.. hahaha apparently I get along with Brazilians!  They always give me stuff.. 

babygirlbergquist has a name!  I'm in love. seriousllyyyy BRAVA DEV&DI.  They're so cool. #iprayforheralways

& I love when you send me music because I get too excited and listen to the same song 10 times.  Then I get tired & have to wait for the next week.. hahah you're good Mom.

How tall is Scott now?  Tell him "hi." 

and send me more pictures of how Kelsey is>=) I like when you do that.. 

I love you! pray for me in this colldddd)= 

They're looking to buy us bikes)= 

I hate the bikes.

Love you long time, Paige

(Email Sent - January 29, 2014)

Settimana dei Modeli

Literally, it was my dream come true.

So we went on scambi with the Milano sisters this week.  We were riding in the metro and we hear someone call out.. "Mormmmoonnnssss."  (thank you Broadway)

 So we turn around and there is this group of 7 very attractive men with perfectly crafted hair, different ethnic backgrounds, in all-black, big eyes, & perfect cheekbones (just an observation) looking at us.   So obviously I walk up to them and start chit chatting...

It's men's fashion week and nobody told me.. 

(Those are the kind of updates I'm looking for:  "Hey Sorella O'Connor, you might want to go to Milano this pday because it will be full of male models."  See?... it's easy.)

It was kind of a lot for my little missionary heart to handle, but I pulled through.

It rained for like 5 days straight this week, but today is sunny so I'm happy.

write me

Tell Scott I love and miss him back & that I'm sorry about what happened to his quill pen...... I'm assuming it broke or something?  (K: since he's only written her one letter with it since she left. haha)

It's saldi seasonnn & I'm not really sure what do do about my new ATM card.  I also found out there is a Zara CASA here.. ie: zara home... I died.  It's of no use to me here, but I can still look.

feed me

This week the ward gave us like 20 pounds of food and a frozen lasagna.... I like it here.

Sorella McPeek has to go to the doctor today in Milano, so we get to eat Luinis for lunch>=) if you're good I'll take you there someday..

Also I had to redo my permesso (green card) stuff and it's the worst. 

Sorella McPeek was sick this week & I finally watched Ephraim's Rescue.  I may or may not have watched the part where Esther and Thomas kiss under the handcart 10 times. <3 

(Esther and Thomas are shown 1:50-2:50)

but then she dies and I'm like,  "Whhhhyyyyy do I watch pioneer movies?".. so unpredictable.. but so predictable.

send me

Mom: Can you send me just one bag of Hot Cheetos somehow? I miss them more than words describe.. regular (not puffed) with lime flavor & use your song magic to be creative and find a Rae Morris song that is relatable to the gospel so I can listen to it. >=)

 I love when you send me music.. 

dream of me

Dad: I had like three dreams last night of you telling me hooowww much you love me.... I know & I love you back<3

& I'm reallllllyyyy bad at writing in my journal!!!!!  I feel bad about that... I'll try to be better.  I knooowwww.

tease me...
I've been reflecting on the times we used to make fun of Sister Pearce about the worldly things she didn't know about, because now all the babes are doing it to me!!!!!  

Anziano Cameron was all.. 

"Whhhaaattt you haven't seen the new temple video?" .. 

"Whhaattt you never saw Catching Fire or Great Gatsby orrrr (some other movie I've never heard of)?"   

"Sorella O'Connor, you know that one song by One Direction that goes..."   

And I'm just like..... "Anziano Cameron.. when do you go home again? 2016?.... that's a reallllyyyy long timmeeee..."  >=) 

(Email Sent - January 22, 2014)

Goodby Genova, Hello Muggiò

It is literally like no where I've ever been...Narnia one could say.

It's a lot colder.. I knew it would be because Milan is really cold.  So I was a little worried about that, but then I got here...

anticipation

I was totally stressed out about coming to Muggiò because of the cold & I felt like I finally got my feet on the ground in Genova & I would miss my ballerina 

Paige and Sorella Durfee in Genova

& "bottle breaking" a missionary (third transfer) can be hard because they're still so so new & don't really know how to be their own missionary yet.  I don't know how to sympathize with that because I was my own bottle breaker with Sorella Astel.  Anyway..

travel plans

I get stressed out about traveling (who knew) and I only had 40 euro in my wallet. (Sorella Cruz bought me a new wallet because mine got stolen & gave me a mug with our picture on it.... stop it, I'm obsessed.) 

centrale reunion

So I got here well into Milano Centrale and it was so fun.  

I saw all my friends:  Sorella Astel, Anziano Miller,  Sorella Lemos, Sorella McCann and Baer, Carter and Bringas..  

& then we had to go to Milano Cimiano where all the new missionaries were getting their trainers.  

card carrying

I needed to get my mission card before going to Muggiò because the man who had my card was there. So we took ALL MY LUGGAGE through the metro and up 100 stairs. (I'm so not afraid of making strangers help me with my luggage up the stairs--they're heavy.) 

We get up to Cimiano and Anziano Harmer meets me halfway down the stairs and gives me my card.  I was happy about not having to carry my luggage any further but also a little sad because I knew Sorella Hunter was up there and I wanted to see her... 

thanks, but...

So I played thirsty... so they had to give me water AND I GOT TO SEE SORELLA HUNTER.  I didn't feel bad about playing thirsty because we needed each other for 5 minutes.  It was so so so good.  Tell her mom to tell her that I'm so, so proud of her & I love her & that she can do hard things.

for narnia!

Anyway, we get to Muggiò and turns out the ward had given the sisters like 15 winter coats. Let's talk about prayers being answered.  (Reminded me of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.) 

 They're all sized way too big for any normal human being & supperrr wayy too Italian, but I've been wearing a Size 20 fur-lined jacket the past week. hahah.  wonderful. 

THE WARD IS AWESOME HERE. 

real beauty

As far as missionary work in Italy goes, it's like yeah you get to serve in these beautiful cities but that doesn't mean anything if the members are mean and the people are mean... 

Muggiò isn't the prettiest city, but it's quiet and level grounded and the people are so nice and the members are even better.  

Also it's like 30 minutes from Milano and we can go there every pday if we want.  We were in Milano six out of seven days last week, so I feel like I have the best of both worlds... Milano for saldi season... stop it.  (clearance sales)

where am I?

Also I know people here!  Not really, but there is a member who was asking me where I'm from and I was telling her I was from California and she asks, "Where?"  So I tell her I'm from LA because no one actually knows anything about California and that's the only city they know.  

So this lady says, "Oh, well I have a friend who lives in MORENO VALLEY"... (jawdropp)  Turns out she's really good friends with Julia Smialek's mom (Daniela Battaglini Broderick - Anna introduced the gospel to their family) and she came to California for her wedding... whhaatttt? 

Then there is this brand new returned sister missionary who is so cool.  She served in Temple Square.  Then for her four months outside of Utah, she served in the Ventura mission and went to the Oxnard chapel for all zone meetings... whhhaattttt?  (where we attend church when we're at the beach house)

Then there is this other American girl in the ward who is my age and studying fashion in Milano who is from Salt Lake.  She's so cute and she knows Nate Jessee really well.  They went to prom in the same group.  And thennn there is another greenie, Anziano Cameron, who knows Amy Jessee... so after church on Sunday I was like, "W h e r e  a m  I ?" 

Also, there is a man in the ward who was the former temple president in Switzerland and his son is an eye doctor and gives free eye exams to missionaries and discounted contacts and glasses moorreee prayyeerss answered... whhatttttt?  

church building in Muggiò

day of rest

AND THE BEST PART IS.... someone gives us a ride to and from church EVERY SUNDAY. and we have someone who teaches Gospel Principles.  Sunday is perfect. There is this list someone made up for the members to feed the missionaries every Sunday, so we just get picked up in church and have an actual giorno di riposo... it's crazy 

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL... It's one thing to have nice members and it's another thing to have members who do missionary work.  

A member family picked us up in their car from our lunch appointment on Sunday and took us to their house so we could give a spiritual thought to their less active teenage daughters.  After the lesson they were like, "And we have a family that we want you to teach.  Can we pick you up this Friday and we'll do dinner and a first lesson with them?"... ask Kaitlin, that does not happen. WHERE AM I?! 

Last week the capi zona taught 14 member present lessons.. that does not happen. and we weren't far behind.. it's like.. I love Muggiò

Also when I was buying my bus metro train pass in Milano, I got to help like 7 models with their paperwork because they didn't understand anything.  I felt plain standing next to them, but it was an experience I'll never forget.  They were so tall and beautiful.  They work for H&M. so cool. 

I don't have my personal card yet, but they called me the other day and told me it  was there in the office.  President is coming to do interviews on Monday, so he'll bring it then.  And if he forgets then I'm just going to go down to Milano and pick it up, no big deal..... 

I never wanted to serve in Milano because I thought it would be ghetto and hard, but turns out I like being a missionary NEXT to Milano because I get the best parts!

My new companion is from Arizona and is bubbly and loves Disney movies and songs.

You don't have to worry about me here... it's gonna be good! 

Crazy how at this rate I only have one city in me left after this one.  Kaitlin will be transferred to her dying city next transfer... whhaaatttt?

#yolo, Sorella O'Connor

(Email Sent - January 15, 2014)

Attraversiamo

We'll get the pressing news out of the way:

muggiò

I've been transferred. to a city no one can give me a definite answer as to where it is. called Muggiò.  I'm assuming it's small!.  It's in the province of Milano so I'm also pretty sure it's cold. 

My companion is named Sorella McPeak.  She's a newbie and I'm "bottle breaking" her (note: I hate that term) so I'm a little nervous about that, but tutto andrà bene.  Sorella Durfee is getting Sorella McCann here in Genova. I'm trying not to be bitter! & Sorella Hunter I hear is TRAINING! 

I don't have an ATM card yet; I'll hopefully (fingers crossed) get it when I go to Milano for transfers. 

THIS WEEK WAS CRAZY 

So we were supposed to visit this member's mom in the hospital and tell her sweet nothings about the gospel because she's not a member.. but then I got robbed.. so we had to go to the police station instead. 

But anyway, this lady died so we HAD to go to the funeral.  She's Catholic, so we went to the huge chapel in our best dress and sat through this funeral. (Note: half the congregation was Mormon because of the daughter.)  So they were taking the sacrament and saying written prayers and all the Mormons were just sitting there looking at each other like, "Do we do the peace handshake or not?"  It was a cool experience.

 (This is the other week.. I didn't get robbed again. Well not of money...just of all the things and people I love because of transfers.)  

I will miss:

wonderful friends

lovely store windows

beautiful Genova

the cool cemetery

this is where we die

After lunch, we went and saw Johnny who lives way up in the mountains--like a two-hour travel period. While we were up there after our lesson waiting for the bus, we ran into one of our investigators, Giorgio, who is like this old, not-fully-there in the brain, tiny Italian man. 

 So obvi we start talking to him and he starts yelling at us in a nice way, 

"WHEN DOES YOUR BUS COME?" 

and we're like, "Four minutes, why?" 

and he says, "ARE YOU SURE IT COMES IN FOUR MINUTES? I HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOU IN MY TENT."

So I'm thinking, "Sure I want a present, but I don't wanna miss the bus... but I want a present."  

Then he starts running down the hill, and we follow him running.  I've never seen an old man run before.  He turns the corner and starts running to this big white house with green shutters and an old Italian woman looking at us through the kitchen window.  (Italians love window gazing; it's endearing).

I'm like, "Okay, this isn't so bad."  But then he runs BEHIND the cute house to this giant shack/tent and pulls back a green tarp and says, "Guesto e la mia tenda." (this is.... my tent) and we're exhausted with 3 minutes and 25 seconds to go.  

Sorella Carlock and I look at each other & are just like, "WE CANNOT GO IN THERE!"  

But Sister Durfee is already inside (facesmack!)  So Carlock and I have to decide if were gonna break the rules of being in a tent alone with a man or let our companion out of our sight.  At this point Durfee is no longer visible and we've got three minutes to go.. 

So we run into the tent, and it's actually pretty big for a tent.  We find Sorella Durfee and Giorgio behind all these old, rusty, metal/wood cutting equipment and cat food and open cans of beans everywhere. 

I look at Carlock and say, "This is probably where we die.  This is why we have mission rules."  

But then he hands us these three little baby mangers made of wood that he carved himself, a panetone and a bag of Lindor truffles.  

Now we're booking it...We say goodbye to the lady in the window and get back onto the road.  We see the bus turn round the corner.  I've never run so fast in my life...in a skirt, holding a wooden manger, a cake and chocolate.  Carlock starts waving the bus down to wait for us at the stop and we run onto the bus.  

Giorgio is so happy and says, "Wait, TELL ME YOUR NAMES. YOU'RE ANGELS SENT FROM GOD!"  

We tell him our names--last names only--and the bus door closes.  We sit on the comfy bus seat and crack open the bag of truffles. Too bad they turned out to be filled with liqueur.. 

and that's the end of my story. 

Now I just got to figure out how to get my manger with me to Muggiò. 

xoxo From--the last time in--Genova, 

Sorella O'Connor

(Email Sent - January 8, 2014)

Buon Anno Nuovo

New Year's is crazy here.  Everyone shoots off fireworks and their guns from the balcony.  Italians are nuts (Moreno Valley is in the little leagues compared to Genova, hahah)

We had 6 lunch/dinner appointments the past three days and I want to die!!!!!! Pandoro is a real thing.

It's okay.  Padre Celeste keeps telling me that I shouldn't be worried about how I look, i.e.: getting my money for new leather boots stolen & my chubby body.  Buttttt its likee... whhhyyyyyy?

I'm so excited for you to teach the Old Testament, Mom!!!  I'm studying it right now too!  You have to call Sister Pearce.  She's literally the Old Testament master. 

I'll prepare something for you.  Do you have the study manual?  It's the best.  We like Joshua over here.

I'm not taking my vitamins anymore, because I took them all. 

Christmas in the mission is so crazy. 

I just wanna be Taza one time.

I still hate the bus.

Everyone's getting married/engaged back home and I'm okay with it. 

Oh we went to dinner at this crazy lady's house.  She's one of those members whose doctrine is kind of not right at all, and she was like "In my house we serve the priesthood holders first and then we give the missionaries double helpings." and I'm like "THAT'S BACKWARDS."  Then she gave us shrimp with the heads still on, and I hated it.

NEW WINDOWS & DOORS at the beach house! meno male 

Transfers are next week, and I'm not sure if I'm staying or going.  Let's be honest... I'm not much of a trio kind of girl, so I'm hoping there is some switch up, ya know? 

I miss Sorella Hunter and I'm praying to be companions with her. LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS.  Plus, she's in Siena where it's warm >=)

This has been the craziest week of my life.  We may or may not have gotten to bed at 1:30am Christmas morning and its throwing off my groove. 

Sorry my email is incoherent this week. I'm tired.

Paige

P.S.
This BYU Devotional literally changed my life:

You might have to listen to it 10 times and really pay attention.. but.. its... sooooo good. 

The Comprehending Soul: Open Minds and Hearts 

by Ronald Staheli

Listen/Read it HERE

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=451


(Email Sent - January 1, 2014)

Ocean Swimming with Open Wounds

We dropped Pearce off at the train station this morning & I got my last phone call from Memms last night, giving us a referral.  He left his Michael Buble Christmas cd for me & Sister Pearce left me her David Archuletta cd for me.. so I'll be sad but I'll get through it with the consolation of Davide and Michele<3 

\

trio

We got some news that could possibly be more surprising than the new Beyonce cd: I've been transferred. but also, I haven't been...  President gathered us together at the end of the Christmas conference (not a good time) and told us because Sorella Pearce is leaving, he'll be combining Genova for the rest of the transfer.  

So I'm in a trio and I'm trying really hard to be okay with it.  It'll be so fun traveling two hours for every appointment we have by bus. (We're on a train strike now.)

But up until Monday, the week went really well!  We went to the cemetery after emailing last week and played dead.  

I got the best panino i've ever eaten and just sat down for a while.  It hasn't been too cold.  (I'm learning to appreciate this weather because we went to Allesandria for the Christmas conference and I have never been so cold in my life.)  

There was a baptism on Saturday for the Genova 2 sorelle (now me) and then the Christmas conference on Monday!! 

christmas conference

The Christmas conference was so good.  Not necessarily in the conference itself,  but I got to see Sorella Astel (She's in a trio too.. whhaattt?) and we sang Christmas songs and ate Christmas food.

Every year we get a mission Christmas present;  it's usually scarves for the sisters and ties for the elders, but this year we got APRONS.  Whhaattt?  I'm still trying to find the connection and the desire to carry mine around to all my cities.. but it's a nice thought. 

the Pordenone crew

I got Christmas things and I love my letter and candy countdowns. (Thanks Smith family!)  My companions literally had to restrain me from opening them all right then.  I'm discovering that I'm not very patient.  

And the Bergquist Christmas card is sooooooo cute.  I also got the HUB Christmas card with little notes from everyone in the Benefits department (tender mercies).  I'm still a little confused as to why all the letters I get from HUB have Mom's handwriting on the envelope for the address.  I miss all my HUB family and think about them often. 

I got Dad's letter, which was everything I needed to hear after finding out I'm in a trio.  More in touch with the spirit than you know, Dad. 

and a letter from Kaitlin that was really funny. (secret sister stuff) really though.. 

I sent home a package with my nativity and a present for Marielle's birthday and something for Mom and Scott. (Kelsey's and dad's presents are getting sent this week.)  It was more expensive than I was expecting.  But don't be alarmed at my declining balance;  I started just taking out all the money in my account so I could better keep track of how much I have.   I spend less with cash (= 

see you soon then

As far as Christmas Day goes.. We're going to a member's house for skype (They have two return missionaries in their family so i feel good about it.. they get it.. and the internet point is open for Christmas (Muslims) but I'm going for the 6pm time slot.  So I will get on skype at 6pm.  Do with that information what you will and plan accordingly. (we have 30 -40 minutes which really means an hour.) 

I feel bad Sorella Durfee doesn't have a sister missionary stocking to match ours. 

Taza looks good blonde.  Remember when I was blonde too?  I MISS IT!!! 

Also I cried way too much this week for my liking:   One because of Pearcy leaving, two because of seeing Astel,  three because I have two companions in a really big city.   There are other reasons I can't say because I have to send this email to Kaitlin.. >=) 

Well pray for me and my patience this week.. annddd I'll see you SOON!  eeekkk.  Sorry if I look 20 lbs heavier... It's probably the screen. 

Mom, keep your cell phone on you the next few days... 

xx, Sorella O'Connor

&& MERRY CHRISTMAS.

(Email Sent - December 18, 2013)