New Girl

I'm training the bishop's daughter. By that I mean I'm training KAITLIN''S bishop's daughter... from Rome.  I'm training Sorella Gillespie.  Her dad is the bishop of Rome 6. nbd.  She just saw Kait at Christmas.. 

(Gillespie Family with Kaitlin at Thanksgiving)

This week was NUTS.  So I dropped Sorella McPeek off in Milano Centrale and Sorella Astel & I headed out to find our greenies in the Milano chapel.  

It was so fun.  There were like 10 new sorelle and 8 anziani and I had a blast seeing all my friends from other cities.

My companion is Sorella Gillespie and I still can't pronounce it right.  I keep sounding it out too Italian and she gets mad hahahah. 

All the new sorelle came up to me and said, "SORELLA O'CONNOR we heard that you didn't want to be a trainer but they made you be one".. #thankyoufratellojeter 

My companion thinks I don't want to be training her, hahaha whatevs.

things that were crazy that happened this week:

So we had an appointment with a really old member really far away & I have been there before on foot because we didn't know the buses & it took 3 hours but I found out which bus to take.  I wasn't exxaaccttlllyyyy sure where the bus stop to her house was because when we went it was dark and raining but those are minor details..

So I was explaining to my new companion that sometimes we get on buses without knowing where we're going to get off, and you just have to have a little prayer in your heart and hope the Spirit tells you the right one to get off... & we got off on the wrong bus stop really, reeaallllyyyy far away.. 

So I had to cancel our appointment because at this point it's too late at night and it'll be too late for the old lady.. 

So I decided that we'll just go to the other side of the street and wait for the bus to come back in the opposite direction, right?  Go back the way we came... so 30 minutes later we flag down the 202 and we're the only people on the bus because it's late (and at this point I'm thinking to myself we are not getting home until 11 and I'm gonna make Sorella Gillespie cry and I'm an awful trainer).  

The bus stops like an hour on foot away from our house. and the driver tells us that at night this bus doesn't go back to Monza.... So I just sigh and say "Okay, thank you.." 

You'll freak out because this bus driver says "Ohhhhh raggazzi.... I'll just put the bus on 'fuori servizio' (out of service) and take you there." 

AND THE BUS DRIVER DROVE US HOME!  We didn't even have to call the zone leaders... It's like you don't understand.. t h a t n e v e r h a p p e n s. 

It was a miracle.

miracle number 2:

 I feel like I've told you about Carmen our brazilian investigator.. she didn't want to set a baptismal date until after she had finished the Book of Mormon.. Well on Sunday we had an awessoommeee lesson on baptism and she cried and told us she was thinking about the first week in April. 

So I told her "no."  Then she twisted our arms until we said "okay." just kidding. 

And theeeennn we had a lesson with her yesterday and when I asked her where she was in the Book of Mormon she turns to....... Moroni 10.. 

and I'm like "CARMEN YOU'RE FINISHED!!!" 

and she looks at me kind of funny.... so I'm just like "Whaatt?" 

and she says "I'm not done".. and starts flipping through the guida (guide).

I take the book and flip the page over once and show her where it says "FINE" (the end) & then I explained what the topical guide is, hahahah. But she finished the Book of Mormon!  

We were so happy & Sorella Gillespie got to do her first baptismal invite(= it was so cute.  Sorella G couldn't understand anything because it's half in Portuguese, but she's a champ. & I love Carmen. 

miracle number 3! 

 I GOT MY PACCO! I got my package! They didn't give it to me when I picked up Sorella G.  So I complained to the office elders because I knneewww it was there & they were just too lazy to bring it over.  

So they gave it to our zone leaders yesterday to give to me & I ate so much junk food I still feel a little sick...#yolo stoked on the brown sugar and chocolate chips... but I'm not gonna lie I was expecting things with Jimmer and Whittney inside.  (Yes Mom, we compare packages.) 

things about my new companion:  

She's great!  I made her call all of our leaders the day she got here to introduce herself (Bishop, Relief Society Pres, Ward Mission Leader.. etc) to kind of see where she was at.. 

and how fearless she is AND SHE DID IT! 

I made a little script of what she was going to say, possible responses and what to say if they said that.. and she dove right in.  (I didn't make my first Italian phone call until my second transfer & I had no other choice.)  

So she's going to be awesome!  She came pre-trained and already knows a lot of Italian.. She took it at BYU. 

reward for the new girl:  gelato

Ohh also there is a new elder who is the onnlllyyy member of his family because after he heard about Brandon Davies (BYU basketball) he started doing research on the church & then got baptized and is a missionary now.... such a cute story. 

moldy

I got a call from Sorella Carlock the other day because her companion has to come here for promesso stuff... and shheee told me that there was MOLD in our washing machine in Genova and that I have to check all my clothes for mold now.... pretty much all my clothes are moldy... sucky. I know. 

can you send me cheap things from ASOS?  and I have to toss my hoodie. Can you send me another comfy hoodie from ASOS and a chambray shirt?.. Also I saw a black skirt from Zara in a window with big white leaves on it... Do you think they would ship to the mission home?  

Sorella Gillespie isn't the shopping type... and she wants to get up at 5:50 in the morning to go running... and I do it.... yeah, I don't know how long it's gonna last... but I'm supportive.

LOVE YOU ALL LONG TIME!!!!

(Email Sent - February 26, 2014)

It's A Girl!

Thank you kindly for all of your heart-felt prayers this week.

Sorella McPeek got transferred to Bergamo & I don't know who my new companion is yet because 

I'M TRAINING. 

yikes.  I need 1,000,000 extra prayers these next few transfers..

& this week was Valentine's Day!!!   Sorella McPeek had a hard day so I just bought her a pizza (like a whole one) 

e v e r y t i m e she started to cry.. we bought a few pizzas this week.

There's such a thing here as kebab and there's such a thing as pizza.  There is also such a thing as kebab pizza.  It would bloowww your mind & break mom's healthy heart.   We had one this week & I just.... well, it wasn't one of my proudest moments... 

kebab pizza and an overpriced Dr. Pepper from 1976

diet starts now #yolo

valentine's day love

But there was also a baptism on Valentine's Day which was awesome.. 

Agata is really terrified of the water so she had both of the anziani stand in the font with her and one said the prayer and the other stood behind her to catch her when she went back..  

The whole time she was in the water she was whispering, 

"Oh Dio, Oh Dio Padre Celeste aiuto aiuto"  It was so sweeeet. 

(translation:  "Oh God, Oh God Celestial Father, Help, Help!") 

look both ways

Also I almost killed Sorella McPeek this week... da vero. (for real)  To cross the street, you just walk into oncoming traffic and they stop for you.. except buses.  I ran.. she was a little slower.. & it really was a close call.. #yolo (literally)

ask god

In church this Sunday a member walked up to us and was like, 

"Io c'è un amico (I have a "friend") e lui ha una domanda (& he has a question) deve chidedere la Madonna o Gesù Cristo? (Should he have to ask Mary or Jesus?)   

I was just kind of confused... and thought "Really? Did that just happen?" So I said, "Chiedere a Dio.." (ask God)  It was so simple, but he was so happppyyy after. 

I had to give a talk in church not this week but last week.. They asked me 5 minutes before Sacrament Mtg. started so that's always a thrill.. But it's fine.  I wasn't even scared! 

baby girl sorella

I've been making predictions on who my trainee is going to be & I personally think she's either Austrailian or Chinese... But she's probably American, which will be fine too.  

I have scheduled soooooo many Italian things to do>=)  Next pday we're making fresh pasta with a member and I'm gonna take her to all the old crazy Italian ladies in the ward with oxygen tanks and cats..

 & I'm going to teach her to say funny things in Italian. 

& I talked to Bishop about her giving her testimony in church on Sunday... hahahah  >=) 

But I promise I'll play nice. 

off with her head

Also I found out to not wear tights in the winter is literally the worst thing you can do in Italy.  Evidently, you hhaavvvee to wait until Maggio (May) or the Italians will cut your head off or give you 15 pairs of tights the next Sunday... it's a real thing.

jacket on your legs... so warm at night

care package

I haven't gotten my package yet because I haven't been to Milan.  I'll get it tomorrow<3  My zone leader got transferred to the office, so I've got a solid in.  

I bought Sorella McPeek something for Valentine's Day last pday at H&M.  There is one connected to our grocery store. It's bad because it's so easy.  

exchange rate

And this week I have to buy 100 new undershirts and tights.. and a new shirt for tomorrow..  I found out I can pay in dollars there!  Like it runs my card through in USD.. But then I also found out that 50 euros equals 70 dollars then I was sad.

I now accept H&M gift cards from all my loved ones.. Soorryyy again Dad.. and I haven't even bought boots yet because I haven't found any I'm in love with.  I'm praying I'll get transferred to Florence so I can buy super cheap, super cute reallly, really Italian ones>=) black or brown?  

My life is so hard. 

I got Dad's thank you card.. & I loved it hahah.  It still made it to my apartment even with the wrong adresss on it! 

Sorella McPeek bought me this for Valentine's Day:

 

Then she knocked it over 

and I had to mop it all up. :(

(Email Sent - February 19, 2014)

Have Mercy

So I got a text message this week saying that I have to pick up my new promesso... in VENEZIA. 

Whhhaattt?  I'm still trying to figure that out & I don't really want to go.  But it's fine.. I'll suffer through it somehow ;)  McPeek is mad because it's after transfers, and she thinks she's getting transferred.  So I might be going to Venice next week, nbd.  

Paige in Venice

be mine

This Valentine's Day we're having a baptism!  Well the anziani are, but she wants us to sing at it.  

I'm just like, "Laddyyy... I can't sing but I'll do whatever you want me to because you're cute."  

She's an old Italian lady who was what we call  "eternal investigators" because they are basically members and come to church and read and follow the commandments.  They are just afraid of commitment.. 

This lady isn't afraid of commitment, though hahah, she was just afraid of water.. lol but we're excited. 

mail strike

We had another zone conference and I didn't get mail again but it's fine.. I'm just coming to terms with it.  

sorelle at zone conference

We were late though because I had to do fingerprinting at the police station.. but we weren't too late because the super cute couple Ronald and Mariuxi (who are getting married in May so they can get baptized) had to do their fingerprinting at the same time.  

r.i.p. poncho

So they just drove us there after! but then Ronald took my poncho away!!!! and gave me his umbrella.. which was nice but it's like.... that's my poncho)= rip

They're so cute though.  We teach the girlfriend English and just chit chat about the wedding. She likes to make us food and look at magazines...  

travel plans

We saw my favorite Brazilian yesterday and she showed us SO MANY PICTURES of her when she was young in Brazil & I'm sold on going with Kait.  She said we can visit her at her house too because she wants to move back soon.  

She lives on an island.. whhaattt?  Like Bella and Edward honeymoon status island. #yolo.  Mom, you can come too.. Also I left my cashmere gloves at her house last time on accident & she washed them for me >=)

break-it-down

I had a breakdown in the rain the other day.. 

(Not really the look you're going for as a missionary.)

Okay not really a breakdown, but I realized I had gone kind of crazy when we were standing in the rain waiting for a bus at 8:30 at night and I was standing in a big puddle, wearing my poncho, explaining to Sorella McPeek the fundamentals of fly fishing, hahahah.  It happens.  

It sounds like you had so much fun in Idaho!  I'm suprised hahah.  I was thinking about you in the cold when I was in the cold.. meno male its not thhhaaatttt cold here.

Valentine's Day is weird here because it's after Saint Valentine so it's kind of like a Catholic holiday, hahaha.   But Catholics know how to party, so I'm not sad about it. 

myth buster

We had the beessttttt lunch on Sunday.. I don't know how to say it in English.. fresh pasta? hahah like she made it herself.. then salad & then meatballs. 

(myth:  Italians NEVER eat spaghetti WITH meatballs hahah always pasta first... then they change the plates and eat the meatballs after.. never together.. that's gross)  

Then we ALWAYS ALWAYS finish with fruit.. then we drink orzo>=)  (warm drink made of roasted barley)  We are super classy out here.  

But really, it was dreamy.  

These pictures are from her balcony.  Next week for pday she's going to teach me how to make homemade pasta. Whhaaddupppp? 

four greats

Anziano Tanner is the great great great great grandson (4xs great) of John Tanner. 

(John Tanner was wealthy church convert from 1830s whose donations saved the Kirtland Temple lands from repossession) and he went on a scambio with the Merate anziani.  

They told all the members ahead of time and they ALL gave him bread because of it... I thought it was funny.. like why bread? 

(Editor:  Because after giving up all his fortune to help the church, the prophet Joseph Smith promised John Tanner that his "children shall never again beg for bread."  Watch video:  Treasure in Heaven )

I really don't know what else to say other than AUGURI to Kait for hitting her year mark. 

Paige and Kaitlin saying goodbye February 6, 2013

I don't care if you don't want to party.. that's a big deal!  

(My fav Equadorian drink Tropicaallllll 

--this one is for Paula Garcia--

 It's soooo bad for you but soooo good>=) 

like a bottled ghetto Shirley Temple.)

Sorry you'll probs get transferred.  

Let's pray its not Napoli.... jk... but you know I'm serious... 

xxSorella Miley Cyrus

(Email Sent - February 12, 2014)

Email Strike Reprieve

side affects

This week was finnnee. I was really sick & had to call the mission wife for advice & she told me to take Benedryl. (I don't remember why & I don't remember what I had.. it was just awful).... 

NO ONE TOLD ME THAT MAKES YOU SLEEPY!  

So we're out in the rain (obbvviii) & I start feeling super crazy.  I'm trying to hash through whatever bug I've accumulated & I don't think I'm tired... I think I'm about to pass out hahahah.  

So I'm like, "Sorella Mcpeek, s o m e t h i n g i s w r o n g w i t h m e!!!"  

(I really thought something really bad was going to happen) but it turns out I was just sleepy, hahahh.  So they made me go home and sleep for 15 hours straight hahahah #YOLO #nonightlyplanning 

CP3 - real intent

We had an off-the-hook zone training.. seriously it was so good.  I usually don't like to talk about the good stuff (mostly because no one really cares that much & pearls before swine), buttt lemme just talk for a minute.  We watched this inspirational video hhaah about... wait for it... Chris Paul.. #cp3 

& then talked about desire and real intent, i.e. one of my favorite topics #sisterTpearceshoutout.  

It was so good.  

(foto cred:  Tara Pearce ;)

everyday

And then there were your everyday new missionaries who love to talk so excitedly about things you've heard a million times.  But they're so excited about it, so you just smile & pretend it's brand new doctrine.  

And then there was your everyday Anziano G who will speak any chance you give him ... & you get super disappointed when he reads all the scriptures because you want the Austrailian elder to read all the scriptures... everyone knows it sounds better coming out of his mouth (in an appropriate way).

And then there's your classiiicccc brand new zone leader's first zone conference ever with President, his wife, the assistants, and the office elders, & you're just crossing your fingers hoping he doesn't word vomit and say a stutter bad word (meno male this time it was his companion..)  

And then it was everyone just telling us how good we're doing (that neeevvveeerrr happennss).  But in the end, we're trying & this mission thing doesn't suck too bad. 

dressed in white

& I'm happy for CAROL!!!  Everyone looks good in white. 

I'm sorry you thought I was serious about the 1,000,000 baptisms here in Muggiò )= we only have one Brazilian, whom I love, si chiama Carmen and the other Anziani have a couple but hey.. we'll get there! 

Last week we went shopping at Zara and I bought 170 euros worth of things for 60 euro! whhaadddupppp?

So then I threw out some other of my clothes and Sorella McPeek took them and has worn something of mine every day this week... c'est la vie 

penpals

Also I feel like the office missionaries in Rome and I have this unspoken communication because I like to do cute things with Kaitlin's envelopes>=) and I know they see it when they sort the mail.  This week I addressed one of her letters "Bambola O'Connor" I feel like they'll get a kick out of that one.. 

Jeopardy

I really don't know what else to say other than I just remembered that at zone training we played Jeopardy.  Each district went around and competed with the other districts on practical information about things we should know

(example:  What's the phone number for the fire station? or When do you need to lock up your bike? or To whom belongs all the furniture in your apartment?)  

But our district ended up picking all the questions from the Finance and Promesso section AND WE WON!  hahahah.  Turns out all those finance books came in handy>=) #millionairenextdoor.  

all-or-nothing
But then in the all-or-nothing round we lost (thannkkk yoouuuu Anziano Chippmmaannn).  It turns out I don't like to lose in the all-or-nothing round.  

"WHAT THREE INGREDIENTS ARE IN A HOMEMADE REHYDRATION DRINK?"  Turns out the answer is NOT Water, sugar, and citic acid. hahahah. It's actually water sugar and salt.  We were just trying to think about what's in Gatoraid.. bad idea

Okay,  I'm out of things to say.. 

letters from 'merica

Don't cross me next zone training and just send me some actual mail.  Emails are fun too, it's just hard to write everyone back in 1 hour and 30 minutes.  We're just on the Lord's errand & sometimes we miss America.

xoxo Sorella, B Waldorf

P.S.  I miss feeling pretttttyyyyy 

water/man repellent

Also don't be alarmed, but the ward gave us waterproof ponchos with hoods and we use them. #manrepeller to the maxxxx.  You would be so dissapointed in me, hahah.   But actually we figured like you can't get annnyyy more embarassing than that, so it's a lot easier to walk up to people and talk about God. 

keep that

And there was this anziano who told us a miracle and said, 

"We were walking in the rain and this lady comes up to us, gives us her umbrella, and tells us her mom is a member in Napoli and that she wants to get baptized because of this dream she had.  It was such a great referral... to give to the sisters." 

:O 

I'm so sorrry  anziano, hahahahaha, but you can probs keep that umbrella. 

(Email Sent - February 5, 2014)

On Strike

" This week I received ZERO mail at zone conference. Therefore I am going on strike. 
(Yes, the Italians are rubbing off on me. And, sorry I'm not sorry.) 

con un sacco di rabbia,           (with alot of anger)

Sorella O'Connor-Kardashian"

(Email Sent - February 5, 2014)