Week 6 Letter From Sorella Hills

I'm coming out, so you better get this party started (aka, Week 6)‏

Lol, couldn't resist.  

Nothing really happened this week.  I am getting over a cold, so that is fun.  Travel plans, so that's the best. 

UMMMM.... I've taken up biking.  I can do 7 miles before I get bored.  It was good to use when I had a cold because it was enough of a workout that I felt good, but not too much that I felt like I couldn't breath.  #cardioforthesick.  An I am not sure if I have told you this, but I am the queen of 4 square!  Like, wow, hidden talent!  And so much fun!

What else... I got my hair trimmed today, so that's good.  However, it is too short... Like way to short... I am sort of devastated, but at the same time, I'm sure it will grow out.  My companions say it looks ok, but I am not sold yet. 

I missed your email this week!!! Send me a dear elder when you can, I want to hear about what is going on at home!!

Cindy is still trying to convert me :)  Let her know that I am considering her offer, and that she should consider mine!  Read the Book of Mormon, it will change your life ;P

I hope all is well, I will talk to you all on monday!!!

Vi voglio tanto bene!

Sorella Hills

Week 5 Letter from Sorella Hills

I am going to start off with, no, I do not have my flight plans!!!!!!!!!!   I am getting so frustrated!!!!!!! But I guess no news is good news.... I am starting to get upset.  But none of the Italians have them, so it'll come soon.  

This week was quite a week.  My companion had her birthday on Friday, so we all got her some presents.  She is 21 now!  It was the funniest!  So I ended up getting her a bag of Doritos and a scripture reference thing, where it has like any topic you could ever have to give a lesson on and scriptures that go with it. Some of the others got creative.  Like pepto bismal, a t-shirt that says "Mormon, know it live it love it" (if you knew her, you would realize that this was kind of a sarcastic t-shirt for her), and a bag of supper hot Cheetos.  The cards though... I got her one that says "Hey there peanut, you've got an amazing life ahead, congratulations", in reference to her peanut, a Romanian orphan she just loved.  Another sister got one that is like a love poem that you would sent a long time boy friend.  Another got one that was a poem to a grandma.  And one somehow found one that had bada*** in it. Only not * out.  Remember that these were purchased in the MTC book store. But they were all a reference to something.  One was because we all love her, one was the fact that she is the eldest of our district, and one was to the fact that she is her own person, and that she would get a kick out of the fact that we could find such an inappropriate card in the book store.  

On a more spiritual note, we had so many devotionals this week.  Sunday, Tuesday, and yesterday we had the chance to hear a world wide broadcast to all the missionaries.  It was amazing!!! Oh, back off the spiritual line, our district hosted the international missionaries that came in early yesterday.  I had a sister who was from South Korea, and was going to Germany!  This was her first time in the states, and she had so much stuff to do before she was ready for orientation and such.  Like, she forgot shampoo and conditioner, and needed clothes that would be fit for the cold.  But most importantly was the TB test, which is sort of the point of the story.  We were able to do the skin test here, but we had to go to the BYU health clinic to get a chest x ray.  We had a shuttle over, but we decided to walk back, because the day was pretty warm and sunny.  But as soon as we go outside, it was actually like a blizzard.  Honestly, a downpour of snow.  But we had already told the front desk that we didn't need the shuttle, so we trudged back.  This was the first time she had been in snow, so I felt so bad.  We ended up walking backwards because the snow was so bad!  I was like, "welcome to the MTC! You are going to love it!".  I don't think she was impressed... She must have been so overwhelmed!  She spoke so little English, though she was good at using the English she did know to convey more complex subject matter. But now she had to learn German through English. That would be so hard!  Any way, so we watched a delayed session, and it was amazing!!!

I honestly started crying about Ann! I hope she can find peace, and I know the gospel is a sure place that she can find lasting peace.  Don't give up on her.  Part of the broadcast was about how to find new investigators through members.  Which the number of baptisms is SIGNIFICANTLY larger for investigators with a member friend.  But one of the questions that we are supposed to ask members is if they know anyone who has recently had a baby, who would benefit from our message. So I was going to bring it up, when I got your letter!  I was crying in the lunchroom reading it.  I know that this gospel can give us what we need.

As for trek, I loved so much.  But mostly that it was an adventure.  It was something that would look like a disaster if you looked at it in any other way.  But because I personally was able to accept the trials and look at it as an adventure that was going to be hard, it was a great time.  So, my advice would be to make sure it is an adventure.  Not just a spiritual one, which we can sometimes get too wrapped up in trying to make it spiritual.  But instead make it a physical adventure, and the spiritual one will naturally fallow.  Make it hard. It will be great :)

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Hills    

Week 4 Letter from Sorella Hills

This week was intense.  I am gad I got my laundry bag, because a lot of sweating was done, so a lot of laundry was necessary.  TMI, but truth.  

So much has been going on this week! On Tuesday, we had a devotional by Elder Anderson.  It was amazing, we sung Joseph Smiths first prayer, which was such an amazing rendition.  He talked about how we should always testify of Christ in all that we do.  Have His name on our lips, and His words in our minds.  It was sooo good.  

I had the chance to host yesterday the new missionaries.  I am glad that you did not come out with me.  Some families.... Just wow.  They all seemed to feel as if the missionary was walking off to their death of something.  It was strange.  So, I am glad that I have family and friends who see this as an opportunity instead of a death sentence :).  There was a lot of sisters coming in, and not a lot of sister hosts.  So, we ended up having to double or triple up a few times.  Lots of luggage had to be moved from the point where I dropped them off to get their books and such, to the point that I had to pick them up with all their books and such. 

What else.  Oh, haha.  Ok, so I am trying to get rid of the 5 pounds that I gained prior to the realization that I did not have to eat the prepared almost food for every meal.  So, I am doing planks, sit ups, push ups, and squats.  This started on Tuesday.  I must have done something wrong, because the next day, I COULD NOT move my legs.  So hosting with a smile was a trial... Even today, when I had to kneel down to pray was impossible.  It reminds me of the tine that I skied the whole day, and I could not support my weight!  I don't know if you remember that, but I vividly remember trying to come down the stairs, and having to scoot down on my bum.  Not an option here!  So, I'm putting squats on hold for now, and lesson learned.  Do not do more than you are able.

I have news for Dad! No visa.  I think that I have it, but the MTC is holding it for me.  I get my flight plans next week I think, so I'll know for sure then. And, I got a dear elder from Brother Collette... Come on guys!  But he said that you made a TON of money off of pick up my tree.  That's awesome!  And that Jack may have a fire pit job in his future.  Tell him that I was grateful for the letter, but have no way of responding to it, so I am going through you all. 

Trust in the Lord, and lean not unto thy own understandings, and He will direct thy path.  I know this is true.  I am nothing without Christ.  As a missionary of Christ, without Him, this is pointless.  Because I see how much I have grown, and because truth grows, I know that this must be His work.  

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Hills

Week 3 Letter from Sorella Hills

I am so proud of my techno savvy parents!  I go to call, and sitting on my desk is the dear elder.  It was a great day!

OK, so what should I tell ya... I have been trying to work out more.  The food here is just awful!  For you and taste wise. So, instead of eating the prepared food every meal, I now eat cereal and a grapefruit for breakfast, a wrap for lunch or dinner, and the prepared meal for the other meal.    I am already starting to feel better.  On top of that, I just found yesterday the multi vitamins with the metabolism boast! So, hallelujah!  Now, I am working of flexibility.  Yesterday, one of my companions was not feeling good, so I spent like 4 hours at the residence with nothing to do. So I caught up on my letter writing (give me Melissa's address please!), cleaned a bit, and then did some yoga.  I have renewed the ability to put my legs flat on the floor while my back is straight!  I felt so accomplished.  I just sat like that and red the beginning of Jesus the Christ.  That is a dull read if you are wondering.  

What else... I found out this week that my companion is an avid Harry Potter fan!! That was a great night, talking about HP.  When I say avid, I mean our level avid.  Books, books on tape, every movie, Potter more, opinions, the lot.  It was fantastic.  

New years was just another day here.  I stayed up for 10, so I was awake when you all where... It is a party out here.

Gabi and Colleen emailed me this week.  I was great to share my experience with someone other than my family!  

Italian is going great, no visa.  Yup.

I know that the church is true, I know that I am here because I am called but a prophet of God.  I know that the Lord qualifies whom he calls. He loves us, and has a plan for us. 

Vi voglio bene!

-Sorella Hills