Week 31 Letter from Sorella Hills

Oh my goodness, it was a week of, well, everything.  It was such a roller coaster of emotions and activities, that it felt like SO long.  But, it was a lot of fun! 

First, Monday was FHE, which was sort of a bust.  It is supposed to be a place for members, inactives, and investigators to hang out, do a game, have a spiritual thought, and then a snack.  No one came, except for a lady in the ward who I think is schizophrenic... (She asked me if I have ever heard voices in my head, and then asked me what she should do, because she hears voices in her head). So... It was a good start to the week! 

Then Tuesday was a 5+ hour district meeting. We had the meeting, then pranzo which was made by a member, then a meeting with the Cagliari missionaries that went on forever!!! We got like no work done that day...

We tried to make brownies for so many people this week. It never worked out... Well, it did. Awkward, I forgot.  We tried to go and see our investigator family.  We got to meet the husband for the first time and he was interested! The only problem was that the wife is like totally Catholic... And the daughters were all at a meet the pope activity, and having a mass with him in Poland or something... Well, we'll see. 

But, everyone else did not want to see us, or was not home. So, we ate a lot of brownies.  

Then, we had a YSA activity on Saturday, which was a mess in itself.  It was a water balloon fight, which we could not participate in.  So, we awkwardly tried to do our own games, like toss the balloon kind of thing. It was awkward.  But then, they came up with an idea.  Let's dunk the missionaries.  They asked obscure gospel questions, and if they were answered wrong, on not answered in 10 seconds, we got a bucket of water poured on our heads! It was a lot of fun! Then, pizza, so that was awesome. It made me want to be home sooooo much, though! It was just so much fun! Agh, the struggle. 

That was the week! It had a lot more stuff in the middle, but those were the highlights. 

Jack. Why are you getting your motorcycle license just before the mission?

Issy. Metric is so much better.  It just is.  I don't know any conversions, so it's a bit different.  But it makes sense, everyone should switch.  

Ellie. That is so exciting that you get to go to high school! Are you excited? 

Dad. Why did you teach gospel principles? How did it go with the investigator that was coming to our house for the lessons? 

Love you all, a doppo! 

Sorella Hills

Week 30 Letter from Sorella Hills

Caio tutti!

Wow, trek and the Twilight Zone! Sounds like a blast! BTW, I am 7 months into the mission... Only 11 to go!!! So, in 11 months time, I will be binge watching a great tv show to, so take that! 

I'm glad he trek all worked out, and that no one got hurt. A couple of weeks ago, I almost passed out a couple of times on the metro. It felt like I had a fever, I felt so clammy and sweaty.  I hadn't drunk enough water, and it was just soooo hot.  So, heat exhaustion it real, drink Gatorade! Btw, 90 is like a normal day here... A good day here... 

This week was nice and cool though.  I could get away with a sweater if I wanted! I love it! Even Rome, the worst city in the summer, was breezy and cool for transfer day! 

So, I made it to Cagliari in one piece, meno male! It's been really beautiful here.  I haven't seen much of it, but from what I have seen, it is like a totally different Italy! No trash, no dog poop, free wifi spots everywhere, the people are SO nice! Like, so nice.  The ward is HUGE, and totally self sufficient.  There are 8 missionaries in the Cagliari ward... 4 sisters and 4 elders.  It's huge.  I am living in a 4 sister house, which is a lot of fun.  It's weird, because there are things that you do as a companionship, and things you do as a group, and it's like strange trying to figure out how each of the relationships work.  But I like it well enough! 

As crazy as it sounds though, I'd go back to Ostia any day.  I miss the missionaries there.  It was such a fun district.  The missionaries here are... Well... More like the missionaries you see on "The District" movies.  It's a bit strange. Like, they all think they are something special because they got called to Sardegna.  But... You can still have fun, right? 

This week was just crazy, lots of running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to prepare the house and the area for the blow out, and then getting to the island, and the unpacking, repacking, and over and again to try and keep the wait down.  I left so much stuff behind.  I have very few things that I brought with me on the mission... I had to leave so much behind to be under 23 kg.  

My companion received some awful news from home and she could use your prayers.  Keep her in your thoughts. 

Hope you all have a good week, love you all! 

Sorella Hills

Week 29 Letter from Sorella Hills

Buenos dias! 

I got new luggage for €140. And, they have the 4 turning wheels! So excited! 

I am going to Cagliari! I never thought that I would go to Sardegna, since most people get trapped in the "Rome Shuffle", meaning that you get transferred from one area to the next within the Rome city.  I thought that I would be in Ostia for at least one more, but the Lord has other plans.... It's just crazy because so few people get to serve in Sardegna! I'm so lucky to have served in both Sicilia and Sardegna. SO lucky! 

Here are the details for the week! 

1. Our teenage investigator has a baptism date! It's so crazy.  My companion had a "faccia a faccia", or heart to heart with her last Sunday, and she really came around.  She started progressing like mad.  She wants to get baptized on the 18th of August! I'm sad that I'll miss it, but I am excited for her. 

2. We go to see this new convert about once a week.  She is 14. Well, her family is all from Columbia, so they speak Spanish. In one house, there is the grandmother, the mom and her brother and sister, and then this new convert.  The grandmother and the aunt and uncle are not members, and they are mean.  Like really secret and sneaky mean.  They speak "Italian", but it is really 70% Spanish with a couple mama mia's thrown in. And then they get mad at you for not understanding what they are saying to you.  They are all against the church, and they say mean things to the 14 year old and her mom.  It's to the point that the 14 year old won't come out of her room...not even to eat.  If her mom doesn't bring her food, she won't eat.  It's bad. Well, we were there, and this blow up starts.  I can only get like half of it because at this point, it is all in Spanish, but the grandmother comes out, and makes some comment about how we believe in talking to dead people. And then it sort of snowballs.  Something about Satan being our brother, and how that was against the bible.  Well, my companion and I look at each other, and I said something about how I can't understand anything, in English, and the grandmother blows up! Yelling about how she can speak what ever she wants in her house. And then it turns back into an attack on the church for sending missionaries who can't understand anything.  ALL OF THIS WAS IN PROPRIO SPANISH!!! The fact that I could understand anything was crazy! Ugh.  I am so glad I NEVER have to go back to that house.  Being on a mission has made it easier to recognize the spirit.  One cannot feel it there.  It's just so dark and hateful.  And I can't fix it! 

3. Saturday we got our transfer calls.  I answered first, and got my call to Cagliari! Then, my companion. Place your bets! She is going to Cagliari too!!! She will be part of a blow in, which means that the last transfer, there was only one set of sisters, and now there are two.  Yes, we are not companions.  I will be with the Sister Training Leader, and my companion with be with another sister.  This is the fun part! My new companion was trained by the same trainer I had! So, she is like my "sister".  She is 2 transfers younger than us, so we are what is called a follow up trainer, of the companion after the trainer that sort of introduces the greenie to real life outside training.  It will be so much fun! 

4.  We did our last "mostra" on Sunday. This thing is so creepy! Well, it's so Tj/Testimoni di Jehovah/Jehovahs Witness.  And funny story, the Anziani had tried to do it Saturday, and the tjs set up right next to them! So awkward... But this thing is just bad.  Especially this one page.  It has a floating baby head, a guy that is crying, and a casket.  It's bad.

But what can you do.  

This is... Half the district. The Ostia crew consists of a missionary from Utah, one from California, our ward mission leader, me, and my companion from Idaho.  There is also another city that is part of our district, with 2 more Sorelle and 2 more Anziani.  

That's the week! 

Now for comments! 

Buon compleanno a te, buon compleanno a te, buon compleanno a John Hills, buon compleanno a te! I can't believe I missed it, but it sounds like a blast. I mean, whoopie pies, are you kidding me?!? 

Trek! It's here! I remember my trek, it was... Interesting :) So hot the first day, rain the second, and everything soaked and being exhausted the third. It was so much fun though.  It got to the point that we where racing the schedule, because we could.  Would could walk fast, so we did.  Counting wheel turns when you got bored.  My advice is to honesty just have fun. Embrace the fact that it is weird, and bond with the rest of the people in your company. Be good friends with the guys, and the girls.  It will be fun.  

Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you that our teenage investigator LOVES Ariana Grande, like, she is her role model.  She wants to be famous... I hate Ariana Grande! Her music isn't even that good! 

Ok, q and a

In general, people are obsessed with America.  Everyone thinks of it as this place that has it all together.  But they, like me, are just having a riot over this election.  They all think Trump and Clinton are the worst.  They think Americans are so stupid, and that our time is pretty much up.  But, they all still want to move there! 

The heat is not that bad this week.  The week before was awful.  But, we have found a new tactic, demonstrated by many old ladies on busses.  Fans.  Like the ones from Victorian England/China.  They work SO well! At lead for drying the sweat off your face.  And, shirts that you can't tell that your underarms are swimming.  If no one can tell, you aren't in fact sweating. Works like a charm. 

As for choir, we did one practice this Sunday, and... now, my companion and I are leaving, so...

Is there any more rain forecast? Has the limited what thing ever happened? Is NH turning into California? Why haven't you gone to the beach, Jack could take you!? Will you at least let Jack get a nice hair cut? Like one that you pay money for? And I want to see that classy missionary book!!! 

Love you all,

Sorella Hills

Week 28 Letter from Sorella Hills

Ciao tutti! 

Another letter from my beloved father?!? After months of silence, how did I become so privileged? Lol. Trek is really coming up soon, huh? Hey did you take carts from Augusta? Does Concord not have enough, or did Augusta take ours? And yes... You have told me all those callings I think, but not the Crains!!! That stinks, they are the best! No more cookies for the home/visiting teaching! 

Lol, would you actually let Jack go all the way to PA?!? That's crazy!!! And Jack, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CALL!!! Are you like super excited? Ok. Tips from a girl serving in the most fashionable part of the world ever.  Get a GOOD fitting suit.  Actually, everything should fit really really well.  It is important. Also, worth sleeves.  Do not get the wide awful sleeves.  Get ones that synch in.  Take a look at the district pictures I sent from last transfer.  See Anziano Blaise in the front? Do that. Also, hair.  See the Anziani in that picture.  See the Anziani in the Zone pictures. All have it nicely cut, longer on the top, and shorter on the sides. Sorry, but most if not all...actually, all use hair products, like the old timers in the movies.  You need to look sharp bro.  These are my tips.  You are going to the city.  People are going to want you to be professional. Dude, you gotta be fly! These are my tips and tricks.  If you need more, I've got them :) 

Ellie, why are you doing summer school?

Did Manchester get a new mission president?

Ok. This week is a week of firsts! 

1. We all went to Roma on Monday to say goodbye to the Waddoups.  It was a lot of fun, and really kind of sad.  They are so great! But I was nice to be in Roma so that I could got and salute them. Ok, salutare is a verb that has made it into all missionaries vocabulary. I do not know how to explain it more than its kind of like to say hi or bye, or to acknowledge someone... Boh. But yeah, it was nice to salute them before they left.  

2.  We met the new mission president! President and Sister Pickerd.  They.... Seem like good people.  I know he is called of God, and I know that he is supposed to be here.  I'm excited to see how this next transfer call goes.  So. The new president comes in, has the Assistants show him around, he has no information on any of the missionaries besides some medical stuff, he talks to us for about 30sec, and then, the next week, he has to do transfer calls! Ahhh! So stressful! I'm excited to see what happens. Should be interesting to say the least.

3. Thursday, a guy comes to English course that we've never seem.  We start talking, and he turns out to be sort of Buddhist, so cool! He spook like fluent English, so it was a lot of fun talking about religion with him.  

4. I love talking to people in English! It is so fun to find people that way. Then, invite them to English course, and bam! Spiritual though! I love it! And this week, I've noticed a lot of people how use English as the language in common. As in neither speak it natively, but both speak enough to communicate.  We even say a couple, one Italian and the other Dutch who spoke English as their common language.  They were able to build a relationship out of it! So cool, I love it. 

5. We have been struggling when it comes to work.  Non c'e proprio nessuno.  But, we are looking.  We had a cool experience when we went to go get our abbonamento, or the thing that allows us to ride the train without buying a ticket every time.  We get to the station, and I had forgotten my wallet.  Never happens, and I was so mad! It was like a 15 min walk! So, back to the house, and back to the station.  When we get there, we see two women trying to figure out the map.  We asked if they needed help, and it turns out that they speak English, and are from Germany.  We were able to help them figure out their train stuff.  In the mean time, we find this other girl, who comes up and asks us for help getting to Firenze. It was so cool to see the Lord guiding our day a little.   And, we got rewarded with that funny dancing kid video that I'll send via ICloud.

6.  We were able to find an investigator named named Dina. She is from Romania, and is actually a past investigator that we found in our area book.  She seems like she is really prepared.  She is looking for the truth, and has looked just about everywhere.  She really liked the lesson, and wants to meet again on Friday, so it will be a lot of fun to see her again.

7. Our teenage investigator wants to be baptized... We stopped calling her for a bit, thinking if she wanted to set up an appointment, she would.  Then, she calls us, fuming mad.  We smoothed things over, and all was well.  She came to church again on Sunday, and Sorella Hatfield talked to her about our purpose as missionaries.  She understood really well, and said she wants to see us as missionaries.  Then, in Sunday school, they talked about the temple.  She loved it! She kept saying that she wants to go, and that she knows that she needs to get baptized first.  Then, that night, she called us.  She poured out her soul to us, and apologize for being so bad.  She started reading the scriptures again, and she said that she really saw a difference from when she did and from when she wasn't meeting with us and not reading.  She ate up TONS of scriptures, and was reading us some of her favorites.  On Tuesday, she is going to come to the lesson with a baptism date!! Still going slow with her, but she has made quite a shift.  She has NEVER taken the blame for anything. So, I think that she might actually get baptized, and even stay active.  She is homies with all the members, loves going to Sunday school, wants to join the ward choir. We'll see.

8.  Happy 4th of July!!! We had a party at the Hard Rock Café with all the Sorelle in the Zone.  So much fun! I got a veggie burger, of course! At the end, we ask for the check... And the waitress said that it was already payed! We freak out, this place was like €15 each burger! There are 8 of us! Turned out, this LDS couple who is on vacation saw us, and payed for our meals because they felt bad about us being away from home on the 4th of July.  Awe! It was the best miracle I think.  

That's all, vi voglio un mondo di bene!

Sorella Hills