She's HOME!!!

She's HOME!!!  Can't describe how wonderful it was to hug her!!  Ignore the weird sign (inside joke by Ellie).

Week 67 Letter from Sorella Hills

Hello family! 

Wow, that sounds like a crazy week! The flowers look beautiful! Spring is here!!!! That's a cool activity the missionaries did, we want do do something similar, but it's hard to find the time/ resources.  It's quite an accomplishment, tell them I say congrats! 

Also, I've heard that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a good one, so I'm excited to watch it/critique it! Hahaha, I miss the after the movie discussion on all the things that went wrong, I am such a movie person! So pumped!

That's a small world, with the mission president and all, so crazy! What are even the odds? 

1.  Has being on a mission made you think more seriously about your future?  Or are you so busy you are focused only on the work?  Oh, it's made me think a lot about my future! Speaking of which, I don't want to live at the Willows... if Issy wants, we can room together at the Towers- I think it's called.  It's a bit cheaper, and the room space is larger.  Something to think about 😁 I also don't know about my major anymore... I like everything tooooo much! That's the struggle right now.  So, I am busy, but also aware that it's coming to an end soon.  So.  Yeah! Also, regristration... I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT UNTIL I COME HOME!!! So happy 😁 

2.  What are you doing to prepare for Easter?  What are your Easter plans?  We sent you a little Easter gift.  Well, for one, we bought ourselves gigantic Easter eggs today 😆. They are a tradition here, instead of the Easter basket, they get this huge egg with a surprise inside.  So, looking forward to that.  Also, yesterday was Palm Sunday. Since Italy is still Catholic, we got to have a good reminder that Easter is coming up soon.  Remember why we celebrate Easter, people! Christ suffered, died, and rose from the dead.  It's the greatest event in all of history! Remember. 

3.  How is working with your companion been?  Fantastic! I told you that she was my companion in the MTC right? It's been good to see her, and how much we have both changed.  She's a great teacher as well, so it's been really good sharing the work load.  We will probably finish our missions together, so I'm really excited! 

I love you all! Stay frosty my friends! 

Sorella Hills

Week 66 Letter from Sorella Hills

HELLO FAMILY!!! 

Wowza, lots going on! We had a crazy week too... we went to Cagliari to get my companion's Permesso di Soggiorno (it's like a green card of sorts).  So, we got to fly, and see Sardegna again! I love Sardegna SO much! It was good to go back, that's for sure! We tried to buy the rings, but my card was blocked.  So, I took the money out, and gave it to another Sorella, who is going back next week, and she will pick them up for me.  I won't send pictures, so it's a surprise, a long with all the other things I've gotten you guys! 

We also had a conference for the mission leaders, and for the zone leaders, and our district meeting.  Plus General conference! So, we were out of the city a lot... but it was good.  I love traveling 😆

What was your favorite talk? You probably haven't seen them all yet. I have only seen the Saturday sessions... NO SPOILERS! But I loved the ones by Holland, and by Nelson.  Sooooooo good! 
Tell us about the Baptism in the ocean. It was an investigator of the Sorelle from Ladispoli.  A lot of places don't have fonts, so they do a lot of the baptisms in the ocean!

Love you all! Todo bien! 

Sorella Hills

Week 65 Letter from Sorella Hills

Hey fam! 

1.  Did your transfers happen?  Yes, mama!! My new companion is my comp in the MTC!
2.  Are you taking good care of your teeth and flossing regularly?  Sorry, 'mom' question. Hahaha yes, to the best of my ability!
3.  How are your clothes holding up?  Shoes?   Everything's good.  I've been replacing stuff as I go.   Hey! Do you want a Sard ring? I'm going to Sardegna for Sorella Swensons Permesso, so if you want me to pick you, Issy, or Ellie up something, let me know! I'll put a picture on the cloud share.
4.  Have you read your patriarchal blessing lately?  I wonder if you see any of those promised blessings in your life? I have actually.  I use it like goals more than blessings sometimes, it's been good.

Happy Anniversary!!! 23 years, that's a long time! Mamma mia! The room looks BEAUTIFUL by the way, nice work 😜. 

This week has been really relaxed, my companion is awesome, and we've been able to do some great things already.  We are going to Sardegna on Wednesday, so I'm thrilled! Everything is great here, love you all! 

Sorella Hills

Week 64 Letter from Sorella Hills

Hi, everyone!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support.  I have been feeling much better this week, that's for sure! Another sister from Rome 3 went home the same week as my companion, so I have been with her companion for the past week.  She's awesome! I served with her when I was in Crotone, and she was in Taranto.  We've been doing double duty, because we are the sister missionaries for Rome 3 and Ostia now!!! So crazy, because Rome 3 is about 2 hours away by metro.. It's been nuts! 

We've seen some amazing miracles this week! A couple past investigators are willing to meet with us again! We are thrilled 😁.  And in Rome 3, we found a less active who wants to come back to church, but is having some troubles with faith.  She wants to see us more! It was awesome! 

Do you study the scriptures with an eye to what support you can find in your trials? Yes and no.  So our study time is usually used for our investigators, but I have found many things that have been a real support! 

How long will you have to do double duty in Rome/Ostia?  Until Friday, when the new missionaries arrive.

Because of the struggles you've had to endure, do you feel like your testimony has been strengthened or weakened or a combination of both? Both.  But I think it's been strengthened in the sense that I know I can do it.  You don't know how often I've begged to go home, and then asked if He was even listening.  Well, I have not been given the ok to go home yet, so I'll keep it up until the end 😆😁

Will you get a new companion soon? We get our calls tonight, and the new comps on Friday!

Love you all! I pray for you as well! 

Sorella Hills

Week 63 Letter from Sorella Hills

Q&A for the week:

1.  How is your companion?  Did she go home?- Yes, she went home on Wednesday.  It's been a rough week.

2.  Did you get out of the apartment this week?- Yes, I have been doing double duty in Rome and Ostia.

3.  Are you getting a chance to play the piano/organ? - Yes, sometimes I play for sacrament meeting.

4.  What happened to English a second language?- We still do it every Tuesday and Thursday.  It's a mission wide thing.

5.  How is your investigator that you had reconnected with?- Haven't heard from her

6.  Do you sing in the choir?- There isn't one.

7.  Do get a chance to have any testimony building experiences?- Ummmmm. I don't know. It's been a rough week.

Ah, well.  Love you all.  Stay safe in the snow and with all the crazy activities! 

Sorella Hills

Week 62 Letter from Sorella Hills

Hey all-  

Haha, I love hearing your stories!!! You guys, your normal life is just the best! Keep it up! I'm really sorry, I don't have anything to say really. I think my companion will be going home in the next couple of days.  We haven't done anything for over 3 weeks.  It's.  Been.  Rough.  But. Yeah.  I don't know.  I don't have anything to say, I'm still in shock that she's going home!  Everything is  OK, just pray for my companion.  She's taking it really hard.

 I love you all, stay frosty 😜😆

Sorella Hills

Week 61 Letter from Sorella Hills

Sorry!  We only just got wifi.  My companion went to the hospital, got her appendix out, still has problems!!  I'll talk more next week.

I love you all-

Sorella Hills

Week 60 Letter from Sorella Hills

Hello famiglia!

It's so crazy you are getting all that snow! I've been looking at my weather app, and it's been crazy! You are so lucky! I miss the snow! That sucks about the snow blower though.  Why don't you use the tractor? 😜 What's it good for anyways?  

I'm sad I missed another one of Isabel's plays.  It's weird being away from home, because life sort of goes on with or without you.  I feel like I'm in a bit of a bubble and I'm missing the outside world a bit.  It's probably because we have been inside for 2 weeks straight.  

My poor companion has some serious bowel problems, like IBS or colitis or something...  We are going to do some testing at the hospital today, but if you could pray for her, that would be nice.  I'm going crazy inside.  And she is in a lot of pain.  

But we had a cool week nonetheless! We got 2 referrals, which is like unheard of here! Both are really promising, so we are really excited.  Also, one of our investigators wants to be baptized, she just needs help to quite smoking.  Things are looking up here! Every time we were able to go out, we saw miracles.  It shows when we do the most we can, the Lord fills in the rest and blesses us for our efforts. I love Ostia, I love the Italians, and I love my mission! 

Love you all, hope you have a great week! 

Sorella Hills

We asked our English class what they liked for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...the answer may not be what you expected!







Look at my nails!  The paint is chipped, but STILL!!!










We found a cool park with views of Rome

Week 59 Letter From Sorella Hills

Ciao famiglia mia! Come state?! State morendo di neve? 

Man, I miss the snow, sort of.  Probably because I like never shoveled... but I totally miss the snow days! There is something special about waking up to that phone call 😄 

Rachel got married?! Do you have pictures?! 

Today, I realized that I have exactly 4 months left.  Only 4.  Wow.  I'm almost done! I must say, I am thrilled.  I love my mission, and I am so excited for it to be over... 

Yeah, I'm still in Ostia! My companion is really fun.  No pictures really this week, it was a bit hectic.  My last companion was transferred to Pascara, so we had to sort of pack up her whole life, then meet our new companions in termini.  Then, my new companion got sick. Poor thing.  So, we've been in the house all week! Ahhh! But, we are out and  about today, so I'll try and get some cute ones 😁

As for the package, not yet. I'll check at some point... 

Ummm. Well, my comp was too sick to go to church, an funny enough, so were the Anziani.  So, the members all teamed up, and called and set up doctor's appointments and such.  They were so nice, and caring, even for a Sorella they have never met.  The church is true because it teaches us to look out, and to serve.  To do what Christ would have done.  I love you all, stay golden! 

Sorella Hills