October 27, 2014 - Headed to the Islands!

Well,

Laban and his roommate Omede

The Lord has spoken and I am going to the Island again! This time, Sicily!!! I could not be more excited for this last transfer. I will be with Sorella Pinkston too, who if you remember, is like my bff in this crazy country. I am just so happy. Honestly, I cannot believe how blessed I am. I don't feel even the tiniest that I have earned such trust and such a blessing. It is literally the dream last trasnfer. I cannot even begin to express how I felt when President told me that. He is just the best. Man, life is good. 

Sacrament Meeting in the hotel
Church for the last 4.5 months. it's been good :)

Laban is going to get baptized either one or two weeks after I leave, I am so happy for him!!! And his roommate will be baptized in December. It is just incredible. The Lord is really blessing this place and I know He will keep doing it. I am sad to say good-bye to people but not super sad to go. I know that there is so much waiting for me, and I am just excited. Rome 5 has in many ways been my "refiner's fire" and I bet there is another around the corner, but that is okay, I think this one made me a little stronger ;) we'll see... ;) 

Mom, I am down for that Christmas volunteer thing, it sounds fun! And for the flight, that is perfect, thank you!!! And I will totally come to seminary, I can't wait!!

You could pretty much ask me anything right now and I would do it. I am just feeling REAL grateful, and in debt to my Maker. Seriously though. Life is just good. I am going to Sicily. 6 weeks. Good food. A real ward. An already best friend so we don't have to awkwardly get to know each other. I cannot even wait. I will miss Sorella Decker and all this work we did and the car, oh I will miss that car, but the warm island is sounding reeeeeeeeeal good right now.Have I told you it is cold here? It is cold here. Can't wait. 

I love you all. I hope that you are all well. I hope you are all still studying the words from general conference. I reread "Approaching the throne of God with Confidence" or something like that this morning. I think it is one of my favorites. I have plans to put it into practice to improve myself. I hope I never stop looking for ways to improve. I owe a lot of that to you all for your good examples to me. Love you all tons,

Sorella Patterson

October 20, 2014 - Guess What?

Hello All!!

 

Not much to say other than I can't belive that next week I start my last transfer of my mission... weird. I am just trying not to think about it any differently than another transfer, and to just keep applying the wealth of knowledge that you get after 16 months. It is going :)

Guess what? Laban told us he REALLY wants to get baptized. And he decided on November 1. I am SO proud of him. It has not been easy, and is about to get harder, but then comes his baptism day and I know it will all be worth it. And now he feels it too. I can't even believe how far he has come, and how much I have grown by knowing him. Man, the fruits of my labors may not seem like much to anyone, but to him and to his future family and children, it makes an eternity of difference. And you know what? I might get transfered in a week and miss his baptism, as is typical for my mission, but that is okay, because I did my very best for him and I have no regrets, and he and I are forever changed because of what happened here :) Sorry for getting so cheesy lately, I don't know what is going on, but I don't know how else to express myself anymore. I guess I have always been a pretty cheesy person, and now I don't care who knows? It's probs that. 

Okay, another guess what? RUSS came to church in Rome 5 yesterday!!! WHAT!!! He is a friend of mine from England, we met in Texas years ago and have been in contact ever since, and he has been following my blog thing and then came to Rome for vacay and found me in church!!! Haha, it was the best surprise ever, and I got to translate Sacrament meeting for an investigator of the Anziani and a good friend of mine. just the coolest thing ever. 

Zone Conference was awesome.

My memory card is officially broken. The pictures are still all there, but I can't access them on the computer. Sorry, folks. No more picutres. I'll try something... Well probably not. Oh well. I still love you all though!

Have a great week and live the gospel out loud!

Sorella Patterson

Zone Conference October 2014

Rome East Zone - October 2014

October 13, 2014 - 8 weeks to go!

Hello All!!!

So sorry, but I think that my memory card has a virus or something, so no pics from the Sistine Chapel. Well, you can't take pictures of the ceiling anyway, but still, no pics of me and Viazzo. Mi dispiace! But, it was SUPER fun. I can't believe we finally went. We got in for a sweet discount, I think because of our tags... I don't know if they knew who we are, but whatever, I'll take it. ;)

This week was a really good one, not because we did anything special, but I am just feeling really good these days, like at peace with being at the end, you know? It is weird. Not to get morbid or anything, but I think it will be a sweet passing... okay just kidding, leaving Italy is going to be the worst things ever, and I am not ready, but at the same time, I know it has to come and it is okay. I still have two months and one more transfer, so who knows, maybe I'll see Sicily finally or finally go find Debbie's family. Either one is okay with me. I am learning so much right now about missionary service and I can't believe they ever let me come out as unprepared as I was. This really is the MTC for life. So weird. But I am grateful for it all, even the really rough patches, because at the end of those tunnels I learned the most. Now, looking back, I am starting to see why certain things were oh so necessary and why life is so dadgum hard sometimes, and it just makes sense. I know that these things were probably just sneakily preparing me for worse things in the future, so I should probably hold all this for my wise older years, but I am just feeling really grateful for this chance and for how good God has been to me. I know He has my back, so whatever else is next, bring it on. But with mercy... please.

In other news, our new roomates are some really nasty roaches that are popping up. But, the hot water finally works in our kitchen sink, for the first time since I got here in June. Washing dishes just got that much more exciting!! What else.... uh... Yeah, I think that is it. 

Laban is working on deciding on a baptismal date. Keep him in your prayers! 

Haircut time

This week is Zone Conference... look for pics. I painted my nails for the first time here, so watch out America!

Alright, basta. Love you all. Remember, it is all about HOW you serve, not WHERE you serve. Keep smiling, have a great week!

Sorella Patterson

 

October 6, 2014 - Finally going to the Sistine Chapel today!

Aloha friends and fam!!!

Thanks to Allessandra for sharing these pictures on Facebook!

This week was pretty lame. We were at home for quite a bit of time since I was sick and then Sister Decker got it, then mine came back with a vengeance and now they are both pretty much gone. Man, it was fun. 

BUT. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WITH SORELLA VIAZZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

It was worth waiting my whole mission and not going because I get to go with my awesome comp Sorella Decker and my best friend of the last 16 months, Sorella Viazzo, and her greenie :) So, me and my MTC companion and our greenies. That is pretty cool, cute even ;) It will be a great day. I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Okay, also this week Laban came to confernece, just one session, but I think he was pretty excited and he seemed to like it as well. He is just doing so well and I just love him! I will have to go to Africa some day and see the countries that produce such incredible people. Seriously. They are amazing. I love Italians, I do. I just also love Africans. a Lot. I kinda just love people... ? 

I am finally getting a haircut next monday... it is about time. 

We are really just excited. After conference, we are both super pumped to GET OUT and just work. We are gonna have a great week. I haven't felt this good in a while. I am just so thankful, for everything. Life is always good, even when it is not, life is good. 

 I love you all. Find a reason to laugh out loud today!

Sorella Patterson

September 29, 2014 - Need to Rest

Hello all!!! No time, but things are good, 

I am happy, and Gesi CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take that Satan!!! She has a lot of questions for us tomorrow, but that is okay. And now I go to sleep, because I am sick AGAIN and the mission nurse said I HAVE to rest. I called her the second day, she gave some advice, said call in two days if it is not gone. I called in two days, and now I am bed stricken for pday. So, maybe I will write some of you letters...? But if I am being honest, I will probably read some awesome book on the history of the church. I am getting really into that right now. It makes me SO proud to be a Mormon. I love this, really. Okay, getting delirious... well not really, but my head just hurts a lot and I get naustious a lot too. I also forget how to spell, or that could be the fault of Italian. Whatever. I am gonna go. But really, all is well here and life is great, and I am SO THANKFUL to my Heavenly Father for what He does for me!!!

Sorella Patterson

September 22, 2014 - Last full day of summer

Ciao tutti!!!! 

This morning we had an awesome lesson with Gesi, an incredible woman from Nigeria who is the most incredible example of strength and bravery and I just wish you all could meet her. She really is special. An older member came with us and at the end we were all crying and she invited Gesi over for pranzo next week, for anytime she wants to talk, for Christmas, basically she told her she was adopting her! Then, Gesi told us she had actually been praying for a mother figure, because she is just so alone here in Italy. I can't imagine coming here by yourself with no support system and then facing SO MANY tirals, molto brutte, and having to do it all alone. She is just incredible. PLEASE pray for her, visto che your prayers are working for everyone else. Thank you for your help with these people, you have no idea the lives you are all changing, including mine! I can't believe how blessed I am. I can't believe the mercy of God in letting me be a part of this and help His precious children. But I can't find them all by myself, we just can't as missionaries. Member finding is imperative. You HAVE to help the missionaries. You HAVE to. I know everyone wants to, everyone wants to tell someone about the gospel, so pray for opportunities to do it. Don't EVER be scared of any opportunity that comes your way, because it is coming from God with a promise that He will tell you what to say and do. You can do it now! 

Also, get ready for conference!!! I can't tell you how psyched I am!! In fact, I can honestly say that I have NEVER been this excited for General Conference. I literally cannot wait. It causes my physical and emotional pain knowing it is not here yet. If you get to watch it live, don't you dare miss a single session!! If you have to watch it after, make sure you have the same spirit of humility and worship and you are ready for anything they tell you. Listen to the twelve. They will always lead us to safety. I love you all and am praying for you. I hope you all have an awesome week and that you are all happy and well. 

Con amore,

Sorella Patterson

September 15, 2014 - Didn't make it to the Sistine Chapel!

Hey everyone!!

Celebrating Sorella Decker's birthday

Tomorrow, so many of my best mission friends are going back home to America!! I can hardly believe it. This thing goes by so fast and I just can't handle it! I am so not ready for this to be over. But, it is not, so no worries. Also, Sorella Viazzo just got transfered to Ostia which is in the Rome Zones so we will totally do a pday insieme and maybe go see the sistine chapel finally, since I still haven't seen it..... Yeah, we didn't get to see it yet, haha. Maybe I never will. That's okay, because Amède came to Church!!! I could hardly believe it!!! All of your prayers paid off and he came and seemed to have a good experience. He and Laban were both there which was pretty stressful, but awesome. Definitely worth the stress if it helps them prepare for their baptismal dates and helps them feel the spirit to get their answer. Our work is giong pretty well right now. We have a lot to be grateful for, and we can see the Lord blessing this area. I am grateful to all of you who are praying for Amède and Laban. It has helped them more than you can know. Opposition is hitting ALL of our investigators REALLY HARD right now. It is horrible, proprio horrible. I won't describe it, and it is different for each one, but it is really hard. I wish I could protect them from the world, you know? And from doubts and fear, and just from Satan in general. I have been having cool experiences though and I KNOW that no matter what, God is more powerful. The thing about darkness and light is that no matter how much darkness you have, one tiny little flame is enough to chase the darkness away. Darkness can NEVER overpower light, it just is not possible. In the end of it all, I already know who will win. I just want as many people to be on the winning team, cioè Christ's team, as possible.

I love each of you. Thank you for reading my emails, it makes me feel good, and that I am serving more people (assuming these emails ever help people ;) ). But really, thank you. Thank you for the emails I get back too, that is really nice. I love y'all,

Sorella Patterson

No, we didn't make it to the Sistine Chapel. It was the Vatican, but just the big church in front, the Basilica. I know, I know, I need to go and I REALLY want to. Next time I go to the Vatican will be for real!

Me, Alessandra, Sorella Decker