Alison's letter for this week

Hey,

So funny thing Sister Pearce was my favorite sister missionary here. She left last week for Milan. I want to share an experience that I had at TRC on Monday. Mom this is were we teach members of the church who just volunteer and come in for us to teach. Anyway we were teacher a member named Ted and he served in Milan. We were sitting there teaching about the BOM and of course it was in Italian. He begins to say something and he just breaks down in tears. That was a bit of a shock because I did not expect a full grown man to start crying from my collega and mine's teachings. I really never thought that the spirit would be that strong. The funny thing Is I sort of knew something was going to happen. After my collega said the prayer my heart was racing like it was going to leap out of my body. But I was just glad we could help him. 

Now mom it really depends on the day which scripture I like. This is hard because I really like D&C scriptures but I also like 2 Nephi 31: 20, but I really like D&C 59:23. Oh so I can now send photos, I will do that another time, they installed these machines so we can do that. 

I got conner's letter, but yours did not come with it. So i will tell you when I get it. Thank you. That is good that she is getting ready to go back to school. Parker is going to love those early mornings. Oh and Conner does not have to worry, like I said our district is probably the most disciplined. We have people constantly telling us that so his prayers are definitely answered. Oh we finally got knew girls in our room, they are going to the states. 

I am not going to say this next line to brag or anything, but one of our teachers told us sometimes how he thinks our district is destined to be leaders. He says this because he has just been amazed at our progress, at least I think. The other groups are not at the level we are at, but people keep saying things like they heard while their friend was on a mission how they were told that boys are sent to America to become men and men are sent to Europe to become apostles. They say that an apostle said that. But in reality, I think it does not matter where you go. The Lord knows the intentions of your heart and he chooses his leaders not the worlds idea. But then again I do not know. 

Ours teachers are switching up again and I think it would be nice to wish for consistent teachers. Well I cannot think of a lot that has happened this week. Except for that when I went to the temple last week I asked God if he would help me be patient with those around me and it has been a slow progression but it is working. Oh and since two anziani that are companions in our district were just getting frustrating with each other and taking behind each others back finally resolved it, after my collega and I forced them to take. They just were to concerned about it and did not want to get their feelings out. But after one of the Anziani came over to us and thanked us. He said thank you for making me do something that I did not want to do. It really was actually what I needed. Well at least I do not have to listen to the complaints anymore and now they finally get along and are working as a team. The day they worked it out that night was the first time they actually bore their testimonies together, yay,

Anyway I love you all and hope everything is still going well and I am glad james is feeling better. Love you guys, 

Love 

Email from Alison for last week

Hey Family,

HAha I am glad you enjoyed my last email. Yes I thought you would enjoy my little testimony in italian. Don't worry I know more than that. But haha I am glad that Conner's prayers have been answered. Want to know something funny, when the church primary president came she told us to think about how all the children are praying for us, so I guess that is how it is. I showed everyone conners letter because I loved it and everyone is like in love with him. I am glad that everything is organized for Parker at school. Let us hope it is all going well. Yes mom I can see the pictures and my fellow missionaries think that I look like you. Mom I have realized that I can easily understand spanish as well. We have had a few people bare their testimonies in spanish and other things and it is not that had to understand. But I think when deals with the gospel it is pretty easy, but others things are different.

So for our devotional the other day Elder Neil Anderson came and spoke and since it was Presidents Monsons birthday we sang a birthday song for him it was funny. What Elder Anderson spoke on was everything that President Monson would say if he was here and hit 9 points, I would type them but I left my journal in the classroom and we are not allowed to go into the classroom if we are not in church attire.

I am trying to think of other things that have happened but I am completely drawing a blank I am sorry.  Oh the other missionaries in my room left on Monday so our room has been really quite. It is just me and my collega sorella willis. Let me tell you it has been nice, we get to bed on time and get to sleep with out interuptions. We are not getting any new people until next week, but we do not even know if we are. We wonder if they are going to wait until the next group of italians come in because it is in three weeks.

Let me tell you of what me and my collega sorella willia are doing as service at the mtc. Since we have been feeling like there are different things we can do. Each night we are sort of doing like a secret note for a group of girls on our floor. We go and place it on their day and pretty much run away as fast as we can in order not to get caught in the action. The other night was a close one we were placing it on the door and after we did the door began to open. I booked it, I ran as fast as I could away. I think my collega thought I was crazy (pazzo). But anyway we are currently writing one for one of the sorelle in my ramo (branch) because she has been having a hard time and she is one of the sorelle I connect with the most. Sorella Durffee is her name she is so sweet. I do splits with her because she likes to work out and my companion does not like to much physical activity. But anyways we do it to try and brighten up others days.  

Oh on another note, I think I scared my collega the other day, I was went into to line to get a wrap, the wraps take forever, but they are better than eating something I do not want to eat. But anyways the line took 25 minutes to get the food and when I finally got the wrap and went back to the italian table she looked like she had been driven crazy on why I was not back. She said our district leader had said that I hope she did not die. HAHA I felt like sometimes the lines take forever. Good thing we get at least 45 minutes for lunch.

Well I hope you all are going to have a wonderful remainder of the week and I love you all. Oh give Parker a hug from me, because I know how much he is not the biggest fan of hugs and a kiss hahaha. Oh and Conner too, I could never forget the muchine.

Love

Sorella Alison Hansone

Email from Alison

MOM and Dad,

Well Mom I can truly say I met you friends daughter. I was going to the bathroom and I was waiting for one of the stalls to open and guess who came after me no one othyer then sister carter. It was strange because when I saw her I automatically knew it was her. I think she might have thought I was a little strange at first. But then she remembered who I was and said do you have two older sister? I said yes and she was like oh I know who you are. We just laughed at the irony of meeting in the bathroom.

So last Sunday Dad president soni like the one who used to be president in florida when we were in the hunters creek was presiding in my sacrament meeting and my district meeting. Dad he was like I know your dad very well and I just thought wow what a small world. He could not believe that you had a daughter going on a mission.  

So I have realized how glad I am in the district I am in. The other districts goof of and do not study the language as much as mine. Not saying that we do not have our moments, but when we are supposed to be doing our study time the other groups are not and I think because ours is I have learned so much and teaching has become so easy in italian. On Monday we had are first TRC and it was awesome, because I finally was able to have a conversation were I actually understood what was being said, and was able to make a response in italian. My collega struggles with speaking the language, so I was glad that I was able to help by speaking as much as I can. Not that I should be the only one talking but if I can make it so that our teachings flow I am fine with it. I also taught some one I know at the  TRC a friend from my previous ward at BYU. Right as I walked into the room we both just started laughing and the situation. But the language is coming along well. God has truly blessed my district I believe with the ability to learn the language. Even our teachers are amazed. I am only saying this to show you that God is truly helping us. Because I have been thinking that I would not have been this far in two weeks with out him. I cannot even believe I have been here that long and my group is already going onto the third. It is kind of sad because we have two districts in our group that are leaving for italiy on tuesday and I know we will see them there, but once you have spent so much time everyday being around people you truly grow to love them.

This last week I was frustrated and was lacking patience in certain areas, for instance you know how easily I can get annoyed by other people. So I was frustrated with the fact that our group was always work, work ,work and not having fun, that was uo until yesterday when I say how important it was. But a sorella from another district came up to my collega and I while we were studying and could not believe that we were actually studying. I was a bit in shock because I thought that was what we were supposed to be doing. Then I realized if I was not in my district I would not be learning the language as much as I am right.

Now those tention headaches funny story. I went into the doctors having a fever, nausea and headache. I came out with an appointment for a physical theropist,my collega and I just laughed after because we had no idea how that would be connected. And neither did the physical theropist when I saw him. Anyway mom and dad there is really nothing to worry about.

So dad I never realized that devotions they broadcast at the MTC no one else was allowed to see them. And let me tell you how amazing they are. I have never not gone to one of the devotions yet or meeting I have had and not got something out of it. I guess when people really talk about the emotional spiritual high you get at the MTC. I love it. Oh the food, well if it was not for the mandatory gym I would be fat. But just so you know I am not, if anything I have lost a pound.

Well I am glad to hear that Conner started school, I hope this school works for him. Tell him I love him and I good luck or in italian we say boca da luppa and you are supposed to say I hope the wolf dies. I want to bear my testimony in italian and I hope I spell everything ok. By the way I have never beared my testimony so many times in italin it is crazy.

Io so che Gesu Cristo e rendentore. Io so che joseph smit e thomas S. Monson sono profeti. Io so che Gesu crist viene a liberita da nostro peccati. Io so che questa chiesa e vero. Io testimonianza reguardo il potere di preghiera. Del nome gesu cristo amen.

I did not have time to do the accents. I love you all.

Love

Ali

Alison's first email

Part of Alison's first email to us. It is not all of it because the other is personal stuff.

Hey Mom and Dad

The MTC well I have to study for 9 hours italian everyday or at least that is what I have been doing lately. I can officially pray in italian and I know how to bear my testimony and I pretty much speak it as much as possible. The first day was a little crazy and yes mom my tag does say sorella Hanson. The food well at times is not the greatest. You know I did not know I was a picky eater  until I came here. Like the other day all they had to eat was everything that I do not eat. But I improvised and had something else. My schedule, I wake up everyday at 6 because the showers are normally taken in the morning and I want to make sure I have enough time. I have study time from 7 to 7:30. Breakfast from 7:30 to 8 and then class from 8 to 11. Then we have personal study from 11 to 12:15. Lunch from 12:15 to 1, Language study from 1 to 2:10, classroom tme from 2:10 to 5:15. Then dinner from 5:15 to 6 and every other day I have gym at 6:10 and then it changes the other days to 2. I prefer 6:10 because it is cooler outside when that occurs.

But we have given five lessons in italian. And it is a little hard sometimes to concentrate when I am writing in english because my mind want it to be italian. My collega and I cannot do our prayers in english it is just weird. Now about your friend's daughter funny story, so last night I was doing one of my contacts, which means our district is doing a goal to bear our testimonies in italian once a day to a random stranger, so the elders we were bearing our testinmonies to turned out to be in her district and I just told them to tell her hi for me because I have no idea where she is, but I got that far :).

 It is kind of weird that I have to go around with another person, trust me that will take some time to get used to. And we have walked around it the temple and yes I took pictures. Everything you bought is ok, but I think I might want to send home a few things because we did not need the 4 sheets and if I have anything else I will. Oh so apparently in italy, we get to wear sandals during the summer YAY. So one of my shoes gave me blisters the other day so painful. I really so not know what to say.

First letter

Yesterday we received Alison's first letter from the MTC.  She said that on that first week at the MTC they did not have a p-day and they were asked to write a letter to their family.  She had her first opportunity to teach someone in Italian.  Her companion is Sorella Willis from Jacksonville, FL.  They were excited that they are both from FL.  There are 6 girls in her room, 3 going to Spanish and 3 going to Italian. There were 28 missionaries that came the same day as Alison that are going to Italy, 11 to Milan and 17 to Rome. She said they practice Italian 9 hours a day and about 8 of that is spent in the classroom. She ended saying that we don't have to worry. She knows how much her mother worries, haha.

Sorella Willis, Hermana Abrica, Sorella Hanson, Hermana Servin,  Hermana Wilson,  Hermana Quiros

Sister Anderson,Sorella Willis, Sister Chavarria, Sorella Hanson

Going to the MTC

On Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Alison went into the MTC.  I have to say it was very hard for me to see her go. But I know she will do a great job on her mission.  Since she was a little girl, she has always wanted to serve a mission.

In front of Mom's house just before we went to the MTC

In front of the MTC

In front of the MTC

As we dropped her off

The week before going in the MTC

Alison and I had a very busy week before she went in the MTC.  She sure helped me a lot with Conner while I had to help Ashley during the birth of Nora. Alison and I went shopping a lot for all the things she needed for her mission. 

She was able to see Nora before going in the MTC

Here she is watching the kids while they looked at Nora through the window when Nora was in the NICU