A gift

A sister from the Milano Navigli Ward who was taught by Alison and recently got baptized drew this picture for Alison as a goodbye gift.  Her name is Sharmaine Arraujo. Her cousin Gelyn Dion was also taught by Alison and baptized in the church with Sharmaine.

Pictures

Sorella Egbert, McKell Forbes and Sorella Hanson

Sorella Willis (Alison's MTC companion), Sorella Vardeu (Italian), and Sorella Hanson

Sorelle O'Connor,  Baer,  McPeek, Carter, Egbert, Hanson, Alley, Smart, Unknown, Russell

Six days left before Alison comes home and we are getting ready!

Banner

Italian flag

The Lake Reams Ward Young Women had an activity in which they made these fun posters for Alison

I came up with a candy poster. It says: To our sweet daughter Alison. Congratulations on your mission to Milan, Italy.  It's a whopper  of an accomplishment.  You have been in hot pursuit of your goals. You have been extra smart with your good choices. It was mounds of hard work.  The souls that have been saved are worth more than 100 grand. Your joy is now full!! The Young Women in my Ward helped write and decorate it.

The posters are the candy poster and another one from the Young Women in our Ward that they had signed and written messages for Alison. The activity days girls in our ward wrote welcome notes for Ali. We put them on her bed.

Pictures

Alison's MTC group in Milan. The sisters will finish next week.

Sister Training leaders and Zone leaders

Sister Training leaders and President and Sister Dibb

Email from February 12, 2014

Hello Family,

The baptism that we had last weekend went so well. Her family was so happy  she was just so happy. These two wonderful children are getting baptized this weekend. It will go so great!!!

I know that you talk with G ans S. (On Facebook) We have a miracle story with that. So we were able to meet her family. And we talked a little bit about our message and then yesterday we got a phone call and it was 

G telling us that S brother wants to become mormon!!! So the Anziani are teaching him now!!! I cannot believe it. I do not know if I told you but when she got the gift of the Holy Ghost the blessing said her whole family would accept the gospel and they would go to the temple to be sealed as a family. And it is cool to see the fulfilling of this blessing. Her younger brother was with her at Family home evening and she was just so excited and happy!! So this has been an amazing miracle!

So I have not had bike accidents, but I flipped over my bike handles, but I am fine. Yes I remember M.

Tell Parker I am sorry he got sick. I understand, this last week I lost my voice completely. I felt bad my companion had to talk more. 

Well I can email next week. But I do not know how much I will tell you because I can just tell you in person a little later. (She is finishing her mission and will be home next week)

But I love you all and our week has been very good.

Love, 

ALI 

Email from February 5, 2014

Good Morning Family, 

This week has been full of so many wonderful miracles and exciting days. 

Good News She IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!!! 

She is so excited. We talked with her yesterday on the phone.Her niece, she got up and bore her testimony about how proud she is about her aunt. The one who is getting baptized was crying, it was a tender moment. President, after the interview told her sister that she has a very special sister.

MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!! We were over at one of our part member families house Monday night and the mom said that she had something to say. And then she said her children WILL BE BAPTIZED (there are two of them). So when is the soonest that we can do it. I was left with my jaw left open and then the mom  said, and I will get baptized probably a little after that.  We said we can do it next weekend, so the 15th. One of them asked said we cannot do it sooner? I said no it is not possible. They will have their interviews this weekend. I cannot believe it. It is completely a miracle. I am just so excited. 

The lady from Ecuador, she is doing great. She came to church with her daughter and the members were just amazing. After church they went to eat with the members. The mom with a friend and the daughter with all of the young men and young women and she just loved it. 

So I was on an exchange with the sisters in lodi the other day and I happened to be on bike. Well there was a bit of a bike accident. I am okay, just came out with a few scrapes and bruised up knees. The thing that happened is that the brakes were not working so well and it was raining and the bike slipped and I flipped over the bike. And fell onto the road, but I am okay. 

Oh so I think I might be starting to like fish. I have never eaten so much fish in my life. Clams, oysters, a whole fish and its tail, crab legs, etc..  That picture that sorella Heupel put up was at the Duomo. We went on top. 

Yeah I can get something for them, but I do not know what they want, I will pick something out. 

But I love you all. 

Have a wonderful day! :) 

Love, 

Ali

Email from January 29, 2014

Hello Family, 

This week has been jammed packed with so many things. We did have a scambio with the sisters. We have actually had two already (Cimiano and Muggio). 

So not this weekend but next weekend there will be a baptism. She will have her interview this weekend and I will tell you how it will go. I am just so excited for her. This is the sister of a member. So she was a member referral and one day she just showed up at church and her sister told us to work with her about 3 or so month ago. Oh the two filipino who were baptized they have been telling me that you talk to them (I talk to them on Facebook). They saw mom with a picture of an italian flag. 

Mom with the Italian flag

But anyways they are doing wonderful. On Sunday we went to a members house to have lunch and have a lesson with the two that were baptized and it was just a wonderful atmosphere. We were singing church songs and my companion was playing the piano. So our ward missionary leader just got changed. And I am really excited to work with the new one.  

We had a miracle in church. This family that we have been working with and the sisters had been working with them on and off for about a year CAME TO CHURCH!!! It took a lot of time, but they came to church. The kids enjoyed church and were happy to come. We had so many less actives that we are working with to come to church. We had a mystery woman in church as well. Her parents are members in Ecuador. We were able to teach her and her daughter. She said that she has been praying for a year to know what to do and two weeks ago she felt she needed to come to church. We met her later and she told us that when she told her parents that she went to church that they just started screaming for joy on the phone. We have been just having random things like that. 

The other day were teaching a part member family and their friends walked in and wanted to learn about the gospel. We have this couple we are working with that said they are coming to church on Sunday. Everyday is just full. That Lord is truly blessing us with this to do. It has been a blessing. I cannot tell you any more. 

Yes I got it (the letter we sent her).  The note (her little brother Conner's note to her) is really cute. Conner thank you and I need to give the pictures to them (we sent her a couple of pictures of the Sacred Grove to give to investigators). So I will. Well I love you all so much and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. I know that I will. 

I love you , 

ALi

With Sorella Heupel

With Sorella Heupel