and Happy middle of transfer transfers.
We live with the Sister Training Leaders. They serve in Genova 2, us in Genova 1. One finished today and so President put us in a TRIO. So we are in a trio, covering all of Genova with only 1 Sister Training Leader.
It's just for 3 weeks but what a challenge! I'm excited. I think it'll help me to learn some of the things I've ...unlearned, let's say, or the things I need to improve on. Plus, I like Sorella Durfee a lot and so I think it'll be really cool. We'll have to move all of our beds into one room and adjust some stuff, but this way, we can all spend Christmas together.
There are some things that we are allowed to do for Christmas. We ARE allowed to go to midnight mass if we want....I don't want to. I think it's a contradiction to our calling. And New Jersey and New York are full of catholic churches, I can go when I get home if I want. Also, we are allowed to watch one Disney movie on Christmas....I don't really get the movie thing ha ha, I think it's silly, but if you have any good Disney suggestions, let us know!
For New Years, we have to be in by 5pm!!!! Want to know why?
Because Italians take the phrase ''out with the old, in with the new'' literally. People throw old appliances and furniture out the window into the streets...yeah, we're going to be in at 5pm- for sure ha ha.
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We had our Christmas Conference on Monday. It was lovely, I liked it a lot. It was a day full of little miracles. Like the Christmas box! Thank you! Like I told Mom, I opened it and took some things out for now, but I'm not going to use some of the things until Christmas, so that I can ''open a present''.
I really like the mug. I was just thinking about buying a mug this week on PDay! But I don't have to!!! And my mug changes design :P . Take that other, non-purchased mug!
I love all of it. I read myself the Christmas story every night, aka since Monday night. But thank you, I love it! It makes me feel really special. We can't light candles, but I placed it on our radiator to kind of ''perfume the air'' so that's nice. :)
We also had an investigator come to the Christmas Devotional and I thought it was lovely. I think she did too. It was a great conference. It was weird because we watched it in Italian, but in the background you can kind of hear them speaking English ha ha.
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Something silly....so we use the bus mostly...lately, I've been getting bus-sick and it kind of stinks! I don't like to sit down because I feel like that's rude, like someone else should be sitting, I can stand. So I try not to sit down even though I get nauseous because it feels wrong. But whatever. Silly.
I have been reading the Christmas hymns, and it's been really helpful. My favorite is O Little Town of Bethlehem for sure, and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Those are good. Very spiritual. I think I'll try to write another Christmas song for language study or something. Cool huh? an italian Christmas song, missionary style...eh, we'll see.
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Could you send me some aardvarks songs that are not too difficult to understand. We teach a woman English and she wants to teach her son. I told her aardvarks stuff would be good, maybe you could send ones that are a little slower paced so she can understand...she understand perfectly but it just can't be too fast. maybe lullabies.
I don't know, just a thought!
Also......I'm sorry, don't hate me for being needy!
I'm almost out of contacts. I'm on my last one for my left eye. They've lasted almost 8 months on a 3 month supply so that's pretty good right? Don't rush about it, It's not an emergency.
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I'm sorry. This email isn't very spiritual BUT! I do have something good!
That talk that you sent me FOR TIMES OF TROUBLE by Elder Holland
I've read it maybe 4 times since I got it and I share it with everyone.
I've decided in order to fulfill my missionary purpose, I am going to follow some advice that I found in it this last time I read it.
He says
Immerse yourself in the scriptures
Pray and Fast with devotion and ...something
Serve others
Be patient
Have faith
...every day I'm going to just something work on doing those things. I think it will change my view of things, while keep an eternal view on it all.
good adivce from a wise leader of the Church of our Saviour!
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all is good.
By far, this has been the most blessed, peaceful, spiritual Christmas and time as a missionary. I am a child of a living, active Heavenly Father. He sends His spirit to sustain me. He sent His perfect Son to live, die, and live for us all.
I know that Jesus Christ was a Perfect Son to a Perfect Father- I know that He can save us from our sins if we come unto Him. Our Perfect Example loves us and can heal us.
I know we are eternal. Miracles exist and happen every day. I am a witness of a living Father, a loving God. I am a representative of His Son, Jesus the Christ.
That's all I have to say.
I dont need to see Them to believe. I know. I know it.
I serve the Lord because I love Him. I repent and change because He has made that possible.
My heart strains because I can't fit all of the love I feel for Him in there! Ha ha!
I love my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I can never repay Him for all of the blessings and love and opportunity He has given me.
This is the time where I feel closest to Him. I hope you do, too.
Praise Him!
Merry Christmas to all!
I love you.
Sorella Carlock
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