Twenty-nine: Novemeber 20, 2013 Genova

Sorry, I don't have much to write today, but hopefully it'll be good!

Come state?

Yeah, so Christmas stuff is already coming out here in Genova. ma non c'è Thanksgiving so it makes sense.

I have a calling to extend to Eva btw, or a commitment rather:

Eva if you and the family are allowed to come pick me up next year,

will you prepare yourself to be my companion?

if so, you'll have to study up really well!! Preach my Gospel and the scriptures.

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What are you all doing lately? Drinking lots of apple cider I hope!


Sooooo....there has been a bus strike for the past 2 days here in Genova. The government is apparently trying to privatize transportation, so everyone is strike.  We live on a main street and we are right in the middle of all the action.  It's pretty much always noisy anyway, but it's extra exciting in the morning ha ha.  I don't mind. It's fun.

This week is Senior comp week, WHICH MEANS...I'm senior companion for the week...it's been interesting so far.  I don't think I'm doing a very good job, but I can't improve if I don't practice.


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We had Zone training this week and there was an elder that is going home at the end of the transfer (next week)...

He said something that just got right to me

''I am so grateful that I have been able to serve my God''

There is a sister that we live with that is going home before Christmas, so I've been thinking a lot about the end results this transfer...It's helping to find better ways to be motivated.  I'm going to finish and not look back with regret, but with a heart filled with love and satisfaction.  I WILL love every second because it was truly a repenting, learning, changing, serving process.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I love being a missionary

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It's windy and raining here. My coat is perfect, I just keep having to buy tights, like warm thick ''200 den'' tights. They have those here, it's cool. But now I'm going to start wearing my rainboots every day, and that will keep me warm.

I am all right.  I am warm and dry!

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Your idea for the Christmas study plan is perfect. I love it!!! Let's do it.  We're so connected right now!



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I'd just like to talk a little bit about the girl that was baptized on Saturday.

She is 13 years old. She had never heard the gospel before we taught her. Her mom was less-active because she came to Italy when SHE was 14 and her mom was not a member.  Not because she chose to be, but because she could not be active.  This young girl studies the scriptures, bears testimony, and prays with a sincere and open heart.  She loves Jesus Christ and is learning and growing.  She has now opened up her future to all the infinite blessing of eternal progression and happiness.  She is my sister and we can now both enter into God's kingdom together.

I love her.  She is a shining example to me.



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I love you all soooo much.  I know that Heavenly Father is an active member of our lives.  He sincerely listens to prayers with the intent to give us blessings if we are but willing to act! He knows me.  He speaks to me, and because of the choices I am making, I can hear Him!  I feel His spirit with me and I cannot deny it!

I love my Father in Heaven. I know He loves me.  My Saviour, Jesus Christ, is your Saviour.  He walks beside us. Not just us missionaries, but He is with all of us, cheering us on ''you can do it! you can do it!''. He is our guide, our example, the light that we can shine forth. (3 nephi 18:24)


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The people here in Italy are stuck in the rutt of tradition and confusion.- They still suffer the effects of the apostasy.  Heavenly Father called me, and all of us misionaries, to bring the light back to the place where a lot of it began. To correct the wrongs of many generations by simply bringing them the light of Christ. I know why I am here.  I think I finally understand it. He needed each of us, and our examples, to bring that light!

I say that with all humility.  I am so humbled that He has asked me!  He has saved me and made me something better than I ever thought I could be. I have been healed by the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer, and I am clean!  Please do not think I am assuming I am something great. I just know who I am. I know I am nothing without Him and for that I will praise Him. forever.


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I love you all with a love I cannot explain.
I hope you know that.


I'm going to return and you won't be able to rcognize me...I hope.  I hope I will be able to become who I am supposed to be and leave all of my flaws behind. nooooo I won't be perfect, but I'll be different.



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I love you all.

I hope you are doing well.

I hope you enjoy Thanskgiving and eat a lot!!!!
I hope you are happy and warm!

You are my sunshines...get it, the celestial kingdom?


A Prossima

Sorella Carlock

Twenty-eight: November 13, 2011 Genova

First things first....

The President Texeira conference was amazing! So inspiring, so enriching.  He invited us to have 21 investigator lessons as our goals. This week, we're going to have 21 lessons! I'm excited and ready to go.

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That was Thursday of last week.  I also saw Sorella Hoppe. She told me to say ''hi''. I'll attach a picture.

Then! On Monday we had District Meeting and it was incredibly spiritual.  I had also asked the Elders to give me a blessing, and .....let me just explain first

Before district meeting I had prayed asking for help, trying to figure out a few things and to try to improve.  We go to district meeting and I receive a blessing....

Every single thing that I had just prayed for...answered. All of it.  I'm starting to understand a little more who Heavenly Father really is, what kind of relationship I have with Him, and what He's asked of me.

He said to me, ''you were called to this city because there are people being prepared for you.'' and that He ''needs a powerful servant of the Lord to find them''....

well I don't know exactly what that means, but whatever it is, I'm going to be it. I'm going to find them, I just have to. For their sakes and mine. I have to do this for Him.

I have a strong relationship with my Heavenly Father, ...or at least it's being strengthened. He speaks and I'm trying to listen.

He also said, ''keep doing what you are doing''.  I'm going to do all I can do be worthy of such a blessing.  He's preparing them for me, so I'll prepare me for them.  I can't believe how loving He is and trusting...wow.

I just got an email from a woman from Milano..
We taught her daughter, I sent you pictures of her, she's the one who added Eva on Facebook...

She's getting baptized this Saturday.

Heavenly Father lives. Jesus Christ is Our Saviour....that girl, she has changed my life and I cannot wait to see her again, completely clean and new.

If I have ever felt love of the Saviour, it is now.

This is the only church of God. The true and right way.
If we follow Him, nothing else matters. This is eternal life.



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Well after getting that news, I just cried like a baby in this internet point and I have nothing else to say. My heart is completely full of love and joy.



another sister that I live with got an email from an RM.
she had a little scale or whatever about pride and humility
there were some things written down, its from an apostle talk, and some of the ways we can measure our pride/humility are by what we do regarding these following:

receiving counsel/ correction
what we think of others
giving/withholding gratitude/praise to others
self-centeredness
seeking approval of man
how quickly we take offense
competitiveness


just something to think about. I'm going to be working on my humility a lot.


Thank you for the emails and the love. I feel it.

You are my eternal family and I love you.
We are connected.


I have to go now, but we'll talk again soon!

More photos of Genova

Photos of Genova - in the mountains, on the Mediterranean Sea

Twenty-seven: November 6, 2013 Genova

Ciao!
Come state?
Cos'è successo questa settimana?

So I made wassail this week!!! It was pretty good...to many cloves, but whatever, I had good breath like the old ladies in the temple.

Is there an actual recipe or anything? What else can I make that's a recipe from home?

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I was thinking about something.
Sorella O'Connor made a study plan to prepare for Christmas, would you 3 be willing to make me one for next week, so that I could start it in time to finish for Christmas?

You can use all of your seminary/missionary/spiritual knowledge and hook me up!




biblevideo.lds.org
Watch the bible videos! I LOVE THEM!



We got a new fridge a few days after it broke, it's nice and it works! yay!!!

Tomorrow is the conference with Elder Texiera.  We have to take a train at 6:44 in the morning. So I'll be doing makeup on the train I guess ha ha!  I'm excited, I hope it gives me the driving boost I've been looking for.

I've been studying the bible a lot more lately and I have been really really surprised and pleased with all that I've learned. I love it!  It also makes me appreciated modern revelation (aka footnotes) and the clarity of the Book of Mormon...which in turn makes me read the Book of Mormon more too.



I've learned a lot, now I want to do.  Every transfer, I guess you struggle with something different.. this trasnfer is DEFINITELY diligence.  I need to work harder.  I want to work harder. It's weighing on me a little because every area is different and the work it different, but we can still work harder.  Then again, every thing could be improved. 

Its harder here because the area is very spread out because and we take the bus or train, it takes soooo much longer to get place than it did in Milano.  It takes us at least 35 minutes to get to and from church, when it only took us 15 in Milano.  We went to visit someone the other day and we had to take a trenino Wayyyyyyy up into the mountains, it took us more than an hour to get to the capolinea (end of the train line), and then we had to have her pick us up. It was beautiful though, but travel takes a huge chunk of time here.  We were very lucky in Milano.



Tanney:: who is EMT life? who is school?

Eva:: what do you think about getting your blessing?

Mommy:: how is Seminary?


Also, I'm sorry about spending so much money.  I'm spending it on things like tights and scarves.  Tights here on necessary! its soooo windy! they also cost about 7-9 euro which is about 11-14 dollars- it's crazy.  I'm trying to be conscientious (i dont know how to spell it) but its hard because it costs more here on all of the essentials.  I also bought makeup too....its hard to find my colors here because italians are not pale like me.
ugh!
I really am truly sorry and trying to be more careful.


Let me know how everything is going with you all.  I love getting the emails.

I'll be sending a lot of pictures this week because of our train ride into the mountains. The camera isn't hightech but I think the pictures came out pretty well.


My burn on my hand is ok now, I have a funny scar though.  It's brown tiger stripes oon outside of my wrist.


Let me know what I can do for you all.  I am here.  I want to be of help if I can.


I am so glad that we are a family forever.  I am so grateful for the plan of the Father. What a powerful strength, to know that this life is only a tiny, tiny piece of all the time of our existence, and that so much peace is to come if we but believe and follow! I love my Father and His Son.



You are so special.  Thank you for your prayers and support and love.
You are my sunshines.

I love you

Sorella Carlock

Twenty-six: October 30, 2013 Genova

Hello dear Family!

How are you all?  How has the week been?  Do you have any good stories to tell?

I have something cool...in 2 days, I will have been a missionary for 6 months!  November 1st. Then only one more year and that's kind of scary- I wish it was longer.  I'm excited to be contuining forward.  I'm learning so much and experiencing so many different and great things.


ALSO, Elder Texeira, our area 70, is coming to Milano next thursday and we're having a conference with him.  That's going to be really exciting and enriching.  I'm looking forward to that.

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I thought of something to share with you so that you can follow the apostles and Prophet together.  I have a FHE activity.


Opening Song: Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd

Pray: to receive inspiration fro who is ready for the message of the restoration. pray to be the tool that will help them hear the truth.

Read: Put Your Trust in the Lord  (Elder Russell M. Ballard) October 2013

Write: down your thoughts and promptings and a plan to follow the promptings.

Sing:  Called to Serve

Pray: to have the courage to act on these promptings that you've received and that those people with accept with message before Christmas-

maybe it'll be helpful

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Well, there isn't much to tell this week.

It's raining a lot here.  The seasons are changing again.  I went from Milano where raining season had already begun and now I'm in Genova where it is beginning again.

Soooo...I might have an ear infection.

Our fridge is broken, so we have to wait some time to get that fixed.

Our toilet seat isn't attached to the toilet

AND LIFE IS STILL SOOOOO GREAT! trials, man, they won't get me down.  Ha ha, no but really, these things give us a good laugh.

I really enjoy being with Sorella O'Connor.  We have a lot of fun together, and I am sure that we will be friends after.  I like her and I appreciate her faith and insights.  I hope we get to learn and grow together for a few more transfers.  Maybe that's selfish, I don't know ha ha.

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I hope you are all well, happy, and healthy.  I hope you are warm too!

I wish I had taken more pictures but because we aren't allowed to take our cameras during the week, I don't.  Today I'll take some good ones.  I can send them next week.


Know that I love you all.  I pray for you, and I hope you are being blessed.


I am a little sad I'm not there to see the leaves change!  That's the best part of New Jersey.  I realized something though.  After years of being away for holidays and big events...we might not be together for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, but we'll be together for both next year!


You still have to tell me how you want to work out coming to Italy.  Do you want to come the summer after I get home or whenever the Rome temple is built, or do you want to come and get me (if that is still allowed).

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How is seminary and school and work, Mommy?

Tanney! How is EMT stuff?

Eva, how is volleyball and  that Italian coming?

Let me know!

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Also I don't know if you have it at the house, but I would totally suggest reading ''Our Search for Happiness''.  Elder Ballard explains the gospel so simply and clearly.  I love it!  I read it during ''free time'' aka during lunch and after nightly planning.


I love your studies of the scriptures and all the things you are learning.




I think for Halloween, I've decided I'm going to be....I don't have any ideas.  Since I know you're all such big fans.  What will you be?  You should give out restoration pamphlets instead of candy.  ma davvero!  (translation: but, really)


Also for Christmas, if you send the box early or later it might be better for the office because they will be swamped.  if you send it early, I won't open it. promise!


I try not spend a lot of money but I think the souvenirs I'd like to get are scarves and cool things specific to each city, that's really the best kind.




I'm sorry this email is so scatter-brained.  It's been a weird week, but my time in Genova has been full of learning and growth and happiness....and probably waaayyy too much laughter. JK not possible.


I love you all...please write me. I love hearing from you!


Be good.  Be safe.  Be happy.

As Sorella O'Connor said.

''At the top of the hill, there is always a down slope''....never give up!

I burned my hand, Sorella O'Connor wrapped me up pretty good!

Twenty-five: October 23, 2013 Genova

Yeah....Genova is beatutiful...I want to try to explain, and then you'll just have to imagine or look up pictures on google.

It's a modern city with old buildings...like medieval buildings.
It's a city on the sea coast, but in the mountains....

So we're on the coast but the coast is mountains....with old/new buildings.

just beautiful.

I am really excited about being here...the ward is a lot smaller ha ha.

Sorella O'Connor is my companion.  She is from Riverside, California.
We get along pretty well and I'm excited to be here and serve with her.  We've had fun so far.

We have been having some lessons, it just takes so much longer to get to the people because we just use bus here and most of the people live up in the mountains.

Genova is famous for foccaccia and pesto...both pretty good.
Also Christofero Colombo..his house is really close to our church building.

We had a lesson and it was in this old building.
let me explain...

The doors were huge, like castle doors and there was a huge, wide strone staircase. and then we get into the apartment and it's modern and new.  All of the streets are either mosaic tiled or stone. It's pretty cool!

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TANNEY!
Soooo want to hear something really cool that I forgot to write about last week that has to do with something from this week?

Sorella Bucco and I were doing finding in Milano and we had a lesson in the Park.
We just walked up to this woman and started speaking Italian (of course), and she said in a perfect English accent, I'm sorry I don't speak Italian very well...

So we asked her where she was from....just guess where, just guess!!

Montevideo, Uruguay
sitting right there in the middle of this park in my finding area is (Valentina) from Uruguay.

ALSO! We had a lesson with a menoattiva and we went over there and had Maté with her.

(secret: I'm not really in Italy, I'm in South America) This is so cool!


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So I've had a million personal miracles this week.

1: we got into Genova and I immediately realized it's cold and windy. but it's not rainy.  so it would be really weird to wear my big long rain coat around....I was really stressed because I thought I was going to have to buy another coat because it's kind of like between seasons....there was a beautiful gray wool coat sitting in our closet that I found this morning: on the day that we would have time to go looking for coats!

2: I found something amazing in my Patriarchal blessing that led me to study Joseph who was sold into Egypt because it specifically mentions him.  It was like BAM! study this!
             ---Patriarchal Blessings are so special.  There are like a personal liahona and they tell of all the things we can have through faithfulness.  I love mine.

EVA----receive your Patriarchal Blessing!!!!!!!!!

3: I have been able to write in my journal, read a little of the Bible and Our search for happiness, and be perfectly ready for bed on time every night.  I haven't been writing in my journal for a while because there was no time...but I've had all of this time and it's great!
               ---also in the Bible, I have found so many great hidden treasures and I just feel this fire to study and learn and apply

4: I love Genova.  I was so afraid that I would feel too ''homesick'' for Milano, but I don't.  We saw the pretty parts this past week and I LOVE the people!  It's great to be here!

there are so many more things that I can share.  It's been a good week.

I've felt a fire to get things done and to work and to be out and studying for these people.  I feel progress being made and I am excited to see the blessings that will come from the blessings of Faith that Heavenly Father has given me.  How great is Our Father!

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I'm sorry I charged my groceries to the card.  My church card wasn't working at the grocery store, but then I got cash from the ATM so I don't know what happened.  When I get the rimborsi...I don't know how to spell it in English.  Rimborsements?, I will use some of that for personal stuff I guess, to ''pay myself back''-


Genova is really great. The people let there dogs pee everywhere, so instead of poop its pee.  But whatever, fa niente.

We went to have a lesson the other day and we were right right right on the sea. I'll take a picture sometime. You would love it here I think...maybe even more than Milano. Genova is definitely more Italian.


Well I hope you are all well, happy, and safe.
Keep reading the Book of Mormon.  Keep praying; He answers, even to the smallest of worries...like with me and the coat.

I'm definitely going to have to buy some pantyhose here, and maybe even fleece-lined tights...it's windy and cold.  I love it!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Ciao for now ;)
Sorella Carlock