Week 3 - MTC

The District. The people I spend about 15 hours every day with. Anziani: Anderton, Stout, Wijesundera, and Belnap. Sorelle: Schnell, Warner, Knight and and Me!

Ciao!

So a few things actually did happen this past week.

So I played catch at the missionary field with some random Elder who I had never seen before who is going to France. Then we chatted for like thirty seconds. Some of my Elders saw this and were concerned, so one came over to crash the "date". Since this is fairly normal, the missionaries looking out for each other and whatnot, I did not think much of it after we went back inside. It got brought up in branch council and with the various input from multiple witnesses, it was concluded by branch president that Sorella Riley was being stalked by some new French Elder who I knew from home and I couldn't escape him, etc. One of the president's counselors had a very concerned conversation with me the next day to make sure I was ok. Moral of the story: if there is no drama, people will create it. And also I am very much watched out for and protected here.

Elder Dale G. Renlund, from the quorum of the 12 apostles, came and gave the devotional on Tuesday! It was pretty great. He and his wife talked about our purpose as missionaries. There really is a unique feeling when people like that are in the same room as you.

Also another fun story: we were in class and I was talking to Sorella Warner (she goes to the U of U so...) and I wanted to say "fight me" in Italian, so I asked Sorella Russel how to say "fight me" and she said "Dizzionario" as in look it up in the dictionary. I didn't realize that and thought she had give me the answer, so I turned to Sorella Warner and said "dizzionario!". It took a minute to realize what had occurred. Sorella Russell told the other classes of this event, so now dizzionario means "fight me" and I am responsible for it.

We got to witness the gift of tongues in action the other day. One of the elders who has been struggling with the language was doing a practice lesson, and the teacher came over and took away all his books/dictionaries aka crutches. He tried to tell a story...and he did! He just went for it and the Spirit helped him accomplish it. It happened with the most humble missionary in the class because he is definitely having the worst time with this new language thing. It was great to see. I want to experience that but I know better than to pray for humility so...

We got to play sand volleyball today and it was great.

I've been getting so much encouragement and support from family and friends. It really means a lot.

I love you!

Sorella Riley

Anyways, here are some pictures!    

The whole zone, including ecclesiastical leaders (old people)

 Roomies enjoying mom's package The gummy worms tasted as gross as they look, but they're fun to hand out./  Dan sent me the cutest note from Jordynn (cousin in CA)!

Look who I ran into today! He got here Wednesday.  

These 2 were toddlers together in CA