Week 41

a Valentine's Day pic taken last August in Forlì

Torino 35 - Arson & Mercy

The dictionary defines arson as "malicious burning to destroy property". That's what happened here in Torino this week. In other words, I did something incredibly stupid that could have gotten me deported from Italy. But looks like I'm staying here, and since this story has been spreading faster than my fire, I probably should send out a version with all the facts straight. I also got an up close and personal view of justice vs. mercy. That's cool too.

So we got volunteered to do some service: packing books of a private library collection into boxes so they can be moved somewhere else. This collection of books related to every religion/aspect ever. In the section on Mormonism we stumbled across some irreverent/ anti-Mormon books and VHSs that should not have been in existence. The other missionaries were like "oooh ah so bad", etc. but then left them where they were and kept going. And I was like why are y'all just leaving this here?!?! So I stuffed some of that crap into my backpack and decided to actually do what everyone was hoping someone else would do.

Food for thought: What Would Jesus Do? Well, there's that one time He flipped tables and cleansed the temple.

We got home and immediately destroyed the VHSs, then made a controlled fire on a cookie sheet on the balcony. And we burned those books. We even toasted marshmallows over it. At this point we were feeling all righteous and heroic. Then the ZLs called to tell us not to carry through with the plan, as the ashes smoked on the balcony. Oops.

I called President to get my verbal lashing, but got nothing of the sort. President and the APs weren't very surprised when they heard that Sorella Riley had done such a thing. President Allen was so loving and so forgiving. He did have to explain to me, a 20- year-old, that stealing is wrong. It just is. He told me and the ZLs to talk to the owner and make things right. I am so grateful for the incredibly gentle and Christlike mission President. He understood that my personality that leads me to commit arson is also one that will work hard and commit to missionary work.

These events happened on Friday. We wouldn't be able to talk to the guy until Monday. It was the worst 3 days of my life. Up until the chat with Pres. I felt fine about my crime. It had felt like the right thing to do. But then I had 3 nights of no sleep, just mentally conjuring up possible endings to this whole fiasco. Food was not appealing. My emotions felt crushed under a fallen truck. I was truly miserable.

I had decided to promptly forgive the tattle-telling Anziano. I even surprised myself in doing so. All I could think of was the parable of the unmerciful servant (see Matt. 18:23-30). I needed mercy from this book collector guy. Every ounce I could get. Holding a grudge just makes things harder. I knew that I'd tell Pres about it at some point but him finding out the day of just ripped the bandaid off so that's already over.

So when the longest weekend of my life finally ended, the ZLs talked to the owner, while Sor. M and I were in the other room, contemplating which would be better: trying to escape through the small window or just curling up on an empty bookshelf to die.

He was merciful. Oh, so merciful. He dropped the thievery like a hot coal. He understood. We're just kids. We're passionate about this church. Stuff happens. Our millions of prayers were heard. He was merciful.

We called President. He said now that he's also glad those things are destroyed. And he trusts that I'll be a little more wise from now on. We joyfully packed up books for the rest of the day.

So there's a brief summary of a stupid thing I did that changed my life. I learned a lot. I did a bad thing that seemed right then led to sickening guilt then had a happy ending.

So let's change the subject and talk about some GREAT NEWS: V is getting baptized on Saturday! She is wonderful and I love her so much and yipeeee!

A showed up to a lesson with a friend, S. The Anziani were conveniently there and taught him and he's golden. So go A!

A traditional treat for Carnivale-celebrating are bugie. Seriously the best thing ever.

Ok bye I love y'all!

Sorella Riley

Our gelateria is open again so enjoy the pics of me with gelato.   

a ward party 

pictures from service and destroying things