Week 64

Who listens to Christian Rock?

We do! But we're pretty sick of our collective playlist so if anyone wants to share their collection we'd love it! 

This week we got to experience up close and personal how bad customer service is here. That's over now so we can move on to missionary work. We taught some legit Nigerians and some not-so-legit ones too, not too different from any other week here. Fun stuff. 

You've heard of tongue twisters but have you ever tried a brain twister? I did one on Sunday: translating sacrament meeting from German to Italian. It's exhausting but fun, kind of like playing sports. Also in case I haven't said it enough: the gift of tongues is real! 

The American Military Relations Senior couple came to do apartment inspections aka sight-seeing around Italy and delivering American food from on-base. Being the only American Missionary in the whole region of Südtirol means I know the good stuff. Now I will give you a list of foods you probably have in your pantry and take them for granted: Ranch, flavor-blasted goldfish, Vlasic dill pickles, root beer, butterfingers, Kraft Mac&cheese. Italian food is great and all but American food has my heart. It was a joyous day when these items were delivered. Ok I'm being a bit dramatic but there's nothing else to rant about this week. 

I love being an American, temporarily living in Italy (more like Austria at the moment), preaching the word of God and meeting so many strange, wonderful, unique people. Life is so good! 

We got to teach about the Atonement to a few people this week. It is the Most important event in all of world history yet so personal for every single person.  Every time we teach it's explained a little different. Have you seen the "For God so Loved the World" video? (https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/for-god-so-loved-the-world?lang=eng)  It's really good. We watched it with this guy with a muslim background.  He asked why they had to whip Him and hammer huge nails into His hands. "They did it because He let them. He let them do that to Him because He loves you."

2 Nephi 2:6-8 says, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." 

It is so amazing that Christ performed the Atonement for us and even more amazing that we have the scriptures and so many witnesses of our Savior. We truly are blessed. All because He loves us. 

I haven't skipped a weekly email yet so you can count on 13 more. After that I won't have to write these and y'all will have one less thing to delete from your inbox.

I love you all sooooo much :)
Sorella Riley

(We set a comp goal to take a picture every day. We're trying!)