JUNE and JULY

Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 4:19 AM

Subject: 6 months? HELLO!

How are you? A few things first:

1)Happy birthday KORI AND SUNNY! I love you and am sorry I forgot to wish you happy birthday earlier. I am horrible with birthdays. So anyone else that celebrated a birthday in the last few months, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2) I can't believe 6 months of my mission are gone. Even typing those words made my stomach twist and turn and my heart beat fast..anxiety!! SAD! Whyyy is time passing so fast? Ohh man oh man oh man. Deep breaths.

Ohhh my dear family and friends. These last two days have been the most spiritual days I have ever lived in my life. I can't share in words what I and my companion have experienced, but they are moments I will never EVER forget. Yesterday Gelyn Abellido was baptized. She was originally planned to be baptized Saturday. Then Friday. Then they just moved it to Wednesday! Hah it was awesome. Oh my..I love her. She is a beautiful Philippino, young, married, mom to be. She is here working in Italy and her husband is in the philippines working to get all his documents sorted out to come here as well. Her brother is the only member in her family. For like the last two years she has been coming to church, on and off, just for sacrament. But has never been really interested. Then bam. One sunday, a few weeks back, I met her (pretty sure I already told you this but here it goes again) I met her after sacrament and was like hello! wait are you a member? And she responds. Not yet. Fast forward a few weeks to yesterday...her baptism. Oh...it was amazing. I was really stressed out all day because they hot water to the font doesn't work and she is 8 months pregnant. They water was COLD. I was sure she was going to have her baby in the font. Anyways, the moment we all sat down and I sat down I just relaxed. The service was beautiful. These philippino members are just...out of control soooo strong and spiritual. Their talks and testimonies just filled the room with spirit. Gelyn's brother baptized her. It was beautiful. We had a testimony meeting while we were waiting for her to get changed and come back in, and the testimonies shared were just beautiful from the members. The bishop gave his welcome to Gelyn and it was sooo powerful. He talked about how blessed Gelyns family would be and how Heavenly Father will use their strength and testimonies to touch the lives of many. It was beautiful. But the best testimony was Gelyns at the end. There is just NOTHING in the world that compares to the happiness of hearing the sincere testimony of someone you have taught from the beginning of their journey. No words to describe the joy. After Gelyn sat back down next to me, and we were the only two on the front row. And we both just cried through the closing hymn. I will never forget that moment we shared.

My soul is just completely filled with peace.

I know, stronger than ever, that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He loves us.

In Jesus's name, amen.

I LOVE YOU! SO MUCH!

Love

Sorella Simkins

PS

Tyrell, GOOD LUCK!!! Is his email address tyrell.fife@myldsmail.net?

I hear a cousin is engaged? a TWIN perhaps??? Congratulations!

Lizzie SPENCER I need to hear from you!

Any other news, let me know! I love you all so much.

Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 3:48 AM

Subject: HELLO! Ciaoo a TUTTI!

How ARE YOU? It was so great to hear from some new people this week. Just because I am wrapped up and busy in missionary work doesn't mean that I forget completely about the people I love most in this work!! I love to hear how you are doing and what you are up to, so give me a shout out when you can! When I will write back is unsure..haha but I will try my best!

I love this time of year. July is such a great month. Especially the 4th and the 24th. I hope you all had an amazing pioneer day, with sunny skys, fun activities, good food, family, and hearts full of appreciation for our amazing pioneer ancestors. In the morning when I have a little time before the morning studies I love to read about my own heritage. It is incredible...I just have a whole new out look on those faithful saints who sacrificed everything for Zion. I am grateful for them and hope that I can live up to all the blessings that I enjoy that came from their labor.

Milan is beautiful. The greatest weather. Full of amazing people. I don't know if it just because I am a missionary or what, but lately the people I have met on the metro have just born their whole life stories to me, every deep dark secret and horrible trial they have ever been through. My heart just aches for these people that have been through so much suffering...so much pain. All I can do is look them in the eyes and tell them they do not have to suffer anymore. That they have a Savior waiting at the door, waiting for them to open it. Ooooh people, open the door!

The work here is going great. As in...we are teaching a beautiful mother to be from the Philippines who is getting baptized next week. Love her! As in....we have seen miracles left and right with finding super awesome people to teach. As in..our days are packed with back to back lessons..we are so blessed. But I am just STUMPED! We have just a handful of amazing investigators..who have just hit a brick wall! They are happy, love learning, know that the things we teach are good and important..but do not have testimonies. Why not? Because they aren't really reading the Book of Mormon. I don't know how many times we can bear our souls out to these people how important the Book of Mormon is and how it is KEY to everything! The Book of Mormon is the most INCREDIBLE Book I have EVER read in my life. It is powerful. It is life changing. It has all the answers. It is a whole new WORLD of blessings, of knowledge, of TRUTH...just WAITING to be read! and waiting to be prayed about! So do we just keep moving on in the lessons with these people? Just praying something we say will spark some kind of desire in them to give the Book of Mormon the time of day? I would love some advice from any of you. Some advice on the keys to conversion the the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thankkkss!

Something I learned this last week. And, like every other principle in life, it is something I already knew that I learned again. God answers prayers. So just think for a second...when we ask someone a question..what do we do next? We wait for their responce. It's not like we ask a question then just run off, hop in bed and fall asleep..or get in the shower. We have to wait...and RECEIVE the responce. God responds to our prayers, we just need to pay attention to His answers. Recognize His answers everyday. And thank Him for them. This week was a journey. All kinds of emotions. But I always plead with Heavenly Father to change me. To make me a better person. To continually shape me into who He wants me to be. And..and I just had to realize that that is exactly what He is doing! Everything I am going through, and experiencing, is an answer to my prayers. It is Heavenly Father molding me into the person I can be. The process isn't comfortable, painless, or easy breezy. But it is the answer to my every day prayers! So instead of bein a big baby about it I realized oh duh! This is the answer. Silly me!

Vi voglio bene tutti!

Con amore,

Sorella Simkins

RACHEL KIME!! You are an amazing missionary. Thank you for your letter I loved it. I will write back today hopefully.

Malorie ALLRED! Yay FINALLY! I am so happy you and TJ are doing so well. I loved your update. I had a scary dream you seperated it was horrible I was so happy to wake up and know it wasn't true. Mission dreams are the craziest haha.

Kori! You are so faithful I LOVE hearing from you. The pictures of Logan just about killed me I could have cried he is so beautiful. You have a BEAUTIFUL CHILD! I love you!

Ashley Snyder!!! You are the coolest. Keep up the member missionary work, you really are such a good example to me! Don't be affraid to bear your testimony to all these people! I will write back when I can!

Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 3:13:02 AM

Subject: HOLA!

HELLO family and friends!

I hope you are all having FANTASTIC SUMMERS! I love this time of year. Especially because...here in Milano for some crazy reason God has blessed us with beautiful weather. Everyone since the beginning has been warning me how Milan turns into a gigantic sauna during July and August. But this last week it has been cool, breezy, and even rainy at times. Mmmmm I love it! I even woke up kinda chilly this morning. It is wonderful.

What are you all up to anyways? I need some updates from my friends and family! Kori I got your pictures of Logan and almost died. He is the cutest little boy EVER! So beautiful! What else is new in Utah and the States?

Well, the mission is incredible as always. This week I felt like my companion and I climbed a mountain. It was really good, really intense. Ha I just can't get over how human we are sometimes!! God has to teach us the same lessons 100 times before we even get it. It is really humbling, and kind of funny. My companion and I are different but have a few things in common. When we have something we need to get done, we get it done. We have to be careful though to not turn into robots haha. It might sound strange but my companion and I kinda forgot to have fun this last week!! We were just like ok gotta do this this this today and then this and then get this done and teach this and see this person- on and on and on. And then we had this mini like break down Monday. And we were like..woah...what do we teach people day in and day out? That our purpose here on earth is to HAVE JOY. Be happy! And BAM just like that, the whole rest of the day Monday and yesterday just went different. More smooth, more relaxed..same amount of work..we were just HAPPY though! We were able to feel the spirit really strong in our lessons. It was like God was telling us to calm down, and enjoy ourselves. I like that lesson :)

I feel like it is kind of hard to explain all our learning experiences that we have on a mission haha so I hope that made a little sense. I just want to share with you all, to be happy. Find joy in your daily lives. In your many blessings.

So! The work is going great! We had a few set backs..Like our beautiful Philippino couple that had baptism date for the 30th...they aren't married!! Whaaa!!?? They have been together like 20 years and both wear wedding bands. We had no idea! Until Cora, after our lessons last week, was like oh yeah by the way, we aren't married! Will that be a problem? HAAA my heart just dropped into my stomach. I am not worried though, the Lord will provide the way. We have had just really powerful, beautiful lessons this last week. I am overjoyed with the progress of our beautiful investigators. I know they will be strong members and instruments in the Lord's hands. He has great futures awaiting them!! It is exciting to be blessed to be apart of it all.

WELL! I love you so much. Gotta run. Please let me know how you all are doing!

Love

Sorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 3:48 AM

Subject: OOHH the JOY! CIAO FAMILY!

oh my GASH I am so blessed to be a MISSIONARY. What in the world did I do to deserve this. I have never felt such joy in my LIFE. Heavenly Father LIVES and LOVES US. He ANSWERS PRAYERS. He is OMNIPOTENT.

So last week I was feeling this like pressure on me and the work, a little distress, a little worry. I was trying to lean on my own strength to do this work. OOH my...now.. I can't even count the blessings there are too many. Heavenly Father has just poored blessings upon my companion and I here in Milan. This last week we have found God's elect, prepared children. They are INCREDIBLE. I have SO much love for these people, I had no idea it was possible for me to love someone so much after 2 meetings with them.

Corra and Peter. A philippino couple. I found Corra on the Metro, got her number. Called, she didn't want to see us, said she would call me back. Called again a few days later, same thing. Called again (ha, persistance right?) And she let us come over. We taught her husband and her and 3 friends. TEARS. Oh my it was incredible. Corra and Peter came to all three hours of church, even after Peter the WHOLE NIGHT before. We taught them again Monday the plan of salvation. They just cried. They have been waiting for this. They bore such sweet testimony of how they know this is true and how much God has blessed them. They are getting baptized July 30th.

Giacomo. Italian. Degree in Philosophy. Foreign languages specialist. Extremely SMART. Knows the bible very well, a huge believer in Christ. And....HUMBLE. Humble. Oh my..this incredible man has his heart completely open to learning about Jesus Christ from two little 21 year old girls who know hardly anything. He also came to all three hours of church Sunday. We have had two lessons with him. He is so sincere. AHH I just can't even explain how amazing he is, being SO smart, yet humble and willing to learn and accept what ever path the Lord has for him. HE IS GOLDEN.

Veronica. A beautiful young girl from Nigeria. We teach her in english. She had decided she wanted to get to know Jesus better and wanted to learn more about the bible. Next day, meets the missionaries. She came to all three hours of church sunday. She is so sensitive to the spirit. She does not want to be one that joins a church and then a year later joins another church, so she is sincerely searching to know if this church is true. I know God will answer her prayers! She is amazing, I love her so much!

Carlos. Ecuadorian. Works for 4life, I don't know too much about it other then the owners of this huge company, the Lisonbees, served here in Milano last year. I have heard nothing but amazing things about them, and I know that this company and product has changed the lives of many. Carlos has studied with Gehova's witnesses, Evangelists, ect, claims to be catholic. But he is in the search of the truth. He knows God has a plan for him and a future for him in His church, and he wants to know where that is. We have had 2 great lessons with him. He is sincere and spiritual. He is INCREDIBLE!!

Graziella. Italian. Former school teacher. Very smart. Brings her notebook full of notes and her Libro di Mormon to every lesson, underlined, ready to discuss. She knows that Jesus Christ is our Savior. She is a volunteer at some sort of hospital, she serves everyone around her, takes care of her family, she is an amazing women. Teaching her is a delight, even if she uses real big italian words that I don't understand half the time :) Ahh I love her.

Karina. A beautiful girl from Bolivian. Half her heart is soft as butter, half is hard as rock. Bolivians are AWESOME such firm believers but ahhhhhhh sooo testarda somtimes (stubborn). Gosh I love her so much. She is progressing slowly but surely. Every lesson her hearts softens a bit more. We had a beautiful lesson in Alma 32 yesterday. Humility and FAITH! She has the determination to keep nurishing her seed.AHh I love her!

Gelyn. Philipinna. We haven't even taught her yet. She was came to all three hours of church Sunday. When I asked her, wait, are you a member of the church? She replied with a big smile, No, not yet! Hahahahahahaha. Ohh my how AWESOME. We teach her friday. Can't wait.

Can you see why I am crying with JOY? What in the WORLD! Heavenly Father is GRANDE. He is POORING blessings upon us. I feel like dust. I am honored to be a tool in his HANDS TO BRING TO PASS THE ETERNAL LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN! This is just a part of the work we have seen in this last week. MIRACLES. LEFT AND RIGHT. It is out of control. My heart is FULL!!!!!!!!!!!! Of joy. Of thanks. Of humility. OF LOVE. Love love LOVE. I love these people. I love them so much. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. GLORY TO GOD. Years ago when I was 17 and thought to myself "Ah, I am so blessed. I need to go on a mission to pay back even a fraction, to show how thankful I am." HA what a JOKE. Little did I know what even GREATER blessings awaited me. It is incredible.

A cool little thing happened yesterday. So we take the metro everywhere. I am on the metro all the time, talking to allllll kinds of people. Yesterday I sat down next to this nice youngish Italian couple. I started talking to them and immediately it was like my spirit started dancing inside of me. I was just over come with happiness, I still don't know why. I only had a short few minutes with them, bore testimony of the Book of Mormon, gave it to them, and got their number and a return appointment...but something was just so different about them. I literally got off the metro, just smiling and laughing with joy. Soo happpyy inside. I don't know what will happen with that couple, but I am excited to find out what! They are special.

Please, everyone. STOP TRYING TO TAKE ON THE WORLD BY YOURSELF. It is NOT possible. STOP TRYING TO DEPEND ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH. It will NEVER be ENOUGH! FOLLOW THE SAVIOR. Turn to Jesus Christ. Give yourself to Him and you will experience joy. You will be happy. You will find peace. Not joy, happiness, and peace that lasts a few days, maybe a week. But joy, happiness, and peace that is everlasting. He is near you, just WAITING to bless you. LET HIM. Please let Him.

I KNOW THAT GOD LIVES. And I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love,

Sorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 4:24 AM

Subject: WOW HELLO!

This will be the shortest update YET! I am sorry! My new companion is a speed demon, she's already done and I haven't even started this email! Yikes!

Things are fantastic in Milan! The weather is hot but beautiful! I have a fantastic new companion fresh from the MTC, her name is Sorella Sloan, she is from Conneticut, she is extremely smart, down to earth, logical, yet spiritual! She is diligent and devoted to the work. It is fantastic, I love her!!!! She even goes running with me in the morning, bless her heart! The work is exciting. Miracles are happening. I am feeling challenged and stretch in many ways, but I love my Heavenly Father and am striving to do His will. My companion pointed out a beautiful line from Preach My Gospel to me today. It says something like- alining our will with the Lord's will through repentance is the purpose of our existance. So I invite you all to repent :)

I love you so much!

Love

Sorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 5:40 AM

Subject: End of my 2nd transfer.

CRAZY! IL TEMPO VOLA

I cannot believe another transfer has gone by. WHAT? It was only my second one and it passed in a blink! How is that possible? They say it only gets faster. I don't see how that is possible at all.

I keep wondering when I am going to get that tranfer from heck where all I do is knock doors 25 hours a day and have the worst companion and never teach and get nothing but pure rejection. I don't think it will every come, because these last few transfers have been absoultely incredible! I love Milan. I love Rachel Ryan. I love being a missionary and I never want to stop.

So Sorella Ryan and I are lucky and got to find out transfer changes early! We got a call from the President Monday! Because..Sorella Ryan will be an office sister next transfer. And I will be training. hahahahaha. Oh man. This is going to be interesting.

SO! What is going on. Our two investigators with baptism dates for July 16th are awesome! Old Satans been tryna get them down, but they are still going strong. Pray for them! One is from Brazil! She is beautiful, young, married, and so prepared its out of control! The other is from China, she also is young, gorgeous, a student, and soo smart! Teaching them..is just incredible. We are teaching the young generation! Future leaders of the church. I can FEEL IT!! They have such huge potential and callings ahead of them!! I can't screw it up! Eeek scary. We have taught a billion people like once or twice. Now its time to get them progressing! So much work to dooo.

Italy is beautiful. It is an oven. A sticky hot humid oven. It doesn't really phase me to much. My poor Canadian companion just about dies of heat stroke everyday. BUT WE JUST LOVE IT! We are such marters. hahahaha jus kidding. For all of you who don't know Italian culture.....EVERYONE leaves during the summer. Especially during August. Empty. ALL go on vacation. For one or two or three months..just up and leave, take their families, their swim suits, and head to the beach. That is just what you do. So this next transfer is going to be real interesting.

I have been thinking about a few different principles these last few weeks. I don't know if I have ever mentioned it, but our mission has kind of like a battle cry. GEMS. So my first meeting in the mission, the President's Wife intruduced this theme. G.E.M. Grow Every Missionary. When I first heard this... I was like huh? Yay..gem.....uh....ok whatever. I thought it was kinda cheesy and didn't think too much about it. The more time goes on, the more profound and meaninful this simply little motto becomes.

We can change peoples lives everyday, and have our own lives be changed. Someone can say a simple comment in a class that can just hit you right in the heart, and totally change your way of thinking from that time on. Growing every missionary drives us to take hold of those opportunities. Do all we can to help your companion grow. I must do all I can to serve her, encourage her, better her. Do all I can to help her, change her. Bring her unto Christ. Just like I am doing with every investigator I teach. With ever member I meet.. and really...with every single person I encounter. That is our purpose as missionaries. To bring others unto our Savior Jesus Christ. But really...that is our purpose in life. In all we do we should be lifting others up. Helping them. Serving them. Growing them. Bringing them unto Christ. It can be a simple comment. A sincere testimony. It can be leaving a place better than how you found it. Sharing a talent, or a blessing. There are endless ways to grow those around us. We are all in this together. Don't leave anyone behind. God will inspire you with how to do so. He knows EXACTLY what you can do to help His children. Seek His help!!!!

I challenge you all to go now and CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES.

Also, I invite you to change my life! I have been thinking a lot about the power of faith in obedience this last week. And I would like to start expanding my understanding of love. Any of you who have anything you would like to share, please send me an email!! please please.

Con Amore,

Sorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:43 AM

Subject: "CIAO RYAN!"

Holas Hermanos, Hermanas! Isn't it just Hola? Why does it always sounds like they say holas? Yo quiero aprendir espanol!!!! ahhh You would think I could speak it fluently by now, since I am pretty much in a spanish ward and teach muchos sud americanos. Ok I will stick to Italian since I have made already 100 spanish mistakes. I will learn someday. GREAT WEEK.Miracle number one: So weeks ago I talked to this girl, around my age, from santo domingo, on the tram. She was way nice. Gave her a spanish Book of Mormon. And THEN (I swear it happened like this, but apparently it didn't) she took my pen and my planner and wrote down her name name and number for us to contact her later. A week or so pass. Super busy. Never tried to get ahold of her. This last weekend, I was looking through my planner, saw Lenicia written, with a number, and was like oh yeah! The girl from the DR, gotta call her! Call her. Super nice. Set up an appointment for Monday (this monday that just passed.) We had scambio (exchanges) Mon and Tuesday, so I am with two other Sorelle (so we are in a threesome) and we are going over our plans for that evening, and I am telling them all about this really nice girl from Santo Domingo that I already gave the Book or Mormon to who we are going to teach the restoration to and blah blah just getting them all preped for this lesson. We get to her house. She looks familiar but in my head I was like hm..I don't remember her looking quite like that but whatevs. We go in. And...she is from Brazil. And.. I never gave her a Book or Mormon. I totally had this girl confused. I barley even remember meetings this Brazillian girl in the metro, let alone I totally don't remember her writing her name and number in my agenda! But she did, and here we are. All together. Teaching this girl. Almost immediatly after the prayer she starts telling us about her brother and mom who died a few years ago. She asks us straight up..what happens after death? We have a beautiful lesson about the plan of salvation that God has for us. I ask her to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized. She says yes for the 16th of July.AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! such JOY! It is so beautiful! This beautiful BEAUTIFUL daughter of God has been so prepared to enter into His kingdom. I am honored to be the mouth peice in inviting and preparing her to do so.Miracle number two: 8 o clock yesterday night. We have one more hour to do work. We decide to go pass by a member. Thankfully they aren't home because..God had better plans for us! We start doing casa in that area. Get in. Teach a beautiful lesson to two sisters, 18 and 13. So..you read this story... You are thinking. Isn't that missionary work? How is that a miracle. And I realize..These miracles..These experiences..CANNOT be described by words. Not at all. These miracles are all about the experience. The presence of the spirit we feel. The way that these people light up hearing simple truths of our Savior. They way these people except the Book or Mormon...gentily stroke the cover..carefully open it and flip through the pages...with curiosity and hope shining in their eyes. They beautiful, sincere prayer they offer for the first time. Their excitement and joy of meeting us and making another appointment with us. Their desire to learn more about God and His Son Jesus Christ. That is what makes a miracle. And that is what makes this work the most joyous, grand work that one can DO. EVEYONE BE A MISSIONARY!LoveSorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:54 AM

Subject: l o v e Ciao famiglia!

MMMmmm it's soo great to be alive. Happy am I.

Soooo this week. Amazing. Last Thursday Sorella Ryan my companion and I were invited to go to mission council (second month in a row for me, I am a lucky duck). We were invited because the mission president wanted us to give some consiglio. It was a really cool experience! The assistents and zone leaders in the Milan Mission are incredible young men. Very humble and righteous. It is always a delight to learn from them.

Then, later that evening, we had a lesson with our beautiful Italian family. The mom and son, as always, just super pumped for their baptism saturday, not a doubt in their minds. The daughter..still amazing but hadn't made her decision yet. The lesson went great, we talked about how important prophets are and about our modern prophets. The lesson was very spiritual and ended very well, but the daughter still wasn't ready to announce her decision. Friday we had another lesson. Saturday morning, day of the baptism, around 9:30 we get a call. The daughter. Announcing that she is READY TO BE BAPTIZED! That she knew it was right and that all doubts and fears had been swept from her heart. REJOICE! OOOhh sweet joy. I knew she was going to be baptized Saturday with her family. So many prayers and fasts for her! It was still incredible to hear her say it! Later that afternoon we had lunch with them, went to the church, the daughter was interviewed. They all got dressed. I have never seen a more beautiful sight. A righteous, faithful family. Dressed in white. Ready to enter the gate to the path to eternal life. The hot water in the font didn't work! It was freeeeezing. But The baptisms were...incredible. The strongest most powerful spirit was there. So many ward members came and supported them. A miracle happened- The mom's mom came to the baptism (who is against the whole thing) And her aunt came (we we are now teaching!!). It really was a beautiful experience. The very very best part came last. After the great talks. After the little musical number my comp and I sang (my companion has a beautiful voice and loveess to force me sing in front of people which is terrifying but I am trying. we sang in sacrament the other week. eeeeeek) After the young womens president, young mens president, and relief society president gave big warm welcomes to our beautiful young family. After the bishop gave a beautiful welcome talk...ok here we are. The best part. The mom, son, and daughter, one by one got up and bore their testimonies. The whole room was in TEARS. They were so sincere. So spiritual. Straight from their hearts. It was incredible for me to see the strengh of a 13 year old and 14 year old girl, and their young mother. Bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His true church on the earth. To hear the young daughter boldly say that she wants to be a strength in this church, that she will not be one that joins this church and leaves it after a few years. To hear the son say that he has read the book of mormon and knows it is true. That he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. To hear the mom talk about the Holy Ghost and how it teaches truth. I just sat there..amazing..thinking..man I didn't tell them to say any of this haha this is straight from their hearts. It was just so powerful, something I will never forget. I know that I was close friends with this family in preexistance. I know that we will be friends for eternity. I love them so much.

Sunday was amazing as well. They all received the gift of the Holy Ghost and beautiful blessings from priesthood holders.

Monday I just woke up completely content. Ok I will be honest, haha I don't know what post-partem depression is like, but I think I might have had a little bit of that for a few minutes haha. My beautiful family. Reborn. ahh sigh. But I couldn't be happier. Now we are off again! The work goes on. Never stops! And I never want to stop. New people to bring unto Christ. Lots more! It is BEAUTIFUL!

So much to talk about, so little time. So much to learn. I hope you are all doing well. One last experience. Yesterday we had zone conference with a bunch of missionaries. And during a testimony I was just really overcome with the spirit.

I want you ALL to know. That I LOVE my Heavenly Father. I love Him more than words can describe.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love

Sorella Simkins

Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 5:02 AM

Subject: Ahh this Church is so true. Hellloooooo

Another fantastic week gone by here in Milano. Ahh I can't believe how fast time is going. Make it stop, make it stop!!!!!

I am not in a "pensive" mood today, so much to SAY! I will start from last P-day.

-I was able to play soccer with a bunch of members and investigators! It was super fun. Except that I was playing in my vans so I was slipping all over the place. But it felt so great to run around and play soooccceerr with the South Americans and Italians. Yay.

-So, the beautiful family we are teaching, a few days after we set their baptism date for the 4th, called and frantically expressed how they did not feel ready for that date, that it was too soon. My companion and I remained calm and faithful. This family is amazing, SERIOUSLY amazing, and so prepared. So we knew everything would turn out ok. So last week they still hadn't decided a new date, we have been seeing them everyday, anyways. Last Friday they all went and had bishop interviews..just to get to know the bishop, talk with him, etc. My comp and I were getting ready for bed Friday night and we get a call and its the family. The mom is like..we have some bad news. We are not ever going to get baptized, in fact, we never want to see you guys again. My comp was the one on the phone and I just watched as her face just drop to the floor. Then I hear this scream, JUST KIDDING!!!!! HA I was like AHHHHHH my comp was like LUCY don't you ever joke with us like that again!! And we just all laughed. Anyways. She went on to tell us how she knows that bishops are called of God and inspired, that as she was talking to the bishop, she really felt as if God was talking to her, right to her heart. The son and daughter said the same thing, how they felt the spirit so strong while talking to him. AHH my comp and I were just over joyed. She then is like..June 11th! Me and (the son) are getting baptized June 11th! YIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY! The daughter, who is incredible as well, said she needed to pray and study extra hard this week and that she wasn't quite sure if she was ready for the 11th. Anyways, we have been seeing them everday and it has been going amazing. We have been able to have all the lessons with members, which is a hugee help to these (almost) new converts. For example, I just HAVE to write about what happened Monday. So we have been planning this nice family home evening with a Peruvian family in our ward (Mom, Dad, 2 daughts 7 and 13) with the family we are teaching for a while now. We went and picked up the family, went to the member families house....turns out she had prepared this wonderful dinner for us, which we did not expect. Anyways, it was...BEAUTIFUL. We were all just around the table, chatting, telling storis, laughing, joking, it was just such a great spirit! Of love! Of families! I was just over joyed watching this beautiful Italian family who is getting baptized this weekend, just totally bonding with this beautiful Peruvian family who entered the church 10 years ago. After we ate, the 13 year old daughter gave the most beautiful lesson about the Holy Ghost and how we recognize it, totally perfect for the daughter we are teaching. Anyways, everything went so well, and it just hit me...that is what this church is about. Strenghtening families. Strengthening each other. Love. Spiritually uplifting one another. It totally grew my testimonies on the importance of family home evening. And just how important it is for members to get involved with missionary work. Every lesson that a member comes with us is 1000 times better then when we are alone teaching.

-We had a few hours for knocking doors yesterday and were able to teach 4 different families! God directs this work!! I just wish I spoke arabic and romanian! Did I already tell you that I love Romanians? Ahh they are beautiful people. Everyone is beautiful.

Well I am almost out of time. Pray for our baptism to go well this weekend! I am super excited, it is going to be a beautiful day here on earth and in Heaven. I know for a fact that I was friends with this family in the pre-earth life. The moment I met them I felt like I had known them forever. They are so close to my heart. I will be friends with them for ETERNITY. Thanks to Heavenly Father and His beautiful, perfect plan for us. Rejoice!

Until next weeeeeeek!

Sorella Seem-keens

PICTURE POST!

Raning in MILAN

Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Subject: MILAN 1 June 2011 Buonnngiorno tutti!

It is raining here in Milan today. It is nice and cool and smells good :)

HHhmmm what a week! We had two leadership (almost all day) trainings that were SUPER GOOD. My head feels like it is going to EXPLODE with all the inspirations and revelations and advice we received. All sooo good.

I just have to write real fast about how much I love Alma (jr). I have developed quite the crush on him in my daily studies these days. His teachings to his sons Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton are amazing. So beautiful. He's an incredible father. Many view living the commandments of Heavenly Father and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a burdon, as something hard to do, that brings more guilt than it does happiness. They are missing the point. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, in the end, is far easier, than forever fighting against it. The whole plan that Heavenly Father has given us is perfectly designed for our SUCCESS."Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Words of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Don't make it more complicated than it is. It is as easy as looking. "LOOK TO GOD AND LIVE!!!" (alma 37:47) Yet still..Many choose to not even glance. Why?

Ha this is the shortest update I have ever written! All is well here in Milan. It is a blessing to be here serving soo many incredible people. It is THE greatest blessing doing the work of the Lord. To see how he so mercifully get's His work done through an imperfact person like myself. The spirit finds. The spirit teaches. The spirit changes people's hearts. The spirit does ALL THE WORK. I just have to strive not to get in it's way, haha that is what serving the Lord means.

I love you all! So very much.

Love

Sorella-ella Simkins

Loving Mission Life!

Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:08 AM

Subject: FAMIGLIA! AMICI! SALVE Famiglia e Amici.

MAMMA MIA!!! I can barley sit still I am so HAPPY.

Seriously though..I feel like I have been floating three feet above the air for the last WEEK! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Let me just update you and try to make sense.

The Italian family we have been teaching for the last transfer and a half.....ARE GETTING BAPTIZED JUNE 4TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAN this family is amazing. They are beautiful. Have such good spirits and light in their eyes. They have been nervous to make baptismal dates. We went Saturday and taught them, first the Mom because the kids were out. Haha....it is kind of funny but that morning I was reading in Alma 34. .which talks about not procrastinating the day of your repentance and recognizing the whitnesses you have received of the truth and the horrible state you will be in if you don't repent. I laugh because this isn't usually the kind of scriptures you want to read right away with families but I just felt like we should read this with them! So we were teaching the mom. And read those scriptures. She loved them! hahah. Then we ended on a high note and read 3 Nephi 11 again together AH so beautiful. She commited for the fourth. Then the 13 year old son came home, so we had a lesson with him! We read 3 nephi 11, talked about baptism, and he said he wanted to be baptized. His closing prayer was SOO great he's like...Heavenly Father. I know for SURE the Book of Mormon is true. I know for SURE this is your true church. I cannot WAIT to get baptized next week, thank you! hahahahah my companion just laughed at me afterwords because she said she opened her eyes to peek a me while he was praying and said I had the BIGGEST smile on my face. Which I did, I was like SCREAMING inside AHHH!!! Just completely full of love. Ok so then the 14 year old daughter came home (who is beautiful and I told her to add Mickey on facebook hahaha..did you get that mickey??) So we had the lesson with her. And she really is amazing but just a little scared. So we had the lesson. And she commited for the 4th as well. AHHH it was the greatest night EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is SUCH a blessing to see these families accept Jesus Christ and follow him. AHHHHHHH!

Next miracle. We just finished teaching our new convert who is a POWER HOUSE! I love her. She has already taught at a relief society activity, helped with a primary activity, and came and taught with us. She is soo fantastic, always participating and every meeting at church, best friends with the relief society sisters...LOVE HER! She is going to be a huge took in strengthening the church here in Italy. ANNyyywaays we got done teaching her and had some time before we had to go in. So we felt inspired to go visit a member that lived near by. We couldn't get ahold of this member so we decided we'd just show up. We couldn't find which citofono was hers (citofono's are....doorbells to apartment buildings. that is all milano living is, huge palazzi (huge apartment buildings..really beautiful, tall, balconys, ect..) anyways so we couldn't find which was her so we just got in the apartment building through someone else and went to scala C to start doing some casa (door to door). We rang the first citofono and the lady let us in. We got in and within 5 minutes of telling her who we are and what we were diong here she just starts BAWLING. Saying she has been desperatly searching for help. That she has hit rock bottom and needs help. She just cried and cried. We had a spiritual little lesson. She came to church the next day. And we taught her again and last night she came to Serata Famigliare (FHE). MIRACLEEEE!!!!

Serata Famigliare was INCREDIBLE last night. Different members take turn teaching, usually about 10-20 members and non members show up. The Italian family we are teaching came. And this new lady we found came. We have a beautiful lesson about conversion and the church and about how we are here on earth to be happy and find (ETERNAL) happiness. The Italian family was just completely locked into the lesson. The new lady we are teaching is just crying. She raises her hand and asks...what does the spirit feel like? And this member Marco who is a convert a few years ago tells her his conversion story. and how he feels the spirit. then one of the elders pulls out his bible and reads the fruits of the spirits in galations. And this lady just starts crying..sayng..I feel this. I feel just like this right now. I feel it. I am sitting next to her just about to burst into tears of joy...AHHHH you don't understand, this lady was like a MESS when we found her! A beautiful lady but just...has had the worst life on earth. Honestly does not know what happiness is. And here she is...at FAMILY HOME EVENING..testifying that she is FEELING THE SPIRIT and that it FEELS GOOD! AHHHHHHHhh. After FHE we have a snack and everyone talking and mingling..and I ask the 14 year old girl ( can I use names? Sometimes I am not sure if that is a bad idea or not..anyways...) the girl we are teaching in the family..I just ask her how she is feeling about baptism and everything. And she just smiles. and says she knows it is right. REJOICE!!!!! The boy, he totally can't wait. The Mom is all in too. They are amazing. While my comp and I were walking home we were just like SCREAMING I especially was just freaking out haa. REALLY though..I feel like Alma and the Sons of Mosiah REJOICING. In the work of the LORD! I just fell to my knees when I got home...just THANKING my Heavenly Father for the MIRACLES he is blessing me to be apart of and see. How did I get so blessed to go on a mission. I don't even KNOW. I LOVE IT THOUGH!

AH! Well. A few fun things. HA the other day we got on the Metro and ..we are in Milan right? Fashion capitol of the world and such? Well like usual we start talking to people and I look over at my companion talking to this tall (beautiful) boy and I am just like...haha what is she doing! So she was inviting him to church. And he says he is from out of town just here for work. She's like oooohh what work do you do? He's like..I am a Model. (he said it in this like..DUH you retard I am a MODEL tone of voice..hahaha) I just start laughing. We get off I am like Sorella. Did you not even notice that he was tall and gorgeous and for sure a model? (we see models alllll the time you can pick them out so easily. Just like a foot taller than everyone, beautiful, you know.) And my comp is like I did not even notice I just started talking to the first person around me! hahahaha. So cold play is coming to Milan! and Bon Jovi. And I thought I saw a poster for queen..? And foo fighters. forget sometimes that I am in Milan. A big city that would have big concerts all the time. My comp LOVES singing and opera and a boy that comes to our english class told us he can get us free tickets to la scala ( BEAUTIFUL FAMOUS opera house in Milan) Ha too bad we definitely are not allowed to do that! Did I say I got invited to a Milan vs Cagliari game? Grrr I had to use all my strength to say..no..sorry..not..allowed. Haha jk it wasn't too hard saying no, just funny. I don't even care. The work here is incredible I don't even think about anything else. Oh I finally saw Sean Dunshee from Bountiful, he is doing so well all of you that may know him. Zone leader, just a good kid! Also yesterday I finally saw Ryan Kimball at a big Leadership training meeting we had!! Hahahah that was soooo funny. So weird to see good friends as missionaries in my mission. HOLY COW also..it is getting SOOO super hot here. An OVEN. I am going to DIE this summer. But one of our tranfer goals is to be positive in ALL THINGS and not complain..SO I AM SO HAPPY to be soaking wet sweaty all day everyday. We are shiny missionaries..just how we like it.

K THATS ENOUGH!

Love you all.

Love

Sorella Simkins

May in Italy

Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 4:14 AM

Subject: "Siamo INTERNAZIONALE!"

CIAO TUTTI!

Ahh how are you all? Well I hope!

THINGS ARE INCREDIBLE here in Italy. HOW DID I GET SO BLESSED? Like everyday my companion and I just take a new street and find some cool new church or structure and just have out of body experiences, like...WHAT the? Are we really here in ITALY? Walking these ancient streets...TEACHING THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD? WOW! It is amazing.

We are INTERNATIONAL!

I am American, with a Canadian companion, we are teaching a family of Italians, a girl from Bolivia, a young man from Sri Lanka. Everyday we meet several Egyptians, several other Africans, Ecudorians, Peruvians, Venezuelans, El Savadorians, several Philipinos, Russians, Romanians. No joke! We gave out 4 Books of Mormon yesterday in 4 different languages. It is incredible. I am in the best mission in the world in the coolest city. Milan is international and I absolutely love it. I am learning so much about so many different cultures. All these people are incredible. With such great stories and life styles, beautiful accents and personalities, delicious food (we have had Sri Lankan food, Peruvian, lots of Italian, Philipino, etc..SOooOO yummy haha) different family traditions, dress, beliefs.... But yet...what unites us all? WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD! Ahhh it is BEAUTIFUL! MY SISTERS MY BROTHERS! It is beautiful. It is a miracle..a MIRACLE to be able to give each of these people the most important book they can ever read, in their own mother tongue. The Book of Mormon! The book that contains the words of life! Testimants of our Savior Jesus Christ! The plan of salvation! The fulness of the everlasting GOSPEL! Ahhhhh the joy!!

Oh my the miracles happening here in Milano 2 are just...humbling. So humbling. In this ward...there are over 400 inactive members and around 300 active. The ward is HUGE. Our work has been so focused on member work. Strengthening active members. Visiting and teaching inactive members. Doing missionary work through families and their friends. It is has been amazing to see how it has evolved. For these last few weeks we have been really trying to figure it out in our district meetings..how to best to serve the ward here. We had different ideas, and plans, and exciting ways we were going to try to use to get the members pumped on doing missionary work. Haha..but you know what we have come down to? The most effective way? Is to teach members just as if we were teaching new investigators. Teach members the lessons, the restored truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon through the profet Joseph Smith. The Plan of Salvation. Faith, repentence, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The commandments and obedience. It is so simple. These are things they already know. But the Gospel is so simple, so simple a child can understand it perfectly. That is the beauty. As we teach these lessons to the members, we have been able to just bask in spirit. These lessons have been more spiritual then almost any others. These lessons have entered into the hearts of the members, reminding them of what a blessing it is to be a member of this church and know the things we know, and has inspired them and given them the faith to share these blessings with their family members and friends in need. It has turned missionary work into the simplest most beautiful work in the world, not a stressful complicated discouraging work. The gospel is beautiful, it is simple. I have the smallest role ever. All I have to do....Is completely love these people. Serve these people. Share my testimony with these people. That is all. And I get blessings hundredfold in return. The work is thriving, the fruits of the harvest so delicious and sweet. How does Heavenly Father love us so much? It will never cease to amaze me. My favorite line.

Something I have learned\better understood this week, from some talks and studying.

Sacrifice. God has given us everything. He has given us life, our every heart beat. He has given us time and talents. He has prosperd us and provided for us. He has given us obstacle courses to learn and to imporve ourselves, to progress while here on earth. He is never indebted to us, he is always just giving. When we pay him one tenth of our tithing, we are just giving him back one tenth of what he has already given us. When I give him 18 months of my life, my talents, my blessings, these are all things he has blessed me with in the first place. There is only one things that we have to choose to give back to the Lord. One thing that he cannot ever take freely. Our hearts. God wants to give us everything. He wants to work with us and make us into the divine kings and queens we are destined to become. But if we refuse to give him our hearts, then has nothing to work with. If we insist on following the will of our own natural men, then we are refusing the will of the Father and the divine men inside of us. I will sacrifice my natural man and strengthen my divine nature.I will sacrifice all my wishes and desires and completely give my heart and will to the Lord!

That is my goal:) After all, who better to trust with my heart and will?

I love you, MY BROTHERS MY SISTERS!

Love

Sorella Simkins

April in Milan

Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Subject: OOoooo Italia

Ciao famiglia, amici, tutti!

Come state? Tutto bene?

Ahhh Spring time is SUCH a beautiful time of year. Everytime we walk out of our apartment in the morning I just take a big breath and smile. I really feel like I have spring time in my soul haha. Italy is just beautiful and sunny right now. The sky is blue everyday. The buildings and apartments are tall, old, and colorful, with rod-iron railings, and clothes hanging out to dry. I love to see all the Italian flags hanging in the windows and waving in the wind. I love the old ladies shaking their rugs on their porches. Milan is so diverse. I had no idea before I lived here how diverse it was. In Sardegna everyone is Italian, small, dark, so Italian looking. Milan is FULL of South Americans, Philippinos and Africans. I LOVE IT. Ahh the people are so beautiful. I love going to the older more rustic looking apartments buildings around the evening time, when all the different families are home, playing their types of music, cooking their types of food...such a good atmosphere! Mmm I am just happy to be here:)

Ok I will get into my update now. Starting from last week.

Often, after our p-day hours are up (around 5:30-6), on Wednesdays we go visit the bishops wife. She is just the cutest Ecuadorian lady with two little kids. We had such a great visit with her last week, she taught me a lot. Her husband and her moved out here for him to finish up school and work for a few years. He is from Argentina. They are the cutest couple ever. Anyways...After a few years they were just soo ready to move back hom to South America. All their family is there, they were just done with Italy and wanted to go home! She was pregnant, so they decided to have to baby here then move home soon after. Their beautiful baby was born with severe defects and she lived in the hospital with him for a whole year! A long extremely hard and lonley year she said. I can't even imagine. But with lots of prayers and blessings from our Heavenly Father, they were able to persevere, and their boy is healthy and self sufficient. So they were saving up and working and finally ready to move home a few laters when...her husband got called as Bishop! She just cried. She knew that that meant at least another 5 years away from their home and family in South America. They have two kids now, her husband is super busy with work, and then almost every night is out doing things for the ward and fulfilling his calling. Their family is amazing though. So faithful. SOO ready to do the work of the Lord. To do His will before theirs. They are just a great example to me of faith and perseverance to me.

Missionary work in Italy is interesting. We have so much travel time and contacting time on the metros and trains. We are able to meet some amazing people. It is great because I am learning how to make powerful lasting impressions in simple, speedy ways, but I still have so much room for improvement! We talk to everyone we can, bear testimony the whole time, and strive to bring the spirit to these people. It is so cool to see the people that are ready to learn. That completely light up with joy when we give them the Book of Mormon to read and explain to them the grand promise it contains. It's tricky getting appoints set to continue teaching, but amazing to see how the Lord has prepared people to learn and how they accept! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! We are teaching such amazing people right now. Valeria was BAPTIZED Saturday. OOOHH mamma MIA it was AMAZING! Seriously. This ward is out of control incredible, so many people were there and so supportive. This is a HUGE step for Valeria. She has been through SO MUCH. We have seen miraculous changes in her. It was such a spiritual service. The Italian family we are teaching is soo great. The Bolivian lady we are teaching is also amazing. Everyone is doing well and really seeing great changes in their lives thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has the power to change anyone and help EVERYONE!

Easter Sunday was so nice. I love Sunday's. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't go to Church every week, it is such a huge blessing to be spiritually refilled, refreshed, and re-energized! Easter is a special time of year, the talks we heard on Christ and the atonement and the resurrection were incredible. I am so thankful!! After church we ate delicious Peruvian food at this families house:) Mmm.

Monday (Pasquetta, still a holiday) the ward had a big activity in the park. It was super fun. We had almost all our investigators come, it was amazing, they just fit right in with the ward, everyone was chatting eating having a grand time. Haha I will try to describe this activity, it is just soo classic Italian\South American life. Everyone just brings SOO MUCH FOOD. ALL kinds of Pastas, salads, rices, MEATSS soo much meat so many different kindsss, all kinds of desserts...they bring their blankets, lay them all out with pillows and stuff, set up their grills, and just eat all day. Meat after meat, they just throw it on the grill, and eat and eat. Everyone is just talking and laughing, laying down and relaxing, tons are right by playing a never ending game of soccer, you just go play when you want, then come back and eat when you want. If you are tired, you just lay back in the sun and take a short nap. Wake up, and eat more! The ward members and their friends got there around 10:30 and didn't get home until 7 or 8 in the night. That is just how they FIESTA here! Nothing else matters, when you are with friends and family, you take your dear sweet time. It is beautiful I loveee it. MMmm the food was so good, and the peruvians made this way yummy treat I don't remember what it is called..like piccantos or something?? Fried dough with honey ha. They just made it, right there in the park haha. I got to play soccer!! I was wearing my skirt, and borrowd some converse shoes from one of the young woman and jumped in the game!! aaahh I loved it. So fun. I already stand out, being white, american, wearing a skirt, and a name tag...so I am used to looking ridiculous, which I am sure I did playing soccer in a skirt. ohhh weelll hahah it was a blast. But...we had work to do, so my companion left and went on our way for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Good times:)

Yesterday we has some amazing spiritual lessons with our investigators. Ahhh this is the LIFE.

I have been really pondering my patriarchial blessing yesterday and today. I encourage everyone to get theirs out and do some studying between the lines. It is soo important for us to strive to live our lives...every minute of everyday...in a manner in which the Spirit can talk to us. So it can direct us. Our potential is infinate. God's plan for each of us is glorious and eternal. He has such great promised blessings in store for us..just waiting for us and our families to obtain them. We need to be in tune with the spirit to do so though.

WHELP! That is all for this week.

I love you all so very much.

Love

Sorella Seemie-keens

PS

I can only email family as you all may know. But I can get emails from everyone! So please email me and tell me how you are because I haven't heard from several of you! (Malorie, Kara, Melissa F and M, Kenz, Jen...and many more...I just want to know if you are alive ok!!!!)

Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 3:23 AM

Subject: Ciao America BUON GIORNO FRATELLI SORELLE!

How is everyone doing? Anything exciting happening over there?

Things are amazing here. Last Saturday was Patrizia's baptism and it was amazing. It was such a beautiful service. The ward has been so amazing and supporting, they had already assigned her visiting teachers who were able to talk at her baptism. They gave such beautiful spiritual talks. Patrizia was just GLOWING. She bore her testimony after and had the whole room in tears!! It was so powerful. She is so faithful and strong. She is incredible, I am so thankful I have had the chance to be here for her on of her spiritual journey! Such a huge blessing. We had an Italian family that we just started teaching that came to the baptism as well. OOOOhh I love them so much. The daughter, who is 14, just came up to me after and is like I have some questions! She is like I notice you baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. That means they are three different people right? I have ALWAYS believed them to be three different people, I know that is true! Then she is like..what does it mean that she will get the gift of the Holy Ghost? AHH! She just kept asking all these amazing questions that I was able to explain to her and she really just lit up. I just makes sense. We were ALL taught the Gospel and Plan of Salvation and EVERYTHING before we came to earth. We just forget! So as a missionary, it is just my pleasure to REMIND God's children of the truth! We are teaching some incredible people right now that is for SURE! We have Valeria getting baptized in a few days as well, she is awesome as well and just ready to start new in life. It is SO AMAZING that these people have the opportunity to be Baptized and confermed and be completely cleansed from all the guilt, sins, and burdons...and then keep being cleaned week after week by talking the sacrament. What a GREAT blessing from our Heavenly Father!!! I LOVE to see the change in these peoples life as they discover the blessings and happiness and LOVE from our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I am blessed and honored to be able to witness these miracles happen! Ahhhh. Anyways moving right along...Monday was crazy. Like...NOTHING went as planned. Nothing. Most our lessons canceled, then the other half we missed because of Metro and Tram problems! It was a CASINO which means a MESS. We got home and were just laughing though! We did all we could, and even though the day went soo off, we just were happy. We were able to talk to a lot of new random people, and share some Books of Mormons...so who knows. I guess our day needed to be that weird. Then...Tuesday was a miracle! It always happens like this. You have an "off" day or "off" week..where it seems like none of your plans come to past...then the next day/week is just full of miracles. Like yesterday. We went tracting early in the morning and found a great lady that let us come in and talk to her. We then went to the park. We met Reyna and were able to teach her and pray with her and set up more times to teach her! Hah she is so awesome, she is from Peru or El Salvador I don't remember. Then...the most amazing thing happened. We just contined on through the park..and noticed a young lady sitting on a bench. We go over and start talking to her. She is friendly, from Paris, on vacation with her little girls traveling around Italy. We just start talking to her about faith and about our purpose in life.We were just talking...then I think my companion or I just asked a simple question about her kids and what kind of life she wishes for them to have...and she just put her hands over her face and just starts bawling. Oh my it was so sad..you could just see the pain...sufferening that this lady is going through. My companion and I of course have no idea what she has been through and is facing. She looks back up at us and we just bear our testimonies. Tell her that God loves her so much and is looking out for her. He is watching her and cares for her and has so many blessings in store for her and her Family. I love that lady. She is truly my sister. The spirit was just surrounding us. I said a prayer for her and she just cried. I gave her a huge hug after and just told her I loved her. Before we left we asked...is there anything we can do for you? And she just looked up at us and said...avete gia fatto. You already have. I will never forget those words. Heavenly Father lead us to that lady yesterday. I will never ever forget that experience. I just pray that I can keep in tune with the spirit to keep being lead. That is what missionary work is all about. After the park we were able to teach Karina another amazing young women from Bolivia! Our last lesson with her was a little scattered....She had a billion questions all over the bored and my Italian was failing. So I was just PRAYING for the spirit and a good lesson that could help her. We taught the plan of salvation. We read a bunch of scriptures. Oh man it was great....just beautiful. She was able to understand. She is going to get baptized May 7th!!! Ahhh. :) After that fantastic lesson...Patrizia (who is Napolitana by the way, who claim to have the best food in Italy) has us over for dinner. Oohh my word. Italy, how do you DO THIS TO ME???? It was out of this world. I have not been that full for a LONG TIME. She made the BEST lasagna...mamma mia. Then she had these like..fried eggplant with mozzorella...and these amazing mashed potatoes. It is all about the amazing Italian cheese. In fact, Patrizia is like.."How is it so...that you have so many cows in America...yet your cheese is so disgusting????" Hahahah. Amen sister. I have no idea why. Oh man and the salads here!! So good. It was all kinds of greens, corn, tuna, fresh mozzorella, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. MMMMMMM. SO GOOD. Then for dessert she brought out these chocolate cones with chocolate pudding in them and sliced strawberries with two kinds of gelato on the side and some kind of little cake that is a Naples specialty. I really thought I was going to explode after. I slept REALLLLL good last night, that is for sure.

Well! That is the week for you. Happyyy to be here in bellissima Italia.

I love you all SOO much! Be good, serve one another! Share your blessings and knowledge always!!

Love

Sorella Laurel Skye Simkins