Go big AND go home

Hi!

I think I think too much about the titles of my emails, especially this last one.
"Do I stay or do I go now?"
"This is the 78th weekly P-Day email..."
"What a happy ending!" ... "No... what a wonderful beginning!" (Anastasia)

But rest assured, it hasn't passed my notice that a year and a half HAS gone by! And here I am! Going home on Thursday. Like, whoa.

This week was spent here and there. I fulfilled my mission-long dream of serving as a missionary in Messina (even if it was only for an exchange for a day). We had a pretty exciting English course (see attached photo), where a student dressed up as Santa Claus and taught everyone the words to Feliz Navidad and Silent Night using a speaker system that looks like a beer can (?).

I was down in Siracusa for a day (I'm basically making "Spirit runs" up and down the eastern Sicilian coast). Opportunity to meet more less active church members and set the record for "most companion exchanges in a three week period." I'm up to 5 now. I'm sure that's easily topped, but it's a personal best.

I have no feelings, because I really don't feel like I'm leaving anything. Maybe it's the feeling that I'll be back in Italy someday. Maybe it's because personal growth will continue after the mission. I usually keep thinking in my head that I'm still going to be here forever. It's only when I try to go to sleep that I tend to have dreams of Mexican food and home.

To be honest, I feel somewhat drained of "inspirational thoughts." Every missionary in Sicily has asked me what I'm going to do when I get home, what advice I can give them for the rest of their mission, what would I change if I could go back, how can they learn the language better, what I'm going to miss the most, and what my favorite arancino flavor is. By the way, it's Christmas season and my brain hasn't even registered that yet.

So, we're going to piggy back some spirituality and I'm going to share a quote that I read in the Lorenzo Snow manual this week while I was kind of zoning out thinking during church. "One of the best things a young man or a young woman can have in view of trying to be great is to have others great also, and not spending a little time to improve others." Very appropriate to finish my mission with, dontcha think?

I guess I can say this.

If you've served a mission: live up to all the trust those people you served put in you!
If you're serving a mission: keep going! You can do it!
If you haven't served a mission and you can: do it.
If you've never read the Book of Mormon: read it.
If you've never heard of the Book of Mormon: wanna talk about it? Come on over to my place. I'll make some Italian dish and we can have a good chat.

The Book of Mormon is an extraordinary book. I don't think I've ever had a book that can motivate, inspire, respond and change my life on so many levels. So. I highly recommend it. Five stars and a trumpet on top.

You're all the best. Everyone is invited to my homecoming: 

Sunday, December 29 at 11am

Washington Fields 8th Ward

628 South 3000 E

Saint George, UT 84790

All are welcome.

I'll be home on Friday. Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.

Love you!

Until next time,
Sister Fuller

All my life is changing every day in every possible way!

December 9, 2013

What can I even say about this week? Time in Catania flies by RIDICULOUSLY FAST. I've never been in a city where I've literally had to book it from one appointment to another. Sure, there have been periods where I've had a lot of appointments, but never with such consistency. It's very refreshing.

This week: we had a ward street board, a funeral, lots of rain, bus rides, walking past giant gorgeous piazzas and duomos, a wonderful mother and daughter investigator group, a hospital trip (to visit an investigator), a husband and wife that needed encouragement, lunch with a former cook and her grown down-syndrome son and my first eggplant arancino.

I've had the distinct feeling that Catania was my "ideal" city. It fit my traits really well (fast paced, lots of work, lots of organization, tends to be the leadership hub of Sicily). And yet, I can see the infinite wisdom in me not serving in this city up until now. I see how the other cities helped me develop traits that I needed -- patience, humility, LEARNING TO COPE WITH STRESS and even some downright "experiencing the bad to appreciate the good." Me spending my last three weeks here is just a bonus gift from the Lord. But I'm glad that every city I served in was specifically designed for me.

In some ways, my head is kind of spinning, and yet I feel that I have my feet on the ground. This is my second to last email and I feel it's time to be spouting out all of this great wisdom about everything that I've learned. But the only real feeling that I get is that I am continuing to live every day here. And as soon as I finish my mission, I will continue to live every day. Yes, my daily activities will change substantially. But I guess that before my mission I was continually striving to be a better person and to generally improve myself, help others, throw parties and do what God wanted me to do. I feel that I did the exact same thing on the mission, minus the parties. Also, I was placed with lots of people and in lots of situations that I might have never been in otherwise. So, after the mission, in that sense, seems very much the same thing. It doesn't seem routine and boring. It seems exciting that I get to do the same, uplifting things, but I get to change scenery.

SPEAKING OF SCENERY I will definitely miss Italy. This giant snowcapped volcano (Mt. Etna). The old slouched over ladies wearing giant floor-length down jackets and kilos and kilos of fresh fruit and vegetables. The members' enthusiasm. The fact that no one can stop talking (and neither can I). The hand gestures. The downright passion when it comes to the gospel and the commitment to follow Jesus Christ. GOOD JOB ITALY!!

Tomorrow I bear my last testimony. Then an exchange in Messina. This weekend will be another exchange in Siracusa and the American ward Christmas party. We had a baptism planned before I left, but both my companion and I have the distinct impression that this man needs more encouragement and commitment before getting baptized. Otherwise we'd be helping him make a commitment that he couldn't keep. But we both feel at peace with the decision. I would much rather be a stepping-stone in the eternal progression of this man and his family, than have another "picture in white" my last day on the mission.

Oh. We've been officially invited by the shortest and most devout members of the ward to eat ricotta on my last day. How did they know that was all I ever wanted?

I love you all! That's all the news.

Sister Annie

Island of Misfits

Hi!

We're back on the island, ladies and gentlemen! And I am BACK TO NORMAL!!

It's weird... I had some dark days in Bari (and some hard times in Ladispoli), and I would always tell myself, "I don't remember starting off this way. I felt like I was different before!" I really did feel that I'd taken a plunge in productivity and general happiness (and was continually praying to go back to Sicily). But I did feel that I was learning necessary lessons and becoming generally one of those "better" people. 

I come back to Sicily... and it's like I'm starting my mission all over again! I remember the spirit I felt here (not the Spirit, as in the Holy Ghost, but just... the SINGING SOUL/heartbeat/mother earth Avatar thing) and it's come back again!

When I was in Sicily a year ago, I lived in Mistretta (two and a half hours away from Catania by car), but we had a chance to do several exchanges in Catania (during transfers, zone conference, etc.).

It turns out everyone I met on those handful of transfers is still one of our big players! We have an investigator preparing for baptism that I taught a lesson to a YEAR ago! The one member family I met last time just became the new ward mission leader. And it turns out that I get to bear my final missionary testimony in the same chapel and at the same pulpit I bore my first missionary testimony over a year ago!

So it turns out that the Lord answers prayers (even if I stopped praying to go to Sicily months ago). And it turns out that there is something on the particular island that does me a world of good.

I have a great new companion from Washington . The first time I've had a companion with the same initial (which is why I generally go by "Eff"). We're in a house with two other sisters and then there's another house with four other elders. That's EIGHT MISSIONARIES for the same ward! Man oh man! I do not have a car, which means we are hoofing it and using the bus system (actually a lot better than expected). 

We've been trying to figure out "why" I've been called here. Some ideas:

1) Disaster manager. The day I arrived, Etna (the active volcano next to Catania) was doing some weird eruptions. The following day, the city was put on alert for serious storms and we were told to prepared emergency rations. Nothing happened, but MAN if that's the fastest I've ever shoved tuna and bread in a backpack.

2) Meet Sister A. Another sister was here for legal documents she had to renew and then she was trapped for several nights. It turns out she is the funniest human being in the universe... we spent most of the weekend imagining the new Star Wars movies. Or three films all about C3PO touring different planets and translating ("The Chancellor's Speech"?) Luckily, we'll never be companions, because I don't think we'd get any work done.

3) EAT ARANCINI. The Sicily classic. Balls of rice stuffed (usually) with meat sauce or melted cheese, breaded, and fried. Yum. I will make them for you when I get home. If I can ever learn to fry ANYTHING.

One last WEIRD MOMENT! We also serve the members on an American base here, meaning we join then from English sacrament meeting/Sunday school on base. I forgot how incredibly different America is! NO ONE KISSED MY FACE! We have an incredibly smart branch president and Sunday school consisted of a rather long, but incredibly interesting and entertaining discussion about doubt, rabbis, Jewish/Islamic law, studying the scriptures and the branch president's cat peeing all over his bed sheets. America is SO different. Anyway, it'll probably be a nice transition before I'm back in the states cold turkey.

Anyway. The work is going well. I love Sicily. I love Catania. I love life. I love God! And I love y'all.

That's all the news

love

Sister Annie

Happy Trails

Hi,

Lots of GROWTH and REFLECTIONS this week! The mission has taught me many a thing -- and not just getting used to being identified by my last name ("Hey, Fuller!").

Fun note! We went as a district to the "Old Wild West" restauraunt! Slla V got ribs and I got onion rings. And our table was situated in a real life old fashion WAGON! The wall was covered with quotes from Toro Seduto (translation: Sitting Bull). Good job Italy. We mainly went to this restaurant so we could see the temple construction. THE ROME TEMPLE IS BUILT NEXT TO AN IKEA! Do you realize how many people will see the temple!? SOOO MANY!

So, what did I learn this week? I learned that perspective really does matter. That it's easy to let our situations control us. Sure, I have excuses as to why this is hard. Heck, they aren't excuses: MISSIONARY WORK IS HARD! Life is hard! Being me is hard! But they should never be used as excuses to not be a good person. Really. Character (pass it on, as the billboards say!). Happy, positive, kind, patient... when times are good. And when times are bad? And people are nasty? Happy, positive, kind, patient. Obviously I'm not sickly chipper (when I'm sad, I can cry with the best of them). But being able to cry and then pick ourselves up and keep going. Keep helping. Keep trying. Even if we fail. Just because something seems impossible doesn't mean we stop trying.

Sorry it's short. Out of time.

SHOUTOUT! To the Moss children (I don't know if they get this letter -- Mom, tell the Mosses I got their letter and will send their children a postcard of the  Coliseum, as requested)!

lots of love
Fuller

Listen with your heart, you will understand

Hi!

Scripture of the week! aka Shakespeare has nothing on Jeremiah!

"And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies."

Crazy imagery right? Here's the rest of the scripture, because I like it: "But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:3).

Is this going to be one of those letters where the missionary harshly judges the entire country where she's serving because of some negative experiences? Haha, nope! Maybe the opposite. We've had some tough runs this week, mostly with people telling us that they can't believe in a God that has commandments or running up a general wall of people feeling that religion is just a constraint on them living up to their full happiness, when instead they are sacrificing the realization of their full potential for momentary happiness. Sad. But in the words of the Clash: I get beat up. I get thrown out. But I'm not down. I'm not down.

But, we did have a good week of meeting with members, both active and not. We've seen some beautiful parts of the Italian countryside (everyone go google Bracciano right now! I've decided I could live in this mountainous lake territory). Yesterday it rained buckets and it seems that the weather is FINALLY getting cold. And I get to play the piano every week in church. So there's not much to complain about.

OH! And I forgot to mention how a HEROIC member got out my ingrown toenail! She's an esthetician and just ripped it right out! That was fun. But there was such a difference between the nasty pain of the festering toe and the clean pain of the open, but cleansed wound. Like sin and repentance and stuff! I'll leave it to y'all to work out the metaphor.

Okay, that's all the news! Love yer guts.

Sis Fuller

I'm Going the Distance, I'm Going for Speed

Hi,

Guess what! I wrote in my journal this week! AND I brought it with me. So you are all in for a treat! Be prepared for random thoughts and things!

You know what I like learning? Languages! I've stopped bemoaning the fact that I'm not in a complete language immersion (between having an American companion and the fact that the ENTIRE ward of Ladispoli speaks English. At least five children in Primary under the age of nine are bilingual, it's nuts), and I've tried to improve my Italian as much as I can. Another missionary read me a letter from home in Portuguese, and it turns out I can understand a good part of it. Thanks Latin-based languages!

We met two Polish twins on the train (as opposed to just one Polish twin, or three of them). We were just chatting and then before we said ANYTHING they just said, "Hey, we should meet up some other time and talk more about these things. Can we give you our number?" Yes please!

I teach the advanced English course and I've learned that, no matter how old we get, we must NEVER LOSE OUR IMAGINATION! Our English program has us use situations to teach English (e.g. going to the supermarket, going to the mall). We often do "simulations" or role play, where we pretend that we're at the mall and practice conversations.

Some of the students just repeat the practice phrases. "Can I help you?" "Yes, I am looking for apples." "Oh, the apples are on aisle five." Poor guys. They've stifled the imagination they had when they were young. Instead, some kids really get into it. Personal favorites:

"Excuse me, can you show me where the drinks are?"
"Find it yourself. I don't want to work here anymore."

"Do you like this dress for your girlfriend?"
"This dress is too cheap. I am a rich man. I want to spend lots of money. Money money money money."

"Excuse me, someone spilled on aisle six."
"I am a shopkeeper, NOT a cleaner! I refuse to clean up this mess. Clean it up yourself."
"... But I'm the customer."

Hahaha. Good job, English course!

Life is hard, but the gospel makes it better. And laughing, and imagination!

Here's a great scripture I read this week, where Jesus encourages us to act and not just rest on our laurels:

"And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said unto him, 'Blessed is the womb that bare thee!' ... But he said, 'Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.'" Luke 11:27-28

I agree.

SHOUTOUT to Katie Delis! And Paul! Thanks for the little (and big) letters (or emails) of encouragement. They do help. I appreciate you!

PICTURES
...075: Hail to thee, Master Crumble! You kept our country out of war!
...076: We played "Minute to winit" games for family home evening. It included cookies and whipped cream all over our faces. Good times had by all.

love you all!
Sister FOOLer

Sowing and Reaping

Hello Everyone!

I feel like I don't have anything profound or funny to say this week. The weather here is skipping from cold and thunderstorms in the morning to boiling hot in the afternoon and it played a trick on my body. I had to take a day or so to recover, but now we're back on track.

WE GOT ELDERS! We've been missing elders in our area for six weeks, but we finally got some new ones! Elder W (Texas Ranger) and Elder B (from EL Salvador). We're very content and they are GOOD elders. Which is good. We have lots of young men in the area that need good examples. 

Maybe I'll talk about the power of examples this week. How when you, jokingly, say, "Oh, I need to lose weight!" the seven-year-old girl you're teaching says, "Yeah, me too. I'm fat!"

Or when your one year old baby starts screaming and the father yells back, "DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE." The mother gently corrects him, "If you yell at her, she's only going to learn to yell more."

Or all the sons and the daughters here who have highly disfunctional families and all they can do with their limited capabilites is to distance themselves, rather than staying under that influence.

I guess in the mission I'm seeing the importance of the seeds that we sow. Especially with our children. I feel very grateful to have been born of goodly parents and from a young age I was not only taught to love reading and vegetables (not because my parents forced me but because, oddly enough, they liked reading and vegetables. Monkey see, monkey do), but also how to be kind, hard-working and to put God first.

So. Be a good example. Because everyone is watching. Especially children. And old people. I have a suspcion that really old people observe just as much as very young children, they are just much less likely to imitate you.

I miss y'all y'all. Thanks for all the emails/letters. Keep helping people that are around you. And send me a funny quote this week!

You the best.

FULLER the Sister

Non c'è provare. Fai. O non fare.

Hi,

Italian for: "Do or do not. There is no try." But in Italian, it rhymes! How great is that?

This week was... good! I finally feel... stable! I think I could describe my mission somewhat in the following words:

First four months: I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION BY THE HORNS AND EAT DIFFICULTIES (and Master Crumble) FOR BREAKFAST!

Next four months: Post partum depression from my first city! New city! New companion! New situations! I'd prefer to not to stay in the second city, but the Lord decides to keep me in the second city until...

Next two months in Bari: I love this place! Feeling good. Learning stuff. The Spirit is keeping me going. Hey, ho, I can learn to like things that were hard. Can I stay now that I'm really enjoying this?

3 months in Ladispoli: JUST KIDDING! Sent to the Rome area and learning some great life lessons. Struggling with frustration and all the negative -ions. Thinking about how much long until I have to go home probably a bit too much.

And NOW (a month or so later): Smooth sailing. Both Sorella V. and I feel pretty healthy -- physically AND emotionally. My ingrown toenail doesn't even really hurt! Look at that! I feel much more... serene, I suppose, about the end coming. I'm not looking forward to it with too much anticipation, but I'm not dreading it. I see it as a natural, normal step. And until then, I feel like I can end my mission at a good pace, instead of exhausted and drained, as I tend to finish most projects I undertake (e.g. every edition of the Political Review).

We get transfers call this weekend. I'd love to stay here, but we'll see what's IN STORE!

Fun story! Last Pday we went to the Vatican museum -- we have a friend who works at the Vatican and offered to help us at least skip out on the lines. Maybe I'm too used to Disneyland, but I'm assuming he would just find us outside of the entrance of the museum and slip us into the FAST PASS lane.

NOT QUITE. Instead, he comes and picks us up at the station in a Vatican Mercedes. He drives us through a "secondary entrance" and gives us a tour of the city. Best part? When the guard stops us, asking if we were the guests Benedict was waiting for. Benedict meaning former Pope Benedict the number-I-can't-remember and guests meaning, is he hosting the Mormon missionaries. We had a good laugh.

I'm out of time! But trials have helped me learn patience and stuff! I'm a big fan of this mission thing. Said Paul:

And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me.

2 Cor 12:9

Okay, I think I might be behind in my shoutouts, so just to catch up: Chris Lamoreux, Pallets and Brooke! Thanks for your wonderful letters!

love you all,

Sister Fuller

Yip, yip, you! Yip, yip, me! Yip, yip, baby! Yip, yip, family!

Today's letter is dedicated to my FRAM-REE!

Guess what, family? I love you! You're pretty much the greatest. I don't know if I've ever fully expressed it, but that's what THIS LETTER IS FOR!

I wanted to take a minute and list something that I love about each one of you. But, unfortunately, unlike the David Bowie/Queen song, I do not work well under pressure and the clock is ticking. 

Early in my mission, I was talking with a missionary who was about to go home. He asked my companion and I if we had ever really been homesick. We both replied that, sure, we missed our families, but we didn't feel this desperate need to return to them. He told us, "It gets worse the longer you're out."

We'll, he's right. I've realized how good we all are for each other. I've realized how happy you all make me. I've realized that every good thing that has happened to me in my mission, the person it's helped me become, are just things that I want to bring back to my family. YOU GUYS! The most important of people.

Somehow, although my longing of you has increased, I wouldn't call it necessarily being "trunky." I'm just trying to translate my desire to be with you and be the best I can for you, by learning and serving as much as I can here. I look forward to evenings of playing cards and swapping mission/life stories. But guess what? YOU HAVE TO SERVE A MISSION TO HAVE THOSE STORIES! So that's why I'm here. And soon I'll have those stories and experiences under my belt to share with you. And then I'll come home and we'll share them all together.

So save the date! Annie's coming back and we'll be a happy family! Europe may have tied for possession of most Fullers (with Annie, Matt, Chloé and Peter in the OLD WORLD and Mom, Dad, Landon and Terri in the NEW WORLD! <--- please read with Ratcliff's voice from Pochahontas), but the states will soon win the majority.

Until then! Toodeloo!

love

Annie

(note: this is all dedicated to you, but there's no time for a "wide world email." Feel free to post it, Dad, if you want. THE WORLD CAN KNOW MY LOVE FOR MY FAMILY!!!)

What About Bob?

So I forgot to take a picture of it, but I want everyone to know that missions bring about miracles. What is the miracle this transfer? ANNIE FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO MAKE HER BED!

Ha ha, it's true! Sorella V and I, both shameless clutterbugs, took to heart some inspired counsel that MAYBE we could actually TRY living a little bit cleaner and see if it helps. We've found out that it's not actually as hard as we thought and we're pretty proud of how clean we are.

I made a CAKE last week. It's called a "mimosa" cake, and is basically just a pound cake drenched in pineapple juice and a non-rice equivalent of rice pudding (aka heavy cream deliciousness). Thanks to NATASCHA for the recipe. Wow. It was great.

Elder Ballard gave us specific counsel to work more with the youth in Italy (youth defined as from ages 12 to 40). So we started chatting up the younger generation, fearless of the fact that they would mock us because we wear frumpy cardigans and haven't properly styled our hair since the beginning of our missions. Turns out AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD WAS RIGHT! The youth are so much more receptive to our message... or the fact that we're young and American and "why would you do something like this?" Oh, young, fertile minds, do we have a message for you!

Yesterday we did our usual gig of talking to people on the train and the bus. We talked to three men in a row and ALL THEIR NAMES WERE ROBERTO! ALL OF THEM! If I could remember equations from my Econometrics class, I could calculate the probability of that!

I made new friends in the ward: Elena and her 13 year old son Matteo. Matteo is kid that wears untucked shirts slightly too big for him and sandals to church, but is a SPIRITUAL GIANT. He taught me all about the new Pokémon games and the importance of good music in our life to not interfere with the Spirit. Good job Matteo.

...928: Strawberry fields forever! These are homemade shoes that a recent convert made for Sorella Viazzo and I... the floor is our apartment elevator. We have no idea why there are flowers there.

...938: CAKE!

Those are all the things.

All my love, peeps.

Annie

And I think to myself...

The weather has taken a turn for the wonderful! The wind has picked up, we've had some beautiful rainy/cloudy days! MAN! Sometimes you can smell a hint of fire smoke (from bonfires). I feel like I'm in touch with NATURE again, instead of dreading Mr. Sunshine and his evil henchman, Mr. Humidity.

What a great week. We had a visit from an apostle, Elder Ballard, and zone conference one right after another. Good thing, too, because I needed the pick-me-up.

Elder Ballard THREW FIRE! We now have two stakes in Rome: the Rome East stake (consisting of most of the previous Rome stake, with the creation of a new ward), and the Rome West stake (including my ward and the districts of Napoli and the island of Sardegna). Whoa! We have a new stake president  who is in my ward, as well as his second counselor. The new stake president works for the church translation department (separate from his calling as a church leader), and always translates for the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. So we have the Italian "voice of the prophet" as our stake president. Heh heh heh.

Elder Ballard talked to us about how to help people with a  predominantly Catholic background. He was very kind and humble and shook all of our hands. During the Stake Conference, he had the two stake presidents and their counselors stand and the mission president stand on the stage. Then he called up all of the full time missionaries present -- there were about 70 of us. He presented us to our new stakes and told them to put us to work. "No missionary has ever died from overwork. So wear them out!" He had the bishops stand in the audience and they pledged to put us to work. He had us likewise put our arms to the square (to pledge) that we would serve our bishops and wards. He said that the saints need to be worthy of a temple, and that means they need to work. It was powerful. 

I'm learning how to do things the Lord's way. I started my mission, with a spring in my step and a song in my heart: "Everyone tells me I'm going to be so great at this! Time to put all my skills and hard work to use!" And it did work, for awhile.

One of the greatest blessings about having a mission that lasts as long as it does is that I have time to learn the first lessons when I needed the first lesson. And then, after I've gotten a little older, and wiser, I can learn the real lessons I needed to come here to learn.

I learned that, for all my talents and abilities, the Lord is the one driving the car. He can make this work a success. And he will use what I have. But I can't take the wheel. 

I've learned to commit myself to follow everything the Lord asks me to do. In so doing, I've seen that He really just guides the work and it makes everything easier. Yesterday, we planned a morning of "finding." We had a couple plans of people we could pass by, but no solid appointments. Those plans fell threw, but as the bus arrived to our destination, a less-active's name came into my mind: "Let's find out her address and stop by her."

As we walk to her house, we get lost. We stop a woman to ask her where Via Roma is. "Why? Who are you looking for?" "Our friend." "What number does she live at?" "Number 34." "I used to live at Via Roma 34!"

She walks us to her house and then invites us in to explain more to her about the gospel. Later, we find the less active at home and have a spectacular lesson.

Similarly, last week we visited the Villa Borghese for  Preparation Day. We missed a train we needed to take, but at the station we found a woman who was BLATANTLY staring at Sister V's tag. We asked her how she was doing... she was so intrigued and fascinated and we told her everything.

These have been huge miracles in the last week. I'm glad I'm on the Lord's side and I can see these miracles.

 OH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I miss you all, dearly. I miss our laughs and our adventures, our conversations and our dance parties. But know that when I come back to you, I'll be even FUNNIER, MORE ADVENTUOUS, WISER AND A BETTER DANCER! And most of all, I'll be more committed to the Lord. So if you ever want anyone on the Lord's team on your team, call me up!

These are the blessings of a mission.

I LOVE YE!
Sorella Fuller

Party Like an Egyptian

What a week.

In one day, we talked to 15 people on the train! It was incredible! We were on the train for almost an entire day (we have one less active that's very very far to get to), but we just kept talking and talking and talking. The librarian from Rome. The crazy guy who tried to stick ear buds in Sorella V's ear and revealed to us that he was a "professional lover." The catholic woman who took a weekly course for a year and a half about the 10 commandments. The widower who travels to a new place every year since his wife died ten eyars ago. We meet so many DIFFERENT and AMAZING people. And when one of us is exhausted and thinks we can't talk to anyone else, the other one just starts TALKING to the next person. I think that's the greatest thing about our companionship -- Sorella V and I can help each other when one is feeling down. I know she blesses me greatly and I'm happy for her.

We have a new contact/best friend: N, the Egyptian pizzeria lady. At first, we just became friends and then she started SHOWERING US with food: pizza, foccacia, baklava (sp?) and several other Egyptian deserts I don't know the name of. She cries every time she reads the Book of Mormon, because she says it's just like the Quaran, but it's still a soft spot to say that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Hmm. She's definitely a different type of investigator. She invited us to her birthday party, thus the title of this email.

I learned how to say "je ne sais qua" in Italian: nonsoche. Now if only I spoke French.

Elder Ballard is coming this Sunday to reorganize the stake of Rome. It's like general conference but three weeks early. It's a Christmas miracle!

SHOUT OUT to Katie Cox, Pallets and Chris! You're all wonderful and I hope to send you postcards (and more) in the sooner-or-later future.

That's all of the news, a little short on time today. Sorry for no pictures.
all my love,
Sister Fuller

Sponsored by Coca Cola

Hi!

BIG NEWS: I'm staying with Sorella V in Ladispoli!

No big surprises there. We're both pretty happy, as we're sure many miracles and much insanity will ensue.

We're making a lot more personal goals for ourselves, especially in talking to people! We've met people from all over the world in the past two weeks (so far 21 countries and counting!). It's incredible how much people open up to us in a short ten-twenty minute train ride. I've heard some amazing life stories. One lady, with an Italian father, German mother, and raised in Argentina, told us her whole life story in three minutes and then sat back shocked: "I've never told any of that to two people I've never met before." There's a first time for everything.

Fun fact: the lady's name was Adelaide, but with an Italian pronunciation (A-DAY-LA-EE-DAY), so I didn't recognize it until she wrote it out for me. Bwhahaha.

This week we made a Coca Cola cake (Coca Cola cake, frosting, shape, etc.) Sorella V has a true gift. Also, we ruined the first cake, so now we have a plethora of cake in our freezer. Luckily, we have a youth activity tonight so we can pawn it all off on them!

You know what's hard? Free agency! People making decisions for themselves. I'm one of those "problem solving" people. I like to fix your problems. Well, you know what, Annie? A lot of times, you're not there to fix people! Sometimes people are just different! And sometimes you're not the one help them get fixed. 

I'm learning that I can't always be the mechanism to change people. All I can do is consistently and hopefully do the things I know are right. That's what makes the difference.

Also, you know what is important? HOPE! Some people are all scared about the future. About their personal future. About their economic future. About what happens after the mission, about what happens on the mission. About the next transfer. About their personal capacity and ability to change. If I know one thing, I know that GOD HAS HELPED ME IN THE PAST and HE WILL HELP ME AGAIN. I have hope in the future. I know it won't be easy and there are still scary moments and frustrating times. But it is not all pitch black. If we surrender ourselves to the thought that there is no hope going forward, then... then... we'll be pretty dang depressed, that's what! And useless! So! Have hope! And read Romans 5:3-5.

Pictures
894: More chalk drawing! This time it's a family, prophets, and Jesus giving authority to his apostles!
896: the cake!
900: Us eating Peruvian food! At the restaurant, they gave us small bowls of jalapeno salsa. The elders were joking around and everyone ate a spoonful (it was REALLY spicy). Then they challenged Sorella V. But she didn't understand what they were challenging, so instead of eating one spoonful she ate THREE WHOLE SPOONFULS. Mamma mia! I had some too -- we both lost the sensation in our hands for several minutes, and our ears probably fell off... it was CRAZY.

okay, those are all the things Sorella Fuller and Sorella V learned this week!

Signing off,
Sorella Eff.

Today was a good day

This week we cleaned the church. Attached is our Steve Urkle photo. Heh heh.

It was probably one of the most spiritual moments of the week. The church is small (although not as small as Mistretta). It's a renovated ground level apartment. We still have a chapel, but it's about the fourth of a size of a normal Mormon cultural hall. If that. Top it off with six or seven classrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and an office, and that's us. Anyway, each member family takes a turn cleaning the church once a week and the missionaries get a turn every couple of months.

As I was cleaning, I just thought about each member in our ward: I thought about the two women that work for the church translating department that were cleaning the church my first day here and welcomed me with giant smiles and hugs. I thought of the young mother that sits in the hallway every Sunday during sacrament meeting, rocking her chubby baby to sleep. I thought of the Relief Society President that always asks me to play "prelude" music in the broken/flat/wretched piano in the RS room (where the b-flat key is broken and I can't even play with both hands because the two clefs are so disonate. It's THAT out of tune). 

I thought of how much this little church building means to these people. How much they've seen their little branch grow and change. First there was a district in Rome. Finally, there was a stake. Then they announced a temple.

This past week, they announced that on September 15, the apostle M. Russell Ballard will be coming to form a second stake of Rome, combining the Sardegna and Napoli districts. We don't know the specfics, but we'll be finding out soon. Fingers crossed that I'm staying here.

Okay, end weird refecletions. Anyway. People are great in all parts of the world. The members in Italy are fantastic. I will forever be grateful that I was called to serve here. Even if it's nice to have the church be bigger... I like that I can strengthen it in a small-but-steady-growth-country like Italy.

We have transfer calls this week, but I'm pretty dang sure I'm staying in Ladispoli with the Viaz. Couldn't be happier.

SHOUTOUT
to Hayley Paul and the Sandbergs. Back in May you sent letters to Sicily (Sandbergs: a graduation announcement). I just got them! Hooray!

Also JESSE SHEETS, you sneaky fox! Thank you for your beautiful letter and expect replies soon.

that is all the news.
peace.

sister fuller

Okay, PICTURES:

 835: Cleaning

 845: At the baptism of a seven year old we've been teaching. Do you know how hard it is to teach children? SO HARD!!!! Man. I've taught more children on my mission than in my entire life. Meaning, I've taught four children on my mission. Props to children-teachers. All of you parents out there.

862: THE STATUE OF CONSTANTINE! So when I came to Rome three years ago, I had one statue I wanted to see desperatly: Constantine. I'm pretty sure it's Michelangelo's, but I don't have access to Google, so I can't confirm or deny that. Anyway, last time I went, they had closed access to it. This time, I found out it is ALWAYS closed access. But I told the guard it was my favorite statue and asked if I could take a picture. HE LET ME IN! What a guy! Here's to you, mystery guard man! I will say a prayer for you tonight.

Fighting crime and the forces of evil!

Does everyone know why I love Italy? It's because every day I get to make discoveries like the following:

1) The best coconut gelato I've had in Italy. Thanks, Professoressa Klein. You were right. (My companion hates dairy, but I forced her to at least try one gelato while with me. The attached picture shows her pain.)

2) In Italian, the Powerpuff girls are called the "Superkickers." Their names are Lolly (Blossom), Molly (Bubbles) and Dolly (Buttercup). Bwhahahaha.

3) Good thing I have Sorella Viazzo as a companion, because I'm making discoveries with her that are completely changing how we do missionary work. GOOD THING I'M FIGURING THIS OUT AFTER OVER A YEAR. Bwhahaha. My incapacity to learn these things early on in my mission amuses me. Anyway, we've started to try and find more... mmm, natural ways to talk to people. Perhaps all of you know, but being a missionary, we're always trying to look for people to talk to, to get to know them, share our message, and help them in their lives. But how do you do that without being a salesperson?
Whenever we are on the train, bus, etc. we FORCE ourselves to sit next to someone (because it's really easy to just sit in the empty seats). And then we say: "Excuse us, we're learning Italian. Can we practice with you?" They say yes 95% of the time and then the conversation just comes. We also tried it on benches in the park yesterday and it worked. I also got a free book out of it!
Basically, Sorella Viazzo is the bud of greatness. Soon she will bloom and flourish into a fantastic, capable missionary (Viazzo family, if you're reading this: good job!)

4) We took a trek to Rome for last Pday (Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, gelato, colesseum, etc.). Also? We got Dr. Pepper and black beans! Does everyone realize these are the first black beans I've eaten in 14 MONTHS!?! Considering it was a staple in my diet before the mission, this is a big deal. And by staple I mean, I would have stapled my stomach shut if I couldn't have eaten black beans and rice for the rest of my life. So we cooked them and they were delicious.

5) Alright, WEIRD SPIRITUAL THOUGHT TIME!
This morning, I was thinking about a song I used to run to called "Perfect Day" (by Hoku, if I'm not mistaken). If I remember, the lyrics go something like this:
It's a perfect day
Nothing's standing in my way
I could stay
Forever as I am
In the race but I've already won,
And getting there is half the fun
So don't stop me 'til I'm good and done
Don't you try and rain on my
PERFECT DAY

Obviously, I used this as a motivational song to help me run (for those who don't know, I love running... but only after I've stopped). But I was thinking about how... I don't know, twisted? the lyrics are. The expectation that we have these perfect days where we find happiness. What does that say about the days where it (literally and metaphorically) rains?
Sometimes, we think that we can't cope with trials. That we only want the perfect days ("I could stay forever as I am"). We avoid hard things. We don't push ourselves. Why? Because we're scared. We prefer the easier status quo. But hard things are OKAY. And we ARE capable of doing hard things.

Sorry I'm one of those freakish missionaries that is trying to cast out Babylon in a simple pop song. I just want to bear my testimony that DIFFICULT THINGS are good for us. We don't seek them out. But they do come. It is inevitable. And we can grow from them.
Some of you may remember a talk I heard my freshman year of college, "Lessons from Libery Jail" by Jeffrey R. Holland. That talk treated this very subject and I think that talked changed my life. Elder Holland said: "You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lordin the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced. ...We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not be our fault....But the lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through it."

(For the whole talk, see: http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/09/lessons-from-liberty-jail?lang=eng)

So. That's all. You can do hard things. All of you. You wouldn't be on my email list, otherwise.

PICTURES
...810: I force my poor greenie to eat gelato.
...817: Our relationship
...829: Black beans!

SHOUTOUT to Meish and Jerry! Thanks for your letters. Expect responses in the soon/near/far future.
I love you all. It's almost September! CANDY CORN IS JUST AROUND THE RIVERBEND!
love
annie

Laugh. Pray. Be Grateful! Repeat.

Once again, Annie is learning how important the simple things are. 

Laugh. Pray. Be Grateful! Repeat.

Sorella Viazzo and I are just... laughing all week. I've never laughed so hard with a companion. Everything that happens to us---the good, the bad, and the ugly---just has us rolling in tears of laughter.

For example! We were on the train and starting talking to this man across from us (I'll call him Marcello). We just start chatting in Italian and Slla Viazzo is trying to keep up. The phone rings and I have to answer it, so Sorella Viazzo, sweating bullets, takes over the conversation. "I only know four questions in Italian: what's your name? Where are you from? What do you do for work? and How are you? ... so..... What's your name?" Bwhahaha. She killed it! I get off the phone, we keep talking, we invite him to English course... and -- IN PERFECT ENGLISH -- responds, "Oh, as far as English, I don't need it. My mum's from England." You should have seen the look on Sorella Viazzo's face. Priceless.

Prayers. Sorella Viazzo and I have undertaken a program of intense PRAYER. Our motto: "If you believe it, you will receive it!" We're believing and praying. You know. Because we didn't do that before on our mission.

I've realized that my prayers are ONLY effective if I first thank Heavenly Father for all the things that I have. I HAVE to have an attitude of gratitude. If not, my prayers become selfish, whiney, and arrogant... and they do me no good. There's something about thanking God for all the things I have that makes me much more open.

I was thinking about Mr. Holland's Opus this week. I actually haven't seen it in years, but if I recall correctly, Mr. Holland spent his whole life helping individuals, but felt his life was a failure because he never was known for this opus he was composing. It's only at the end that he realizes his opus is his life.

I think that's a lot like the mission. I'm not here to create this great masterpiece... to have this one culminating moment that affirms to me, "Aha! This is why you're here." But it's only after I do all of the small things that I can look back and see that, combined, those things did create a masterpiece. "Aha. THIS is why I was here."

PICTURES!

...789: We did chalk drawing again this week. We drew the classic plan of salvation on one bed sheet, but I wanted to try and "branch" out. Bwhahaha! So we did one on family history. The text reads: "Who are my ancestors?" with a line from Mario Rossi (the Italian equivalent of John Doe) leading back to Machiavelli, Garibaldi, Eleanor Roosevelt and Joan of Arc. Don't ask how one many can descend from two Italians, an American and a French. Then "Family History." No success, but it was fun to draw a tree!

...789: I love my companion so much. She has these great "as seen on TV" hair contraptions to make buns... and, of course, this is what resulted. None of the Lord's proselyting hours were harmed in the making of this photo.

SHOUTOUT

to David Ruvalcaba! Thanks for your letter this week. Tell Jerry I'm sorry he never got my updated address, and that I hope he gets my special package from Rome soon! 

Okay, I love you all! Say hi to the mountains for me! And go watch Mr. Holland's Opus!

love

annie

August Rush

Looks like once again I'm at the end of my internet time with a poorly crafted message from our sponsers. I hoped to compensate by sending you pictures, but all I have this week is pictures I sneak of Slla Viazzo sleeping on trains. No go, wheezy Joe.

But, we did BEAT jet lag this week! And, now that she is awake and alert, I find Slla Viazzo quite delightful! She's a joy and a pleasure. Yesterday she made me roasted cauliflower. I think that was when I knew this was going to be a good transfer.

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be training as I get older in the mission. I feel that the older I get in my mission, the more two things happen:

1) I make the mistake of relying on myself. Oops. Since I've "been" in the mission and "know" how the mission works, I start to fall back on my old routines. I speak the language, I know the lessons, so I think I know what I'm doing. FALSE ALARM! I realize that I can screw up a lesson just as well as I did before, if I don't rely on the Lord. Also, it's comforting to know that this is His work. I think I take the work on my shoulders too much. "No success this week? WHERE DID I GO WRONG?!? WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE FOR MY VINEYARD!?" Then I stand back and realize that it's not my vineyard... the Lord of the vineyard has put us in charge of a certain tree, and we're cultivating it in the way he directs. The tree may not always be producing fruit, but it always needs cultivating.

So we're working more this week on relying on the Spirit. What does God want us to do. Not, what does the manual or even my experience tell me what to do. Because I THINK I know what I'm doing. But it turns out that every person is different and everyone needs something different. Tricky, these people.

2) Missionary work/all of life is just a lesson on how to love people disguised in different ways. Numbers? A lesson on how to love. Invites? A lesson on how to love. Every time I try to explain to Slla Viazzo "how things are on the mission," I basically just explain: "This is what we're asked to do. And we do it. And you can do it with love or without love and that's the only thing that makes the difference." She's probably sick of that message. "Okay, this is how we clean the kitchen. But the only way to make cleaning matter is to do it with love." Hahaha.

We bought squirt guns this week. It keeps us amused while we're trying to stay awake in the August heat.

Spiritual message of the week: if God is in charge, it means He's also helping people that are out of our reach for whatever reason. If we pray for those who aren't talking to us/are far away (literally or emotionally), He will care for them. Prodigal sons do return. I've seen it here and I know it's real.

I love you all. I pray for you often and can't wait until I get to see you. Until then, I know Heavenly Father is helping you in whatever way I would want to if I was there (except for maybe designing you things. I hope to do that when I get back).

Lots of love
Annie

In a small little house all covered with vines...

There were two little girls in skirt A-lines!

I have a new companion, Sorella Viazzo! She's fresh from the States and just pumped full of enthusiasm and jet lag. Poor thing, she's been trying so hard to beat the system (aka her body and the intense summer heat). But we're making great steps this week. Week 1: stay awake! Week 2: teach the gospel. Baby steps.

This week I'm learning more and more and more and more about patience. I think most of it has to do with the heat of the summer and the fact that progress takes time. I'm putting my whole mind/heart/strength/guts/mental faculties into this work, and at the end of the day... people just have to make their own decisions. And they have to do it in their own time. And the Lord also times certain things in his own time. This is frustrating. But, if I can learn to, as they say, "roll with the punches" and not get frustrated/annoyed, I think I'll have learned a valuable life lesson. I'll probably increase the quality and the length of my life. What is this? Not stressing is the key to longevity? Elixir of life!

Speaking of which, today is Harry Potter's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY!

We've decided to work on a new ward motto, to help increase enthusiasm in the ward and make sure we don't get trapped in an August slump (Italians usually take August off... from work, from religion, from any obligation). We've been thinking a lot about an old mission theme we had from President Kelly: Expect a Miracle (Aspettati un miracolo).

I like the ideas of miracles, a lot. A lot, a lot, a lot. It comes back to my love that God and religion aren't just these abstract things for stupid/poor/sad people. They are things that actually help real people in real life situations. Miracles aren't these abstract children stories from the Bible. They are things we see every day, evidences that God is doing SOMETHING with our lives to fulfill his purpose: make us smart, prepared children that can return to him, safe and sound. Children that have learned the lessons He's trying to teach us and become better for them. So this week, I want everyone to go look at a mountain or a baby and just wonder in the beautiful things that God has given us! And then think about all the experiences you've had in your life to make you the person you are today. If those aren't miracles/expressions of God's love, I don't know what is.

Okay, I'm going to try and attach some pictures, we'll see if it works. If not, I love you all and have a great week!

Look, we look like the same person! And we're eating Italian pizza!

signing off!

annie

I'm an Californian gril

This gem of a phrase was on a tshirt in the store next to the Internet point this morning. Good job, elementary English!

So: transfers! I am training again! I'll know who my compy is tomorrow morning. There's only two new sisters coming in this transfer, so it's either a Texan or Califonian gril (heh heh).

The coolest part was knowing that God has a hand in these transfers. We recently got a new mission president, President Waddoups. As I'm learning, mission presidents come into a mission with very very veeeeery little idea of how to run a mission, let alone who all the missionaries are. So I had NO IDEA what to expect with these transfers. I told myself over and over, "If President Kelly were here, I would say with 99% certainty that I would be staying in Ladispoli and with 95% certainty that I would be training." He clearly told me he wanted me to come to Ladispoli to train again.

And guess what? With absolutely no idea of who we are or what we are doing, Pres. Waddoups received the same impression: to have me train in Ladispoli. I talked with one of his assistants (who stayed here between the transition from Pres. Kelly to Pres. Waddoups). He said they prepared a list of potential trainers, based on the information and knowledge they had of all the cities/missionaries/personalities, etc. Pres. Waddoups refused to look at it, but closed himself in his room. After lots of prayer, he came out with a list of 22 names. Comparing his 22 names with the 22 names of the assitants, only 2 were different (this is out of 170 some possible missionaries). So. Yeah. God talks to man, man. And me too. And you! So today's letter is brought to you by the letter "R", for Revelation! Ask God questions and He will give you answers. Period. Stop.

I'm back reading Isaiah again. MAN, such a good book. I read a bit in the Bible Dictionary that says the best way to understand Isaiah, is to study and understand the Book of Mormon. I think itz true.... deeply studying the BoM has definitely helped me understand the good big old testament book.

...746: tshirt

...740: a Peruvian family that we meet with. Usually we fake beat box after lessons together. I'm no way as cool as them though.

Anyway. You're all the best! Everyone eat some spicy meat in my honor this week! Preferably Mexican!

all of the love

Annie