Italian or English?...

Dear Family, 

Well, this past week the unbelievable happened. I hit my six month mark and now have only a year left in the mission. Sorella Bringas likes to tell me the date and then inform me that I'll never have a September 25th in the mission again. Grazie Sorella.

This past Sunday we had an appointment with a man from Africa in English. He was a referral from the anziani who had met him on the train. After talking for a while, he was shocked to learn that I'm from the states. ''Really? That's strange, cause you don't speak English very well.'' Ouch! Though my wounded pride wants to say that it's only because African English is worded slightly differently, I have to admit I might have slipped a few words such as 'ogni', 'alcuni', and even 'obbedienza' into the conversation. I have come to realize that my language is no longer English and isn't Italian. It's something inbetween that only a speaker of both languages can understand. 

Lets see, Savona is wonderful as always and I've been blessed with an angel for a companion. Before the mission I remember feeling slightly nervous about being with the same person 24/7, but there's something truly wonderful about constantly sharing experiences together. We lift each other up and move forward together. 

In other exciting news, tomorrow I'll return to Genova to pick up my permesso! It's been a long process, but I'll finally be legal. Horray! 

I love you all. Thanks for your prayers, letters, and support.

Love, 

Sorella Pace

Savona

Dear Family,

School has started again here in Italy, signaling the end of summer.
That's clearly evident as we travel past the beaches, they are looking
very abandoned lately. The weather has started to follow the autumn
trend leaving the mornings, evenings, and nights cooler. I'm content
with the change, I think it's the perfect temperature. Sorella Bringas
is not. She's not very excited for this winter.

This transfer our little district of San Remo and Savona has grown! We
now have a booming three companionships, with a new area being opened
in Imperia relatively close to San Remo. I think it's the first city
to be opened in the mission for a couple years.
The big wave of sisters has ended and now we're being flooded with
elders. I think this past group was the same size of mine in the MTC,
but only 4 sisters arrived in the Milan Mission.

We're keeping busy with our investigators, less actives, and the
constant search for new people to teach. We would really love to find
a family this transfer.

This morning I was thinking back a couple years when Dad returned from
education week with the list of motivation factors. Love's at the top
of that list. How true that is, expecially in missionary work. We can
go through the actions, but without that love the crucial piece is
missing. When we have that love, the pure love of Christ for everyone
we meet, is when the miracles occur.

Vi voglio bene!!!

Sorella Pace

Picture!

Savona's Coastline

Dear Family,

This week we're back on bikes! The first night we took them out I was shocked at how hard it was to ride again. I didn't think I had gotten so out of shape! Then I thought maybe my bike at home is just much nicer than this one and I've been spoiled my whole bike-riding life.Then I realized that my back tire was incredibly flat. Once we pumped it up the next day everything was much easier. 

Last Sunday I gave a talk in church, my third here in Savona. I felt much less nervous than I did the first time, and hopefully I made a little more sense.

The work here continues as always. This Saturday we found a new investigator and then on Monday we had another lesson with him. He isn't a native italian, but he speaks enough Italian and Sorella Bringas speaks enough French that we can comunicate quite well. The Spirit was very strong during that lesson and at the end we set a baptism date with him! 

Before I left for the mission I knew that I would enjoy it, but I never realized how much joy and contentment I would find every single day, regardless of what happens or how hard the day may seem. I've never been so content or at peace with what I'm doing. I truly have never felt such joy everyday. I feel so blessed. 

I love you all! Have a wonderful week. 

Sorella Pace

Transfers!

Dear Family, 

It's wonderful to hear from you all! It's crazy to think that it's already the start of another school year. 

For me, it's a new transfer and I'm staying here in Savona! Sorella Hanson is leaving to be a Sister Training Leader in Milano with my first companion Sorella Heupel! Which means I'm staying here with Sorella Bringas to finish training her and to be the senior companion. AAaaaah!!! It's a little nervewracking. But with lots of prayer and scripture study, I'm going forward with faith and no stress. I think that's going to be my motto for this transfer. No stress. Actually, I was reading the conference Ensign and read the talk by Elder Porter regarding beautiful mornings. So I think that will by my theme: Oh What a Beautiful Morning. That way I can join in on the music fun Mom's having, and focus on my blessings, because I think that's the greatest help for no stress. 

I also was preparing for a talk this morning that I have in church on Sunday and was thinking about service and sacrifice. They go in hand and hand, but though service at times requires sacrifice, when we do it, it only feels like a blessing. I thought about the Widow of Zerepheth and the Widow's Mite and how their sacrifice of all they had brought more blessings than they could imagine. It's when we give of our lack, of our weakness, truly of ourselves that we truly follow Christ's example of service. So I'm giving my little best to Savona and Sorella Bringas and trusting that with the help of the Lord it will be enough. One things for sure, my Italian is really going to improve, because now I don't even have Sorella Hanson to talk to in English. Which also means I'll probably forget some. Sorry in advance for my future letters of bad grammer and poor spelling. 

In other news, the work in Savona is progressing and so are our investigators. I love seeing their growth and seeing them discover a love for the gospel. Everyone has dificulties and challenges, but through the gospel everything can be overcome. We've had a simpatizzante who's been acting pretty much on blind faith the past few months, trusting that the answers to her prayers will come and she'll feel the Spirit. It's been hard to watch her struggle when she felt it was going no where. Yesterday she told us for the first time that she had felt the Spirit the other week in church. For the first time she told us that this is something she wants in her life. It was such a miracle and blessing to see her growing faith. 

I recieved an email from Sorella DeCoria today and she told me that Zach Birch and Ben Crapo are leaving on missions. I can't believe they're old enough! But tell their families congratulations from me.

I love you all and pray for you everyday. Good luck with the start of the school year, internships, work, etc. 

Love,

Sorella Pace