Dear family (especially mom),

Best week of my life, thus far. It is has been a lot more intense than I thought, which surprised me. I have grown so much! I am in a threesome- Sorella Nilson and Sorella Camp are my companions- they are excellent, excellent women. Sorella Nilson has had a desire to serve for her entire life, and has really prepared herself well. I really connect to her in that way. She is a swimming instructor, and an American Studies major at the Y. Sorella Camp graduated this year in voice (opera) at the U, so we share a love for singing. It makes me so happy when she sings, especially the inni (hymns)- she sounds like an angel. Better yet, she is an angel- she is sweet tempered, and has a dignified aura about her. Sorella Nilson is determined, says hello to everyone and a hard worker. We are growing so much, together. They have both taken Italian as well, and have visited Italy before for study abroad programs. We are all about the same level, so betweent the three of us, we are able to practice speaking in class, inbetween class, and help each other learn vocabularly/facts that the other doesn't know about Italy.

My district is small- our zone is small, since there aren't many missionaries being sent to Italy. Yet, every one of them are exceptional. Our branch presidency...wow they really set us straight. They are very loving, as well as their wives. They have a very strong spirit about them. If we don't stay on our toes, they could potentially be very intimidating- we are going to grow so much! In my district, there is my threesome, miei sorelle e gli anziani (elders). Anziano Skanky, Anziano Ginolfi and Anziano Vigneri also make a threesome. They've never taken a lick of Italian (as you could tell, two of them have ancestors from Italy) and there have been moments when they've seemed very overwhelmed, even discouraged.

I've learned and now know that this is an important part of my (and my sorelle's) purpose as a missionaries now- to encourage them!!! We can be like their older sisters, and support them, and help practice with them. Whenever they've said, "We [stink], we're never going to learn this, etc.]" we tell them outloud "Anziani, trust us, you know more than we did after months of studying Italian. The gift of tongues is real, and we can see it working through you. Don't say negative things about yourselves, and don't you compare yourselves to us- we've taken Italian for a long time. We look up to you". They really appreciate that- they need support, this is hard work...The advesary doesn't have many ways in which he can enter the hearts of the missionaries here. The Spirit of love is strong, and there are not many outside influences affecting us, or spare time to let our minds wander from good things...he tries to get us to compare and compete with each other, to get frustrated, to doubt our testimonies...We practice contacting- walking right up to someone, speaking to them in Italian, starting a conversation, and testifying of the gospel and that we know. Doing that over and over again, it can get frustrating if you only have ten words that you know- this is the case with the two new districts of Elders. One of them left yesterday, and it's broken our hearts. We're praying for him. Please pray for Anziano Hesterly.

I've found that I've learned a lot just by teaching little things to them here and there. It is intense, and I'm so grateful for every verse of scripture that I studied, every experience that I had prior to entering the MTC- I know that I needed to have them all to help keep me going here, and to learn at a different level. Since I've tried to learn about the basic principles of the gospel in the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel before, now I can focus more on learning Italian. My mission president had given us that advice in our letter after we received our call and I'm glad that I did that...That being said, it never ceases to amaze me how much I can learn by studying simple principles such as faith, or repentance. My testimony deepens mostly as I read the Book of Mormon. It gives me energy and nourishes my soul.

Wow, my time is up. Could you send this items, please?

Tissues

2 t-shirts

1 pair basketball shorts

dw40 oil for squeaky bed and cuppboard

pics of family

ensigns in english

I'll try to tell some fun stories that I have next week. These things that I have said are the most important. I hope that you are all well

Let me know.

Love,

Sorella Oakes