Mission Finale

Ever since I returned from my mission Crystal has been bugging me to finish up the blog with my testimony and some final words. Now, almost 6 months later, I'm finally getting around to it.

Today, August 22, 2010, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a homecoming in Draper, Utah for a senior couple who I served with. There were about 15 returned missionaries there, the mission president and his wife, and two young couples from the Rome 2 ward. One of the couples was married not too long ago and even more recently the girl, Francescia, was baptized and now has a calling in Primary. When I started my mission in Rome 2 this girl would come occasionally. In the three transfers that I was there she came maybe 3 or 4 times. The elders were all over it and I was still very new in the mission so I don't really feel like I got to know her very well. I can't even describe my joy today to see her there and so excited to see the missionaries and see how happy she is. I was shocked that she even remembered me with how little I could actually speak the mission at that time. It's amazing to see how much can change in such a relatively short time. Two years ago, I was about to enter the MTC and had absolutely no idea about the marvelous experiences that awaited me. Through my mission I have been able to form relationships that I know will last eternally- whether it be with members, investigators, companions, or other missionaries. It seems preposterous to me that I ever thought that I didn't want to serve a mission. Clearly, the Lord knew what I needed and was loving enough to guide me to the experiences I needed to have. Obviously I'm far from perfect and it was discouraging to see how easily bad habits returned and good habits left quickly after my return. But I know now how to overcome and it's a daily, hourly, and minutely process to make sure that I stay close to the Lord so that he can help me.

Today at the homecoming we sang the Hymn of Rome. What an overwhelming and powerful experience to be joined once again with my fellow missionaries and sing a hymn that is so special for me. I know now more than ever that I am a daughter of God and that I have so much potential. I need only to learn the will of the Lord for me and act upon it- trusting Him to guide me to eternal happiness. I am such a blessed person and it is because I have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. How wonderful was my experience to share that with the wonderful people of Italy.

Sara Comes Home!!! 3/26/10

After posting Sara's emails so diligently for her entire mission, I completely bombed the last post. Sara arrived home from her mission on Friday, March 26th. Her original flight was due in at 6:55. However, that was with a flight time of one hour from Atlanta. Everyone who's flown that route knows that it doesn't take an hour to get from ATL to GSP, I figured her flight would get in early. At 6:15 it was saying the actual arrival time was scheduled to be 6:46. I drove separate from the rest of my family and when I was just getting off the interstate at the airport exit, I saw Sara's plane fly over my car and land. AHHH! She was even earlier than predicted. My family was also just arriving and we walked as fast as we could (actual arrival time ended up being 6:32) to meet Sara. We met up with her in the hall. So exciting!! She looked just great and it was so exciting to see her! We went to get her luggage and hers was the first one off. We were in the car on the way home before her flight was originally scheduled to land. Crazy! Here are some pictures from Sara's home coming:

Poster that Aunt Thelma made (note the Italian leather boots)

Another Welcome Home sign & balloon from Mom & Dad

On our way into the airport!

There she is!

Headed for baggage claim

Sign from the Nathan Leckie family...

Email from Sara 3/17/10

Oh what a beautfiful day!

Today has been GREAT! We went up to La Spezia as a district and met up with the missionaries there and went hiking. It's so beautiful! It's starting to feel more like spring and I absolutely love love love it!

This week has been great. Josy decided that she will be baptized in July. Fiorella is deciding between three dates in April. Veronica is doing a presentation on the church for her class. Lara came to church for the first time after investigating the church for 6 years. Antonella came to a Relief Society activity. Stella (a less active member) has been in church the last two sundays. Silvana (a crazy inactive) wants to come back to church. Gil came to church on sunday. Lots of good things happening here. On average as a district we have about 10 investigators in church. I've never been in a district when it was like that. The branch is super supportive and we had a little fireside the other night as a "mini-MTC" to help them know how they can help us more and they loved it.

We also had a miracle the other day... I lost my wallet... I know shocking, right? Anyhow, i'd left it actually on a foosball table near the sea at about 4 pm and didn't realize that I'd forgotten it until about 8:30 that night. The sense of dread set in quick and hard. I remembered exactly where I'd left it and thankfully we were with a member who could drive us to the place (the buses don't go after 8.15 or so) So we ran there and miraculously the place was still open (usually everything closes around 8) and it wasn't there on the table so we ran inside and asked and the man working said that someone had left a business card and had my wallet. YAY!! But the story doesn't end there. So I call the number... SUPER nice man who coincidentally lives accross the street from the church and has a beautiful family and said that we could come back to teach them about the gospel. Amazing experience. It went from being an awful feeling to a SUPER happy feeling. It's great. That was just a day ago so we haven't been back yet. The story will continue...

Anyhow. Yeah, life is good. We're still just working hard. I love these people!!!!

Alrighty, gonna go attach some pretty pictures from our hike today. Love you all so much!!!!
Sorella Leckie

These are all from this morning. We left a bit early to go to La Spezia. The missionaries in the group picture are: Anziano Manwaring, Grigg, Ehorn, Me, Hervoyavich, Slla Naslund, Hansen, Dalia, Anz Reyes, Hoopes.

Email from Sara 3/10/10

Short One

Hope everyone has had a great week. Things have turned very cold here and actually was snowing all day yesterday with some nasty wind. Nothing stuck, but it was pretty to watch when we weren't walking in it. :)

There have been lots of good things this week. All very small, but blessing just the same. Josy is doing well. Veronica is doing a presentation on missionary work and the church for a school project. Fiorella is still deciding a date. Leslie is waiting for her dad to say yes. Lara is going to come to church on Sunday. Silvia wants to keep meeting with us. Lots of tender mercies. I love it. The Lord is so good to me.

Today for Pday we're going to Pisa for a zone activity. We're going to play american football. It's really cold, but hopefuly there won't be any precipitaion. Keep your fingers crossed. Alrighty, gonna go now, but I just want you to know that the chruch is true and the gospel is the most important thing in the world! Love you all and hope you have another wonderful week. And if you didnt' have a wonderful week last week, look for the blessings and express your gratitude for what the Lord has done. He'll never leave us to walk alone.

Love you all!
Sorella Leckie

Email from Sara 3/3/10

Quick One

Alrighty, this is gonna be quick becuase I've taken forever today doing other things.

Saturday was so much fun. We went out to the beach and played American Football (touch) instead of playing soccer at church. It was perfect weather and so much fun.

Yesterday we had my last Zone Conference in the mission and I have to say that it was kinda sad. I will miss that a lot, I think. There is a mission hymn and I just love it and I was really a bit sentimental when we were singing it yesterday. I love it. There truly is just something so special about being a missionary. Everyone should do it!!

As far as the work is going: Fiorella didn't feel sure with her date of 5 marzo and now she is deciding when she'll be baptized. I really hope it's soon. I also found out yesterday at Zone Conference that a family that we worked with in Pistoia has a baptisimal date for the beginning of June. I'm so excited for them to all be members of the church together. Their kids are already baptized, but this will mean that they can work towards going to the temple. Che bellissima!!! Veronica, Josy, and Leslie are still good... we're really just waiting for parental permission. Frustrating, but essential.

Other than that life is good. I'm happy, healthy, and loving being in Italy.

I'm out of time but I hope everyone has a wonderful wonderful week and that you do something nice for someone else!

Love you all so much!!!
Sorella Leckie

Me and my Comp, Sorella Naslund!!

This is last wednesday when I ran allong the lungomare! So pretty!

I love the terazza!! There was so much wind and just a beautiful sunset.

Email from Sara 2/24/10

Buongiorno!!!!

It's a beautiful day here in Livorno. It's very spring-like and I love it! Everything is going well. I feel like there's so much to do and we are doing our best to fit it all in. I'm pretty sure I'm being stretched and hopefully with all this stretching and reaching the Lord is turning me into something better. Otherwise, I'm not sure if the discomfort of being streched would be worth it, but I know it is. Yesterday we had our interviews with President and he asked me how training was going, how the work was going, etc. And when I told him that I thought that I'd gotten out of training he said, that's just not what the Lord wanted. So, its a bit intimidating but comforting knowing that it's really what the Lord wants. I knew it before, but its always nice to hear.

Sunday I had a talk and my companion and I did a musical number. The talk was fine and the musical number was pretty good. She was really really nervous, and I was just nervous. But all in all it was fine. We sang a really pretty arrangement of "Did you think to pray?" I like it. I think it was the 4th or 5th time I've done it in the mission.

Our investigators are doing well. Fiorella is doing good. She says she's not sure about the 5th of march, but that she thinks still in March. She just wants to feel sure about her baptisimal date. I guess that's reasonable, I just wish I knew what date it would be so we could plan and prepare.

Josy and Veronica are wonderful. Veronica just takes every new principle we teach her and just has so much faith. We had a lesson yesterday where we were teaching her about following the prophet. At the end we invited her to pray about Thomas S. Monson to know if he was truly a prophet today. She said she would do it, but then when she was saying the closing prayer she said something like "we thank thee for a prophet today who guides us in these troubled times..." I really really hope that she won't have to wait too much longer for permission from her parents. We talked to her mom and asked her if they wanted to hear the things that we were teaching Veronica, and she jsut said, "oh, well she comes home and tells us everything anyway." We were like, "oh, okay. Well, if you have any questions let us know." I would really love to teach her whole family. They are just beautiful!

Today for Pday we're going to learn how to make Tiramisu. It's going to be so so so yummy. I'm having to limit myself to one treat a day because we were just going crazy there for a while with birthdays and holidays and parties, etc. For example, Saturday was an activity for the primary. It was a great activity and there were lots of kids and their friends and families. Some of the kids even came to church on Sunday because they like the activity so much. But there was a TON of sweets and candy and all sorts of evil things and it's just too yummy.... oh well. You just live once, right?

Okay, well, i'm gonna go so I can send you a picture of me and my new comp. I brought my camera today, but not the cord so I have to see if my companions will work. Keep your fingers crossed. If you don't get them today though, then you'll just have to wait until next week.

Remember how much I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week, full of serving and doing good things!!!!
Vi voglio un mondo di bene!!!!
Sorella Leckie

After FHE one night at Annalisa and Massimo Noè's house.

Email from Sara 2/17/10

Salve!

Well well well... My life has been topsy turvy for a few days and hopefully will be leveling out here pretty soon.
Obviously the biggest change is my new companion. She speaks english perfectly, thankfully, so we don't have to play charades or anything, which is good. She has a pretty good grasp on Italian, too, so I'm pretty excited about that. Obviously there are things to learn still, but she's anxious to learn. She has a lot of good ideas and is pushing me to be better. The toughest part right now is balancing good ideas and MTC mentality with real-life knowledge of these people and experience in the mission. But I think its a good thing, becuase for the last couple of transfers at least I was more just focused on keeping our investigators on the right track, and now the focus in on getting them to baptism. I really hope to be able to see several baptisms here in Livorno before I go home. Fiorella still is scheduled to be baptized 5 March, and that's still the plan, but she's been so busy with working that we've hardly been able to see her. She still comes to church, but we've just got to nail it down so we can finish teaching her the few things that are remaining and so she'll be prepared for her baptism. Veronica is also wanting to be baptized sooner than later and I think she'll push her parents a little more than Josy. Hopefully, though, she won't have to push too too much. Her mom is really nice and we also hope that she'll come to church with Veronica in the near future.

As far as my district goes, things are very different dynamically here in Livorno. My last district was very close and we worked well together, but now we hardly know each other so we're having to figure out how we're going to work together. Different strengths and personalities require different activities and planning. But we'll figure it all out here eventually.

The branch continues to be amazing and I absolutely love the people here.

Alrighty, I'm gonna sign off now so I can send a couple pictures. Remember how much I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week!!!

Vi voglio più bene!!!
Sorella Leckie

Email from Sara 2/10/2010

Mamma Mia!!!

I'm feeling a little relieved/overwhelmed with lots of changes that are happening in my life at this moment. My whole world for the last three months was revolving around a very needy companion and now she's gone home. It's just strange and I feel a little bit at loose ends. Then most of the Elders in my district got transfered (3 out of the 4) and I feel like my support system just left me, and I need it still as I will be training a new sister. Boy oh boy. Anywho.. I knows the Lord wouldn't ask me to do it if I couldn't, but he just wanted to make me work harder, right?

Anyhow, aside from that I will at least be staying in Livorno which makes me VERY VERY happy. At the moment, however I am in Ladispoli (Near Rome) on a scambi (exchange) with Sorella Stephenson. It's too much fun. I would have liked to have been able to get our apartment ready for this new sister who is coming in, but I didn't know 100% that I was training until after I was in Rome. We just knew that I had to come to Rome with Sorella Gambardella, but that I didnt' have to pack my bags. There really was only one obvious solution, but I was still holding out hope that I would get an experienced companion who could help me lots this transfer, but I guess that's not what would help me the most, so we'll just have to pray lots and go forward. I will go to the Villa tomorrow to "pick up" my new companion and we'll have a lunch there and then we'll head back to Livorno. I haven't met her yet, but I know that her name is Sorella Naslund and she is from Sweden. I've been told she speaks english... I sure hope so :) It will be a very interesting learning experience.

Aside from all of these changes going on, the work is still going well. Sorella Gambardella finished the mission. She says its the first time in her life that she actually finished something. I was really happy for her. I really hope she can remember the thigns she learned and not digress. She was able to form some good relationships here and she really needed to feel that she had made some kind of contribution, so it was really good. Veronica wrote her a sweet little note and had written that she hopes that Sorella Gambardella can come to her baptism and that she hopes it will be soon. She also wrote that if they don't see each other soon that she hopes someday that they will meet again in the Kingdom of God and that she will be worthy. It was beautiful! How I love seeing people grasping the gospel. Veronica also has been inviting her mom to church. We actually invited her mom to church, too, and she very very kindly told us that it was their one day not to work and that they slept in on Sundays. But I hope that someday soon she'll at least come to Sacrament meeting. Veronica is also very hopeful. It's good.

I'm really going to miss my last district. We did LOTS together, but it was good because we WORKED together. I feel as though some of my friends just had to leave and I didnt' even get to say bye because I was in Rome. :( But I guess there's always mission reunions, right?

I've been thinking lots lately about trusting in the Lord and how important it is that we trust Him. I stumbled upon this scripture the other day that just really hit home But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him. (Mosiah 29:20) I know that when we truly put our trust in Him he will always deliver us. He won't necessarily take away our problems, but he will help us carry our burdens.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week. Pray for me lots!!!
Sorella Leckie

We burned a pair of nylons to celebrate finishing the mission. It smelled really bad.

Me and Sorella Stephenson in Rome.

Email from Sara 2/3/10

I'm Cold.

Okay, at the moment my fingers are freezing so I can't guarantee any type of accuracy in typing. But anyways... It's been a good week. I feel appreciated which is really really nice. Our investigators are all progressing well. Fiorella, Veronica, Josy, Leslie, Cecilia, Gil. They're all still hanging in there. We just have to keep them going in the right path.

Today is my companions last p-day so we're doing whatever she wants which means that we went Ice skating again. It was fun, but I'm kind of ice skated out.

She heads to Rome on Tuesday so I'm not exactly sure where i'll be next week before transfers. I really really hope that I will be staying here in Livorno, but only time will tell. I feel that there is enough work here for sisters that it would be somewhat counter productive to send in two new sisters, but the ways of the Lord don't always make sense to me. Either way, I hope to be here sino alla fine.

We heard some interesting news yesterday. In July the mission of Catiana will be closed and combined with the Rome mission. And the boundaries will be re-drawn. Which means that where I'm serving now will be part of the Milan mission. Weird. We were told that it will be announced in the church news Feb 10th? I think. Anyhow, I'm glad I'll be home because it will mean very big changes, but I'm sure it's inspired.

Okay, well I'm going to see if I can send a few pictures for real this week. Remember that I love you all and that you are in my prayers. You are all wonderful and I thank you for your prayers and supprot that you sempre send my way.

Love you so much!!!
Sorella Leckie

I love this picture. Even though it's a little blurry, It's not terrible inaccurate.

This was after Coco's baptism. Fiorella, Me, Coco, & Sorella Gambarella.

This was last night Sabrina was playing the piano for us. We're going to do a prelude number on Sunday. We'll see how it goes.

Email from Sara 1/27/10

Another short one this week. It's been a pretty good week. Nothing too grand to report, but we're just plugging away.

Coco's baptism was wonderful and his family came. It was good. Fiorella told President Acerson that she wanted to get baptized on her birthday, March 5 (and Crystals :) So unless we can help her want to be baptized earlier we will shoot for that. I really hope to be here for it.

Our other investigators are still here and Veronica is amazing. She's already in 2nd Nephi and loves the book of mormon. I love it!!

We went ice skating again for Pday. Fun stuff. The ice rink will be taken down sometime in February so there really isn't too much opportunity. But it was really fun.

Alrighty, well, gonna call it good for now. I really will try to send some pictures next week. I've been a slacker about that, sorry.

Remember that I love you all and hope you have a wonderful wonderful week.
Con tanto affetto,
Sorella Leckie

Email from Sara 1/20/10

Good week.

It's been a pretty good week. We're all looking forward to Coco's baptism tomorrow. And, Fiorella decided that she wants to get baptized on her birthday, March 5th. We had our interviews with President yesterday and he was talking to Fiorella and said that he would come back for her Baptism. It's pretty exciting. Also Josy told me that she wants to get baptized in May and Veronica will most likely get baptized with her. We're trying to help them want to be baptized sooner, but if we have to wait until May, I guess that's okay.

Interviews were good. I really feel that President appreciates me and what I've been doing here in Livorno. It's a good feeling.

I'm loving the mission and am so happy to be here serving the Lord. Sorry, this is a little short this week, but dont' really have too much else to add. I'm sure I'm not remembering lots of things, but life is good.

OH YEAH! One amazing thing that happened this week was that Walter (Leslie's dad) called us yesterday. We hadn't been able to get ahold of them for more than 3 weeks and so it was really really a miracle that he called. Hopefully we can get back on track with her and help her get baptized too. And who knows, maybe Walter too, we'll see what we can do. With the help of the Lord all things are possible.

Okay, gonna go head out and to the spesa (grocery shopping). Hope you all have a wonderful and fabulous week!!! Love you all!!!
Sorella Leckie

Email from Sara 1/13/10

WHOA!

Okay, so maybe the subject is a little overdramatic, but it's pretty accurate some of the time.

It's been a good week. Zone conference was great. Investigators are doing well and the work is going forth. Sometimes I'm not exactly sure what to do or where to go and yet things just work out.

Yesterday we were teaching Fiorella, a 19 year old Peruvian who's friend is getting baptized next week. She really has such a strong desire to learn and follow the commandments. It's great. Right now she doesn't understand the power of the Atonement and feels that she can't let go of former mistakes, but I was reading in the Liahona this morning a great talk and I'm so excited to share it with her. We had a good lesson with her last night though and it seemed at first that the lesson was kind of all over the place and I was just praying and praying that it would work out and that somehow the spirit would just help her understand. It was amazing to see how a seemingly uncoordinated lesson was brought together through the scriptures. It was wonderful and she felt the spirit. I love it! We really hope she will be baptized soon, but obviously want it to be her decision and because she has a testimony. She already received an answer in church that this was the true church so she says piano piano she'll get there. She even talks sometimes about when she's a missionary what she's going to do. It's great. Josy and Veronica are doing well, also, and Veronica loves meeting with us and learning. She really understands so much and I love being able to teach her.

One thing that sticks out to me is how all of these people who we are teaching are friends of someone else who is learning. It helps me realize how important it is to have a friend in the gospel. I KNOW that they talk about these principles together and that it helps them reinforce their small but growing testimonies. What a wonderful blessing to be a missionary!!

No pictures this week. Haven't really taken too many anyway... need to be be better about that. Today we're going to go with our district to see one of the sights of Livorno so I'll try to take a few then. Something to look forward to next week, right?

Remember that I love you all and hope you have a wonderful and safe week!!!

Con tanto tanto affetto,
Sorella Leckie

p.s. Karen, if you read this, I saw the pictures and mama mia!!!!!! :)

Email from Sara 1/7/10

Buon La Befana

So, today is a holiday here in Italy. Makes it a little tricky to do our grocery shopping when all the stores are closed, but at least the internet point was open. School starts back tomorrow, so today is the last day of the holidays here.

The "Befana" is like a witch who brings stuff and puts it in a stocking. Santa Clause comes the 25th and leaves things under the tree and the Befana comes the 6th of January and if you've been good brings a stocking full of treats, or coal if you're bad. Overall it just spreads out christmas a little bit more. Anywho, It's been a pretty okay week. We had some really good appointments with some of our investigators and we hope and pray they will continue to progress. The elders have an investigator who will be baptized this month, so hopefully that will help encourage a few others to "take the plunge" :)

Sunday was really great. I played the piano for Primary, translated for Sunday School, and then played the organ for Sac. meeting. Makes church go by so fast... a little too fast, really. But it's nice to feel needed, too. We had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting, and the spirit was really strong. Unfortunately with the holidays some of our "regular" investigators weren't able to make it, but I really wish they had. It was a good meeting.

Other than that, don't really have too much else to say. Some days are hi, others are low and I just have to figure out how to deal with it all :). We will have Zone Conf. on Monday so I'm looking forward to that and the boost that comes from being a little more spiritually uplifited.

I'm gonna go now so I can hopefully get you a few pictures. There aren't really that many, but I'll send what I can.
Love you all!! Hope you have had a great beginning of a new year and that the year goes well!

Con tanto affetto,
Sorella Leckie

Me and my loot from Christmas... there was a TON. Thankfully I've given most of it away now and it's not there to tempt me. :)

The primary with Babo Natale

Me, Irene, and Slla Gambardella. Iceskating!! Che fun!

Josy, Slla Gambardella, Veronica, Antonio( Veronica's brother) and me. I love them so much!!!

Us with the Eubanks on Christmas