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.