A Whole New World! A Dazzling World I Never Knew!

Ciao!
Aladdin must have gone on a mission because he knows what's up!

I'm in stinking Italia!!  I still can't even believe it! It's so so hot, but it's okay...because I'm in Italy! So here's what's happened in the past few days! (btw, i'm not sure where the apostrophe is on this keyboard...sorry!)(This is Kaeli's mom - I put the apostrophes in for her).

We left the MTC at 7:50 and headed to the airport. (I actually ran into Lot Slade on the train...crazy because he went to Rome too!) At the airport I had the first of many miracles! My bags weighed exactly 50 lbs and my carry on was 39.5! So just in case my luggage got lost, I packed an extra set of clothes in my carry on, and they made me check my carry on and put in under the plane! So I was kinda stressed about that.

Anyway... We flew to Chicago and I sat in  the very back seat in the middle of the flight attendant and a man that was from Mesa! He was a Hall and used to go to Eagar all the time and I guess his family loves the Wiltbanks! It's a small world after all! So then the flight attendant and I started chatting and by the end of the conversation he had a mormon.org card and was headed there to talk to the missionaries about how he can get into the MTC ;).

In Chicago I called home! Ah! it was so great hearing your voices!! Colten's voice is turning into a man! Gosh he's growing up so fast!

Chicago to London! So we hop on the plane and I'm preparing myself for this eight hour flight. I got me some Nyquil and I'm so ready to sleep! The first row of chairs have a recliner, some nice massage buttons, big bathroom, a comfy pillow and blanket and I'm thinkin "ya! Best nap of my life!) Keep walking back....chairs are getting progressively worse, crying babies everywhere, and the pillows are made out of cotton! So I sit down in my sad little seat ready to take this Nyquil and just die. Then my seat buddy comes. Luckily he was a fellow missionary and he gave me the window seat! So it wasn't half bad :). Eight hours later, and a slightly painful long nap, we get to the beautiful Long Heathrow airport where all the signs look like moose and they sell cold medicine called "Chesty Coughs".

From London we were finally off to Rome!!! The terminal started talking in Italian and the people were all headed back home to Rome! I sat next to some British Athiest band Members....very....fun....two hours. ha (Good luck Elder Hamblin!)

So we FINALLY get to Rome after over 24 hours of traveling!! And we're so excited! Until none of us can find our luggage. Luckily the carry on showed up (miracle #2). And after 2 hours of searching we were ready to get out into Rome so we gave up and found President Kelly and we were on our way! My first impression of Rome- Italians are crazy drivers!!! But somehow we made it to the church office in one piece!

There was real Italian pizza waiting for us and lots of bottles of cold water!

We got our important documents and then headed to the Mission Home (the Villa). So beautiful! I love love love the atmosphere of Italy! I wish every person could have the opportunity to just walk the streets of the inside of Rome! So we get to the villa and we meet Sorella Kelly, eat a homeade Italian meal of lasagna and gilato! It.was.heaven. (especially coming right out of the MTC). President Kelly talked to us for a little bit and by then it was 10:00 pm so we headed back to the airport to find the lost luggage. So to get back into luggage claim you need your receipts...which we gave to Anziano Steuer back at the office. So they wouldn't let us in. We said a short little prayer and Ecco! (behold!) miracle #3! They let us in! So long story short...after another miracle and 3 hours of searching, we were back at the villa with our luggage!

The next day we recieved the golden transfer envelope! drum rollll...... ROMA 5!!!!!!!!  Technically we're not in Rome, but it's the country about 30 miles outside of Rome. It's in the mountains (so it's not as hot) and there are vineyards and rolling hills. Go on google maps and take the drive from Passo Corese to Terni. So.beautiful. I think I live in a fairytale land!

Our area has about 40 cities and were opening up this area for sisters! (Oh I'm serving in a 3-some).

Mia Colege!  Sorella Mitsvotai (left) and Sorella Wightman (right) (Both are from Utah.)

We have SO much work to do! New apartment, no area book, no investigators, church is 20 minutes away in a hotel room, and somehow we have to share a car with the Anziani who live 20 minutes in the opposite direction of the church.

The hotel where they meet for church.

On top of that I'm this little greenie who doesn't know Italian or anything about how to open up a city. I've kinda had a hard time understanding why I came here. I feel so useless. We didn't even have an interview with President Kelly so I don't even know why he decided to put me, this little greenie, into a brand new area. But the my trainer told me that when he called to tell her about this transfer (a week earlier) that President Kelly said "I know where this Sister is from, I know she's diligent and I know she knows how to work hard" So even though this is going to be a really big challenge, I know God doesn't give me anything, without also giving me a way to accomplish it! I know there is someone here who needs to hear what I have to say! And even though all we're doing is finding right now, I will find this person and teach them all about this marvelous gospel!

So far we've taught 2 lessons (both in English! woo!). I gave away the first Book of Mormon in this area! We met a man who introduced himself as the devil. The family in the fruit stand loves us so much they gave us free grapes! (the fruit here....oh...so delicious!). I had to talk on my first Sunday! (you know I'm a baby....and I cried during my testimony...I think they thought I cried because I was so scared...haha) I feel bad when the little kids start talking to me and I have no clue what they are saying! (but it's the cutest thing ever!) I love the Italians! They are so sincere and loving and kind. I hope I can learn a thing or two from them while I'm here :).

There's so many details I wish I could tell you! Or better yet, I wish you could experience them for yourselves! But I hope this does for this week!

Oh! We went to the Colloseum and Trevi fountain today! (Sorry if those are spelt wrong ha). And I hope I can figure out how to send pictures! Im taking lots! But miss my big camera so much :( oh well....looks like I will have to come back someday :)

Ti voglio bene! (I love you!)
Sorella Wiltbank

Oh fun story! So on our first day of finding we walked by this store and were telling the ladies about the free English class we were having and just being friendly sis mish. The lady inside said "Come se dice "voi siete iluminosi" ----> "How do you say, You all are luminated...full of light" Ah. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

The Coliseum

At a Member's house for dinner.

Rome Italy Temple