Post Natale

Well, here we are again. I feel like I just wrote you an e-mail five seconds ago, so there's not too much new going on believe it or not. I'm so baffled by that tape!* and slightly enraged that it wasn't perfect. When we relistened to parts of it to make sure it was working it sounded so normal. Blerg. Well, at least you were entertained.

The most exciting news of the day is that we have no roommates! Our three roommates peaced out for California and Salt Lake City this morn. They were nice but Sorella Bunker and I were both kind of ready for them to be gone. Their second to last night here I was being all studious at our desk and they came in and proceeded to spend the next hour at least gossiping about boys, but not just boys, Elders, and I was like barf. I will barf all over all of your faces right now. No, I would rather barf all over myself than hear this conversation. Not only are you talking about teeny babies, but you're missionaries, remember how that's our job right now? Your uterus will have to wait a few more years.

Well, I said that all in my head at least. But our room is clean and organized and beautiful. We have an end room so it's actually a little bigger than most. So today I decided to take full advantage of the many vacant hooks and empty beds, at least for a week. Sorella Bunker and I have the bunk set closest to the door, I'm on the bottom. I decided to create a super bed for myself. So I slid off my matress, plopped down one of the abandonded mattresses, and repositioned mine on top. It's really quite a cozy dream. I look forward to at least 7 nights with super bed.

Other kind of funny thing, we do service early Monday mornings, by early I mean 6:00 AM. Sorella Bunker and I have usurped the stocking and trash job in the basement of our bulding, which includes a few trips to the trash compactor. But let me tell you, it would be the perfect start to a Bones episode. Two missionary ladies strolling in the dark over to the trash compactor: they turn the key and open the door, and PLOP! a detatched bloody arm falls from the raised compactor. Girls scream, blood squirts, and Bones and Booth come save the day.

Still no snow here, which is a bit sad. I'm hoping for a white Martin Luther King Day, which is maybe a bit ironic.

Yesterday I did my first real SYL day. I was going to do Italian from when I woke up until I went to sleep, but I ended up speaking in English that night in our district meeting discussing the devotional. Sorella Bunker would translate for me when we had to talk to non-Italian peeps. It was kind of great. I'm working on slowing down when I talk so I can try and use all the grammer I know correctly, and I'm trying new ways to learn my vocabulary which continues to be the hardest thing for me to master. Teaching keeps getting better and better. We actually did an activity with one of our sub teachers this week where he played an investigator-type dude and the eight of us were supposed to try and teach him, trying to let everyone get turns to speak. After the activity we had a pause and all the Anziani were out wandering the halls and Sorella Bunker and I were talking about how we wanted to say more but we didn't want to dominate the lesson, and the teacher turned to us and said, "Now that you're the only ones here I can tell you, you two really did an excellent job. Considering you had only a short amount of time to learn about the investigator, establish his needs and develop a relationship. you did quite well, the things you taught and the scriptures you used were very good." So we felt pretty great because we hardly ever get constructive comments, let alone compliments.

I'm still eating up the Book of Mormon. Today I was asking for a pen from Sorella Bunker because I was at the part "where Moroni starts kicking ass," that's what I told her at least. One thing Elder Bednar talked about in passing that I loved was developing the habit of searching for answers in the Book of Mormon, by reading it cover to cover with a question in mind. Don't just do a word search online, but read it, take a cheap paperback copy and mark it up with that one question you have. By the end of your life you'll have a book shelf of Books of Mormon that's a chronological account of all the questions you've had in your life. I kind of love that image. And the shelves below it will be the journals I've filled up. I just think that'd be so cool. I'm getting excited to start the book of mormon again now that I'm remembering the story and the teachings together so much better. It's great to be teaching of having a discussion and be able to think "Oh wait, what I was just reading this morning would be perfect for right now."

We're off to an early lunch because we're helping clean the Provo Temple, since it's still closed this week, we're kind of excited. Sorella Bunker loved the mittens, thanks Mom, and I still love everything you sent and that I always know what time it is!

Ian, I am a little jealous of the Justin Bieber singing toothbrush, there would have been a throw-down if I had been at the party.

Love you all like whoa, sorry this is maybe a bit boring, I will repent and return and report with lots of great and wise and funny things next week. BTW, in four weeks I'll be in Italy? What? When did that happen?

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sorella Bush

*Due to a technical difficulty, her voice tape sounded like she was a chipmunk sucking helium.

Some pictures...

"I just kinda love my name tag

and stand by the fact that

Sorella is the best title."

"Some of the Anziani:

Briscoe, Iaconelli, Walsh and Hess."

"Studying hard, obviously."

Buon Natale!

Ciao! Buon natale!

So I get a surprise extra 30 minutes to e-mail, I've been working on a handwritten letter to you, detailing the last day and a bit, so you'll get that sometime the end of the week, but know it's been really great. really, I've been so happy and so full of love and it's just been so nice. Also, be forwarned that the system is struggling since everyone in the MTC is trying to e-mail so my computer keeps freezing up and if I keep typing it usually catches up but there could be some crazy shiz accidently typed.

First though, thanks for all my lovely gifts, it was so nice to open up all the things you thought I would like, and I can't stop looking at my watch! I always know what time it is!!!

We had a really great Christmas pagent last night that we put together in our residence hall. I mean, the MTC had an official one, but in ours I rode Sorella Bunker (who was my donkey) into the bench/manger and my baby Jesus was a stuffed moose. I really actually think that we (the Italian sorelle plus a few of our fav Ukranians) made last night for a few sisters who were struggling being away from home per le feste.

But the best thing that's happened is that Elder [David A.] Bednar gave a talk that blew my freaking mind today during our huge combined sacrament meeting. It was the best thing ever, he is so smart (s.m.r.t.), and you can tell by the way he speaks that he used to be a professor (the good kind). I'll try and send you some thoughts in my letter but the big thing he talked about was the importance of knowing the character of Christ, and what defines Christ is that he would always turn out to serve when everyone else, following the natural man would turn in.

He extended that into the need of moving past testimony into conversion. Having a testimony is not enough, we need to be always striving for a fuller conversion to Christ and his gospel. It just made me think of all the people I know who have kind of left the church behind, and he explained it so simply and perfectly. The other thing that really hit me was the way he talked about using the BOM to answer all our questions. Knowledge and answers don't come from a word search online of the scriptures, they come from re-reading the whole book, cover to cover.

And finally I was reminded of how much power the apostles have, to be witnesses of Christ, his testimony, his special witness at the end, just pierced me. And he said that if you ever say to yourself, at any point in your life really, "I can't do this," you're right, on your own you can't, but with the Atonement we can. With God, nothing shall be impossible. I love that and I know it's true.

I really really love the book of pictures, and the Christmas card. I love our family! How are we so cool? Everyone I showed it to was impressed with our adventuring, and I love how so many of those adventures weren't far away. We just live in the best place, and are willing to learn about our home and find beauty where we are. A month from today I'll find out where I'll be for my first area in Italy. I am so excited to learn to love that place and those people.

Which reminds me of a mini-rant I wanted to tell you about. Whenever I tell peeps where I'm going on my mission they're like, "Oh, that's where I wanted to go." And people act like it's going to be some kind of dream vacation and it kind of drives me crazy. I am ecstatic to be going to Italy, I can't tell you how perfect it feels to my soul. But I didn't want to go to Italy because it's pretty, of the reasons why people go there for vacation, I wanted to go because something inside of me has been pulling me in that direction my whole life, and I just get enraged at the people that say "Oh... Italy" in this voice that sounds like we're not going to be doing the same thing for the next 18/24 months, like I'm some spoiled girl getting ready to live the movie A Room With A View.

We're all just as lucky to know that we were called of God to be where we're going. Is that not good enough for you? To know that God trusts you enough to teach is children, to the extent that he's preparing people just for you? To you get what I mean? I don't want to go to Italy because I love gelato, or some stupid ass reason like that, but because I've somehow known this was my path, and I already love so much about Italy partly because of that.

Okay, stepping off my soap box. I can't believe how blessed I am to be going to Italy but we're all going to be studying the gospel and teaching it to the best of our abilities. And that's something I'm grateful for too.

This computer makes me want to punch a hole in the wall, so I'm going to wrap up.

I love you guys sooooo much, I love being a missionary, and I love being more focused on Christ than I ever have been before at Christmas. I love how tangible the love is in my life, not only from my Savior but you, my family that is perfect for me in everyway, and the many many friends that I've been blessed with that continue to do incredible things and keep a little room in their lives for me. I think about you all the time, not just because I love you and wonder about you lives, but because I can feel the love and support and prayers you are sending my way.

Sono grata...Sempre. E babbo, anche sono grata che tu sia andato a Shopko per me. Che padre! I hope no zombie killers tricked out out of your guns while you were there.*

Vi voglio un mondo di bene.

Sorella / Figlia Bush

----------

Ciao! Buon natale! - Hi! Merry Christmas!

per le feste - for the holidays.

Sono grata...sempre. - I am thankful...always.

E babbo, anche sono grata che tu sia andato a Shopko per me. - And Dad, I'm also thankful that you went to Shopko for me.

Che padre! - What a dad!

*This is in reference to a letter I wrote her about braving Shopko to buy a tape recorder so I could listen to cassette tapes she sends us. I wrote about how Shopko looks like one of those places in zombie movies because there's this weird canned music and no customers. I'm just waiting for a zombie to come out of the bakery aisle all jacked up on Twinkies. It's funnier if you've seen Zombieland. - DB

Half-illegal.

Hi, I love you, like, a lot.

This is only half illegal. I found out after my e-mail time that we were allowed more time for e-mails because of Christmas, BUT NO ONE TELLS ME ANYTHING. I thought Prez Brown and I were bff. I guess I was wrong.

But I love your letters and you and Madame Fluff. But I just wanted to say I'm sorry my e-mails are such a challenge for you. I race the clock every week and never reread a thing and we have no spell check or anything and my brain goes into this Italian/English combo which probs makes it almost impossible to understand. So thanks and sorry.

I love love love you. Hope you get my tape, and hope my package gets here tomorrow! Can't wait, otherwise it'll be Tuesday, which will be exciting too. Give my love to little bro, momma bear and all the creatures in our home.

xoxoxo

Vi voglio bene!

Half Way!

Oh hi guys, guess what?

I am officially half done with my stint at the MTC. Can you believe it? It seems like forever and/or I just got here all at the same time. But I really can tell I'm learning. It's actually kind of hard to see the difference day to day of how much Italian I know, but yesterday when we did SYL (speak your language (only speaking Italian)) it felt so much more natural. I seriously get so pumped that I'm going to be speaking freaky Italian to freaky Italians in freaky Italy. My life! Mia vita!

We're supposed to bare our testimony to a couple people everyday, in Italian of course. So I was talking to some Ukranians who have been here a few weeks longer. Their friends walked up to join them and they said, "Dude, you missed it, she just bore her testimony like a boss. I can't speak nearly that fast in Ukranian and I've been here almost 7 weeks." Naturally I replied, as Jay-Z would have. "Ladies is pimps is too, go on brush yous shoulders off," then brushed off said shoulders. JK.

But the moral of the story is that sto imperando! But you should know what important thing I learned I was doing wrong this week and have said dozens of times. So don't be confused, Gesu Cristo non ha soffrito per nostri peccati, lui ha sofferto per nostri peccati.

Yup, that's right. He was not deep fried for our sins, he suffered for them. WHY did it take my teacher 7,000 years to tell me that?? I don't know.

So life continues to barrel on and I'm quite content. I sent you a tape for Christmas on Monday, my hope is that it gets to you in time for you to listen to it Christmas Eve. Ci sono troppo missionari qui nel MTC, non posso parlare con voi, ma in Gennaio quando starò in Chicago. Last night we heard from Elder L. Whitney Clayton. Maybe I was slightly dissapointed it wasn't un'apostolo (I mean we had D. Todd here right before Thanksgiving), but we decided he could be part of the Whitney Club we're forming. We're not sure what it entails, at least t-shirts, and def a club house of some kind. AND THEN he had all his kids stand up and I was like holda holda, I totally know his youngest sons. He and Kev were good dude friends and I see him in the cafeteria all the time since he teaches here, and I was like Sorella Bunker, we could totally extend him a formal invitation to join the Whitney Club. He would be secretary because he has a great booming movie kind of voice, perfect for recounting minutes from our previous meetings.

Our teaching continues to improve. Our main goals have been about asking good questions to really engage the investigators and it makes all the difference. I really do love teaching and I feel really lucky that I've been blessed with the ability to connect with people and connect with them and make them feel loved.

I think last week I talked about how prayer is pretty much the best thing evs, so now I'll tell you how I'm obsessed with the Book of Mormon. I think it's because I love to read and my options are now super-limited, not to mention my time. But this is the first time where I feel like I'm really feasting on what I'm reading, I'm reading to learn and find answers to questions and prayers, that combined with the fact that I think this is the fastest I've read the Book of Mormon, at least with a desire to really comprehend. I mean I feel like I do kind of when I read real books. I'm attached to the characters and amazed by there lives, and I want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. It really is true that that book can come alive. It can mean different things at different times and you can be continually learning from it, and as much as I wanted to get on past 2 Nephi, the begining of Nephi really is the perfect start to the whole book. I mean he just testifies over and over of God's power and His love for us. Who doesn't want to here that kind of shiz all the time?

Another goal I've had this week is to really get up ay 6:30 when I'm supposed to. For awhile I didn't really feel the need because I don't need hardly any time to get ready in the morning, but Sorella Miller is always testifying to us the power of obedience and how blessed we can be when we decide to be obedient, and man, I really feel that. Everything has been a little easier. I feel like I'm finally using my language study time well, I'm asking better questions when I teach, I'm getting more out of BOM reading and even gym time is easier for me to use wisely. Yesterday Sorella Bunker and I got up to running 4 miles. Yes that translates to 40 times around the hampster wheel, but it's so worth it. Plus we have a good system. I tell her gossipy stories from my life and she askes clarifying questions and counts our laps. Plus Grandma Sandi is a lady and a gem and sent me cuties this week, and one of my Rachels sent me a package filled with Whole Foods joy. For a few days I shall be eating like a real person.

I've even gotten better at being an example to the Anziani. I cannot make jokes during class pretty much ever, unless they're in Italian, because they get so distracted. But every now and then when I'm with the Sorelle I just stop thinking about what I say and we have some pretty great laughs. Sorella Forbes got a "Grow Your Own Nutcracker" thing in a package and she said "Look! It grows 600%!" Of course I immediately said, "I wish I could say the same for all men." She was doubled over for minutes. We have plenty of fun. Plus the spirit is here so strongly, why wouldn't I love the MTC?

Ian, I'll keep sending you letters everyweek, but I think it's time you write back again. Pentiti! I mean, if I can find the time to send you a letter with everything I'm doing, I bet you can find time. Good luck with the sleep study! I'm excited to see how all this blood work shiz will help you out.

And thanks to everyone who has sent me letters! I can officially say today that if you've ever written to me I have written you back. Sometimes I worry about my mail getting to people when I don't here back from them but now you can all know who should or should have be getting something. I can't tell you how much it means to get mail here. The days are long and when the mail comes at dinner it always feels great to remember how many people there are that love you and are thinking about you. After a letter I got from Mads this week I was thinking about how many great people there are in my life, and how a think a bit of me always stays with the people and places I love, and I can't wait to leave pieces of me all over Italy, even if it makes life a little more painful, it also makes it infinitly more beautiful.

Buon Natale! Sto pendando da voi sempre. Vi amo. I hope you get some snow and everyone gets healthy and you get some time to just relax and think about how glorious was Christ's birth, and what that means for us and for the world.

Vi voglio bene!

Sorella Bush

P.S. All I want to do these days is read Strega Nonna's Christmas, I feel like that's where all my previous expectations of Italian Christmas came from. Also, the Bunker Fam reads the Selfish Giant every Christmas so Sorella had them send it over and she read it to me as a bed time story this week. I am living the dream!

Okay, I don't remember what else I wanted to say, but I am now three minutes over (gasp). I hope you all celebrated my half birthday. Ha, can you believe six months ago we were in Hawaii?! Let's go back when Ian gets home from his mish, okay?

love love love amore amore amore per sempre, e ci vediamo

Lettera settimanale 15 Dicembre

Why hello!

So it's Wednesday again, not sure how that's possible. Friday it will be a month that I've been here. Whoa whoa whoa.

It's been a pretty great week. Monday we had our first day where we could only speak in Italian. It was slightly exhausting but it's kind of amazing how much we can already say to each other. I've decided I love praying in Italian, somehow my thoughts are the most clear, plus it's just so pretty.

As far as churchy missionary shiz goes, yesterday was a great day. Things have been going really well with our investigator "Pietro." After a rocky start that included me gesturing about floods and whatnot, he committed to be baptized at the end of the month. Our teachers play the roles of simpatizanti that they had on their missions, and it can be super tough, but gives us a good idea of what to expect in Italy.

Last night we had a bomb fireside with Sister Dalton, the General Y[oung] W[omen's] President. I have to admit I was a little worried that her voice would sing song me away into boredom, but she was incredible. My favorite part I think was when she talked about the Christmas story and the example of Mary; how the angel came and told her some crazy shiz, but she had faith and merely asked, "How is this to be done?" Because through God nothing shall be impossible.

She talked about how God's plan was so much better than the plan Mary could have made for herself, and I was reminded of the many times in the past few years that God has made it so clear to me that He has a plan for me and it will be far better than anything I could hope to pull together on my own. She said that God moves us from where we are to where we need to be in order to make us into the people we can become. Just like they say in Lion King, you are more than you have become. How great is it that our existence is all about progression.

There was a funny moment this week when the Anziani figured out just how old I really am. I'm older than most of the teachers by a year of two but we have one guy (Fratello Bullock) who subs every now and then and always says the most wise things. I asked him what year he graduated from Scuola Superiore and he said "2006." I said anch'io and the anzianini were like Che?! You're the same age?! Then all their brains exploded.

We got a great little package from Sorella Bunker's family this morning with a little Christmas tree and some matching stockings that have B's on them. I pulled out my CDs and we illegally listened to the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack whilst decorating. It was lovely

Speaking of packages, thank you for my little bundle of joy. I've been wearing my Monkey Fur fleece constantly. Other surprises of the week included a case of Diet Coke from Kristin and a bag of Honey Crisp apples from Grandma Sandi. I am living the dream!

Hope you guys are having fun in Chicago. I've been thinking about the fun Christmas times we've had down in Chicago as this is bound to be such a different Christmas for me, but I've heard there are to be some great peeps coming to speak to us. Also, thanks, Dad, for the Wendell Berry poem, I loved it so bad. It did make my soul long for the Northwoods a bit, but in a month and ten days I'll be on a plane to Milano.

Which reminds me, today is Natalie's birthday but I didn't plan ahead enough to send her anything to Michigan. I'm going to send you guys a card that you could maybe drop off at her parent's house? I was realizing as I was falling asleep last night that ten years ago we were celebrating her birthday in the Wisconsin Dells. Whoa.

Anyway, the food here made my soul weep a few times this week, but I've found refuge in the gluten free cupcakes they keep on hand for people with real dietary troubles, not pretend ones.

I'm not too sure what I should really be telling you while I'm still in the MTC because really, everyday is like:

1. Sit here are a few hours to learn Italian.
2. Read your scriptures.
3. Prepare a lesson and teach it.
4. Sit in class some more and learn more Italian.
5. Eat food you might normally find in a dumpster.
6. Run around a hampster wheel.

I'm realizing that that description makes it sounds like the worst summer camp evs, but I really do love it here. I love how much I learn everyday, about God, the gospel, the Italian language and myself. I can't imagine my life without this time that I'm dedicating to the Lord, it makes me sad to think of all that I would have missed. Thank goodness nostro Padre Celeste knows me well enough to make sure I came at the right time.

The older Italian district of four Elders left for Italy this week. I am so glad I have this time to prepare to be in Italy, but everyday it gets a little more real that this is my life. I'm going to be in freaky Italy. I'm going to be teaching people, with the power of God, about the plan they accepted before they even came to earth, and reminding them of all that they can do and be with the help of Christ, his Gospel and Atonement.

I'm searching my brain for all the funny things that happened this week, but the days are so long and the weeks so short, that I can't even remember. I did try and identify the flowers and grasses in a movie we were watching today, and was happy to see my brain is really still the same. Most of the Portuguese Elders from our branch are gone now. One had me write my info and a note in this journal thing and I wrote stuff about things that will change your life, and wrote a little about how elephant teeth grow and the bat skeletal structure and crocodile stomachs and that sort of thing. You know, things that can really change somebody's life!

The temple this morning was lovely. It's closed for the nest two weeks and it was so nice to remember how freaking awesome those blessings are, and we don't even have much we have to do in return. God is so good to us. I also sat next to a really fabulous 80 year-pld lady named Dorothy who talked my ear off after I said, "Hi, how are you today?" Turns out not only has she had a crazy life, but Jon Gunther is her eye doctor. She said she would say hello for me.

Well, I'm off to take my favorite shower of the week, with no one else around. Hope all is well. I love you all like whoa and love hearing from you. Drink some tea by the fire and read a book for me. I was remembering reading East of Eden last winter break, back in the good old days before I was a college graduate.

Also, seeing some of the old ladies at the temple recommitted me to having superb dental hygiene.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,

Sorella Boooosh


Simpatizanti - sounds like sympathizers, but is really more like person who has similar interests. That is, an investigator who wants to learn more.
Fratello - Brother.
Scuola Superiore - High School
Anch'io - Me too.
CHE?! - WHAT?!
Nostro Padre Celeste - Our Heavenly Father

Un'altra lettera settimanale

Cara Famiglia,

Guys, you are the FUNNIEST!

Srsly, sono grata che ho una famigilia buffissima. Espesh you dad. You sir, are serving above and beyond the call of duty. Keep it up!

I'm so glad that I've lived away from home for kind of a while and that I left my Provo life before the mish so that now when I hear from people of even just sing songs to myself it never makes me long for my life before the mish. I think that some people really struggle with that, but I feel like 18 months is not all that much time so it's nbd. Even getting Lauren's wedding invite didn't make me too sad, I was just so happy that someone I love so much has been living worthily and now gets to get married in the temple. It did break my heart a baby bit when I saw the sealing invite adressed to me inside, because how cool would it be to be there. But I am doing a good thing.

Life in the MTC is dandy, and is kind of flying by. Credo che every settimana passes piu' veloce. Monday is the day we teach in the TRC and it was a pretty great experience again. I decided it's a good way to try and gauge how much I'm actually improving week to week. Sometimes I still talk a bit too much because I have a bigger foundation than Sorella Bunker, but our first lesson went really well and was pretty equal between the two of us and the woman we were talking with.

Sorry I forgot to tell you about Parker last week. I remembered a half-hour later. It was so wild. I was hanging back from the District because I was scrambling to find a scrap of paper and a pen to leave a note on Matt's car when Parker just drove by. "What the h are you doing in Utah?!" He got out and gave me a firm handshake. (Have you gotten the pics I sent you yet? There's one of the two of us. I feel like mail here leaves very slowly.)

This week has been great planning and Italian-wise, but is the Week of Instability, or so I'm calling it. Monday we lost two roommates, Tuesday was our last day with out normal first teacher and this morning our other two roommates left for Los Angeles and Texas. We haven't met our newcompaniere yet but I'm crossing my fingers that the fake fur bag we saw in our room is the scariest part of the new Sisters.

I'm pretty bummed about Fratello Pfeiffer though, he's a really fabulous teacher. He explains concepts really clearly and always testifies of our abilities because of our callings, or the importance of our message, or whatever else applies. Our teacher replacing him is Sorella Miller and she's brand new, but was in the MTC with Rachel Noteware. So, Rachel, maybe scrape up some dirt on her for me, or better yet, send me the letter you promised that last Sunday I was home.

Gospely things I've been thinking about:

When we're told to love each other like brothers and sisters, because we are all children of God, that means I should be loving people just as much as I love Ian, which is a shiz ton of love. I don't know why that struck me the other day, especially since I've been trying to be more patience with some of the anzianini.

Also, quando leggo il Libro di Mormon o qualche scritture with my investigator in mind and di che cosa hanno bisogno, it's a whole new experience and I get so much more out of what I read. Also prayer is so so real and there is so much power in the fact that there are people praying for me. I just got back from the temple (which is somehow getting better and better all the time, I love going there on P-day and having zero worries), and a lady came up to me while I was waiting to use the bathroom and said "You're a missionary, I wish you well, I don't know your name but you are prayed for every night."

I really do believe there is nothing better I could be doing with my time. And I've been thinking about how every decision I make counts for something towards who I will become. I'm excited for Staccato Mamba, I feel like some one had a bit too much eggnog before that was decided, but it sounds great. I haven't been too sad about missing Natale. Obvs I love being home for le feste, ma sto dove devo stare. I feel probs the most sad for Ian, becuase I'm destracted by this parallel universe I live in and you guys are just doing the same thing minus me. But be of good cheer!

I'm pumped to do the scientist puzzle when I get home. C'e una donna? or only dude scientists? Is this a woman hating puzzle? [Amanuensis: no, it is not. Ci sono delle donne]. Also, please continue to keep me updated on the status of Wisconsin's protected species. Loved that. Can we paddle over that Orion Mussel Bed State Natural Area? Would we have to sneak in with our canoes?

Oh, funny story (maybe more than one):

I was sitting by this Elder in the computer lab who's going to Russia, doing this stupid program which I kind of hate and doesn't actually help my brain learn. He was super chatty and then asked Sorella Bunker and I if we had any baby boys back home. He had been mostly talking to me so she was thinking...wait, what did he ask? And I was like he wants to know if we had any children before we came on our missions, and he was like NO! you know what I mean... and in my head I said, "Why would you ask me that and why would I answer? Oh yeah. Because you were born in 1992! [Amanuensis: I think he meant baby brothers.]

Also our Anziani can be pretty funny. Sorella Bunker and I spend a lot of time laughing in class. One day Anziano Briscoe was telling us how he doesn't have a great sense of smell and said "I don't smell well" and we're cracking up of course because we are children and he finally caught on and said "You word twisting hussies!"

And one day Anziano Hess's shoe was untied and Anziano Eveson said, "Why don't you have shoes like these?" because he was wearing slip-on loafers. Anziano Hess, kind of sheepishly said "Because they're tacky." Too funny.

I'm continuing to undermine the foundation of the MTC my sneaking foot from the lactose/gluten free section in the cafeteria and by wearing yellow tights. Mom, everyone is jealous of my life whenever I wear something you've knit and they can hardly believe you are a real person. Spero che per il Giorno di Ringraziamento, you had a turkey with an adequate wingspan. And si, ho vistothe devotional di Natale. Mi piace Natale. I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting on Sunday in full-out italian, it kind of felt incredible. I also have a new goal of becoming besties with the head of security, he seems too cool.

And finally my new fav Italian phrase: Smettila di piangere e raccontami cosa e' successo!

Tanto, no, troppo amore!

Sorella Bush/Cespuglio, bella e furiosa.

xoxoxo

P.S. Ian, one cool thing to think about, in the New Testament it was the apostoli who were called to be missionaries, and then eventually the seventy were added, and now they need are help too, which means we are companions with the twelve apostles in the work. My time just ran out stop hope makes sense stop love for eternita' stop

Notes:

1. Sono grata che ho una famigilia buffissima - I am grateful I have a very funny family.
2. Credo che every settimana passes piu' veloce. - I believe every week passes faster.
3. Also, quando leggo il Libro di Mormon o qualche scritture with my investigator in mind anddi che cosa hanno bisogno - Also, when I read the Book of Mormon or some scripture with my investigator in mind and what they need
4. Staccato Mamba - the name of our Christmas Tree.
5. C'e' una donna? Ci sono delle donne - Is there a woman? There are some women.
6. Spero che per il Giorno di Ringraziamento - I hope that for Thanksgiving Day you had a turkey...
7. And si, ho visto - And yes, I saw
8. Natale. Mi piace Natale. - Christmas. I like Christmas (Christmas pleases me).
9. Smettila di piangere e raccontami cosa e' successo. - Stop crying and tell me what happened!
10. Tanto, no, troppo amore! - Lots of, no, too much love!
11. Bella e furiosa - beautiful and enraged

Le prime fotografie

First pictures came in the mail today. They were scanned so they sorta suck.

Parker shows up randomly. Cool.

Sporting the nametag.
Sorelle Forbes and Bush. Redheads unite!

Sorella Bush, Anziano Mustafaraj, Sorella Bunker.

So there ya go.

Ci vedremmo,

Amanuensis

Una lettera piccola

Amanuensis addenda in [italics].

Hey, fam.

It's Wed. evening so P[reparation]-day is technically over but I just got Ian's letter and your Dear Elders [i.e., letters, the free email service that prints out letters and sends them to the missionaries in the MTC], but first, sorry my email was all over. I'm going to start planning my letters before I get on the computer.

I printed pics for you that will be done Saturday that I'll send off.

Things I forgot to say in the email:

• I saw Parker on Sunday! I'm sure he'll tell you all about it [he did].
• I want to know what the Christmas tree is named. [the tree is named Staccato Mamba]
• I can't believe how wild Alice [our Great Pyrenees puppy] has been! I'm a little scared for the tree and glad all my shoes are boxed up.

Other potential Christmas ideas:

• More stamps (I'm burning through them)
• Good mascara. Mine sucks, and every now and then I actually wear it.

Ian, your bone work looks beautiful. I'm glad you had such a great guy's trip (and dance night too). Sometimes my companion and I dance around our room but without real music it's not the same.

Class tonight was great. I'm really loving our newer teacher, who started off as our fake investigator, and I'm learning better how to prepare for lessons.

Dad, your note was the funniest, I read it to my roommates.

Please tell Megan Kress than she can send me packages, I just got a letter asking. The Dear Elder [ibid.] packages are super-gross.

New Sisters came Tuesday so I am no longer the newest.

XOXO, Sempre con amore,

Sorella Bush

la terza letter whitniana

Hi hi! (Ciao ciao!)

Man, e-mail time stresses me out...26 minutes and counting.

So today has been a great day. Last week we couldn't go to the temple because they closed at noon for Thanksgiving and no one told us. I was so enraged*...Sono furiosa! But we went this morning with two of the other Sorelle, Clark and Forbes, and it was a dream.

It was nice to feel like I had no worries at all, especially because yesterday was probably my hardest day yet. After we taught a new "investigator," played by our teacher, I was just frustrated and stressed because it's only been two weeks, and I felt like too much was being asked of me, being able to both speak Italian and teach a lesson, tailored to the needs of the person we were with. But it didn't last for long.

And I slept great last night which always helps.

Thanksgiving was pretty nice. In the morning we had [Apostle] Russell M. Nelson come speak to us about Thanksgiving and giving thanks, and it was pretty cool. He is wicked smart. We then had Thanksgiving dinner, which could have been worse...at least they had cranberry sauce.

In the afternoon we did a service project, making boxes of medical supplies to ship off to Sudan. Our branch was in charge making the actual boxes, and we got done super early. So they had us singing Christmas songs and what not, and I was in charge of conducting and picking songs. It is amazing what happens when we fill a room with 19 year-old dudes (whom I'm sure I should call Elders.) People were yelling what they'd want to sing and I'd pick a song and we'd song, easy peasy.

Then I picked Lead Kindly Light and these dudes/babies were like "No! Not that song!" and going off and stuff. So I just yelled across the room, "Deal with it, I like this song, we're singing it, get over yourselves."

I guess the teacher voice is genetic, Mom. It was cute at the end then because all the Brazilian Elders in our branch came up and said "Uh, thanks, you did a great job, sorry about those guys, I mean, yeah..." I said "No big deal, I couldn't care less what they think or say, but thanks."

Sorella Bunker and I have been translating our favorite lines into Italian and saying them all week. Sono furiosa.

That night we watched "Seventeen Miracles," a pretty cheesy church movie, but still pretty funny. I also had a nice little chat with one of my companieras (roommate) after about faith, because there's this part in the movie where they're starving and they find a shepherds pie, and I said, "I don't have that kind of faith. To make food appear? No way."

And she said, "I think you do it's just different." And we kind of talked about how I'm never going to be in that situation where I need food to keep from starving, but there are other just as miraculous things that I will, or any person will need, that make since in our life that we can have the faith to make happen.

Our first investigator became our second teacher and the end of last week, and he's pretty great. I feel like I really am improving on my teaching, even if I expect more from myself. I need to remember that there's a learning curve in everything.

Our district is still super fun. The companionships are Anziani Hess and Iaccovelli, Walsh and E****, Misrahi and Briscoe. Hess and Iaccovelli are the ones that sit right by us and are maybe my faves. They try so so so hard and make the funniest mistakes.

Walsh is from Manchester and is our Zone Leader, and his comp[anion] E**** is the one that I have the hardest time with. I've been trying extra hard the past few days to be patient and charitable, when all I really want to do is tell him to stop being a d-bag all the time. But then he has his moments and I remember that all the Elders, even him, are just as called to be here as I am.

The last two are really great too. They're both 20 and it's pretty clear at least in Elder Briscoe's case that he's lived on his own and thinks for himself, even if I think it's crazy he's going to try and stay a vegan in Italy.

Which reminds me...they have soy milk and stuff like that for peeps with dietary problems, and you're not supposed to use it unless you need it. But the milk here tastes like shiz, especially after our own Sassy Cow, so when I grab a sack breakfast some mornings, I grab the vanilla soy milk instead. Today when I was writing letters in the laundry room and eating my food, this Sister said "That's so sad you're lactose intolerant and going to Italy!" I said, "Uh, gooo...I'm not, I just hate the milk here." Ha.

I think the biggest thing I'm working on learning right now is what it means to do all I can do, and how to rely on the Lord to do the rest, because it's pretty clear I can't do it on my own.

I was making a list of things you could send for Christmas in my journal, but said journal is resting in my room right now. I think it went something like this:

1. Kiss My Face chapstick
2. Nail Polish
3. Hand Towel
4. Alice

I can't remember anything else. Did you send my fleece with Carolyn? I'm getting excited to put it on my body again.

Man, so much has happened in the last week I don't even know what else too say! I've been passing on my fav jokes, like fake barfing and sono furiosa, to which Hess and Iaccolvelli have taken a liking. I also like to say Che uomo! ["Oh, man..."] at random times. I said it once in class, and Fratello Pfieffer said, "No, che anziano..."

I still love studying Italian, even if it stresses me out sometimes. I've gotten a ton better at praying in Italian, which is sort of really cool to me. When I was taking classes at BYU I never really got past the lines the teacher taught us.

Oh one more story...we taught in the Teaching Resource Center** for the first time this week. Two twenty-minute lessons with people we knew nothing about. Our first lady was freaking awesome. She was from Milano, was super nice and had the cutest little three year-old girl who instantly became my BFF.

She would bring over her animal toys and she told me her fav animal was the leone and I asked if she'd seen The Lion King. I asked her who she wanted to say the opening prayer and she pointed to me. And then when we were reading part of the Joseph Smith story I said, "It's not quite like The Lion King" and her mom said, "Because this one is true."

Her mom was just so happy that we included her daughter so much and said, "Spot on Sisters, spot on." I think for sure I'm going to need to utilize my love of people to develop positive relationships. Now if I could just learn how to do that when my teacher is pretending to me a 60 year-old man who lives with his mother.


XOXOXOXOXO,

Sorella Bush

P.S. We decided Sorella is the best name to have. When people call me Sister, I say, "Oh no, not me. Is my Grandma Sandi somewhere? But sorella is the prettiest. Muah!

*Whitney has used the "I am enraged" quote for everything since a long time ago. She loved the movie Thor because Thor becomes enraged and tips over a table while making a great growling/shrieking sound. She usually is not enraged.

**The TRC is where missionaries go to teach pretend investigators. Practice makes perfect.

la seconda epistola whitniana

Note from the amanuensis: A glossary will be provided at the end of this post.

Famiglia! Come state?1

I can't really believe I've only been here a week. It was maybe the longest week of my life, but it's been great. Everyone kept telling me how hard the first three days were going to be, but my collega2 and I were both fine, maybe a little confused but just happy to be here when we know it's the right thing at the right time.

When I can't fall asleep at night I draft e-mails to you guys, but now I'm worried I won't remember everything. Let's start with my companion. She's great. Her name is Whitney too and she's from Orem studying nursing at the BYU. But she'd super chill. When we run a couple miles everyday we sometimes talk about il vangelo3, but usually we talk about how funny Tina Fey is.

Our room has four Hermanas4 in it, all Spanish speaking (going state-side) that have been here for 5 or 6 weeks I think. Our district is great; it's just the two of us and 6 teeny baby Elders, but I love them. They're super-funny and some of them are trying so hard it's kind of the cutest thing evs. But I love studying Italian again. Sorella5 Bunker was auditing 101 this past semester so she knows enough that we can communicate and practice but I'll probs be a big help to her once we get to subjunctive and shiz like that.

Our teacher started speaking only in Italian on Day One and on Friday we started working with out first "investigator," which is/was kind of stressful because remember how I can't actually speak Italian yet? But we can at least answer his questions usually, because we understand them, unlike the Anziani6, or anzianini7 as we call them, even if it doesn't make too much sense.

Our district and one other Italian district came in last Wednesday, which has 4 Sisters and 2 Elders, and then there were 4 Elders here already. And that's all the Italians there are. It's a pretty great group, and everyone is going to Milano except for 3 of the Sisters in the other district.

One of the Elders that has been here 4 or 5 weeks is from Albania and didn't speak any English when he got here so he's been learning English and Italian and he is maybe the funniest person -- Anziano Mustafaraj. The other night he tought Sorella Bunker ed io8 their national anthem, because their independence day is the 28th, and when we sang it he whipped out this little Albanian flag.

Last night Bunker and I sang with the choir, Come Thou Fount [of Every Blessing], for the devotional where [Apostle] D. Todd Christofferson spoke. It was pretty much incredible. We were singing prelude hymns when he came in so everyone was standing as we sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives and we were in the front row of the choir and being so close to him and looking at his face and feeling that he really is a special witness of Christ was just sort of incredible. When I get home I'll let you read my notes from his talk because pretty much everything he said was great.

The biggest surprise I think has been how much time I spend in my freaky class room. I live on the 2nd floor of building 10M.

Italian is going great. I was reading something in English for the class and came to a word it took me like three tries to not say in Italian. Don't make fun of me Elisa. But more and more everyday I feel how this is exactly where I should be right now and that Italy is exactly where I should be serving. I didn't know it was possible, but I feel like my capacity to love has been growing. It really is amazing how I am called to be here and set apart and there is real power in that.

Ian, I think about you all the time. You will love it here and learn so much. The very first day out teacher talked about how anyone can learn a a language, especially when they are called to do so. I know the idea of being a missionary can be intimidating, I have moments where I can't believe the responsibilities I have been entrusted with, but then I have moments where I am so grateful that that's the case. I'll try and send you a letter with some of the things D. Todd said, because it was so powerful to be reminded that the Lord is here for us, especially when we are doing his work. Every hardship we will experience will be swallowed up in the joy we feel as we become close to him.

I love you all but I'm so glad I'm here. Maybe just send Alice. I have puppy withdrawals. But if you could send me some pics that would be great. I need to show Bunker that she is the cutest pup evs and I want to show her what you all look like.

The food tastes like shiz9, sorry mom, but it's true, and I'm pretty sure it's as bad for me as it can be. I spend a lot of time with the salad and soup bar. Did you finish Mockingjay? Did it break your heart over and over? Oh and I want pics of some of the Folk School creations. And Dear Elder is the best thing. I can only come on my e-mail for 30 min every Wednesday, but Dear Elder prints out what you send them and we get them like real mail at the end of the day, and then I can reread them whenever I want. So write me! I love to hear from you.

On Sunday the Gen[eral] Primary Prez[ident] told us that when you take care of the Lord's, He takes care of yours. So I'll do my best out here so you guys can rake in the blessings.

Devo fare some service ed andare in tempio allora10.

Well you know what they say...

Okay, recap: I love you all like whoa, think about you all the time, and love being here. I want to hear more about your lives. How cool is it that I get to study Italian and the Gospel insieme11.

Oh and Dad, my teacher served in Sicilia and when I told him you did he asked what cities and I had no idea. Maybe let me know sometime? He loves Sicily like a motherless.

xoxo,

Sorella Bush

1. Family! How are you all?
2. Colleague, but more like companion, i.e., the person that is your inseparable one.
3. The Gospel.
4. Sisters (Spanish) Convention is that Sisters capitalized is a title, lower case is a noun.
5. Sister
6. Elders. Also the same convention. Elder is a title, elder is an old man.
7. Diminuative - Little Tiny Elders.
8. And I
9. That's the way Whitney gets around swearing. Weird, I know.
10. I must go do some service and go to the temple, now then...
11. Together.

la prima epistola

Whitney's first letter arrived yesterday. We immediately laminated it for posterity. Some quotes:

"My companion is pretty normal..."

"I don't know exactly what is going on, but that will go away soon."

"So far, I feel pretty calm. I'm excited for this chapter of my life where things are simple. I'm just focusing on the gospel and not worrying about anything else."

"I kind of love our little district. Us two, plus six Elders all going to Milano (and all teeny babies!)."

"My ghost toe rings are still kind of weird to me."

"Love you all, and there's already a serious lack of Alice fluff in my life."

Sounds like Whitney.

greetings from p.b.

Hello. I'm Papa Bush.

I'm the amanuensis for La Sorella. She goes into the Missionary Training Center tomorrow morning. Hopefully the letters will start pouring in soon.

Con affetto,

P.B.

transition

Oh hey new blog, you're looking pretty shiny and crisp.

Since my days of roaming the internet without a care in the world are quickly coming to a close, at least for 18 months, it's time to prepare living is my job and my art for hibernation.

But have no fear! There will be no need to miss me! Well, miss me a little, like, enough to send me letters and read THIS blog, where the heads of clan bush will be posting my e-mails that I send home as a missionary.


In honor of Nigel Tufnel I received an e-mail today with the crucial information of my NEW ADDRESS. 


Here you go:


Sister Whitney Sara Bush
MTC Mailbox # 90
ITA-MIL 0125
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793


Remember it, tattoo it on your body, and have it removed on January 24th when I fly to Italy.