Where in the World is Sorella Swenson?

Just in case any of you are interested, I thought I'd give you an update.  Ashley was supposed to get home yesterday, however after flying from Rome to France, her flight from France to Salt Lake was cancelled, due to mechanical issues.  Instead of being upset, Ashley was actually excited, she was hoping that her and the other 10 missionaries she was traveling with would be able to see the Eifel Tower. 

She is now on her way home and should get in tonight.  We can't wait to see her, and hear her speak tomorrow.

-Aubrey

My Last Email as a Missionary

Someone mentioned to me once that Heavenly Father is really good to his departing missionaries and I definitely would have to agree! There are so many miracles happening here in Rome. So many amazing amazing people who are so prepared! I feel like I am in a good place I trust that the future missionaries who will serve in my place will take good care of these amazing people. My companion Sister Stephenson will be training for her last transfer and I am excited for the new missionary fire that will be spreading its way around our investigators who we’ve spent so much time teaching and loving.
Sunday was an absolutely amazing day. The elder’s investigator, Dennis, was baptized and two investigators of our stayed to watch after church. Megan’s cousin, the former sorella Bennion, and 3 of her sisters were in Rome visiting and so we were about to grab her and another member and go on splits to teach these two investigators right after the baptism. I was worried they would be tired after church and a baptism, but both seemed super eager and excited to meet with us. Both lessons were amazing!!!! I was with Kira Bennion and even after nearly a year of being away from Italy she did really really well with her Italian and bore amazing testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. I was so grateful for her and her willingness to help. Last night we had an appointment with the sommerfeldts and one of my most favorite families ever, the wife is a member and she brings her two boys to church every week (they are 12 and 7 so the 12 year old is also baptized) but her husband is not a member. It was a really fun appointment! The Bennion sisters were there as well cause they have been staying with the sommerfeldts and at the end of dinner they sang some songs in amazingly beautiful four part harmony. We also had the amazing opportunity of spending the day or at least half the day with a brand new missionary. Hopefully it was a good opportunity for her as we had 3 appointments back to back. She is from Milan and so that is why she was here early. The Italian missionaries arrive on Tuesdays and the Americans on Wednesdays and so since we are the closest sisters to the mission home we got to take her around with us for the day. She seemed to enjoy all the appointments but I could tell she was tired and very full after dinner and I remembered my first few weeks in the mission, even my first few transfers just being super tired and many times thinking I would die when someone set a heaping plate of food in front of me. God blesses his missionaries in many ways and I know he will be with this amazing sister as she starts her mission.
I hope that you are all doing well. I love you all very much and I am so grateful for all the love and support I have continued to receive from all of you! Vi voglio tanto bene!
See ya soon

Time is Running Away from me!

Hey everyone, sorry this is late, and is gonna be really short and lame.
I am still alive and kicking even if I do finish the mission in a week! yikes!!! it really does not seem like it is happening. I seriously love my mission and I am so so so grateful for it!
this week we were super busy and all over the place like usual. I think the coolest things from this week would be....
It is sunny!!! I love the sunshine! it is getting to the point where it is almost too hot but not quite and I am glad I won't have to be here for that too hot phase that is quickly approaching.
We have awesome investigators who I love. One of which has a brother in Peru who is preparing for a mission and doesn't know she is learning about the church or attending.
We made friends with the owners of a real cool little shop down by the trevi fountain and they gave me a great deal on a cool souvenir.. ha ha and we gave them a book of Mormon.
We have awesome members with amazing testimonies and faith.
And we might have volunteered the Rome 3 sisters to help an 80 year old women clean up after her 26 cats.... ha ha...
oh good times.
I love you all!!!!
buona settimana tutti!!

Speed of Light!

Ok so I have not quite figured out how it happened but this last transfer of the mission is going by in the speed of light. sheesh! everyone told me it happens like that, but I wasn't expecting it to happen as fast as it is. I got to make the most of the time that I have left...




This past week I have watched the Restoration film a ton and a few times in Tagalog... it is really amazing that no matter what language it is in the spirit testifies of the truthfulness of all that Joseph Smith experienced whether I understand every word or not. I love love love this gospel.... I have no doubt that it is true and the fact that this gospel is going forth boldly noble and independently in so many languages and lands just makes my heart swell with joy.



Me and my companion have started teaching the young wife of a member, they are a newlywed couple and he was previously inactive but has since returned and I have been waiting 5 transfers for his wife to accept to hear the missionary lessons. She comes to church nearly every week, however she is very independent and doesn't like to feel pushed, like most of us... needless to say I was absolutely stoked when we were asked to start the lessons with her! I have seen so many part member families here and the faith hope and desire of the active family members is nearly overwhelming. This gospel really is created for the family.



Yesterday we had a scone night at the sommerfeldts house and as usual it was way fun. It never ceases to amaze me that if the desire is there you can communicate with anyone whether or not you speak the same language.



This week is free museum week so me and my companion have big plans to see all that we can in one p-day... It is gonna be a full day. I am excited.



I hope you all know how much I love you and how grateful I am for you and your prayers and your support... if I have neglected any of you in my letter response time I am sorry.... I am working on it.



Have an amazing week!!!