Thought I'd published this last semester...

I guess since this hasn't been added to in about 3 years it's time to do something with it. I still don't know how much I'll be updating this but I figured I'd give it a whack with the few free minutes I am taking right now.

Life has been pretty crazy in the last few years. I finished my mission having served in five areas (2 for 5 transfers - which is a lot; and 3 for a single transfer or less). I had 9 wonderful companions during it all and am friends with every one of them still. When I got home I stayed in the country for approx 5 months and left the continent again for Asia to pick up my brother in the Philippines. It was great, I loved the Philippines; Brett and I are talking about starting a water-buffalo ranch there someday - we'll make bank!

Then I came back and did another crazy year of school (which was supposed to be my last but BYUI just won't give me up). So instead of graduating I went to Jerusalem for a semester. Best decision ever. I learned so much, had many incredible experiences, went to amazing places, made some great friends and came to know Christ better. What more could one ask for? (*Note - I made a blog just for that semester http://jerusalembells.wordpress.com/)

And now, I'm here in the Burg, working on (what's supposedly) my last semester before student teaching. It's pretty crazy trying to learn as much as I can, do well in school, and have a balanced life all at the same time. Suffice it to say I rarely, if ever, succeed at it all but it's interesting trying! Brett and I have fun and once in a while I get to see my roommates. That's life. Completely unique and unoriginal. Well, I should get back to it. Have a good one!

Buon Natale!

Alicia celebrated Christmas in Italy this year.

"The holidays here were interesting. It was surprisingly difficult to meet with people during this time and we got SO MANY bedones (bee-doe-nays, cancelations) in the last week. My comp said she hasn't gotten this many since a legendary transfer in Ragusa, so it was hard, but it brought us together and helped us reevaluate certain things that are making a difference in these last couple weeks of the transfer. I can't believe the transfer is almost over!! It just started! Christmas here was pretty anti-climatic, esp, w/o snow, I missed the snow. But we had some good experiences and were able to bring joy to some of our members and friends that are also far from their homes right now."

"We spent New Years in Mistretta which meant we ended up spending NYE eating a huge, and delicious lunch, then going to some members' country space and eating tons of freshly picked mandarinis and oranges and a lemon that was really sweet and tasty and not sour at all - it was weird! Then we went to the members' home for shrimp (still in the shell with the legs), calamari, and baby octupuses, tentacles, suckers and all!"

"With regards to cultural experiences we went to teatro Massimo last night to watch the opera Rigletto. It had nothing to do with the feature films for families version, and I wouldn't necessarily tell all my friends to go see it, but it was a wonderful experience to see an italian opera in Italy in a sweet theater. Of course now I want to watch phantom."

Palermo, Italy

Alicia is currently serving in Palermo, Italy. She is serving with Sorella Sleight and continues to learn the language. These first two pictures are in Erice. The first one is a castle, and the second one is in front of a church.

Sorella Jenkins & Sorella Sleight

Here is an excerpt from one of her recent letters:

"We had some time so we decided to do Parco, which is now one of my favorite things in the world to do. Slla Jones worked with us on parco so it was something I was eager to make the most of, and to this point parco was going in and trying to share the gospel and getting rejected. But on Thursday we went in and Slla Sleight found someone she felt she needed to talk to. I didn't want to stand there while she was doing this so I tried to talk to someone else, and she turned me down. Then I saw a woman sitting on a bench by herself. I had noticed her when Slla sleight was approaching her new friend, Vittoria, and this woman seemed apprehensive that we would come talk to her, but I decided to go sit by her anyway. I went and sat down and just chatted with her. Her name is Liliana, and she asked if I was italian (did NOT think that would happen in my first month!!) but she's from Romania so everyone seems as italian to her as they do to me. I commented on how I'd met a couple other Romanians and they are all wonderful people. As we talked I could see in her eyes that what I had previously thought was apprehension, and gathering her things to leave, was actually an eagerness to talk to us and she was gathering her bags to her so there was room to sit down. She was a miracle for me. And, because she just got to Italy 4 months ago, she speaks about as much italian as I do so it was perfect! She gave us her number and her romanian address and her palermo address, so no matter what we can find her. We're meeting with her tomorrow and I'm praying with all my greenie soul that everything goes well."

This picture is in the Catania Italy Mission Home: Sister Jenkins with her MTC companions and their respective trainers.

Alicia at the MTC

Sorella Jenkins reported to the MTC July 15. She has been there for half a month!

This is the family dropping Sorella Jenkins off at the MTC. We were all very sad to see her go, but very happy and excited for this exciting time of her life.

Sorella Jenkins at the MTC

We ate breakfast at Mimi's Cafe in Provo. It was delicious! Oddly enough we met one of Sorella Jenkins MTC companions there before we dropped her off! Another girl sitting right behind us was going to the MTC and was called to serve in Catania Italy as well! It was crazy. Later we found out they were companions, crazy!

Sorella Jenkins has written a few letters to family. She is learning the language, but her German and Portuguese background "keep getting in the way". She is very busy, but we all know Alicia...she is thriving in this environment!

"Farewell" Party

I will be posting periodically for Alicia, Sorella Jenkins, while she is on her mission. Alicia was called to the Italy Catania Mission. She reported to the MTC July 15!

Alicia had her farewell get-together a few weeks ago. There was an abundance of delicious food.

We had a pillowcase that everyone signed, kind of like a year book. People wrote advice, funny sayings, and kind words.

What a beautiful sister missionary!