Cari famiglia e amichi,
I'm so sorry that last week I wasn't able to reply to anyone's
emails, my companion and I had a little bit of a fail in terms of planning
haha, and so we ended up with 1 hour of p day left and only one computer
here at the church...hurray for teenage boys planning :P (well actually my
companion is 26...but still, haha). But so sorry about that, we found a
place that has computers that we can use for just 1 euro an hour, so that's
pretty sweet :)
To answer everyone's questions, yes I do still have the same companion,
at least for these next 3 weeks. He or I will probably get transferred
after this though. We are working hard to grow closer together and teach
with more unity. I have seen these past few weeks especially the true
power that comes from a second testimony of the truth.
This week in Lecco has been so great! It is such a blessing to wake up
and think to yourself "What a blessing, I'm a missionary!" ...well, maybe
that's the second thing that we think. After "Wow! There is NO way it is
6:30...3 am maybe!" haha. But it is really just miracle after miracle and
great experience after great experience here in Italy. We have seen lives
touched, hearts changed, and have shed tears with our investigators while
declaring our testimonies of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have found a few new investigators while out doing strada, and it
has been wonderful to see how the spirit lights up in their eyes, and they
have a desire to hear more about the gospel.
Let's see...what else. (I really need to start writing things down!
haha) Well, its getitng a little chilly around here (well, the Italian
think so. It's about September weather in Pocatello, haha.) Still no snow!
Also, we are still meeting with the Michael family. What faithful and
wonderful people they are. They shared with us a little bit about how they
came to Italy...on a boat with around 100 people. If I remember correctly,
the boat sunk...or had a leak...or something awful happened when they were
close to the shore. All I remember him telling us was that only about 23
of those on the boat survived, including him and his wife. It just
completely blows my mind the things that these two have been through...I
can't even imagine. We are actually going over there again tonight to meet
with them. It was a very special experience last time as we read together
from the words of Mosiah chapter 24, about how the Lord will strengthen us,
take his burdens upon us, and make us stronger than we ever thought we
could be. It was interesting that we were lead to talk about the fact that
the Lord never takes our burden away completely...but rather he strengthens
us to the point where we can bear the burdens that come upon us. The gospel
brings so much peace in this troubled world. Continue to keep them in your
prayers, as will I :)
So we had a wonderful miracle with one of our investigators the other
day. We were in the lesson (which was in English...I love it when they are
in English! Mostly because my companion doesn't speak a ton of English, so
I get to take the lead! :) haha Actually...we have been teaching a lot of
lessons in Spanish lately...which is odd haha. Because my companion speaks
Spanish, so that's...interesting, especially when he looks at me in the
middle and expects me to say something relevant...haha.), But anyhoo, when
this lady asked us about the Book of Mormon. She expressed her doubts
about it, and wondered how a book of scripture could just "come forth out
of nowhere". We were a little surprised at her questions, because we
thought that the other missionaries had already taught her about Joseph
Smith and the Restoration. So we began talking about it again, about how
Joseph Smith prayed to know the truth, was answered, inspired, and led by
God to bring forth from the earth sacred plates, written by ancient
prophets, and translated them by the gift and power of God...you all know
the story. Well sure enough, she began to remember what the other
missionaries had taught her. She asked many questions, which, through the
wonderful power of the Spirit, we were able to answer, and by the end of
the lesson she was grinning from ear to ear and just so excited about this
Book that could help her in her life. What a blessing it is to see the
power of the Lord work through us, imperfect, relatively immature and
unlearned, young boys, to touch the hearts of people for good, and help
them to realize that this life is hard but we never have to face it alone.
During our last lesson with the Michael's I was reminded of a story
that I'm sure we have all heard, that I heard in seminary a few years ago.
It was about a young man, who, if i remember correctly, was having a hard
time in life. He prayed fervently before going to bed, and had a dream
that night. He dreamt that he was on a beach, and he saw two sets of
footprints, side-by-side in the sand. He recognized that one set was from
him, and the other was from the Savior, who always walks beside us in this
life, ready to help us when we stand in need. But he noticed
something...that in the hardest moments in his life, there was only one set
of footprints. He asked sincerely, "Lord, in my hardest moments in life,
why did you leave me alone?" The Savior replied "I never left you alone,
my dear brother, I was carrying you."
I know that our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, are real.
They live, and have perfect, glorified, and immortal bodies. They watch
over us, and lift us up when we are not strong. And I have felt their
strength carrying me when I feel like I can't do it any more. What a
blessing it is to serve the Lord!
I'm glad to hear that everything is going well at home! I love you all!
Anziano Wilson
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