Buon quasi Natale! ...di nuovo. haha
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm sure that was a lot of fun! :)
The work here in Lecco is going SO well, I am really loving it! This time of year is so great; everyone is in just the best mood! Christmas time truly brings everyones' hearts to the Savior....plus I just love Christmas music. It really brings the spirit!
The snow STILL hasn't come! I can't believe it! It even rained again last week! haha. And unfortunately, I got a little sick a few days ago...the "colpa d'aria" or "the air's fault" got me sick. haha. But don't worry, I bought some soup and oranges and got a good day's rest and am feeling great now!
Oh so fun fact for ya!: Italians think any illness that isn't explained by other causes is automatically the cold air's fault. For example, last transfer one of the missionaries I was sharing a room with had an ear infection...and so he went to the doctor to diagnose it, and the doctor diagnosed it as "colpa d'aria", and said "try not to sleep with the fan on anymore". He then asked him how to say colpa d'aria sickness in English, and Anziano Walden just said "well...we..don't have a word." haha. It was pretty funny.
But our investigators are doing really well! We have had two move back to their countries (Bolivia and Peru) for Christmas, so that was a little rough...but besides that it is really going well! We are working hard out here, and I have really noticed a direct correlation between the amount of work we put in, and the amount of success we find. Missionary work really is work! I have seen the hand of the Lord so much in my life; for example when during a lesson a scripture or something to say will come to mind, and we will look back and realize that it was the exact thing that they needed to hear.
I also bought a scarf because it is so cold....Italians always wear scarfs (even the men), and I must admit, it's lookin prettyy good! haha. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
I was listening to a talk the other day from Jeffery R. Holland (man, that guy can give a talk!) about the parable of the house builder and the workers. I must admit, I need to read about it still, so I don't know all the details, but what I got from the talk was this: The "boss" hired workers at 5 different times in the day to help him complete his work, At the beginning of the day, 9, 12, 3, and finally one hour before the work day was completed. At the end of the work day, when the work was completed, the boss payed every worker wages to equal work for the entire day. Elder Holland talks about that those who worked all the day long were initially a little frustrated, and felt "short-changed". But he goes on to explain that the workers who worked all day were still payed in full; there was no injustice being done. But rather, the owner of the house, in an act of kindness, chose to pay all the workers for a full day. He then goes on to add many wonderful things throughout his talk, but the line that stuck with me is this: "We are not diminished when others are added upon. Life is not a race, to see who is the most favored, or wealthy, or even the most blessed..." That really stuck with me, and was a reminder to me to be kind, and happy when others are blessed, even if we are working hard and maybe not seeing the same results. I really enjoyed that :)
Miracle: We have seen many miracles this week, it is hard to single out just one. But I would have to say that our miracle this week was with one of our investigators, Martha. We had a really wonderful lesson with her the other day about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and specifically, baptism. We have been working with her for over a transfer trying to prepare her for baptism, and have asked her to be baptized multipule times. The answer is always that she needs more time to think and ponder whether it is the right decision, followed by our invitation to pray about it, and a promise that the Lord will always answer the prayer of a sincere searcher of truth. But as we talked about it this time, we talked about the importance of setting goals, and her baptismal date is like a goal to be reached, that will help her to fulfill her true potential. She accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 29th of December! Merry Christmas to us! :) This past Sunday she also went up to the pulpit and bore her testimony about how grateful she was and is to have found this church. She talked about her strong catholic background, and the difference that she has seen in the members of this ward--the true friendship that she has found here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her testimony was so sincere, and just so touching. I am amazed at the differences the Lord's word can make in peoples' lives. What a blessing it is to be a missionary!
Well, I love you all very much, and am so thankful for your prayers in my behalf. I can feel your strength, I really can. I am so thankful for you, and for the examples you are, and for the sacrifices you have made to allow me the privilege of being out on this mission. The work is hard, there is no doubt about that. But I wouldn't trade the experiences I am having, and the peace and comfort, and happiness I feel at the end of the day for anything in the world.
Love,
Anziano Wilson
No comments:
Post a Comment