BUON-PASTA!!
Well, this week has been amazing! I am so thankful to be a missionary! I fall to my knees each night (mostly because I am exhausted, and kneeling more gently takes more effort ;) ), and thank the Lord for this wonderful opportunity and privilege to share the gospel with my precious brothers and sisters in Italy. There are so many wonderful people here, that deserve the peace and happiness that comes only from knowing our true purpose in life. I am thankful to be here, sharing this knowledge with as many as I can.
--These past few months, as I have met hundreds of different people from all walks of life and all kinds of situations, (I think the different nations from which I have taught people is up to like 23 or 24 now) I have come to realize just how blessed we are in the United States. And in the Church. There are so many people who work 12 hours a day just to get by, and even then, they still have problems paying the bills. (I won't go into it a lot, but let's just say the Italian government is a little...different. As in, people get paid basically whatever the employer feels like paying.). So a lot of people are having a really rough time, and my heart has been touched as I have looked into the eyes of so many people who have been through so much. We are so blessed to have what we have. Don't ever forget that.
--We had some AMAZING pizza today. Man. That was some of the best pizza I have ever had. Just thought I'd let you know :)
--So, the big news for this week. We got transfer calls last Saturday!! Let me paint a picture for you of what it was like...because it got intense, really quickly. So, we are sitting at our desks, doing companionship study, and we get a phone call...and it is just the other elders in the district calling to let us know something really quick. So we put the phone back down and go back to studying (we assumed that we would be staying the same, since we have only been together for 6 weeks, and that is like nothing). Then the phone rings. So, side story...we set a different ringtone for the mission president, President Dibb, so when he calls we will be sure to answer it. (But he hardly ever calls...like never.) So the phone rings, and it is the special, intense ringtone of President Dibb. I look at my companion, and I'm like "That's President. That is definitely President." And he was just like "Whatever, man, no way..." (Because President only calls if someone is getting called as a Trainer, space transfer, whitewashed, or Zone Leader.) So, long story short, I have been called to serve in Alessandria as a Zone Leader. From what President told me over the phone, Alessandria is one of the highest baptizing zones in Italy, and they "are doing a lot of things right, right now." He encouraged me, saying " Well, Elder Wilson, I'll let you in on a little secret...usually I don't like to call zone leaders until they have trained a missionary before...but you're the Elder for the job, and I know you'll do great." I am still in shock, and so humbled by this call to lead the missionaries there. I was not expecting that at all. And It didn't help that President's next sentence was "So, it looks like from your records that you have a drivers license..." WE HAVE A CAR IN ALESSANDRIA!! Ahh! I am so nervous to drive in Italy. Italians are really good, but really crazy drivers. And the roads are so small. But, anyways. I am so nervous, but grateful for this call to serve. I need your prayers, as I will try my very best to teach, testify to, and be the example for the valiant missionaries there. I am excited, but humbled for what awaits me in Alessandria. I take heart in knowing that the Lord will help me, despite my weaknesses, to become the missionary and leader that he expects me to be. (Ether 12:27)
--The greatest miracle about this transfer is that I WILL BE TEACHING GIULIANO AGAIN!! He is the man that we met in Morbegno about a month ago, on the street, who had lost everything and couldn't see his kids. Now he is in Alessandria being taught by the missionaries, and has turned his life around. He has a job, stays with his nephew, and has been coming to church each week. It will be such a wonderful blessing to meet with him again, and to again share my testimony with him! The Lord is so kind.
-- I had a great scambio (companion exhange) with Anziano Horne this week. He is in his 1st transfer! The greenie and I had a great scambio! :) We worked hard and saw some great success during our street contacting. He is a great new missionary, with a great spirit, and I was thankful for the opportunity I had to learn from him and to help him realize that this mission is a special place, with a need of special missionaries, with faith and love for the people.
Miracle: We have seen some wonderful miracles this past week. The one that sticks out to me in my mind happened on the scambio with Anziano Horne. As we were walking through centro, talking to everyone we could, we saw this young business man walking up the stairs from the metro. He was about halfway up the stairs by the time we got there, so it was a little awkward at first, but we talked with him and began a conversation by saying, simply, "Scusi, cosa si rende felice?" as we held up our whiteboard with a big smiley face drawn on it. He smiled and said that that was a great way to start off a conversation! He is a very active Catholic, with a lot of faith. And he is young! Probably not yet in his 30s. He was running to an appointment, but we quickly shared with him the importance of Christ in our individual lives, and the eternal nature of the family. After we ended a prayer for him and his family, he was elated, and excitedly gave us his contact information, asked us about where our church was, and invited us to call him later on in the week. As he walked away, Anziano Horne and I looked at each other, thinking "Wow. That guy is awesome!" And he is! I am excited about that wonderful find; I'm sure the missionaries here will do a great job teaching him. The Lord places such wonderful people in our path! My testimony of that has grown so much in these past months as I have tried to put aside my fear, and instead love the people, trusting that the Lord has gone before us; we just need to open our mouths and say whatever comes to mind!
Everything has been going really well; we are taking care of all of the things that need to be done, people to be met, and places to go before I depart for Alessandria. We have been seeing miracles in that aspect, as well. I love you all very much, and am thankful for the love and support you continue to show me. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
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