BUONGIONO!!!
It is currently 8:43 in the evening, and we just got home from riding trains since 8:22 this morning. Wooohooo!! It has been a loooooong day! Two lay over delays, and a lot of stuff! Oh Italy.
But, it has been a great week! We have been seeing so many wonderful miracles!! i just love love love being a missionary!
--The ward in Alessandria is SO AMAZING!!! I can't even believe it! The leadership is so strong, and the members are so wonderful! Plus, we haven't eaten at home for like 9 days, so that is also a plus :) But they ward mission plan is so solid, and the members are just so excited to share the gospel! What a blessed place!
--We went to Savona this past Monday to give a training to a few districts there. It was about how much we are blessed with the knowledge of the gospel, why we should share it, and how we can be more motivated to do it! The Spirit was really strong. It is such a blessing to be able to testify to other missionaries, encourage them, and just love them! That has been such a big blessing. Ever since I have come to Alessandria, I just have such a great love for the missionaries in the zone, and feel a great responsibility to help the feel loved and encourage them! I remember hearing Thomas S, Monson in a talk say something like ''We must remember, brothers and sisters, that those we meet on the streets, and those walking all around us, are the portion of mankind that God has given us to love.'' I have been trying extra hard to put that into practice. The Lord has always been so good to me, and has always surrounded me with people that love and support me. Thanks you guys! :)
--So a TON of crazy things have happened these last few days, and I won't go into details...but to make a long story short, President called us the other day and told us that the next day (yesterday) we needed to split up and go with two seperate companionships for a few days...because there was a missionary that was sent home yesterday for being disobedient. (It hurts my heart so much when that happens. I just love the guy, and hope he can still feel that love from all of us)....and so the other elder was without a companion. So Anziano Taylor is staying in Alessandria with the other two Elders, in a threesome for a while, and I AM SERVING IN SAN REMO!!!!!! AGAIN!!!!! Well, technically, Imperia, which is like 20 minutes away...but I am in the San Remo church right now doing email!! And hopefully I will get to go to church here this Sunday!! It is such a blessing to come back and see all the members and actually be able to communicate with them!!! so I am excited (in case you can't tell) to be working in this area for a few days! The Lord has been so good to me.
--oh, by the way, I had my first opportunity to drive in Italy yesterday. Man, that was harrowing at first! I was freaking out! But like 10 seconds in, I realized that it really isn't that hard. Plus, I am sure, the Spirit really kicked in and helped me remember everything that I needed to do. It is pretty amazing. I found myself driving not how I would usually drive...but driving like an Italian. Which is the safest way to drive here! But it was amazing. I have some serious skills! haha :) But, besides a little bit of whiplash (Italian brakes are SO strong!), my companion is safe and sound still!
--Scambio: I went on a wonderful scambio this past week with Anziano Pixton in Alessandria! They had recently lost every one of there investigators due to circumstances beyond their control, and so Anziano Taylor and I prayed and planned hard to be able to do what needed to be done and give encouragement and help so that they could start seeing some success...and our prayers were answered! We saw some wonderful success when a full day of finding work turned into two new investigators, three other potentials, and seven prayer lessons on the street! People came out of the woodwork, just ready to hear the message of the Restoration. I feel especially blessed to be able to have encouraged a young missionary, Anziano Pixton, and helped him to realize that he is doing great work. He is a great elder, ready to work hard.
--Miracle: The miracle I would like to share happened here in Imperia with Anziano Marin...yesterday! We went to the Zappa family's house (the couple that have a baptismal date for December 6), for dinner and then had a great discussion about temple marriage and eternal families. The branch president of San Remo and his wife came with us (they are a couple about the same ages as them...and they both have young sons around two years old!), and it was a wonderful experience to be able to testify together with such a powerful couple that families are forever. The couple participated fully in the discussion, sharing their opinions and hopes for their family. The Spirit was so strong, everyone was brought to tears. That couple is special. They are so prepared, and excited to be baptized and participate fully in the church. I am excited for them! I also count it one of the greatest blessings of my mission to return to San Remo, where I started the mission, and finally be able to testify in Italian to the few members we have met with about how wonderful they are, and the difference they have made in my life. The Lord has been so good to me.
Everything else is going well! Anziano Marin is a great guy; I have met him once before and am excited to be serving with him for a few days! We are going to work hard and do all we can to keep this family on the right track! They are important! The Lord truly leads this mission, and I have seen that. I love you all very much, and am thankful for you! have a wonderful week!
-Anziano Wilson
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