Buongiorno a tutti! :)
Man, what a wonderful week it has been! We have been seeing so many miracles it is insane! I love being a missionary!!!
--This past week we have been working a lot with the members--trying to strengthen them and teach them HOW to do missionary work. They have a huge desire to do it, but they just need to be helped with the how. This week we saw some serious success and established 6 Family Mission Plans with various families, and hope to see some success with those!
--One of the families that we went to visit, the Criscuolo family, lives waay out in the mountains, about an hour from Alessandria. We went over for the first time since I arrived here three months ago, and they were so shocked/glad to see us! They welcomed us in, and we had a wonderful dicussion with them. They told us that this is the first time that missionaries have been over to their house in over 5 years! (Apparently the missionaries in Alessandria didn't have a car until about a month before I arrived here...and it is IMPOSSIBLE to get to their house on a bus. Those roads are intense.). I can't believe they drive all that way every single Sunday to get to church. It makes me really appreciate the 5 minute walk in two directions to a church building in good old Pocatello... But anyway, they were happy to have us over, and we made with them a great Family Mission Plan.
--This week for Correlation (the meeting that the missionaries, ward missionaries, and Ward Mission Leader), our ward mission leader was gone, so he asked me to lead the meeting. You have to kind of know Martin (that's his name), to appreciate this...but he is a 24-year-old from Argentina and is SO funny. I had a fun time trying to impersonate all the little funny things he does. :)
--There was a missionary homecoming this week in Alessandria!! One of the missionaries that was serving from the ward came back from his mission to the Rome mission. He had a lot of funny stories to tell. His talk was really good, too! All about using our time wisely, and bringing others unto Christ. It made me really motivated to use every second of the precious time I have left here as a servant of the Lord.
--The YSA here is on fire when it comes to missionary work! We started this Harry Potter game thing with them, where they get points for the missionary work they do...it has been a major success!
--I just bought some store-bought pizza. Even that is some of the best pizza I have ever had! I love Italy.
--So today for P-day we went out to visit this outlet shopping mall, where we thought we were going to find some sweet deals on ties/suits/etc. They were some sweet deals, but it was at all the really luxury stores. Like Armani and Prada and Boggi and Brooks Brothers. Instead of 2.000 euro the suits were a whopping 999!! What a steal! There were hundreds of stores there with stuff that costs more than most used cars! I have never felt so out of place...but it was sure fun pretending like a rich person! I walk up to a suit (2500 euro), look at it, and the store clerk is like "It's a nice suit! Do you want it?" I pause, pretend to be actually considering it, and then say "Give me a minute to think about it. For now I'm just looking..." And then we, as the scriptures said "got ourselves out." :D
--We have been meeting some really amazing people out on the street lately. It has strengthened my testimony so much that there truly are people prepared by the Lord. We just need to find them!
--So, I will start this point with a little background information. So in Italy the streets are really narrow. REALLY narrow. So narrow that a lot of the time, when cars are parked on the sides (like they always are), two cars going opposite ways can't pass at the same time. ONe has to wait and pull really close to the side car, and wait for the other car to squeeze past. If it is a bus...forget about it. And so what the busses do if the get stuck, is they just start laying on their horn for minutes on end, until the person who parked the car comes and moves it so that they can get through. So like 3 days ago, I was sleeping. It was about 4:36 AM (I checked the clock). And I just hear a horn start BLARING over and over and over! There, apparently, was a delivery truck driving down one of the streets, and someone had parked just a little to far away from the curb, so he couldn't pass. So, of course, he doesn't back up and find another way around; he is Italians! They don't do that! He starts honking his horn, for about 20 minutes, until the owner of the car comes out. They yell at each other for about 10 minutes, and then the driver moves his car, and the truck goes on his way. I was so ticked. Italy..it's a love-hate relationship sometimes.!
--My companion mentioned to me the other day "It would be interesting to see, in graph form, the path of the missionaries, and then just all of the other paths converging onto it" It really seems to be that way!
--Miracle: This week has been full of miracles! The miracle I would like to share happened last night! We were out talking to people on the street, and we stopped a young couple, asking them if they believed in Christ. The man stopped and immediately pointed to his girlfriend, saying "She does! She does a lot!". We began to speak with them about the importance of us having a Savior, and why it is important to put our beliefs into action. She then started asking us a lot of really good, really well thought-out questions, like "In the Bible there are multiple examples of Jesus being seperate from His Father...what do you believe about the Trinity?" It was music to my ears! You can really tell a well-studied Christian when they start to have questions about the Trinity. We explained to her what we believe, and went from there into the Restoraion. She asked us a few more questions, to which we responded. At the end of the conversation they both looked at each other, smiled, and said "wow. You answered those questions really well." We exchanged contact information and will see them tomorrow! It was such a blessing to me to see and feel the Spirit working through me, literally giving me the words to say to answer those questions. What a blessing it is to be a missionary!
--Scambio: I had a wonderful scambio this last week with the new district leader in Alessandria, Anziano Larson. We saw some serious miracles, including finding a new investigator, and I learned a lot from him! It was a good experience for us both.
--I have had so many witnesses lately of the promise that the Lord will give us, through the Spirit, the words to say. I have been able to confound so many "wise" men on the street, who intentionally try to confound us. It is such a blessing to know that the Lord is always with us, and he will protect His missionaries. :)
Everything else is going well! We are working hard with Ernesto and Guiliano so that they can get back on track towards baptism in the near future. Speriamo bene! Thanks for all your support and prayers. I love you all!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
JANUARY 21, 2015
Buona neve!!!! It is snowing!!!!!!!!!! And it is staying on the ground without melting (...kind of...)!!! This is the first time since I've been in Italy! Merry Christmas everyone! ;)
Well, this week has been splendid. We have been working hard, and seeing some serious success!
--We had two companion exchanges this week for two days each, so my companion and I were apart more than together, and outside of Alessandria more than inside it! It's a miracle that our investigators are still alive! The life of a zone leader is pretty busy...but good!
--So. First item of business...it is transfer week this week! We got a call Friday night, and my ex-companion, Anziano Taylor, was called as the assistant to the president! I am so happy for him; I called it from the beginning. I have secretly been telling everyone this transfer that I was pretty sure it would be him, behind his back, so when he called to let them know, they were like "oh yeah, Anziano Wilson said something about that..." It was hilarious! But he will do great! So that means that he had to leave Sunday afternoon for Milano, while the new Elder that is replacing him will be getting here on Thursday! You know what that means....the three Anziani left in Alessandria are in a tri-companionship!!! The power of three!!! This is my second time in a companionship of three; it is such a blast. Except for the fact that we are a bit initmidating when we walk down the street contacting people...
--My new companion will be Anziano Lewis. He is a great guy, (and an Aggie!!) and I am super excited for him to be a zone leader! We are going to work hard AND have so much fun (both are important!) :)
--We had some crazy things happen on our scambio with Varazze this past Wednesday-Friday. So, Anziano Baker, one of the missionaries serving there, has been having some...health problems...so we had to postpone our scambio for what he thought would be a better day. Long story short, after a day of him having to use the restroom over 25 times in one day (not even exaggerating), and ending up feeling really faint, we ended up in the emergency room at like 8:00 pm getting him checked out. A little information on the emergency room in hospitals in Italy: You walk in, (and it instantly smells like smoke...because even the doctors smoke...ikkkccchh), and then you take a number. Then you wait for about 30 minutes until one of the nurses calls your number. You go get checked out, to see how serious it is, and then you wait some more until the doctor comes around. We ended up waiting in the emergency room waiting area, for like 2 1/2 hours. Everything turned out to be fine, thank goodness, and they perscribed him some antibiotics at around 10:30, at which time we could finally leave. Italy. Gotta love it! :)
--Miracle: This week has been full of miracles, as well! We have been having wonderful experiences making family mission plans with many of the member families. This week we had a visit that was particularly special, at the Mecca family's home. Brother Mecca is disabled from the waist down, and has been having some serious health problems for quite some time, and the rest of the family has been affected by that...but they are all great people with strong testimonies, and they have a real desire to help others come unto Christ. Towards the beginning of our spiritual thought, they actually ended up asking us how they could better do missionary work, which set us up perfectly. We pulled out a blank piece of paper, wrote "programma missionaria della famiglia Mecca" on the top, and put down three bullet points. We then asked them for ideas on what they thought. It was perfect! Each one of them had ideas on things they could be doing to share the gospel, (and we made sure to suggest that sharing the gospel once a week through Social Media would be a great goal). They were all very excited to have another mission plan (there last one has been lost for months...), and we are expecting great things from them--especially the two girls ages 19 and 23!
--There is a special fast going on this next weekend for the temple in Rome. There have been some...obstacles (I'll leave it at that), impeding the work on the temple, and so the member of the Seventy over our area, Anziano DeFeo, asked all of Italy to join in a united fast so that the work can go forward. He has asked all the sacrament meeting topics and all the classes to be about the blessings of the Lord's house. It will be a poweful experience.
--I was reading recently in the topical guide, and found this powerful verse: "...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude;for the battle is not yours, but God’s." -2 Chronicles 20:15
What a powerful reminder that the Lord will stand by us, no matter where we are. This is His work, and, thus, we are entitled to His Divine assistance. I have seen that so many times in my mission, and am so thankful for that knowledge. Let us never forget it!
--Our New Convert, Daniele, is amazing! He has been participating so much in the YSA activities, is already called as a ward missionary, and is helping us out so much! It has been such a blessing to see him progress!
--Scambio: I had a wonderful scambio this week with Anziano Feradini, down in Varazze. He is a great missionary, with a real desire to serve the Lord. He is a convert of just a few years, and his conversion story deepened my testimony of missionaries being led to those that are prepared. So get this: He was about 13 years old, playing in his front yard (in BEVERLY HILLS...where he lives...), and the missionaries contacted him by asking him about one of his toys (which was a 1st edition something or other). He then asked them who they were, and began taking the lessons. He is the only member of his family, and has a powerful testimony. He is such an example to me. And the best part...he was contacted on a P-day! Those were some great missionaries! They got the reward of being able to come back twice a week to Beverly Hills to teach him! (Anziano Feradini invited me to come over to his house one day when we get home from the mission....so next stop, Beverly Hills!) :D
-- Everything else is going well! I am excited to have Anziano Lewis as a companion, he is an excellent missionary. We see a lot of potential in this area and in the zone for the coming month, including two of our investigators that are preparing for baptism. Giuliano and Ernesto. Keep them in your prayers! :)
--Thank you all for all you do, and for the great examples you are to all around you. I love you all and pray for you always!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Well, this week has been splendid. We have been working hard, and seeing some serious success!
--We had two companion exchanges this week for two days each, so my companion and I were apart more than together, and outside of Alessandria more than inside it! It's a miracle that our investigators are still alive! The life of a zone leader is pretty busy...but good!
--So. First item of business...it is transfer week this week! We got a call Friday night, and my ex-companion, Anziano Taylor, was called as the assistant to the president! I am so happy for him; I called it from the beginning. I have secretly been telling everyone this transfer that I was pretty sure it would be him, behind his back, so when he called to let them know, they were like "oh yeah, Anziano Wilson said something about that..." It was hilarious! But he will do great! So that means that he had to leave Sunday afternoon for Milano, while the new Elder that is replacing him will be getting here on Thursday! You know what that means....the three Anziani left in Alessandria are in a tri-companionship!!! The power of three!!! This is my second time in a companionship of three; it is such a blast. Except for the fact that we are a bit initmidating when we walk down the street contacting people...
--My new companion will be Anziano Lewis. He is a great guy, (and an Aggie!!) and I am super excited for him to be a zone leader! We are going to work hard AND have so much fun (both are important!) :)
--We had some crazy things happen on our scambio with Varazze this past Wednesday-Friday. So, Anziano Baker, one of the missionaries serving there, has been having some...health problems...so we had to postpone our scambio for what he thought would be a better day. Long story short, after a day of him having to use the restroom over 25 times in one day (not even exaggerating), and ending up feeling really faint, we ended up in the emergency room at like 8:00 pm getting him checked out. A little information on the emergency room in hospitals in Italy: You walk in, (and it instantly smells like smoke...because even the doctors smoke...ikkkccchh), and then you take a number. Then you wait for about 30 minutes until one of the nurses calls your number. You go get checked out, to see how serious it is, and then you wait some more until the doctor comes around. We ended up waiting in the emergency room waiting area, for like 2 1/2 hours. Everything turned out to be fine, thank goodness, and they perscribed him some antibiotics at around 10:30, at which time we could finally leave. Italy. Gotta love it! :)
--Miracle: This week has been full of miracles, as well! We have been having wonderful experiences making family mission plans with many of the member families. This week we had a visit that was particularly special, at the Mecca family's home. Brother Mecca is disabled from the waist down, and has been having some serious health problems for quite some time, and the rest of the family has been affected by that...but they are all great people with strong testimonies, and they have a real desire to help others come unto Christ. Towards the beginning of our spiritual thought, they actually ended up asking us how they could better do missionary work, which set us up perfectly. We pulled out a blank piece of paper, wrote "programma missionaria della famiglia Mecca" on the top, and put down three bullet points. We then asked them for ideas on what they thought. It was perfect! Each one of them had ideas on things they could be doing to share the gospel, (and we made sure to suggest that sharing the gospel once a week through Social Media would be a great goal). They were all very excited to have another mission plan (there last one has been lost for months...), and we are expecting great things from them--especially the two girls ages 19 and 23!
--There is a special fast going on this next weekend for the temple in Rome. There have been some...obstacles (I'll leave it at that), impeding the work on the temple, and so the member of the Seventy over our area, Anziano DeFeo, asked all of Italy to join in a united fast so that the work can go forward. He has asked all the sacrament meeting topics and all the classes to be about the blessings of the Lord's house. It will be a poweful experience.
--I was reading recently in the topical guide, and found this powerful verse: "...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude;for the battle is not yours, but God’s." -2 Chronicles 20:15
What a powerful reminder that the Lord will stand by us, no matter where we are. This is His work, and, thus, we are entitled to His Divine assistance. I have seen that so many times in my mission, and am so thankful for that knowledge. Let us never forget it!
--Our New Convert, Daniele, is amazing! He has been participating so much in the YSA activities, is already called as a ward missionary, and is helping us out so much! It has been such a blessing to see him progress!
--Scambio: I had a wonderful scambio this week with Anziano Feradini, down in Varazze. He is a great missionary, with a real desire to serve the Lord. He is a convert of just a few years, and his conversion story deepened my testimony of missionaries being led to those that are prepared. So get this: He was about 13 years old, playing in his front yard (in BEVERLY HILLS...where he lives...), and the missionaries contacted him by asking him about one of his toys (which was a 1st edition something or other). He then asked them who they were, and began taking the lessons. He is the only member of his family, and has a powerful testimony. He is such an example to me. And the best part...he was contacted on a P-day! Those were some great missionaries! They got the reward of being able to come back twice a week to Beverly Hills to teach him! (Anziano Feradini invited me to come over to his house one day when we get home from the mission....so next stop, Beverly Hills!) :D
-- Everything else is going well! I am excited to have Anziano Lewis as a companion, he is an excellent missionary. We see a lot of potential in this area and in the zone for the coming month, including two of our investigators that are preparing for baptism. Giuliano and Ernesto. Keep them in your prayers! :)
--Thank you all for all you do, and for the great examples you are to all around you. I love you all and pray for you always!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
JANUARY 14, 2015
Buongiorno!!! Man, the weather here has been absolutely insane! It was 17 degrees (Celsius) the other day! It feels like summer in January! Plus, I heard that it snowed in Napoli this past week (first time since 1986). Global warming...
So this week has been amazing! We have been working hard and seeing many miracles!! We have been stuggling recently trying to find reliable new investigators to teach with the amazing members of the ward here in Alessandria, but this week they have been coming out of the woodwork!
--We went just yesterday to Novi Ligura, a city about 40 kilometers outside of Alessandria, to visit a new convert named Luis that recently transferred from Milano. He lives with his less-active mom, his non-member father, and one of his father's non-member friends. On top of that, it takes 30 minutes on the train just to get to Alessandria, and then a 10 minute walk to get to church. So it isn't exactly the easiest thing for him to make it to church each week. Luis is a champion though; has such a strong testimony, and has been coming anyway! So we went to visit him to see how he was doing, and we ended up having an AMAZING lesson with everyone in the home! They are from Peru, and the father is from Equador (south americans are amazing), and so we knew it would be great from the very beginning! We shared a thought about our Savior's Atonement, along with one of my very favorite scriptures, Joshua 1:9. It was really powerful. The mom admitted that she has been wanting to come back to church for years, but has been afraid of falling away again, and the father totally opened up about how he feels that this is the day when Heavenly Father is finally giving him a chance to come back and feel the peace that he is searching in his life. They all were touched by the Spirit, and all of them accepted the invitation to come together with Luis to church this Sunday!! What a miracle it was! ....and then, after the lesson, they fed us so much food. They wouldn't let us leave until we were about to burst...another reason why I love South Americans! :)
--This past week, our bishop gave us a challenge to teach 10 member-present lessons and 20 lessons total. This is the first time I have ever had a bishop be so interested in missionary work, and definitely the first time one has given all the missionaries in his city a challenge! We were so excited, but our lack of investigators left us wondering how in the world we would even get 2 or 3 member present lessons. But, with some careful planning and some...a LOT...of hard work, we managed to teach 17 lessons and 6 member presents! That is double what we taught last week! It was a great blessing!
--Another highlight from Bishop Saeli: So, in Italy they use the English word "super" pretty often, to mean the same thing it means in English (there are a few words like that, that they stole from English). So this week at church vescovo Saeli comes up to us and is like "super-missionaries! Come state!" And we were just like "Super-bishop!!" to which he replied (in English, which he does not speak [It is always hilarious when Italians that don't speak English try to do so]) "yes. yes. *holds his hands up while he thinks of more English words* ...I am." haha! I love Sicilians.
--We had another amazing miracle this week! We found Giuliano!!!!!!!!!! We have been trying to get a hold of him for like 2 months, to no avail. So we decided on a whim to go stop by his house, (15 minutes outside of the city) to see if he was home. Long story short, we get there, ring the bell, some random guy lets us into the palazzo...but I have no clue which door is his. So we knock on all the doors asking for Giuliano. Nothing. So we end up leaving a little note in the mailbox,and walking out. We exit, turn the corner, and there he is right in front of us, walking home!! He invited us in to his home and we had an AMAZING lesson with him about the blessings of prayer and scripture study. It turns out that he has been in the hospital in Sondrio (a loooong ways away from here), for the past 22 days, bedridden from Bronchitis. He has just barely recovered, been released from the hospital, taken the 5 or 6 hour train ride back, and was walking home straight from the train station, when we met him on the street! Can you say miracle? MIRACLE!!! It was so wonderful. And, at the end of the lesson, he asked us for a Book of Mormon to give to his daughter!
--I just finished some mighty fine Foccacia con pomodori for lunch. Italian food is so delicious. (Hope you aren't jealous ;) haha)
--Scambio: I had the privilege of doing a scambio with Anziano Gridley, one of the brand new missionaries here in Alessandria. He has great faith, and we saw some serious miracles, including 9 lessons and 2 new investigators! I love the miracles that come when you work with a new missionary, or as I call it, "greenie magic"! It was great experience for us both.
--Miracle: This week was chalk-full of miracles; it is hard to choose just one. But the one I would like to share is Daniele (again!). He came to church this Sunday and received the Aaronic Priesthood. The blessing that the Bishop gave was incredible. He blessed him with many things, and then told him that the Lord expects great things from him, and wants him to prepare to serve a full-time mission for the Lord!!! We could hardly believe our ears! Daniele was so happy after the blessing; he has changed so much since his baptism and confirmation. He is now set apart as a ward missionary, came to correlation with us this last week, and has already shared the gospel with three of his friends! It is truly a miracle to see someone so prepared and strong in the gospel. In the words of Bishop Saeli (talking about Daniele) "Mamma mia, quanti grandi cosi ho da aspettare da te." What a blessing!
--Everything else here is going really well! We have been finding some really promising new investigators, and have faith and high hopes for this next month; hopefully it is full of baptisms! I love you all and thank you for your prayers and support, as always! I remember you all and pray for you many times a day! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
So this week has been amazing! We have been working hard and seeing many miracles!! We have been stuggling recently trying to find reliable new investigators to teach with the amazing members of the ward here in Alessandria, but this week they have been coming out of the woodwork!
--We went just yesterday to Novi Ligura, a city about 40 kilometers outside of Alessandria, to visit a new convert named Luis that recently transferred from Milano. He lives with his less-active mom, his non-member father, and one of his father's non-member friends. On top of that, it takes 30 minutes on the train just to get to Alessandria, and then a 10 minute walk to get to church. So it isn't exactly the easiest thing for him to make it to church each week. Luis is a champion though; has such a strong testimony, and has been coming anyway! So we went to visit him to see how he was doing, and we ended up having an AMAZING lesson with everyone in the home! They are from Peru, and the father is from Equador (south americans are amazing), and so we knew it would be great from the very beginning! We shared a thought about our Savior's Atonement, along with one of my very favorite scriptures, Joshua 1:9. It was really powerful. The mom admitted that she has been wanting to come back to church for years, but has been afraid of falling away again, and the father totally opened up about how he feels that this is the day when Heavenly Father is finally giving him a chance to come back and feel the peace that he is searching in his life. They all were touched by the Spirit, and all of them accepted the invitation to come together with Luis to church this Sunday!! What a miracle it was! ....and then, after the lesson, they fed us so much food. They wouldn't let us leave until we were about to burst...another reason why I love South Americans! :)
--This past week, our bishop gave us a challenge to teach 10 member-present lessons and 20 lessons total. This is the first time I have ever had a bishop be so interested in missionary work, and definitely the first time one has given all the missionaries in his city a challenge! We were so excited, but our lack of investigators left us wondering how in the world we would even get 2 or 3 member present lessons. But, with some careful planning and some...a LOT...of hard work, we managed to teach 17 lessons and 6 member presents! That is double what we taught last week! It was a great blessing!
--Another highlight from Bishop Saeli: So, in Italy they use the English word "super" pretty often, to mean the same thing it means in English (there are a few words like that, that they stole from English). So this week at church vescovo Saeli comes up to us and is like "super-missionaries! Come state!" And we were just like "Super-bishop!!" to which he replied (in English, which he does not speak [It is always hilarious when Italians that don't speak English try to do so]) "yes. yes. *holds his hands up while he thinks of more English words* ...I am." haha! I love Sicilians.
--We had another amazing miracle this week! We found Giuliano!!!!!!!!!! We have been trying to get a hold of him for like 2 months, to no avail. So we decided on a whim to go stop by his house, (15 minutes outside of the city) to see if he was home. Long story short, we get there, ring the bell, some random guy lets us into the palazzo...but I have no clue which door is his. So we knock on all the doors asking for Giuliano. Nothing. So we end up leaving a little note in the mailbox,and walking out. We exit, turn the corner, and there he is right in front of us, walking home!! He invited us in to his home and we had an AMAZING lesson with him about the blessings of prayer and scripture study. It turns out that he has been in the hospital in Sondrio (a loooong ways away from here), for the past 22 days, bedridden from Bronchitis. He has just barely recovered, been released from the hospital, taken the 5 or 6 hour train ride back, and was walking home straight from the train station, when we met him on the street! Can you say miracle? MIRACLE!!! It was so wonderful. And, at the end of the lesson, he asked us for a Book of Mormon to give to his daughter!
--I just finished some mighty fine Foccacia con pomodori for lunch. Italian food is so delicious. (Hope you aren't jealous ;) haha)
--Scambio: I had the privilege of doing a scambio with Anziano Gridley, one of the brand new missionaries here in Alessandria. He has great faith, and we saw some serious miracles, including 9 lessons and 2 new investigators! I love the miracles that come when you work with a new missionary, or as I call it, "greenie magic"! It was great experience for us both.
--Miracle: This week was chalk-full of miracles; it is hard to choose just one. But the one I would like to share is Daniele (again!). He came to church this Sunday and received the Aaronic Priesthood. The blessing that the Bishop gave was incredible. He blessed him with many things, and then told him that the Lord expects great things from him, and wants him to prepare to serve a full-time mission for the Lord!!! We could hardly believe our ears! Daniele was so happy after the blessing; he has changed so much since his baptism and confirmation. He is now set apart as a ward missionary, came to correlation with us this last week, and has already shared the gospel with three of his friends! It is truly a miracle to see someone so prepared and strong in the gospel. In the words of Bishop Saeli (talking about Daniele) "Mamma mia, quanti grandi cosi ho da aspettare da te." What a blessing!
--Everything else here is going really well! We have been finding some really promising new investigators, and have faith and high hopes for this next month; hopefully it is full of baptisms! I love you all and thank you for your prayers and support, as always! I remember you all and pray for you many times a day! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
JANUARY 7, 2015
BUON CAPO'DANNO ...ancora.
Well, this week has FLOWN by! Mostly because we were outside of Alessandria more than inside it....we had two companionship exchanges with district leaders in our zone, and because our zone is so big area wise, it took a long time and a lot of driving around!
--Friday we were down in Milano for the mission council meeting. That was such a fun meeting! The assistents and President prepared a hilarious video about traditions, using the song from Fiddler on the roof, combined with a video the office elders made. It was hilarious. I am getting a copy of it (since we have the hookups), and will show it to you all. :)
--On Friday we also got the announcement from President that next month WE GET TO WATCH MEET THE MORMONS at zone conference!!! Yessss! I have been wanting to see that for so long. President Dibb was funny: "I received last week 'For my personal library' a copy from the Area Presidency of Meet the Mormons....so, Elders and sisters...break out the popcorn, we're watching it in February!" haha! I love President Dibb.
--We went straight from that mission council (which ended at 5pm) to Imperia (3 hours in the car), to start our companion exchange! (more on that later!)
--Right after we got home from that scambio (I'm going to just use the Italian word...it is so much shorter), we headed straight to bed. We had a packed Sunday!
-Sunday- We went over to the brother of a member's house right after a speedy lunch, to give him a blessing of health (He has some kind of cancer that by now is incurable. He is like 75 or so. Not a member, or really religious at all, but when Sister Poncino (the member) asked him if "her priests could come over and give him a blessing", he said "why not!" So we did! And we had a wonderful experience. The Spirit was powerful, and he was in tears by the end of it thanking us. It was a privilege.
--Funny side story about when we went over there to give the blessing: So, as is common around any holiday season, most stores sell these little chocolates filled with nuts...and some are also filled with liquor. So we showed up to give the blessing to this man, and they offer us a bunch of little snacks (I bet you can't tell where this is going!), some juice, some cake, and then they offer us these chocolates. As soon as she offered them to us, Sister Poncino's husband (who is an investigator) was like "wait, aren't those the ones filled with liqour!? Because they don't eat those." to which the wife of the sick man responded "oh no,no, these are the hollow ones filled with nuts! I bought them myself, and I hate liquor" So we figured that they were fine, but avoided it completely the first time anyway by slipping them into our pockets while they weren't looking, instead of eating them. But right before the blessing, during the small talk, she insisted on us having another one. So we, figuring that she assured us they were the other kind, opened them and popped them into our mouths. It hit my companion first. I look over at him and his eyes are wide, and he is holding his mouth closed while trying with all his might not to let anything go down his throat. I quickly realize that I am in trouble...and an instant later, the chocolate in my mouth breaks open. My mouth starts BURNING and I am just thinking "oh great, we are going to be tipsy for the blessing we are trying to give!!" So my mind starts racing to come up with ways to get out of the situation without seeming completely rude (both these two people are potential investigators, whom sister Poncino has been working for a while. After the longest 15 seconds of our lives, I shove all the stuff to the side of my mouth, and mutter a quick "posso andare al bagno?". (It was such a good job, too, like it sounded almost like a normal voice), and then my companion starts making these weird hand symbols while humming "mmmhmmm!" and acting like he needed to wash his hands (It was so obvious...HAHA!). So we both walk down the hall and run into the bathroom, spitting it all out into the sink and washing out our mouths with water (I also added some soap in there...just for fun...anything to get the burning to go away!). Then we returned, acted like nothing happened, and continued. The best part is that they didn't even notice!! They were too busy arguing about reasons why the weather has been so warm lately. haha! Italians.
--Monday was Zone Training Meeting in Genova. We got to give the training about the same things we learned in mission council. It was a lot of fun! I love being up there teaching and testifying to the other missionaries. It is just such a privilege. Sometimes I throw in some ridiculous jokes just for fun, as well. "What do you call a crocodile in a vest?...and inVESTigator!...*ba dum ching* *My companion rolls his eyes*. It is so fun to be my companion :)
-Tuesday was a full day. We were running from appointment to appointment, and had some wonderful experiences and lessons!
--Scambio: I had a great scambio with Anziano Espinosa this week. He is a hard worker, and it was good to be able to help him realize that it is important to be bold but not overbearing when talking with those hesitant to make and keep commitments.
--I also had a wonderful scambio with Anziano Crowther down in Imperia. His Italian is exceptional for being a young missionary. It was a wonderful experience to be down working in that area again, and we had a very successful, 6 lesson day!
--Miracle: It was a wonderful miracle to me to be able to go down to work in Imperia again. While I was temporarily down there for about 10 days, we found a very promising investigator named Litizia, and taught her the Restoration the day after. Since then, the fantastic missionaries down there have met her many more times, she has come to church twice, and she has a baptismal date for this next month! While I was down there, I called her and set up another appointment to meet. We talked about obedience, and how everything that the Lord asks us to do is for our good. Letizia bore a powerful testimony of how, since meeting with the missionaries, everything in her life has been going so much better. She recited a few scriptures that she has read in the past (she has read many of the powerful chapters such as Alma 32, Moroni 7, 2 Nephi 31, etc.), and told of how the scriptures, since starting to read the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, have become so much simpler, and she has loved reading them! I was touched to see how this woman has been, and continues to be, touched by the Spirit. I am excited to hear of her further progression in the gospel!
-Well, that's about all. My fingers hurt. Everything else is going well! We have been working hard and seeing miracles! More than anything we are trying to increase the faith of the missionaries in our zone; and we are seeing some great success. Thank you all for your support and prayers;I love you all and pray for you always!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Well, this week has FLOWN by! Mostly because we were outside of Alessandria more than inside it....we had two companionship exchanges with district leaders in our zone, and because our zone is so big area wise, it took a long time and a lot of driving around!
--Friday we were down in Milano for the mission council meeting. That was such a fun meeting! The assistents and President prepared a hilarious video about traditions, using the song from Fiddler on the roof, combined with a video the office elders made. It was hilarious. I am getting a copy of it (since we have the hookups), and will show it to you all. :)
--On Friday we also got the announcement from President that next month WE GET TO WATCH MEET THE MORMONS at zone conference!!! Yessss! I have been wanting to see that for so long. President Dibb was funny: "I received last week 'For my personal library' a copy from the Area Presidency of Meet the Mormons....so, Elders and sisters...break out the popcorn, we're watching it in February!" haha! I love President Dibb.
--We went straight from that mission council (which ended at 5pm) to Imperia (3 hours in the car), to start our companion exchange! (more on that later!)
--Right after we got home from that scambio (I'm going to just use the Italian word...it is so much shorter), we headed straight to bed. We had a packed Sunday!
-Sunday- We went over to the brother of a member's house right after a speedy lunch, to give him a blessing of health (He has some kind of cancer that by now is incurable. He is like 75 or so. Not a member, or really religious at all, but when Sister Poncino (the member) asked him if "her priests could come over and give him a blessing", he said "why not!" So we did! And we had a wonderful experience. The Spirit was powerful, and he was in tears by the end of it thanking us. It was a privilege.
--Funny side story about when we went over there to give the blessing: So, as is common around any holiday season, most stores sell these little chocolates filled with nuts...and some are also filled with liquor. So we showed up to give the blessing to this man, and they offer us a bunch of little snacks (I bet you can't tell where this is going!), some juice, some cake, and then they offer us these chocolates. As soon as she offered them to us, Sister Poncino's husband (who is an investigator) was like "wait, aren't those the ones filled with liqour!? Because they don't eat those." to which the wife of the sick man responded "oh no,no, these are the hollow ones filled with nuts! I bought them myself, and I hate liquor" So we figured that they were fine, but avoided it completely the first time anyway by slipping them into our pockets while they weren't looking, instead of eating them. But right before the blessing, during the small talk, she insisted on us having another one. So we, figuring that she assured us they were the other kind, opened them and popped them into our mouths. It hit my companion first. I look over at him and his eyes are wide, and he is holding his mouth closed while trying with all his might not to let anything go down his throat. I quickly realize that I am in trouble...and an instant later, the chocolate in my mouth breaks open. My mouth starts BURNING and I am just thinking "oh great, we are going to be tipsy for the blessing we are trying to give!!" So my mind starts racing to come up with ways to get out of the situation without seeming completely rude (both these two people are potential investigators, whom sister Poncino has been working for a while. After the longest 15 seconds of our lives, I shove all the stuff to the side of my mouth, and mutter a quick "posso andare al bagno?". (It was such a good job, too, like it sounded almost like a normal voice), and then my companion starts making these weird hand symbols while humming "mmmhmmm!" and acting like he needed to wash his hands (It was so obvious...HAHA!). So we both walk down the hall and run into the bathroom, spitting it all out into the sink and washing out our mouths with water (I also added some soap in there...just for fun...anything to get the burning to go away!). Then we returned, acted like nothing happened, and continued. The best part is that they didn't even notice!! They were too busy arguing about reasons why the weather has been so warm lately. haha! Italians.
--Monday was Zone Training Meeting in Genova. We got to give the training about the same things we learned in mission council. It was a lot of fun! I love being up there teaching and testifying to the other missionaries. It is just such a privilege. Sometimes I throw in some ridiculous jokes just for fun, as well. "What do you call a crocodile in a vest?...and inVESTigator!...*ba dum ching* *My companion rolls his eyes*. It is so fun to be my companion :)
-Tuesday was a full day. We were running from appointment to appointment, and had some wonderful experiences and lessons!
--Scambio: I had a great scambio with Anziano Espinosa this week. He is a hard worker, and it was good to be able to help him realize that it is important to be bold but not overbearing when talking with those hesitant to make and keep commitments.
--I also had a wonderful scambio with Anziano Crowther down in Imperia. His Italian is exceptional for being a young missionary. It was a wonderful experience to be down working in that area again, and we had a very successful, 6 lesson day!
--Miracle: It was a wonderful miracle to me to be able to go down to work in Imperia again. While I was temporarily down there for about 10 days, we found a very promising investigator named Litizia, and taught her the Restoration the day after. Since then, the fantastic missionaries down there have met her many more times, she has come to church twice, and she has a baptismal date for this next month! While I was down there, I called her and set up another appointment to meet. We talked about obedience, and how everything that the Lord asks us to do is for our good. Letizia bore a powerful testimony of how, since meeting with the missionaries, everything in her life has been going so much better. She recited a few scriptures that she has read in the past (she has read many of the powerful chapters such as Alma 32, Moroni 7, 2 Nephi 31, etc.), and told of how the scriptures, since starting to read the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, have become so much simpler, and she has loved reading them! I was touched to see how this woman has been, and continues to be, touched by the Spirit. I am excited to hear of her further progression in the gospel!
-Well, that's about all. My fingers hurt. Everything else is going well! We have been working hard and seeing miracles! More than anything we are trying to increase the faith of the missionaries in our zone; and we are seeing some great success. Thank you all for your support and prayers;I love you all and pray for you always!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
DECEMBER 31, 2014
BUON CAPO D'ANNO A TUTTI! (quasi) And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)
This week has been FULL of miracles! I love the Christmas season!
It was wonderful to be able to Skype home, you all have gotten so big!! Time is sure flying by.
--I should take more notes (well, any notes...I guess "more notes" implies that I do take notes...) So!
--Christmas was a BLAST! We had a sleep-over with the Elders from upstairs, opened up presents on Christmas morning, played some games, and then went over to the Lazartes' house. They are such a nice family! They have been in Italy for 14 years or so, but they are from Argentina! I LOVE South Americans; they all just are so selfless, not to mention they love the missionaries so much! Sister Lazarte was SO overjoyed to have the missionaries over. While we were playing Monopolio (Spanish version) with her two kids (I totally won by the way, just in case you were curious. I was like "what? you can unmortgage things for the same price AND sell houses back for full price?? This is child's play! Plus they were so willing to do business with me! I was thinking "at my house you have to give an arm and a leg and probably a real American Dollar to get any real business deals going. I like this!" ;) ), I would glance up and the mom would just be sitting on the couch looking at us with a huge smile on her face! She has a boy out on a mission in Rome right now, so I think she was pretending that we were him. I LOVE them though!! And the lunch was D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s Delicious! ("But Anziano Wilson," you may be asking, "how do you know how to spell that word so well?" I know how to spell delicious because in the 3rd grade [I think?] it cost me the spelling bee championship!! Grr!!) It was so good that we didn't even need to eat dinner! (we definitely didn't have room!)
--I heard recently that down in Napoli for New Years the Italians literally throw all their old stuff (refrigerators, couches, ovens, etc.) out the window. People die every year. Silly Italians; I'm happy I live in the north where they are normal...ish. :D
--So today is New Year's Eve. We are required to stay indoors from 5pm onward...so that's pretty fun. NOT. Staying inside for a missionary is like the worst thing ever. Luckily, I took up collage-ing as a past-time, so I will be making some awesome pieces of art. I had a pretty good teacher. I don't know if you guys know him, it was some Italian named Micheal-Angelo or something like that. I can't remember.
--All of (well, about 70%) of the members of our ward went on a ward temple trip together this past weekend to the temple in Switzerland. It is the closest one to here, and it is about 8 hours by car to get there. What a sacrifice some of these precious members make to go to the House of the Lord. It really makes me grateful for the 40 minute drive to Idaho Falls :P But, they all had so many wonderful experiences! There were 6 people who went through for the fist time, and 2 families were sealed together for time and all eternity. The sacrament meeting right after everyone came back was so powerful. mA few members bore testimonies of their hardships getting there, and the blessings received because of them, and the rest of the members are just "recharged" with the Spirit! It is like a new ward! I love the temple!!
--Scambio: I had a great companionship exchange with Anziano Lewis here in Alessandria, this week. Anziano Lewis is the district leader here. He is a hard worker, and a diligent missionary. We had a day full of street contacting, and so it was a good opportunity to help him realize that people will stop and talk with us, but only if we say the right things, and to help show him how to jump straight to the Restoration in whatever conversation we may be in. We ended up teaching six lessons on the street and finding a new investigator who invited them over to his home to meet with him and his wife this Sunday! What a blessing!
Miracle: We had a wonderful miracle...yesterday, in fact. We are meeting with a 15 year old member of the ward, because the bishop has asked us to help her gain a testimony and support her in her membership (she is the only active member of her family, and lives 30 minutes away from the church, and has very poor male examples in her life; her father included). We had planned to talk about setting New Year's goals, but right as we brought it up she said "Well, I don't even know if by next year I'll still be a Mormon, so...goals...I don't really know!" It kind of took us by surprise, since she has never expressed any doubts or anything like that...in fact, just a few weeks ago she gave a really moving talk in sacrament meeting about the importance of the family. But it was amazing to me how the Spirit completely took over the lesson, and we were able to address each one of her doubts and concerns, and resolve them. I found myself making really good comparisons to everyday things, recounting experiences from my life that applied perfectly to this situation, and bearing powerful testimony. By the end we were all in tears and she muttered, "I know. I know it's true. It's just hard sometimes." We helped her to realized that God prepares a way for each one of us (1 Nephi 3:7), and that our real strength relies in Him (Alma 26:12). It was such an intense lesson...and a great testimony-builder for me, not to mention a memory that I will forever remember. The Lord's promises of unloosing our tongues and giving us the words to speak are true! What a blessing it is to be a missionary!
--I hope you all are doing well! Everything here is well! I love you all and pray for you "always and forever". I love technology.
Love,
Anziano Wilson
This week has been FULL of miracles! I love the Christmas season!
It was wonderful to be able to Skype home, you all have gotten so big!! Time is sure flying by.
--I should take more notes (well, any notes...I guess "more notes" implies that I do take notes...) So!
--Christmas was a BLAST! We had a sleep-over with the Elders from upstairs, opened up presents on Christmas morning, played some games, and then went over to the Lazartes' house. They are such a nice family! They have been in Italy for 14 years or so, but they are from Argentina! I LOVE South Americans; they all just are so selfless, not to mention they love the missionaries so much! Sister Lazarte was SO overjoyed to have the missionaries over. While we were playing Monopolio (Spanish version) with her two kids (I totally won by the way, just in case you were curious. I was like "what? you can unmortgage things for the same price AND sell houses back for full price?? This is child's play! Plus they were so willing to do business with me! I was thinking "at my house you have to give an arm and a leg and probably a real American Dollar to get any real business deals going. I like this!" ;) ), I would glance up and the mom would just be sitting on the couch looking at us with a huge smile on her face! She has a boy out on a mission in Rome right now, so I think she was pretending that we were him. I LOVE them though!! And the lunch was D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s Delicious! ("But Anziano Wilson," you may be asking, "how do you know how to spell that word so well?" I know how to spell delicious because in the 3rd grade [I think?] it cost me the spelling bee championship!! Grr!!) It was so good that we didn't even need to eat dinner! (we definitely didn't have room!)
--I heard recently that down in Napoli for New Years the Italians literally throw all their old stuff (refrigerators, couches, ovens, etc.) out the window. People die every year. Silly Italians; I'm happy I live in the north where they are normal...ish. :D
--So today is New Year's Eve. We are required to stay indoors from 5pm onward...so that's pretty fun. NOT. Staying inside for a missionary is like the worst thing ever. Luckily, I took up collage-ing as a past-time, so I will be making some awesome pieces of art. I had a pretty good teacher. I don't know if you guys know him, it was some Italian named Micheal-Angelo or something like that. I can't remember.
--All of (well, about 70%) of the members of our ward went on a ward temple trip together this past weekend to the temple in Switzerland. It is the closest one to here, and it is about 8 hours by car to get there. What a sacrifice some of these precious members make to go to the House of the Lord. It really makes me grateful for the 40 minute drive to Idaho Falls :P But, they all had so many wonderful experiences! There were 6 people who went through for the fist time, and 2 families were sealed together for time and all eternity. The sacrament meeting right after everyone came back was so powerful. mA few members bore testimonies of their hardships getting there, and the blessings received because of them, and the rest of the members are just "recharged" with the Spirit! It is like a new ward! I love the temple!!
--Scambio: I had a great companionship exchange with Anziano Lewis here in Alessandria, this week. Anziano Lewis is the district leader here. He is a hard worker, and a diligent missionary. We had a day full of street contacting, and so it was a good opportunity to help him realize that people will stop and talk with us, but only if we say the right things, and to help show him how to jump straight to the Restoration in whatever conversation we may be in. We ended up teaching six lessons on the street and finding a new investigator who invited them over to his home to meet with him and his wife this Sunday! What a blessing!
Miracle: We had a wonderful miracle...yesterday, in fact. We are meeting with a 15 year old member of the ward, because the bishop has asked us to help her gain a testimony and support her in her membership (she is the only active member of her family, and lives 30 minutes away from the church, and has very poor male examples in her life; her father included). We had planned to talk about setting New Year's goals, but right as we brought it up she said "Well, I don't even know if by next year I'll still be a Mormon, so...goals...I don't really know!" It kind of took us by surprise, since she has never expressed any doubts or anything like that...in fact, just a few weeks ago she gave a really moving talk in sacrament meeting about the importance of the family. But it was amazing to me how the Spirit completely took over the lesson, and we were able to address each one of her doubts and concerns, and resolve them. I found myself making really good comparisons to everyday things, recounting experiences from my life that applied perfectly to this situation, and bearing powerful testimony. By the end we were all in tears and she muttered, "I know. I know it's true. It's just hard sometimes." We helped her to realized that God prepares a way for each one of us (1 Nephi 3:7), and that our real strength relies in Him (Alma 26:12). It was such an intense lesson...and a great testimony-builder for me, not to mention a memory that I will forever remember. The Lord's promises of unloosing our tongues and giving us the words to speak are true! What a blessing it is to be a missionary!
--I hope you all are doing well! Everything here is well! I love you all and pray for you "always and forever". I love technology.
Love,
Anziano Wilson
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