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
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