Well, this week has just been wonderful! I love being a missionary so much; by now it is all I remember how to do! ;P But today we are going to play basketball with the young single adults in the ward! I am SO excited I can't even say! I have been looking for a basketball court for so long...so get ready Brandon; I'm practicing up so come July I can take you! ;)
--Well, the first big news is....TRANSFERS! I am getting transferred! :( I kind of have had a feeling that this would be my last transfer here in Alessandria (It is strange how you just know sometimes), so I wasn't surprised. But I am really sad, because Guilliermo is going to be baptized on Friday! The day after I leave! :( So I won't be there to see it. It's like my first transfer from San Remo to Lecco all over again! But, that's okay. I am just so happy that he is going to be baptized, and that he is preparing with his wife to go to the temple and be sealed as an eternal family! I am going to be transferred tomorrow to Brescia. I am excited to serve there. President Dibb is opening up a new companionship of Zone Leaders there in the Brescia ward, and so I will be serving there instead. I have heard some great things about Brescia, but nothing is going to beat Alessandria. It is such a special place. REALLY ugly city, (dog droppings everywhere...not going to miss that!), but the people are amazing. So is the life of a missionary! I know that the Lord needs me elsewhere, and as Joseph Smith once said "When the Lord commands, do it." Wise advice from a good man.
--We had some MANburgers today for lunch! My stomach is not used to eating large quantities of hamburger...but it was worth it! 'Merica.
--This week has been a blast, but kind of sad. It's been since saturday since I have known that I will be leaving, so luckily I got to say goodbye to everyone in church. The members here are so special. It was fast and testimony meeting, and it was a really amazing meeting (more on that later). I got up to bear my testimony and said that I would be leaving and everyone was like "awwww!". I felt special :)
Miracle: This week we had a wonderful miracle. We decided, on a whim, to go to Asti the other day to go visit a less-active member, Roberto, who had invited us to stop by when we had time. We arrived at his house, and after he showed us his two "dogs" (bears!), we went inside to talk. Right off the bat, he said something like "Well, I'm sure I know why you're here. I've been a member for over 40 years, and you have come to tell me "Brother, why don't you come to church?"...and then, (before we had a chance to even respond) he started recounting why and how he came in contact with the church. To make a long story short, missionaries years ago came to his door, knocked, were turned away 3 or 4 times, and then were finally let in. He was touched deeply by the Spirit, read the Book of Mormon in two days, and he and his wife were baptized a month later. He began telling us about some of the most sacred experiences he has had, and the many tender testimonies he has been given. About 40 minutes later, before we had hardly even said a word, his wife jumped in and bore a powerful testimony of how the ward in Alessandria needs him (he has a deep doctrinal knowledge; he even used to be the branch president in the Asti branch years ago), and it touched him. We bore testimony of the same thing. The spirit was so strong; it was so intense. We invited him to come to church the next day, and to bear his testimony at the pulpit.....and he did! After over a year of not coming at all, or talking to any of the members, he came! He came and bore a powerful testimony of the goodness of the Lord in his life, and his desire to come back. What a miracle!
--We have been having some amazing experiences with the youth of the ward. Each week we go to Family Home Evening with them, and try to, as the bishop asked us to, spend time with them and show them how great it is to be a missionary. And just this past week, three young men who previously had no desire to serve a mission told the bishop that they want to begin to prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and serve a mission! I have great confidence in them, and in the youth of the church in Italy. They are so strong; so prepared. It is a privilege to be around them!
--Thought of the week: This week, I have been taking a few minutes to read and ponder the book of Proverbs. I love it! It is like a giant quote book with short and powerful phrases! Here are some of the highlights; they have deep meaning if we will take the time to ponder about them (I don't remember all the references and forgot to write them, but here is what I can remember off of my memory:
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion"
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise: For with no guide or overseer, she goeth about doing her duty..."
"Ponder the path of thy feet, let all your ways be firmly established."
"The righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth again"
"And with all thy getting, get understanding; for wisdom is more precious than rubies"
I'll write more down next week; there are some seriously good ones!
Quote of the week: "There can be no good wind for the sailor who knows not to which port he is bound."
-A wise man whom I forgot the name of
Well, that's about all that I have for you all this week. Thank you so much for your love and support and for your prayers. They are needed, and they are surely felt. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
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