Buongiorno a tutti da Firenze!!
So, I'm in Florence!!! It is going to be a beautiful day!! I'm excited! :)
(side note--I have never been surrounded by so many tourists!! Everyone is speaking English...I feel like I'm in America! ...It is pretty amazing after being in Italy for so long, how obvious it is when you see a tourist. They stick out like a gorilla at a cat festival! ;)
--This week has been wonderful! Montevarchi really is a special place. There is a branch here of about 15 members, but they are all really strong in the gospel, and are all actively engaged in missionary work. To be honest, I much prefer small branches to big wards...the mindset of the Italian members in a branch is "we have work to do to grow our branch!" rather than "well, we made it! We are a ward!" kind of thing. It is a great blessing to be a part of a little branch like this, where it really is like one big family! There is some serious work to be done here, and I am excited to get it all rolling!
--The Branch President is an absolute champion! He is an inspired leader. Him and his wife speak almost every day with someone new to tell them about the gospel!
--So, we are back to holding church in a hotel!! Welcome back to Morbegno! haha, we are getting a church building soon, but for now we rented out two conference rooms in a four-star hotel. It is pretty nice....and there is even free bottled water and candies! I feel like a high-class business man standing at the pulpit. This is the life!
--Montevarchi is so beautiful! Imagine rolling hills and green all around....it's like I'm in the middle of Lord of the Rings mixed with Sound of Music!
--President Dibb called the other day to let us know that he has confidence in us and to tell us that "there are tens of thousands of future saints in that area"...what an inspiration! That is so true. There are so many people that are prepared. It has been amazing to me to see and realize the work of the Lord in this place. He truly truly does go before us to pave the way and to open hearts. President also added that this is one of the most beautiful areas of the world...I believe it! I am so blessed to serve in this wonderful part of Italy ;)
--So, I am in toscana, which is really distinguished in Italy for 1)the amazing food! and 2) having a thick accent. It is hilarious! The c is silent, and so it just sounds so....funny! (imagine Coca Cola being pronounced "ho ha ho la") I, personally, prefer the Sicilian accent, and thus have been working on it (I started it as a joke, but now I really prefer speaking that way!). I have gotten multiple comments asking if I was half Italian from the south ;) I am so thankful for the gift of tongues!
--This past Sunday I was asked to give a talk! My first sunday here, why not! It was a great experience. I talked about not waiting to share your testimony, and the importance of growing it right now, instead of "later on". There are a few investigators that have been coming to church for years, and so I figured it would be a nice little "push" to let them know that they are needed right now. It went really well with the lesson that we had in Gospel Principles: We watched a mormon message called "waiting on the road to Damascus". It was touching, I reccommend it!
--Speaking of Gospel Principles, our teacher is amazing! Apparently he is a recent (5 years ago) retuned missionary from the Milan mission, and was the Assistent to the President for 5 transfers (that is a lot). I can tell he is a man of deep faith. And he already is married with three kids...he wasted no time! ;P He will be a great strength to this branch.
--We have been running around from appointment to appointment these days, it really is wonderful. Yesterday we were blessed to be able to teach 9 people. There are a lot of people in this area that are searching for something, they just aren't sure what!
--In less than a week Elder Bednar is coming to visit our mission!! I am so excited I am jumping out of my shoes! It is going to be such a wonderful and unique experience to sit at the feet of a living Apostle of the Lord, and to hear what he has to tell us. I hope and pray that I may prepare myself spiritually to fully take-in all that he has to teach us.
--I have been having some really amazing insights lately about the power and value of humility. I know that the promise in Ether 12:27 is true, that if we will come unto Christ and acknowledge in humility our weaknesses before him, we will be made strong. I have seen that so much on my mission--both with investigators and with myself. What a profound blessing is the Atonement of our Savior!
--Miracle: Yesterday we had a wonderful miracle. As we were out and about finding and teaching, we decided to pass by a less active member, who has some serious struggles with a few commandments. We stopped by and he welcomed us in right away. He expressed to us right off the bat, that he knew he struggled with these things, and that he wants to change. but just doesn't feel like he can do it. I was humbled and deeply touched as the Spirit completely took over the lesson, and we were able to address each one of his concerns. Using scriptures such as Ether 12:27, comparing the church to a hospital, and bearing testimony of the infinite and everlasting Atonement, I could see in his eyes the change. He finally understood. And he expressed to us that he has known for a while that he needs to start reading the scriptures daily again, and praying for the strength to overcome these things. We expressed confidence in him, and are expecting some wonderful things. It is such a miracle to be an instrument in the hands of the Almighty God, in giving comfort and encouragement to one of his precious children.
--Everything here in Montevarchi is going really well. The members are so excited to do missionary work, and we are thrilled to be able to help them. This really is a special place. And I know that we are going to see people coming into the waters of baptism and following our Savior Jesus Christ. I can feel it. Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. They are needed and they are felt. I ask that this week you remember to pray specifically for Daniel, Wilman, and Paul--three of our investigators that are preparing for baptism in the near future. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
No comments:
Post a Comment