This week has been a busy one!! But great! So is the life of a missionary in the Latter-Days!
--Transfer week was a little bit more exciting than normal this week, because we were put in charge of all of the missionaries that came in and out of Firenze....which was about 30 or so. I'm telling you, rounding up missionaries is like herding cats! ;P
--It didn't help that last week was the expo at Milano, which is one of the biggest events of the year, and so all the trains were off schedule, and most were cancelled coming in and out of Milan to Firenze. Long story short, we were in the train station from 7am to 8 pm keeping track of missionaries, sending them off, and carrying luggage. Not to mention that there were 3 sisters that got lost on their way to Pisa, with no phone! But everything worked out in the end, and everyone got where they needed to be, safe and sound.
--We went over to the Zuppardo's again this week to do service in the yard. Not to toot our own horn here, but that lawn is looking gooood! We showed up and sister Zuppardo says "hello, elders! I just got back from work...i saved 3 lives last night! Not a big deal though, I guess I am used to it by now." What a saint! Plus, they had another one of their cat's had kittens. While we were eating lunch the mom started carrying all of the kittens from the mat downstaris up the stairs onto Sorella Zuppardo's bed. She didn't realize it until half of them were up there. She was so funny: "Gosh dang it! First she gives birth on my bed, and then as soon as I wash the sheets she puts all the kittens right back on the bed! If I weren't a doctor and didn't have so much respect for mothers I would kill her!!" ha!
--Timothy is still doing really well! He has been so prepared I can't even handle it! Every single thing that we teach him, he remembers perfectly and makes the changes in his life that are necessary to live it! This past week we talked about the Priesthood, and he was touched. He wants to serve his fellow man so much, it made him so happy! It touched me as well. To think that our Heavenly Father trusts us enough to give him part of His power, and to think that we can then, if we are worthy, use that power to serve others...I can hardly take it all in. I marvel at the wonderful gift and privilege it is to hold such a power, and hope and pray that the Lord will bless me and all of us to hear the cries of those that are in need, that we may freely give and serve, just as we have freely received.
--Poor Paul needs our prayers! He has been having some serious trials in his life recently, and we haven't been able to meet with him because of it. He is so ready to be baptized though, and wants it.
--Marcello (the mountain man that I wrote about a few we2eks ago) finally was able to come to church this week! He rode his bike for like 5 hours to get there; what a champion! The Branch President was like, " Marcello, you know that I could give you a ride!? I live like 20 minutes from your house!" And he replied "Oh, I know. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it on my own, so just in case you don't come, I can still make it!" And then he gave us 2 referrals...his friends that he has talked with about the gospel!
--So in case any of you were wondering, I will be flying home on the 9th of July. Still not sure when I will arrive home precisely, but I know that much! The office called me today and said that our group of missionaries is so big that they have to split it in half to send us home--we wouldn't all fit in the mission home! There are something like 30 missionaries going home with us. Whew! Can you imagine at the airport?? I'm glad they split us up :P
--It is getting SO hot and humid these days. I am dying!! But I have been prepared...we bought individual fans and everything! Bring it on summer ;)
--I have been reading in Alma recently, and really love chapter 26. There are so many verses that touch me in a special way. My attention was called this week to the last two verses again, which state, "Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. 37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of everypeople, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."
What a special praise to our Heavenly Father, who is mindful of all of His children!
--I heard the news about Elder L. Tom Perry. He was in the same ward as one of the missionaries serving here. He lived a good life! And his last generl conference talk was powerful!! It is such a blessing to have an entire quorum of 12 apostles, and to have the knowledge that everything that happens within the Quorum in the will of the Almighty God. It is a great blessing to have living prophets today. They lead us and guide us and show us the way. And when it is time for one (or many) to leave this life, it is always in the plan of God. We'll see if my prediction is correct on who the new apostle will be..
--I just heard that one of the investigators that I found on the metro in Brescia is getting baptized soon! Jackson! What a blessing!
--Miracle: This week has been another busy, but wonderful week of miracles! The other day we were out in Montevarchi meeting with two of our investigators with a baptismal date, when we saw a man, Sylvester, that we had seen on the street a few weeks ago, but hadn't been able to contact. He motioned for us to come and sit down next to him and we had a wonderful discussion together about the Restoration. At the end he accepted the soft baptismal invite, and when we offered him his copy of the Book of Mormon, he paused. He seemed deep in thought for a few seconds, and said, "you know, I must tell you. I have been here in Italy for about 7 1/2 years, and this is the greatest gift I have ever received in 7 1/2 to 8 years." He is very educated, and told us that he would read it in less than a week for sure! We expect great things from him, and it is humbling to have been blessed by the Lord to meet him again.
--Things here are going really well. The biggest struggle continues to be the distance away of the members, coupled with the lack of rides to church. We are working as best we can with each one of our investigators with a baptismal date--they are all really dedicated and willing, but the hardest thing is that most all of them live in Arezzo and don't have the means to get to church on their own. We are doing our best to organize rides and create friendships with the members. There is a lot of work to do! Thank you all for your support and prayers. I love you all and remember you in many prayers! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Anziano Wilson
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