Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Ben's First Day in Italia! January 25th with President & Sister Wolfgramm
 |
February 22, 2012- Mosiacs & Teaching!
Ciao amici e famiglia!
Today has been great! We were able to see Ravennas famous mosiacs and
went and saw the famous Dauntes Tomb! The mosiacs were incredible
there was so much symbolism in the mosiacs and they were beautiful!
So with this week we invited Gabrelle a 66 year old Italian man to be
baptized and he accepted! He will be baptized the 17 of March! He's
bravo our first visit where we invited him to be bapitzed he gave us 4
ties and is a super nice guy! So that was the highlight of our week
and we are looking forward to that! Yesterday we had another scambi
but this time I stayed in Ravenna so I was incharge of leading us
around the city. I only got us lost once haha but it wasn't that bad
it's a good thing that this city is so small! Also as a missionary
I'm realizing how people view me. For example, we were in this
lesson and our new convert starting talking about his past and I was
thinking uhh.. I'm only 19 should he be telling me this but I
realizing the responsiblity that comes with this call. This week I
had more bike problems haha I had a flat and had to take it in so
hopefully that's it! We also had a Zone conference on Saturday so I
met all the missionaries in my zone heard President Wolfgramm talk
which was great! I'm thankful for him he is definetly inspired!
Things here are going great and the language is coming along! Thanks
for all the prayers!
-Love Anziano Thomas
Today has been great! We were able to see Ravennas famous mosiacs and
went and saw the famous Dauntes Tomb! The mosiacs were incredible
there was so much symbolism in the mosiacs and they were beautiful!
So with this week we invited Gabrelle a 66 year old Italian man to be
baptized and he accepted! He will be baptized the 17 of March! He's
bravo our first visit where we invited him to be bapitzed he gave us 4
ties and is a super nice guy! So that was the highlight of our week
and we are looking forward to that! Yesterday we had another scambi
but this time I stayed in Ravenna so I was incharge of leading us
around the city. I only got us lost once haha but it wasn't that bad
it's a good thing that this city is so small! Also as a missionary
I'm realizing how people view me. For example, we were in this
lesson and our new convert starting talking about his past and I was
thinking uhh.. I'm only 19 should he be telling me this but I
realizing the responsiblity that comes with this call. This week I
had more bike problems haha I had a flat and had to take it in so
hopefully that's it! We also had a Zone conference on Saturday so I
met all the missionaries in my zone heard President Wolfgramm talk
which was great! I'm thankful for him he is definetly inspired!
Things here are going great and the language is coming along! Thanks
for all the prayers!
-Love Anziano Thomas
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2 Weeks in Italy
I made it to week 2!! Haha this week was great! I think the
highlight of the week was the snow. The people of Ravenna have been
saying it never snows like this and the other day was the coldest day
Italy has seen in 30 years. The snow however made it harder to
contact people though because most everyone in centro (the center of
town) stay inside and there is less people to talk to. But we still
had success. It's funny because we are teaching people from all over
the world! Specifically from all countries in Africa! Alot from
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria and Tunisia. They are great but
have a hard time remembering when they're appointments are but that's
fine. There are also lots from South America right now we are
teaching this woman (Leiza) from Cuba and she seems really interested
in our message it's hard to find a time though because she works alot.
With the Super Bowl it's funny. Before I left I read this book
called Playing for Pizza. A story about an ex-NFL quarterback who
goes to Italy to play Italian football. Well the other day we were
doing Strada (streets) and we started talking to this shorter thick
guy. We asked him how his day was and he said he was tired because he
watch the Super Bowl last night and we later found out that he was a
running back for the Ravenna Chiefs, I told him about the book playing
for Pizza and he had read it before! He's now a trainer for his team.
I did an exchange in Ferrara and bumped into a member who also played
running back for the Ferrara Eagles! It's crazy how things like that
work out.This week I went on a scambia (an exchange). It's where
companians switch to learn how other missionaries work. So I had the
oppertunity to go to Ferrara! It was much colder because it was more
north but it was very beautiful and a lot of fun. We ate at a
members home for dinner and she made the best mashed potatoes ever!
It's funny because things I would never eat in the USA are just so
good here I love it! My companion is also teaching me how to cook
which is great! I made my first pasta dish and it turned out pretty
good.
The language is coming along pretty good I can understand alot of
what they are saying and becoming better at speaking so thanks for all
the prayers!! I'm getting better at teaching also. My companion and
I are working hard everyday and really working with our investigators
toward baptism! Things here are going great and I'm loving every
moment. I can see how much the Lord is helping with this work I see
it everyday how he prepares those to come unto the gospel. Thanks for
everything that you all do and all the prayers! -Anziano Thomas
highlight of the week was the snow. The people of Ravenna have been
saying it never snows like this and the other day was the coldest day
Italy has seen in 30 years. The snow however made it harder to
contact people though because most everyone in centro (the center of
town) stay inside and there is less people to talk to. But we still
had success. It's funny because we are teaching people from all over
the world! Specifically from all countries in Africa! Alot from
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria and Tunisia. They are great but
have a hard time remembering when they're appointments are but that's
fine. There are also lots from South America right now we are
teaching this woman (Leiza) from Cuba and she seems really interested
in our message it's hard to find a time though because she works alot.
With the Super Bowl it's funny. Before I left I read this book
called Playing for Pizza. A story about an ex-NFL quarterback who
goes to Italy to play Italian football. Well the other day we were
doing Strada (streets) and we started talking to this shorter thick
guy. We asked him how his day was and he said he was tired because he
watch the Super Bowl last night and we later found out that he was a
running back for the Ravenna Chiefs, I told him about the book playing
for Pizza and he had read it before! He's now a trainer for his team.
I did an exchange in Ferrara and bumped into a member who also played
running back for the Ferrara Eagles! It's crazy how things like that
work out.This week I went on a scambia (an exchange). It's where
companians switch to learn how other missionaries work. So I had the
oppertunity to go to Ferrara! It was much colder because it was more
north but it was very beautiful and a lot of fun. We ate at a
members home for dinner and she made the best mashed potatoes ever!
It's funny because things I would never eat in the USA are just so
good here I love it! My companion is also teaching me how to cook
which is great! I made my first pasta dish and it turned out pretty
good.
The language is coming along pretty good I can understand alot of
what they are saying and becoming better at speaking so thanks for all
the prayers!! I'm getting better at teaching also. My companion and
I are working hard everyday and really working with our investigators
toward baptism! Things here are going great and I'm loving every
moment. I can see how much the Lord is helping with this work I see
it everyday how he prepares those to come unto the gospel. Thanks for
everything that you all do and all the prayers! -Anziano Thomas
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Ben is there- 1st Area: Ravenna Italy, 1st companion: Anziano Betzsold!!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:09 AM
I'm finally here!!! hahaha wow I can't believe it! We left Tuesday
morning, I couldn't believe it I spent 2 and a half months at the Mtc
so it was the the wierdest thing to leave. So everyone in my zone got
on a bus and headed straight to the airport! Everything happend so
fast it seemed like a blurr but we then got on our plane and flew to
Chicago. Chicago has a huge airport so we had to do alot of walking
to get to our gate and I was able to make some phone calls which was
nice. After 3 and half hours we got onto Luftuanza!! Oh my best
airplane service ever really I couldn't believe it. Like they had hot
towels great food and just snacks the whole way there I loved it! When
we got on the plane I saw people from all over the world.. and I
couldn't understand what they were saying they weren't speaking
ENGLISH. I then realized that I really was leaving but was so
excited! We landed in Frankfurt it was incredibly foggy. The Germans
were funny I saw alot that had a narly beard like DIRK 41. But we
stayed in Germany for about 1 hour. After we headed for Milan!! We
got on another Luftuanza plane and it took us and hour and a half to
get there. The plane ride there was amazing! We got to fly over the
Apls which was an incredible sight! We landed in Milan finally after
a day of traveling! Once there our mission president was there and he
gave us a huge hug! Once we got outside the first thing I noticed was
the cars made for hobbits. It is so different from Mesa where all you
see is SUVs and Trucks haha these were all a bunch of cars as small as
the smart car. Lucky we had a van for our mission which was great!
Once we got in another thing I noticed was that I was going to die in
Italy! The people here drive so crazy there's one lane roads and
people are just breaking laws and it's not like in mesa where the
streets go north south, east west they go everywhere!! Anyways we
made it there in one piece to the mission home! That nice Sister
Wolfgramm cooked us lasagna! So good! We had dinner together told
about things we liked at the Mtc and then went to our hotels! The
next day we met our companions! Well my companion is Anziano Betsold
from Washington state! He played baseball and football and was RB on
his team! I'm getting alone with him he knows what he's doing and I
am so thankful for that he's helping me become a better missionary!
Also I found out what city I'm going to: Ravenna! I love it here so
small and so Italian! So anziano betzsold and I took off from Milan
and it took us 3 hours to get there by train. Once we got there we
walked to our appartment and it is acctually pretty nice! Warm
showers and thats all I care about! Also I forgot to mention we got
to be apart of a baptism!!! His name is Phillip he's from Ivory coast
and speaks English!! We teach alot of Africans which is great
probbaly more that Italians! The baptism went great we had a portable
font so that was alright and anziano betzsold did the baptism and I
was one of the witnesses! Sunday I met the Branch of Ravenna which is
about 30 members Strong and the're amazing! They feed me so much!!!
I've probably never been this cold in my life but I'm getting used to
it today it snowed about 4 inches and we've been falling off our bikes
it's soo slippery! I love Italy really this whole week has been the
best and I really am loving every moment of it! Today we went to a
members house and helped him paint 2 rooms the fed us haha so good.
In my first week I've had so many amazing expeirences! Thank you all
for you're prayers I can't explain it but I really can feel like
someone is always praying for me to stay positive and to be safethanks for everything!! Ti voglio bene! -Anziano Thomas
morning, I couldn't believe it I spent 2 and a half months at the Mtc
so it was the the wierdest thing to leave. So everyone in my zone got
on a bus and headed straight to the airport! Everything happend so
fast it seemed like a blurr but we then got on our plane and flew to
Chicago. Chicago has a huge airport so we had to do alot of walking
to get to our gate and I was able to make some phone calls which was
nice. After 3 and half hours we got onto Luftuanza!! Oh my best
airplane service ever really I couldn't believe it. Like they had hot
towels great food and just snacks the whole way there I loved it! When
we got on the plane I saw people from all over the world.. and I
couldn't understand what they were saying they weren't speaking
ENGLISH. I then realized that I really was leaving but was so
excited! We landed in Frankfurt it was incredibly foggy. The Germans
were funny I saw alot that had a narly beard like DIRK 41. But we
stayed in Germany for about 1 hour. After we headed for Milan!! We
got on another Luftuanza plane and it took us and hour and a half to
get there. The plane ride there was amazing! We got to fly over the
Apls which was an incredible sight! We landed in Milan finally after
a day of traveling! Once there our mission president was there and he
gave us a huge hug! Once we got outside the first thing I noticed was
the cars made for hobbits. It is so different from Mesa where all you
see is SUVs and Trucks haha these were all a bunch of cars as small as
the smart car. Lucky we had a van for our mission which was great!
Once we got in another thing I noticed was that I was going to die in
Italy! The people here drive so crazy there's one lane roads and
people are just breaking laws and it's not like in mesa where the
streets go north south, east west they go everywhere!! Anyways we
made it there in one piece to the mission home! That nice Sister
Wolfgramm cooked us lasagna! So good! We had dinner together told
about things we liked at the Mtc and then went to our hotels! The
next day we met our companions! Well my companion is Anziano Betsold
from Washington state! He played baseball and football and was RB on
his team! I'm getting alone with him he knows what he's doing and I
am so thankful for that he's helping me become a better missionary!
Also I found out what city I'm going to: Ravenna! I love it here so
small and so Italian! So anziano betzsold and I took off from Milan
and it took us 3 hours to get there by train. Once we got there we
walked to our appartment and it is acctually pretty nice! Warm
showers and thats all I care about! Also I forgot to mention we got
to be apart of a baptism!!! His name is Phillip he's from Ivory coast
and speaks English!! We teach alot of Africans which is great
probbaly more that Italians! The baptism went great we had a portable
font so that was alright and anziano betzsold did the baptism and I
was one of the witnesses! Sunday I met the Branch of Ravenna which is
about 30 members Strong and the're amazing! They feed me so much!!!
I've probably never been this cold in my life but I'm getting used to
it today it snowed about 4 inches and we've been falling off our bikes
it's soo slippery! I love Italy really this whole week has been the
best and I really am loving every moment of it! Today we went to a
members house and helped him paint 2 rooms the fed us haha so good.
In my first week I've had so many amazing expeirences! Thank you all
for you're prayers I can't explain it but I really can feel like
someone is always praying for me to stay positive and to be safethanks for everything!! Ti voglio bene! -Anziano Thomas
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