August 21, 2013

Ciao tutti!

This week went by pretty fast but I feel like for the most part it was just a normal week.  Our investigator who will get baptized the 4th of September came to church this last week and today after pday we will see him so we are excited for that.  This last week I also went on two scambios both of which were great.  One was really interesting because he's from southern Italy and told me how much the gospel has changed his life which was crazy.  It's great to see how the gospel can change someone soo much!  This last week was tough for us really.  In Italy there's a holiday called Ferragosto which is a day where nobody works and everyone from northern Italy goes to southern Italy for a 3 day vacation.  Also during the month of August no one works and it's a vacation month.  So we had a few of our investigators gone for the holidays but that's okay.  Me and my comp are getting along great one thing we like to do in our off time is nurf battles!!  We have nurf gun battles so in the apartment we start on opposite sides and say go and we have our small nurf guns and only two bullets so it's a way I cope without having call of duty haha just kidding!  Today I played basketball and after I'll go do some shopping.  Next week we will probably go to Aosta again to see the Matterhorn but we'll see thanks love you all!

Anziano Thomas

Anziano Colemere and Ben

The French Italian border by the Alps

Ciao!

So this week we had a huge miracle!  Last Saturday we got a call from this unknown number and it was a man  who's Italian  and he had just moved back from Italy with his wife who's South American she is a member.  He called me and told me he needed the directions for the church in Torino so I gave him the directions and after that, didn't think much of it.  The next day he comes to church with his wife and in gospel principles class he and his wife just break down crying because right now they are having a hard time moving back because they had some problems back in South America.  He was so overwhelmed by the love of the ward he couldn't believe it.  So we set up an appointment with him for the next day.  He lives pretty far away from the city about 45 minutes in Bus but we finally got there and he started explaining his whole situation which is pretty crazy.  Anyway we come to find out was he had a baptismal date in Peru and because he was so busy getting ready to move he told the Elders he couldn't do it but he would get baptized in Italy.  So we gave him the baptism date right there for the 4th of September!!  And he said yes!  Super cool guy and we're really excited to meet with him to help him get ready for baptism!!  Such a cool miracle.  I'm excited for him!!  With Riccardo it has been a rough week but we are still working with him and hopefully all will go well!  This last week we had a Zone Meeting and we were able to give the training to the zone.  The meeting lasted just under 2 hours and it was great!  Anziano Colemere and I planned it really well and overall, it flowed super well and it seemed like everyone liked it.  This transfer our Zone battle cry is Bee Anxiously Engaged and we made laminated cards for each member of the zone with a bee and referred to Elder Ballard's talk talking about bees and how each one needs to work hard to produce to the hive.  On the laminated card we had the scripture Colossians 3:23-24 talking about being accountable before God instead of the those above us.  Doing our best for God which I really like.  This week went well hope you are all doing well love you all!

Anziano Thomas

Ben at a girls softball game in Torino

A Quick Email

Sorry mom I don't have time to write we are going to the Alps again but things are going good this week. I went to Milan and talked to President  about BYU he just needs the pin number or something.  How's the application going with Standford?  I'm sorry I can't write a big email this week but my comp really wants to go to the Alps so I'm happy to go!  Thanks for the letter sounds like everyone is doing good also thanks for the letter you sent with all the missionaries going out from the Beehive, me and my comp really like it!  Things are going good right now we set a baptismal date with Riccardo for the 31st of Agosto so we are working a lot with him!  Other news we are doing a lot of work with less actives.  Also it's super hottt oh my gosh not like Arizona hot but humid hot.  In Italy there is no air conditioning because the Italians are all scared of it, they think it makes them sick..  Last night I was sweating soo much haha but it will all be over soon.  My comps bike got stolen haha unfortunately but mine instead was still there because we had separate chains but let me know how everything is going I love you!  Thanks for everything!  Sorry this is so short..

Ben's new companion Anziano Colemere

New Companion

Ciao!

Well so this last week we had transfers and now I'm with Anziano Colemere!  He's a really cool missionary from Alpine Utah and super funny.  His dad works for the church and talks with Elder Holland once a week.  Anyway we've been getting along great these past few days.  He likes doing outdoor things like rock climbing, going to the lake, wake boarding, skiing so we have a lot to talk about.  So funny story that happened this last week that is kind of a miracle.  We were walking by the train station and we pass this group of Philippine people and one of them calls out to us and says ELDERS!  ELDERS!  So we turn around and start talking to him.  His name was Rod and he was a really cool guy.  He had been in Italy for a few years now and hasn't been able to come because of work problems.  We started talking and he shows us a tattoo on his forearm... It was Captain Moroni with the horn hahahhahaha I couldn't believe it.  It was a well done tattoo however..  so we talked with him got his number and he told us that his friend has interest so these next few weeks we should be meeting with him so we are excited for that!  Another thing that has also happened this week is a less active that we found on the street that is from Peru is looking to return to the church.  The last lesson we had with him was interesting/sad.  He came into the lesson and told us that one of his friends in Peru had just got shot and now is dead.  He wanted revenge.  Like he wanted to fly back to Peru and buy a guy and take justice into his own hands.  We were like Noooo!!  It was sad but something cool we were able to do was we talked about the plan of Salvation and told him where his friend was.  After that he calmed down and felt the spirit.  It was nice to explain that and just a great blessing for me to have this knowledge.  Right now we are still working with Riccardo.  This week he's been a little busy with work but the next lesson we have with him we will give him the baptism invite which will be great!  Things are going well we have more investigators but we are still looking for more!  Thanks love you all!

Anziano Thomas