The Book of Mormon And Prayer Change Our Hearts And Our Desires

FA CALDO! It's been a super hot as well as humid this week. We are getting through it alright haha but man it's brutal. The other night we came home to find our apartment full of these small fruit flies. I'm pretty positive that it was the garbage we'd forgotten to take out earlier that day. We then had to sleep with the windows shut and therefore our apartment was super hot during the night. Oh well..We are putting up some netting in our apartment today so we can leave the balcony windows open without there being any flies or mosquitos.

Everything is going alright here in San Remo town. The work has definitely been getting better! We set a baptismal date with one of the friends of the brothers from Ghana and Nigeria. His name is Twum and he is about 20 years old. He doesn't speak English very well so we have the other brothers translate for him. Right now his date is set for the end of next month seeing how we haven't taught him much and we have to take it slow. We got to help him make sure he's understanding us correctly. He's been coming pretty regularly though to church for about two months.

Ivano is still coming along rather slow but we discovered that he can't be baptized until his leg heals. He has some leg problems and I think they've even been cutting off pieces of skin from his right leg. We've been feeling lately though that the doctrine of christ hasn't sunk into his heart. I think it makes sense intelligently but spiritually not so much. The other day though when making a phone call with him we had a bit of a break through. He's been alright about praying and reading the BoM but we haven't been sure about the "real intent". As I called and talked with him I really tried digging in and asking him about both things (reading and praying). He started telling us that he'd started praying, like we had invited him to do, about being ready for baptism. He said that he had started asking Heavenly Father to help his leg heal so he could be baptized. For me I was really shocked because we didn't think his desire to be baptized was to that extent. We had actually kind of thought that he was rather pleased to have an excuse to wait to be baptized. I was so excited when he told me and congratulated him for his efforts and the faith he was exercising. It was a really cool testimony for me that the BoM and prayer (and meeting with the missionaries) can really change our hearts and desires.

They don't celebrate Father's Day in Italy....quindì...it's not my fault I forgot (Where were you on that one mom?).  Hopefully Hillary, Ashley and Andy put my name on the gift that I hope they bought for you......haha. Well Dad. Happy Father's Day. You know I love you and that I love you every day. You're one of my best friends in the world even though I do poke fun of you sometimes. I would definitely had sucked at most of the sports I played if you hadn't taken time to always help me. I'm grateful for who you are, your example for me and I love you 'Un Sacco'. Seeing how I'm a cheap skate..I will buy something here in San Remo for you and just bring it home with me...Va bene?....give me some ideas though.

Well it sounds like you are all having a blast! Dance recitals...mom is working, Hillary is working, Dad is working ...what are Andy and Clara up to these days? I feel like everyone is going to have changed a ton when I get back. I know I will be fatter but that's ok I plan on working out with Dad when I get back.

Well I know you praying already for us but keep it up! Your prayers are being heard and we are seeing blessings. The mission is going crazy right now and I know it's because there are tons of awesome missionaries here who also have lots of people praying for them.

CAfe Rio salad recipe?....other easy recipes I could do? We don't want to make each pasta anymore....haha we will let members do that.

Sometimes You Just Need To Put The Pick To Work Before Getting To The Diamond

Yeah so I ran into Nick Blair last Saturday along with his brother.   That was a surprise to run into him in San Remo.

 So far San Remo has been perfect. It's really warm all day, but being very close to the ocean there is a nice breeze wherever we go. It's a bit humid but in the end there are more positives than negatives. We are riding our bikes almost everywhere we go until we come across the hills. The main part of the city isn't super hilly. It's a sliver of a city so once you get going more towards land is when we meet the vertical inclines and dismount from the bikes. We were thinking about asking President Wolfgramm about getting roller blades...eh eh?

Anziano Free is from Mesa, Arizona and just started his 11th transfer. He's been
here in San Remo already for two transfers and speaks really well. He speaks better than me anyway. I like him a lot and we get a long really well. The district is just us and Savona. Right now there is a senior couple and sister Jones and Baker. I'm not really sure how many people come to church every week but they are very consistent. There are a lot of families and quite a few children in the branch. I'm not super sure about the amount of less-actives but there are a few we want to try and work with.

We are currently in need of new investigators seeing as how they all got baptized before I got here. We are still working with Ivano. He came to church this last week again and is really great. He is 52 years old and living with his mom and younger brother. Apparently he was divorced and was sort of going off the deep end. Since they've been teaching him though he's made a really big turn around. He's slow to accept a baptismal date but he's making lots of progress. This last Sunday we had stake conference but we all stayed here because they had a broadcasting. We got to listen to Henry B. Eyring and Elder Nelson speak to us(in Italian). A lot of the conference was based upon parents teaching their children the gospel and teaching them to pray, read the scriptures and other things to help them stay strong (being the future foundation of the church).

Ivan really liked the conference and there was a lot of things that hit home. Elder Nelson talked a lot about 2 Nephi 31 and we had just talked about that with Ivano. There were a lot of things said that attended to the needs of the new converts, Stefano and Stefania. I wish I didn't have to translate for the fratelli di Ghana (the brothers from Ghana) because I could have learned more. I'm definitely not the best translator that's for sure. It was fun though all the same.

We've really been trying to focus lately on utilizing our time especially for finding work. We seem to get lots of lessons and find people to talk to but we can't get any investigators. We feel the spirit with people and then in the end they say they aren't interested. We are thinking we need to touch better on peoples needs but we also feel like we are already doing that....boh.. I learned in Verona that sometimes you just need to put the pick to work before getting to the diamond.

Nothing too exciting has happened this week though. We are expecting and praying for some big miracles in this next week to help us reach our transfer vision. I want to keep the success going in this branch. They've been great though and got a lot of great members who talk with their friends. The elders quorum leader is a stud. He used to be a pro soccer player 'til he blew his knee out. Anyways he does all these small little jobs and so he knows tons of people and is always sharing the Gospel with them. It's through him that Stefano and Stefania got baptized. The members are close and just one of the most united I've seen thus far. It's great.

There really isn't much more to say haha sorry....I hope everyone is doing well. How are the less-actives in the family doing?.......Happy Anniversary Saturday!!!!Love you guys so much. It's because of your love and support that I'm here now so thanks so much. I'm grateful for all you've done and all you're doing for me now.

Lucky Duck

I'm such a lucky duck. San Remo is by the far the most beautiful city I've served in yet. The weather has been perfect every day I've been her so far. I have a great companion and a really tight knit little branch that is also great!

I've been a bit exhausted lately with the time changes, long train rides and stuff. We just switched back to summer schedule (wake up at 7 and go to bed at 11). That has actually been more of a blessing because it's so much easier waking up at 7. The train ride her last Thursday took about five hours so that was tiring. The trains here aren't what i would call comfortable. Yesterday we had a specialized training thing in Milano and our train was at 5:15 haha. We woke up around 4 AM and caught the train which took us about 5 hours to get there. We had our training which was fantastic then took the train 5 hours back. The first time here during transfer we stopped in a small city but yesterday we changed in Genova.

We're back and ready to get this week up and going! The teaching pool right now isn't so hot but no worries. I don't expect there to be a big one after a transfer of 8 baptisms. They had a really awesome transfer. There was the same situation as Pavia (Africans brought from Libya by the UN). They are all really cool humble guys and this next week we will be giving them the Priesthood! This last Saturday we baptized an Italian couple, Stefano and Stefania. They are about 45 years old and have two kids. The two kids aren't very interested at this point but the baptisms were great nonetheless. They will be a huge help to this branch.

The branch here is actually of decent size. There are quite a bit of families in the ward and I think I already know most of their names! I'm finding it hard though to remember names of members in past cities...agh..I did meet the Genovese family. Franco is the 1st counselor in the Branch presidency and his wife his the relief society president. His son also lives in San Remo with his family who are members as well. Franco is a pretty cool guy. If you have any missionary photos I think they would like one or even a family photo or something. I know they said they remember being the missionaries before San Remo being opened but I don't if they remember you exactly. They're super nice though. The whole branch is just super fired up lately with these baptisms. They'd really been praying and feel/recognize them as blessings from the Lord. They are a lot more accepting of these Africans as well. Not to diss on Verona, but a lot of members didn't like them too much.

Well my companion Anz. Free is great. I'm really excited for this transfer and the time I'll have to serve with him. Our district is just us two and the sisters in Savona, Sister Jones and Sister Baker. There is also a missionary couple, the Robinsons, from Cottonwood Heights that serve in Savona. So far we are working with this Brazilian woman Neusa. She was taught in the past but sort of stopped taking the lessons for some reason. My first day here we decided to stop by and she was super open. She should be coming to church this Sunday. She knows the importance of baptism and would have invited her Monday but her friend came home and kinda disturbed everything haha. It's all good though the next lessons for sure we will have her on track with a date. There is also this guy Ivano that is friends with the Genovese family that we are teaching. He's coming along slowly but surely. Apparently he's changed a lot since taking the lessons and so we look forward to his continual progress.

I forgot to tell you but last Wednesday after emailing we taught the Brazilian family(Ezichiele, Morganna and Moses). We had a really awesome lesson and set baptismal dates with the couple. Moses didn't understand much of what we said but with time and translations I think he will accept. I was also told that that boy Martino that we found a few days before leaving accepted a baptismal date! The only time I saw him was when we found him last Tuesday I think it was. I guess he came to church and just loved it. He started asking about how he could become an Anziano like us. I'm not surprised because he was super sincere and just elect in that first lesson. I think he is about 19 years old or so. Cool huh? The Lord really guided us on that one. We had been doing nightly planning the night before and had originally picked a different street to do but I was hesitant and felt better about doing his street even though it was smaller. Usually we aren't the biggest fans of doing the streets with houses instead of Palazzi (apartment buildings) but I thought we should do it. The spirit is just key in this work. Trust in the spirit is also key because I don't always feel like I'm being super guided but when you just go forward then miracles happen.

I think Nick Blair served here in San Remo during his mission. One of the members, who is actually a bit apostate from what I've been told (and you can kind of tell), was saying that he was going to come and visit in a few weeks. There is also this Argentinian member who is here with her husband and daughter. The daughter is a member too but the husband is not. They just moved from Draper, Utah where they lived for a year so the girl could learn English. Anyway, she was baptized by the brother of a kid I went to high school with....small world...last name is Gibbs.

What's Jake's address?

Love you guys a lot...have a great week!

San Remo

San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Italian Riviera between Genova and the French border in the part known as the Riviera dei Fiori, or riviera of flowers. It is also called the City of Flowers. It's in the province of Liguria. It is about 40 miles from Nice, France and about 100 miles from Genova, Italy.

San Remo was a Roman settlement, and expanded in the early Middle Ages when the population moved to higher grounds. The nobility built a castle and the walled vilalge of La Pigna (The Pinecone) to protect the town.

 It is definitely a tourist town now. It houses a famous casino and hosts the world famous Sanremo Music Festival.

Yachts are always visible in the harbor. 

One of the more interesting sights is the Russian Orthodox Church. Palm trees are abundant along the waterfront. 

 

In the spring of 1980 Elders Brad Neff and Todd Graves opened the city of San Remo to missionary work. A couple of days each week they travelled from their assigned area of Savona to San Remo. The Genovese family, a strong member family from San Remo, assisted in the San Remo missionary effort. Several months later full-time missionaries were installed in San Remo.

I'm Super Blessed to Have Been in the Verona Zone

Hey sounds like you all had a great week! We're having a relatively great week too. We hit twenty lessons for the second week in a row and we're seeing the blessings. It seems that every time we step outside, to spread the gospel, there is always someone that's ready to accept it.

We've only been able to see the Brazilians, Ezechiele, Moses and Morganna, once since last week but they're great. The spirit comes so strongly when we meet and they are always just listening intently. They told us they would be coming to church this week and so it'll be great to see how that goes. I know if they come that they will love it. They live relatively close to our house but Morgana's mom lives across the street in a small little villa/small 2 story palazzo. Whenever we leave the house or come home we see them there and we get to talk a bit. They all accepted soft baptismal invites (When Heavenly Father answers your prayers and you know these things are true, will you be baptized.....) and tonight we are going to set them up with some dates.

We also have found a few others this week that have some really great potential. We've been having a lot of success lately with young adults from 20 to 25 years of age. They are just really open and see the corruption very clearly in the world. They understand that things are going badly and are in need already of more hope. We met Martino yesterday while doing casa in casa in this area of very small apartment buildings. We rang and this 18 year old came out. We introduced ourselves and threw out a few inspired questions to open him up. After answering we asked if we could come in and he quickly said "sure" so we entered.

We quickly discovered that he had recently started trying to come closer to God in his life. We told him that as missionaries that is one of our primary purposes and that he could through prayer. We talked a little bit more about that then we knelt down together and started with a prayer. It was really awesome to see his countenance change afterward. He was even more open with us and sincere. We just let him know we were there to help him to continue coming closer to Heavenly Father and that as he listened to our message he'd learn more things and feel more peace in his life. We ended by kneeling again and having him say the prayer. It was a great prayer and there was a great spirit as we left.

We've been focusing a lot lately on prayer and, in fact, doing kneeling prayer to start and finish lessons. It's made a huge difference in our lessons and in the spirit that is felt.

Apparently the young adults in the ward are going to have an activity out by Lago di Garda this weekend. They will also be doing sacrament meeting out there too and Lilia is going to be going! Hopefully she doesn't get the idea that it's always like that haha. We are excited that she's going none the less.

The work is going so much better. We still have to get those baptismal dates but it's going better. The mission actually just broke the all-time baptisms in a week and month records! Pretty cool huh? Anyways the zone here is doing great. We had interviews here in Verona this past week and the whole zone was all together. President Wolfgramm told us there was a great unity there and great spirit. For us it was a huge compliment because it's what we've been going for this entire transfer. I'm super blessed to have been here in the Verona Zone....

Tucker with some of the members in Verona

... and just like that I'm leaving. I'm going to San Remo tomorrow! I knew that one of us would be leaving this transfer and I knew it was a fifty fifty thing. haha But, I was really caught off-guard this time. I'm gonna go be DL down in a district of 4 with my boy Anz. Frustacci as my ZL. I'm really excited about that because he's one of my best friends in the mission. Apparently San Remo has been really kicking butt though and had 7 baptisms this last transfer (5 last week)! I'm gonna get to melt off this fat I've compiled over the last two years in the hot sun. My 13th companion is going to be Anz. Free, from Arizona. He's a super good missionary so I'm really excited to go and see more success. I think he's in his 10th transfer or so and was actually in Livorno when I was in Pisa. We were in the same district for two transfers. It's gonna be super fun.

Well...we had even more earthquakes yesterday. Apparently in Modena there is going to be a huge one. They are having members and missionaries in Modena sleep at the church! Crazy huh? I didn't feel the quakes from last week...I slept right through it but we awoke when the Verona sisters called us crying on the phone..

Well have a great reception! I love you all....have a great week.