Chugging Along

Ciao tutti...

This week has been going piano piano. Things have been going so so here in San Remo Town. We are dealing with the loss of a few investigators (Maud and Claudio). We tried to teach so simply the Restoration yet they just didn't really understand it. We are down to about 3 investigators right now but luckily they're all great.

Felice is about 35ish I would say maybe even a bit younger. His wife, Edith, is from Ecuador and is awesome! She has been coming to church in San Remo for awhile but not always been fully active. I think it's been tough living 45 minutes away and having a non-member husband. She loves the Church so much though and they've been a lot more active since he's been coming(obviously). Their daughter, Michel, is years old and is the cutest little girl. She's super shy and doesn't talk much when we come and teach Felice. They tell us that every time we leave though she starts to cry.

We just taught him last night about the Word of Wisdom. He only drinks coffee but he said he can't stop and that he gets bad headaches when he tries. We explained that as one of the reasons we don't drink it and that Heavenly Father will help him. I think mentioning the fact that to be baptized he has to stop also helped. We gave him a blessing of comfort and so now we just got to pray and encourage him to keep going. His date is for the 29th of this month. As of now he doesn't have anyone he's super close to in the ward. We have to start getting him that church buddy though even though he's wife is great. It'll really help him get in well and become a great/much needed priesthood holder.

Our branch is in much need of priesthood holders who can be leaders. In elders quorum there are about 10 people but only about one of them really know what's going on. Most of the ''strong'' leaders are fulfilling their callings so there isn't a lot of people. The brothers from Ghana and Nigeria aren't all there because we have to translate and most of the time they still don't understand us. They actually all don't really follow along much in church when we translate and are really struggling to read the BoM. We visit them weekly and invite them always to read and sometimes we read with them but I just know they don't. I have taught enough Africans to know when they are reading. Even after teaching simply the Restoration I fear with some that they don't realize it's the only true church. I can tell them directly to their face but sometimes it just doesn't enter their brains. Yesterday though we had some good spiritual lessons with them and although they didn't understand everything they understood the spirit.

We had to move Twum's date back because he missed a few appointments. We also really want him to be ready. He's got a great spirit though and is just full of joy.

Ivano is chugging along.  We are really trying to get him closer to Christ. The law of chastity has sort of put the train of the track. We are hoping by building his desire to follow Christ so he can just chug through the obstacles. He told us his girlfriend is going back to Ukraine in a month for about a month and it'll give him some time to ''reflect''. He's been great though and is coming to church. We really need to get him some more friends. He's a bit strange so members don't really flock to him at church to say hello. He also only stays for sacrament meeting because his legs hurt him and he has to get back to his mom. She isn't doing well either apparently (maybe she should come to church too).

I've been really thinking lately about how I can better change before I get home. I really need to get better at receiving/seeking revelation. I've felt like it's been a weak point for me throughout the mission and so I want to get better. I seem to just completely forget to even try seeking for it. I'll say prayers, thanks Heavenly Father for everything and ask him to bless those we work with but I don't ever really ask questions. There have been some great talks though in General Conference since I've been in the mission so maybe I'll give them a glance.

I read this sweet talk by Brad Wilcox the other day and there was a really great quote. It talk all about the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. One of the things I liked was that it says that grace is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light throughout the tunnel that guides us through it. It gave me some greater perspective on the Savior's grace. He goes on to say something he said to a friend. You've been saved by grace but have you been changed by grace?...interesting huh?

Haha oh yeah so we are staying the same, actually our whole district is staying the same. Anziano Hardy is continuing to follow me around the mission. He is going to Verona. So he was with me in Modena then took my place in Pisa and now is in Verona. I heard a week ago that the Benemerito's are doing great! Salvator (the son) has been coming every single week. I think that is like 10 weeks in a row or something. He and his girlfriend got taught Chastity a few week ago so they are overcoming that right now. He is totally cool with it but the girlfriend Valentina wasn't as excited. Anz. Parker told me the dad still hasn't been to church but that MariaRosaria finally came to church a few weeks ago.

I also learned a few weeks ago that Domingo (from Pavia) moved to Chicago. I guess he got transferred there for work. I hope he's doing ok and is continuing to go to church. I will have to visit Chicago sometime (Cardinals verses Cubs?...just a though)...think about it.

That is just about it though. We are excited because we have been getting lots of new contacts and referrals lately so we just got to find them and get them going. Here is a quick story. The other day we planned to do Casa in Casa by our church. We planned to find a Hispanic person. Now the area is really small and there aren't many apartment buildings but we chose to do it anyway. In the last building and the second to last door we met this Hispanic guy. We talked with him for a few minutes while his little grandson ran around the hallway. He wasn't really interested but we left a Jesus Christ ''Faith in Christ brings Hope'' pass-along card with him. Well like two days ago we get this call and it's this guy, Ramolo. He is Hispanic and said that found this card with Jesus Christ and hope on it. He said he wants to meet with us tomorrow! Kind of cool huh....no...REALLY COOL. WE aren't sure if it's the guy we talked to at the door or like his son or something. We will find out though.

Well I love you guys a bunch!

Dad...are you trying to wean me off sports?...Let's not get lazy now.

Love you guys...Ciao