Great To See The Work Rebuild Again So Fast

Well Happy 4th of July. I'm thinking about eating a plate of spaghetti to celebrate it. Yippee! Who likes BBQ's anyway....Oh yeah I do. Anyway, have fun celebrating.

My address:    Via Della Republica 58/21

                        18038 San Remo  (IM)   Italy

Good joke that you played on Devin (we told her that Andy and Clara were choosing to use her baby girl name of choice -- Violet). I can totally see her reaction.

Speaking of Devin. Kelly is definitely winning the favorite cousin award. She has written me quite a few times. You might want to mention that to Devin. I have many friends who are serving missions in Italy and that speak Italian and can make Italian food (well sort of). I'm just saying.

Well this week has been going particularly well. It started off going fantastic. It's died down a bit but we are going strong. Last Saturday we met with Debora and Danielle and they agreed to be baptized the 4th of August! Debora was so ready and accepting of it. Danielle was hesitant but he said yes. Monday night we taught them the importance of praying often and reading the scriptures. Debora has been reading and marking the scriptures like a champ. Danielle needs a little pushing but will do it.
Anyways all was going perfect and then right at the end of the lesson they blind sided us. Right before going they said, ''Our meetings have to come to and end''. My heart probably hasn't taken such a hit like the one I got last night. We asked why and she continued to tell us that since Saturday night she realized the changes she'd have to start making and it scared her. She said this is something she can't do right now in her life. We bore testimony of the truth of what we'd said and laid out the facts about the blessings they could receive. They said for now they just can't do it. It was super tough. We left them Alma 32 to read and said we would try passing by in a week or so.

I think the toughest thing to swallow was how ready they are. I was a bit angry with Satan that night. I was sad for the fact that they allowed fear and laziness to stop them from going forward. Agency....we'll keep praying.

The GREAT news is that Felice is doing great. He came to church on Sunday and told us that he had a really cool experience. In the gospel Principles class he was called on to say the closing prayer. He said that he just felt really good as he prayed. He's going to be baptized on the 28th or 29th. He might have to work on Saturday so we might move his baptism to Sunday. It's been great though really getting to know his family. I think his baptism will really help get his family back into full activity.

Twum is coming along as well just slowly. The translating is slow and we just pray that he understands. The other African brothers are doing great but we just don't think they're reading the Book of Mormon. It's tough because they struggle to read anyway so we've been trying to read with them. It's slow but I think it'll pay dividends in the end.

We recently met this lady from Haiti. We met with her once last week and met her Italian husband. He is quite a bit older (almost 70) but they seem happy together. They came to church on Sunday and liked it a lot! She understands really well even though her Italian isn't the best. He really likes what we've taught so far but isn't really connecting the dots as much as she is. We are hoping to clear the Restoration up tonight when we go. We just need to be more simple.

Our work has really been picking up and we have lots of people to teach. We are just looking to keep finding more people and add or build upon that which we have now. It's been great to see the work rebuild again so fast. I just need to be better at keeping the members in the district in my prayers more and think more about them. I really think one of my biggest improvements I could make is thinking about them more. I also need to be more positive.

I've been doing your assignment every day dad and it's been fun. I have realized already that the mission has grown me a lot. The mission is truly the best thing for our life. I'm hoping I don't run out of things to write about.

 HAvE a FuN DaY!

 Tuck

Slowly But Steadily

Well that is just fantastic news that Clara and Andy are having a kid. I'm even more pumped that I will actually be there. My fear was that they'd have one before I got back. I'm sure you all had some great fun for me at the Bees game. Things here have been funny at least in our apartment. Since Italy has been playing the noise level from all the screaming fans is just ridiculous. Streets are deserted on game days and members are devastated when they play on Sunday haha.

Thanks for all the pictures it's great to see everyone. They're all getting so big. Hopefully I can still beat up on some of them when I get back. This last week has been going fairly well. We are struggling just a bit to get lessons because of cancellations and what no,t but were working through them. We had a bit of a setback with Ivano last Saturday. We had taught him Word of Wisdom on Wednesday and he was good with everything but cafe (coffee). Even with cafe (coffee) he didn't drink it often but he was a bit confused about it. Saturday when we saw him again he had drank once I think but he recommitted himself to abstaining. After the "follow up" we taught him the Law of Chastity which was the setback. His wife basically just left him and peaced out. Right now though he has a girlfriend whom he "loves". He basically told us that..."well we're are basically married. The only thing stopping us is that I'm not divorced yet". We explained that even if they love each other that it's a commandment from God. He didn't really seem to get the entire importance. He still came to church on Sunday but he told his member friend that he thought we were mad at him.  Disappointed yes, but not mad. So we will be working with that. By the way his leg is infected because it got cut by a palm tree?...don't know how that happened.

Twum is coming along slowly but steadily. We are still doing the translating and all that. He's great though. It's really hard to get to know him though because with translating we can't over explain things or it just goes out the other ear. The other African brothers are doing great and really helping us out with him. Deborah and Danielle the Italian couple I talked about are doing ok. We haven't seen them for a little bit because they had to reschedule with us. We taught the Plan of Salvation in our last visit and it went great! They understood it really well and felt super good about that fact that they could have an eternal family. They really understand, too, how this message can bless their family in the next life but also now. We are going to invite them to baptism tonight so that'll be fun. They haven't been to church yet and don't read a lot but we are gonna get them on board soon.

Felice, the non member husband of Edith accepted a baptismal date last night! They have a super cute little 3 year old girl. He's super cool and nice, likes to complain about stuff, but is coming along just great! I actually wasn't there because I was on scambio with Anz. Frustaci. We had a fun time yesterday finding people all day. It was cool getting to learn and teach together. We got to talk a little about the MTC, Modena and other stuff. I definitely think he's one of my favorite missionaries in my group. He's been bugging me all week about planning some California trip after the mission. Anyways it was a really fun scambio. I learned that I need to stop worrying so much about things. I've turned into quite the worrier these last 6 months. I think it's because I realize I have so much I need to accomplish and I'm running out of time.

I will definitely take your assignment on Dad. You need to promise that you will follow up on it so I don't forget. I'm really excited to do it because I feel like I never have time to reflect any more. I will make time though.

Anyways I love you guys a lot. Sorry if the email isn't super full of my usual...excitement...I just ate a bunch of plum cakes and I feel sick.

Love you all

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.