Wednesday, November 28, 2012

November 13, 2012

Well this week has been a really good week for us here in Firenze. There is lots to share. Lets start off with Transfers. 

So as very much anticipated, my companion Anz. Francom is going to a city called Trento, about an hour north of Verona in the mountains, the alps. He is going to have a nice cold snowy winter. Meanwhile I am staying here, still DL, but luckily Pres is sending sisters down here so the district won't be made up of just us and the ZL's. My new comp is an interesting one. He is going into his 9th transfer I think, which I'm really excited about. Someone who should be able to speak decent Italian. I didn't want to die with a greenie or a newer missionary and have to do a majority of the teaching. But his name is Anz. Walsh. He's from Manchester, England. So I get my 2nd foreign companion who is still not an Italian like I hoped but oh well. I've heard great things about Anz. Walsh so It should be a great transfer. Obviously you never know what can happen with the way transfers work but most likely he will be my last comp so I'll finish the mission in Firenze. A Milan missionary's dream. At least that worked out for me. Transfer 15. 

Well this week we were extremely blessed with a million dollar referral. A beautiful Peruvian family of 5. They are so amazing and so elect. Our first appointment with them was last Thursday and it was kinda crazy in the house. The dad had just barely returned from work and the lil 2 year old was crying up a storm so we weren't able to convey much. We kind of just talked about who we were and did so "How to begin teaching points" and set up another appointment for that Saturday. So for the next appointment we arrive and things are a lot more calm. They had even made food for us. We sit down and share the message of the restoration. They just go on and on about how they want a good church for the kids to go to and learn about Christ. The 9 year old is super curious about religion and God so he is just eating it up. We had an amazing lesson with this family and everything was set for them to come to church the next day. But the world is working against us, it decides to rain super hard Sunday morning making it difficult for them to arrive to church in bus because they don't have a car. So I called around 8:50, church starts at 9 and they told me they couldn't come due to the rain. I asked them if we can organize a ride would they be able to come and they said yes so it was then up to me to find a ride. Which turned out to be a difficult task. I asked the Branch President who says that no one has room in their cars to take a family of 5. But he said he'd try to find something. So we start Priesthood, and we have the lesson. He makes the normal announcements and doesn't mention anything about this family so at the end I stand up and ask all the priesthood holders there if someone would be willing to go pick them up. I mean its an elect family of 5! Lets freaking bring them to church. Luckily we had a volunteer. And he left right then and got them there to Gospel Priciples class. They had an amazing time in Church, the gospel principles lesson was on "Roles in the Family" and then we had the Primary program so it was just for them. It was literally a miracle to get them to chruch and they loved it! Then last night we saw them again. This time for the Plan of Salvation, only the first part. And they just ate that up as well. We invited them to be baptized and after getting past the usual first obstacle of "we have already been baptised Catholic" they accepted a date for the 15th of December. They are just so ready for the Gospel. Andrè read 3 Nephi 11 the chapter we gave them as homework the first time. Then he sat down with his parents and made them read and then after he started to read from the beginning. After they accepted the date, ****** asked ******* why she wanted to be baptized. If it was just something she is saying because everyone else wants to or does she really want it. She goes on to talk about some family/marital problems they have had in the past and how she just wants to have a strong family and then ******* started to talk about how his family is the most important thing for him and that he thinks this "change" is a good thing for his family. Wow they are just so cool. They are so nice to us and really have a fire within. I don't want to get to ahead of myself but I really can see this family getting baptized. Sorry that story was long and all over the place but teaching that family this week has been just so full of miracles and so full of the spirit. We really are just so lucky to be teaching a family like them. 

Also ******* made her way to church this week. We had an amazing lesson with her on Monday and after weeks and weeks of trying to give her a date she said that next week she will sit down with us and pick a date for her baptism. 

********* is doing good he still just needs lots of time but he's getting there. 

So our work has really been given a huge boost by this family. We are going to have an amazing tranfer. Having such elect people to teach will help keep me focused and not trunky so that's another plus as well. 

So you got my flight plans huh? That's exciting. Yeah things are winding down. I miss you all so much. Just a lil over a month and we will talk and then I'll practically be home. You asked if there is something you can do to make these last months special for me? I have no idea what more you can do for me then you already do. I'm so thankful to have had so much support my whole mission. I can always count on a fat email full of love from home each week and that is more than enough. Don't send me anything for Christmas or my B-day thats just a waste of money. I'm doing great. 

How cool to hear that Davis was so successful his first go at the ACT. I'm so proud of him. 

Cool to hear about your car coming in. That's exciting. Hope you like it. Send me a picture of you next to it. And talking about pictures. I'm sorry to report that I missplaced the cord that connects my camera to the computer and that USB drive that takes the information directly from the card isn't working anymore either. I have no idea why. I found a replacement cord but its 25£!!! I dont know if its worth it. So sorry. I dont know how else I will be able to attach pictures. 

The question about the members. Yeah every once and awhile we get invited to eat with members. Its nothing like Alessandria where we ate with members at least 4 times a week but occasionally the members have us over. 

Thinking about this upcoming summer. Things are sounding incredibly busy and even more incredibly expensive. June the whole month practically in Italy, then we get back and you have trek to deal with...

Well love you all so much. This was a long one. Have a great week. 

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