"White" Christmas in Italy!

Anziano Kopenen (new companion from Finland),
Piero (baptized on Saturday!),
Fratello Tarallo (member who baptized Piero),
Anziano Barnes (our favorite missionary!!)

Hello!!!

This week has been great! ...There really is no other thing I'd rather be doing - this IS the greatest work that one can be involved in on this earth - bringing to pass the salvation of others!Anyway, the biggest news is that we had a baptism on Saturday - my first one in Italy!  We had a very nice service for Piero, and there were a good number of people that were there to support him!  The only thing that didn't go according to program was that he had to get baptized twice - the first time there was a little patch of hair that didn't go under!  And then, the next day, he was confirmed a member of the Church and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost - and he asked me to do that for him.  It was absolutely amazing feeling the spirit work through me!  It was a really cool combination of the gift of tongues (I don't think I've ever spoken so fluently/smoothly) and speaking according to the thoughts that came into my mind - Every single thing that came into my mind I was able to say (I don't know if the Spirit gave me the thoughts of what to say in Italian or if my mind was quickened tremendously to be able to think in English and talk in Italian - either way, wow!!!)! ...

Last monday, we did another scambio (we'll probably do one every week because Anziano Koponen is the district leader and he is supposed to go on scambi with all of the missionaries in our district - 3 companionships of elders and one of sisters).  I was with Anziano Anderson from Pistoia.  He has been out for almost a year, and he is absolutely hilarious!  We had a lot of fun together. ...Anyway, Anziano Anderson and I continued to have a hard day.  We were, however, doing a good job of getting in the door!  Unfortunately, we didn't do so well at doing anything once inside!  There is a rule that we can't enter a house if there is not a man (other than us), and we got in 6 or so times and we didn't teach once because there were only ladies!  Oh well, at least we were able to do a little bit (we got the information of these ladies and hopefully we'll be able to return when there's a man...).  In fact, one of these occasions was absolutely amazing.  We found 3 girls - probably 25 years old or so - (probably roommates going to college together, and there weren't any guys) from south america.  They had met Anziano Pastillo and the elder that was here before me (they couldn't teach them either...), and all three of them wanted to learn more about the gospel!  They said we are welcome to come back!  Oh, one of the coolest things about this quick visit was that after we found out that there wasn't a guy in the house, and that they were actually interested, was that we were discussing what we could do.  Then, a thought came to my mind - I thought of a member in our branch (his name is Aldo - he moved here just a few months ago, is super friendly and outgoing, has an incredible testimony, but is in kind of a difficult situation) who would be perfect (I think) to bring with us (we can enter a house if we bring another man with us).  We'll see how it works out!  I just hope that these girls are actually interested in the gospel, and not just in two charming boys!!!...

There is so much to do and so much to learn - I'm growing every single day... I know that even though I am still inexperienced with teaching and speaking, I can be made strong with the help of the Lord, and anything and everything that he needs/wants me to do can be done if I leave all my doubts and fears behind and press forward with faith!  I'm so excited to keep on working, especially in this holiday season! -Anziano Barnes

Anziano Barnes, LenLo (Chinese investigator set for baptism
in January), Anziano Pastillo (transferred two weeks ago)

 the city Prato