This week was absolutely incredible! I have learned a ton. Let me explain...
Well, I guess the first part of Thursday I didn't learn a lot, but it sure was a lot of fun! Thursday was our P-day last week, and we went, as a zone, to the American military base in Pisa. We played football for several hours (no injuries, thank goodness!) and then ate a TON of food. The two most important parts of the meal - the potatoes and the turkey - were very dissappointing. However, there was some delicious ham (very much like the ham I used to have for Christmas Eve dinner) and some delicious pecan pie. The man who invited us (a member there in Pisa), also gave us some American treats - Reeses, baby ruth, root beer, and some American cereal (I got cocoa krispies). It was fun to get a taste of America for a day. This day really set me up for something super-important that I learned/rediscovered a couple days later. I'll get to that soon.
Right after that activity, we "Blitzed" the missionaries in Livorno (it's an exchange where my companion and I work with other missionaries, like a normal exchange, but we all work in the same area). We only had a little bit less than three hours to work, but we had some amazing miracles! We found a few new people and were able to teach several lessons, all from finding work (which was exactly what was needed - they were struggling in that aspect)! I really learned a lot about diligence. We did all of the little things necessary, and we had a fun time doing it, and we had a ton of success! I learned, the next day in my scripture study, more about that. I was reminded a lot about how it is by small and simple things that great things are brought about. It is interesting as well, because everything, in the end, is quite easy - it is built up of a lot of small steps. If we can but just do all of the little things we need to, the results we want will come. It was also really cool to see how much of a difference our attitude could make. In Preach My Gospel diligence is described as "persistent, ... and energetic effort." If we don't have energy - joy and a positive attitude - we're not truly being diligent.
In Livorno, the missionary that I was working with got sick for part of it, but it turned out to be a huge blessing for me - something that started a huge re-awakening in my mission. I came across an ensign article called "Via Boito" (my address here in Florence). It's about a young missionary who was called to be a zone leader in Florence 30 years ago (yeah, they lived in the same place that I live now!). Anyway, this article sparked a lot of personal reflection and goal setting (it was the contrast to what I had experienced the day before at the American military base). So, in short, I really want to love the Italians even more. I feel like that desire and motivation has faded over the past while, and I want to get it back. I really want to, when the end of my mission comes, be heartbroken to be leaving these people, this culture, and this country. This has grown immensely and I've gotten many insights about how to be able to love these people even more.
I did another scambio the beginning of this past week. It was great for a few things. One, there was a lesson that I felt right at home with - I felt so good as a teacher (I hadn't felt like that during a lesson with an investigator for a couple months)! Also, I learned exactly how I need to love the Italians more - I need to love the things that they love. The missionary that I worked with was amazing at this. For example, the people out walking their dogs were done for - he'd come up, start playing with the dog, find out all about it from the owner, and then be in the perfect position to "attack" this person whose heart had been opened by his incredible love and sincerity. I've tried to apply this same concept, and it works miracles! Yesterday we had the best day of finding work that I've ever had. We tried to be ourselves, connect with the people, love them with all of our hearts, be sincere, and just love them for who they were. So many more people opened up to us. We were able to teach really powerfully. We had a ton of fun doing it. My love for the Italian people grew a ton (there was one man we taught that was very fun - we had to teach him "Italian style" - using our hands and speaking really loud and interrupting him every once in a while to keep things going the right direction) - I can't describe in words how much these few experiences with the Italian people helped me love them so much more!
Last night, we had another exchange (I know, there were a ton...), this time with the assistants to the president. It was incredible - I learned so much! I feel so much more capable as a zone leader and we have a much greater direction of what we must do!
I am almost out of time - there is so much more though that I learned that I would love to share! Oh, maybe I can just share this thought, as thanksgiving approaches - Italian food is better (today we ate some authentic Sicilian treats - the best desserts I've ever eaten; the best ones are called cannoli). Anyway, I love you all.
Thanks!
-Anziano Barnes
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