A couple really cool miracles happened during our finding work this past week. One night Anziano Heninger was unlocking the bikes and I saw a lady and stopped her. She was south american and seemed to speak mostly Spanish. I began to talk to her (in Italian - I don't know Spanish). After a bit, it was my companion's turn (he speaks spanish, and during that time he was doing some Italian and some Spanish). The lady, however, responded quite interestingly. She looked at him and said "You (Anziano Heninger) speak less Spanish than him (me)." The words that I had spoked to her in Italian, were heard by her as Spanish! It was a really cool miracle because she probably wouldn't have stopped if she couldn't have understood well what I was saying. But, because the Spirit made her understand, we were able to stop her and later teach her! By the way, after that first time of hearing Spanish from me, it never worked again...
Here's another cool miracle. We were talking to a lady named Siriana. We had just pulled out the Book of Mormon and testified of it. Then, she took it and said that she would open the book at random to read something. What did she open to? Moroni 10:3-5. I couldn't believe it! I told her how that was "one of my very favorite parts" and indicated the verses in question. As she was reading, I kept looking back at my companion, marveling and trying to hold back the laughs that derived from my great joy from God's hand in that lesson!
Yesterday, I was able to go get my permesso in Pavia (= a long day of trains). It actually only took out 4 hours of our actual work time, for we traveled in the night and we did a bunch of our "P-day time" on the train (time to write letters or other stuff). This time turned out to be a huge blessing. I learned so much! I was given the next big way I have to change as a person - I realized something that I had never seen before, something that I never considered to be a form of pride, but that I learned really was. I don't have a specific game plan yet of how I am going to change, but I am really excited to grow to the next level and become more like our Savior. Actually, I have been trying one thing - I ask myself "Why am I doing this? Is it because I love these people?" This has helped me quite a bit so far. I also was rebuked a little bit by the spirit because I realized that I am focusing way too much on myself. I realized that one source of that comes from my prayers - they are much too selfish! I am now trying to make sure I focus on others - that is, in fact, what I am here to do - invite OTHERS to come unto Christ (and as I do that fully, THEN I also will better be able to come unto Him). Also, I got a cool insight to one of my questions. I want to "know" Christ better. And, I've always thought that this would come through study. However, I learned that it will actually come more through actions, by trying to be who Christ is and do as He does. Then, to build on this cool stuff I learned, Anziano Heninger shared something that he learned that made some things click for me. My mission will be a springboard and also a reflection of the rest of my life. If I cannot love someone, be patient, sacrifice (or do/be anything else) now as I am a full-time servant of the Lord, how in the world will I be able to when I get back to a normal life?! It was a good wake-up call for me because there is still a lot that can and needs to be changed! But, this is great! I'm really excited to have some more changing to do - this is the way that I can put into practice the Gospel and apply Christ's atonement in my life!
And, yeah, those are the highlights of my week!
Vi Voglio bene!
-Anziano Barnes
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