Finding investigators using the Book of Mormon

Ciao!

This week has been another great week.  We did our last training down in Firenze and we've done a couple exchanges.  Also, we've been having some excitement in our work in Lodi.  We've been helping some of the members who have been struggling with some questions and doubts.  But, it seems like they're coming back up again!  And, there's good news with Francesco, Simona, and Jessica!  We went to their house a couple days ago and they were all there (finally Simona stayed!!!) and there was an incredibly good feeling and spirit there.  The parents have been reading the Book of Mormon a lot, and it seems like Simona's heart has been softened a lot - she should be coming to church tomorrow.

We had some cool miracles on our exchanges, and they were perfect to what we were trying to emphasize and train.  We're working a lot on using the Book of Mormon when we are finding new investigators (especially when we contact people on the street), and we were able to find people, teach them, help them feel the spirit and get interested in the Book of Mormon, and then set a return appointment to be able to teach them in their homes with their families!  On each exchange, we were able to set up a couple return appointments!  And, we're trying to help the missionaries become "forever finders," which means that they talk to as many people that they can (I like trying to talk to everyone in my path).  Anyway, we were walking to an appointment and we were super close.  It was basically the time that the appointment needed to start, so we could've justified ourselves in not talking to the people on the street as we hurried over.  However, I didn't want to do that too much.  We stopped a lady just as she got off of a bus.  She was a super nice lady from Kenya.  She has a really strong belief in Christ.  And, when we pulled out the Book of Mormon, she was sucked in!  Just a couple seconds after pulling the book our of our bag, she asked "Can I see the book?"(we didn't even need to have her hold it!)  She got so excited that, before we even told her that we give these books away and that we'd like to pass by her another day to give one to her, she started to put it away in her own bag - she was willing to do whatever for it!  Anyway, we exchanged information and set up a return appointment!  It was a cool "last minute" or "just one more" kind of miracle!

I keep on seeing how far I have to go in my progression, and I keep on making more progress!  I've realized how selfish I still can be sometimes.  In fact, Anziano Jenson and I had a really cool spiritual experience together - it was an epiphany moment where many things that had become part of us over time finally just all clicked and came together.  I'll explain what happened.  We were talking about how we could best help the mission and we realized that it would come through blessing others through personal sacrifice (selflessness).  We were discussing what we could do to get it going or to practice, and we came to the conclusion that it had to start in our own companionship.  We considered the things that our companions did that meant the most to us and helped us grow the most.  I said that it was when my companions helped me open up and share my personal goals, and then help me reach them.  Anziano Jenson said something super similar - that he is helped the most when his companions "hold him to his potential."   And, we realized, that this is exactly what we need to do!  We need to first try to see others' potential (this is the hardest part for me - I am too focused on myself and not enough on other people, so determining their strengths and gifts and potential is difficult for me) , "hold them to it" (praise and acknowledge these qualities and then, if they act in a way that is inferior to their potential, that we help them change and see that they are better), and then help them set goals to take them from where they are at to the next level.  It's funny because between the 2 of us, we do all of it (the second part is super natural for me, and the first parts - finding others' potential and helping them see it - are strengths of Anziano Jenson).  But, the cool part is is that I've been being prepared for this - I really want to be less selfish.  Now, I know a lot better what I must do to achieve this goal.  And, if I can do it, I'll be a ton more Christlike and I'll be a ton more able to live the gopel of Jesus Christ!

Anyway, that was pretty much my week!

Vi voglio bene!

Grazie!

-Anziano Barnes