Ciao!!!
It's been another crazy week out here again! President Wolfgramm decided to call 2 traveling assistants so we've been busy preparing stuff for them, training them and preparing them for a transfer full of exchanges! We had to figure out what changes we wanted to happen in the mission, who we needed to send the traveling assistants to, figure out how to fit all of the people into 6 weeks and how to make it time effective, and give them some basic instructions. We're super excited that they are here! They're both full of energy and full of love. They're also both really excited for this big challenge that they have ahead of them.
We've also been quite involved with the incoming missionaries. Once again, we spent a day and a half with them. They are probably the most solid group of new missionaries I've ever seen. They're super humble, but they're also all very good at the language, they have good teaching capabilities, and they're fearless. At first we were a little bit worried because none of them wanted to talk with anyone. However, with a little push and talking with others with them, they overcame those intitial hesitations and did great! I've never seen such a diligent group at the duomo trying to talk to as many people as they could! They're going to be amazing missionaries and future leaders!
We've taken care of the departing missionaries as well! It was one of the craziest experiences ever! First of all, the public transportation people did a strike on Thursday. They completely closed down the metro in the morning and into a bit of the afternoon. And, right after that strike ended, they did a strike on the trains! We had to do a ton of organizational things to work out the cars and lodging and eating for 16 departing missionaries plus 14 other people (older couples and people in the office). We were driving and running all over all day. But, in the end, it worked! It was really fun to be with Anziano Heninger again - he's finishing really strong and he helped pumped me up to continue and endure all the way to the end, growing missionary "fire" all the while!
I just got news that I'm getting "transferred" again. I'm not moving or changing companions, but the area that I'm going to proselyte in has changed. I was in Lodi, but now I'm going to serve in Milano 3 (we're just going to switch proselyting areas and wards with the other elders in the office). There's a bunch of logistical things that we have to work out, but it's going to be good.
Our investigators, Francesco and Simona, are pretty much still in the same state. They weren't able to come to church last sunday because they all got sick. However, we're hoping they'll come this next sunday. But, if they don't, the ward has helped us out - they gave Jessica (the daughter that was baptized several weeks ago) a talk to give in sacrament the 12th. So, we're pretty sure they'll come for that. Then, we hope, that Simona's fear will have been faced and overcome and that they can continue to progress!
We're still working with some delicate situations with our branch in Lodi. We were somewhat concerned with one new convert family, but, after asking an inspired question that led to them sharing testimonies about how they feel the atonement of Christ in their lives - especially in church - we were filled with relief and joy! Another one of the new converts is in a difficult situation. But, after getting a blessing last week, and feeling the spirit with us this past week when we taught her, felt like she will be able to continue to move forward. I love all of these people so much! It's going to be hard to leave them.
I feel like it's been getting a lot easier to love others and give myself to them. I feel like it's finally starting to become a part of who I am to try to really help people see their potential and strive to reach it. But, of course, I've been learning a lot about how I need to be better and I still have a bunch of things that I need to change and apply!
I think the miracles of this week all revolve around all of the things we were able to accomplish. We've never been so productive, so blessed with ideas of how to organize, and so blessed so that all of the little things just fell into place! Even with lots of curveballs and complications, things went smoothly - it's just amazing that everything was finished (even if it was done a lot differently than planned)!!!
Anyway, vi voglio bene!
Grazie!
-Anziano Barnes
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