This week has gone by way too fast,
but it has been great! Quick overview - Monday we were finalizing our
preparations for the upcoming training. Tuesday we went to Rimini to do a
training and left to Firenze that night. Wednesday we did the training in
Firenze and afterwards we did an exchange with the zone leaders there.
Thursday we were back up in Milano. And, yesterday, we did another
scambio with the zone leaders here in Milano. And, just so you know, I
won't be writing until next monday because we won't have P-day next saturday
(we'll be too busy). Anyway, here's the latest news on our investigators:
Pilar is doing fantastic! We had
planned to teach her the law of chastity (her boyfriend member, Mario, was
supposed to be there as well). But, Mario didn't come so we decided to
teach her the word of wisdom instead. She accepted that easily!
Then, she surprised us (remember, just a few weeks ago she was asking us
"why would God give me legs if not to show them off?") - she asked us
what kind of clothes she needed to wear. She was completely okay with
modesty. Then, taking it to the next level, asked us "so what am I
supposed to do when I go to the pool?" We didn't really know the
vocabulary for these kinds of things so we had to do some stick figure
drawings... She just barely got 3 new bikinis, but she said she'll get
rid of those and she'll use her swimsuit that's modest! Then, if that
wasn't enough, she asked us about tatoos and piercings! She was fine with
that as well. And, we want to be sure that she is preparing for baptism
for the right reasons (not for Mario). She told us that she's doing it
for her. She talked about how Mario, in church, tries to joke around with
her, but she tries to ignore him and feel the spirit! We asked what she
would think if Mario went on a mission (he's 17 now). She said that she
would be super happy - she's already talked to Mario about that and has told
him that he should go because she'll still be here and his friends will be here
and it'll be a great experience for him! Basically, she couldn't be doing
much better! We just keep praying that her mom's heart will be softened
so that she'll accept Pilar's choice.
Gianni is still doing great!
Nelson, Alba, and Marvin (first door
southamericans) are doing alright. Nelson is doing fantastic - he's
reading quite a bit and he's loving it. He always feels super good when
he reads, but he's not sure if that's his answer. Alba and Marvin haven't
been reading at all. So, we read with them last night in Alma 32.
They got the message. Marvin saw that if a seed doesn't grow, it doesn't
always mean it's bad - if you don't nourish it, it'll never grow. Alba
got a similar message - if you want a seed to grow and to taste the fruit, you
need to feed it! They recommitted to reading every day and they'll be
coming to church. We're sad because they're not progressing like they
should - they're lacking some of the light in their countenance. However,
we're sure that when they recommence reading and when they come to church,
it'll come back!
Our African brothers Victor and Joe
are alright. Victor is getting a lot more wheefy. Joe, however, is
doing alright. He tried to come to church last week, but there wasn't a
bus that passed. But, nevertheless, he walked 15 kilometers to try to
find a tram. However, the tram didn't go either! He's figured out
the schedule so this week he should be able to make it. He's still not
sure if the Book of Mormon is true, but we're trying to help him read every
single day and to help him understand how the answer will come.
JuanCarlos is amazing! He
understands things so well! We were with him yesterday and we were
speaking about the Book of Mormon. He was saying how it's really nice
because it makes it so much easier to understand the gospel principles that are
also contained in the bible. He made an interesting example about how 2
different instruction manuals for building things - one has all of the things
necessary, but doesn't contain a step by step process. The other,
however, shows very simply how to put everything together. He loves how
the BOM teaches the doctrines so clearly and simply! His big problem is
that he can't come to church due to a Peruvian dance club. He knows that he
should put God first, but he doesn't want to give up the only social life that
he has and the only thing that reminds him of his home back in Peru. But,
we think we have a solution - GANS (the young single adult activities)!
They meet three times a week for various things - an FHE, activities, and
institute! He'll be going this Sunday evening to one of the activities!
My scambio down in Firenze was
great! I was with Anziano Weller! Here was a cool little
miracle: we were walking on the street and at a certain point we were
going through a tunnel (it was super loud and we couldn't hear anything, let
alone try to communicate with anyone). But, that wouldn't stop us from
trying to share the gospel! We stopped a guy and he motioned for us to
come out with him from the tunnel so that we could speak properly. He was
super cool! His name was Ducio. He's searching for something more
in his life and was interested in what we had to offer! We were able to
get a return appointment with him!
The scambio that I did here in Milano
also was great! I was with Anziano Rodriguez. It was a blast.
We had really lofty goals because we needed to have a lot of miracles if we
were to reach our goals for the end of the week. And, it happened!
In the morning, for one of the hours, we had planned to find a young, Italian
couple in a certain area. We went out and were knocking on doors, and a
30ish year old man opened the door. He told us that it was not at all a
good moment for him to talk. We asked why and he told us that one of the
people most close to him was about to die within the next couple days. He
was really closed for the first part of the conversation, but slowly, as we
talked, his heart was softened. His wife, whose mom is the one who will
most likely die within the next couple days, is in despair. She is mad at
God because her mom was super religious and doesn't think her time has come
yet. One day, when this guy came home, he found his wife on the couch,
drunk, with 4 empty bottles of vodka - she had never had even a sip of alcohol
before. He doesn't know what to do for her. He's never believed a
ton in God, he doesn't pray very often at all, and in this period he is
beginning to question even more. I don't remember exactly what we talked
about or what we said, but I do remember seeing how he changed. We were
about to finish, but we wanted to get in and invite the spirit even more (we
had been on the doorstep for 15 or 20 minutes, and he didn't want us to come in
because it was really messy inside) with a prayer. He let us in! We
knelt down with him and Anziano Rodriguez offered the prayer, pouring out his
soul for him and his wife. After that prayer, Anziano
Rodriguez asked him if he would like to say a
prayer. He said yes - there were a few more things that he would
like to talk to God about. He opened his heart up to God in prayer,
and he began to cry. After the prayer, he thanked us for coming over - we
had given him the recharge of faith and courage that he needed to be able to go
forward and also to help his wife. He wants us to come back!
I love being a missionary! I
learn so much every day! I've been able to recognize better the
promptings of the spirit and how to understand when He's with me. I've
been trying to give extra attention to the little thoughts that come and act on
all of them. I still have a long way to go, but I feel like they're
coming more and more frequently. I don't know if I've ever felt so many
little things in one week ever in my life! God is answering my prayers -
I am changing so much! It's becoming so much more natural to focus on
others, be guided by the Spirit to help them, and thereby be an instrument
in God's hands. The way I pray, study, and just think throughout the day
is being molded and improved! I love Anziano Osborn - he is so
great! I always feel wonderful when I'm around him. He's always
telling me how much he cares about me and sharing with me things
that he likes about me.
I don't know if I shared this last
week,but the mission is doing so well! We're breaking almost all of the
records and the missionaries are more committed and full of energy than
ever before! The work here in Italy is rising!!!
Vi voglio tanto bene!
-Anziano Barnesto
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