Wow, today makes 40 weeks since I left home. That's a long time.
So, me and Anz. Lehnardt are basically Italians. A BYU student group is here in Siena for 10 weeks, so we just met them all in church on sunday. There are about 20 of them, and only 10 members of our branch. So they make a huge difference lol. But when we first met them, we started speaking Italian to them, and they had no idea what we were saying. They generally do this study abroad to further their Italian, but I dont think this was the case.... We convinced them that we were Italian (I was from milano), and we just watched them as they struggled trying to communicate with us, and even at one point of specific defeat, one of them turned to the other and said that she doesn't think we understand english lol. SO this went on for about 20 min. Then our branch president started the normal church meetings, and invited me to come translate for them, becasue they don't speak Italian. Busted! So, me and anz lehnardt went up there and confessed that we're actually from utah and arizona, and we all got a good laugh about it. But yeah, we're Italian.
WELL. Things are going kinda slowly here in Siena. We're teaching a lot, and we keep finding awesome new people, but then for one reason or another they stop answering our calls after a while, or don't want to meet again. Like Alessandro from last week. We haven't heard from him since the day after we met him. It kinda stinks. BUT! either the Lord is testing us, or there's something more that we need to be doing, because he keeps sending us these people. For example, we met Becky just two days ago. She's from Yuma, AZ, and is here for 3 months for school. She really felt that it was not coincidence that we met, and feels like God is trying to tell her something, becasue she hasn't been going to church or anything for a long time now, and even before she came to Italy there were a couple other experiences that were pushing her towards God as well. SO we talked, and gave her a Book of Mormon, and the only bad thing is, she doesn't have a phone. We got her email address, but that's very slow communication (as far as my patience goes). So, now we're just praying to get a response from her one of these days so we can meet again!
Besides that, we did meet a man who works as a doctor in Siena, who just lost a brother in law, and we have had two lessons with him, and he's progressing! So that's exciting. That hasn't happened in a while.
But, yeah. Man, this gospel is awesome. I really like that quote you sent me, mom, from Elder Holland.
"In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike - - and they will - - you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's "seed". And sometimes, I feel like God even gives us, as members of the church, the opportunity sometimes to be in one of those chariots and come out of nowhere to the aid of someone who is going through a rough time. I have had that opportunity many times here, especially in the last few weeks, and it is truly awesome being an instrument in God's hands, and knowing that you're in the right place, at the right time. I don't know how He does it, but it's awesome.
I love you all, and would encourage you to keep studying the scriptures, and keep praying and going to church. I know that those three things are the first steps to solving any problem you will ever encounter.
vi voglio bene tutti!
-Anziano Bushman
No comments:
Post a Comment