Well, another week here in Modena. Everything is going great! Unfortunately though, not too much to report. A couple of our investigators are still going strong, like Stefania and Alessandra, but other than that we're on the hunt for new investigators! The weather has been pretty unpredicatble: we had a crazy rainstorm the other day in the middle of summer. But other than that everything's been pretty tranquillo. Only thing that comes to mind is just a cool thing that's happened on my mission several times already. Periodically, without deserving them or earning them in any way, God has given me "supercharges". These "supercharges" fill me with the oddest desire to go out and DO everything I can to build the kingdom of God, and this last week I got the biggest "supercharge" yet. I can't explain why, and in fact part of me still dreads doing finding work, but this "supercharge" easily overpowers the discouragement and fills me with desire to do. And, it's awesome.
This truly is the work of the Lord. The time of his second coming is drawing nearer and nearer. Now more than any other is the time to reflect on the words of Alma in his fifth chapter:
I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
The scriptures are real accounts, written by real people and soon enough all those that don't know this are going to find out. Today is the day to choose. And I am SO ridiculously grateful for the tender mercies the Lord has had in sending me off on a mission to gain a testimony of these things! And I thank all of you who have helped me get out here, and who are helping me stay out here. I love you all, and wish the best for each of you!
Anziano Bushman
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Modena is Great! July 18, 2012
Well, Anz Rockwood (or StoneTree) is a stud! We get along super well. We've been doing a lot of cleaning this week (and almost finished) but also a lot of teaching. Sunday in fact, we found a man named Felix who gave me another wonderful opportunity to speak spanish (he's from Cuba). Now, a lot of foreigners here in Italy are kind of bums. They normally come "looking for work" but never find it, and end up mooching off some relative, can't ever invite some one to their home because they live in someone else's home, and all of these traits add up to them being weafy. Every once in a while one of these weafy investigators will make it though to the waters of baptism (not to bash on any baptisms that have ever taken place, or to doubt missionary judgement) but they usually don't remain active in the church. Felix has been in Italy less than a year, found a job, has invited us to his house to teach him, and comitted to be baptized on the 11th of August. He's awesome! Our second lesson I even backed off the spanish and he understood all italian just fine! We're now trying to get a member to come with us tomorrow to our 3rd lesson with Felix. He's a stud!
Besides that, not much has happened with the other investigators. There's Guido, who was found by Anziano Smith (from the MTC with me) a year and a half ago who is actually making progress. He's pretty upset with God for his trials he's had in his life, but we're managing to maintain a spiritual atmosphere, showing him the answers to his questions, and piano piano he's making progress!
The biggest thing we're doing right now is with our member work. We made a flag of missionary work, and we're committing all the members to sign it, testifying that they will strive to do missionary work see Alma 46:19-20 so that means that we need to pass by all the members! Which is going pretty well. I'll let you know as soon as the miracles start pouring =)
Well, other than that not much is going on. Modena is great! I love it. Just know that I am keeping all of you in my prayers every week, and that vi voglio tutti un fracasso di bene.
-Anziano Bushman
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Work Moves Forward! July 11, 2012
Whazzup??? This week has been pretty crazy! I probably say that every week, but that doesn’t diminish the fact at all, the mission is just super intense!
Well, I know I sound like a broken record, but…transfers! Anz Strobelt goes home to Philadelphia on Friday. My new comp will be Anz Rockwood, and I’m way excited! I’ve met Anz Rockwood in past conferences and he’s a super cool guy. Pondering on my last 4 transfers, I’m curious as to what will happen… I’ve never stayed in a city more than 5 months (Siena) but it’s not uncommon to stay 6 months. But seeing as I’m getting a new companion, (we’re not going to be together for 6 months) I’ll probably go to yet another city before coming home.
Alright, now to important stuff. Besides the complete geographical layout of the city, I believe I’ve got everything down pretty well. I’ve been very blessed with getting to know the members quickly (the Milano 3 experience helped a lot) and our investigator pool has been cleaned of all those who don’t want to learn, and the investigators that we have now are all super legit!
Stefania is a 21 yr old girl who has become very good friends with the youth in our ward. Her parents unfortunately don’t want her learning with us, so the ward organizes youth activities every week so she can have an excuse to come to church during the week, and then we just teach her before the activity. We had a super awesome lesson with her last week where she asked us why she feels strange (different) when she reads or meets with us, and so we had a perfect opportunity to explain to her that it’s normal, and that it’s the Holy Ghost confirming to her that these things are true. As soon as we said that she was so relieved! And now she loves reading even more! She’s awesome!!!
There’s also Valeria. We went over to a member’s house on Friday for lunch and they brought a friend, Valeria, who’s also way cool and even came to church with them this Sunday! We won’t be able to see her again this week because she lives far away and we have transfers, but she wants to learn more, so definitely next week!
My favorite experience, pero, was definitely Friday night. The 2nd counselor in the bishopric was having his 24thbirthday and, being a returned missionary, wanted an excuse for his friends to hear the gospel. So he told us to bring 4 copies of the Book of Mormon and invited us and his 4 best friends over for pizza. The lesson went great! Very different reactions from all 4, but they were all somewhat interested. And then on Sunday, Jonathan (2ndCounselor) told us that one of his friends, Davide, wants to learn more! Success!!
So, yeah, the member work is going super well, and I’m having a lot of fun! Well, that’s all for this week!
Vivoglio un fracasso di bene!
Anz Bushman
Well, I know I sound like a broken record, but…transfers! Anz Strobelt goes home to Philadelphia on Friday. My new comp will be Anz Rockwood, and I’m way excited! I’ve met Anz Rockwood in past conferences and he’s a super cool guy. Pondering on my last 4 transfers, I’m curious as to what will happen… I’ve never stayed in a city more than 5 months (Siena) but it’s not uncommon to stay 6 months. But seeing as I’m getting a new companion, (we’re not going to be together for 6 months) I’ll probably go to yet another city before coming home.
Alright, now to important stuff. Besides the complete geographical layout of the city, I believe I’ve got everything down pretty well. I’ve been very blessed with getting to know the members quickly (the Milano 3 experience helped a lot) and our investigator pool has been cleaned of all those who don’t want to learn, and the investigators that we have now are all super legit!
Stefania is a 21 yr old girl who has become very good friends with the youth in our ward. Her parents unfortunately don’t want her learning with us, so the ward organizes youth activities every week so she can have an excuse to come to church during the week, and then we just teach her before the activity. We had a super awesome lesson with her last week where she asked us why she feels strange (different) when she reads or meets with us, and so we had a perfect opportunity to explain to her that it’s normal, and that it’s the Holy Ghost confirming to her that these things are true. As soon as we said that she was so relieved! And now she loves reading even more! She’s awesome!!!
There’s also Valeria. We went over to a member’s house on Friday for lunch and they brought a friend, Valeria, who’s also way cool and even came to church with them this Sunday! We won’t be able to see her again this week because she lives far away and we have transfers, but she wants to learn more, so definitely next week!
My favorite experience, pero, was definitely Friday night. The 2nd counselor in the bishopric was having his 24thbirthday and, being a returned missionary, wanted an excuse for his friends to hear the gospel. So he told us to bring 4 copies of the Book of Mormon and invited us and his 4 best friends over for pizza. The lesson went great! Very different reactions from all 4, but they were all somewhat interested. And then on Sunday, Jonathan (2ndCounselor) told us that one of his friends, Davide, wants to learn more! Success!!
So, yeah, the member work is going super well, and I’m having a lot of fun! Well, that’s all for this week!
Vivoglio un fracasso di bene!
Anz Bushman
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| At verona, but we were in a rush, so I just snapped a quick picture. |
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| Celebrating Anz Strobelt's 2yr mark! |
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| The Volpe family (Jonathan, next to me, is the one that had his bday recently and invited his 4 friends to learn about the gospel) |
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Modena is Awesome! July 4, 2012
Well, right now I'm actually in Verona, just finishing a scambio with some of the missionaries over here. Verona is very pretty, but also with all the tourism it's just more commercialized than I would have liked. Siena is still the best =)
My companion is great! He's staying focused and doing his best, even with only a week left. And we get along really well. In fact, he reminds me a lot of Brian Strong, as far as personality goes and what not, so it's nice to have a good friend out here, even if it is only for another week.
We got to play soccer with the members last Pday, and it was awesome! I was definitely rusty, but it was way fun. We played on a calcetto field, which is just a little soccer field, that had turf and was completely enclosed with 20ft high nets, so it was way nice.
We've had some difficulty getting from point A to point B, but I'm starting to learn the city now, so hopefully I'll be ready to go next week! Also, I'm getting better at getting to know the members right away, and talked to nearly every member in church this week and set up appointments with them! The cool part is seeing how excited they all were to have the missionaries over, because I guess the past missionaries didn't see the members too often. And with these members living IN modena, it will be a lot easier than it was in Siena and Pavia where we had to take trains to see them and all kinds of shenanigans.
Other than that we do have some pretty cool investigators. One Stefania who is super legit, but her parents aren't super supportive (but she's 21, so it's her choice). She is also very integrated already into the youth program, so we normally teach her everytime they do an activity.
Well, actually that's about all there is to say for this week. Modena is awesome, and I'm really enjoying it here!
Take care everyone, and stay safe!
My companion is great! He's staying focused and doing his best, even with only a week left. And we get along really well. In fact, he reminds me a lot of Brian Strong, as far as personality goes and what not, so it's nice to have a good friend out here, even if it is only for another week.
We got to play soccer with the members last Pday, and it was awesome! I was definitely rusty, but it was way fun. We played on a calcetto field, which is just a little soccer field, that had turf and was completely enclosed with 20ft high nets, so it was way nice.
We've had some difficulty getting from point A to point B, but I'm starting to learn the city now, so hopefully I'll be ready to go next week! Also, I'm getting better at getting to know the members right away, and talked to nearly every member in church this week and set up appointments with them! The cool part is seeing how excited they all were to have the missionaries over, because I guess the past missionaries didn't see the members too often. And with these members living IN modena, it will be a lot easier than it was in Siena and Pavia where we had to take trains to see them and all kinds of shenanigans.
Other than that we do have some pretty cool investigators. One Stefania who is super legit, but her parents aren't super supportive (but she's 21, so it's her choice). She is also very integrated already into the youth program, so we normally teach her everytime they do an activity.
Well, actually that's about all there is to say for this week. Modena is awesome, and I'm really enjoying it here!
Take care everyone, and stay safe!
Anziano Bushman
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