The Hastening of the Work! Nov 21, 2012

Welllll my new companion, Anziano Anderson, is a BOSS. He is THE coolest companion I have had yet by far! (if I have any old comps reading this, don't get offended, it wasn't you, it was me) But really. I feel like a lot of the times I've been the one to get on my companion's nerves, but Anz Anderson is just unstoppable!

It's still slow going with the work, but we're working hard! And we have several new finding techniques that we are really excited for.... one of them (of which President whole-heartedly approved) will even involve a guitar =) (inspired by Uncle Mike) I'll give you more details on that one once we actually get it going though =)

It's hard to believe that these two years are coming to an end. I never thought it would be this hard, and my thoughts go to home more and more each day.  But at the same time I have the strangest, unquenchable desire to still help everyone I can while I still have the time. These are important times! President Wolfgramm called these the times of the hastening of the work, what with the huge wave of missionaries coming. It's weird thinking about it too, because I won't be out in the field to see these changes. Instead, I'm probably one of the last missionaries to NOT see those changes (if you catch my drift). In somma, I feel a weird sort of responsibility to do what I can to help these new missionaries get off to a good start. AAAAAAND now I'm just rambling.

Well, I love you all. I hope you all have a great thanksgiving! I'll see you very soon!!!!

Anziano Bushman

Doing My Part Now & When I Go Home! Nov 14, 2012

Well, my last comp, the missionary who will "kill" me, is Anziano Anderson. I have never met him before, and all I've heard is that he's from the farm town of Delta, Utah and he's entering his 5th transfer. I've also heard that he's "pretty chill" so albeit that is one of the most generic descriptions I have ever heard, this could work out pretty well. My emotions haven't really caught up with the reality that I'm entering my last transfer, so I can't exactly say I'm freaking out. But I AM very excited to get things going here in Gorizia! I know I've been saying this for 6 weeks now, but there's a LOT of potential here, and if I don't see any baptisms, the missionary that takes my place here will for sure! With the Christmas season last year the people were a little more open. Not much, just a little. But still, I'm ready.

I am however super excited to come home. It's not the kind of excited where somehow it renders the person unable to think or do anything else, but every time I think about it I remember more and more things I could have done before to help God's Kingdom grow while I was still home. In fact, I strongly believe that a large part of the reason why we serve missions at such a young age, is to help us realize how much it is that members can do for the missionary work, and how they actually have WAY more influence than we do as full-time missionaries. It's true that we have been given the directive to teach, and the spirit will work through us as missionaries when we are teaching the gospel, but members are the ones that help change people's lives. It's the members in the area that will be a part of that person's life for good, and help strengthen them by being a good example. So that's what I wish I had done better, and that's what I can't wait to do when I get home =)  

But for now, I'm preparing to introduce the city to my new companion and start teaching God's children. Until next week! vi voglio tutti un sacco di bene!

Anziano Bushman

The Gondola's in Venezia (Venice)

Us and Manlio

Us and the Zuccòn family

The Italy/Slovenia border in Gorizia. It's famous:)

With the Schina family - S.lla Schina is from England, so the whole family speaks both english and italian.

English class!

Me in Venezia (Venice)

Members Make the Difference! Nov 7, 2012

Whoooot! Gorizia!

Well.... Time is running out. We actually have a LOT of "leads" you could call them. And we're being really blessed. We just have to make the next step and move them from "contacted" to "teaching". I feel like in the next 2 weeks though things are going to start getting a lot better. Even with holiday seson around the corner. We've been seeing members a lot lately, trying to get to know everyone, and although it doesn't seem like it's a direct consequence of anything we've done, members are starting to bring all kinds of friends and relatives that actually want to learn more about the gospel, to church! It's exciting!!!!

Well, I feel terrible writing so little, but there's not anything else to report on...

vi voglio tutti un sacco di bene!

Anziano Bushman

Nury & Davide are getting BAPTIZED! Oct 31, 2012

Well, it's cold. VERY cold. Saturday and sunday we had a huge storm pass through, and now it just left us freezing cold! But, it's all good, we're surviving.

Still no real progress on the investigator pool. We've been starting to have more success with proselyting though! On sunday we tried knocking doors for the first time in a long time, and almost immediately a couple let us in to talk. Their beliefs were pretty spot on, even though very space doctriney, they just didn't really know how to get there, which is why we have the Gospel of Christ. So we testified, and left them a pamphlet, but they both work more than 2 jobs, and don't have time to meet... Bummer.

SUPER exciting news though!!! You remember Nury and Davide from Pavia??? Well, on monday I got a call from the missionaries who are serving there right now, who had gotten special permission from president to call me. They then passed the phone to Nury and Davide, who told me that they are getting baptized this saturday!!!!!  They are so awesome!!!!! They wanted me to come, but Pres said it was too far away (probably a 4 hr train at least) But still, SUPER exciting!!!!

Also Mattia, friend of our new convert Ivan, came to church for the first time on sunday! Although things are moving very slow with him, he's starting to come to youth activities and be more involved! It's super exciting!

I feel like I have not been in Gorizia a lot yet.... Every monday and tuesday so far I have been on exchange in another city. First Udine, then Trieste, then just barely Pordenone. It's been super cool seeing all these cities, but I still think Gorizia is my favorite =)

Well, no more news for now, vi voglio tutti un sacco di bene!!

Anziano bushman