Week 29--Jan 25 (Trapani)

Trapani Week 7!!

What is up everyone?! Life is soo good and I love serving a mission!!
So this week was pretty interesting, just like every week, which is awesome. 

This Saturday we receive transfer calls and I
really hope that I get to stay here in Trapani with Anziano Garrett.
If anything, I think that he might get called to be a zone leader
somewhere because he's so awesome, but I hope that we get to stay another
transfer together cause we  get along really well. I didn't know this about
myself though, but apparently I sleep talk at night and the other
morning Anziano Garrett was like, "Dude.. You were doing finding in
your sleep last night. You were saying Ciao! Come Stai??"And he was so
confused cause I woke him up and I was just saying this like I was
doing street contacting or something. I think this is so sick cause I
had no idea, and the language is coming along nicely now which has
been a huge blessing. Sweet, speaking Italian in my sleep oh yeahh
haha. [Editor’s note: Tristan must have forgotten he does this, because we’ve all heard him and told him this in the past!]

So this week Anziano Garrett and I were able to see a lot of miracles
that were really awesome. Three weeks ago, I wrote home about how we
found this less-active guy that was sitting in his car. Anyway we
walked past that same spot last Monday night and he was in the car
again. This time he got out of his car and he came over and was like
"What is up anziani!!" And then he got our number because he wants us
to come over. (Which was really cool cause we tried to talk to him
about the gospel, but he was pretty closed during our first meeting) And then
he was getting back in his car and he got out again and said, "Ya know
I am going to tell you one thing... It's strange ya know. I prayed for
you guys...And you guys came." And then he got into his car and drove
away. That was a really big miracle for me because we were an answer
to his prayer. Anziano Garrett and I are really trying hard to
follow the spirit in where we go and what we do, so it was a testimony
builder to me that we were guided to that place and we were an answer
to his prayer.

Another really good experience that we had is there is this less-
active guy who served a mission in Milan about 25 years ago. He knows
really good English and we were finally able to get over to his house.
We started talking and he told us about his mission and then we
shared a video about Jesus Christ, Because He Lives. It was powerful
and the spirit was definitely there. He opened up afterwards and told
us how he doesn't feel like he has a good relationship with God right
now. He then explained how he's losing his job soon and he's going
through a really tough time. We are going back this week and we
are going to keep seeing him. He then explained how it's hard to think
that he gave two years of his life to serve and teach others about the
gospel of Jesus Christ and to see how that's changed. That just really
reminded me that we always have to be growing and learning in the
Gospel and always doing the little things to stay strong like prayer,
scripture study, going to church, cause he is there but we also have
to do our part too.  I am really excited because he is very humble
and very sincere and we want to help him the best way that we can.

One thing that I think is super sick here in Sicily and Italy is how much people talk with their hands. It's not a
stereotype; it’s so true and I love it, and I and am doing my best to
learn it haha. I will try to explain the best that I can. Okay so if
you take your thumb and make a slash mark across your cheek that means
Mafia. So legit, but if you are saying like you need to watch out for
that guy cause he's kinda sly you rub the skin close to your eye. And
then if someone is saying something like death then they take three
fingers and twirl them in the air. SO basically if you see someone do
a Mafia slash and then three fingers you’re done. Umm another one is if
someone puts their hand underneath their cheek then pulls forward that
means "I don't really care.” It's all really cool and interesting, not
gonna lie I think the Mafia one is so sick haha. But people just all use
hand symbols when you are talking to them cause it shows that they are
thinking; it's not directed at you when you’re talking. It's the
strangest thing, but it's so cool.

So my spiritual thought this week is on attitude, because not gonna
lie like if I am being honest this week was hard; this city is pretty
hard haha. But that's not important. What matters is how I look at
this situation and focus on the things that I can do and know if I do
my best, then that's what matters. And that's what I am doing and I am super
happy. Like I truly believe that I am seeing success, just different
ways than I had expected and it helps when I am happy and finding the
joy and laughing about the little things. There is this quote that I
really like that was given a long time ago in General Conference-

"A person’s attitude is perhaps the hardest of all personal attributes
to change. If your attitude is right, then your life is made right. If
your heart is touched, your mind and way of thinking will change and
your life will change for the better accordingly. I believe we must
become so immersed in the gospel of Jesus Christ that we become
physically as well as mentally more and more like the Lord himself. We
must yield our whole hearts to him. What we then do is done not
because we are asked to, nor because we are forced to, but because we
want to. Neither pressure nor force can be exerted upon us from
outside, when what we do is done because it is our own choice and
desire. It then makes no difference to us what other men may think, or
say, or do. Our hearts being committed wholly to God, what we do is
done out of our love for and our trust in him. We then serve God in
every way we can because we have been converted, our attitude has been
changed and we now desire to become like him both spiritually and
physically.”

I think that is so true because as my attitude becomes closer to serving
God and doing my best, then it doesn't matter what people think of me
or how many numbers I am getting at the end of the week. Sure, I would
like them to be higher, but I guess the Lord is trying to teach me
other things right now.

Well, I love you all!! Thanks for all your support and prayers!

The Gospel is True!!!

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Spencer

Pictures of the salt flats on the way to a lesson: 

Week 28--January 18 (Trapani)

TRAPANI WEEK 6

Hey everyone!!! I hope all of you are doing soo good!! Life is good and
yeah, isn't it Martin Luther King day over in America? So sick, I
miss those random holidays haha. Thank you again for all of the
birthday wishes; they really meant a lot to me and it was good to hear
from my family and friends! This week has been pretty hard but nothing
super crazy has happened--everything has been tranquilo and calm
from things that I talked about in my last letter, so I am happy.

So there are some things that I have gotten a couple of questions about that I want
to explain. Here in Italy just because of how the culture is, we don't
do a lot of door to door cause most people live in apartments. Instead,
we go out on the street and near really crowded areas and just talk to
people. Something that me and Anziano Garrett are working on is trying
to connect with people first to really gain that trust which has been
cool as we have done it with people.  We normally go out with like a
big whiteboard and write stuff on it like "Do you Believe in Miracles?"
so then we can start a conversation that way. I like it because I have
learned that just going up and having a conversation with someone is
really fun, and you can make a lot of friends that way. (Random side
note- Mom ya know that one picture that I sent home with the creepy
guy standing next to me and I am in my grey sweater? Anyway we met him
in Centro and he's the guy that gets really excited cause I am from
Texas lol. He's actually pretty nice, and likes to talk to us about
buildings. So he asked me to ask all of my Texan friends if there
would be anyone interested in coming over here to Trapani and being
his girlfriend. I said I would and then let him know, so spread the
word.. Stefano is his name and he wants a girl haha.)

Other stuff that I have mentioned in my past emails--we finally got
our money back!!!! Ohh YESS now we can buy food and so we are all good
there; I am so happy that that worked out cause not gonna lie it was
not super fun having to explain to the Italian bank dude that they
took our money haha cause we don't really know that side of Italian
words yet. Also my knee is getting a lot better. It has not locked up
since the one time that it did up in Terni about a month and a half
ago. I can bend it, and I am even starting to jump rope again without
a lot of pain. I talked to the doctor and he is aware about it and now
I just have to really give it time. I know this was a miracle and I am
so grateful for everyone's prayers and thoughts cause I am lucky to be
serving here in Trapani and be able to walk.

This week was pretty hard, not gonna lie. Me and Anziano Garrett are
having an awesome time and having fun--it's just a lot of the people
that we find either straight up disappear or they are not really that
interested so we are really trying hard to find those who are ready.
On my birthday, we actually had a really good lesson with a family who
had their friends there so there was about 10 people including us. Not
gonna lie I was a little nervous to teach all these people about the
Restoration but when we started, the Spirit was there and I was totally
calm. I was able to express myself without trouble with the language
and when I recited the First Vision it was incrediable how powerful
the Spirit was. It felt like a fire inside of me and I was totally
focused. The language was not a problem at all. After our lesson it
was kinda just silent for a while while; we sat there and then the food
was brought out. It was definitely a testimony builder to me that if
we do our part by being obedient, and really trying hard to be better
each and every day, then God will bless us. Maybe it will be in his own
way and timing but he does. The Church is so true.
Other than that experience we have been doing a lot of finding. It's
hard at times, but we know that if we keep dong the things that we are
supposed to and if we are happy and we are feeling the Spirit, then we
are being successful missionaries. We might not be seeing success in a
large teaching pool, but we are seeing it in different ways.

So my funny experience from this week:
Ya know that guy that was like the Mafia Boss at one point in his
life? So we went and had dinner with him and his wife and right when
he got there he was like Anziani I need to show you something. We were
like soo sick this is going to be legit. He takes us into his study
and I a thinking ohh man this is going to be some intense stuff like I
don't know maybe about the Mafia…. My imagination is just going.. . and
he gets really excited as he pulls out a microphone, turns on his
computer, and then continues to belt out the song New York, New York by Frank
Sinatra, in English... And we are just standing there as he is
performing this for us... Not gonna lie.. Totally expecting something
way different. And then at dinner, so this guy is a pretty big dude
that's trying to lose weight so his wife gets onto him if he eats too
much. And then they will start going back and forth in Siciliano (which is
a totally different language than Italian) during dinner if he does.
So every time her back is turned or when she walks out of the room he
would sneak as much food as he can. Not gonna lie I have never seen
someone eat like an olive that fast in my entire life, and he would
like take our forks to snatch this food up so fast when his wife
wasn't looking. I was dying haha.

So my spiritual thought is from a scripture that I really like in Acts
3. And I love these verses from the symbolism that I got from these
scriptures.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Okay, hopefully I can explain this well. I love this cause not only
Peter performed a miracle and helped this man, but in verse 7 I love how
he took him by the right hand. Peter didn't just say words to this man
but he leaned down and lifted him. But, it wasn't just all on Peter,
obviously the man sitting on the ground had to give him his right hand
to stand up as well. It was a two-part situation in which this
happened and this just really hit me. As a missionary we have the
gospel and we are trying to share it with everyone, but thinking about
this scripture what more is there for me to do as I take others by the
right hand? But at the same time, even though I know how much the
gospel could bless people that I meet, I know that they have to be
willing and open to act and "lift their hand" as well. And then I
think we can apply this to our own lives with Jesus Christ, as we are all
the ones sitting on the ground struggling with different trials in
our lives, but Jesus is always there. Waiting for us to reach up and
grab his hand so that he can help us walk.

Well, I love you all!! I know this is true and I love being a
missionary! We are going bowling today with some of our Italian homies
that we have made so I am really excited.

Vi Voglio A Sai,

Anziano Spencer

The family he taught and mentions in the letter above.

Brownies for friends!

A cold day of finding in Trapani!

Bowling and hamburgers with Italian friends.

Week 27--Jan 11 (Tristan's 19th Birthday!)

WAZZUPPP!!!

Hey Everyone, I just want to say a HUGE thank you for all of the
birthday wishes. Y'all are so awesome and I have the best friends
and family out there ever. Thanks for all of your support—seriously, I
wish I could describe it better. This day for my birthday I have been
honestly wondering what to expect. I did get really lucky to have it
on P Day but also to be able to have such a stud companion. This
morning we woke up and worked out like normal and I went to go make
myself my usual breakfast of eggs (which the Italians think kill you; I
love telling them that I eat that and them getting so worried and
telling me I need to go to the doctor LOL) and I couldn't open the
door to the kitchen. So after slamming myself against it multiple
times trying to break it open I realized Anziano Garrett locked it to
make me breakfast. Hahaha what a stud! So this morning we dined on
pancakes which was fun, and right now we are headed off to see an old
Greek temple that a lot of people have told us about which is super
cool. I am really excited so it's going to be a good day!

So this week was honestly really interesting. I don't know a better
way to explain it than the fact that Anziano Garrett and I thought
that we were going to die... Three times. Like I don't know why but I
just feel like I have some very random interesting experiences. We
just had some really sketchy experiences that ended up turning out all
good in the end but during them we just felt super uncomfortable. One
experience that happened this week that was really messed up was on
Saturday. Last week we met a super awesome family that wanted to meet
with us. So we were like sick this is awesome, so they picked us up
and took us to their house. It didn't start getting weird until we
pulled in and the guy’s brother was there and he pulled his car out so
that we could pull in and then he pulled in... Does that make sense? Like
he blocked us in kinda thing. We were like ohh nice well this is going
to be fun. Anyway this family was from Tunisia, and they were Muslim.
Which I am totally chill with like I love my Muslim homies from Terni
I have a lot of respect for them. Then what happened is we started
with a prayer and I said it. During the pray the family exploded and
started yelling about something in Arabic and I was like What IS Going
On?! And afterwards they took Anziano Garrett and me into the other
room and taught us how to do a Muslim Prayer (it was all out and
everything during it.. I was thinking this is sooo sweet) which I
thought was so sick but at the same time really weird cause they were
taking pictures of us and videoing us. But I couldn't say no cause I
didn't want to be disrespectful. Anyway other stuff happened like them
asking for my address of where I lived and trying to find the fake
address that I gave them, and yeah it was just very uncomfortable. And
then they shoved their 6-month-year-old into my arms and took a
picture of me which is not allowed cause of legal stuff.  So yeah not
gonna lie I was really glad when we got to head home.

On the more spiritual side of things me and Anziano Garrett have been
working really hard to find people who would be interested. Something
that has been really cool is even though we haven't really seen
success in the ways that we wanted (like a lot of investigators or a
lot of lessons), we are still having fun and enjoying life (even when
we have sketch experiences lolol). We literally were not able to teach
that much this week but a really good conversation that we had is with
our one English Course student who is atheist. We talked to her after
Corso and she brought up a lot of questions about God and if he really
does exist. It was a powerful experience to be able to testify to her
that we KNOW without a doubt that he is there and that he loves us.
And after that we simply just told her that the reason why we're
here.. The reason why we want to help her to know if God is really
there and watching over us is because we love her. And we know that
God loves her. After we said that the Spirit was so strong in the
room. It was really good to be able to talk to her and then she said
that she will read the Book of Mormon so we are really hoping that it
goes well!!

We have also been working with members a lot because that is the best
way to be more effective. We started a plan with the members to not
only help them with taking to their friends but also help them with
their testimonies. We have already started to see little miracles this
week that have really helped to strengthen my testimony in doing
missionary work smarter to be be able to help everyone. Things really
do work out which is something that shows that God really is watching
over us. A miracle of this that I saw this week was when we were doing
some sweet finding on Monday. We tried to talk to this one guy but he
was wasn't really interested so while we were walking along there was
this guy sitting in his car just staring at us. So I gave him like a
little wave and kept walking but he got out and was like "Hey wait
come back!" It turns out he is a less active member and even though he is not
interested in coming back to church just yet, he comes to English
Course now and comments during our spiritual thoughts, which is
awesome.

Sorry I don't have a whole lot else to say; I am just super grateful
to be serving a mission for my Savior. Even though yeah I will admit
it's different and a little hard not being at home for my birthday, it
really is cool to be able to serve the one who has literally given me
everything.

Okay so for my funny experience this week- We've got this awesome family
in our ward who is soo cool. Oh man I love them so much, this family
is the one whose son we are working with to go out on his mission
again. Anyway, so the mom called us and asked if we could come over
and help her with her tutoring with English for a little. So we
thought that was okay we can help her out so we went over and it was
totally not what we expected. There was a bunch of little kids there
and I got assigned to help this one kid with his science homework who
was 8 years old. Umm are you kidding me? I have no idea how to talk
science in Italian. So I had to sit there for 2 hours... 2 hours
listening to an 8-year-old Italian boy teach me about mold... And
photosynthesis... And how plants reproduce. I wanted to die (this one does not
count towards the three times I thought we would die this week mentioned above lolol).

I am not kidding it was
horrible, meno male [ Meno male is Italian for “Ah well,” or “Alas,”], at least I can tell people about moldy cheese in
Italian now and how it's caused. Goodness it was not fun at all, we
will not be doing that again haha.

So for my spiritual thought this week I have been studying more about
enduring patiently and then just enduring. I really like this from a talk
from Elder Neil A Maxwell…

"We gain knowledge through particular experiences, but only
incrementally, “in that thing.” (Alma 32:34.) Hence the ongoingness of
it all, and perhaps we can be forgiven for wondering, “Is there no
other way?” Personal, spiritual symmetry emerges only from the shaping
of prolonged obedience. Twigs are bent, not snapped, into shape.

     Without patient and meek endurance we will learn less, see less,
feel less, and hear less. We who are egocentric and impatient shut
down so much of our receiving capacity.

     In any case, brothers and sisters, how could there be refining
fires without enduring some heat? Or greater patience without enduring
some instructive waiting? Or more empathy without bearing one
another’s burdens--not only that others’ burdens may be lightened, but
that we may be enlightened through greater empathy? How can there be
later magnification without enduring some present deprivation?"

I like this cause I can either endure things and just go through
hard things cause I have to.. Or because I
want to and cause I love it. I am trying to be that twig that is being
bent instead of snapped. Well, I love y'all so much! I want to give a big shout out to my
brother for his big 15 tomorrow!! You’re such a stud, little man, and I
couldn't be a prouder brother! I love you, little savage.

Love y'all!!

Anziano Spencer

Week 26 (Jan 4)--Trapani

Benvenuto 2016!!!

Happy 2016 to everyone!! It's crazy to think where I am this year from where I was last year haha. In school, chilling with my family and friends and trying to go dancing as much as I possibly could. Obviously a lot has changed but I am super excited to see what this new year is going to be like being able to serve as a missionary. I hope that everyone had a good New Year’s Eve though! For New Year's Eve me and Anziano Garret had an absolute party. We got home from our day and then made a feast….of beans, crackers, some soda (from his clutch parents) and Resees (which don't exist here so that was a treat). Haha it was actually really funny as we were sitting there down to our last bit of food that we had cause we had no money left (the nightmare of the whole bank situation where they took our money without giving it to us). Definitely a lot different from past experiences and past years but it was still fun. Definitely something that I will never forget sitting and talking about life, and eating beans... On New Years Eve lolol.

This week was really good. A powerful experience that we had is we are working with this stud who is 20. He is a super strong member and he actually went out on his mission but then came home after a few days for some heath-related issues. He is okay now and we wanted to talk about him maybe going back out but we were not sure how to bring it up cause it was kinda a touchy subject. On Monday we had a lesson with the super homie guy from the street and we invited our 20-year-old stud to the lesson. Anyway our investigator didn't show up and the 20-year-old really started talking to us and opened up about how he really wants to go back out. He then explained his fears and so we are starting to work with him about things he can do to know what he should do. The spirit was incredible in that room as we were talking and he finally had to go after 45 minutes of our investigator not showing up. Right as he left, our investigator walked up the stairs to meet with us. Wow... I know that we were supposed to meet with the 20-year-old to talk to him about his mission. It was such a cool experience. 

We also had a really good lesson this week with a woman that has had a lot of hardships in her life. She was very open and has a very special spirit and during the lesson Anziano Garret and I were trying so hard to follow the spirit the entire time and say the things that she needed to hear and that would help her. It was such a powerful lesson for me cause sometimes we can get into a routine without even meaning to. But with the spirit helping us it's so cool to see where the conversation and lesson can go.

Okay so for our mission we get three times a year to clean our apartment for the entire day. So that is what we did January 1st. Like the whole mission. That was ummm interesting.. Not gonna lie it was not the most fun thing, especially cause we had to deal with things that other missionaries didn't really feel like dealing with in the past--like a old rusty refrigerator or something but it all worked out. We have this awesome brother in our ward that actually helped us with that one. He is about 4 feet 10 inches but has a giant testimony and is super strong. We called him up asking him for help for where we can actually put this rusty metal box that used to be a fridge and he drove over with his tiny little Italian car and was like “ Anziani, I can take it for you," so he spent the next day driving to the dump place (wherever that exists, I have no idea) for us. He is awesome. So, yeah, coolest thing I found was a snail, while I was cleaning out the fridge. So sweet lololol.

So something that I have been studying about is the prophets' last words. Like the last advice and counsel that we can read from the prophets in the Book of Mormon. Something that I found that I really loved was when I was studying Jacob. When it describes Jacob and then Sherem. Now when it describes Sherem it talks about how he uses much flattery, he's very popular, and he's perfect at the language. But then it describes Jacob and describes how Jacob’s testimony could not be shaken. And then this is my favorite verse talking about Jacob- "8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words." Obviously my goal is to not confound people and savegly wreck them (as my brothers would put it) but I do want to do everything I can so that I can have the spirit with me and follow it to my best of my ability to find those people that are ready for the gospel, and to be able to answer people's questions with the spirit. Really trying hard to live my life to where I can have the spirit with me. That is something that really stuck out to me this week.

Some funny experiences that have happened these past couple of weeks--

So a few weeks ago Anziano Garret and I went up to a city called Erice which is a city that you have to take a ski lift to go and see. It is beautiful and that's where I took a bunch of the pictures with all the castles. Anyway the city is like hundreds of years old. Maybe like thousands; I don't really remember. So they have a bunch of really cool old churches and a really cool-looking Duomo too. So we thought aww sweet this is going to be sick. Well apparently there is admission to get into the churches…Lame. But then we read on the sign how if you hold the Priesthood then you get in for free. OHH YESS. So we just walked in and told the lady that we hold the Priesthood (which is completely true, just not really the same that they believe) and walked right in to any single one that we wanted. It was so awesome. 

We have this super strong member from our branch who is from Nigeria that's been a member for about 14 years. He is so awesome and comes to church every single Sunday even though he doesn't speak Italian. So every time that he calls on the phone or talks to me he always calls me Spencer W. Kimball [former prophet of the Church, for those who don’t recognize this name]. So on New Year’s Eve we were having English course and we get a call from him. I answer and he is like “ Why, hello! Am I speaking to Mr. Spencer W. Kimball?" And I was like ohhh yes Desmond yes you are haha!

We met this one guy on the street that lived in America a few years ago and so he really likes talking to us in English. He is also super respectful to us for what we believe and for being missionaries. It's actually really great talking to him cause he is so nice. Last time he asked me for my first name, so I told him Tristan (or here in Italy I have to say Tristano with like an Italian accent). He was like Wow. Tristan Spencer.. Ya know.. Ya know that name is like a name of a king. Tristan Spencer. Oh so sick I was like thank you Eric, haha I never have thought of that lolol.

So this experience happened a few weeks ago right before I left Terni. So there was this old man that really liked us a lot. When he would see us on the street he would invite us over so we went cause we finally found his house. We started talking to him and he was really nice. Like really nice. So we started to share our spiritual thought and right in the middle of it he stands up and he looks at me and he is like "you have really beautiful eyes" "Ummm thank you I really appreciate that" and then he is like "no really you do" and then walks closer to me and gives me a hug and then just holds me. Meanwhile I am thinking in my head like "what on earth is going on?" All the while he keeps repeating that I have beautiful eyes. I am still sitting down at this time. He walks closer to me (literally he walks in between my legs it was sooo umcomfortable) and just brings me in for another hug and kept telling me that I was bravo.. Like bravissimo. I look over at Anziano Ray and he is literally dying. He is laughing so hard and then the old guy grabs my face and kisses me. But he straight up kisses my eye, the right eye.. ON my Eye?! Umm what…??? Sooo yeah, I am so glad that I was only there once, not gonna lie though, it was hilarious.  After that we left the house haha. 

Well, I love you guys!! I can't tell you how awesome the mission really is. I love being here, and I love the people in Italy! (Most of the time, I am really trying haha!)

Love,

Anziano Spencer