Ciao!: Week 68: October 25 (Napoli)

CONFERENCES

Hello everyone! Sorry that I am writing today; yesterday we had zone
conference and so my Pday has been changed to today. I have about 30
minutes for email today, but I am going to try to get in as much as
possible. Today for P-day we are going to a castle with our whole

zone so it will be really fun.

I am just going to start by talking about Tuesday night because my
comp and I finally felt all set that we were ready to go with our
whole zone to Rome. Everyone had finally gotten their tickets and we
would be getting in that morning (Thursday) right on time for the
conference with President Nelson (an apostle) and Bishop Hallstrom
(another leader of the church) and President Kearon (who is president
of the European area). We were just happy that we didn't have to worry
anymore and that we were all set to go when we got a call from the
AP's telling us that the conference had been pushed back an hour...
Umm what..?? So instead of starting at 10:00, it was going to start at
9.00. Dang. Haha, so that kinda changed a lot of things and after being
in the train station trying to figure things out, we were able to get
tickets to go up Wednesday night and sleep in Rome and then return
back to Napoli Thursday afternoon.

The train ride up was really sick; we were able to take a frecciarosa—
which goes about 275 km per hour, which was cool. So the trip in
total was about an hour. Once we got to Rome we were greeted by the
two Zone Leaders there (my buddies Anziano Vrska and Anziano Moraes;
it was sooo good to see them. Anziano Moraes is the Brazilian who was
my zone leader back in Trapani).
That night we had a little time before we had to go to the area where
we were sleeping and so I went with Anziano Chilvers (who was in my
MTC group) and we were able to find two new contacts. I really liked
working with him. Okay, to explain a little bit of where we were
staying that night...because there were so many missionaries, the church
rented out like a nunnery for us to stay in. Basically just like a

hotel for nuns. It was really weird being in a hotel after like a year
and a half--like not gonna lie, I love those little soap things that
they give you in the bathroom! That is so nice. I was able to see
basically all of my friends that night, including my beast son Anziano
Young who is doing really well. I know mostly everyone in the mission
now so it was a really cool reunion to be able to see everyone. My
comp and I went to sleep really late that night because we had to
check every single room of around 80 missionaries to make sure that
they were there, but it was all good. Kinda like doing house to house
on the mission Lolol.

So now for the conference. It was absolutely incredible, at the

beginning I went with a few questions in mind and as I was sitting
there studying, I had probably one of the most spiritual experiences of
my life. (Normally how it works is when an Aposlte walks into the room,
everyone stands up as a sign of respect.) So I was studying in the
Book of Mormon and before everyone started to stand up, I immediately
knew that President Nelson had entered the room because the spirit hit
my heart so strong. It was the most amazing thing. I can't really
describe it very well other than saying that I know without a doubt
that President Nelson is a man called of God. I will try to send my
notes that I got from the conference next week but we received
instruction and training that our time is so precious here and that we
have to use it so carefully, and then President Nelson spent 45
minutes teachings us from the scriptures very deeply about the House
of Israel. It really helped me realize that I have soo much to learn
in the scriptures and that I love how much we can always continue to
learn with this gospel. All the missionaries had a really special
experience to shake all of their [the general authorities’] hands as well. Wow. I know this
church is true.

Tristan is in the back by the left of the clock, but his cousin Ethan is smack dab in the front--he's wearing a blue striped tie and is next to the guy in the red tie.

After the conference we headed back to our area. I wish I could
describe it better--the joy that I felt being there and learning and
also being able to see all of my old companions and friends that I
have made. It helped me realize a little bit about what Ammon
describes as feeling such immense joy when he saw his bretheren. It
made me so happy to see them and see the progress that they have
made over the past months.

Other things that happened this week.. I am sorry; I wish I had more time!!!

-F. is going to be baptized this week!! He is incredible and

progressing so well. We will be going to the ocean because there is no
font in the church and so we have a lot to plan for that. We are trying to
figure out all the details, but I am so grateful to see his progression
and his conversion. He's like a brother to me. He gave the closing
prayer in Spanish at church and it was awesome. I almost understood
what he was saying haha.

-Two of our little investigators who are 9 and 11 came to church!!
Anziano Gay and I showed up at their house on Sunday morning to pick
them up and walk them to the church. Their mom is a member and went
to church in Capo Verde (close to Ghana), but then they moved here and

they stopped coming. They are a really cute family and

we had a really special experience with them during our last lesson. We were
teaching the plan of salvation, so we were sitting on the ground in
their humble home and once we finished to say the closing prayer we
all got into a circle and put our arms round each other and bowed our
heads. All of our heads were touching in this really tight circle. It
was really amazing to be between the little girls and the spirit was
so strong. I love this gospel!! In church I sat in primary with them
so they wouldn't feel scared with the other kids. It was fun to be
sitting in there and the teachers were so excited that they were
there. With them included we had five kids. Remember how blessed you
are, Caden, to have had a big primary... Imagine doing the primary
program with just 4 other kids!

-I was able to work with Anziano Rosenburg (AP) on a scambio this
week. It was really fun and he is such a good missionary. I really
learned a lot from him because he is such a powerful leader and just
leads by example. I can't wait to keep working with him and learn from
him. I led a Gesso [chalkboard discussion] with him down in one of the centro areas and we were
able to talk to a lot of people. There were other missionaries that
came as well and so it was a good time.

-Yesterday we were able to have our Zone Conference. I am really happy
because everything worked out well and my comp and I were able to lead
a training about companionship study and the importance of being
united. This training was especially for all the trainers and the new
trainees of the zone; in our zone there are about 7 companionships
that are training, so I am glad that it went well.

-Our good friend who had not come to church for years is doing so
well! She was able to get her patriarchal blessing this weekend, so
she is doing sooo great!!

Another miracle that happened this week was yesterday. For one, we
actually got asked to do service for a member!! Like real service!! To
help her move furniture in her home. That has happened to me like only
twice on the mission. We were super stoked and as we were traveling
there, I started talking to this guy sitting next to us. He actually
ended up being from Peru but had lived in Italy for 16 years. As we
told him what we were doing, he was like "Ahhh, the Mormon church yes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was baptized in
this church many years ago..." Whattt??! The gospel is so true! So we
started talking and got his information to meet. He has a wife and two
kids, so we are pumped. I love being a missionary!!

For my spiritual thought I have been really pondering about the word‘
Progression." I like this word a lot, especially because we ourselves
are the ones that let us progress or not. It's all a choice. During
the conference, our incredible mission president talked about a little
example of this, relating the progression to a race car. He talked
about how in the engines of these really fast cars, there are “governors"
that will control the cars from going faster. He then looked at us and
just said, "You have no governors." That hit me super hard. Really I
can be progressing so much faster and growing so much more if I just
leave my concerns and worries behind and just try even harder and work
even better. It was a really cool moment and just made me realize that
God’s plan for us is so perfect. The mission is where I have truly seen
the most progression in my life and I am super grateful that I have more time
here. My testimony is growing so much and I love being a missionary.

Okay, I love you all!! I had a little bit of time to add to this
because we came back from the castle! I will send pictures!

Vi voglio bene!!!! [I love you all!]

Anziano Spencer