Week 89: Mar 20 (Roma)

Editor's note: Tristan doesn’t ever specify below, but he was just called to be an AP (assistant to the mission president). I share that with you because he will need extra prayers for safety (he will be driving as he mentions below [super terrifying for mama], and also traveling all over the mission). Additionally, his letters may be sporadic or even non-existent. He sent this tidbit after he sent the letter below: "I will have a Pday next week but after that I won’t really have one for the next month, so I will do my best to send letters as best as I can. In two weeks I am going to fly to Sardegna to start the trainings/zone conferences and then I will be traveling all over Italy doing that so it will will be pretty intense.” He said when he was called that he felt "nervous and inadequate, but also excited."

I love you guys!! I am sorry these are probably going to be getting shorter and shorter. Know I love y'all!!

Anziano Battaglia

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing so well!! I just want to let all of y'all know that I love being a missionary so much and this experience is incredible. I know that I have less than 3 months left but I am doing my best to work my hardest and to keep learning and growing my testimony. I have actually been transfered but it’s pretty cool because I am still serving in Rome, and actually in my same district! My new companion is Anziano Battaglia and honestly he is incredible. He is 24 and just a straight up stud/beast in every single way…literally his last name translates to “battle" from Italian. He has already taught me so many things in these few short days that we have been together and I can’t wait to keep learning from him. I admire him a lot too because he is a convert of only 3 years and is constantly studying to learn more. I am really excited for this transfer and for what it brings.

This week is going to be pretty different because as part of my new calling for this upcoming transfer I get to go and pick up the new missionaries coming in and drop off the older missionaries at the airport to head home. I am already figuring out how to drive in Rome which has been pretty interesting as well. It’s kinda like driving in downtown Dallas during rush hour with motorcycles all driving everywhere. It’s been pretty fun haha. On Wednesday the new missionaries come in and Anziano Battaglia and I have the amazing opportunity to take them around Rome and do some proselyting with them. I am seriously super excited! After that there will be some meeting and trainings. I am really excited to see what this upcoming transfer brings!

As part of my spiritual thought I just want to share a couple thoughts I have from talking to some of the missionaries that will be returning home. It’s actually been a really cool thing to be with them, and to hear from their experiences. They are powerful missionaries that bring an incredible spirit when we talk. The underlying theme that most of them tell me when I ask for their advice is to have charity and love for everyone: to love everyone and serve them because I want to help them. I love that.

I love you all so much!! 

Vi voglio un mondo di bene!

Anziano Spencer 

Danny and Nicole (Tristan's aunt and uncle) turned up in Tristan's church meeting in Rome on Sunday! #blessingsofchurchattendance

Tristan and Nicole. 

With new companion, Anziano Battaglia.