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Spring in Italy |
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Mar 9 - 2000:
Well journal - it's spring in Italy. It is so nice...absolutely beautiful. The sky, almost every day, is completely clear - so blue it strains the eyes to look at it. The temperature is perfect. It's not hot, it's not cold - it's cool and warm at the same time. I wish it would stay like this forever. But I know the killer summer is on its way...I'm not too excited about it. I just have to enjoy this weather while it's here.
Our work has been going as usual - excitements and disappointments - it's really fun. We are progressing slowly and I'm learning a lot about missionary work. We had a good experience when the A.P.s came down to do splits with us - Anziano DeFelippo and Anz. Harmer. They are two Elders who really know how to do missionary work - they just apply all the effective tactics seamlessly.
I really learned a lot. Anz. Harmer especially showed me what a difference enthusiasm can make - not only for our relationships w/ the people, but also for relationships w/ other missionaries. They are two Elders who work hard and smart.
I had a neat experience the other night. Anz. Perry and I went w/ the Branch President, Paolo Guglierelli, to teach an inactive member: Sorella Compalbassi. Sorella Comp. got offended over something petty and stopped coming to church. She still has a testimony, but has a lot of pride and had just lost the will to be a part of the church.
We taught her a lesson about how much God gies us and how little he asks of us in return - and the need to be obedient. I read a scripture in Mosiah to her. A part of King Benjamin's address to his people where he says if we were to dedicate every second of our whole lives to the service of God and put everything we had into it, we would still be unworthy servants because, after all, he is our creator and has given us the life that we have to give. Then it says that all he asks of us is to, simply, obey his commandments.
This scripture really touched me as I bore my testimony to her - I realized before my mission that God loved me, and I knew I was supposed to go on a mission - but it was hard because I was so caught up in my life - it would have been so much easier to just not go - but as I was thinking about it I realized how much God has given me and that it was the absolute least I could do to obey his commandments.
My heart was deeply touched by the spirit. I was crying a little. Whenever I feel the strength of God's love for me I always start crying. It's so grand and immense - it's hard to realize just how much he loves every one of us.
I also came to the realization that evening of our capacity to love. We have the ability to give our heart over completely to comething. We can love something with all our hearts - with everything. You see it in the love between a mother and her children - it's her whole heart - she would do anything for her kids - and would find any way to make them happy. I was thinking about how awesome it would be to just love God w/ that sort of love - there's an awesome song that says:
"Here's my heart Lord take and seal it, seal it for thine courts above"
When we give all our hearts to God, nothing lacking - we have great power - and we can do anything.
I'm trying to get to that level - where my heart and my will is in accord with that of God. It's hard.
My knee is almost back to 100% - it feels a whole lot better and keeps healing every day. I can walk normally and even run a little. It can support quite a bit of weight, but I can't squat down into a full squat.
Well - it has officially been a month since my friend Carrie has written me. Very interesting. I have continued to write her every week. I know she's an awesome girl - that's why it's so hard for me to understand what the deal is. It's funny - looking back at what I write when I get her letters - they really make me upset - After a while though I remember how cool she is and let it go. I expect to get another letter from her any day now - if not...oh well...no big loss.
Honestly, it's a little frustrating - but it doesn't serve much to get frustrated so I try not to. It's a shame my beautiful missionary journal has to be mucked up with these nasty emotions toward a girl.
This weekend will be awesome. For zone conference a general authority is coming to speak to us. It'll be great. F. Burton Howard of the quorum of the 70. This journal's gonna be full o' notes. I can't wait to learn and have my fire re-lit for missionary work. |
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