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Bolzano - Kickoff |
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April 7 2000:
Wow, I have finally found some time to write after about two and a half weeks here in Bolzano. A lot has changed and a lot has happened. My new companion is Anz. McGuire he is quite different than Anz. Perry - His while attitude is quite different, but he's a good guy and we get along well.
His style of working is a lot different than Anz. Perry's - sometimes I just find myself going along with his plans saying: "O.K. he's senior comp. he knows more than I do and he knows what he's doing." But I have been learning a lot with him and we have had some cool experiences.
Anz. McGuire is from Michigan and went to school at B.Y.U. for a semester. He's been on his mission a little over a year and I am his first junior comp. - Therefore I think he's still getting used to this whole "being in charge/responsibility" thing.
Here in Bolzano the branch is big - about 60 people - this makes the work much different - a lot more options. German, it seems, is spoken by at least 80% of the people and about 50% don't know Italiano. I have been studying German for my language study - but it is hard to learn out of a book especially when I don't have much time.
I was able to get the "German Dragon" as I call it (German for Missionaries) from the Austrian Elders (Elder Meier and Elder Howes) - It's a good book. I hope to learn something from it.
Anz. McGuire and I started off well - one of our first appointments was with a young lady named Allesandra who is a single mother with a daughter about 2 years old. We met her in her house to teach her a second. It was a little strange because we met in her room and she sat on her bed while we taught. But the discussion went superbly and she really felt the spirit and was totally open to the message.
At the end she responded to the baptismal invite with a Yes! She did say that she wants to learn more before she really commits - but she said she will get baptised! YEAH! She is a great lady and really needs the benefits of the Gospel. Unfortunately she is always busy and never has time to meet us because she works, studies, and is a mom. We're trying our hardest to keep in touch though.
The last few days it seems God has just been dropping people into our hands. We were walking down the street when out of nowhere we hear: "Missionaries! Missionaries!" We turned around and there was an African guy coming toward us. His name was Blay and he continued to tell us that he loves us and "Joseph Smith is a prophet!" - sure he was a little drunk - but he was a good guy.
Then another older man who knew missionaries long ago stopped us on the street and we gave him a book. Then a couple minutes later a lady who knew missionaries long ago stopped us and gave us a referral and set up an appt. to come to church to see conference (and she did) - This lady looks a lot like Judy Cochran my friend Ben's mom - she's got the same bright eyes. (She was a little drunk too although)
Then we were stopped at an art show on the street and an old contact came riding up on his bike and stopped us and we taught him a first and he came to conference. Anyway we've really been blessed - I'm really feeling God's hand in our work.
-God answers prayers-
The other day we had about 3 hours to do some street contacting. For about 2 1/2 of them not one person stopped - that was a discouraging moment - finally we decided to pray - we found a side street and said a small prayer - asking for God's help - about 5 minutes later we found a guy outside of a store who was interested in the message.
One night Anz. McGuire was making telephone calls and trying to set up appointments over the phone. I was in my room studying the New Testament. All I could hear was rejection after rejection - I tried to continue to study but I kept being distracted by these unfortunate conversations.
Finally he came to the last phone call - I decided to say a prayer for my comp. I asked God to help him to have the spirit and for the person to feel the spirit and to make an appt. And wouldn't you know it...it worked - he got an appt.
-God answers prayers-
Today is Carrie's B-day. She's 20 yrs. old. I don't believe it. Last year we came running home together through the rain from the BYU library. Then I took her up to my room (it was visiting hours in the dorms) I had filled it with balloons and we had a little festa together. It seems like a really long time ago.
I'm coming up on my 1nce a month letter from her. I'm excited for it, but not as much as usual...no I'm just as excited but I don't find much time to think on it as I'm so absorbed in the work.
I got her a small oil lamp at an antique show here the other day. It's a really neat little thing. I really think it's cool. I hope it gets there alright. I looked up some scriptures on lamps and lights and wrote them on a postcard for her. I hope she likes it. It won't get there in time for her birthday - but oh well - I mailed it long before.
General conference was great - I loved it. It's the first general conf. that I've really looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed. The mission is really changing me. It was the first conf. in the New Tabernacle - or conference center. That thing is GIANT - and beautiful. The quickness and steadiness of the growth of this church was emphasized in the talks and in the grandeur of the new building. I love this church and I know it's the church of God.
Today we went to Trento to do a "Zone Blitz" of Zone Splits. It went very well and we taught a lot of people together - Then we had a lunch together and had a very spiritual adestramento and testimony mtg. It was one of those spiritually recharging moments the ones where you are reminded of how strong your testimony is. It was great. It gives you the strength you need to continue with faith until the next.
I like being a missionary. |
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