Brindisi | week 5

This Saturday is transfer calls! I cannot believe how fast my first transfer has gone by. It will be really sad if any of us go. I am really hoping we all stay together at least one more.

Nevertheless, this week was quite eventful. To start off, English course on Thursday was awesome. We talked about music the whole time, and I had an impression that we should all sing O How Lovely Was the Morning for the spiritual thought and talk about the First Vision. Afterwards 2 people asked to be taught the lessons. Anziano Pizza and I taught Corridino on Friday morning. It was a really amazing experience. We taught about the purpose of this life and how the Atonement can help fulfill that purpose and find joy now and throughout eternity. We also gave him a Book of Mormon the day before and he read the first couple chapters. He went on a trip to Milan for a couple days, but he is coming back tomorrow. We are excited to meet with him again on Friday!

Friday night Anziano Brown and I went to visit Victor and Blessing again. I seriously love them. Their faith is so incredible. We taught Blessing about the importance of enduring to the end and Victor was able to share the most powerful testimony of his conversion and how this is what he really wants. It is incredible to see how the gospel can change people permanently! One thing I have learned personally in the past couple weeks is that the gospel is meant to change our natures, not just our behavior. It is a big adjustment for everyone who serves a mission because the schedule and all of the rules we have to keep. Now that I have been here for 5 weeks and had some opportunities to teach I am realizing that the schedule and rules are meant to change our very natures so we can teach with more convincing power. Instead of a burden it is so evident that they are a blessing. Diligence and patience are so important in this work because nothing comes immediately or easily.

President Casti and his wife invited us over for Pronzo yesterday and it was unbelievable. Ok, I know I use a lot of superlatives, but I am not kidding this time when I say that it was the best food I have ever tasted. They are such incredible people. They moved to Taranto a while ago which is a 45 minute trainride from Brindisi, but they still come to our branch because they love the people so much. It is so easy to feel their love for us. Also, behind their apartment is a patch of grass and it is the second time I have seen grass of any kind in Italy. In between courses of pronzo we all just played on their grass. It was so enjoyable. I honestly felt like I was in America.

So the spiritual thought for this week is about good questions. During my personal studies this week I have learned a ton and it is because I have learned to ask good questions. The scriptures have the same stories and the same sermons every time you open them, but they are literally an inexhaustible source of knowledge if you master asking good questions and searching for the answer. I have learned to look in my studies as to how I can help resolve peoples concerns that they may have. When I study out of love for another person and desiring them to come unto Christ, inspiration from on high can come.

I am really excited for September. There are like actually people home now. August is the biggest month for vacations in Italy, so it is starting to pick up a lot more now. Everyone who is going back to school, have fun! Haha

Love,

Anziano Smith