Rome 5 | week 12

 Saying goodbye to Elder Pizza! 

 Regan with Elder Pizza (his first companion in Brindisi)

  

6.23.2014

So last Monday right after we finished writing home, something incredible happened. We know the lady who works here at the Internet Point pretty well cause we come here every week to write home. Last Monday she showed us her glasses that she just bought for 365 euro and how they already had some scratches on the frames that were hurting her nose and the place she bought them from said they wouldnt replace them. She asked if we could do anything about it, and we were totally blank on ideas. Then I remembered that there was a guy who came to English Course 2 times when I first got here who worked at a glasses store here in Monterotondo. We went to his place to tell him what was up and then they met the next day and she got her frames replaced for free! That was the first time I had helped anyone with a practical problem my entire mission. I literally have no idea how I remember about that guy, and the cooler thing was that we found is store in about 15 minutes and we werent even sure where it was. Cool experience. 

This was the last week of the transfer, and we will be getting some new missionaries in the district. Anziano Blair and I will be staying together for another which is what we expected and we are both happy about. Sad news was that it was Anziano Pizzas last District Meeting ever. He is flying home tomorrow! It was like yesterday when we met and he was going into his 9th transfer and I was a greenie, now Im going into my 9th transfer. The mission goes by super fast. Before we left we got some family photos: grandfather, father, son (Pizza, Smith, Blair). They are pretty epic. I have really come to love all the other missionaries who I have served with and that has been one of the greatest blessings of my mission. Everyone here is strong in the gospel and loves the Lord, but everyone has a different story, personality, interests, etc. It has showed me that this gospel really is for everyone. 

We had a lesson again with Lorenzo on Saturday and he told us the reason he invites us over is because we are exactly the opposite of all the other kids in the world-the way we dress, how we spend our time, our values, etc. He straight up told us that he wasnt very interested in the Book of Mormon or our living day prophets, but he was just happy to know young kids who serve God. His words seriously touched both of us, then he taught us how to make a really good pasta that Im going to start making all the time. Anyways, his words towards us were super geniune and respectful, and helped me learn about the Italian culture in general. I realized that although not all Italians are as open as Lorenzo, they are genuine and loving people. They are also very logical, and I really respect that. Today for pday Anziano Blair and I took a guided tour of the Coliseum in English, and the tour guide was really getting the point across that the construction/purposes of the Coliseum reflected a lot about the Italian culture. He said a lot of stuff I dont have time to write right now, but he was basically saying that Italians were the most logical people on earth who put all the Greeks ideas into practice. The principle of logic and reasoning is still the same today, which makes it hard when we are contacting people on the street telling them about angels appearing to a 14 year old boy in America 200 years ago. Nonetheless, I have seen how they are some of the most loving and genuine people towards their families, and the members here who have come to the knowledge of the Restoration of the gospel are the strongest saints on the earth. Im so glad they are getting a temple next year, which I know will open up the curiosity and interst of many Italians. Serving here has definitely been the best experience of my life, and helped me learn so many things I could have never learned at home. 

Anziano Smith