Rome 5 | week 14

7.7.2014


This week was the fullest week I have had here in Rome 5. I have to start by giving some background to the first story though...

So it was Elder Blairs first week in the mission, and English Course at Palace in finished at 8, so we still had an hour before we had to go home. Since we were in the car, we just decided to drive out in some random really nice neighborhood like 15 minutes away and knock doors which some nice scenery at least. I have never done that before, and I still have no idea why we did it. Anyways, the houses were pretty far apart cause this neighborhood was straight up in the country. All the houses had gates so we just rang the bell things outside and got nothing for about 15 doors. We decided that we would do one more door then go home. Earlier that day I was telling Anziano Blair that we needed to lighten up and joke with people a little, so when people said they werent intersted he should say, "ma dai!" which means, "but come on." It sounds wierd in English, but Italians say it all the time, and it is really funny. Anyways, he rang this doorbell and a guy walked out of the garage at the bottom of his drive way (probably 50 yards away), and we were kind of yelling to introduce ourselves. He said he was interested and then, and then Anziano Blair put his arms up and said, "Ma dai!" It was so funny. We were talking about it for days. Last week we met this awesome lady who works a grocery store by our house and we talked to her for about 20 minutes and we got her number and address. We started driving over and recognized the street. When we got there we realized it was the same house! That was her husband at the bottom of the driveway. His name is Davide, and he is way cool. Anyways, they totally committed to read the Book of Mormon and come to church next week, so we will see what happens with them. 

This week Hikmout introduced us to some more of his friends from Afghanistan and we helped teach them some English twice this week. His friend Emel is such an awesome guy (I may have written about him last week), but struggles speaking English and Italian, so it is kind of difficult. However, a total miracle happened Friday night. They invited us to "a dinner" that was across the street from the apartment. We went and their was a bar with a sign in front that said "Packistan and Afganistan Culture Night." There were like 30 people from Packistan and Afghanistan. The reason why we were totally suppose to be there was because we found our boy Mumtas!!! I wrote about him like 2 months ago or something. He got in a bad accident and was in the hospital in Rome for a long time, but he is finally better. He also was able to translate for us and Emel for a long time too which was sweet. After an hour a lady told us we had to leave cause we were Americans, haha. Coolest 4th of July ever though. 

I dont know if I have ever written about the Vaccorono family, but they have been the most supportive and helpful family ever towards us since I have been here. In church yesterday, he told us he had a friend who we needed to meet. That night we met with his friend Marilena and two of her other friends. It was one of the best missionary experiences of my life. Fratello Vaccorono is so humble. He told his friends that this gospel is the most precious he has, and then he told how we met two missionaries at an English Course 18 years ago, and his life has never been the same. He told his entire conversion story and then we were able to share our message. After our lesson we all ate a big dinner together (Marilenas kids and Fratello Vaccoronos kids as well). It was one of the first times on my mission I honestly felt at home. Marilena made a really good pasta, and then we picked a ton of figs of their fig trees in the back and just talked. Their house was up in the mountains and had an awesome view too. I asked her how long she lived their and found out it was her friends house on vacation in Greece, and she was crashing it while they were gone, haha. So awesome. 

Anyways, we are very grateful for the work we have been finding over the past couple of weeks. Summer here is often extremely tough because everyone goes on vacation in the summer. Like 10 have already told us to call them in September, but we are still being really blessed to find and teach amazing people. 

Anziano Smith