Rome 5 | week 22

9.1.2014

So every Tuesday is our district meeting which is usually held in Terni, but this week we switched it up a little, and did a district service project and then had our meeting. A family in our branch was moving this past Tuesday, so our whole district of 8 went to help with the move. It ended up being a great decision, because only 3 other members showed up, so they were in desperate need of help. We moved them from 10 to 4, and if it was just Anziano Blair and I we probably would not have finished until late that night. 

Our weekend also ended up being very eventful. We got a text from Rome 2 last week telling us that a member (Michele) and his son (Dario) were moving here to Rome 5 this week, and so we would be teaching them from now on. We were able to get over there Friday night, and it was great for a couple of reasons. Number one, Dario has been meeting with the missionaries for quite a while now, and he feels that it is all right and it is his time to be baptized. That obviously shocked us, and we were extremely happy to here that. After the lesson they asked us if we wanted to go see a horse show that was going on in the city for the weekend. We went and it was totally a rodeo! Anziano Blair and I bought matching bolo ties and got to hang out with Dario and Michele for about an hour and a half at the coolest rodeo I have ever seen even though it just consisted of a bunch of Italians riding horses around in a circle. It was in a city called Scandriglia which is gorgeous. The whole city is on a hill just looking over a huge valley, and it was built in 500 AD. The "rodeo" was on a field at the bottom of the city, so we got some really good pics of it. Memorable night to say the least. 

Francesco has continued go above and beyond by doing nice things for us. He knows that we are absolutely crazy for figs, and the next two weeks will be my last two weeks of fig season here in Italy. On Sunday morning he went and picked a huge box of figs and brought them over to our house at 830 then we all rode to church together. No one does stuff like that. No one. He is the nicest man ever. Anyways, church went great because it was our ward conference and the Stake Presidency did an amazing job with their lessons/talks. The faith of the members here in Italy is something else. 

Thats about all Ive got for this week. Im so glad Anziano Blair and I have been able to do 3 transfers together. I have seriously learned so much from him. Last night we were talking about humility. He was like "before my mission I never prepared, planned, or practiced anything. Now Ive realized it takes humility to do it. Now I want to tell all the greenies, Step down from your pedestal. Get off your high horse." I was laughing so hard. Its a true principle though. I have worked hard my whole mission, but I have seen how success and happiness comes only when I realize that this is the Lords work and it can only be done with his help. Humility is the key. 

Have a good week,

Anziano Smith