Ragusa | week 7

 Ibla

 Cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla

April 20, 2015

This week i am emailing home from my phone which is a touch which has

definitely seen better days. Please excuse the disorder and probable T9

mistakes.

Last Saturday was my last transfer call of the mission, and i found out

that i will be finishing my mission here in ragusa with  Anziano Brandon.

We have been together now for 4 days, and i honestly could not be happier.

He has been out for 3 months and came down from Rome 2 where the assistants

live, and he also had a great trainer. So, he has brought a lot of

enthusiasm and energy to help me finish strong which is exactly what i

needed.

I have seen time and time again on my mission that when i am truly intent

on working hard and being obedient i am blessed. That is exactly what has

happened the past few days. Yesterday in church one of our members brought

a coworker to church out of nowhere, and he really enjoyed it. Last night

we ran into him on the street, and he invited us over on Tuesday. It was

such a miracle to me.

There was also another man who walked in the church right after we

finished, asking for a book of Mormon in Russian. He recently read it

in Italian, and it fascinated him so much he wanted a copy in his

native languge. As a missionary i have worked hard to find those who

are seeking truth, but it seems like they have always found me as soon

as I am ready.

The biggest highlight of the week was teaching Marco with iolanda (one

of our members). Iolanda was baptized a  year ago and is preparing to

leave on a mission this winter. We taught the restoration together,

and when we closed, Marco thanked HeavenlyFather for sending him these

3 missionaries to teach him the restored gospel. It wasn't until that

moment i realized 2 18 year olds and a 20 year old were teaching a

grown man with a family. Something i have realized on my mission is

that it really takes humility for someone to admit they don't have all

the answers and seek more spiritual light and truth...especially from

young kids. Today for pday we will be with missionaries from England,

France, Mexico, and the states, and Iolanda will soon represent

Ragusa. When i think of this incredible work we are engaged in i think

it may be part of what Nephi saw when he said, "i beheld the power of

the lamb of god, that it descended upon the saints of the church of

the lamb, and upon the covenant people of the lord, who were scattered

upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness

and with power and with great glory (1 Nephi 14: 14).

Buon  NBA playoffs

Anziano Smith