Caserta | week 8 {become like a little child, warmer weather, another earthquake!}

First of all, I just have to say that these past two weeks have been an absolute blast. Im learning for the first time that missionary work can and should be a blast as well as spiritual. 

I wanted to start of by talking a little bit about our District Meeting last week cause I thought it was funny and it helped me out a lot this week. It was all about 3 Nephi 11: 38 which says, "And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." Anyways, we talked for 30 minutes about how we can become like little children here on the mission and it was really instructive and funny at the same time. We talked about how kids are always doing their thing no matter what. It doesn't matter if they are at the grocery store, on the train, at school, in church, with adults, or whatever. They are always being kids. Anziano Bennett said similarly we should always be missionaries no matter where we are or what we are doing. That image of always being a missionary like a kid is always being a kid made me laugh. He also told us about how when he was a kid playing soccer he was never afraid to shoot from midfield or try new tricks in a game and he never stopped trying no matter how many times he messed up. It was the best DDM ever. That night Anziano Hatch and I were super inspired to go do street contacting like little children. It was funny because the first two people Anziano Hatch stopped gave us two of the worst rejections I have seen on my mission. It was actually kind of funny. The next lady we stopped was an angel and we had an awesome conversation. It was the strongest testimony of becoming like a little child in that we just laughed it off when to people told us off and we kept going with big smiles. I learned this week that missionary work is a lot more fun and rewarding when we do it like a child. 

So along with having fun this week, we also taught the most lessons than any other week on my mission by far. I am learning so much from Anziano Hatch from his teaching skills it is insane. Related to the last point, I have learned our investigators are most receptive/feel the spirit the strongest when we teach so simply that a child could understand it. It is amazing to me how simple the gospel of Jesus Christ really is. You dont have to be an intellectual genius to feel the power of these truths that can touch anyones soul. We are all children of God and He wants everyone to know and understand the purpose of life and how we can be happy. 

So this week was also amazing because Marco is like the best member missionary I have ever seen. He is 24 and he was baptized last year and he just brings all of his friends and family to church like a boss. We met with him and his friend Maurizio twice this week and it was literally perfect. Member referrals are the best because they dont feel awkward coming for the first time since they already have a friend. Marco also brought his 17 year old cousin Rafael to meet with us on Friday. We taught him the whole Restoration and he seemed to love it. He came to church on Sunday and had a really good experience as well. One of the best experiences of my mission was on Sunday night. Marco invited us over to his house for a pancake dinner with his mom, Rafael and Rafaels girlfriend. After dinner Rafael grabbed a Restoration pamphlet and started going through and showing it to his girlfriend and teaching it to her. It was so cool. Then he got to the page about Joseph Smith and said (in English), "Joseph Smith is the King. He's a boss. He knows what it is." It was easily one of the top 5 funniest moments of my mission. That got his girlfriend pretty interested so we taught them together after dinner and it was great. After the lesson, she prayed for the first time in her life and it was a really sweet experience. We are teaching them together with Marco this Friday and it should be great. 

Alina and Salvatore continue to be amazing. As I have said before, Alina works until 3:30am Saturday nights and this week she and Salvatore were in church at 9 for sacrament because we promised them blessings if they would come for sacrament. Their faith blows my mind. Salvatore actually prophesied something this week, legitimately. We met on Saturday and he was like, "This warm weather is strange for January. Last time it was this warm in January we had an earthquake." This morning we had another earthquake! It creeped me out! Anyways, I love them to death. They are the best people on the planet. 

Something cool happened at English Course this week as well. We started off by asking everyone how there day was and what they did. After everyone responded, they asked us what we did. They obviously know we are missionaries because we leave a spiritual thought every week, but they don't really know what we do all day. So....we told them our schedule of what we did that day and they were all shocked. They literally couldn't believe it. Then they asked what we do for fun and we told them that is what we do every day all day. Then they asked us what we did on the weekends, and we told them that is what we do on the weekends too. Then they asked us how old we were and I said I was 19 and Anziano Hatch was 18. They all thought we were like 25. Anyways, we got like 5 contacts who we have met with/still want to meet with us. Since I have been on my mission I have gotten used to this schedule and work, but it is still shocking to the people of the world. It made me think, if only they knew how shocking the blessings of this gospel are and the eternal truths we have, then they would completely understand why we leave everything behind to share this gospel all day every day for 2 years as teenagers. If they understood the power and authority that comes with the priesthood of God, they would understand by what power we do it. I just want everyone to understand this! 

Comunque, I hope this transfer never ends, cause we are having a blast and Anziano Hatch and I really enjoy working together. We are both working as hard as we can at the end of each day we are able to look back and see the significant but subtle blessings (like Anziano Bednar said last conference) of the Lord each day. I think later this transfer we might also go down to Catania (which is in Sicily) together to pick up Anziano Hatch's permesso. That would be way fun. There are many things to look forward to in the near future. Missionary work is the best!

Love,

Anziano Smith

Caserta | week 3 {Regan's favorite dinner, training meeting, gift exchange}

Elder Smith with his new companion Elder Heder 

View from pozzuoli church 

Lunch with the Willies

So this week started off by helping with a move, and it actually ended up being a lot of fun. Brother Sorrentino has a daughter who was living with him and she and her son got a place of their own that is in a really pretty little town about 20 minutes outside of Caserta. It was a little difficult to move her in because she lived on the third floor of the apartment and there was not an elevator. They were extremely appreciative of our help and fed us an awesome pronzo at their house afterwards. 

Friday night we had an appointment to go over to the Nilssons for dinner and that was my first time being on the base. It seriously is like mini America, and I loved it. Anyways, the Nilssons were too kind. They talked to my mom and sister earlier that week and found out my favorite dinner and made it for Anziano Heder and me. It was the nicest thing ever! I definitely felt a little piece of heaven in their home. After dinner Anziano Heder and Brother Nilsson were practcing "O Holy Night" for the Branch Christmas Party coming up this week. We also left a spiritual thought for their family and Sister Nilsson shared a really profound thought that touched me. She talked about how when she was our age she had her own goals and ambitions, but when she had kids, then her dreams and goals became that of her kids. She compared that to Heavenly Fathers love and how his happiness and joy comes in our successes. Overall, it was an incredible experience for me to see such a family like them and eat my favorite dinner!

Church was really special on Sunday because the Stake Presidency came along with President and Sister Waddoups. It is always humbling to have meetings with such powerful men and then have them say, "The Lord has sent Anziano Heder and Anziano Smith here to help you follow Elder Ballards counsel to fill the Rome Temple with Gods children." They all talked about missionary work and the things that Elder Ballard told them at a recent meeting up in Rome. Another cool thing that happend at church was that we had an invesigator named Giuseppe come. During the third hour he came with me into young mens. Everyone in our young mens class speaks English other than one, and so I translatd for him. However, Giuseppe speaks very good English so he could definitely understand and communicate just fine. One of the boys in the class was suppose to give the lesson, but he forgot and so it kind of turned into a question and answer session between Giuseppe and the boys with questions like, "What experiences have made you want to grow up Mormon? Why would you consider leaving everything behind to serve a mission for two years?" It was a sweet experience to hear our 5 young men share their testimonies with him. Most of them talked about how it was not one single moment that gave them a testimony or a knowledge that the church is true, but it has been consistently coming to church, reading the scriptures, and praying that has helped them little by little. Then when they look back on the years they can see the growth and progression they have made and how gospel has brought them real, lasting joy. They will all make stellar missionaries one day. I thought of myself when they were talking. I have come so far on my mission, but I cannot attribute it to any one experience. I have grown and learned with time, a little here and a little there. It made me think of a scripture President Monson quoted last General Conference: the battle is not to the strong or the race to swift, but the prize is for him that endures to the end. It is so true. Life is an endurance test. It is the same with a mission, school, sports, or whatever else. Meaningful growth and change take time and work. 

Monday we had specialized training (shortend version of zone conference) in Pozzuoli which was a lot of fun. We were all assigned another elder in the zone to bring a present for a gift exchange. I definitely got the sweetest present in the zone. Anziano Hansen hooked me up with a bonzai tree. Yep, it is definitely the new center piece to our kitchen table. Other than the gift exchange, it was a pretty standard meeting. We had awesome instruction from the district and zone leaders. To finish it off, the Waddoups had us act out the nativity. There are pics on her blog of it. It was fun. Also, the First Presidency sent all the missionaries throughout the world christmas cards with Luke 2:10-11 (I think) and a short testimony of the joy Christ brings during this season and for the rest of the year. It was so simple, but it almost brought me to tears. The front had a really pretty pic of the Salt Lake Temple and the inside had a picture of the First Presidency. It made me think of a lesson we taught to Salvatore earlier this week about the Restoration of the gospel. We read him Ephesians 2:19-20 which talks about how the church is built upon the foundation of prophets and apostles with Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. I have no doubt that President Monson is a prophet of God and that he holds all the keys of the priesthood necessary to guide and direct Gods church on the earth today. I hope all is well back in Georgia. Christmas is the best time of the year! Enjoy it!

Anziano Smith

Brindisi | week 17 {English course moves to Mesagne, usher fail, Rome Temple}

So this week we got some exciting news. Our members so how big our English course was getting and so they found a space where we can do it in Mesagne which is a little city that is about a 15 minute train ride outside of Brindisi. We got permission for the space this week, so on Wednesday we went to put up flyers all over the city we made in 10 minutes. We have already received several phone calls confirming the time and place so we are looking forward to starting it up this Wednesday. We have 1 member that lives in Mesagne (Sorella Crudo) who gives us an awesome lunch everytime we go there. It is a way cool city and cant wait to start working there more. Some of the best relationships I have formed have come from teaching English course and it is always a prime atmosphere to share a gospel message at the end of each lesson.

We have continued to visit Victor and Blessing on Saturday nights to teach Blessing the new member lessons and I continue to grow in awe of the faith of that family. I was talking to Victor after the lesson before we ate dinner. He told me one of the most touching things I have ever heard. He said his brother was really sick in the hospital a couple years ago, and he was visiting him. He told him, dont pray that you will be healed. God already knows that you are suffering. First pray for forgiveness and ask God to teach you how you can be better. Then thank him for the many blessings you have received. It reminded me of the story that President Monson told in his last General Conference talk. He is one of the most grateful people I have ever met, and because of that he is always smiling and having a good time.

Yesterday we had an awesome day at church. The Stake President came down from Bari and he is one incredible man. He started teaching about the "Hastening the Work" broadcast and the other missionaries told him I was there during it and he asked me to share with the ward what was said for a minute. His urgency to spread the gospel was inspiring. All was going well at church until sacrament meeting was about to start (we have sacrament meeting last) and President Casti asked me to be the usher. I was told that this included standing by the door to welcome people and step outside the door to make sure no one interrupts prayers or the sacrament. I did not think it would be that hard or I would make such a fool of myself. However, both times I stepped out no one came give me the sacrament so I had to walk all the way to the front both times. The second time, Samuelle (16 month year old baby) tripped on my foot and started crying. I started to help him up and lost my position on the door and people started coming in. It was unreal. It literally could not believe it. Anyways, the Stake President covered for me cause he gave an extremely powerful talk right after and the meeting was really spiritual.

Right after sacrament meeting 10 people from a branch got on a bus to go to the temple up in Switzerland. I would have given up my right arm and a leg and couple toes to go on that trip. They will be up there for 5 days or so. Im so glad for them. I also heard that the temple is projected to be completed my last transfer of the mission. It has been pushed back like 3 or 4 times but I really hope that this time it is accurate. There will be a 3 month open house or something crazy like that. I hope more than anything I can be a part of it, but more importantly help others get ready to go for themselves!

I am growing to love missionary work more and more. I meet many awesome and also interesting people each day. For instance, yesterday an old lady asked me how long the train ride was from America. I was not sure how to respond. Conversations like that always keep me smiling.

Anyways, I have heard it said that sacrificial love opens the windows of heaven I am certainly starting to see that here. It is a privilege to serve here each day and do my best to share these wonderful truths that have blessed my life in so many ways. Serving with other missionaries and members and getting to know the people of Brindisi has been the experience of a lifetime.

Love,

Anziano Smith

Brindisi | week 16 {zone conference, 2 funerals, still loving Brindisi}

Another week in Brindisi has come and gone. It seems like I am writing home every other day. My time here has been much enjoyed and it is incredible to look back and see how I have grown in these past 4 or so months. I have never been much of a talker or socializer in my life, but that is certainly beginning to change. I remember always being in my car 5 minutes after church ended or like 10 minutes after school got out. I am not like that anymore. It has become so evident to me that our relationships with others are so important and we should always treat them with a ton of care and love. I say this because we often go through our branch list to contact people to go visit. There are about 25 or 30 active members here in Brindisi and about 70 inactives. We have spent a lot of time and effort to reach out and contact all of them. I have met with many of them and it always saddens me and fills me with compassion to listen to their stories. Many have been through heart-wrenching experiences that I certainly cannot relate to, but I know the Savior can. Anyways, I have learned that everyone in the church needs good friends and support/encouragement throughout their whole lives. Visiting so many people and listening to just a part of their life stories has made me want to be a lot better listener and more concerned about their circumstances.

In the past 10 days we have gone to 2 funerals. 1 was for the mother of a lady in our ward and another was for Fratello Frascaros father. He is a really bright and funny guy - always making a joke or doing something funny. We had no idea his dad was in bad health condition, and we got a call on Wednesday morning saying that his father died the night before and the funeral would be that afternoon at a Catholic church right down our street. We went to the funeral and we saw the really rude guy I wrote about last week and probably my favorite English course student (Pietro). They were both his nephews. We had no clue. It was actually kind of cool because Anziano Alvey gave an amazing spiritual thought the night before at english course on the plan of salvation and what it means for our families. The funeral was actually the first Catholic Mass I have ever attended, and it was a neat experience. It was certainly an eye opening experience to see a lot of people who were suffering and sad and think of the message of glad tidings we are called to teach. It really made me want to be better.

The next day was Zone Conference up in Bari. The assistants gave an awesome lesson on introducing the Book of Mormon to people on the street. The key that stuck out to me was giving other people a chance. It is way cool to listen to missionaries who have been out year 18 or 20 months and listen to their teaching skills/the people they have become. Always inspiring. I have to go now. Sorry this letter is short. Missionary work is the best and I am truly loving my time here. These truly are the best two years! At least so far.

Love,

Anziano Smith