Rome Time
Anziano Duffin and Anziano Smith
Pozzuoli
All 4 elders on the bus!
English Gardens
Regan with his friends Rafael and Caterina after church
1.27.2014
This week was a lot of fun and full of
memorable experiences. We had interviews with President Waddoups in Pozzuoli on
Tuesday night before Zone Conference so we had to head down a day early.
The good times started on the train ride down when we sat next to Malak, a
Nigerian man moving down to Foggia for work. We talked to him for a while and
soon found out that his biggest hobby is rapping. He knew 7 Nigerian languages,
English, Italian, and Arabic. He sang this song for us in which he used all 10
languages. It was one of the coolest things I have witnessed on my mission.
Anziano Hatch got the video, but unfortunately I did not have my camera. He was
really smart and hilarious too. We got his number and referred him down to the
Foggia Elders and I really hope they get to meet with him. After wandering
around Pozzuoli for and hour and a half we managed to finally find the church
just in time to help out with their English Course which was awesome. The first
man I met was Pasquale who just so happened to be another rapper. It was
unbelievable. We met two legit rappers back to back. It was really funny
because President and Sister Waddoups were both at the Pozzuoli church that
night to do some interviews and they were there to witness Pasquale put on a
show after corso. It was quite the experience. That night we also had Anziano
Duffin and Anziano Philips stay with us in the Pozzuoli house. They were also
in the same MTC group and Anziano Hatch and it was great to see them. They are
killing it in Battipaglia, and I am super happy for them.
Wednesday was
bomb. The only bad part was Anziano Hatch and I decided not to bring rain coats
or umbrellas and it ended up pouring all day and the night before. I remember
telling Anziano Hatch, "If we go down, we go down together." I felt
so dumb the next day. We were drenched. It didnt even matter though, the Spirit
was so strong at Zone Conference like always and we were truly motivated to be
even better. This Zone Conference was a little special too cause President
Waddoups said we can invite the bishop, ward mission leader, ward missionaries,
etc. Marco came with us and it was so fun to have him there. It honestly feels
like we have 5 missionaries in Caserta with him around. He is pretty much
teaching with us every day. Wednesday night after ZC, he gave us a
ride back and we stopped by a couple houses of people we needed to contact and
we had one really neat experience. We were looking for a lady that hadnt been
to church in a while and we went to the address, but apparently the woman had
moved. We were leaving and Anziano Hatch had a feeling that we should go back
and ask again. We knocked the door again and explained who we were and the lady
talking to us (Loata) told us her friend had gone back to Fiji for 3 months. We
ended up having an awesome conversation and she wants us to come back this
week, so we are excited about that.
Marco took us out again
to contact a few people on Friday night and it was awesome. We have
been trying to contact this man for a month or two now, but his family tells us
that he is always at his work. He is a personal trainer at a gym right outside
of Caserta and Marco found the address and he just went to his gym. It was
unbelievably awkward as we walked into his gym with our suits and everything
just to see how he was doing. Everyone was staring at us, and I couldnt help
but think about our District Meeting last week and "becoming like a little
child"-just always doing my thing no matter what. We stopped by his house
after the gym and left a pass along card in his door saying we hope to see him
in church some time soon. There is no way he will ever forget us.
Saturday morning
we had planned to go meet a couple people in Maddaloni which is a small down 10
minutes away from Caserta. We were talking to this man the whole train ride,
and we were in the process of giving him a pamphlet/exchanging numbers as we
arrived in Maddaloni. Right when we finished and were two steps from getting
off the train the door shut in our faces. We got to the next city, Cancello,
and found that there wasnt a train back to Maddaloni for over an hour and a
half. At first I was mad, but then we went to a bread shop right by the station
and met the coolest mom and son. They made us some unique Nopton sandwich and
it was only a euro. It was unbelievable. More importantly, they were incredible
people and we are planning on going back to see them again this Saturday morning
if we are free.
So this week we met
with Marco and his cousin Rafael and his girlfriend Catarina a couple times and
they are so cool! I will give one quick example. We were in Young Mens on
Sunday and Brother Steele asked if any young man would be willing to teach
the lesson next week. He hasnt been in church for a little while because his
wife just had a baby and he thought Rafael was a new member who had moved
in because he was friends with everyone and really willing to talk in the
lesson and stuff. Anyways, Brother Steele asked him to teach the lesson next
Sunday and he accepted. He is such a boss. That was his second Sunday in
church ever and he is teaching next week. I am pumped. Anziano Hatch and I are
going to help him prepare a lesson on the plan of Salvation.
Im about out of time,
but I must say, this work is full of miracles. I know the Lord is watching over
all of us and very interested in our small daily choices. I feel so lucky to
have this time here with these people. Anziano Hatch is helping me learn and
grow so much and the people we are teaching are unbelievable. Marco is making
me want to be a boss member missionary my whole life. He seriously wants to
help us teach every night. Hes way too cool. Ciao!
Anziano Smith
