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 11 {General Conference, more food, Pday is now Monday!}

Lots of amazing things happened this week. To start the week off, we had an awesome meeting with Verah. She is really diligent and really desirous to learn. She has been reading a lot from an old conference magazine and loves all of the talks by the apostles. We cant wait to show her President Monsons talk from last Sunday! It will be perfect. Anyways, she is growing a lot. We read Ether 12 with her and talked a lot about faith. We talked about how witnesses always come after the trial of our faith and she talked about how during hard moments she has never doubted that God is with her walking right beside her. She amazing!

On Friday President Casty invited us over for Pronzo and it was amazing as expected. It ended up going quite a bit longer than expected, but it was all good because we talked a lot about missionary work in the branch and how we can help. They truly treated us like their own kids. He and Sorella Casti love the branch so much and are extremely enthusiastic about missionary work. I couldnt dream for better leaders.

General Conference was definitely the highlight of the week for me. It was huge spiritual recharge. We bought some snacks and camped out in the computer room here in the church and watched Saturday night and Sunday afternoon/night. Sunday morning we went to the Christensens (an American family here) house and they made us an awesome breakfast and then we watched a session at their place. Monday morning we watch the last session for district meeting with the other missionaries in Lecce. When President Monson opened conference I cannot describe the emotions that overcame me. I have been sharing my testimony that he is a prophet of God almost every day since I have been here and listening to him speak melted my heart. I could not hold back my tears even just listening to his welcoming address that was only 5 minutes. I could talk for days about that conference, but I will mention two talks touched me the most other than the Prophets of course. First, Elder Bednars talk about tithing. Second, President Eyrings talk on Sunday morning about Gods purposes for our families and why we have trials. These two talks struck me to the core. I dont want to talk much about them since you all can go straight to the source and watch them, but President Eyrings testimony of love was one of the most powerful I have ever heard. It really made me want to be a better person. Speaking of the topic of love, there is one more amazing experience I had this week. My friend Joe left the MTC this week to go serve in Pocatello, Idaho. About one year ago we were in a bookstore together that was full of art of Christ and his life. There was one picture called "In Humility" by Simon Dewey that was a painting of Chirst washing his disciples feet. He could not get over how much he liked it and it really touched me. Last Tuesday morning we had 2 appointments fall through and we had kind of hard morning of street contacting. Not much really went our way. We got home for lunch at 1:30 and I had a letter in the mail from Joe. He wrote a super nice letter and it had the 3 by 5 copy of that picture. On the back it has Matthew 25:40 which says, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He truly took pleasure in washing his disciples feet. He did it without being asked. He did it out of humility and love. It is a pleasure to try to follow his example and do the same!

So long until next week (pdays got changed to Monday so its only 5 days away!)

Anziano Smith

Brindisi | week 5

This Saturday is transfer calls! I cannot believe how fast my first transfer has gone by. It will be really sad if any of us go. I am really hoping we all stay together at least one more.

Nevertheless, this week was quite eventful. To start off, English course on Thursday was awesome. We talked about music the whole time, and I had an impression that we should all sing O How Lovely Was the Morning for the spiritual thought and talk about the First Vision. Afterwards 2 people asked to be taught the lessons. Anziano Pizza and I taught Corridino on Friday morning. It was a really amazing experience. We taught about the purpose of this life and how the Atonement can help fulfill that purpose and find joy now and throughout eternity. We also gave him a Book of Mormon the day before and he read the first couple chapters. He went on a trip to Milan for a couple days, but he is coming back tomorrow. We are excited to meet with him again on Friday!

Friday night Anziano Brown and I went to visit Victor and Blessing again. I seriously love them. Their faith is so incredible. We taught Blessing about the importance of enduring to the end and Victor was able to share the most powerful testimony of his conversion and how this is what he really wants. It is incredible to see how the gospel can change people permanently! One thing I have learned personally in the past couple weeks is that the gospel is meant to change our natures, not just our behavior. It is a big adjustment for everyone who serves a mission because the schedule and all of the rules we have to keep. Now that I have been here for 5 weeks and had some opportunities to teach I am realizing that the schedule and rules are meant to change our very natures so we can teach with more convincing power. Instead of a burden it is so evident that they are a blessing. Diligence and patience are so important in this work because nothing comes immediately or easily.

President Casti and his wife invited us over for Pronzo yesterday and it was unbelievable. Ok, I know I use a lot of superlatives, but I am not kidding this time when I say that it was the best food I have ever tasted. They are such incredible people. They moved to Taranto a while ago which is a 45 minute trainride from Brindisi, but they still come to our branch because they love the people so much. It is so easy to feel their love for us. Also, behind their apartment is a patch of grass and it is the second time I have seen grass of any kind in Italy. In between courses of pronzo we all just played on their grass. It was so enjoyable. I honestly felt like I was in America.

So the spiritual thought for this week is about good questions. During my personal studies this week I have learned a ton and it is because I have learned to ask good questions. The scriptures have the same stories and the same sermons every time you open them, but they are literally an inexhaustible source of knowledge if you master asking good questions and searching for the answer. I have learned to look in my studies as to how I can help resolve peoples concerns that they may have. When I study out of love for another person and desiring them to come unto Christ, inspiration from on high can come.

I am really excited for September. There are like actually people home now. August is the biggest month for vacations in Italy, so it is starting to pick up a lot more now. Everyone who is going back to school, have fun! Haha

Love,

Anziano Smith