Caserta | week 14 {mission conference, Rome, 14 investigators at church}

At the top of a castle in Napoli 

Naples, Italy

View from the castle 

Castle in Napoli

Antonio and Daniel 

Pasta da mano

3.3.14

This week was incredible. It started of by having a mission conference in Rome for Rome East, Rome West, and the Napoli Zones. There were about 80 missionaries or so which was awesome. It was the most I had seen since the MTC. It was a really special experience because we had Elder Allen come who is part of the Missionary Department of the church with Elder Bednar and another general authority I cant remember right now. Anyways, he took us through Preach My Gospel for 3 hours and inspired all of us so much. At the beginning of his talk he told us not to take any notes unless we were writing down something that we would change/put into practice. I left with two full pages of notes. He was seriously incredible and gave me such bigger vision of what it truly means to be preaching this gospel in the land in this time. I will never forget it. 

This week Anziano Hatch and I met with so many people I dont know where to begin. Friday we went to Maddaloni to visit Sorella Bove and her son Mimo. Sorella Bove is a really strong member and her son comes to church with her almost every week. We are close with him. Anyways, we were talking about faith and asked Sorella Bove to share some experiences in her life about when she showed her faith in Christ and how she was blessed afterwards. It was incredible. On the train back to Caserta we met these two kids named Daniel and Antonio who are going to college in Napoli. They were so cool and we ended up meeting them in church Saturday morning and teaching them a lesson that went really well. It was one of the first times I have taught someone my age on my mission which is a totally different experience because I can relate to them a lot better. That was one thing Elder Allen told us at the conference. He informed us that we were young kids who couldnt really relate to adults who have seen a lot more of lifes challenges. Then he talked about how we need to strive to bring members to as many of our lessons as possible so they can relate to other families better. Anyways...Antonio and Daniel were awesome. We invited them to the Elders Quorum activity that night which was pizza and they came. I sat next to them and they were making me crack up all night with Chuck Norris jokes. They also came to church the next morning and Antonio brought his mom. Incredible. He is cool enough to bring his mom. I have no idea where these kids came from. 

We have also started to get a lot closer with our English Course. Two students named Salvatore and Rosaria told us that they wanted us to come over to their house on Sunday for pronzo and we gladly accepted. They came to church on Sunday morning with their friend Veronica, and then we left right after to have lunch with their whole family. It was the first time I have eaten pasta made from scratch on my mission and it was unreal. It was a different league from the pasta I have been eating which was already in a different league. Their family was so nice towards us, and wanted us to come back next week to explain more about the Book of Mormon and stuff. They make pasta from scatch every Sunday and said we are always welcome. Unbelievable. 

We saw Vincenzo several more times this week and he continues to be the man. I have never seen anyone with a stronger desire to change and become better in my life. Duxon (friend of Adam who got baptized) had us over for a lesson last week and we ended up teaching him and 3 of his other friends he had over. That is one reason why I absolutely love him. He is not afraid at all to share what he loves with his friends. He doesn't make it awkward or uncomfortable at all. They all have so much love for each other and just want the best for everyone. Another example of that is my boy James Prince. He showed up to church on Sunday with his friend Augustine. Unreal. Church was incredible this week. Between the 4 of us, we had 14 investigators in church and everyone who shared their testimony threw down. It was the first time for a lot of them to attend a Mormon church and they said they liked how our program was done by the members and we didnt read all of the talks. Right then we had a girl from the primary about 8 years old get up and share her testimony. That was awesome. 

Anyways, all continues to go well. Anziano Hatch, Tingey, and Heder rock. Today for pday we went to a castle in Napoli and it was pretty. Nuff about that. If I could leave any counsel or advice from what I have learned on my mission so far it would be follow the counsel of the prophet. As missionaries we are involved with helping people come closer to Christ all of the time. I have seen how when people follow his counsel they are blessed. Almost every problem I have encountered could have been prevented by following his counsel. This is very simple but very true. Especially his talk from last General Conference in priesthood session about home teaching. This may seem strange, but I have really come to understand how hometeaching with love is not only good or important, but necessary. That is a simple lesson that I have learned on my mission that I really dont think I could have learned anywhere else. Its a great blessing to be able to get to know so many investigators, members, and less active members everyday. As a missionary, you have most peoples respect and they open up easily to us. It is so clear that when people put the gospel as the center of their lives and serve faithfully, they have more peace in their homes and confidence in their relationships with God, their family, and friends. When they dont, there tends to be a lot more problems. I want to share my testimony that I know that this is Church of Jesus Christ led by a living prophet. When we have faith and follow the commandments, we recieve blessings immediately and long term. Ciao!

Anziano Smith

Caserta | week 4 {Sangregorio Alley, Branch Christmas Party, Napolitano}

Pictures of Regan at San Gregorio Armeno in Naples, Italy. He said it is the coolest street in the world and that they do this every day of the year!  

Elder Heder, Salvatore, Alina, and Elder Smith at the ward xmas party

So first of all, I never want to leave this place. Caserta is absolutely amazing, and when I do get transfered, I never want to leave the Napoli Zone. Noptons are the coolest people in the world! The culture of the people here is so unique that people here dont really say they are Italian, they say that they are Napolitano. I completely understand why now. This place is a whole different world than Brindisi. I found out this week that Napoli is older than Rome! Last pday we planned to go see underground Napoli, but we got so caught up in seeing other things we never got around to it. I sent some pics of Sangregorio Armeno (Christmas Alley) which was really cool. 

Anways, last Friday we met with Salvatore and Alina and it was an amazing lesson. Sometimes I kind of get nervous before lessons cause Im not sure that Im going to say the right thing or whatever, but with Salvatore and Alina I dont feel that way at all. Friday was the 3rd time we have met with them, and I already feel like we are great friends. The lesson lasted an hour and a half which is a lot longer than usual. Salvatore is really smart and always has a lot of questions which makes it a lot easier as a teacher. We ended up talking about so much different stuff I hope they didnt leave confused. It is amazing to me that they are so willing to meet with us and learn more given my crummy Italian and probably confusing answers. I know that they could feel the Spirit thought when we read from the Book of Mormon together. Everytime someone asks a question I have found out that the best answers are  found in the Book of Mormon and my testimony because these things bring the Spirit the easiest. The next night they came to our Branch Christmas Party which was a way awesome chance for them to meet the members. They showed up right on time and they were only Americans there and it was kind of awkward at first. However, it ended up being great when 3 Italian families came and made them feel right at home. Joe and Vincenza also came and brought their daughters which was really cool. I think I wrote about them before. They are Italian, but lived in the states for a while so they speak fluent english and italian. The branch needs more people like them!! Anways, it was a really good time together just eating, talking, listening to xmas music, and then some of the kids acted out some scripture stories. After the xmas party all the members gave us all the left over desserts, pasta, and a bunch of other stuff. On the way home we stopped by Adeles house to give her some roasted chestnuts someone gave us, haha. She was so nice and gave us more cake! Hopefully no alcohol this time. Didnt even ask. We met her 11 year old son too who loves the NBA. We asked him if he would want to go the the base and play with some American kids his age and he got way excited. We are going to try and organize something before he has to go back to school. 

We have an awesome xmas week planned out. Tonight is Joes bday and his wife invited us over for his birthday dinner tonight. We cannot wait for that. We will be spending xmas eve with the Salvitis. Christmas we have a lunch and dinner appointment and I get to skype my family in between!!! We are allowed to watch 2 disney movies for xmas as well which we will watch on the 26th. We have epic plans of which I will send pics next week. 

Wow! Salvatore just called me a second ago cause he wants to see us tonight! Life rocks!!!  

I hope everyone has a great Christmas back at home! At the beginning of December when they started putting up the big tree in the center and playing xmas music I thought Christmas would make me a little homesick, but it has not at all. The true spirit of Christmas can be felt at any part of the globe wherever we seek to serve our Savior. 

Anziano Smith

Caserta | week 2 {district meeting, exchanges, all is well in Caserta!}

A beautiful Christmas tree in Caserta

Anziano Smith, Matteo, and Anziano Prieto 

Lunch with the Giuseppes family

Anziano Prieto with Joe and Vincenzas family

 Anziano Bryant (assistant) and Anziano Smith

Anziano Prieto (assistant) and Anziano Smith

Napoli 

More shots of Napoli! Sure looks like a beautiful place 

Streets in Napoli

 The district waiting for a table at Sorbillos, a pizza place in Napoli!

That's a lot of pizza! 

I have absolutely loved working with Anziano Heder here for the past 2 weeks! I think I said this before but Caserta used to be a 4 man house, but now it is just Anziano Heder and I. Therefore, we have double the work to do. It has been really nice to have a full schedule and always be busy with appointments. First of all, I want to say that our district here in Napoli is really amazing. Anziano Heder and I go to Napoli ever Tuesday for district meeting at the church there. There are 12 missionaries that all meet there (2 districts of 6). We talk about missionary work together and then Anziano Bennett who is our district leader always gives us a short lesson. His lesson last week and yesterday were two of the best I have ever heard. He talked about change and growth which really helped me out a lot. It is kind of easy to fall into a routine doing the same thing day after day, but he talked about the need for constant growth or the gifts that we do have will be taken away. Yesterday our lesson helped me even more. Just like falling into routines with habits that are not good, it is also easy to fall into a routine with teaching the same thing or approaching everyone person the same. He talked about how we need to focus on what people need and what they are capable of accepting (aka not feeding people meat when they need milk). He also taught the coolest way to teach the gospel. He told us that as missionaries, we cant just tell people the truth and expect them to accept it. We have to help them discover it for themselves. We have to ask good questions and open the scriptures and guide people to discovering the truth. Instead of a lecture, our lessons should be a conversation. This is much easier said than done. 

 Anyways, I had the opportunity to go on an exchange on Monday with Anziano Prieto who is one of the assistants. He is from Brazil and has been on his mission about 22 months now. He was the absolute perfect example of teaching a family according to the principles that Anziano Bennet talked about at District Meeting. We went over to the home of a couple named Joe and Vincenza. They are from italy, but he lived in the states for 23 years and she did for 6 so they both spoke fluent english. They have two daughters though who only speak Italian and a friend named Matteo came over so we did it all in Italian. Anyways, they fed us a really good dinner and then Anziano Prieto led a lesson on how this gospel is a protection for our families in a spiritually dangerous world. It was absolutely perfect. After that lesson I just wanted to talk to Anziano Prieto for days about how he developed such amazing teaching skills, but more importantly the power he has behind is words. That night it was like 10 and we were all getting ready for bed, and we were all exhausted. Anziano Prieto was in our bathroom trying to fix a leak in our shower even though he was leaving back to Rome first thing in the morning. He also wrote thank you notes for Anziano Heder and I before he left and hid them in our stuff. I found mine this morning. It is amazing to me how that is just who he is. No one in the world knew or ever would have known (unless I put it on the internet) that he fixed our shower. He just wanted to do it because that is who he is. 

So we also taught a lady named Adele twice this week who knew the missionaries from a long time ago. She has been way over the top nice to us, and it has been awesome to get to know her. On Monday morning, she gave us this cake that she told us was unique to Napoli that we had to try. I ate it, and it was soooo good. Then I found out it was soaked in rum. oooops. Other than that, everything has gone super smoothly. 

We also met this guy named Salvatore on the street last week, and he blew my mind with how open he is and willing to listen to our message. He is an active Evangelist, but he was intrigued by the fact that we were young kids from America sharing a message about Jesus Christ. He said he would meet us the next day at church to talk and he actually showed up!! We just talked to him for a while about his religious background and gave him a brief overview of the Book of Mormon and how it can strengthen our relationship with the Savior. He said he wants to hear more and is meeting us again tonight! 

We have met with about 5 other potential investigators this week i wish I had time to write about. However, I do want to talk about the members here for a minute. There are a bunch of way cool American families here who treat us so well. For example, the Salviti family has been so awesome for us. We have an investigator named Giuseppe who we know through english course, and his family invited the Salvitis over to learn how to make lasagna from scratch and they invited us over as well to translate. It was really cool to get to know the Salvitis and Giuseppes familiy better. Brother Salviti has been in the Navy for almost 18 years and has a way cool story. They invited us to come over for dinner next monday night and share a message to their teenage son and daughter about preparing to serve missions. They also invited us over for xmas eve. Definitely looking forward to it. 

Overall, I have enjoyed my first 2 weeks in Caserta immensely. The branch rocks and we have a really big teaching pool right now which is new for me. Im definitely learning on the fly, but Anziano Heder is a super experienced and awesome missionary who always knows exactly what to say and do. District Meeting and pizza at Sorbillos in Napoli is way fun and a highlight every week. Our district is full of super cool guys as well. Side note, Anziano Graham ran a 4:07 mile in high school and is training for the 2016 olympics right now. Im definitely getting to know some really awesome guys and growing spiritually more than I could in any other place. All is well in Caserta!

Anziano Smith