Second letter home from Brindisi!

Second week in Italy was awesome! We got to work a lot more this week since the first week we were getting situated a lot. The day after a wrote last we had a solid english course at the church. Out of the 7 people who usually come, 4 can speak very well, so we just teach by having conversations. They wanted to know about American food so we each told them about a restaurant we liked at home. I told them all about double stamp Tuesdays at Cheeseburger Bobbys. I am becoming really good friends with everyone that comes. There is a man named Antonio who comes each Tuesday and Thursday, and he is one of the nicest people ever. We saw him on Saturday night, and he came up to us and was like the Mormon missionaries on the prowl. I could see you from a million miles away. He was on his way to church and we asked him if Saturday night was usually when he goes. He told us that he tries to go every night. I am really glad I will get to know him better, and have someone to talk to in English.

We had the branch service project again last Saturday. About 20 people showed up, and it was great. It truly is just like one big family here. All of the members show us so much love by giving us rides, feeding us, and being patient with my language skills. They try to have conversations with me even though they know I am still very new. I am learning a ton everyday. What I have learned is that I can understand a lot because I am always listening to the language, but my ability to speak will only come as I practice speaking. I just have to not worry about mistakes and try to do my best.

The last two weeks I have been able to share my testimony in church and say a prayer. All of the members are so supportive. Everyone here gives all their attention and respect to the speaker. From now on, 1 missionary will always be a speaker in sacrament meeting so within the next 3 and half weeks I will have to give a 10 minute talk in church. That should be exciting.

So August is apparently the hardest month of the year for missionary work because of a major holiday coming up that I do not know much about. A lot of people take of the whole month and go to the beach or to visit family elsewhere. It is so true. We have about 10 people we have contacted this week that have told us to call back at the beginning of September. Their lifestyle and culture is totally different than the US. However, there are still people to talk to each day. I do believe it will be much better when September rolls around and everyone is home and the weather is not so hot. A lot of people are just in a hurry to get inside because it is so hot outside.

As far as our apartment goes, things are great. Anziano Brown and I bought a 17kg watermelon five days ago and finished it last night. We are going to buy another one tonight. It will be a sad day when watermelon season ends. Anziano Browns companion is Anziano Andreason, and he is a fantastic cook. He makes a different pasta for lunch everyday. Yesterday I helped him make the pasta (which I should have been doing earlier). From now on I am going to start helping him make pasta everyday. It is fun and feels good to be able to serve the other missionaries. This morning he surprised me and made eggs with ham, three different veggies, and really good cheese. They were the first eggs I have had since before the MTC. It was unreal. I am fortunate to have such amazing elders to live with and work with.

Also, we had zone conference in Bari on Monday which was fantastic. There are 26 missionaries in our zone and we all met and had a great lunch and 4 hours of training. I loved getting to meet all the missionaries in the nearby cities. 3 sister missionaries performed I Know That My Redeemer Lives in Italian, and it quickly brought tears to my eyes. That simple phrase can bring peace that surpasses all understanding. It is eternal truth that the world is longing to know, and it is a sacred privilege to testify of it to everyone we can. While this knowledge is incredible, it is not everything. It is through the application of what we know that will help us truly become converted to Jesus Christ and his teachings. I am drawing nearer to him than I ever have before as I am trying my best to do what he would have me do and constantly relying on him for guidance, peace, and happiness.

Love,

Anziano Smith