Caserta | week 16 {Pompeii, St.Patrick's Day, ugly ties}

Sister Salviti took the missionaries to Pompeii for P-day today and these are some of the photos she took!

Sunday lunch 

Anziano Hatch and Anziano Smith with the Fusco Family 

3.17.2014

This past week was seriously too good to be true. Anziano Hatch and I feel like we have found our long lost brothers in Antonio and Daniel. I remember the first time we met them at the train station in Maddaloni and I knew they were awesome from the beginning. They seriously just make everyone around them happy all of the time. It is incredible. Today after we go to Pompeii with the Salvitis, they are coming over for dinner with us and I can already guarantee it will be a night never to be forgotten. The thing that is most incredible about them though is their desire to learn the gospel. We taught them a whopping 5 lessons last week which included watching a talk by President Monson, church movies, reading from the Book of Mormon, and other stuff. Anziano Hatch and I try our best, but we arent necessarily the best teachers in the world. Their progress is seriously coming from within themselves and not from anything we are doing. We are nothing more the instruments in the hands of the Lord that are presenting the gospel. They will seriously be our brothers for life.

Last night we went over the the Fusco family's home and it was a very special experience. That family is beautiful and they are incredibly nice. We stop by their bakery to talk and see how things are going almost every day, but Sunday is their only day off of the week. Last night we spent a solid two hours at their house getting to know them better and then we had an incredible lesson with a Plan of Salvation puzzle thing that Anziano Hatch has. Then we read the Family Proclamation together. It makes me so happy to see families like them who are so happy and such good people. Anyways, two weeks ago Anziano Hatch and I went to Napoli, and we found a tie stand near the station that was selling the ugliest ties I have ever seen for 1 euro. We bought a bunch and have  been wearing them every day the past two weeks. Last night I think our ties were hurting Maurizios eyes so he brought each of us a tie from his closet. He gave me this white and black checkered tie that is honestly my new favorite tie. It is something I will wear the rest of my life and I will never forget that family. Teaching in their home last night really helped me understand the importance of having charity, or the pure love of Christ. If I dont have charity for those I am teaching, then I am really just saying words. But last night was really special because we really felt love for that family and we were not just saying words. We were sharing the things of our soul and the Spirit was really strong. It has been an incredible blessing to get to know them and teach them.

Last night Hatch, Tingey, and I read our mission journals to each other from our first week in the MTC and it was absolutely hysterical. It is funny to look back and see how far we have come. Reading statements like "The gift of tongues is real" from day 5 and "The days are flying by already" on day 8 were some of my favorites. Coming on the mission was the best choice that I have ever made for several reasons. One of which being the personal growth that I have made, but more importantly for the relationships that I have made and the joy of sharing the gospel with other people. It fills me with incredible joy to here about mission calls that are being received by those who will leave this summer. It is really humbling to know that missionaries are working hard all over the globe the bring this glorious message to all who are wanting to learn more about Jesus Christ. Im am sincerely grateful to be a part of this work.

Anziano Smith

Caserta | week 15 {amalfi coast, tender mercies}

3.10.14

This week was full of miracles. It started off last Monday right after we finished writing home and we decided to go get a sandwich from somewhere. We stop at a bakery on the way back to the apartment and this guy literally only has 1 piece of bread left. So strange. So we went to the next one, and we ended up meeting the most incredible couple who runs this place. They were so nice to us, then their 11 year old son started asking us about America and stuff, so we invited him to English Course. As we were headed out the  door, the husband and wife started asking us why we were here. We ended up talking for an hour and a half about the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and about half of the commandments we teach. It is the first time on my mission we I have taught a mother, father, and children (they have son and daughter). They invited us over to their house on Thursday and we had a really good repass on the Restoration. They have a beautiful home, and were so nice to us. We stopped by on Saturday, and all of them have been reading from the Book of Mormon. So incredible. 

Antonio and  Daniel are seriously two of my best friends in the world. We saw them like 5 times last week. They are both like brothers to Anziano Hatch and I already. We have had lessons with them, they have come to English Course, they have come to church, we have played basketball with them on their friends, last Saturday night they came to Priesthood Session of Stake Conference and then we went out to pizza together. It has been one of the biggest tender mercies of the Lord on my mission to meet such cool kids who are my age who are so cool and funny and also receptive to the gospel. Antonio could honestly be a comedian. I know that both of them can and will be such an influence for  good here in Caserta. They are serisouly special kids. 

Yesterday we went to a city called Recale to visit James Prince at his house with some of his friends. While we were waiting to meet him, my blue ben expoded on me then I proceded to wipe my face for some reason. I got blue ink all over my face. So embarrasing. Anziano Hatch was helping clean me up at this fountain right by the station in front of a bunch of people. So awkward. Fortunately, I was all cleaned up when James Prince picked us up and took us back to his house. He and all the guys he live with are from Nigeria and they make us feel like gold when we come over to visit. They are seriously the humblest people on the face of the earth which so much faith. It is difficult for foreigners in Italy, and they are just so grateful for everything they have and they treat everyone like a brother. Im sure I learn more from them than they do from me. 

Yesterday at church was one of the most spiritual moments of my mission during Gospel Principles. Sorella Sorrentino was teaching the lesson on the personal relevance for modern prophets to Antonio and Daniel, and the Spirit was so strong. Our class went about 20 minutes over, and I had to step outside and tell the Relief Society that they had to wait, cause there was no way I was stopping this lesson. It was way too good. She basically just talked about the importance of following the counself of the prophet who is litterally speaking the will of God for us in these days. Today Sister Salviti took us the the Almafi Coast for pday and asked us what the biggest thing we have learned on our missions. I said that the biggest thing I have learned is that keeping the commandments of God is wisdom because they make life easier and they make us happier. It is a win win in every way. There is never a downside. Sometimes it takes courage and faith, the the immediate and long-term blessings are always there. That is why Jesus said if you will do my will, you will know of the doctrine. Anyone who does it knows that is right, and good, and real. It is kind of hard sometimes to convince people to experiment upon our words like Alma said, but the Lord has put a lot of brave persone in our way recently. With the Fusco family and Antonio and Daniel, we have not done or said anything special, the Lord has just miraculously put them in our path. I know that he will always bless us according to our faith and desires, after which we will see and feel of his grace and love. These past couple months have been the best of my life without any doubts. That is mostly due to Anziano Hatch and the people of Caserta. There is so much love here. 

Take care. Happy March Madness.

Anziano Smith

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