Rome 5 | week 10

6.9.2014

This week Anziano Blair and I did a lot of traveling again. Rome 5 is a unique area because we dont have one big city, but about 25 little small cities just in the mountains and different parts of the country. One of these little cities is Poggio Mirteto, and that is actually where the Anziani use to live a couple months ago. This week we went there for the first time together and a lot of awesome stuff happened. 

First I have to give a little background. At the end of our first week together, Anziano Blair and I decided that if college and the whole America thing doesnt work out for us, we are going to move to Rieti and open up a suit shop called Fratelli Belli (beautiful brothers). It has been a topic of conversation most days. As we were roaming the streets of Poggio, we walked past a bakery called Fratelli Belli. We were in shock. We walked in and bought a super good cake and told some of the workers they stole our idea. It was pretty awesome. 

We also have a member family that lives in Poggio. Sorella Vacorrono called us up and asked us to help her set up some inflatable water games at a park in the city for the kids (school just got out this week for them). We thought it was no biggy until we saw these rolled up inflatable obstacle course things that weighed as much as a small elephant. There was a man who worked at the park who ended helping us for a couple hours set this stuff up, and it was actually really fun. This guys name was Asim and we got super tight with him. Fratello Vacorrono was able to share a good bit of the plan of salvation with him after he shared with us some things from his life that have been difficult. We changed information and hope to see him this week. It definitely strengthened my testimony of service in softening the hearts of people. 

On Saturday we had Stake Conference at Rome 2 and then we got to spend the night with the assistants there. It was a great conference. The assistance did a training for an hour in which was all about members and missionaries coming together to spread the gospel. It was a good night, because we got to be around some really strong Anziani which made me want to improve. 

The highlight of the week was Sunday morning being able to listen the a broadcoast from Germany. It was a broadcast for 31 stakes in Europe in which Elder Texiera (70), Elder Anderson of the 12, Sister Uchtdorf, and President Uchtdorf talked to us. It was 2 hours, and they gave President Uchtdorf the last hour to talk. It was one of the most tender and sincere talks I have ever heard. President Uchtdorf was addressing and praising his fellow Europeans who he knows face a lot of difficulty since the church isnt very big here. He started by sharing the story of dear friend from Switzerland (I think) who had the choice to settle down and start his family in America or Switzerland, but he chose his homeland, because he wanted to establish the church and bring the gospel to the people of his homeland. He thanked everyone there for making the harder choice and relying on the Lord for strength rather than taking the easy road. His words touched everyones heart. He encouraged all the people here to remember the saints in Kirtland who suffered terrible financial problems and persecution and reminded them that 65 sections of D&C were recieved in Kirtland which included some of the most miraculous miracles/revelations of this dispensation. The part that touched me the most was the finish. He talked about President Monson for about 5 minutes. He told them about his prayers for them, how he loves them and thinks about them often. Then he said, "President Monson is the prophet of God in our day. I am with him on a daily basis. I know this." 

We got to teach 3 new people this week which got us really excited. My love for this gospel has really grown as I have learned to share it with others. Even if they dont choose to act on it, I feel good inside cause I know that Im doing my best. The Lord is so patient and loving with us. We are not perfect missionaries by any means, but Anziano Blair and I really trying our best and we are wiped out every night. It is truly a blessing to have this time and learn from these people. Striving to serve them has blessed my life in great ways.

Anziano Smith

Rome 5 | week 9

6.2.2014

This past week was full of interesting experiences. That is partly because the week started of with a 3 day exchange in Terni because the Zone Leaders needed to borrow our car. For the first night of the exchange I wanted to stay here in Passo to work with Anziano Morgan. However, he convinced me to go to Terni in the evening to spend the night. It ended up being one of the best decisions anyone has ever made. We show up to the end of their english course and one of their students invited the 4 of us out to dinner with her at her friends restraunt. At first we thought it was just going to be like a random pizzeria or something. It ended up being the nicest place I have ever eaten in my entire life and easily one of the most memorable nights of my mission. No joke, the dinner was 10 courses. We were a little late getting home, but it was totally a one time thing that will never happen again. It was Anziano Blairs first time eating out at an Italian Restaraunt, and this place set the bar pretty high. I dont think either of us will eat better than that the rest of our missions...maybe lives. 

2 days later I had a cool experience with Anziano Morgan again. His grandmas cousin lives in a city really close to Terni, and we went over to her house to have lunch and just talk about the family. She told us straight up when we got there that she wasnt interested in our church, and on the way out she made sure none of her neighbors were out cause she didnt want them to know the Mormon missionaries were at her house, haha. President has been emphasized that we use family history to find people to teach and that lunch appointment really helped me understand why. This lady and her husband were great and they loved their family a lot, but they didnt want anything to do with our message. 

Given that, we decided to shake things up a little bit this weekend. We met a lady on the street last week from Ethiopia, and she invited us to some sort of intergation festival where they would celebrate all the different nationalities of Passo and Sunday at the Catholic Church in the middle of town. We showed up right before it was about to start and some people were looking at us really wierd. Anziano Blair and I were kind of hesitating on the choice to go, and then I was just like Why not? It ended up being so awesome. There were kids from about 8 countries who dances and sang songs that represented their country. It was kind of cool just being with the community in a normal atmosphere. We saw quite few people there who we have talked to on the street. Anyways, we met up with this woman from Ethiopia right afterwards and she said we had to come to the Mass and afterwards we would all eat dinner with food from every country. It was really awesome to have someone of another faith be so welcoming to us and invite us to their stuff. At the same time it was a bit awkward standing in the back of Mass with our white shirts, ties, and missionary tags, and everyone in there knew who we were. It was a really neat experience nonetheless. Afterwards, the priest came up and talked to us for a minute thanking us for coming, and then on our way out we got to talk to two more guys who were studying to become priests. We told them about the church we would get in Passo in about 5 months, and they told us they would come visit when it opened. Cool stuff. I wish our church was tighter with the community here like it is an America. We are totally trying to make that happen from now on.

So Anziano Blair and I have been talking the past 2 weeks about how we want to go on a hike one pday, but we knew nothing about trails nearby. We were about to take a bus and tell it to stop and a random mountain and just hike it. On Friday we ran into a nature reserve park out of nowhere with like 7 different hiking trails. We went today and it was the sweetest hike of my life. We decided we will do that for pday at least every other week for the rest of our time together cause we saw some sweet stuff. This country is seriously beautiful and the people rock if I can just show them that they are important to me and I compliment their food. The trick is just figuring out how to do these two things.

I cant believe it is already summer again. Watermelon and cherry season just started, and I am going hard because this is officially my last season of everything. Im doing my best to make the most of everyday cause I know that the mission is short and this time is really special. I decided that everytime a door opens, Im just going to take it and hope things work out, just like yesterday with that festival thing. It helped me realize that the Lord opens doors, I just have to realize it and have courage to walk into them. 

Anziano Smith 

Rome 5 | week 8

5.26.2014

This week has been full of awesome miracles. It totally all because of Anziano Blairs incredible faith too. He is so incredible and has taught me so much this last week. Even though doesnt speak very well yet (as no greenies do) he has touched the hearts of so many people doing the best he can with what he has got. Example number one: we were walking to the ATM to get some money, and we saw these two African guys selling some drums. I noticed Anziano Blair wasnt next to me anymore, and I looked back and saw him on the ground jamming out with these two African guys. It was so cool. We ended up talking to them for like 45 minutes and giving them a Book of Mormon in French (their native language). Unfortunately they live in Ladispoli so we referred them the next day. Then we went to get a sandwich and the guy had a ukulele. Anziano Blair asked for it and played it for like 10 minutes while the guy was making our sandwiches, now he wants to meet up with us next week. It has been so awesome to see how he has already been able to show his love for these people even if his language isnt great yet. That is seriously all God asks us to do-to do our best with what we have. Speaking of Anziano Blairs epic first full week in the mission, Jenny (the first girl he stopped who was Philipino), turns out to be a member of the church. She was baptized 19 years ago and then moved to Qatar and then Saudi Arabia where it was against the law to have a Book of Mormon and there was obviously no church. She just recently moved here to Italy, and unfortunately has a stomach ulcer which never allows her to leave the house. Last week she left her house to walk around for the first time in a couple months and we were the first people she saw. Last night the Sisters went over to visit her and it turns out that she and Sister Matthews are from the same place. They talked for like 2 hours and also started teaching her friends. Anziano Blair and I were in shock when we found out about all of this. It was incredible. 

On Wednesday we had to go to the post office to do some stuff for Anziano Blairs permesso in Rieti which is easily the prettiest city/drive to get their I have seen here in Rome 5. We were there all morning and no one in that city has ever seen missionaries. Everyone was really curious about who we are and stuff which was a first. When we were at the post, one of the manager ladies walked up to us and just asked if she could learn more about who we are. That has not happened my entire mission. On Saturday night we drove to her house which was like 15 minutes past Rieti. The city where she lives is stuff that you see paintings of. It was absolutely unreal. They lived on a mountain looking over a super green valley with a river running down the middle of it. Im so mad I did not have my camera. Anyways, we got to her house and she had a cake ready for us and her son and husband were all waiting for us when we got there. That never happens. Never. Being able to share the message of the Restoration with them gave me a lot of joy. I honestly felt true joy and happiness being able to teach a family who was so kind to us and respectful of who we are. We invited them to come to church with us one week and found out they live 30 minutes closer to the Terni church. It broke my heart, but in the end it is all the same because I know the church up in Terni is just as amazing as Rome 5. Unfortunately we might have to give them to the Terni Anziani to teach from now on. This week we worked really hard and found a lot of awesome people. Everyone we found was referred to Terni, Ladispoli, the Sisters, and Rome 2. It made me think of Alma who had more joy in the success of his brothers. I still havent gotten to that point, but I have another year to do so. 

Saturday morning I fell into my old ways of forgetfulness. I left the keys in Fratello Arenas office (keys to the car and house) which was closed for the day and Anziano Blair left his keys at the house. I also left the phone in the car which was locked at the time. Since we couldnt call anyone or get anywhere, we had to take the train to Rome to the office to get the spare keys. That was totally inspired because we met Gaisa who was on the train going to Rome as well. She is a woman we met from Nigeria last week but didnt give us a number or address to reach her again. She is honestly just as humble and curious as Calra (post lady) and we cant wait to meet with her and her husband sometime soon. It was funny because I make a lot of mistakes (like locking up our phone and losing all the keys) but Anziano Blair always says, "Dont worry, its all in the journey." Its so true. That is like my new life motto. Seriously though, talking to Gaisa for 45 minutes was so humbling. She was telling me about how she has been searching for work here for 2 years and cannot find anything. She said, "America is my dream. I hear that people there can get 2 jobs if they want." Every time I have heard of someone working two jobs it has been with a complaining attitude. I have never heard anyone say it is their dream. Im learning so many lessons from everyone I meet. It is incredible. Gaisa made me want to be more grateful, Carla made me want to be more respectful and loving towards other people, and the guys from Senegal just made me want to make everyone have a good time. So awesome. Have a good week!

Anziano Smith