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

Brindisi | week 4

So this week some very exciting things happened. On Saturday I went on an exchange with Anziano Brown to a city called San Vito. We visited a man named Victor and his wife Blessing who is a new convert. They have come to our Gospel Principles class 3 times but it was great to go to their home and get to know them better. They both speak English fairly well so we got to teach the lesson to Blessing in English which was a relief for me. We taught her about service and she committed to accept a calling soon. Then she made a delicious dinner. Also, they are moving at the end of the month, so it will be great to be able to help them out with that.

On Sunday we had two people we met last week come to church! They both had a great experience  and could feel the love of all the members in our branch. One of them is a man from Ethiopia. He showed up to church and told us the address on our passalong card was wrong. We looked it up it and it was. Missionaries have been using that stamp for passalong cards and pamphlets for the last year. I honestly do not know what to think about that. Anziano Pizza and I have under control now though. The other man is from English course and he has come to church the past two weeks. Anziano Brown and I got to teach him about prayer in Gospel Principles, and he committed to pray each night this week. At English course last night he said his prayers were going great. 

So on Sunday night Anziano Pizza and I met an awesome family. We were walking by the Marina where there is a ton of restaraunts and they were setting up for a concert. I have no idea why we decided to go there because no one was going to stop and talk to us, but for some reason we ended up down there. Out of nowhere I heard someone yelling Elders! Elders! There was an American family eating a restaraunt and they offered to buy us dinner. We told them we could not eat, but we could talk for a little while. At first I thought they were a member family on vacation, but it turns out they have lived here since December for work and they are moving back to Charleston this December. I am still not sure how they knew the missionaries or why they offered to buy us dinner, but they were a super nice familly. They live across the water and you have to get a boat ride to where they live and they said we could come over this Saturday or next Saturday so we are really excited about that.

Overall, we have been doing a lot of finding on the streets. We went to a new area that is close to the Marina which is super pretty, and we got an appointment to go back a talk with a lady this Friday. While we were exploring new parts of Brindisi, we happened to come across this market which we will definitely be going to in the near future. Also, we found a place here that sells Buffmozz (not sure on the spelling). It is a specific kind of cheese that is made from buffalo milk. We each bought a huge ball of it with a couple tomatoes each. I think it is better than the pizza.

Today for pday, we ended up going back to Lecce again for some shopping and soccer. We found small shop that was closing down and bought some soccer jerseys and funny nba hats. I got an awesome Italy jersey, but I have no skills to back it up. We grabbed a quick lunch and played soccer again. Brindisi came out on top this week. Next week will probably be our last game of the transfer.

This week I learned a lot about the power of faith in Jesus Christ. When I just trust what he says and try my best to do his will, miracles happen. This morning  I read a scripture in the Book of Mormon that said God will protect those who think of him and obey him like a father protects his son who serves him. There are a lot of voices that compete for our attention in the world. I have learned that when we just think of the Lord and try to do what he would do, we can find peace and joy that can come from any other source. It is by doing this that we can lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. 

Anziano Smith

Brindisi | week 3

In Lecce last P-day playing soccer with some other elders

This gelato looks amazing! 

Italian pizza looks so good! 

Regan's study desk in his apartment

They really love watermelon there!

First I would like to start by thanking those who wrote me. It seriously meant the world to me. As far as mail goes, I can get letters here at my apartment. However, every 6 weeks we have transfers, and I will not know until 3 days before if I am getting transferred. The next transfer date is September 6th, so if you are sending me a letter within three weeks of my next transfer, it would be safer to send mail to the mission office in Rome and the mission president will bring it down for zone conference which is towards the beginning of each transfer.

My third week in Italy followed a very similar schedule to my first two. Most people here go to the beach all day and come home at night or are on vacation. However, we did meet some incredible people this week that we hope to be able contact next week or the week after. It is easy to feel of the goodness of these people during a conversation that lasts only a few minutes. Honestly, I am very excited for summer to be over.

Last night at English course something big happened for me. So, as you all know, I am with Anziano Pizza literally all the time. It is a lot easier for me to understand him than Italians so usually can decipher what I should say based on what he is saying. Last night I was on the other side of the room, and a man who came started talking to me. I held a conversation with him for about 10 minutes with no help. This gave me a huge confidence boost. My language abilities grew a lot this week.

As far as teaching opportunities, we had our first two formal lessons this week that were great. They were both with members who have not been able to come to church the past couple months because of work. Our first was with a lady named Taurisano who is extremely kind and faithful. She invited us into her kitchen and told us she wanted to read the Book of Mormon with us, and we read Mosiah 5 to 7. She then gave us gelato and told us about her family. She is awesome. Next we met with a man named Richard who is equally as awesome. We got to know him and his friend Kwame a little better, and they told us they want to read the Book of Mormon together because sometimes they have a hard time understanding it. Desire is the first thing one needs to come closer to Christ, and I know he has a strong desire and a humble heart.

This week my testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown incredibly. Every night during our planning session we plan what we will study for personal study and companionship study. Each of these studies are meant to last 1 hour. Every night I planned to study 30 minutes in the Book of Mormon and 30 minutes in Preach My Gospel. This is what President Waddoups encouraged at Zone Conference. Every morning these week I completely failed at this plan because I could not put the Book of Mormon down. When 9 came and Anziano Pizza asked me if I was ready for companionship study I was kind of annoyed because I did not want to stop reading the Book of Mormon. There is a Spirit that will come into your heart which cannot be denied when you prayerfully and diligently study that sacred book. It is one of Gods most precious gifts to the world.

As far as other things are concerned, all is well here. As watermelon season is about to end, last night we each bought a 18 or 20kg watermelon. We have about 75kg of watermelon in our fridge. Also, we found a boss pizza place last night that is right next to the church. It is our new go to. We got out for pizza every Tuesday night after English course (Peve Pizza). That is pretty much standard throughout the whole mission. Also we have become pros this week at managing our resources. Between our 2 stovetops, washer, 2 fridges, oven, we can only have 3 on at a time or the power goes out. The only time this is a problem is during lunch. We have the system down now though. That is about it for the week. Also, last Wednesday we played Soccer in Lecce with the four missionaries there. They won 3 to 2. The series is still young though. They are coming to our field next week. Tomorrow is deep cleaning day which happens three times a year, so we will be cleaning our apartment all day tomorrow. Fun stuff. Take care at home. I hope all is well.

Love,

Anziano Smith

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