Chapter Three: The 1st Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Bitontians while visiting Bitonto

BUON NATALE TUTTI!!!!!! 

It was so great to hear from you all!! It’s good to know you did so well in school Abby.  J, I'll see if i can eat some gelato for you but the chances are a little slim, it's really cold here! Mom, Dad, it's great to know everything is good.  That story about the package that got left at the door is really crazy! We're all so blessed.  Also, it's always great to get a letter from Uncle Ben, I love reading them and hearing about places he's been that i was last week! =P Man, how blessed we are as God's children.  All it takes is a little thinking and it's obvious that there is someone who is doing his best to help us and look out for us. 

So now Bitonto.  We live in a SWEET apartment.  It's in the center (but everything is in the center...) =P it's really big for 2 missionaries and we have a huge terazzo! It even has a gazebo on it!  Bitonto is really small.   You can walk anywhere in minutes, ha-ha!  We have about 1 investigator right now but we've made couple of sweet plans to get some more.  The people here seem to be more closed off than the people in the Campgna region.  But we're really hoping to turn the branch members into member missionaries who want to give copies of the Book of Mormon out and who trust missionaries and want to share this amazing message of the restored gospel with their friends.  We are trying to make a 2012 branch mission plan.  I'm really excited for that.

Me and Anziano McAffee have stopped speaking English to each other but don’t worry we get along great, maybe too great... but both of us want very badly just to be able to speak Italian as much as we can in these 2 years and so we do! =)  Anziano McAfee is the District Leader and Anziano Miller is one of the Zone Leaders! The other is Anziano Mickleson. 

Right by the Libertà ward building where we have district meeting there is a man called: the Pannini King.  He makes the best pannini I’ve ever had! And he loves missionaries so ANY pannini we want is only 2 euro!! OOOhhh its so good.  The pizza however is a big no go.  It’s terrible here! I was spoiled while I was in Napoli and now, every pizza a have for the rest of my mission will be just ok... but that’s fine, I’ll just try other things.

So about the package... 1st, if you have, To Draw Closer To God or Teachings of Joseph Smith, don't worry about sending those (I’ve found copies in missionary apartments) I will look at them when I get home.  About the customs form everything in the box is for a missionary.  So, you can label everything in the box ''missionary supplies".  Basta! =)   (another idea... if you send it through the German post do you still have to pay customs? because it's staying in the EU... also, the price might be better... just brainstorming!) (Another reminder, Mary and Jesus stickers are like insurance on mail here.)

Here's the address for the mission home and my new home address.

Mission Home Address:

Piazza Carnaro 20,

Rome, Italia 00141

Bitonto Address:

Via Vitale Giordano 58,

Bitonto, Italia 70032

Ok, now the Christmas call.  Here in Bitonto, we're actually going to do it on the 26th.  I have your number.  We are going to try to Skype, probably from an Internet point or something, so plan on that sometime in the afternoon/evening on the 26th. =)

I hope you all are enjoying this amazing time of the year and making the most of the increase of the amazing spirit of Christ.  II Timothy 1:7-8  “Never be ashamed of your testimonies and Do all you can to share them to everyone so that they can also feel the love from the savior that you feel”.  I love you all and wish you well.  I can't wait to see you all!!!!!

--

Vi Voglio Bene,

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Two: The 12th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Neopolitans while visiting the Romans

Okay, this is going to be fast, were actually doing this in Rome before we head back to Napoli.  (We came to Rome for Zone Conference and a dentist appointment for Anziano Weeks who is staying in Napoli.

So first the big news of the week, I’m getting transferred to Bitonto it's a small city (30,000)!! I'm actually pretty excited to go there. It’s just outside of Bari.  Something kind of cool/funny/interesting is that Napoli central is the biggest area as far as population goes in the mission and Bitonto is the smallest in the mission... ha-ha we'll see how that goes, I’m excited to experience missionary work when you know absolutely everyone in town! =P 

My companion will be Anziano McAfee; he was my district leader last transfer. (He was in Caserta) I'm really excited, I have been told the branch there is the best in the entire mission!!  This week was full of highs and lows, which is great because you know the Lord is both working through you and is helping you grow.  There were several miracles we saw! 1st, there’s a man named Fillipo who is reading the Book of Mormon but doesn’t want to meet with us until he’s done.  But we stopped by to say hi and he told us that without a doubt prophets of God wrote it! Also that every time he reads it he has no desire to smoke in fact it bugs him! One time he stopped for 3 days. (He’s 48 and has smoked since he was 8!) 

And man, how about that First Presidency Christmas devotional?! Are they inspired or what?! It is such a blessing to be able to hear from them so often!  About our Christmas telephone call I’m not sure what phone I’ll be using yet etc.

It was great to hear from Grandma and Brother Cartagena!!  They both sound like things are going great!  So does every one else in the family! I cant wait to talk (or maybe even see) you all!!! 

Yesterday we had zone conference combined with the Rome zone and after, we had a Christmas lunch/dinner.  It was really amazing! We got a ton of new ideas and some revelation for the next couple weeks.  It was great to see all the other missionaries and the food was amazing!!! We had Jello!!! Also, there was a really cool thing some young women did in Denver, they wrote their testimonies down and collected a ton of ties and we got the ties and their testimonies as Christmas presents! Sweet!! =P

Well, I know its short but I got to go, there's a lot I have to do and we need to be going back to Napoli soon.  I love you all!! I pray for you all daily! Thank you for all your support and everything you do. You guys are the best, and I wouldn’t have things any other way!  remember  who you are and to keep Christ in your hearts, especially during this amazing season of the year!

--

Vi Voglio Bene,

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Two: The 11th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Neopolitans

Man time flies, it feels like I wrote you yesterday!

Weeeyyyyyyyy caro famiglia!!!!!!  I have a ton to say and little time to say it.  Also, no pictures this week. (I don’t want to plug anything in the computer because I don’t trust this Internet point... 

First, my Book of Mormon goal; sadly I couldn’t get it all done in a day, I just couldn’t have it as a high enough priority to do it all in one day.  But I did do it in a total of 4 days and I also decided to read the New Testament before Christmas instead if the Book of Mormon again.  And the way I’m reading it is really cool because I’m doing it chronologically through Jesus’s life.  Way interesting. 

Next the Christmas call home... if you could send me the land line of our house it would be great... I’m not sure if we'll be able to Skype but I’ll try and figure it out because I’d love to see you all!!!

So, the most exciting thing this week...FISH EVERY NIGHT FOR DINNER!! We talked with our local fish guy (Fabio) and told him we wanted to eat more fish and we'd buy it for 2 euro per person everyday and he hooks us up (no pun intended)!!! We’re eating fresh salmon, squid, shrimp, and some other kind of fish I’m not sure what you call it... but it's so nice, and I’ve noticed a big difference in how I feel, it's wonderful!!! 

Anziano Meldrum and I have been waking up at 6 each morning and going running for 30 minutes and then we go inside and workout. And that has been awesome. (By the way, he has a website: alexmeldrum.com where he puts pictures on it weekly it might be cool to check out)

On Saturday, we went to a city called Avellino.  It takes about an hour bus ride to get there and it's still in our area, crazy!! But we went out there and visited a couple of less actives and I absolutely love that place!! I wish they had their own pair of missionaries and I could serve there!!! It’s not too big, not too little and it even SMELLS good! =P Also, Nicodemus is making huge progress, he is doing everything we're asking, only he didn’t come to church... =/ Bummer. 

Also, our mostra on Sunday night was incredible.  We were all on fire and were doing some amazing work talking to hundreds (yes, hundreds) of people.  And then it started raining.  But we still were stopping people and doing all we could (I had an umbrella don't worry).  It was great!!

Yesterday I did a scambia with Anziano Cardinet and we did some awesome work!  We taught 4 lessons, got multiple numbers, and had a wonderful time.  It was sweet!!!

Transfer calls are this Saturday!!! =O I'm actually not worried at all. However there is always a chance that I’m going to have to leave...

For Christmas, and Christmas eve were going to a TON of appointments.  EVERYONE wants the missionaries over!!! It’s nice. 

And now what we did today (sorry again for no pictures...) we went to Ercolano (Herculaneum) and to the Almafi Coast.  Holy Cow! It was such a blast! And so beautiful!!  As we were going back on the bus along the coast, the sun was setting and there were some majestic clouds! (Anziano Weeks is way into taking pictures of clouds.  At first it was a little weird but now he's converted me.  Spend some time looking at them next time you have a chance!) 

Well, that’s about all I have for you.  Oh, how's the manger looking? I hope there's plenty of straw in it this year!!! (the family has an empty manger and with each act of service one can add a piece of straw)  If not, you better work on it!!! I hope that everything is well and you all keep Christ in your hearts and minds, especially during this special time of year when we are constantly reminded of his life and example.

--

Vi Voglio Bene,

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Two: The 10th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Neopolitans

Tante Belle Cose (Very Beautiful Things)

Ok, this message might be a little short because I have a goal today... to read the entire Book of Mormon before p-day (preparation day, is one day per week to do laundry, shop for groceries, get haircuts, etc) is over.  It’s going to be crazy! Then I’m going to start it over tomorrow and finish it by Christmas as my gift to Christ to show him that I’m using the rod he's given us to feel his love and bring myself closer to him.  (D&C 84:54-57)  

Thanksgiving was really nice, the food was amazing and to eat with an American family was great! They have 3 sons and they are so energetic, it's great!  I can't wait for Christmas!! We have started listening to Christmas music and all the decorations are up in Napoli, it's great!!

So Ashley is 17 and she’s from Peru.  Her mom came here for work with her Uncle (Juan).  Her mom has been coming with Ashley to gospel principles and sacrament meeting!!!

I'll be honest, last week was kind of rough...  we were in Caserta for 4 days out of the 7 and it really hurt our work...  It's just one of the things you have to deal with while having a zone leader as a companion (it was for baptismal interviews)  also, we had quite a few dropped appointments... those are always rough.  But we did feel (and in a way were) always productive and this week is going to make up for last week :)  All our investigators are doing great! we got Patrizia to start the stop smoking program we have and things are going well, it's hard for her but she strong.  We also met with Virginia and Alfredo last night and she has been investigating for 13 years and will be baptized as soon as her divorce is official and she and Alfredo are married.  Alfredo is less sure but he does love the church and the missionaries.  I'M SO EXCITED!

Sara, thats a crazy dream!!! Maybe it's a sign that you should play soccer and be such a good example that people want to know why you’re such a great girl and you can take them to activity days!! And who knows maybe they can meet with the missionaries and they'll want to be baptized!

Oh, and its not too cold here... 50ish

Julianna,  Hi =)

Maren, I heard you are ''in gamba'' (on the ball) this week!! That’s great! How are you liking being home schooled? What are you doing for fun?

Abby, I'm supposed to tell you that you need to respond to Ashley’s message on facebook!! You should talk with her, she is such a great girl, she wants to learn English better, and you’re taking Spanish!

Mattie, how’s that novel coming along? Any fun Christmas plans?

Well, I need to get to reading.  I love you and can’t wait to talk to you for Christmas! Oh, by the way, we can call/Skype on the 25th or 26th.  I was thinking the night of the 25th... what do you all think???

Vi Voglio Bene,
Anziano Stewart