Chapter Six: The 17th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Mission accomplished STOP
vi voglio bene STOP
See you soon ;) FULL STOP
Over and out.

Chapter Six: The 16th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

Anxiously Engaged

I heard a quote from Anziano Holland, explaining that a missionary when he/she goes home, that they should go home having given it all, and how they should be so exhausted that when the come off the plane that they collapse into the arms of their mother.  Mom, I'm just warning you, get ready.  This week has been really busy, holy moley!

The conference in Napoli went well.  It was cool that I was able to bear my testimony where I did 2 years ago when I started.  (we also got some mozzarella di bufala!!!!)  

Then over the weekend, we had Anziano Evens of the first quorum of the seventy visit.  It was super cool to be with him and to hear what he had to say.  Especially about hastening the work because he is in the missionary department and he presented the facebook idea to Anziano Nelson.  

There really are a TON of benefits of making the changes that they are working on.  It will help a lot more with correlating with the ward/branch, it will help teach people how to use the Internet as a tool to help uplift and inspire, and so many more things.  He is so excited!  It was really cool, we had a lunch with him and we spent the whole time just asking him questions trying to learn as much as we could about the changes that are being made.  

Then we had the amazing and special opportunity to go on to the temple site, only 2 other missionaries have been able to do that.  It was really special, its incredible the spirit that is just on the site.  Even though nothing is dedicated or even completed, it is already a really special place. 

Then early Monday morning we left for Bari.  It was really great because after the Mission Leadership Council, we were able to go to Bitonto and do some short exchanges.  It was incredible!!!! We had planned to go to a Family Home Evening with a family and it somehow worked out that almost half of the ward showed up.  

It was amazing, words cannot describe the love that I feel for those people.  They are all having some rough times, whether in their own lives or in the whole branch.  I was able to give a couple of blessings and to share my testimony with them actually I was really surprised at how well they remembered me.  

When I served there I was not able to speak Italian very well, but we did work hard.  Several of them still have pictures on their refrigerators and other things from when I was serving there.  Honestly, it really surprised me.  I feel so blessed.

In sacrament meeting, Elder Evens, actually quoted some parts of a letter that Anziano Nelson wrote to him talking about the former day saints and the journeys of Paul.  He said that Paul had the right idea when he wrote to the Corinthians about how our lives should be in stark contrast to the world.  It's hard but it's so worth it.

I love you all!

VVTB!!

--

"Look inside yourself, you're more than what you've become.  Remember who you are."  The Lion King 

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Six: The 15th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

This will be fast

Ok, so we have had quite the week.  But first things first, I'm doing great.  I'm not trunky, not even a little bit (even though all everyone ever talks or writes to me about is how little time I have left.) 

We have started the Zone Conferences and we haven't stopped!! The Fourth of July was good, sadly didn’t do anything in particular, we went to Sardegna for the Leadership Council and had Zone Conference the day after.  It was quite the success!  We have a small group there and they are so powerful.  I love their enthusiasm!

Then we had church, which was great!!! Our bishop here is so missionary minded!  After he watched the work of salvation broadcast he met with the Bishopric and they made some adjustments to the Ward Mission Plan and on Sunday he presented it to the Ward Council and to the missionaries and we are all really pumped!  Basically one member from every auxiliary organization every month will receive the commitment to give a Book of Mormon out and to invite them someone to Family Home Evening with the missionaries or to church.  That’s 7 solid member referrals each month.  We are really excited.  Soon they are going to have to split the ward again.

Then on Monday we went to Catania for interviews and for the Leadership Council there and yesterday we had Zone Conference and then me and President went out with the Zone Leaders and did exchanges.  I love getting to work in Catania!  It was great to be able to see the chapel where we attended as a family one last time. 

Then we arrived in Rome this morning, I never thought that I would fly so much while on a mission.  But in an hour or so we have to leave for the Napoli Zone Conference and I’m using this time to write home.

I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures... I'll see if I can send some to you when we come back. 

I'm glad that Abby is well, aside from the heat and cockroaches. Keep up the good work, Abby.  Make sure you are setting meaningful goals and that you have a way to reach them. 

You guys are the BEST! I love you so much.  You mean the world to me! Keep up the good work. And just like our new mission motto "Bee the best you can bee!!" =)

Vi voglio tanto bene!

--

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Six: The 14th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

Its July!

President Waddoups is here.  President Kelly is in Utah. It's been a roller coaster week.  I found out this morning about Grandma Pinder's passing, President called around 0800.  I was hoping that I would be able to see her soon but I'll have to wait just a little bit longer. 

Abby sounds great! Keep up the good work, make sure that the lessons don't become too routine.  There was a time in Messina that we were teaching a lot and that happened to me.  We just got into too much of a rhythm and we stopped relying on the spirit.

Yesterday we had our first Zone Conference of the transfer and I had to bear my death testimony (last of time testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel while on a mission)..... AGHHHH I really wasn't ready for it at all, i was talking/translating for Sorella Waddoups and then everyone was looking at me.  While I was up there it hit me really hard.  I'm really excited to see you again, I miss you!! But I really am going going to miss the mission.  It's a really great time to be here, there is a really great energy with a new president.  He is so incredible! It's really interesting to see two different styles of leadership both great, just different.

It's been a week of miracles.  We found two new investigators, the first Moses.  He's from Ghana.  We found him outside of a store begging for money.  He's super prepared, we invited him to come to a  baptism that we had that night and he came and loved it! He said that he felt the spirit the strongest ever in his life.  Then he came to church the next day and we found out that he lives outside of our zone, in the Rome 3rd ward.  So we did a "transfer investigator lesson" with the Rome 3 Anziani.

Maren, I'm sorry about the iPod touch.  You are still pretty young to have your own.  I don't think that it's a good idea that you have one just yet.  Don't worry, your day will come

I love you all, and can't wait to see you! Ciao!

--
"Look inside yourself, you're more than what you've become.  Remember who you are."  The Lion King
Anziano Stewart

We're sad to see him go, he's an amazing man with a ton of faith.  The second is a man that just came to church because he felt like he should come.  He is a little strange but he is really great. 

. 

Chapter Six: The 13th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

Addio Presidente Kelly, Benvenuto Presidente Waddoups

Quindi, eccoci qua ancora un altra volta.  Non mi stanco mai a scrivervi.  How exciting that Maren is now 10! Crazy! The picture of her with all the money was a little worrying though... her smile was just a little too big.  Maren, that's not where happiness is!  But I'm glad that you had a good day, and don't worry, in a month or so, we can go to Cascades together. =)

So I was thinking about what I can do to keep me busy when I get home, and there was a class that I wasn't able to sign up for that I can take online.... what do you think?  I hope that you're in agreement. =) If so, could you sign me up for it and order the book(s) so that I can start as soon as I get there? Thanks!  The class is: "PDBIO 120: Offered by BYU Independent Study; enroll anytime throughout year; one year to complete; additional tuition required; register at elearn.byu.edu"

And is there any news about the commissary job? Or the temple trip?

This week has been nice.  We still have Anziano Visintin at home because he's still contagious but other than that things have been rather calm.  On Saturday, we had an amazing ward activity.  It was a little presentation on the church and mainly on the temple.  We got a total of 15 numbers all of which were member referrals!! The ward here is awesome! They are so missionary minded.  The bishop always is bringing friends to church and giving us referrals.  On Sunday, we also had an amazing sacrament meeting.  The microphone was broken so there was an added emphasis on reverence, it was really a blessing in disguise, the spirit was so strong. 

So now there are 70,000 missionaries!!! Pretty awesome huh? How exciting!  I can't believe that there has been an explosion so big of missionaries.  I think that either this year or next we'll get to a total of 1 million baptisms as a church.  Speaking of baptisms, this week we are having 4 this week.  There's a nine year old and a family that are taking the plunge.  It's pretty exciting!!  Well, I have to go, but I love you all and can't wait to see you in just a month!

Thank you for all that you do for me, you really are the best! Vi voglio un sacco di bene! Ciao!
--
"Look inside yourself, you're more than what you've become.  Remember who you are."  The Lion King
Anziano Stewart

Chapter Six: The 12th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

Sorry it's late

Okay first of all, sorry that I'm sending this super late.  We had to rearrange and paint the office and we just barely got it back up and working.  And on top of that we have someone at home who has the chicken pox!! So he can't leave the house and someone always has to stay with him, poor guy! But basically things have been crazy.  On top of everything we're trying to prep for President Waddoups.  Time is flying!  I can't believe it!  Did you get my travel plans? Is it official.  I just can't think about it.  I keep telling myself that while I'm at home with Anziano Visintin (Anziano with chicken pox) I can get a head start on packing because as you can see on the calander attached, my last month is going to be pretty busy. Ha-ha, it's better that way!

Abby only has 1 more week?! Wow, how do you feel? Are you ready?  I'm sure you are.  I'm so excited for you! Go get em!! You're a trained "hunter" now (Jeramiah 16:16  Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.) Remember to look for them EVERYWHERE, even in the holes in the rocks.

Mom, if I can still choose, a window seat would be nice.

About the influx of new missionaries, we have a REALLY young mission, more than 70% of our mission is in the field less than 6 months.  We have quite a few non native Italian speakers who are training only after 12 weeks in the field. And 2 of the 3 assistants are in the field less than a year!!! There are some crazy things that are happening in our mission.  So needless to say, our training this round of Zone Conferences is going to be on "Faith in Ourselves" and that the Lord qualifies he whom he calls.  We're pretty excited. 

I read a talk from Henry B. Eyring this week about the "Law of INCREASING Returns".  It was really  well written. I loved how he talked about how we just need to wait for the returns, they will come, and we can be sure of that, we just need to have faith in him and keep on keepin' on.

I love you all and can't wait to talk to you next week.
Ciao!!

--
"Look inside yourself, you're more than what you've become.  Remember who you are."  The Lion King
Anziano Stewart

Chapter Six: The 11th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the People of Italy

Hey, I love you all!

Ok, So our week was great! it was a long trip and it's nice to be home but we were able to do a lot and we had a lot of fun.  It was such a blessing to be able to go back to Sicilia.  President Kelly actually said a lot of really great things that really hit me.  He just kind of unloaded all of the wisdom that he has acquired on the last conference.   The thing that I liked the most was "Love is what you've been through together" Life really is about the little things.  We have to love the journey, and not just wait to get to the destination to be happy, the journey is what's fun!

He also said something about leadership that I really liked, he said, "Leadership is all about relationships".  I read a talk a week ago or so about the difference between leadership and management, and the difference is exactly this sentence, Leaders don't direct, they experience things together and in doing so, give the example that all look to.

The third and last thing that he said that I really liked was something that C.S. Lewis said, which in the end, is just what Ether 12:27 says, but basically, C.S. Lewis says, if we are in a room cleaning, the more light there is, the dirtier it seems and the harder we have to clean.  If instead the light is very dim, we will see just the beginning of the dust, dirt, and stains and we will clean those thinking that we have done a good job.  In reality we have, according the the light that we had.  But as we receive more light, the more aware we are of things.

This week I met Brother Page's uncle and aunt in church!  They were here on vacation from San Diego, and they said that before they PCS in a month or so, that they are going to come to Roma! That's awesome!

I don't know about getting a 1988 Vespa.... what about a Red Ducati Monster instead?  Motorcycles have really been growing on me... but in the end we could just get both right?

Also, have you received a package from the Napoli Branch President?  I sent it to him about 3 weeks ago, I'm not sure when he sent it though...

I think I'd like to fly out on the 28th of August if it's possible, that way I have at least a couple days to get myself organized for school, there is so much that I have to do! Also because Monday is a holiday...I don't think that it'll be possible to go to Switzerland for the sealing.  But I can at least go to the Frankfurt one, with who I don't know, but it'd be nice to go.

Here's a picture of me with the branch president of Reggio Ccalabria and his wife, they are so awesome!  I was so fortunate to be able to see them this trip.

Well, sorry it's kind of short, it's transfer week and we are super busy, but I love you and can't wait to hear about Sara's birthday, summer, the last couple weeks in the MTC and how things are going in Bear Lake!

VVB!
Ciao!

--
"Look inside yourself, you're more than what you've become.  Remember who you are."  The Lion King
Anziano Stewart