Chapter Five: The 5th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Sicilians

Cart in Milazzo

Allora! Man this mission thing is the hardest, most rewarding, most straining, easiest, and best thing that I've ever done.  I absolutely love it!! I can't even begin to explain how rewarding it is.  

I love sharing the most precious thing that I have with everyone possible.  I can't explain how it works or why it is the way it is because it almost doesn't make sense, that's just how it is.  Yesterday we were in Milazzo.  There used to be a branch there but now it's part of our ward.  

One of the young single adults there has decided to send in her papers and just finished yesterday.  While we were eating lunch at their house, they had a friend there who isn't a member and Sara (the one about to go on a mission) Was super excited about how she finished with her papers and after a couple comments he asked what exactly she was going to do.  She had a chance to explain what a mission consisted of etc.  Well this friend of theirs didn't agree with the idea of stopping one's entire life for 18 months to be a missionary.  He talked about how there are huge economic problems and how especially in Italy no one can find a job etc.  And he made a really good argument,  but in the end Sara just explained how she had received an answer that she was supposed to do this and that she knew the church was true.  It was really sweet to see.  What makes things even cooler is that her dad isn't a member and doesn't really support what she's about to do, and the fact that she is already so strong is a sign that she's going to be a great missionary. =) Speaking about Milazzo.  Anziano Patané and Anziano Wood both served there. =)

So here’s a funny story; we get to church yesterday and the second councilor comes up to me and says "hey Anziano, could you give a talk of 10 minutes on the topic of your choice, thank you."  Then he walked off, but I followed him to ask WHEN I was supposed to give it.  He said today.  Uhhh…I wasn't really sure what to think but I figured that if I said a prayer and didn't worry too much things would work out all right.  It was probably the best talk that I’ve ever given to tell the truth.  I decided to give it on humility.  I really shocked myself on how well it went.  Just goes to show that it's true what Isaiah says, that he who puts his trust in the Lord will mount up as on eagles wings. 

This week we also had a blitz Zone Conference because the day that they had chosen turned out that the Catania airport was closed. (BIG surprise...)  It went really well.  Somehow every one of the trainings was on the same topic.  All 5 of the trainings, President Kelly, sister Kelly, Catania Zone Leaders, Palermo Zone Leaders and the Assistants.  Everyone talked about what we can do to become more like Christ.  There was a lot said and I can't share it all but one of the most repeated things was how we need to act.  We need to create circumstances.  We can't just sit around and wait for the ideal circumstances to come around because they wont, but if we do all we can to create the environment we desire we'll be able to find it. Another thing that was talked about very much was prayer.  How it really can be a huge instrument on our lives.  How often do we say prayers outside of meal times, and night, and morning prayers?  Maybe not as often as we should if we really put our faith in the Lord...

We had a Halloween party for our English course on Thursday.  Man it was so much fun!! We had a great time.  It was all done by a student from Colombia who I guess just has a big love of Halloween.  I have some pictures from it but for some reason the computer won't let me send them, hopefully next week.... She went all out! There was a ton of food, games, and songs; it was pretty fun. 

Looking toward the sea from Milazzo

It's time for me to go.  I love you all very much.  I'm glad the girls won their last soccer games.  I'm glad that Abby is having a great time and doing well in school.  Be glad that today you are getting snow because most of the people here have never seen it in their lives.  I can't wait to Skype with you at Christmas! S.I.G.

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

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Five: The 4th Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Sicilians

Captains Log 24 October 2012 - Week 61

Allora!!!  Man, what a week.  It feels like it's been 2 days since I've written you.  Thank you so much for your letters, you all are great! 

How exciting that President Monson came to Germany!  I'm sure that you all loved it, especially Mattie who got to see it live!!! How was it Matt? Since you can't watch hunger games until next Monday, write me a nice little letter about it!!  I bet you can't wait to be 13!  What are your big plans?  It sounds like all you girls are doing really well with soccer, that's great!

There is a sister missionary here (actually she's a grand-daughter of Elder Nelson!) and she’s really good at soccer.  Well one time we were going to play soccer with some Italians and when they saw that a GIRL was going to play they started complaining and said we don't want to play with a girl!!  But in the end we convinced them to let her play.  And now the crazy part, once we started playing, she scored 3 times!!! More than anyone else who was playing! The people who were criticizing her before had their jaws on the floor.  Who knows, if you guys go on a mission maybe you can do the same thing!!!  ;)  

I can't believe that the missionary applications were 5 times higher than normal last week!! 800 to 4000 is a HUGE change!!! There is no way that the MTCs can hold all those people, even with the changes being made at the one in Provo.  Mamma mia!!!  That is so crazy!  Abby, how are things going with your papers have you started them yet?!  

So as far as work goes, our investigators are doing all right.  However, sadly none of them came to church. =/  Pina we feel is ready to fix a date for her baptism. This isn't the first time she has had a date so hopefully we can make this one special and keep those darn cigarettes away from her!!  Nicole is just as great as usual! Our lessons with her are more or less just her explaining things to us. =) But the fact that her mom is less active and doesn't have a big desire to come back to church makes things kind of tricky... Leona is doing great! She loves the church.  They always come to English course and any activity there is.  

We FINALLY got the permission to do the mostra from the city hall so next week from Wed. to Sat. from 10 am to 8 pm we will be in the city square preaching the word! =) We’re hoping to get a big help from the ward.  We'll see how it goes. About that... we are going to try to get permission to move our p-day to Monday so we have Wed. to do the mostra so I should be on to write you Monday afternoon around 4.30 - 5.00

We have a huge "library" of old Ensigns and Liahonas and the other day I started to look through them and this morning I read this article on the parable of the Good Samaritan and how it is an allegory of the plan of salvation.  I don't want to spoil it for you but it was a great talk.  It's amazing how when you think that you understand something more or less at 100% you find out that there is something more that you didn't know.  It’s humbling. 

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/02/the-good-samaritan-forgotten-symbols?lang=eng

Well, I need to go, my time is up.  I love you all. Can’t wait to hear from you next Monday.  Ciao!

--

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

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Five: The 3rd Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Sicilians

Jacket season is almost here!!! =/ It's still too warm for a suit!!

Allora.  I feel like Jacob, like my life is passing before my eyes like a dream.  Holy cow time goes fast, We're looking for tricks to help it go by slower but the only solution that works that we've found is to be bored.  But as a missionary that is nearly impossible... so it's just something that we need to accept and move on, making the most of our time.

Man, this week I watched the priesthood session.  Holy Moly.  Elder Christofferson's talk was a bomb!!  We've shared it with like 5 people this week already.  And then the talks that followed were equally amazing. 

As far as work goes things here are moving along.  It's hard to find time to do finding.  We have so many new converts (about 18) within the past year.  And previously, the missionaries have continued to meet with them, which is completely normal for the 1st year, but the problem is there has been no integration into the ward so it's almost like they are still investigators.  So during the week we do our best to meet with them and to help them stay strong, etc. 

Then we have our current investigators on top of that and not much time for anything else.  Plus Anziano Giovita has been here since February so he's become pretty good friends with everyone and is pretty attached to them. So it's kind of a difficult situation.  Anyways, were teaching a little girl, Nicole (10 years old) who wants to be baptized, her mom is a less active member.  Man she is so great! There is actually something that really shocked me the 1st lesson that we did with her.  She knows all the doctrine.  We break our backs trying to help grown men and women understand what it is that we teach, but with Nicole she knows already everything just from growing up with her less active mom and from primary every once and a while.

On Saturday it rained pretty hard for a good 20 minutes and after the streets were filled with water.  there was a good foot of water afterwards, and in some places even up to 3 feet.  JUST AFTER 20 MINUTES! Anziano Giovita started singing "cuz this is Africa, this is Africa, we're in Africa!!!"  Granted that it was raining really hard, I had to get out of the car for 45 seconds and I was 100% soaked, and it lasted for merely  moments.  That's just a taste of Sicily, or I guess a reminder because you've all lived it already. =)

This week I thought a lot about sacrifice.  How if we aren't willing to sacrifice, we will go nowhere because the Lord knows that he can't rely on us.  I think that is why he uses covenants so frequently, so that we will be willing to sacrifice because we know that he will always keep his word if we do what we've promised. I really appreciate D&C 97:8-9.  This morning in personal study I found this from a talk on lessons learned from the 1st vision. (referring to just before Jesus and God appeared) "as great as the power of evil might be, it must always withdraw with the appearance of righteousness."  So as long as we are righteous we have no need to worry that evil will have power over us.

I love you all, and hope to hear from 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 Five: The 2nd Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Sicilians

General Conference is great. =) But missionary work is even better!

Alrighty, here we are after another wonderful week of missionary work in the blessed land of Italy. =)  

So Messina, man, it's good to be back! And I'm really surprised at how much people remember me! Honestly, many of them I don't remember. =/ It's also nice to be serving with Anziano Giovita, he's a fun and dedicated missionary.  Plus the Ward Mission Leader is the most amazing member missionary that I've EVER known.  His name is Fratello Impolonia.  

He's been a member for 30 years but for most of that time he was kind a wishy-washy member, in the sense that he did everything that he should but just barely.  So now, in order to make up for lost time, (also because he's retired) anything he's asked to do he does and more.  It's such a blessing to have him!  It's hilarious every time that we call him and we ask "can we meet tomorrow at 11 for coordination?" before we can finish the sentence he's said yes and then asks if there's an appointment afterwards that he could go to with us.  There are times that he's with us for 4-5 hours at a time. He's hilarious!

How about General Conference?! We still haven't seen the Sunday afternoon session because of the time difference but what we've seen so far has been great!  I especially liked Pres. Uchtdorf's talk during the priesthood session about the difference between the 70-year-old airplane and the F-16, how the 70 year old plane at times went slower than some cars and how the F-16 was incredibly fast but notwithstanding the huge difference between the 2 planes he found great joy in both.  And then he connected it to serving in the church.  At times we may see huge changes and improvements and other times we may feel like we are more or less standing still but in both situations there is a great joy to be found.

Abby told me about how just in like 3 days 14 girls in her ward started their missionary papers to serve.  HOLY COW!!! That is crazy!  I can only imagine the effects that this change will have.  She also told me that she's going to start her papers!! That's crazy! I'm so excited for her!  What a great opportunity.  It's amazing the changes that are being made and the progress that is going on.  What an exciting time to live!

Goofing around in Catania (full armor of God)

I can't remember if I told you but I was assigned again as District Leader this transfer and for the training on Monday we talked a bit about less active members. We used Luke 15.  There are 3 parables in this chapter (lost sheep, lost piece of silver, and prodigal son) they are all similar but I really like the differences.  The first one applies to those who are lost, the second is for those who were lost due to negligence, and the 3rd is for those who willfully rebel.  In the end Jesus taught one for every situation.  

So this week we had a pretty cool miracle, Professore (an investigator) would be baptized except for 2 things that block him.  He will not pay tithing and he says that Thomas Monson isn't a prophet.  But this weekend he watched conference and then we talked with him after and he said that he was actually really surprised with how he felt, especially about President Monson, he said that he now knows now that he's a prophet!!! YEAH BOY!  Now we just need to strengthen his testimony more and work on tithing.

Well that’s about all, I wish you all a great week and hope that you are all great. I love you! =) ciao ciao brown cow.

--

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

Anziano Stewart

Chapter Five: The 1st Epistle of Anziano Stewart to the Sicilians

I'm back on Sicilia!!!

So I’ve been transferred to Messina as you somehow already know? I'm assuming Bartolo (the man who sells olive oil.) But I'm pretty excited to be back.  Messina is one of the best cities in the mission.  (In reality they are all really great. I just like Messina) I’m excited to see what we'll be able to get going here.  In the past (2-3 months ago) there were 4 missionaries here but now there's just us 2.  So there's a lot of work to do and only us 2 to do it.  I'm kind of worried that we will have trouble finding time to do finding.  But if that's our only problem, I shouldn't be complaining.  It'll also be a really great opportunity to serve with an Italian companion.  Just, he wants to learn English, so it'll be a little bit of Italian and a bit of English.  

This week we saw Tamara, she’s doing great.  Now that school and dance have started she is pretty busy and only has time on the weekends, and even then not always.  But she is so cool! Every day she reads the Book of Mormon and every once and a while she reads a conference talk and than she remembers them and quotes them in lessons. (The verses and talks)  Troppo forte!

This week we were also at Messina for a bit and we saw Pina.  She has stopped smoking! Just like that; all on her own without help from the missionaries or anything.  Then she also started to come to church again =) I think we'll make some great progress with her this transfer.  

Man, I feel kind of lame; I don't have much to say this week.  I've barely had time to think, let alone write in my journal, or reflect in any way.  But things are good.  And I hope that Mattie gets feeling better (a gallon of ice cream and 4 movies MIGHT help.)  I love you all, and will talk to you next week =) 

Ciao, VVB

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

Anziano Stewart