So, the work is booming. We have gotten 7 new investigators. ALL are from Nigeria. And we have 2 with a baptismal date already. For Oct 31st. One is just rock solid. The other one...well, I don't think he quite gets it. I think he is just trying to please us... but, we'll see. I'm trying to make him realize that baptism is a COVENANT WITH GOD. Not just something you do because you read a few things and you might agree with it.
We also have another couple that just be entering the waters within 2-3 weeks. They are AWESOME!!!! He quit drinking immediately and he and his wife have already seen the blessings from it. So, its just a game of tag now, cuz he works a lot this week and its tough to see them. But they come to church every Sunday. Apparently, they already had a few run-ins with the family about our church. Long story short, the Husband said, "Look, you have your family, I have mine. Go away and don't worry about us and what we want to believe!" So we were WAY pumped that they are already defending our church. They are so awesome!
Ok....So.....I have a challenge for you all....You all know that I'm reading the Book of Mormon in Italian every transfer. (Every 6 weeks) I have seen the blessings from this and I would like to share them with you. I challenge EVERYONE to read the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks. (42 days) We will start this Monday. Its easy, for you guys its only 13 pages a day. 5 in the morning 5 during your lunch break 3 before you go to bed. (Or whatever you want to do...)
I know you all might think "well, that's easy for you to do cuz your a missionary you've got time!" In all reality...I don''t! I'm out a lot later than most of you, and I get up a lot earlier than most of you and in the mornings I'm studying for my investigators and members. Then for lunch, I got language study. In the evening I've got to plan and get ready for the next day, and I will tell you there really is NO time for relaxing! Plus, the Book of Mormon in Italian is 630 pages rather than the English version is only 530 pages(477 in French, partly because they cut out all the "it came to pass'es) . So you have less to read than I do! I have to read 15 pages a day to make this goal. So if I can do it, you can do it!
Its really an amazing experience. Please do it. And I promise you will see blessings! (Conner...do it!)
Again, we will start THIS Monday! Sept 28.
Anziano Merrill
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Letter dated 9 Sept 09, Torino
Well, I'm having a blast with my new comp! He is really funny. He's so girl crazy too! Haha...I tease him sooo much... We are getting along just great! Trying to keep the fire in him is a little hard though...but eh...I would imagine that it would be difficult your last transfer, so I can't blame him!
So, being in Torino....wow...Ya I already knew about it being the satanist capital of the world. (Ran into a few already last night...interesting folks...they just happened to "shrivel away" when I walked near them) haha...
Well with new city means I'm learning more words! For example...we talked to this guy on a bench and after I talked to my comp saying...."So, I understood the jist of things...but there were quite a few words I didn't really know..." He looked at me with a smile and said "Don't worry, you have all of your mission to figure out what those words mean..." haha so now Ive gone from learning gospel vocab, to Sailor's vocab! Go me! ;) (that is the blessing of a new language, all the curse words are completely unknown. It is wonderful to "not hear them when spoken")
So, as far as a cool story goes, we have had this African couple for awhile now, and she told us she needs help with her faith...the husband is pretty chill with things, he just wants to learn. So they have had a Book of Mormon for awhile now and they have started to read it (finally), and the wife came to us the next appt. and said she just felt this overwhelming joy in her and she couldn't understand why, cuz she couldn't sleep for anything the night before. She said she started reading early that morning and has been in a "joyful" mood every since. So we explained to her what that was and what it meant. I asked them to fast with us last Sunday. So they came to church and hopefully they received an answer (I'm sure they did) we have an appt. with them Thursday.
So, more to follow...
Ok, I love you guys so much!!! Thanks for your support!
DREW
So, being in Torino....wow...Ya I already knew about it being the satanist capital of the world. (Ran into a few already last night...interesting folks...they just happened to "shrivel away" when I walked near them) haha...
Well with new city means I'm learning more words! For example...we talked to this guy on a bench and after I talked to my comp saying...."So, I understood the jist of things...but there were quite a few words I didn't really know..." He looked at me with a smile and said "Don't worry, you have all of your mission to figure out what those words mean..." haha so now Ive gone from learning gospel vocab, to Sailor's vocab! Go me! ;) (that is the blessing of a new language, all the curse words are completely unknown. It is wonderful to "not hear them when spoken")
So, as far as a cool story goes, we have had this African couple for awhile now, and she told us she needs help with her faith...the husband is pretty chill with things, he just wants to learn. So they have had a Book of Mormon for awhile now and they have started to read it (finally), and the wife came to us the next appt. and said she just felt this overwhelming joy in her and she couldn't understand why, cuz she couldn't sleep for anything the night before. She said she started reading early that morning and has been in a "joyful" mood every since. So we explained to her what that was and what it meant. I asked them to fast with us last Sunday. So they came to church and hopefully they received an answer (I'm sure they did) we have an appt. with them Thursday.
So, more to follow...
Ok, I love you guys so much!!! Thanks for your support!
DREW
Sunday, September 06, 2009
First....I AM SOOOOOOO SORRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! I sent you guys an email!!!! I don't understand why it didn't go through!?!?! So, YES I did get transferred...TORINO! One of the 3 places in the world that has a "Portal to Hell" (I feel right at home...) ;)(Look this up on the internet, it has to do with the 45th parallel and devil worship. I guess that Torino has a long history of the occult, not to mention Nostradamus lived there for a period of time)
I'm very excited to be here!!!!! It has soooooo much history! It has the Shroud of Torrene. Which is believed to be the blanket that covered Christ in the tomb...But I don't really believe it cuz...ya...just don't....besides its been caught on fire 3 times...haha I think that's Gods way of saying...Ugh...THAT'S NOT IT!!!
So, I wrote an experience to you guys in my last email, but you never got it...so...
3 weeks ago, we had a power lesson with Claudio. A power lesson is when you have a lesson no longer than 15min and you have the person pray for revelation to know where to send the missionaries to find a new person.
So we did that, Claudio prayed for about 5min and we waited for about 20min...in complete silence... he then told us to go to Viale Degli Angeli (the way of the Angels) (And that place really isn't the best place for finding, its actually quite hard there) But we went there in faith right after the lesson and found a couple that havn't talked to the Missionaries in 30 years and loved them, and found another guy that wanted to know more about our church and wanted something to read, We gave him a Liahona with Christ on the front (it was a special edition) and he just loved it! So we got his number and told us to call him in a week.
I got transferred before we could call him again, so I don't know the outcome. I do know that Sabrina will be baptized the very end of Sept! I'm very excited for her! I also get to see Claudio and everyone from Cuneo in Oct for General Conference!! So I'm way excited for that!
I'm so thankful for the gift of tongues...Just when I think I really cant speak at all...I get a boast out of nowhere! Last night in missionary correlation, I met the Ward Missinary leader for the first time and he asked where I was from and I told him, he asked how long Ive been out, I told him 6 months for the mission, 4 months in Italia. His eyes got soooooo big, he didn't believe me, he told me I speak WAY TOO well for a missionary that has been out for only 4 months.
Another cool experience, on Sunday, I met these two American Guys on business here and was attending our ward for that Sunday and they didn't know Italian at all. So I told them I would be happy to translate for them. That was the weirdest thing ever! I have never translated a sacrament meeting for anyone before... it was so brain frying! Haha but it was pretty cool at the same time. They were very grateful for me. It was a very good experience.
Wow...I can't spell anymore...its getting harder and harder...the Italian is kinda taking over... so excuse me for my spelling errors...(you are not kidding, it took me 10 minutes to correct his spelling)
Questions to answer(questions we asked him):
1who is your comp? - Anziono Paul Richardson
2.where is he from? - He's a foreigner! Haha kinda.. From Canada... Toronto
3.how is he- Kinda like Eric Marshall... he's a good missionary, we are doing very well together, one prob though...he likes to talk a lot during the lessons...
4.how long has he been out? I'm killing him, aka. this is his last transfer!
5 .branch or ward? Ward
6.how big is it? I don't really know, a lot of people are still on vacation now, but, I'm guessing about 150 people...
7.how many in the teaching pool?
About 10
9.Any close to baptism?
We have 3 baptism dates here, Due for Oct 3rd
10.Did it hurt to leave Cuneo?
Ya it does...I miss Claudio A LOT! I got 2 emails from him! Haha Man I love that guy...other than that...NO! Because...
A. Food is SOOOOOO much CHEAPER here! Example...Bacon at Cuneo $4 Here.....$1 B. More people talk talk to! Not to mention bus work! I love doing it!!
11.how do you travel, bike, foot, public trans?
It's a 100% bus city
12.How was your last comp?
Anz. Conklin was a very good missionary. We had a lot of fun together! I learned a lot more about the language from him than my trainer. I really enjoyed serving with him. And haha...I'm actually in his last city! He served here before he got called to Cuneo! So he gave a lot of tips about the members etc...
13.did you think he would be transferred, not you?(Drew was the junior guy there as far as time goes)
We honestly thought that we would be together for another transfer! Then we found out I was going and he is Training! He was very excited to train!
14.Are you writing in your journal, if not, do it!!
Trust me...I'm writing in my journal....
15.are you gathering e-mail addresses of your friends you meet? If not get them.
I already have been....
Rome temple...I have heard the problem is two things....
1st The Pope can enter into ANY building he wants to in Italia, but obviously he cant enter into our temple once its Dedicated. Problem.
2nd Same thing with the Carabineri (The National Police)
Ok....I'm pretty sure I got carpal tunnel now...I hope this email makes you happy, I'm really sorry that you guys didn't get my last email...I don't understand why....Cuz you guys are the first people I write every week...(That is what every parent wants to hear!!!)
I love you and Thank you for everything!!!
DREW
Anziano Merrill
I'm very excited to be here!!!!! It has soooooo much history! It has the Shroud of Torrene. Which is believed to be the blanket that covered Christ in the tomb...But I don't really believe it cuz...ya...just don't....besides its been caught on fire 3 times...haha I think that's Gods way of saying...Ugh...THAT'S NOT IT!!!
So, I wrote an experience to you guys in my last email, but you never got it...so...
3 weeks ago, we had a power lesson with Claudio. A power lesson is when you have a lesson no longer than 15min and you have the person pray for revelation to know where to send the missionaries to find a new person.
So we did that, Claudio prayed for about 5min and we waited for about 20min...in complete silence... he then told us to go to Viale Degli Angeli (the way of the Angels) (And that place really isn't the best place for finding, its actually quite hard there) But we went there in faith right after the lesson and found a couple that havn't talked to the Missionaries in 30 years and loved them, and found another guy that wanted to know more about our church and wanted something to read, We gave him a Liahona with Christ on the front (it was a special edition) and he just loved it! So we got his number and told us to call him in a week.
I got transferred before we could call him again, so I don't know the outcome. I do know that Sabrina will be baptized the very end of Sept! I'm very excited for her! I also get to see Claudio and everyone from Cuneo in Oct for General Conference!! So I'm way excited for that!
I'm so thankful for the gift of tongues...Just when I think I really cant speak at all...I get a boast out of nowhere! Last night in missionary correlation, I met the Ward Missinary leader for the first time and he asked where I was from and I told him, he asked how long Ive been out, I told him 6 months for the mission, 4 months in Italia. His eyes got soooooo big, he didn't believe me, he told me I speak WAY TOO well for a missionary that has been out for only 4 months.
Another cool experience, on Sunday, I met these two American Guys on business here and was attending our ward for that Sunday and they didn't know Italian at all. So I told them I would be happy to translate for them. That was the weirdest thing ever! I have never translated a sacrament meeting for anyone before... it was so brain frying! Haha but it was pretty cool at the same time. They were very grateful for me. It was a very good experience.
Wow...I can't spell anymore...its getting harder and harder...the Italian is kinda taking over... so excuse me for my spelling errors...(you are not kidding, it took me 10 minutes to correct his spelling)
Questions to answer(questions we asked him):
1who is your comp? - Anziono Paul Richardson
2.where is he from? - He's a foreigner! Haha kinda.. From Canada... Toronto
3.how is he- Kinda like Eric Marshall... he's a good missionary, we are doing very well together, one prob though...he likes to talk a lot during the lessons...
4.how long has he been out? I'm killing him, aka. this is his last transfer!
5 .branch or ward? Ward
6.how big is it? I don't really know, a lot of people are still on vacation now, but, I'm guessing about 150 people...
7.how many in the teaching pool?
About 10
9.Any close to baptism?
We have 3 baptism dates here, Due for Oct 3rd
10.Did it hurt to leave Cuneo?
Ya it does...I miss Claudio A LOT! I got 2 emails from him! Haha Man I love that guy...other than that...NO! Because...
A. Food is SOOOOOO much CHEAPER here! Example...Bacon at Cuneo $4 Here.....$1 B. More people talk talk to! Not to mention bus work! I love doing it!!
11.how do you travel, bike, foot, public trans?
It's a 100% bus city
12.How was your last comp?
Anz. Conklin was a very good missionary. We had a lot of fun together! I learned a lot more about the language from him than my trainer. I really enjoyed serving with him. And haha...I'm actually in his last city! He served here before he got called to Cuneo! So he gave a lot of tips about the members etc...
13.did you think he would be transferred, not you?(Drew was the junior guy there as far as time goes)
We honestly thought that we would be together for another transfer! Then we found out I was going and he is Training! He was very excited to train!
14.Are you writing in your journal, if not, do it!!
Trust me...I'm writing in my journal....
15.are you gathering e-mail addresses of your friends you meet? If not get them.
I already have been....
Rome temple...I have heard the problem is two things....
1st The Pope can enter into ANY building he wants to in Italia, but obviously he cant enter into our temple once its Dedicated. Problem.
2nd Same thing with the Carabineri (The National Police)
Ok....I'm pretty sure I got carpal tunnel now...I hope this email makes you happy, I'm really sorry that you guys didn't get my last email...I don't understand why....Cuz you guys are the first people I write every week...(That is what every parent wants to hear!!!)
I love you and Thank you for everything!!!
DREW
Anziano Merrill
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