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