Scioperi and Andrews

From: Benjamin Jolley
Date: Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Scioperi and Andrews
This week has been interesting. Wednesday, we taught Ernest, our investigator, for the first time in a week, and then we didn't see him again for a long while. He understood that he must be baptized again to join this church, but he does not want to fix a date. Also, he doesn't give us much time to meet with him, which is frustrating. Then we had Ward Council, and we taught one of our members. She told us that she was born a member. That's pretty rare in Italy, especially among somewhat older members. Apparently her mother was baptized while she was in the womb, so she's been baptized... twice.... Then we went and taught Judi, a nice Peruvian man. My companion struggles with the spantalian that south americans speak. After Pesaro, I understand it just fine. He was busy, so we quickly got to know him and said a prayer, then left.

 

Thursday, we had a bunch of appointments, which all fell through because of a sciopero on the trains. We had to leave for Modena early because the trains had a strike (sciopero). It was a disappointing day. Then we got up around 4:30 AM to go to Verona for interviews and training. We talked about planning better, and being more sincere in our teaching. I have been impressed many times this past week with the concept of sharing my feelings about the gospel more than just the gospel. My teaching for my entire mission has consisted in sorta dumping information into my investigators, rather than sharing with them how I feel about the information I'm sharing. I feel deep in my heart that the gospel in true. It fills me with joy. I love it.

 

Saturday, we did a little bit of area book, and got an appointment with a super cool looking ex investigator named Roberto. Then we went to our WML's house, to teach him a short lesson and to give him a blessing. A few days before, he had gotten into an accident at work, where a train type thing ran over his foot and cut him pretty bad. Fortunately, he was wearing steel-toed boots or he would have no toes. That evening, we passed by Franco, and taught him a short lesson, and then we taught Salome as well. We called many people for church, and no one responded. That was frightening.

 

The next morning, we called Andrews, our less active, and his phone was off. So we went to his house, knocked on his door around 8:40 AM, and his roommates let us in. We knocked on his bedroom door till he woke up, and then told him to get ready for church. We waited for him, and drove with him to church around 9:15 AM, and he came to church for the first time in about a year. The members, including most of his siblings, were very pleased to see him. Unfortunately, none of our investigators came to church. But he came. We went back to his house that evening, taught him a short lesson, and he told us about a friend of his named Hope. We're hoping to get Hope as a referral now.

 

Monday, we had a good district meeting about following your heart in teaching, asking questions inspired from heaven to dig deep into the person's concern. Then we went and passed by two members, one of which had an address for c/o Rugby Reggio, so we asked them if they knew him, and it turns out that he's in Australia, and they'll get us his new address and phone number when we go back tomorrow. This reminds me to mention that this transfer, one of our goals has been to meet every member on the ward list that is possibly contactable. We have now been to every member house inside of the city. It's incredible how many people don't live at those addresses. Having an up-to-date ward list is an incredibly important thing. I remember 3 transfers ago in Pesaro the District President telling us that we needed to update the ward list, because if these people don't live here anymore they are like a sheep without a shepherd. That man in Australia is a member, but his bishop doesn't know that he exists. We'll try to get his information to that bishop ASAP, so that that sheep can have water. Anyway, we taught a man named Nima, from Persia, who claims Bahai as his religion. I've never heard of it. He has a Book of Mormon, and he speaks English. Then we went back to Judi's, and taught him a short restoration lesson. It was interesting how when we stated "there should only be one true church," he said, "the JW's and everyone else says the same thing. How am I supposed to ever figure it out?"

 

Tuesday, we got super confused by a man who wanted to meet with us, and told us where he was, and when we got there we called him, and he said he couldn't see us, nor could we see him. "I'm at the station, wearing blue jeans and a white shirt". "We're at the station!" This was resolved when we figured out that he was in Modena. That afternoon we taught a very strange character, named Augustine, who for some reason recorded on his cell phone the entire lesson. That was weird. That evening, we taught another strange character, Spalanzane, the conspiracy man. It was a distracted lesson, we'll say. "there's no God, he's in our hearts!" ok... will you come to church? "I'd love to!" Confusing?

 

I have a flat tire on my bike, we found this morning. We'll see what we can do about that. I love you tons.

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Fwd: Quite the week

From: Benjamin Jolley <benjamin.jolley@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 4:45 AM
Subject: Quite the week
Dear family,

 

I've had a crazy week. I'll just get straight into it. Pday last week, we taught Ernest again. He told us more about his story, and then told us he couldn't come to church on Sunday. bummer. We then taught him the first lesson and gave him the baptismal invite. He says he's already been baptised, but... we'll see. Then we went with one of our members to teach one of our new converts, Fratello Panico. He's from Napoli, and speaks mostly in Napoletano. It's hard to understand. Imagine the most stereotypical Italian "eh make-a me-a pizza!" And then add local dialect. That's the Italian he speaks It's very different from my super northern accent. Two native missionaries have told me they hate my accent. They say I sound super Milanese and they dislike it. Oh well. Better than sounding American.

 

Thursday, we found a random african who listened to us and then asked us for money. We are not here to give people money. Oh well. Then we taught English class to Renata, our single Polish student, had coordination meeting, and then we found GianCarlo and his family. We'd met this family before, as I greeted them on their porch, and they responded in English. So I had to go back. That was a week ago. We passed by them and they were home, and we taught a lesson on Prayer. This family is amazing. GianCarlo and Stefania have been married twenty years, and have 3 children, Brian, 15, Alexis, 11, and Caroline Meaghan, 9. They are the sweetest family. Little Meaghan thinks we're the best thing ever, and the rest of them just love us too. We invited them to pray as a family and to come to church on Sunday. We left a pamphlet explaining Sunday services. It was awesome.

 

Friday, I went on Scambio with Anziano Proctor, in Piacenza. We went and did work. We tuaght Daniel, a sweet ecuadorian, a random Muslim guy named Mohammed and this AMAZING brasilian lady. She needs to meet with the missionaries. We got her number and I hope Anziano Proctor followed through on it.

 

Saturday morning, we taught Anna, a woman who has met the missionaries about 1.000.000.000 times, but has never come to church... and she couldn't come this Sunday because of going on vacation. darn. Then we taught Rosario, this sweet guy who has a baptismal date and wants to be baptized, he just has this problem of not coming to church consistently because he works the night shift. So we commited him to read, pray, and come to church in a sweet, short 20 minute lesson that had the spirit strong. It was way nice. Then we picked up our dear companions and went to Winter's baptism. Piacenza had 5 investigators with a baptismal date. now they have 4. Because they baptized one. Sweet. I had to interview one of them, so our day was shot, but that's ok. I interviewed GianPaolo, who really likes the church. I love baptismal interviews. I don't know why I worried before. The questions are so easy. You just ask, and they just open right up. So easy. Those questions are super inspired. Then we went home.

 

Sunday, we helped the sisters get Gregoria to church, and then in the second hour, GianCarlo and family ALL came. He even wore a shirt and tie. and the girls wore dresses. Is this family elect? absolutely. I taught our gospel principles class, and it was awesome. People were crying and spiritual experiences were shared. GianCarlo lived in New Jersey during 9/11, and he was about 1 mile away when the planes hit. He helped clear the rubble, and... yeah. he has a flag that he took from the rubble. It's amazing. His family met the church for the first time there, and they were part of a block party, and one of their LDS friends gave them a cross stitched pillow that says "We Believe" on it. That is one of their family treasures. Keep making those pillows and other crafts. They're excellent missionary tools.

 

That evening, we taught Abraham, a cool nigerian man who is married and believes a lot in common with us. When his wife asked about the gift of tongues, I explained my belief that my ability to speak Italian is a manifestation of the gift of tongues, she laughed and started talking about the "tongue of angels"/babbling of pentecostal churches. He explained that our belief makes more sense because people can understand Italian. God is a God of order, not of confusion. That was cool. It was like having a member present. Then we went and taught Samuel, our other nigerian who is obsessed with the concept of Saturday being the Sabbath, and cannot accept Sunday worship. We more or less dropped him. Then we went to Andrews' house. Andrews is a less active Ghanan, who has a strong testimony. We're not really sure why he doesn't come to church, and read the Book of Mormon, except that he doesn't. When we invited him to do both he just said... yeah, why not? That was easy. Then we did some casa and found Kevin, another nigerian, who tried to convince us to work and be missionaries at the same time.

 

Monday, we went to Parma, and helped the Chagua family, from Peru, to move some stuff and then we invited them to have family prayer every day. Then we went to the DelMonte family, who are awesome. Adorable family. They even had a friend there. His name was Claudio. we'll see if he wants to know more about the church. I gave him a pass along card. Then we went back to Reggio, where we prepared to teach GianCarlo again, with our WML, Fratello Pianegonda. We went over and taught them the first lesson and they chatted a lot with the Pianegonda's. It was good, because the doctrine was taught, and they made a good friendship, but we weren't able to give them the baptismal invite like we wanted too. Oh well.

 

Yesterday, we did some finding work, and then looked for less actives. In the afternoon, we went back to Kevin's, gave him a Book of Mormon, and more or less dropped him. "I'll maybe come to church next year. But I'll read the book." Then we found this less active named Stefano, who has... problems. He's been to prison for possession of illegal drugs... and he is clearly still using. yeah... but he'll come to church on sunday! that'll be good. We went back to Andrews', who we talked with about how we feel about God being our heavenly father. After that, we did a little finding work and found Samuel, who we commited to church on Sunday. That'll be sweet.

 

That's our week. cool, eh? We have a crazy week planned. Like we're going to Verona and a lot of other things. So... till next time, Eat lots of Parmesean!

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BEST WEEK EVER!

Benjamin's new address:

Anziano Benjamin Jolley

Via Don Zefferino Jodi, 6

42120 Reggio Emilia (RE)

Italia

As you may have seen above, I have had an amazing week. I don't think it would be possible to tell all of the crazy miracles we had this week, but I'll try. So Wednesday night, Anziano Rockwood and I headed to Bologna and were stopped by two different people who we talked to for about a half an hour each about the gospel because they were interested. We gave them the contact information about the bologna missionaries. On the way to Bologna, we talked to Felix and Harrison. Felix is peruvian and was SUPER interested. We gave his contact info to Ancona. Harrison wanted a Book of Mormon. Felix kept saying que bueno, que bueno as we explained the restoration to him.

 

Thursday, we headed to Milano Centrale, where we met up with our new companions. We got back to Reggio around 6, and we did some casa, teaching two lessons to people that were ALL atheist. everyone we stopped that night was atheist. But we gave one a Book of Mormon.

 

Friday, we did our planning session, and then we went to get the Reggio Sisters their maps and get them situated. On the way their, I hit a car. It was raining. My shirt is SUPER dirty. Incredibly dirty. I tried washing it, but there is still mud. The hitting the car was funny. I pulled out of our apartment, went after my companion, and a car came out of nowhere. I pull my brakes, but it's wet, and the brakes are, as most missionary bikes... destroyed. I hit the car and I'm on my back. two seconds later I jump up "I'm fine, I'm fine!" I have a dirty shirt and a one milimeter cut on my hand. I was a little shaky too. We then showed the Sisters where the church is and we had a coordination meeting with our Ward Mission Leader who told us how he met his wife. It was an awesome story. That evening, we got to work, and taught two more lessons. One to our investigators Salomé and Giovanna, who are super solid and want to be baptized, they're just not actually married. They've lived together 3 years and she's been trying to get a divorce that whole time, but it's a long process here, and so they can't get baptized till she gets a divorce and then they get married.

 

Saturday, I had the best studies ever in the morning, about missionary work and the promises we have. This translated into the most epic day ever. I stopped over 100 people and found 4 potential investigators and was super happy and inviting just massive numbers of people. At the end of the day, we had taught many lessons, but didn't have any new investigators until at 9 PM Uyi stopped us. Uyi is a nigerian man and has a Book of Mormon, but wanted us to explain to him what it really is. so we did. We explained the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith story and the entire restoration lesson as we walked with him to his house. He said "wow. now I have to read this book." Then he said a prayer and we carried on towards home.

 

Sunday was a similar experience. We went to church and had 5 investigators in church, one named Benjamin that the sisters found the night before. Go Sisters! That evening we used our newly made member map to try and figure out who all the 60 members in Reggio are and why we don't know any of them. We went and found Maria, who was baptized 15 years ago to please her son, and then we found Ernest, our High Priest Group Leader. How did we not know him? Also, during lunch we got a call at random from another Ernest, from Ghana. The call went like this: "Is the the Latter-day Saint ministry?" Yes. "I tried to find your church this morning but I could not find it. Could you help me get there next Sunday?" "yes of course could we meet earlier?" "Wednesday?" "sure. what's your name and address, and where should we meet?" and then we arranged a meeting. When I called back yesterday he said "we have an appointment tomorrow at 6:30 right? Can I bring a friend?" This man is amazing! I'm excited!!!

 

Monday, we went to Piacenza for a district meeting. I more or less had it planned, but on the spot I felt to change all my plans to helping investigators get to church. It was a sweet meeting. I felt the spirit. Then we did a scambio with our Capi, and Anziano Nielsen of St. George, UT and I went and had the craziest day. So I pick up my bag and notice it's about the weight of a Book of Mormon. so I assume it's Italian. I grab a Polish Book of Mormon for the old Pole that we'll meet that day, and we go. The second person we stop is the girl that is super interested and accepts a Book of Mormon no sweat. As I reach for one, I realize that I don't have Italian, I have Russian. WHY? I dunno. Anziano Nielsen pulls out an Italian and we give it to her. we carry on, stopping people once again like crazy. as we do, we meet a young man on the street who speaks english. We walk with him about 15 minutes and find that he's Ukrainian and speaks Russian. He wants a more united family and so we promise that if he'll read the book, his family will be more united. We give it to him, and he is content. We are amazed that God put a Russian Book of Mormon in my bag. We carry on and Anziano Nielsen feels like stopping an African. We stop Daniel, who is interested and we invite him to be baptized. He accepts. He should be baptized the 30th of July assuming all goes well. We carry on and have about 10 more crazy experiences stopping people who are interested. At the same time, Anziani Anderson and Ellsworth invite another man to be baptized the same day. He accepts. CRAZY! We now have a ridiculously busy schedule.

 

Tuesday, we have sweet studies with our capi, and then we go and do some strada and contacting in general. We place a Book of Mormon on the last stop of the morning to this practically Mormon woman so far as her beliefs are concerned. She didn't give us her number though. In the afternoon, we go to one of our priests, Sebastian the 17 year old awesome, teach him a quick lesson and the try to find another member, who isn't at home. I've taken it upon me to update the entire ward list. It's very out of date so far. We go and teach a part member couple, Nicola and Antonia. We invite Antonia to be baptized. She says I can't say yes or no. But she does say no to the 30th of July as a date. oh well. We head home. Luna stops us on the way home. We get home and sleep, SUPER tired.

 

This morning, we do our studies and come to do email. Sweet week, huh? I guess something just clicked for me. I love this city! Also, in our district the Piacenza Anziani have 5 baptismal dates, two for next week, so I'll have to do some sweet baptismal interviews soon. Woot!

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Transfers!

From: Benjamin Jolley
Date: Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 3:28 AM
Subject: Transfers!

Well, it's transfer week again. I'm out of here! I'm headed a little farther north to Reggio Emilia, where I will be companions to Anziano Ellsworth and District Leader over Piacenza. In our district will also be a new copia of sisters that will live in Modena but will work in Reggio Emilia and will work with the same ward I will work with. The other missionaries in my district will be Anziano Minà, Anziano Proctor, Sorelle Chambers and Jones. In my place here in Pesaro will be Anziano Palmer, from my MTC group. Since I'm being transferred, please send all mail to the mission office until further notice. Tonight I'll be headed to Bologna to stay the night and then I'll head to Reggio Emilia in the morning. As I packed my bags today, I decided that I really dislike packing now. This is my fifth city. I love transfers, but I dislike the packing now. Anyways...

 

This week was pretty uneventful. Why, you ask? I respond, because Anziano Rockwood had such severe tooth pain all week that we were basically in the house all week. Fortunately we were able to meet with a dentist yesterday and get things straightened out with his teeth. phew! Anyways, Wednesday we went and gave Sorella Nardini a blessing because she had some kind of crazy disease that she attributed to witches and stuff. I think it was just allergies. That was funny though.

 

Thursday, we went to a district meeting where our Zone Leaders taught us how to do district meetings more better involving acting like a coach. Then we did some area book work, went out to teach Sorella Cardenas, and then that was about the whole day.

 

Friday, we did our planning session, contacted Renzo Tonucci who dropped us but said we could call anytime and was basically just not wanting to commit. If we go back though, we could totally baptize him. Then we went and taught Albert, our new convert at his house and that was it for the day.

 

Saturday, we chilled inside all day again, and then went out to work around 6, when we got a couple stand ups. Then I went crazy inviting people to hear the gospel.

 

Sunday, we had a nice day in church, and then we had a linger longer with delicious food including oatmeal chocolate chip cookies baked by yours truly. Then we had a really good ward council and chilled some more.

 

Monday, we had an appointment with a dentist that was a joke. She examined his teeth, told us that he had no cavities and that it wasn't urgent. and then we left. That was weird. So we went home, chilled and called dentists around Pesaro till we found one that was american trained and spoke english. We went to him tuesday morning and he fixed up Anziano Rockwood. Turns out he has gingivitis because he brushes and flosses wrong. So the dentist gave him a cleaning that made him bleed like crazy, then taught him how to brush and floss. seriously though, Anziano Rockwood bled a lot. Then we did some casa and taught our english class, who this week was Michael. Then we went to our WML's house, taught him a lesson and went home. This morning, I packed. Monday evening, President called to tell me I was headed to Reggio Emilia, where I'd be district leader and there would be sisters in my city for the first time well... ever. This should be a fun new adventure.

 

I love you all.

 

Elder Jolley the ancient.

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