Fwd: ridiculous week

Anziano Wilkey is a stud. We're doing an amazing work. We're teaching more lessons to more investigators and getting higher key indicator numbers in EVERY one than ever before in my mission. It's incredible. Since you asked, Anziano Aaron Wilkey is from Bournemouth, England, just turned 20, and is amazing. Yes, I'm starting to pick up fun british sayings, though I'm trying to resist the urge to become british. He often says "Oh, grief!" and makes me laugh every time he says "oh damn it!" (It's not really a swear word in england).

 

So Thursday, Anziano Ellsworth and I go to Milano, and I pick up Anziano Wilkey. We come back to Reggio, and we teach Sarfo, and immediately set a baptismal date for the 22nd of October. He always prays that he will be able to build up the true church. It's awesome. We asked him to bring a friend to the next meeting. Then we went and taught Sasha about missionary work, and then we did our shopping and went to Salome and Giovanna's and taught them about obedience.

 

Friday, We taught Tony, who brought his friend Raymond to the lesson, and we set baptismal dates with both of them for the 22nd of October. Then we went and taught Gioel with our Ward Mission Leader, and set a date with him as well. Then we went out to Parma, where we taught Gabriella, and commited her to placing a Book of Mormon.

 

Saturday, we went and taught Sarfo again, giving him a Book of Mormon and he brought his friend Dennis to the lesson. Then we went to Paul's house, which took two hours to find and he was drunk when we got there. "I have a problem. I drink. I'll be in church on Sunday." That was a strange lesson.

 

Sunday, we go to church, where we have Opare, Bonini, Katya and Pamela. During the second hour, Raymond calls saying he's getting off the bus. We go and pick him up and he has brought his friend Samuel along. They both enjoy Sacrament meeting. Then we go home, eat lunch, and then we go to teach Abraham. Abraham has read the chapters we assigned last week, believes they're true, and commits to watching conference. His wife believes Joseph Smith is a true prophet. Then we go, having forgotten to plan and we teach Danny, a less active who wants to meet with the bishop, and then Ernest, our High Priest Group Leader.

 

Monday, we go and teach Raymond at his house, and once again Samuel is there. We fix a baptismal date with Samuel for the 22nd of October as well. He's very excited, as is Raymond, because they've never been baptized. Then we go home, do some area book, and eat lunch. Then we go and have District Meeting about the Book of Mormon and baptismal invites, and then we go on scambio. Anziano Armenise and I go to Parma and teach Katya, and then the Menendez family. The Menendez's are a less active family with the same problems as all of our other less actives it seems. As I teach less actives, I note the same things. Financial difficulties and not paying tithing. Pay your tithing. I understand SO well the concept of tithing now. "

 8 ¶^aWill a man ^brob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ^ctithes and offerings.

 9 Ye are ^acursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 10 Bring ye all the ^atithes into the storehouse, that there may be ^bmeat in mine house, and ^cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not ^dopen you the ^ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a ^fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 11 And I will ^arebuke the ^bdevourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."

Ye are cursed with a curse. It's true! All of them are incredibly in debt and don't have work. I know tithing is a true principle. Pay it. Put the LORD to the test. He will bless you.

 

Tuesday, We go and teach Victor, setting a baptismal date. As I invited him to baptism, I thought "the 22nd? no... the 29th" Will you prepare yourself to be baptized the 29th? That is my birthday. I would really like to. Then we go to the station and teach Ella, who starts crying when we ask him to be baptized. He says yes. also the 29th. Then we go to the bus stop and teach Kobe about the priesthood, and then as we walk back we see Samuel and Raymond and we teach them a short lesson about prayer. Then we eat lunch and get a call from Francis, who wants to know where the bus stop is. So we go and teach him. Then we go to the park to teach Sarfo, but he's late, so we do some park contacting and find Stefano, who wants to know if Jesus is truely divine. Then we go to Sarfo, who has brought his friend Adae to the lesson, and has read to 1 Nephi 6. We talk about the Plan of Salvation, and he is excited to hear it. Then we go to interview the sister's baptismal date, but she decides not to be baptized this week. Oh well.

A short list of our investigators and dates for quick looking

Sarfo 22/10 Ghana

Gioel 15/10 Santo Domingo

Samuel 22/10 Nigeria

Tony 22/10 Sierra Leone

Raymond 22/10 Nigeria

Ella 29/10 Ghana

Victor 29/10 Nigeria

Lots of other people.

 

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Transfers

Dear family,

 

It's been an interesting week. First things first. Anziano Ellsworth is leaving to San Remo, and I'm getting Anziano Wilkey, from England! I've met him and I'm super excited to have him as my companion. Our sisters are changing too, Sister Jones will be getting Sister Cazier. So it looks like beginning of October I'll be moving to our new apartment and the sisters will be taking ours. So please send my mail to the mission office in Opera, Milano. A lot of letters have never arrived here for some reason, so just send the letters to the mission office.

 

This week's been a slower one. On Wednesday, we went to the Nuredini's house, where we went with our Ward Mission Leader. The Nuredini's are an albanian less active family. There you have it.

 

Thursday, we taught Pacomeo about the Aaronic Priesthood, and we did a lot of finding work with not particularly exciting results.

 

Friday, we went out to Kobe's, who we taught a little about missionary work. Then we attempted to contact Joyce the brasilian member, but the address was wrong, and she didn't answer the phone. Oh well.

 

Saturday, we got a lot of bidoni, but we met a guy at a bus stop named Safo, who was really cool. He had to leave after about one minute, so we gave him a card. "give me a complimentary card." Then during lunch we got a call from him saying "I met some of your people, they gave me this complimentary card to call, I'd like to meet with you." So we met and explained the restoration and gave the soft baptismal invite, to which he said yes. That evening, we went to Salome and Giovanna's, who we talked to about missionary work and the gathering of Israel, since that was the RS lesson the next day. Giovanna was very pleased to be well informed for the lesson.

 

Sunday, we had Opare, Salome, Giovanna, and Saverio in church. Our chapel is full to bursting. It's exciting. Sasha and Pacome were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by our Priest's Quorum, which was super exciting. Good for our Priests, good for Sasha and Pacome. Then we went and taught Abraham, who is super cool, still. He was agreeing with everything we said except "All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;" Somehow that didn't work for him. Oh well. He's a cool guy. That evening, we also made contact with one of the sister's referrals, Tony Amanka, from Sierra Leone, who speaks 5 languages+, and had only one question before we could come into his house. "Do you believe Jesus Christ is the BEGOTTEN son of God?" Yes, of course. So we should be back to teach him tomorrow.

 

Monday, I went on scambio with Anziano Proctor, of Park City, UT. We went and "taught" some atheist college students. It was more a discussion about God than a teaching situation, but it was fun. Then we did some casa looking for one of their investigators, and got in to two muslims. One was from Pakistan and when we asked him to pray at the end, he gave a Muslim prayer, in Arabic. We asked him what it meant. He said... "I don't know." Interesting. Then we went and taught a man from Ethiopia, who walked out of the room in the middle of the first vision. That was disappointing, but... ok. Then we got a gelato from Marco, the awesome half-investigator gelato man. He talked with us about Jesus and how his family is about to fall apart, so I promised him as a representative of Jesus Christ that if he would pray every night with his wife, their marriage will improve. Then we talked about faith, and how it changes things.

 

Tuesday, we rescambioed, and then we went and helped Francis, one of our new converts, prepare his first talk for church. It'll be in Italian, which is scary for him, because he's been in Italy 9 months. He's a really cool kid. Then we got some bidoni and did some finding work and got the transfer call. This morning, Anziano Ellsworth packed his bags and we came to do Email. We'll be going to Sasha's in about a half hour.

 

I love you!

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Fwd: BAPTISM!!!!! (from Benjamin in Italy)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley <benjamin.jolley@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 4:10 AM
Subject: BAPTISM!!!!!
To: Ariana Black <ariana.black@myldsmail.net>, Camille Jolley <melers20@hotmail.com>, Caroline Jolley <caro.jolly@gmail.com>, Christopher Jolley <tophinator@gmail.com>, Dad <deanjol@gmail.com>, Elijah Milne <elm2164@columbia.edu>, Joseph ballsteadt <jgballstaedt@gmail.com>, Megan Milne <nutmegnut@gmail.com>, Mom <carriejolley@gmail.com>

Dear family,

 

This week has been... incredible. I won't tell you what happened until it happens in my story. please read on.

 

Thursday we taught Sasha a lesson on what the baptismal interview means and reviewing the plan of salvation. We also invited him once again to our baptism on Saturday. We went to Kobe's house with our WML, who made a great friendship with him and then reviewed anything for his baptism on Saturday. Then we saw Bill, who turns out to be the same person as Guerthy, an old investigator from before I got here. We then taught a couple other lessons doing casa. For some reason we went to the train station, and a lady ran up to us saying "eglise mormona?" "Io Mormona." "...um... Address?" "um... Telephone?" So we gave her a pass along card and wondered who the random georgian lady is and how in the world she found us.

 

Friday we taught Guerthy Bill and set a baptismal date with him for the 15th of October. He's a cool guy from Congo. In the afternoon we taught Saverio, our moroccan friend and then Sasha again about enduring to the end. As we looked for Saverio, we ran into Pacome, who is back from France and wanted to be baptized the next day. So we organized everything for that. We then went to Modena to do a baptismal interview for Ettore, one of their investigators who will be baptized this coming Saturday. cool. Then we went home. In the station we met Moose and Carlos from Tanzania, who were super interested in the Gospel and wanted the Book of Mormon, so we gave them a copy each.

 

Saturday, we went to Maurizio's work to give him a Book of Mormon, which he received gladly. He's an agnostic guy, but likes reading. Then we went to the church, organized rides for us and all of our investigators, and then planned and printed programs for the baptism. Then as we went to go see Pacome again, Sasha called and asked if he could be baptized today. "Guys, can I be baptized today?" So we organized an interview for him, clothing and everything. And then we went to Modena chapel, where we had a baptismal service for Kobe, Sasha and Pacome. I baptized all three myself. Pacome went first. It was really funny. As we were going down into the font, he started to take off his jumpsuit, thinking he was going to be baptized naked. so I said "no put that back on!" Then when we were in the font he just started to go down into the water before I said the baptismal prayer, so I stopped him and then baptized him. Then I baptized Sasha, who raised his arm when I put mine to the square. When he came out he said "I'm alive, I'm so happy!" Then I baptized Kobe, who said "This is the best day of my life!" when he came out of the water. It was awesome. Then they all gave awesome testimonies. And then we went home.

 

Sunday, we had three confirmations, of Pacome, which I did, Sasha, which Anziano Ellsworth did, and Kobe, which our bishop's first counselor did. Also, the georgian lady came to church. She speaks russian, so we found out about how she found us. Turns out that she's been in Italy 3 months, looking for the church. The day she stopped us, her son had a dream and called her saying "go to the train station today at 4 PM, you'll find something important." and she found us. That afternoon we went to our WML's for lunch, which was really good.  Then we went to Fidenza to teach the Dorofeev family, an inactive family with two unbaptized daughters. Then we rushed to Salome and Giovanna's house for a short lesson. As we rode down the street, we saw Hope, who I looked at like I was about to baptize him, and he stopped us. That was crazy.

 

Monday, we had Zone Conference about the Book of Mormon. On the way home, as we were walking through the station, these two kids looked at my companion weird and so we stopped them. The girl looked at our tags and said "Grande. siamo mormoni anche noi!" they were baptized in Brazil, but never found the church here in Italy. So we got their address, phone numbers, and birth dates so we can move their membership records here. Then I rushed home because I had an upset stomach.

 

Tuesday, we went and looked at apartments for the sisters with our bishop. It looks like we'll be moving to one of the new apartments, and the sisters will be taking ours. After that we went looking for a member and my companion placed two Book of Mormons while I was on the phone for 15 minutes. Also, we placed a Book of Mormon with the lady who took us to look at apartments. Then we met with sorella Maria, the agnostic lady who was baptized for her son's sake. She's interesting. Then we went to Saverio's and ate delicious moroccan food. mmm. spicy.

 

What do you think? 3 people stopping us saying they're members, and three baptisms? good enough of a week? You can stop praying for me to get people to baptism and start praying for me to find people ready for baptism again. thanks. I love you so much. Thank you so much for your prayers!

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Fwd: A scambio, 18 months

From: Benjamin Jolley <benjamin.jolley@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 8:29 AM
Subject: A scambio, 18 months

Dear family of mine,

 

This week has been a good one. Thursday, we went out to Kobe's, and we watched the Testaments with him. He liked it. Then we went and taught Pacomeo the Word of Wisdom, and did a short baptismal interview prep. He's great. When we asked about homosexual relationships, his response was "What kind of person does something like that? I am a man! I like women! What a waste!" It was funny. Then we went and taught Paul about fasting. However, as we left, we saw him open a beer. I don't think he understood the Word of wisdom. oh well. We then went to the church, where we taught Sasha the restoration again. He kept saying "I know that." Then he said "Guys, I have good news! I haven't smoked or drank coffee for two days!" progress!

 

Friday, we did a scambio with Modena. Pacomeo passed his baptismal interview, but he'll be in france for a week, so he'll be baptized with Sasha on the 17th. I taught a random member in church, who seems to be a super awesome member. His prayer for us was epic. I was so excited to work after that prayer. We talked to a lot of young people on the street, and then we taught Ettore about how to get an answer to prayers, and he should hopefully be baptized also the 17th. We then headed home to Modena's apartment, where I found the name of a certain Robert Cowart on the wall as one of the missionaries that served there. That was cool.

 

Saturday, we taught Edmond about baptism and confirmation, because he really wants to be baptised in our church. He came to church a few times in Ghana, and wants to go to the temple even. Then we riscambioed, and we taught Sasha a short leson where he asked about Alcohol, and why we can't drink it. He said, why though, guys? In the end, he read to us the last verse of D&C 89, where it says the destroying angel shall pass by them. "God needs a way to tell who will obey or not. This is the reason guys. When I read this I crap my pants. God's gonna kick your butt if you don't obey this commandment." (swear words mormonized). That was hilarious. And awesome. He still hasn't drunk coffee or smoked since he quit. WOOT!

 

Sunday, we had Abraham in church for the first time, along with a total of 10 investigators in Sacrament meeting. We had the best attended sacrament meeting since I've been here with 10 investigators and about 75-80 people. The chapel was completely full. And 3 of our larger families didn't even come. Good thing we'll have a new chapel in early october! We need it. I decided to set a goal for myself of doubling sacrament meeting attendance by the end of the year. We have about 20-25 less actives that we can work with, the sisters have set 5 baptismal dates this week, and we have 3 baptismal dates that attend church. Kobe was there too! So if all of these people get baptised and the less actives we reactivate, that's already about 50% increase from when I first got here. And it's 4 months time to find and baptise 15-20 more between us and the sisters. In the afternoon, we went to Fratello Triglia's house, who is a sweet 40 year old bachelor in our bishopric.

 

Monday, we had district meeting very shortly because Piacenza showed up an hour late... and then we made a lot of calls and had FHE with Sasha and his mom and his girlfriend's family. And we met a cool guy named Kwame (he was born on Saturday). Which reminds me... I'm learning Twi, the ghanan language. My name is Kwaku (I think. What day was I born?). Kwaku means born wednesday. Ye fre me Anziano Jolley.  (My name is Anziano Jolley). It's fun.

 

Tuesday, we taught Sasha during lunch, with his family. I think we're part of the in laws meeting each other because we had dinner at his girlfriend's house with her family, and at his house the next day. anyways... It rained a lot. We attempted to contact a member in the middle of nowhere, who no longer lives there, but then stumbled across another member. So... there you have it. We taught a sweet kid named Patrick that night from the czech republic. He's a cool kid. We'll repass him later this week.

 

Today we went to Modena and harvested a vineyard with some members. We filled a large truck with grapes. by the way, there are a lot of earwigs amongst grapes, if you didn't know. It was fun. I love you all very much. Pray that all will go well for Kobe's baptism.

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