Fwd: transfers

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley
Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 3:22 AM
Subject: transfers

My dear family, transfer calls have come again. I'm off to the south of the mission, to Pesaro, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. I'm whitewashing (both of the missionaries there were transferred out), and I'm training a new missionary. That's intimidating. Especially knowing that 3 other cities are doing the same thing, and the other 3 trainer/whitewashers were Zone Leaders this transfer. This is my address, I think:

 

Anziano Benjamin Jolley

Strada di Borgheria 15

Pesaro (Pesaro-Urbino) 61100 Italia

 

I'll confirm that next week. If you want to be sure to get me a letter, just send it to the mission office in Opera (MI), the address of which I already sent.

 

Anyways, summary of my week, On Thursday, we did a bunch of finding work, and we taught Sorella Armilotta. I learned probably 50 new words in that lesson. She has a HUGE vocabulary. We also taught English. Not a very exciting day.

 

Friday, We did our planning session, and then we did a scambio with Lecco, me and Anz. Anderson here in Merate. We had a cool day. In the afternoon, we just did a bunch of casa, and didn't get in. As we were leaving a palazzo, a romanian guy named Vassile yelled "Hey did you ring?" yeah! Then we taught him and he was super interested. He was a Badante (old person helper) to an OLD man named Carlo. It was a good lesson. Gave him a Book of Mormon. Then we taught the Madafferi's, to whom we gave a book of Mormon, but they weren't super interested. That evening, we taught the Muçe family, and Brixhilda said that she'd be baptised the 5th of March by her Uncle, so our goal now is to try and get the rest of them ready for baptism by then. It was a sweet lesson. We talked about the temple and Baptisms for the Dead. I told them that my little sisters just did it for the first time, and it was super cool. Also, as we were going home, we gave a book of mormon to a guy that wants to go to Utah to ski. His name is Giuseppe. (Joseph).

 

Saturday, we riscambioed, and then I went with Anz. Ballif to teach Alfredo, who was a contact from a month ago, who was touched by who we are, but won't read the Book of Mormon, so we left him with, Maybe we'll call you. That afternoon, we biked to Calco Alto, where we passed by the Dallaris, taught a short lesson to them about prayer, and then casa'd right by their house. Of course, the first person we talk to is interested, and says all sorts of stuff that just is screaming "PLAN OF SALVATION! GIVE HIM A PAMPHLET!" Of course we don't have one. So we give him a restoration pamphlet, and he said that the next time we're in his area to give him a call. He literally is the next door neighbor of the members. Awesome. We then go down to Carnate and do some casa, not finding anybody, and then we go to the Pogettis and teach them and eat Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino (Garlic, Olive oil, and hot pepper, with a little parsley in it too.) Excellent day.

 

Sunday, we go to church, all of the Muçe's come, and Brixhilda brings a friend, named Roberta. Super brava, her. Then that evening, we go do some finding work, then we go back to teach Giuseppe from the scambio, with his wife. They're interested, and give us a return appointment, and we give the wife a russian book of mormon. Then Anz Ballif says, "let's go knock that palazzo." The door's open. We go up, find a guy that gives us his number, and then we knock another door and the man answers, I say "Piacere, sono Anziano Jolley" (Nice to meet you, I'm Elder Jolley) and he just says, Come on in! so we do. He's catholic, but super open. We give him and his wife a Book of Mormon, and they say come back on Friday and we'll talk about it. It's so exciting!

 

Monday, we make up a baptismal calendar for the Muçe's for next saturday, and then we go and go some finding, and then we go to the Muçe's who take us down to the Dicataldo family for a FHE, we teach a short lesson, and then eat food and go home. During the day, as we're knocking doors, another missionary calls us and says President is making transfer calls. So we were really distracted. We were super depressed that we didn't get a call after about 6, resigned to do another transfer together.

 

Tuesday, we go to Vimercate and knock some doors when President calls. He says "Is it going to be a problem for the Muçe's baptism if you get transferred?" Nope. Then he tells me I'm off to Pesaro, training and whitewashing, and we head home to Merate. Then we eat lunch, and go out to work some more. As we're knocking in Robbiate, Anz Ballif says, Let's go knock that door. So we do. It's a villa, with a camera and everything. NO CHANCE we're getting in. Surprisingly, the lady says, yeah, come on in, let me open the gate for you. we go up, thinking NO WAY! and who answers the door, but Giuseppe and Lucia, our english students who do genealogy in the church. We find that they have a massive collection of nativities, and are super open to religious discussion. We teach a good lesson, and get their phone number, and we go home, in awe at the power of God. Why? 1, that's the first time Giuseppe's been at home that time of day in years, practically. 2. We'd planned that area to do casa 4 or 5 times, and never did. 3, they're awesome. I feel super good about leaving this city now. I've left it in a good place.

 

I then packed last night, and had trouble sleeping, like I always do when transfers come. And now I'm doing email. I'm excited for the future. I love you.

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.