Fwd: A long week. But awesome.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 7:11 AM
Subject: A long week. But awesome

It's been a very long week. I'm very sleepy as a result. Last p-day was rather uneventful. We just stayed at home. did some cleaning, etc. didn't find anyone that evening.

 

Thursday, we taught Alberto, our new convert from Congo, did some casa, getting in several times, and finding Glauco, a 90 year old man who gave us an appointment for this evening, as well as a scoutmaster who said to call in a couple weeks.

 

Friday, we did a scambio with Ancona, so I was with Anziano Murray from Idaho for the next day. we had three appointments, and they all fell through. so we did a lot of casa. we didn't find anyone. ouch. whatever.

 

Saturday, my birthday, we unscambioed, and then Anziano Russo and I planned for the week. then we had a frustrating casa day, with some delicious food for lunch. I cooked myself chicken mushroom pasta (thanks for the recipie!) and then we got pizza in the evening. Then we went to a member's house after a bit of confusion. I thought we were going to talk with her friends about the church, so I called the Ward Mission Leader. He called back telling me that she was inviting us over to give us some food for my birthday, and we went, and turns out that it was both. So we got a young recently married peruvian couple as new investigators. They were very excited to have a Book of Mormon and to meet with us again. woot! That was the best birthday present ever for a missionary.

 

Sunday, we had a good day in church with two of our dry members and like 5 less actives coming. Later in the evening, we had coordination, then we talked with Alberto again, he wanted to give us letters for missionaries, and then we taught a less-active, Victor, who is making his way back into the church.

 

Monday, we had Zone Conference in Firenze, and then on the way home I just felt I had to talk to this girl on the train. I talked to her. she was interested. I gave her a Book of Mormon and got her phone number and gave it to the missionaries in Prato. Then I talked to another person while we waited for our next train. He was interested in talking, but not in our message or the Book of Mormon. another girl in the room piped up saying (in English... the guy was English) "I'm interested, what's that book?" So we talked with her, gave her the book, and got her number. I talked to another man, who was also interested, and then another who was totally atheist but ok with talking. It was the most amazing train ride of my mission. Literally everyone was interested in our message. We gave about 5 referrals to various missionaries in the course of about 2 hours. and gave away 2 Book of Mormons, 2 pamphlets, etc. It was amazing. The best thing was seeing the other missionaries I was travelling with start to follow my example. Anziano Murray and Roberts started to talk to people on the train too, and it was amazing. We got home to Pesaro, starting a scambio about 11 PM. Anziano Roberts and I spent the day yesterday together.

 

Yesterday, we had an appointment fall through, and then we did some casa. We didn't find anybody in our efforts the whole day but one who said to call in a month, and then we had English Class. After English Class, our 5 new students from last week asked if we could talk about the gospel. We didn't have time then, but we have an appointment to talk with a family of 5 (a woman with her sister, her husband, her mom and her aunt) on Saturday. EXCITING!!!! Then we taught one of our Peruvian members with our Ward Mission Leader, and he wanted to invite 2 of his friends to hear the missionary lessons within 2 weeks. WOOT!

 

This morning we riscambioed, and then we came here for email. exciting stuff is starting to happen! I love you family of mine!

 

Anziano Jolley

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.