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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