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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