Fwd: time

Oops! Almost forgot to forward this!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley <benjamin.jolley@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 3:35 AM
Subject: time

I'm tired. I've worked for almost two years. I realized this this morning. I'm really tired. I'm working hard, but I'm just about exhausted. And I think that's ok. So long as I keep working to the end, I think all will be well for me. This week's been an interesting one. Wednesday, we did a bit of casa and taught an old man named Giuseppe who had a super funny way of speaking that I've noticed in other italians. he repeated all of his verbs. Mi vengono a prendere tra una mezz'oretta, mi vengono a prendere. (They're coming to pick me up in a half hour they're coming to pick me up). That was super funny. He accepted a pamphlet and maybe we'll go back some time. maybe. Afterwards we went to Moreno and Laila's and they had read "The Doctrine of the Father" from the most recent ensign. They had a question "We can become like God???" That lesson went nothing like I thought it would. in the end it was ok. and they're still coming to church, and studying and praying about they're questions, so I feel ok about it.

 

Thursday, we went and found a new convert who recently moved into our area. Kenneth lives in the middle of nowhere, and is a refugee from Libya. His wife was raised in the church and we're hoping to help them get integrated into the Forlì branch. He was baptized in Trapani, right at the very bottom of Italy. Later we taught Yvette, who still won't accept a baptismal date, but her sons specifically said, "after today I feel a lot more like we could be ready for baptism." So that's exciting. I'm hoping to set up 7 baptisms for next transfer. Imagine if Anziano Guest trained. and that new missionary saw 7 baptisms his FIRST transfer. That's my hope.

 

Friday, we planned, and then we taught Roberto who we dropped because he said he doesn't really want to be baptized. Though he did thank us for helping him increase his knowledge about Jesus Christ. Then we had English Class and taught one of our students the restoration. She rejected all of our invites, to read the Book of Mormon, come to church, everything, on the idea that she's not really looking for more in her life right now, even though she seriously doubts the existence of God. Now she knows what we believe and if she decides it's time to search for God, she can talk to the missionaries.  later we talked with Fratello Nzoungani about the gospel. It was a pretty decent day.

 

Saturday we went to Rimini for interviews, and I had half of my exit interview with President Wolfgramm. Wow it is weird to think that I'm that close to home. Then we went home and did a little bit of contacting. I also bore my final testimony to the missionaries at the conference.

 

Sunday, we had a good day. Friday, a less active came for the first time in a LONG time. I've never seen him in church before. and he was with his wife. Also the De Simone boys were there, and Yvette and her boys, and Roger. a good sunday. Afterwards we taught the De Simone boys and set a baptismal date with them for the 24th of March, because they have very little time to meet with us. When we asked them why they wanted to be baptized, here were the responses "I want to go on a mission. and go to the temple. And receive the priesthood." How very prepared they are.

 

Monday we had district meeting about follow up. and then we did a scambio with the capi. I went with anziano Brian Parker from Mesa Arizona to Bologna. We taught a really cool lady named Giuliana who is about 60, doesn't think she has faith, but wants to find it, and was just in general a super cool woman. I think she'll get baptized.

 

Yesterday, we riscambioed, and then we went and taught Don Felice, a catholic priest that our new converts told us was basically a "mormon priest". So we talked with him. He accepted a Book of Mormon, commited to read and pray about it, prays similarly to us, was not entirely closed to baptism "I don't think so, but I'll leave the door open to the Lord", and was just super cool. after lunch, we went and taught Felix, one of our african refugee friends, and found out that he doesn't know how to read. so we told him that if he will put his faith in Jesus Christ and try to read from the Book of Mormon, God will teach him to read. Then we found a couple of people doing casa. Esli is a member of the Assemblies of God from the Ivory Coast who was pretty open and wanted a Book of Mormon. It's been a good week. I love you.

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