Fwd: Tough but excellent week

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley <benjamin.jolley@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 2:58 AM
Subject: Tough but excellent week
Dear family,

 

This week has been a good one, but pretty tough too. On Wednesday, we taught Alessandro and his family, explaining the first lesson, and they were pleased to have us over. Also they said they'd come to church in 3 weeks. Because the dad shouldn't be working that sunday. He works as a rent a cop. tough hours. apparently.

 

Thursday, we did a lot of casa, with little success, after which we had english class, to which we had 3 people come. We were expecting 12. ouch. After, we passed by the Muçe's who passed the illness to another one of them, so we gave them a movie to watch again.

 

Friday, we did a lot of member work, passing by fratello Carcelen, who apparently needed the visit. His family seems to be in a tough position. That evening we ate a delicious meal with Fratello Pogetti, of lasagna, followed by a short lesson about prayer.

 

Saturday, we did some casa in Vimercate, trying to buy tickets for our bikes, but not being able to, so we got off free with that. We taught Marcell a short lesson on prayer, (actually all of these members were "practice lessons" them pretending to be investigators), and he said to pick him up for church the next morning. Slla Armilotta we then passed by, teaching the same thing, during which I learned a lot of new vocabulary. She uses big words. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to put into practice the things we had practiced (huh, not expecting that), getting into a BEAUTIFUL family. At the door, I said to Anz. Ballif "This family will be our next baptism." And then we got in. When we left, his jaw was on the floor. So was mine. They're the Pozzi family. Incredible.

 

Sunday, we went to pick up Marcell, and he couldn't come. darn. The Muçe daughters came to church, and then we studied and went to a member baptism, at which there were lots of nonmembers. I didn't know how to talk with them about how they felt, because they all left super fast. But Brixhilda and Albert came to the baptism too, and quite enjoyed it.

 

Monday, we had District Meeting, after which we taught Evelin and Alexandra, two ecuadorian girls. With a member. YAY! Then, immediately after, we went with another member to the Pozzi family, who are really good folks. They belong to a part of the Catholic church called CL (communione Liberazione), unfortunately, they're busy until two weeks from now. They also gave us a Catholic Gospel CD. (Catholic Gospel is not as fun as black gospel. not even close to close). After that, we taught the coolest lesson ever to the Muçe's. we talked about the baptismal interview, and then all of their needs just came out. And we taught. At the end, we found out that 1. Albert started smoking again. 2. All three of the others want to be baptized soon, but not super soon. I asked Brixhilda and Klara to be baptised next Saturday, and they didn't respond, except Brixhilda saying "And I was like, Are you kidding me?" (in english.) Seriously though, super powerful lesson.

 

Tuesday, we did a lot of casa. And then we read Alma 32 with the Muçe's. and then we went home. boring day. I got sworn at once by an old lady as we were knocking doors. That was surprising. Old ladies can have quite a mouth, I've found out.

 

Today, we came to do email. woot. I love you!

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A slow week

Date: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Subject: A slow week

For some reason, this week has dragged on for a long time, it feels like. We did a lot of casa and traveling, I think. I don't know. It's been a long week. On Thursday, we did casa for a LONG time, with very little success, and then we had English class. We had one of the biggest english classes I've ever had, with 12 students. People are just coming out of the woodwork interested in it. We should have even more people this week, because a lady from several weeks ago said she'd come back this week. In the morning, a drunk bolivian stopped us saying he wanted to change. He didn't show up the next day, and his phone was off. oh well.

Friday, we planned, did a lot more casa, and we found one guy. We set a goal to speak italian out of the apartment during planning, and we've done it about 99% successfully. It's pretty cool. That evening, we taught the Muçe's again, we taught about tithing with the Bishop there, and he helped a ton, and Albert had been thinking about tithing the whole week that we didn't see them, and decided, "If I'm going to join this church, I'm going to join it like a crazy person." Now it's just a matter of when.

Saturday, we didn't have a baptism, because of various problems, primarily that two of them got sick and we couldn't teach them for a week. But we passed by them right after lunch and started a fast and gave the mom who was still sick a blessing. We also did a scavenger hunt as we were going around that day, and I had to stop an african as part of mine. I saw one, and just started following him. He was walking WAY fast, so it took a long time to catch up. I eventually did, and he had seen us before in Rome, and wanted to find a church to join and seemed just this genius contact, and it turns out he lives in Brescia, in a different zone. So I passed his phone number to Anz. Duersch, a good missionary. I hope he's a good contact. His name was John. We also taught Marcell, our peruvian less active, and asked straight, why don't you come to church? My dad went back to Peru, and I've been gone so long. He couldn't come to church the next day, but we're hoping to see him in church this sunday. We'll see. He's a good kid. That evening, we also went by the Pogetti's, but since we were fasting, didn't eat with them. We taught a lesson and looked at some of their old photoes of missionaries. One was from Anz. Ballif's stake.

Sunday, only the daughters could come to church, because Valentina was still sick, and Albert stayed home to take care of her. but we had a good lesson, and then we had lunch to break our fast with them. Afterwards, we did a lot of casa, and didn't see much success, unfortunately.

Monday, we did a LOT of casa. all day. we didn't get in once all day until late in the evening, when we started to get in like crazy to Romanians. two of them became new investigators. It was cool.

Yesterday, we had district meeting, and then I stayed in Lecco with Anz. Malku, for a scambio. we taught a lady who doesn't want to be pushed into baptism, but wants to study with us, it was odd. There was a good member there, though. Then we did a lot of casa. little success. We gave a man a Book of Mormon, so that was good. In the meantime, Anz. Ballif taught one of the best lessons he's ever taught to the Muçe's, trying to fix a baptismal date, for the 19th of February, but Albert wasn't there, so it didn't really work, but they understood, apparently.

This morning, we did some of our Pday with Lecco, and I woke up oddly at 6:30, without an alarm. we played some ping pong. It was fun. I love you!

Illnesses and a fun p-day

Date: Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Subject: Illnesses and a fun p-day

I'm not sick. Neither is Anz. Ballif. Klara (Clara from earlier emails. You spell it with a K, as it turns out) is sick. She had a 102° fever on Monday. So we didn't teach the Muçe's that day. I'll get to that later.

This week, we had 4 new english students, who also seem interested in the church. We'll probably try to pick them up as investigators later on this week. After english, we tried to teach the Muçe's about tithing, and the dad had a question about tithing and a very specific part of Italian tax law called 8 per 1000. What that means, I don't know, but apparently you can send part of your taxes to goodwill organizations like churches. He wondered if that was paying his tithing. So we... SORTA retaught tithing. We also realized that he hadn't been there for the lessons on the Book of Mormon and the Restoration when he said, It doesn't matter which church my money goes to. They understood the fast, and Klara asked if she could fast now. Of course, we said.

Friday, we taught Alexander, the Ghanan from last week. He's an interesting guy. More on him later. We also watched the restoration movie with Saydi and Valentino, the peruvians we're sorta teaching. And then we went to an Elder's Quorum activity, and firmed up our member relations a little, and got a couple of appointments. Also ate delicious food. Pizza, Lasagna, Chili, Salad, and very cold water.

Saturday, we did a lot of casa, with little success. We also taught Sorella Armilotta, a less active, and Robert and Tuba, a couple that are a Pole and a Turk respectively. Cool people. Robert is very... Catholic? He very strongly defends the Catholic church. And Tuba is muslim. The Muçe's cancelled on us that evening because Klara was sick.

Sunday, we had church, to which Brixhilda (spelling correctly) and Valentina came. Klara and Albert didn't. bummer. That afternoon and evening we did some casa, and we found Toure, a Costa D'avvoriano, (Ivory Coast) who was pretty interested in our message. We had been intending to go to Arcore to meet with Alexander and a girl we found named Jessica, but there was a strike on the trains, so we were stuck in Merate.

Monday, we had district meeting, to which the Zone Leaders came, so I saw Anz. Petersen again. That afternoon, we went to Arcore, and we taught Alexander, finding that he wants to teach us, not the other way around, so we left. enough said. Then we did some finding work, and then we took banana bread and The Testaments to the Muçe's, who didn't want us to get sick.

Yesterday, we went to Vimercate, outside Arcore, and then to Arcore. We found a Jehovah's Witness from Togo, who was interested in having a french Book of Mormon, named Julien, and then we passed by an ex investigator who's still not interested, but fine with a passby, named Gianluca, actually, story. We knew the man's address, but we come to find out that he lives in a giant palazzo, with about 100 names, and we only knew his first name. We start ringing G's at random, and we find him. Cool story. Later on, we found Alessandro, a man from Rome who had come to church there where the Temple is being built. We gave him a Book of mormon to read, and got his phone number.

Today, we went to Lecco, and then went up the Funivia (gondola?) to the top of a mountain. Literally, we were at the top of the alps. It was awesome. We wanted to hike to the top of a nearby mountain, but the snow made the hike too dangerous. But I got some sweet pictures. And we met an old man named Alberto on the path. He invited us to his house. We went there a little later, and he invited us in, giving us delicious salame and bread, and we gave him a Book of Mormon. He said he'd read it. I taught a lesson at the top of the Alps. Cool? cool. Then we came back to Merate, and came to do email.

I love you all!

Anz. Benjamin Jolley

Conferences and Interviews

Sorry -- forgot to forward this after we got it last Thursday.

Thanks for your support! Carrie

Date: Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 3:15 AM
Subject: Conferences and Interviews

This week, obviously, you're getting my email a day later than usual. That would be because yesterday we did interviews with President Wolfgramm.

In any case, here is a short summary of my week. Last thursday, we had Zone Conference, to which more than half of the mission came to, with Elder Erich Kopischke, the Area President, and Elder Wright, from the first and third quorums of the seventy, respectively. We got back, and we taught the Muçe's about the Law of Chastity. They understood, and commited to continue living it. An idea that Elder Kopischke asked us to apply was in every meeting of the church, to come with a question. Then listen intently to the words spoken and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. And the answers will come. I got the answers to my questions. He then made us promise that if we did, we'd always invite our investigators to come to church with a question. And promise them the answer'll come. Try it. It works. every time. Without fail.

Friday, we planned our week, and did lots of casa. We got in 3 times, to various different people, including a Romanian, and an Albanian. One of them gave us a return appointment.

Saturday, we did casa getting in 4 times and getting a return appointment from 2 people, after also teaching the Armilotta family, asking why the husband was never baptised. In the evening, we taught a lesson to the Muçe's about stopping smoking, and blessings, giving a blessing to Albert at the end. He smashed his cigarettes, and said, I'm done smoking. Forever. That was one of the coolest experiences I've EVER had. And one of the best days I've had in my mission.

Sunday, we had a good sacrament meeting, and a questionablely good Gospel Principles manual. All I have to say is if you are assigned to teach Gospel Principles, USE THE MANUAL! It's written in a way that is easy to understand, and helps foster discussion. USE IT! Obviously, our teacher didn't. oh well. it happens. We did some casa that evening, and we found another person to teach. The weekend was ridiculous. We got in doing casa like 10 times, getting 4-5 return appointments and phone numbers like crazy. I love it when this happens.

Monday, we went to Carnate and did some casa, getting in twice to Franklin, and to another man. Franklin is the first Nigerian we've taught together. I'm kinda excited about it. In the evening, we taught the Muçe's again, about the law of Tithing, and Albert hadn't smoked, drank coffee, or in any way broken the Word of Wisdom. YES!!!!!! Success! And they accepted the Law of Tithing with no problems.

Tuesday, we went to Arcore, did some casa and a scavenger hunt, finding Alexander, a Ghanan man who is very interested in Jesus Christ, and says "He is God. We must trust him". I love Africans. That afternoon, we taught Sorella Armilotta again, and then explored some random place called Lesmo, that we heard was good for casa, but it's not true. Oh well.

Wednesday, we had interviews, where we reviewed the Zone Conference, and talked about how important a baptismal calendar is. among other things. I tried Elder Kopischke's ask a question thing again, and it worked... again. In a surprising way. We also finally received our Christmas packages, which we were very excited about. Anz. Ballif got 5 packages, and I got 2. We brought suitcases. We then had Christmas in January when we got home, and then went out for some work, after moving out our washer to the street to be taken to the dump. It's gone. WOOT.

Today is Pday. I had trouble falling asleep last night, but I woke up at 6:29 this morning, applying Elder Kopischke's other invite to imagine for one minute our replacement, and then go find them during the day. Why? because Europe needs more European missionaries. Switzerland and Greece don't give visas to non EU missionaries, and less than a third of the 3000 europe missionaries are european. So I'm gonna find a missionary to take my place.

I love you!

Casa

Oops! I forgot to send this last week! Still waiting for today's letter.
Carrie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 2:56 AM
Subject: Casa

This week was very... empty. We did a lot of casa. That was the large part of the week. The frustrating part was that we didn't get in except once the whole week. So basically I'll just say that this week we did a lot of casa, getting in Saturday in a cool story. We knock doors and for the thousandth time we hear "non mi interessa" (I'm not interested), and we ask if he knows anyone who WOULD be interested. He says... yeah. In that palazzo next door. Go there. So we do. We find out that in this palazzo there's a part-member family. They show us some pictures of old missionaries they knew, including Anz. Petersen. They're good people. Maybe we'll be able to get the husband to finally get baptized. His wife was baptized 15 years ago.

Otherwise, we taught Stefano, a contact from the scambi with the zone leaders several weeks ago, who had read 50 pages of the Book of Mormon. He's super busy, and angry at God for taking his mother. His sister is also angry at God. Hopefully as we teach them they'll find peace with God. I hope. And then they'll get baptized.

Sebastiano, the brasilian evangelist we were teaching we dropped this week. Bummer.

The Muçe's we taught three times. Once about following the prophet and baptism, once about the Word of Wisdom, and once watching "the restoration" with them. The two older daughters, Clara and Brigilda have fixed baptismal dates for the 5th of February. The dad, Albert, is struggling to quit smoking. When he does, he'll be baptized, though. The mom is trying to read and to quit coffee. We're praying a lot for them, and hoping that things go well for their baptism. The youngest daughter is 7, turns 8 in april, which makes my goal to baptise Albert before then and have him baptise her. Her name is Greta and she LOVES Primary.

We also told Paola, the lady that feeds us once a week but isn't particularly interested in our message that we can't come back. so she's more or less dropped. This means that our investigators at the moment are essentially the Muçe family and sort of Stefano and sort of Manuel. (Manuel is the ecuadorian that Anz. Clove and I found.) Also Saydi, the Peruvian lady and her son, but we didn't see them this week. We're doing a lot of finding work at the moment.

I love you. I'm probably going bowling this afternoon, it being one of the few attractions of Merate.

Benjamin

Rain

Anziano Benjamin Jolley
Via V. Monti, 3
23870 Cernusco (LC)
Italy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 3:27 AM
Subject: Rain

Dear family,

It has rained for 4 days straight. It finally stopped this morning. I can see the blue sky and the sun again. It's a very happy thing. On Wednesday, we had ward council, which was effective. Before that we taught a super short lesson to Marcell's cousins with him there. That was exciting.

Thursday, we did a lot of casa, finding a muslim guy from Morocco, who was decently interested. We then made a baptismal calendar for the Muçe's who should be baptised the 5th of february. We taught them about the importance of enduring to the end, and then responded to Clara's and Brigilda's questions. Anz. Ballif was amazed and is amazed by the kind of questions Clara asks, because she's the same age as his sister and Caroline. I wasn't particularly amazed, because I've talked with Caroline. But they're good questions. "Why don't I remember the pre-earth life?" "Why do so many people believe in the pope if our church is the correct one?" "Why are there no priests or nuns in our church?" "Why is it the Church of Latter-day Saints?" Good questions, no? As I tried to respond with my companion, he said to Brigilda "He knows the scriptures WAY TOO WELL" after I pulled the fifth or sixth scripture in response to these questions. Thank you seminary and BYU religion classes. And parents. and Sunday School. etc. That morning, we also taught Sebastiano about the Plan of Salvation from death onward, and he asked "You teach the same stuff as I do. Why does it matter which church I join? The only thing I disagree with is that Book of Mormon." My response... was the response of every missionary to every question... "READ THE BOOK... and then PRAY." Also, that night, as we were walking home, we both screamed like girls when this HUGE black dog snuck up on him and then barked and good grief. It was terrifying. We then laughed for about 10 minutes at how we had screamed.

Friday, we planned, and then we casa'd into an agnostic who was decently interested and said that he'd read the book that we gave him, but didn't want us to come back. We then went to the pogettis and taught them shortly about Mosiah 2:17.

Saturday, in the morning, we did casa, getting in once to a family that then offered us lunch. It was delicious, but they weren't particularly interested in our message, though they'd been to Utah 4 times. The pasta was the black squid ink pasta that is not bad. It has a slight fish taste, but actually quite good. That afternoon, we taught our muslim friend Tayeb again, giving him an Arabic Book of Mormon, which he said he'd read. When he said what Muslims say about Jesus, that he didn't die, I tried to pull out Alma 7, but accidently pulled Alma 8, because I don't really read Arabic. He was a little confused. Then I gave him Alam 7 and he was less confused. He said he'd read it and then give us a call. That's what we do with Muslims. Book of Mormon, give us a call. We then went to the church where we taught Geoffroy, to whom we gave a Book of Mormon, which he said he'd read, but that he's too busy right now to meet with us. We then booked it for Saydi, Marcell's aunt, with him, and taught the restoration, which they were pretty ok with. We invited Valentino, her 9 year old son to church, he said he'd come, with Marcell, but then they didn't show up. bummer. Then we taught the Muçe's about the importance of the Sabbath day with Sorella Arianna Gessati and her boyfriend. It went very well. They are praying as a family every night, and the daughters are reading, and they come to church EVERY WEEK!

Sunday, we had church, to which the Muçe's came, and Fabio taught a lesson about the freedom to choose, and every hour we talked about keeping the sabbath day holy. If we didn't teach clearly, I think they get it now. After that, we went to Calco and Olgiate to do casa, getting in 2x. Once to a family that was very... interrupting, and open, but not particularly interested in a return appointment and then to a 25yo named Roberto, whose sister had been given a Book of Mormon by Arianna Gessati 3 days before. He was extremely interested, we gave him his own copy, got his contact information, and then sent it down to Rome, where he actually lives. He was at home at his parents just for the holidays, but he said at the end "You've convinced me. I'll read the book. You seem happy, my sister's friend seems happy, I'll read it." That was WAY cool.

On Monday, we taught Sebastiano again, watching "The Restoration" with him. He understands. He just refuses to read the book. It's SO frustrating. oh well. We then did a lot of casa, getting in once, but no return appointment. Then we taught the Muçe's the importance of prayer and scripture study, inviting them to also read the Book of Mormon a little as a family every night. I told them many personal experiences about family scripture study (scripture study at 6:30 with blankets and falling asleep and being woken up to "It's your turn to read" groggily reading a verse and falling right back to sleep). That was a lot of fun.

Yesterday, we knocked doors all day. We got in... 0 times. a girl gave us her phone number for another time when her brother's at home, though. So... a little success. Then we ate with Paola. That's my week. We got transfer calls yesterday, and I'm... staying in Merate as senior companion to Anz. Ballif. yay! We'll see a baptism together!

I love you. Thanks for your prayers!

Clean Apartment

Date: Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 3:04 AM

Subject: Clean Apartment

Dear Family of mine,

This week has been a very strange one. I'm finally recovered from my cold that actually DID get worse and develop into a nasty cough, but I'm better now. thank goodness. In general though, strange week. Wednesday, we did some casa and got in once, then we went home. During that day we found some napolitano cards, which are much cooler than normal cards, and we've played an italian card game called scopa, which is pretty fun. Anz. Ballif always wins, though. oh well.

Thursday, we went to Sartirana, which is at the top of the biggest hill I've ever biked. I practically died at the top. I'm out of shape. That morning, we found a Sri Lankan man named Hardeep who is sikh, which I've heard of but cannot remember anything else about. He then fell through the next day. oh well. That afternoon, we taught Alberto, a street contact that Anz. Ballif practically forgot about, but was very curious at the very least in what we bring. When I taught him again, he'd read the entire introduction to the Book of Mormon and 1 Nephi 1. Bravo. We then got a new washer from Bergamo, which is... MUCH nicer than the one we had. and smaller. but fits about the same amount of stuff. sweet. That evening, we taught the plan of Salvation to the Muçe's with their relatives there, who are all members, one is american and only speaks english... That was weird. But they are reading, the dad came to church on sunday, and just... YES! We then taught English class... they had questions about hunting in the states.

New Year's Eve we bought our cleaning supplies, planned, and then we went to Osnago where we did some casa and got into a... Pentecostal (I think?) man who was a catholic priest, and shared with us his "Testimony". When we tried to read from the Book of Mormon, he wouldn't let us, because he's convinced that the bible says that you can't have any more scripture... MANAGIA! his testimony reminded me of Alma 36. It was a cool testimony, the missionaries just didn't find him fast enough. now he's stuck in his own beliefs. oh well. We then dropped some banana bread by the Muçe's, helped set up a ward party, and went home by 8 because "It can be dangerous"... oh well. We played a lot of scopa that night.

Saturday, New Year's Day, we cleaned the apartment like we did on Ferragosto. Those are the two deep cleanings of the year. why? because NOONE is out on those days. literally, when we went to a kebaperia for pizza for lunch, we were the ONLY people on the streets. anyways, the apartment is very clean now.

Sunday, the whole Muçe family came to church, including their member relatives, who gave testimonies in fast and testimony meeting,and we taught Gospel Principles, Chapter 3. We made the mistake of starting the class 10 minutes early (almost), and then we breezed through it, and then at the end there were 30 minutes before Sacrament started. oh well... It was a terrifying lesson... 15 people is scary when you're used to 1-5 people. ah well. That evening, we did a lot of casa.

Monday, we had District Meeting, followed by a scambio with me and Anz. Malku in Merate. We did some casa, which was very odd. We taught two lessons about the Book of Mormon at the door, to people who didn't want us to come back. One was Italian, the other was Indian and worships Hare Krishna (for reals. not like me.) We then found 2 ex-investigators who are OLD. and can't read anymore. oh well. They said to come back in about a month. Then we went to the Muçe's, in which Anz. Malku explained a lot of things in Albanian. Which was awkward for me. Thankfully, Brigilda at least accepted a baptismal date for the 5 of February. the rest weren't so sure. But. Clara, said that she likes our church more than the Catholic church. She'll get baptised too. I'm very happy about them. After the Muçe's we were 20 minutes late for an appointment with Alberto, who was still there waiting for us. Bravo. and he read. We taught him more or less the plan of Salvation and explained church. Then we went home.

Tuesday morning, Anz. Malku and I did some whiteboard strada asking "Is it important to pray?" Everyone said yes practically. why? because I believe in God. Which is interesting, because when we asked if there was a God, people weren't so sure. Doing that, we found a Peruvian family who are the relatives of a member, with whom we're teaching them tonight. Woot. We riscambied, and Anz. Ballif and I went to a part of Merate beyond the death hill I rode earlier in the week. This time I made it up the hill without walking. We did casa there, among houses and castles built probably 400+ years ago. It was bizzarre. We had dinner with Paola, and came home. This morning, we shopped. and yay. Cool week, huh?