Una grande settimana! (a great week)- blood oranges, the mostra

This week was fantastic! Filled with miracles.

 I had an amazing scambio (Exchange, switch companions for a day) with Anziano Stewart in which many miracles happened. I went to Gorizia and many things happened! First, they had 3 lessons planned for that day, so that was already great. But the best part was a lesson we went to with a Serbian family. The dad was baptized as a member in Germany but has been inactive for many years.

 We went over to their house and it was crazy at first with people coming and going all over the house. But we sat down with the mother and daughter and were going to watch the video about the restoration... but their DVD player didnt work! And then finally when they got it to work we realized the restoration dvd we had only was in spanish and english. So we went to our backup plan and talked about the atonement with Alma 7. When we were about to start the daughter was about to go out and walk the dog and we asked her to come and join us. She did and we started the lesson and started talking about what the atonement means to them. 

So the daughter answered the question and then asked US what we thought about the atonement! (no one ever does that..) and we answered and she opened up and talked about how she had felt the spirit very powerfully in her life, when she went to church and also praying for forgiveness. I felt a powerful spirit of peace and love enter the room, even though the mom left to do something and the dad fell asleep on the couch(he is very sick) Anziano Stewart and I both bore powerful testimony about this gospel, and she opened up and so we set up another day to meet with her in the future. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had in a very long time, and it was great to see someone change their heart even in the course of one discussion.

Then here is me, I made a massive chicken noodle soup that was enormous and delicious

The other fun thing that happened on our scambio is we ran into this man named Paolo. We have only ever taught Paolo on scambio. First time me and Anziano Johnson taught him, then Anziano Johnson and Anziano Taylor, and then Anziano Stewart and I ran into him on our scambio and set an appointment with him. Anziano Johnson and Stewart (the missionaries who are in Gorizia) always try to call him but he never picks up his phone! So we have only taught him doing exchanges. He is catholic and was taught by the missionaries 30 years ago, he knows all the doctrine and love Lorenzo Snow (dont know why) but he never has felt like he has recieved an answer to his prayers. So we tried to help him with that as we talked with him that night. Scambio Paolo.  Pretty great.

And then here is Blood orange Gatorade! They grow a ton of blood oranges down in Sicilia so you can buy blood orange stuff year round for cheap. I used to buy a liter and a half  of blood orange juice every week because it is very thirst quenching. All the juices here are at least 40 to 50 percent juice, and also 100 percent in some places.

the Mostra

This week we also got to visit again this mostra of our investigator and a member. Her name is Maria, she is part Italian, American, and Japanese, speaks like 5 languages, and has had a really interesting life story living in over 7 countries. She was introduced to the Church in the United States but didnt get baptized, and moved to Italy where she rediscovered the Church. All her paintings are of celtic dragons and Japanese artwork, its all really cool.

There is also Fratello Fragiaccamo who paints very very realistically. Its absolutely beautiful. My favorite painting of his is he Painted three different senior women all sitting on a bench people watching (people here in Italy really like to sit at bars and coffee shops and just look at people). Haha

Maria and Fratello Fragiaccamo with Ryan and Anziano Taylor

at the Mostra

We were also able to visit many members this week which made the week really enjoyable. Sunday was especially crazy, after lunch we had 4 appointments to go to, all on different ends of the town and we had to get there by bus! We made it to all of them on time or early, such a blessing from the Lord. There was always a bus that just happened to come right when we needed it so we could get to our appointments on time.

 My favorite instance of this is when we went to give the Sunday sacrament to a family in the ward, the Ghermig family. When we were about to give the sacrament the wife absolutely insisted she had to finish watching her movie (Noahs ark) before we could give them the sacrament. We thought, Ah! We need to go soon! It had about 15 minutes left and we needed to get to the next place in half an hour. So we waited for her gave the sacrament to them and got to our next appointment on time! All rushed but great. I still felt a Spirit of peace enter in the home as they took the sacrament.

Here is a view right outside our Church. I love seeing beautiful sunsets like that

I am continuing to love my time here in Trieste, this city is big and loveable The members here are fantastic and love the missionaries and the Lord. Its hard work but lets be honest its not missionary work its "missionary fun" like elder Nelson talked about. I hope you all are doing well too! I appreciate the love and letters a lot, it helps me keep on going throughout the week!

VI VOGLIO BENE

ANZIANO DAY