Buon Natale!

Buon Natale!

This week has been a good one.  From picking up my new trainee, Anziano May, to teaching some pretty awesome people, it's been a full week.  We went to Milano early thursday morning with the Zone Leaders to pick up our new companions from the Milano 2 chapel.  It was a really cool experience because Anziano Nielson (my trainer) was going to be training again, so as the APs introduced us they pointed out the cool "family ties."  It's really a great opportunity to have to train a new missionary.  You learn all sorts of new stuff (or you remember all the good stuff you shouldn't have ever forgotten).

Anyways, this week a girl named Cecilia came to Church.  She was a referral from a member, and had some interest in learning our message.  She has a boyfriend that is serving a mission in Peru right now, plus her mom was about to get baptized in our church about 15 years ago, so she had some questions.  Unfortunately, her mom was never baptized.  

Anyways, we taught her the message of the Restoration and Joseph Smith, then introduced her to the Book of Mormon.  She seemed hesitant but said she would read and pray to God.  She is evangelical and it seemed like she had more intent to read to prove the Book wrong than to actually read to know if it was true.  Anyways, we met with her again last night and did a quick review of the Restoration.  She said she read the first 4-5 chapters of 1 Nephi and believed that it was the Word of God.   After, we watched the Restoration film to let her understand more about his story and search for the truth.  When the film was over the Spirit was super strong.  She told us that before coming that day, her intentions were to tell us she wasn't coming back anymore and that she was done listening.  However, she said that when she entered the Church she changed her mind.  She said, "Prima, volevo dirvi che io non sarei venuta più.  Adesso non ho voglia andarmene."  In English, "Before, I wanted to tell you that I wouldn't be coming anymore.  Now I don't want to leave."   I believe her.

.  Ciao!  Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!

-Anziano Proctor

New Companion

How's it goin?  Busy holidays?  Eh, us too.  There's been a lot to do this week with transfers coming, planning and then delaying a baptism, amongst other challenges.  It was great to see Samuel get baptized the other week, and it'll be great to see his sister follow his example this coming sunday.  

I am putting on  a little bit of weight because my current companion (Anziano Minà) has asthma and can't run in the morning.  However, this next transfer I might be able to run again because he is getting transferred to Genova, and there is another missionary coming.  I don't know his name yet though, because he's coming from the MTC.... I'm training this transfer!  (yikes)  We'll hope that he doesn't have asthma.  There are 3 Italians, 3 Americans and 1 Romanian that are coming in this transfer so we'll see which one it is tomorrow.

This last week my testimony of the Member/Missionary relationship was strenghtened.  We've had the opportunity to visit a few members and they thanked us for our efforts to be a part of the ward.  They told us of the missionaries in the past who didn't associate hardly at all with the members and they told us what a difference it makes when we work together.  I can't tell you enough, from a missionary standpoint, how much it helps to have members who are available and ready to help.  In Preach My Gospel, in the section about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it explains how when Heavenly Father called His Son to suffer the sins of the world he was ready and willing to accept the call.  How indispensible are members of the Church who are willing to accept the Lord's call to serve together with His servants in the vineyard of the Lord!

I know this Church is true.  I know that the marvelous work of the Lord can only move forward when we as missionaries become members of the ward in which we serve, and when the members of the ward in which we serve become missionaries.  I love you all dearly and will talk to you within a week and a half!

-Anziano Proctor

Baptism!

Blogger Note:  I have been delinquent in keeping up Andrew's blog.  I apologize.  This is my attempt to catch up on the last 4+ months of Andrew's mission.

How's it going this Christmas season?  Is it still festive?  I feel like I'm on Mount Crumpit here in Italy where you see 1 out of 50 balconies on a palazzo that has Christmas lights on it.  Maybe we should go knock their doors....

Anyways, as far as the work goes, we have a baptism this Friday!  Samuel's sister, Sarah, after seeing the sudden change in her younger brother's life after his decision to be baptized decided that she wanted to do the same.  It's been a little hectic planning the baptism since she decided so quickly, so we've been rushing around trying to get it organized.  It's amazing to think that when I arrived here a month ago, this family had one less active mother in the Church, and after this friday there will be a fully active member, and 2 baptized children.  (All that lacks now is their oldest son, 20 years old, and the father).  It's way exciting to see people take these crucial steps towards changing their lives for all of eternity.  This eternal battle for souls against the Adversary is a lot more important than any other challenge we could face in life.  I'm very grateful for the opportunity to serve and it seems like it's just flying by.  Going by way to quick.

 

I know this Church is the church of God, and that we can all partake of the blessings of the Restored Gospel.  It's the thing that will bring us the most happiness in this life and in the life to come.  Because in the end it isn't really the Church Building or the suits or any of that, but a way of living that brings us closer to our Heavenly Father who loves us.  I feel very grateful for that relationship. 

 

Vi voglio bene e mi mancate tanto.  Buon' Natale!

 

-Anziano Proctor 

   

November 30th - Baptisms

Dear Family-

 

This week was a full one!  We had Samuel's baptism on Sunday, along with 3 others from other companionships here in Torino.  It went super well and he will receive the Holy Ghost this week in Church.  Something great happened after the baptism though.  Sara, Samuel's older sister who is 13, told us that she wanted to follow her brother's example and be baptized too!  She had been thinking about it for a while with her mom and hadn't been to sure.  But she said that when she had prayed to know if our message was true that she received an answer that this was the path she was supposed to take.  So last night we set a date with her to be baptized on the 9th of December.  It's really really soon though so we have to work with her a lot.  I'm hoping that she will be ready and that she has the right motivation.  We'll do our best to get her ready.  It's also a bit tough because of the dad.  He is a tough one.

 Our next Zone Conference is the week before Christmas, Dec. 12-18.  If Jono's or the Danson's package comes late that's okay, it'll come just in time for my birthday :)  (Crap, I'm almost 20?  Non ci credo.)  Oh, another really cool thing.  The other day, one of our investigators when asking me where I come from told me that she knows about Park City because she watches "Everwood," the series that Treat Williams was in.  Let him know that his fame stretches across all the way over here in Torino!  I was a bit proud to be able to say that "the Doctor" was one of my little league football coaches ha.

Anyways, I was studying the Book of Mormon today in Jacob 2,3.  Jacob is kinda chastising (well not kinda, he is chastising) the Nephite men because of their bad examples set before their wives and children.  Verse 35 of chapter 2 struck me most.  As a little side note I wrote "Never, ever, ever do this to your future wife/kids".  Just wanted to let you know that you did 180 degrees opposite of this, and I'm super thankful.  I've seen some pretty depressing relationships between parents and their children here in Italy and I just wanted to thank you and Dad for being so great.

 

I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  With that also comes the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and Joseph Smith was his prohet, seer, and revelator in these last days.  Because of this I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's Kingdom here on the earth in preparation to the Second Coming of the Messiah.  That gives me peace. 

 

Love you all tons!

 

-Anziano Proctor

November 24

Ciao tutti!

 

This week has been hectic, with appointments all over the place and traveling tons.  That sister missionary you met from Verona is Sorella Francesca Lui, who I met in the MTC.  She is super cool, and in the pictures I sent home from the MTC (the one with my district and the Italian flag).  I got Ellery's letter yesterday as well.

 

We went to Milano again for a leadership training.  We watched a movie called 17 Miracles, about the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies that came over into the Salt Lake Valley.  Their story is portrayed through the eyes of Levi Savage, a Latter Day Saint who was experienced as a frontiersman, as opposed to these English immigrants who knew nothing of sleeping on dirt, or pulling a handcart.  There's not a lot of time to explain it, but I want to invite you all to find, rent, or buy this film and watch it together.  It made me so grateful for the blessings I have, and the things that these people did for us, their posterity. 

 

We don't have any plans for Giorno di Ringraziamento (we'll probably celebrate by making some pasta in the evening... boh.)  I have to go because we're super busy today but I wanted to at least bear my testimony.  In this time of the year we see people that don't have family, don't have friends or even peers with whom to associate.  We truly see how much of a blessing this Gospel is in our lives and the peace and happiness these holidays give us as a result of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  At this Thanksgiving I am eternally grateful for Him, for his Atonement and for his love.  I couldn't go on without it!

 

Love you all!

 

-Anziano Proctor

November 16

Hey everyone,

 

Sorry I don't have much time to write today but I'll try to fit in something meaningful for you!

 

This last week was great as far as the work goes, after having seen some great progress from investigators.  We will be having a baptism next week, where 3 people from 3 different companionships here in Torino will be baptized!  It's so rewarding to work here in Torino.  The work here is a bit more fun than that in Piacenza (and a little bit less awkward, because you don't see the same people everyday who already know what you do.)  The work the last 2 or 3 days has been a little weird though, because we have been helping the ward publicize a blood drive with AVIS (Associazione di Voluntari Italiani di Sangue) thatwil be held in our church this saturday.  So it was a bit weird to be on the street talking about a blood drive, instead of talking about the Gospel.  The whole idea of the blood drive is to get people inside the Chapel to see if we can peak an interest and find some investigators!  (Also to donate blood.... that too.) 

 

Anyways, I've gotta run, but I love you all lots.  I love this Church and I love this mission.  Thank you for everything you do for me and all the support I receive!

 

-Anziano Proctor

 

P.S. I got Cash's letter.  Gonna write him back this afternoon!

November 9

Heyyyy,

So it's almost been a week since I've been here in Torino.  There's been a lot to do!  Torino is the bee's knees.  It's a lot bigger than Piacenza and the work here is completely different.  In Piacenza you found a lot of people in the park or knocking doors.  Instead here you get more referrals, street contacts and you do work on the buses, trams, metro, etc.  There are also a lot more people here who take our English class.  It's super hilarious to hear italians try to speak English.  The accent isn't super great, although they love the english language.  Torino is kind of like Salt Lake, just without the suburbs.  It's amazing to see how many people they can pack into such a small area.  In Torino there are about 1 million people; the city is divided into 2 wards, Torino 1 and Torino 2.  We are in Torino 1, and we split it with another companionship.  So we have a population of about 250,000 people to work with.

I don't know if you've heard much news here from Italy, but the weather has been beating down on us for the last little while.  It's been raining for the last 4 days straight here in Torino.  Cities like Genova, San Remo, La Spezia, and Cinqueterra were pretty badly affected.  There were some pretty heavy floods and a lot of damage.  President Wolfgramm called us this Monday and told us we might be going to Genova this weekend with the Helping Hands organization to help clean up the city.  It's not sure yet though, so we'll see.

Super stoked to hear about the Utes victory over Arizona.  It isn't too tough to forget about football during the week, but it is nice each wednesday to get news about my Utes.  Although I have to warn you, being here in a mission heavily populated by Cougars... I'm broadening(?) my horizons a little bit.  But we'll think about that in a year or two.  To answer your questions: as far as the bikes go it depends on the city.  In Piacenza we had bikes, but in Torino we use public transportation (bus, tram, metro, train). 

It was a little sad to move away from Piacenza, especially with all of the success that we were starting to see.  However, the Lord has blessed me with an amazing opportunity here in Torino.  One of our investigators with a baptismal date, Victor, is moving here to Torino!  He will be here by Friday and we can pick up right where we left off and hopefully get him in the water.  The work here is great, especially with Anziano Minà.  He's a machine and I'm learning tons from him, both how to speak italian and spiritually as well.  We live with 2 other missionaries in the apartment, Anziano Russo and Inouye (in-oo-ay).  They're both from California and are super funny.  It's fun living in 4, but it is a bit dirtier than with 2.  You already know we had a talk about that :)

Anyway, I've got to go, but before I forget here is my new address in Torino:

                             Anziano Proctor

                             Corso Grosseto 59

                             10147 Torino

                             Italia

Keep those letters comin'!

-Anziano Proctor

P.S. Mom, there actually don't happen to be any Christmas decorations here in the Torino Apartment... what are they thinking?