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?

November 2

Ciao tutti!
 Yeah, the spaghetti was a bit tough on the body, but nothing compared to this week's challenge (eat 1 kilo of gelato each).  I thought I was going to die afterwards... but alas, we overcame the trial and are now closer as companions.  We also decided after this challenge that we're never going to do something like this ever again.  I had a pretty good Halloween as far as the mission goes (although it was a pretty mediocre Halloween as far as Proctors go).  We spent the whole night teaching investigators and knocking doors.  It certainly was a different kind of trick-or-treating.  Although I think our "costumes" (shirts, ties, and name tags) still scared the Italians pretty well...  Maybe that's not a good thing.
 Anyways, big news of the week: I am getting transfered from Piacenza to..... Torino!  I will be companions once again with Anziano Minà, my beloved past companion from Palermo.  We got the call late last night so I am packing today and will be in Torino by tomorrow afternoon.  I'll have the opportunity once more to exponentially improve my italian and ability to cook.  Yes!  I don't know much about Torino right now (ex. the address, the ward, etc.) but I will let you know this week.  Also, obviously since I'm being transfered, letters sent to my old address in Piacenza wont get to me.  If anything, for some reason or another, needs to be send this week you can use my address in Milan:

                     Anziano Proctor

                     Via Gramsci 13/4

                     20090 Opera (MI)

                     Italia

 

I got a really good email from Searle this week, which talked about the old Provo Tabernacle (and the new Provo Temple).  A man in his ward gave a talk about how the Tabernacle, once a beautiful edifice of the Lord, burned to the ground and how it is now to become a Holy Temple of the Lord.  He spoke about how this is how the Lord develops us as people.  Sometimes we think that we are a holy part of the Lord's kingdom on the earth (a tabernacle) and that we've reached our potential.  Then we see that the Lord causes us to be burned down so that we can become something much more holy and beautiful (a temple).  We see that the only way for this transformation to take place is for us to be burned down and brought into the depths of humility (or humbled and changed through repentance).  He then applied this to the Savior Jesus Christ, he being perfect and holy, then being subjected, in an atoning sacrifce for us all, to a descension below all of us, so that he could accomplish something incomprehensible.  It was a really interesting insight on a current day work of the Lord.

 

Anyways, I have to go pack, but I love you all tons!  (Also, we're giong to have lunch with a member and her investigator son, Felipe.  Brazilian food!!)

 

-Anziano Proctor

October 27th

Ciao!

 

I sent a longer email to Dad this week so I don't have a lot of time left, but I thought I'd shoot you a quick message and some pictures. 

 

We went to Milano twice this last week, once on Saturday and then yesterday on Wednesday.  On Saturday there was a fireside with Elder Gonzalez from the Presidency of the 70.  It was awesome!  He talked to us about our purpose as missionaries and helping people to make and keep covenants.  Then yesterday we went for Interviews with President Wolfgramm.  He pretty much told me that after being in Piacenza for 4 transfers (and my whole mission), I'm probably going to be transfered.  But we'll wait and see eh?  I also got your package, by the way.

 

I'll explain the pictures real quickly.  The first picture is of me with all of my companions I've had.  Starting from the left: Anziano Minà, Anziano Nielsen (my trainer), me and Anziano Wilkins.  Then the next 4 pictures pretty much explain themselves... but I should explain WHY we did this.  At the beginning of this transfer 5 weeks ago, this being mine and Anziano Wilkins third transfer together, we decided to rethink "companionship unity."  So each week we've done some sort of challenge together.  Week 1 was to eat an entire habanero pepper each.  Week 2 was to eat 2 entire oranges, peel and all.  Week 3 was to eat 200g of Nutella.  And week 4 was to eat 1 kilo of spaghetti between the 2 of us (500g each).  We're coming together as a companionship :) (and getting more fat too).

 

Anyways, apart from that the mission is great.  We have 4 baptismal dates, 2 for November 5th, and 2 for November 26th.  I'll be transfered by then but it'll be great to see the pictrures!

 

Love you all tons!

 

-Anziano Proctor

5 Months in Italy

Hello there everyone!

 

I hit my 7 month mark in the mission this last sunday.  Boy does it fly by!  I still feel like I'm in my 1st transfer...  Although, I think back to how much italian I spoke in May and it kind of makes me laugh.  It'd be great to get the voice recorder back from you all so that I could record on it. 

 

Going to the Kraegels for Thanksgiving sounds like a lot of fun.  It's fun celebrating holidays on the mission because you kind of have to find your own way to celebrate them.  It's the beginning of our own holiday traditions!

 

As for all of the questions you were asked, Mom:  There are only us two, my companion Anziano Wilkins and me, in Piacenza and we live in an apartment building.  For the most part we cook for ourselves because 1) most of the members live a pretty good distance away and 2) in the Milano Mission we don't have an hour set apart in the evening for dinner like other missions do.  For Christmas calls, a majority of missionaries video chat on Skype instead of using calling cards.  If you want you could set up a Skype account for me so that we can do it that way on Christmas.

 

This last week was a little bit of a challenge, but blessing at the same time.  There were a couple days that were just plain difficult.  Between less-than-spiritual encounters with people on the street and a few no-shows by investigators, it was hard to see the blessings.  As we saw a couple of our best investigators drop off the map, it was a little discouraging.  But the Lord has blessed us immensly(?).  As of this moment, 2 of our investigators are making solid progress towards their baptism on November 5th.  Their names are Chris and Victor and they both come from Nigeria.  It's super exciting to see them change their lives in a way that will bring them so much happiness.

 

Anyways, I included 3 photos with this email.  One of them is me with Anziano Gray; the other is Anziano Wilkins and I with Marco, our Gelataio friend ("gelataio" means "ice cream man") and the last is us getting fat, eating pizza :)

 

Love you all lots!

 

-Anziano Proctor

 

P.S. Mom, tell Cash he needs to write me, will ya?  Thanks!

 

Some Pictures from Italy

From Anziano to Lindsay

 Hey, y'all this is Lindsay.  This is a letter I got from Andrew last week that I want to share...

Ciao!

   That is correct my dear Sister Missionary.  Ciao is "hello" and "goodbye" in italian, and "goodbye" in portuguese ("hello" is "hoy").  We learned that a couple weeks ago from this really energetic door contact ha. 

   That's awesome that you and Pat got called to be ward missionaries.  You guys will be a great help to the missionaries in your area.  You don't know how grateful the missionaries are when the ward is ready and available to help!  The leaders of the Church (and Preach My Gospel) say that the ideal way to do missionary work is 100% with the members.  Don't be timid in your calling to aid in the Gathering of Israel!

   Speaking of the Gathering of Israel, we made a small list of the countries from which we've invited people to the Gospel:

1.Italy

2. France

3. England

4. Romania

5. Albania

6. India

7. Nigeria

8. Ghana

9. Nepal

10. Ecuador

11. Peru

12. Mexico

13. Argentina

14. Brazil

15. Canada

16. Australia

17. New Zealand

18. The Philippines

19. Congo

20. Senegal

21. Portugal

22. Ivory Coast

23. Morroco

24. Ukraine

25. Russia

26. Iran

27. Iraq

28. Korea

29. Japan

30. Macedonia

31. Estonia

32. Libya

33. Bangladesh

34. Thailand

35. Bosnia

36. Eritrea

37. Ethiopia

38. Tunisia

39. Pakistan

40. China

41. USA :)

42. Cuba

That's about as much as I remember, but there are more.  How's that for gathering huh?  Right you are, it is a wonderful thing to be part of the true Church of Jesus Christ and to do the Lord's work here on the earth. 

  In the Spirit of your new calling, read Alma 29: 9-10 for me will ya?  It's one of my favorites :)

   Sorry I forgot to write you last week before Pat's birthday and your anniversary . . . I had even written it down!  But hey, you both know I love ya.

Ci sentiamo presto.  Ciao!

- Anziano Proctor

September 7, 2011

Buon giorno tutti!

  It has finally started to cool down here in Piacenza!  In the mornings when Anziano Wilkins and I run it has started to feel cooler so we're doing better.  Although, it's not cold enough for all of the Tiger Mosquitos to go away.  I don't know if I've told you about those.  They are basically the most evil thing on the face of the planet.  They're just like regular mosquitos except for their tendency is to bite you 5 or 6 times in a row, and their white and black striped (hence the name "Tiger", or in italian "le zanzarre tigre").  My first couple days in Italy I woke up with 5 red mosquito bites right in a line on my forearm.  Anyways, within a couple weeks it should be too cold for them!

   So this last week there were some great happenings in Piacenza.  The Lord has blessed us in some very very interesting ways.  It is a mission goal to teach 20 lessons every week, a goal which Anziano Wilkins and I had struggled to meet until this last week.  Our Area President, Elder Kopische promised us that if we taught 20 lessons every week our baptisms would double and we would see miracles.  With everyone gone on vacation it was very difficult to get 20 lessons with solid investigators who made solid progress towards baptism.  Anyways, this last week we had just committed ourselves to doing it, no matter what.  By Sunday night with very little time left before we had to be back home, we had only taught 18.  We met one of our investigators in the park to teach him right as it started to rain.  We had an awesome discussion with him.  Then as he left under his umbrella, the rainstorm turned into a tempest.  The park was emptied within 20 seconds.  We knew we still lacked that last lesson for the week and were about to turn in.  But we knew we had to do it, so we strapped on our battle-bike-helmets and mounted our 2-wheeled-steeds and set off into the rain to find that last person who we could talk to.  We had ridden maybe 30 yards and around the corner walks one of our investigators who we hadn't been able to reach in 2 weeks.  We slid to a stop and asked if we could teach him.  So we stood under the pouring rain for the next 15 minutes and shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon, the weather conditions obviously adding to our conviction that the book is true, as we were not going to leave.  What are the chances that we would just find him 2 weeks later under the pouring rain, when there was not a soul outside.  The 20th lesson came by a miracle. 

   Like promised, having taught 20 lessons last week, we have been seeing so many blessings.  We have found a couple very strong investigators who are all very possible (and we think probable) converts.  There is a man named Biju, a cristian man from India.  Then there is Sassan, a former Muslim from Iran who is searching for the truth (who has a date to be baptized October 8th).  Also, there is a young man named Jonas, a Pakistani med student (who used to live on the street where Osama was killed) who we soft-invited to baptism and he accepted.  We're taking him to a baptism in Modena on saturday so that he can see what it is like.  Who says we don't do missionary work in the Middle East? 

   Anyways, we've got to go so I will sign off!  Mom, can you let those select few who I wrote to know that I wrote them?  In your birthday email to Elder Olsen, wish him happy birthday for me because there is no way my handwritten letter will get there on time :/

   Okay, love you all and will hear from you next week!

August 31, 2011

Proctors-

   August is over!  This week is starting off with a lot more people in town, so that's good.  Like I explained, everyone in Italy just disappears from late July to early September.  I think a good amount of them have returned, although not everyone.  Our District Leader in Reggio Emilia told me they haven't had there bishop in church for about 6 weeks! 

   The backyard concert sounds like it was fun.  It's hard to believe that I've missed the last 2 (and will miss the next one as well).  I have never seen the Joseph play, but Alexa told me she was trying out for it back in March.  I'm sure it was fantastic.  That's too bad about Park City losing to Stansbury.  I hope Jono is okay!  Did him and Brian get that letter I sent them in the MTC?

   We met a guy this week in the park who used to live in Greenville, NC.  He was an Italian (southern italian by the sound of his accent), who lived in Africa when he was little and then moved to the States when he was younger.  He lived in Greenville and evenutally went to some sort of Navy Academy (although not the Navy Academy in Anapolis).  When I told him that my sister and brother-in-law had just moved to Greenville, he got all excited and said they were lucky.  Do Lindsay and Patrick love it there as much as this guy does?

  This week we got to play basketball with some of our members and one of their friends they wanted to refer to us.  It was a lot of fun, but we soon discovered that Italian basketball is kind of like... American pizza?  Pretty terrible but you eat it (or play it) anyways.  We also saw that our own athletic ability had kind of escaped  from us in our first couple months here.  Anyway, it was a ton of fun and we got to bond with some of our younger members.  It's fun to see the Church in it's younger stage here in Italy.  It really is an opportunity to build the Lord's Kingdom on the earth.  You see all of the members and how they were brought into the Church, all of them either being converts, or children of converts.  You get to see this tiny little "branch family" build itself up one by one.  It makes life a lot more worth it when you put your own love, sweat and hard work into the building something great.  I read a chapter in the Book of Mormon this morning that explains how I feel about it all: Alma 12 (especially verses 5-7, 12-14).  Look it up!

Comunque, tutto è a posto adesso.  L'unica cosa che posso fare è di andare avanti e fare fatica ogni giorno di servire il Signore.  So che ognuno di noi possiamo fare quello e ricevere benedizioni bellissime.  Grazie di tutto!

-Anziano Proctor

P.S.  Mom, can you tell Cash he needs to write me back?  He told me that I have to remind him every once in a while.  Also, can you find out if Cole got the letter I sent to him, Max and Kimber?

August 25, 2011

Ciao!

   Hey there all, how's it going?  It sounds like you guys are just having a blast back there in Utah with your lakes and boats and pirate crusades.  It's still hard for me to believe that Searle is back home!  You'll have to read him some of my letters, since I hardly kept my promise to write him on the mish!  Anyways, it was great to hear all of the fun news about Brittany and Katie.  I'll bet that was fun for Katie to come play in her home town.  I always wanted to play in the Salt Lake Valley when I was at Dixie State.  Also, I love hearing about how the PC team is doing, so keep letting me know.  I remembered this week that Matty Moore is a freshman now, and I think he said he was going to play on the freshman team.  Is he?   That's amazing about Alexa!  Tanti auguri a un amica stretta! 

   We went to Verona again for P-Day because Anziano Jolley (our district leader in Reggio Emilia) and my comp Anziano Wilkins had never been.  It was fun to go there again, although I think after 3 times I basically have seen all that there is time for on the mission.  We saw L'arena, which is kind of like Verona's Colloseum, La Casa di Giulietta and Torre dei Lamberti, which is the tallest tower in the city (I think).  It's the tower that I'm on in the video I sent home on my SD card.  Anyways, it was a lot of fun to see all of the street actors that they have here.  All along the streets they have people dressed as knights, gladiators, egyptian statues, etc. who kind of just interact and take pictures with the people and basically act in the strangest ways they can to make money.  My personal favorite is the man who masquerades as a newborn baby.  He has this bright pink stroller that he sits under and pokes his head out of, and has some sort of doll for a body.  He uses some sort of device to make his voice super high like a baby.  It's quite ludicrous :)

   Things are beginning to run smoother here as the month of september comes closer.  Like I'd told you we had been working and working without seeing (or maybe realizing) many miracles.  However, this week we met up with a man we met about a week ago.  His name is Biju and he is a converted cristian from India who speaks english (and who lives in Italy... what a combination of cultures)!  At first he didn't seem super interested, although he was very friendly.  But then we met with him this week, and something changed in him.  He all of a sudden had a very large interest in knowing what we believe and what we do as missionaries.  He said he was struck by our faith and dedication to come here to Italy to share our testimonies, faith being a very important characteristic in the Indian culture (according to him).  He had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and the First Vision, so we sat down and explained more in depth that he wasn't the founder of the Mormon faith, but that the Church of Jesus Christ was restored through him and that we now have a living prophet on the earth.  Once he understood exactly what it is we believe he told us that it was almost exactly in line with what he believes.  We met with him again last night and he already has faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  He asked us how being baptized into the LDS Church would change his life, and upon hearing our response we could see that he was putting some serious thought into what baptism means to him.  He has a wife who is 2 months pregnant who is cristian just like him who we want to teach as well!  Once again, this man kind of just came out of nowhere.  Who knew that Christmas comes 2 weeks in a row?

Sono contento di aver sentito da voi e tutte le buone cose che mi avete scritto.  Mi mancate e penso di voi sempre.  Ma sono grato anche di essere qua in Piacenza predicando il Vangelo di Gesù Cristo.  Sempre lavoriamo and facciamo fatica nella vita di raggiungere le nostre mete, e pensiamo che le benedizioni non veranno.  Ma c'è una cosa che mi ha detto un altro missionario, che forse le benedizioni non sono venuti ancora... ma la parola importante è <<ancora>>.  Se perserveremo e andremo avanti avendo fede in Cristo, le benedizioni veranno.  Il Signore ci ha promesso questo e ci credo.  Comunque, devo andare.  Vi voglio bene!

-Anziano Proctor

August 12, 2011

Proctors-

   It is almost 6:00 on Wednesday night and boy was it a long (but fun) day.  We went to Maranello to see the Ferrari Factory again today because Anziano Wilkins had never been.  It's a pretty cool place if you're into cars (which almost all 19-21 year old missionaries are).  Anyways, we've still got to do our weekly shopping and then teach our English class tonight. 

   Things are still going fantastic here in Piacenza.  Transfers were this week but Anziano Wilkins and I are both staying together here for another transfer, so we're super excited.  It's brutally hot here in Italy in the summer, and certainly a lot more humid.  If you thought I sweated a lot in Utah, you should see me here.  Or maybe not?  All I know is that those hankerchiefs that Mom said to pack, that I said had no use, now serve to keep me sweat free.  Thanks for keeping me Eagle-Scout-prepared Mama.

I'm glad that Nanna got my letter.  Me and my companion were talking about how much we neglected our grandparents (and even our parents) before the mission.  When you are a missionary and you see how some people don't want to listen to you just because of what you portray with your white shirt and black nametag you really see how important it is to take a minute to stop yourself, and listen to what someone else thinks.  I don't know if we notice how often we tend not to REALLY listen to what others are saying.  We both were saying how we just want to talk to and learn from our families.

   Have fun at the Utah/AZ game and in Lake Powell you two.  Try not to rub it in too much :p   It's funny how we as missionaries become accustomed to life here in Italy.  It really is very different here.  How people dress, how they interact, what they do for fun, what they value.  I hopefully see myself coming back more deeply cultured . . . Although, I will still love America more! :)

   I got some letters sent out this last week to people who had written me.  I think there was Cash, Ellery, Alex, and Sami Myers... So I did respond to those.  Ellery told me that you and her had been super busy but that you finally were able to meet up ha, so thanks for that.  Cash told me that you guys chat every once in a while, that's great.  I know he loves you all so keep it up okay?  Oh also I forgot, I wrote a letter to Cole, Max and Kimber cause our letters back and forth haven't been going through very well.

   There were some other last minute things too.  If you do end up finding a need to send me that package, the best place to send it is to the mission address in Milano.  Sometimes packages get to the missionary apartments late or after transfers and then it's just difficult for the box to get into the right hands.  So if you send one, send it to Milano:

      Missione Italiana di Milano

      Via Gramsci 13/4

      20090 Opera (MI)
     Italia

Anyways, all temporal things aside, I'm still super excited and blessed to be here in Piacenza.  I love it here.  I can feel so strongly the love of our branch members here and the power that it has to work miracles.  Every day I think about what this message means for the world and the people in it, and the power that it has to change their outlooks, their experiences and their lives.  I know that this Gospel is true and that when we endure to the end we see the blessings that come from our faith.  In Mosiah 4:27 it says, "For it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.  And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize."  We must always strive and press forward, putting our faith in him who gives us strength to run faster.  I love this Gospel with all my heart.

-Anziano Proctor

July 28, 2011

Hey all!

 

   The letter this week will have to be pretty short!  Like I told you I have that ingrown toenail problem and Anziano Wilkins and I have to catch a train to Milano for a doctor's appointment.  Sorella Wolfgramm authorized this appointment to see this American doctor to see if I should just keep treating it myself at home or if we have to have the doctor fix it for me.  Anyways, I'll try to write as much as I can!

 

  This week was a pretty good one.  We taught a lot of lessons, but not to a lot of people that are clinging onto the message.  There are a lot of people that are out of town (in Italy EVERYONE goes away for vacation in late July and all of August) and a lot of people who are just sincerely not interested.  It's okay though, if everyone were interested you could barely call this missionary "work"! 

 

   Mom, when you have time will you write me a couple notes about Grandpa Schettler's life?  I've written in my journal what I remember my self but specifics such as birthday, place of birth (SLC?), date he and grandma were married?  Just a few notes :)  Also, I cannot for the life of me remember the sibling of Karl Lester whose initials are O.P.  Help?

 

   Have fun this week with all of that stuff you have planned!  Say hi to the Hawkers and to Linds and Pat for me okay?  I'm glad that Connor got my letter!  Is he going to write me back?  I had a dream last night that I saw him, and we were both back in Utah at a family function of some sort.  One day it will be a reality!  I got Alex's and Sami's letters this week.  It was great to hear from the both of them.  Let Cash know I'm still waiting for his next letter! (I love my big man).  As far as getting the book to Ellery, if it's easier for you to wait until school starts when their family is in town that's fine.  Don't want you to stress yourself out :)

 

   Anyways, I've gotta book it!  Love you all!  Fino al giorno in cui ci rivedrem!

 

-Anziano Proctor

Info about Italy

Dear Family and Friends -

   I just found a blog for the Italy mission.  It has a couple photos of the "new" missionaries that includes Andrew.

http://missionemilano.blogspot.com/

Also some info on the temple in Rome.


http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/

Hope you enjoy as much as I did -

Love,

Sue

July 15, 2011

Proctor Family -

This week has been so crazy! There's been a lot that's changed since the last time I wrote you. I can't even start to tell you about the miracle that we saw yesterday night! Okay maybe I can...
Monday night Anziano Minà and I were teaching a lesson to an investigator when we received a phone call from our Branch President, President Malderizzi. I took the call out into the hall and he proceeded to tell me that an investigator of 2+ years, named Nicola, finally decided that he wanted to get baptized the next day. He began investigating the Church forever ago, has given 2 talks in church, comes to church every week and even has a "calling" in Sunday School. He's read the Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, the Bible and a bunch of other Church literature, a few times over, at that.

Missionaries all around the mission have taught Nicola all hoping to help him to see the importance of being baptized, but he refused to. Anyways, President called us and told us that something inside of him had clicked and we needed to have our Zone Leaders on a train that instant to Piacenza to do the interview that night. He told us that we had to make all the baptismal preparations for the next day. It was the most hectic 24 hours of my life, I think. The next day at the baptism Nicola was very emotional... It was fantastic to see him so touched by the Spirit. His friend Lucia spoke about their friendship and the long path that he had taken to follow the Savior. He just cried and cried. Finally, the time came to hop into this rickety portable font with President Malderizzi. It was a beautiful baptism.

To think that we were blessed to see the fruit of more than 2 years worth of missionary work is so amazing. He was confirmed a member of the Church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost on the spot because he leaves today for America. In fact, he leaves today to go to BYU, in Provo. It would be so awesome for him to meet our MTC instructors who go the Y and speak Italian. He definitely needs some friends there in Provo!

Unfortunately, I no longer am with Anziano Minà. He was space transfered to Torino where they don't ride bikes. We're always on bikes here and it makes it hard for him because he has asthma... So I lost my Italian companion :/ Shucks! That's okay though because now I am with Anziano Wilkins who was the group ahead of me in the MTC. President Wolfgramm made me the Senior Companion even though I've not even been here 2 months. We are the youngest companionship in the whole mission! He is a super awesome farm boy from Idaho, and we're going to kill it together. He is full of energy and all he wants to do is work hard. My type of guy!

We're going to have another baptism this Saturday! I think I've already told you about Winter from Ecuador, haven't I? He is so ready. He told us that even though the baptism is at 5pm on saturday, he's going to be dressed in his all whites and waiting by the font at 3 o'clock. He's so great. And hilarious too ha.

I haven't yet recieved anything from anyone at home but I'm sure it will get here soon. I affectionately(?) call Piacenza "il buco nero." The black hole! When the Kraegels come to Park City you should have them write me a little note here on the email. That would be fantastic to hear from them. I haven't heard from Uncle Bill in forever! That's pretty scary about that Elder in Guatemala with the lions... it wasn't Searle was it??

  Also, I just sent a letter to Grandma and Grandpa last week. I sent one to Dad also with an experience I wanted to share, but it's for the both of you to read together. Thanks a bunch for all of the support that you give me. I love you all so much and miss you every day. I know that the Lord blesses each one of us to be strong, and to press forward. I am so blessed to be a missionary here in this beatiful country!

-Anziano Proctor

America Day: July 5, 2011

Happy America Day!!

   Okay I'm a day late . . . That's pretty good for being on the other side of the world though isn't it?  In fact, we DID remember it was the Fourth of July.  Mostly because July 4th is an Italian holiday for the Piacentino Saint, San Antonio, but also 'cause it was Independence Day.  I mean come on, how can you forget the liberation of the greatest country in the world??  We had the new Travel Assistents in Piacenza to work with us from Sunday night til Tuesday afternoon, so there was 4 of us in our little apartment here in Piacenza.  We celebrated the day with a Kebab, a granita (kind of like a slushy), and a nice glass of Coke!  We recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag on Anziano Bolnick's backpack (you better believe our hands were over our hearts and our chests were puffed out).  We sang the National Anthem, Amazing Grace, some American folk songs, some more National Anthem.  Anziano Minà was so embarrased ha.  The only thing he said all day was "Che scema, che embarrazzato" and "Padre, perdonami."  Translation: "How stupid and embarrassing" and "Father, forgive me" haha.  You better believe we are proud to be Americans!

   I don't want you to think I didn't learn anything on this scambio though.  In fact, I learned tons.  The older Anziani in the mission are just so far ahead of the game.  The truly know how to inspire everyone else to realize their purpose every day.  Before the mission I always thought that the battle would be to remember my purpose.  That's not it at all.  If you ask any missionary in Italy what their purpose is, they will all tell you it is to help and invite others to come closer to Jesus Christ.  The hard part is always acting to fulfill that purpose.  The hard part is truly realizing your potential on the mission.

   This is something that President Wolfgramm told us: We all have imperfections.  All of our bodies have scars, diseases, or malfunctions.  Some may not have an arm.  Some may not have a leg.  Some may not have hair (Dad :))  Thanks to Jesus Christ's Resurrection, these things will be fixed one day.  Everyone will receive perfect bodies.  But not everyone will receive perfect faith, or perfect belief.  What we are doing here is much more gratifying.  We are not changing people's bodies, we are changing people's hearts. 

   Anziano Minà is such a blessing.  In a lot of different ways.  When I heard I was getting an Italian companion, I was way too excited thinking about the chance to speak Italian 24/7 than about other things such as cultural differences.  I'm still adjusting to the initial shell shock ha.  I know now that when you make pasta, you shouldn't put olive oil in the water to prevent it from boiling over.  Especially if there is an Italian present!  I think one of the hardest parts about it is just the differences in each part of life: the humor is different, work ethic is stressed in different areas, common sense is viewed differently, amongst other things.  How blessed am I to be able to see those differences and get myself used to them and to become more cultured while I am young, before I've fully developed as an adult.  One thing though that is always the same is the Gospel.  That is for sure.  Because we all speak the same language of the Spirit.  We all feel the same peace and comfort that comes from the Lord's companionship.  We all come from the same loving Heavenly Father.  That is why I am blessed. 

   I've got to go now unfortunately, but I will write you next week.  It seems like P-Days come and go like that (*snap).  Until next time!

  Love you all!

-Anziano Proctor

P.S.  Before you send back the tape recorder, I would love for Scott Fielding to record a little bit in Italian if he doesn't mind?  I would really enjoy that.

June 29, 2011

Hey all-

 

   How is it going this week?  That was so cool to be able to see all of the wedding photos!  So exciting.  It was way strange to see everyone as of recently, namely Chris' short hair and lack of facial hair, Dad's goatee is back, and Pat's hair is gettin' way long.  You'll have to send me some of the photobooth pictures people took.  I'm trying to figure out how to get pictures to you all so you can see my adventures here in Piacenza but I haven't got a chord to put pictures onto a computer, and also my camera is dead.  I got Aj and Ashley's letters by the way, they helped a ton!

 

   This week has been a pretty exciting one.  We've been making a lot of progress with 3 of our investigators towards baptism.  Rosario is that awesome guy from Napoli.  Then there is this hilarious big hunk of love named Winter from Ecuador.  He loves salsa music and blasts it in his car whenever we're with him.  Then a 21 year old Ecuadorian named John.  He said that his whole life he's had faith in Jesus Christ, but that he felt like he was missing a huge chunk of it.  All 3 of them are ultra prepared.  They all just understand and fit perfectly to the Gospel. 

 

   Also, we got our transfer calls this week.  My trainer, Anziano Nielsen is going to Verona to be a Zone Leader and I'm staying here in Piacenza.  Here's the exciting news though:  I'm getting an Italian companion!  His name is Anziano Minà and he's from Sicilia.  So I will be speaking almost 100% italian starting tomorrow afternoon.  We're going to Milano tomorrow to switch up and all that. 

   I heard just now about a film that came out back in the States called "17 Miracles."  It's supposedly about the Martin Willey Handcart Company.  Info please?  :)  Y'all will have to make a list of films/music/news for me when I get back.

 

   I'm jealous about the golfing y'all get to do . . . they have a small driving range next to the missionary appartment in Modena.  It's relatively cheap to go to (maybe €2) but the only problem is what kind of missionary just has a set of clubs?  Haha, none.  Anyways, we've got to go pack Nielsen's bags and and all that but I wanna leave you all my testimony.  Seeing that I haven't done it in italian in a while, I'll do it like that.

 

   Sono così grato di essere un missionario del Signore.  Ho visto delle benedizioni che vengono dalla missione, tutte e due nel campo missionario e a casa mia, a Park City.  Io so che il Signore ha un piano per noi nella questa vita.  Ho scoperto questa settimana che c'é una ragione per ogni cosa.  Non ce sono le coincidenze.  Veramente, siamo amati da un Padre Celeste chi vuole il migliore per noi.  L'unica cosa che dobbiamo fare è di avere la fede in Lui.  Philippians 4:13.  Vi lascio questa testimonianza nel nome di Gesù Cristo, amen.

 

-Anziano Andrew Proctor

June 23, 2011

Salve tutti,

 

   How is it going this week?  I don't know why but it feels like it has been a super long time since I wrote last.  I must have been busier this week.  It was a pretty full week with a bunch of lessons, lots of knocking casa, some companion exchanges, amongst other things.  We did a companion exchange in Reggio Emilia on Friday night through Saturday afternoon, so I was there with Anziano Ellsworth from Cali.  We did some service for a member (helped him move his furniture down 5 flights of stairs . . . whoo!), went to a ward foosball activity (Italians LOVE foosball) and then did some more casa.  We knocked on the door of a family who was to have a wedding the next day and we gifted them a Book of Mormon and talked about Eternal Families.  We also street contacted this guy named Solomon ("Like the king in the Bible," he said) and his wife.  Anziani Ellsworth and Strobelt taught them later that night and had them both wanting to hear more.  Apparently it was such a strong lesson, the wife was crying. 

 

   Then this last monday and tuesday we did a companion exchange with the traveling assistents to the President.  In our mission we have regular APs, and then we have 2 more traveling APs.  So we did an exchange with them, Anziani Newton and Mosley.  They are both way good missionaries and both have 1 transfer left.  With them we set another baptisimal date!  And then almost 2 more after that.  So by the end of this week we might have 4 dates for baptisms.  Super super exciting stuff ha. 

 

   We've made ENORMOUS progress with Rosario.  I swear, there is no one more elect in all of Northern Italy.  Every single thing we have taught him he understands and believes for himself.  He is the most humble person I think I've ever met.  His 2 most common phrases are "andare avanti" and "per aiutare gli altri" which mean "to press forward/ continue on" and "to help others."  He must say those phrases 10 times every time we meet with him.  He's to be baptized in 2 weeks.

 

   As far as Church goes, it is about a 7 minute bike ride from our house.  It is on the 3rd floor of a little palazzo on a packed, cobblestone street in the middle of Centro.  I don't have to play piano for the branch because we don't have one ha, only an organ.   And one of the youth, Fabrizio, takes care of the organ.  Basically on Sundays we arrive early, prep the Sacrament (sometimes we bless and pass it), and then we just fellowship our investigators and members.  It's pretty fun.  This saturday we have a ward activity where we all have to represent our country of origin with some sort of food, game, act, etc.  I was chosen to represent America's musical aspect . . . AKA I get to play guitar this saturday :)

 

   That's terrible that Grandpa got hurt . . . man that stinks.  I'll definitely keep him in my prayers.  I feel bad I haven't really written specifically to them.  Tell them I love them and am mindful of them always.  One thing I noticed in the mission that is true both for missionaries and for people who have missionaries in the field is that even if you don't write someone, it doesn't mean you aren't thinking of them.  In fact, in most cases you are thinking of them more often than they think.  For instance, Elder Vincent is about to return from Guatemala in the next month or two?  I think his whole mission I've written him 3, maybe 4 times?  And yet I thought of him all the time, how great of an example he is, how good of a friend he is and the things he is capable of doing.  You'll have to tell him this train of thought that I'm having, that even tough I didn't write him, it certainly did not mean that I wasn't thinking about or missing him at all.  The same for Grandma and Grandpa.  I love them and miss them dearly!

 

   I did get the 2 wedding announcements from Aj and Ashley 2 weeks ago but I haven't gotten any letters?  I DID get Cash's letter, and it was so far one of the greatest blessings I've received on my mission.  Tell him to write me back soon!  Other than Cash I haven't gotten anything else in the mail so I'll keep an eye out for the others. 

 

    I didn't even know Father's Day had passed!  Sorry Papa, you know I love you.  I haven't gotten an email from you in a bit.  What gives big nose? 

 

   And then to Aj and Ashley: the couple to be wed in about 24 hours.  I cannot express my excitement!  During our weekly temple visits at the MTC I was able to stand proxy in some family sealings and also was able to see some sealings of married couples.  I marveled at the beauty of Heavenly Father's plan for us and at the multitude of blessings that await us when we make this Holy Covenant.  I am so excited for the both of you to take this glorious step toward Celestial happiness, and to take it together, as husband and wife.  Always remember this feeling of love and respect for one another and you will be eternally blessed.  Never forget your Heavenly Father and the blessings that come from living His Gospel as you begin this new life as a family.  I am so excited to go to bed tomorrow night knowing that you two will have been joined for time and all eternity in our Lord's Holy Temple.  I give to the both of you every blessing that I can muster!  I love you both and will see you when the time comes!

 

Dal vostro fratello, figlio, amico e missionario,

           Anziano Andrew Proctor

June 16, 2011

Ciao tutti, belli e brutti!

 

As it's only been about 4 days since I sent you my last email, there's not a whole lot more to write about ha.  The work is still moving along in our little branch of Piacenza.  Every second Sunday of the month we all stay for about an hour after church to eat with one another.  It's really an awesome idea because it gives us and the members a chance to grow together and it helps us to fellowship our investigators into the ward.  We're making awesome progress with an Italian man named Rosario.  We found him on a comp exchange and after our first lesson we challenged him to baptism and he said yes!  We set his date for July 9th.  The coolest thing happened though when we met with him last Saturday.  He thought we said June 9th and was all worried that he'd missed his baptismal service.  You can see how excited he is for it, it's way too cool.

 

I had my first legitimate, full Italian dinner last night.  Boy was it amazing.  The coolest thing about Italians is that when they have you in their home, all they want to do is feed you!  Nothing could bring them more joy than watching two American boys emptying their plates ha.  You get to the point where you're pretty much sated and then they offer you more and more and more.  They bring you your meal in courses: antipasto (appetizer), pasta, meat, maybe some cheese or salad, and then fruit or dessert.  And then the whole time you have bread.  It was magnificent.  I haven't been that full since before the MTC!  Although I will say this, Italian cereal is terrible.  Worst stuff ever haha.  Anziano Nielsen's family sent him some Raisin Bran Crunch and I had a bowl this morning . . . never before have I tasted such amazingness!  Or rather, never have I before noticed how many preservatives and unnatural things we put in our food ha.  Nevertheless, 'twas delicious.

 

Also, we're been hearing a lot lately about this play on Broadway that's coming out about Mormons.  From what I hear, it's from the producers of South Park (is that good or not?)  What's it about?  How is it perceived?  It seems that it goes one of two ways: 1. Pretty unfair and offensive or 2. Funny kind-of-half-truth jokes but not really intended to hurt anyone.  I know I shouldn't really care about it, I'm just curious.  I'd love to hear what different people think about it.

 

Once again, I'm super excited for Ash and AJ.  Every time one of our members or investigators comes to the knowledge that my brother is about to get married they ask me, "But you aren't going to be there?  Well, why not?"  Haha, they just can't even begin to grasp the concept.  But hey, Ashley is entering the temple tomorrow!  That is way too awesome.  Especially because it's the Salt Lake Temple.

 

That's kind of depressing that the Molinaro's are moving . . . what am I gonna do without them when I get back?  One of the first things I planned on doing was walking up there to see them!  (I know it's dangerous that I've even thought about when I get back.  Don't worry, it's not too intently thought out.)  We'll have to figure out some sort of agreement where we visit each other.  That family is way too awesome to let a couple hundred miles separate us.

 

Time to sign off again.  We're going to Parma for our P-Day today, once again with the Anziani from Reggio and Modena.  I'll take some cool pictures . . . which I will eventually get to you somehow.  Once again, my testimony is simple:  There is no work too tough, no rain too heavy, no old Italian skull too thick that cannot be conquered here.  The Spirit of the Lord works through each and every one of us, and as we find and show our faith in Him, there is nothing we cannot do.  I have learned to put my trust in Him.  And only after we've done that can He put His trust in us.  Vi saluto, vi voglio bene e ci sentiamo presto!

 

-Anziano Andrew Proctor

June 1, 2011

Hey all-

  How's it going this week? Tutto a posto? (S'all good?)  I'm currently writing from a little internet point in a town called Reggio Emilia with my companion and another companionship who is based here.  We had a leadership conference in Modena yesterday and we decided to just stay the night in Reggio because it's closer than Piacenza, and we had planned to return to Modena on P-Day to see the Ferrari Factory.  So we're about to head there after this.  Super excited to see some cool cars.

  My companion's full name is Tyson Nielsen and he grew up in Saint George like I said.  He says he doesn't recognize Suzie or Daniel's names though.  I actually forgot to tell you about the Cummings ha.  That first night that we were in Milan when we had the two groups split up, after we had gotten back together Sorelle Bowman and Jones from my MTC district said that had met Erin and her family.  I was upset to have missed them but it was awesome that they saw them at least.  I did get AJ's and Ashley's wedding invite and it was awesome ha.  In fact, I got two so I was double excited.  I'm way jealous about Yellowstone, it sounds so fun.  Those were some crazy numbers though ha, that's a lot of fish!  That's awesome that Cash came to get his letter though... tell him to write back asap!  He can use my Piacenza address if he wants or he can use the Mission Home.. either way.  Like I said though, I should be in Piacenza for a while.

    Dad- I'm loving the area.  It's a lot of hard work, we do a lot of door knocking.  We have like 15 people we're teaching and 3 or 4 people we're trying to re-activate.  Problem is that not a whole lot of them are progressing because they don't have time to meet with us.  Some of them are kinda weefy (popular missionary term for "flaky", I think).  My comp is awesome though, he's not a weirdo or anything.  Lui non è pazzo.  My health is good.  All the stuff from the MTC is gone and I'm feelin good.  Except my stomach ha.  When you don't work out your arms, they don't get fat, they just get small (I'm okay with that).  We ride bikes all over the place, so my legs stay in pretty good shape.  But my stomach.. ha he's not getting any exercise.  Sorry pal.  You just get to the point where there is no energy left in your body to do even 10 sit ups.  Your mind just needs a rest at the end of the day.  And that thing I called you before was "Babbo".  Kind of the italian slang for "Papa."

     Anyways, we had some cool stuff happen on saturday.  We got 3 bidone, which means canceled appointments.  Wait. Maybe I already told you this story?  If so just skip the paragraph ha.  But we got canceled on 3 times and had nothing to do but go knock doors or teach a member.  So while we went to teach this member we got a phone call from this random number.  This African man is on the other side of the line looking for some guy named Pastor Ben.  "Hello Pastor Ben?  Oh this isn't Pastor Ben?  Well, can I talk to Pastor Ben?"  He must have been good friends with Pastor Ben or something.  Anyways, he tells us that he's looking for "men of God". We replied, "Yes, that's us!"  So we meet up with him and his friend at the park and take them to see the Ward Building.  Turns out they are super interested and they asked if they could come to church the next morning.  As we talked there for like half an hour, he was just so eager to share with us his testimony about Jesus Christ.  He was Evangelical I think and he just loved the Savior so much.  The interesting thing was though is that almost everything he said sounded as if was coming out of Preach My Gospel.  It was awesome and he was so willing to stand up and share with the members his testimony about any subject the next morning.  His name was Elias and his friend was Samuel.  Loro sono forti!  I think the coolest part though is that he was trying to call some other pastor, and mis-dialed and happened to call us.  It wasn't a coincidence I don't think.

   Anyways, that's my cool story for the week.  Tell me more about what's going on at home.  I'll be sending home a package hopefully today with some stuff I don't need anymore and the voice recorder. 

   Amo quest'opera così tanto.  A volte è dificile, ma certo.  Ma io so che crescerò da questa.  Io so che mediante questa missione, imparerò tante cose di cui avrò bisogno.  Il mio Salvatore è vicino a me cuando ho bisogno di Lui e Lui sa ogni cosa di cui ho bisogno.  Lui ha sofferto ogni cosa, così che avrebbe potuto sapere come aiutarci.  Sono così grato per il mio Redentor e io so che ci rafforza.  Nel nome di Gesù Cristo, amen.

Andrew

Andrew's address

Also, here is my new address:

(as of May 25, 2011)

 

Anziano Andrew Proctor

Via XXIV Maggio 42

29100 Piacenza (PC)

Italia

First week in Italy

Salve!

   Well I'm sitting here in the tiny Ward building on the 3rd floor of a palazzo here in Piacenza, with my new companion Anziano Nielson.  Piacenza is a medium sized city about an hour southeast of Milano, and it's the most amazing place in the world.  I just love it here.  It's crazy to think that it's only been a week since I talked to you last, but so much has changed.  There's so much to write.

   We arrived in Milan at approximately 9 am and met up with President and Sister Wolfgramm and the APs, Anziano Gray and Mangrum.  First thing the assistents did was give us all these huge man-bear hugs, almost as if we were trying to tackle each other.  It reminded me of football ha, and we give each other hugs like that every time we see each other.  It kinda makes your head rattle.  Anyways the day went kinda like I said it would... but it was twice as amazing as I thought it would be.  We went straight from the airport to the Milano Due Chapel to drop off everyone's bags and then we were going straight to the Duomo.  
As we're about to walk  up the stairs into the piazza Anziano Gray turns to us and just says, "Get ready..."    Holy cow.  Sacra mooca.  That thing is amazing.  It literally is one of the greatest things man has ever created. 
     I'm now serving in Piacenza with my trainer Anziano Nielson.  He grew up in St. George and went to Dixie High.  He also played football and was a running back so we have some good things to talk about.  He's very awesome and I learn so much from him.  Here in Piacenza you do a lot of casa in casa, or door knocking.  I can't even count how many doors I've had slammed in my face.  But I don't get why some missionaries get so discouraged by it.... it think it's pretty hilarious ha.  Maybe not that they're rejecting this wonderful message.  But the fact that they will take the time to buzz you in down stairs and unlock the 7 locks they have on their doors just to open and close the door once they see these two American boys in white shirts and ties.   
      After going door to door for so long and encountering all sorts of miserable, angry, lonely people, all I wanted to do was teach a family.  It's interesting to see how much one can appreciate a strong, united loving family when they see how alone and sad others can be.  So we knocked on the door and this time Anziano Bolnick says, "Okay you've got this one."  This man opens the door and puts his hands on the shoulders of his beautiful little girl who is standing there with him.  We introduce ourselves and I tell him that we would like to share with them a wonderful message concerning the family and how we can find happiness.  He was so kind and warm and invited us into his home without and a second thought (that is very rare I've come to realize).  We sat down with him and his family and talked briefly about who they were and what they believed.  We asked them what their greatest hope was for their family, and they replied that they wanted to have health and happiness and to live together.  They were just perfect.  We were able to teach them about the Restoration and Joseph Smith and they seemed so open and happy.  We left them a book of Mormon and an invitation to attend church on Sunday.  As we were teaching, the little girl just sat there and listened so intently (also correcting her father's italian here and there).  She just smiled and I thought right then and there how important this is for all of us.  I felt such hope and love for this family and for all of us here on the earth.  I was certainly blessed by my Heavenly Father.

MTC week #9

(Editor Note:  I'm not used to updating blogs, so there will be a few missed weeks.  Just enjoy the updates I remember to do!)   
     "So, about my time here in the MTC.  There's a saying here that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days.  I wholeheartedly agree!  It just seems like yesterday that I reported to the MTC, and yet every Wednesday as we watch the Verdini (greenies) report, we find ourselves thinking, "Wait, it's already Wednesday again?"   I love how I call them greenies as if I've been out for more than 2 months. At the same time though I've never grown so much in such a short time.  We finished the last of our 8 basic tenses about a week and a half ago, which means we've learned everything we need to use the compound tenses.  I mean to think that we've learned to speak Italian in its most basic form in only 8 weeks?  Just wow.  What other place on Earth could one learn to do that? " 
     "I love you all so much and am so thankful for all of your support.  Prayers are certainly appreciated for me and all of the Missionaries who are or will be serving in Italy.  It is such an amazing blessing to be given this opportunity.  I know this Church is true with all my heart."

Ci vediamo!

 

-Anziano Proctor
Read Romans 1: 7-8, 15-16 for me.  Replace the word "Rome" with "Milan".

Note:  Andrew will be assigned to serve in Piachenza with Elder Nielsen from St. George.  For now letters can be mailed to:

Elder Andrew Proctor
Italy Milan Mission
Via Gramsci, 13/4
20090 Opera MI
Italy

Week #6 continued

LETTER:  "Ok, so continuing from my email.  The whole MTC changed schedules this week.  So my P-day is on Wednesday now.  As a result of the schedule change, our service assignment is now at 6:00 am, and there are almost twice as many Elders in our assignment.  Because we had so many, we were able to cruise through the daily jobs and get to smaller jobs that were less often done.  Anziano Gibson and my job was to clean out the Narnia Holes (note:  "Narnia Holes" are behind panels in the closet that departing missionaries sometime stash things for new Elders to find.  Not an official part of the MTC....just something they do for fun)  In one of the Narnia Holes, we found a letter.  It was from a former missionary to an Elder in the MTC.  When this letter was written, we have no idea.  The author told about how he had come home from his mission after 6 months.  He said he thought it wasn't for him and that was that.  Upon coming home, he wasn't nearly as happy as he thought he would be.  People thought of him differently.  His cool car, his girlfriend and his life was still there, but it wasn't the same as before.  He eventually married his girlfriend in the temple but she ended up cheating on him and leaving him with 2 children.  He felt left out in Elders' quorum, because he didn't have those missionary experiences.  He couldn't teach his son how to be a missionary because he didn't know either.  He proceeded to explain to this Elder how important and how much of a blessing a mission really is.  He basically just said to suck it up.....As for home, don't worry.  If your sister crashes your cool car, you'll get another. If your girlfriend leaves you, you'll find another.  The Lord won't forget you.  You'll be blessed for your service, it's a promise."
      "It was extremely encouraging.  The miracle, however, came in the manner of which this letter passed through the hands of our district and into its final destination.  We almost just threw it away without reading it, yet we felt prompted not to.  We liked it so much that we shared it with our whole district.  Then, after dinner, 2 of our Elders were asked to accompany a solo Elder to gym, while his companion called home.  Turns out this Elder was calling home because he wanted to go home.  He was sitting by the front door, with his bags, waiting to be picked up.  Our Anziani walked past Sorella Bowman and Jones who happened to have the letter with them.  The sisters knew right then why we had found this letter:  So that we could give it to this young Elder who was leaving.  They ran to the front and handed him the letter.  They told him that the letter was for him and that they knew by the Spirit that it was meant for him.  They promised him that this was where he needed to be.  We don't know if he chose to stay, but we know this:  This was a miracle according to God's will and by God's hands."
     "What are the chances?  Our schedule had to have changed so that we would've had that many Elders in our service assignment.  Without that many Elders, we wouldn't have found the letter.  Anziano Gibson and I could have thrown it away, but we kept it instead.  We could have kept it to ourselves or waited a day to share it.  Elders from our district happened to be in the right place and the right time (and time was ticking) in order to come across this Elder.  What are the chances that they just happened to walk by Sorella Bowman and Jones holding the letter?  What are the chances that they got there right in time?  No.  Heavenly Father intervened today.  I know it.  God knows it.  I cannot deny it."   - Anziano Proctor

   

Elder Proctor and Elder Johnson

 

Andrew and Eric Madsen

 

The OTHER Elder Proctor

 

Italian Missionaries (Rome - left, Milan - right)

 

Andrew's sprained ankle - OUCH!

MTC week #5 and #6

Ciao!

  Sorry about last week.  Like I said the server was down and I wasn't able to write much.  But it was a huge blessing and I'll let you know why later in my letter.  

       Anyways, I told you how I was sick with that cough but I have more health news.  Before you worry, know that I am in excellent mental, psychological and spiritual health.  Physical health, however, is a little different.  Turns out I'd had bronchitis, so while I'm off of the antibiotics, it's going to take a little while for this cough to go away completely.  Also, this last thursday I sprained my ankle playing basketball during gym time.  The trainer's assessment says I probably have a 2nd Degree tear in my Anterior Taylo-Fibular Ligament.  It's possible it was very close to a complete tear.  It's pretty bruised and fairly swollen.  I was limping for the first day or so, but I can now make my way around without a limp and he says I'm making miraculous progress with my rehab and physical therapy.  He wants me to do PT exercises for my first month in Italy.  I still have a smile on my face though, no worries.  

     Thanks for the notes from Dillon's farewell!  He's always been an awesome speaker.  I'm super excited to have him here in a week (holy cow, only 1 week left??)  I met an Elder at one of the Devotionals who asked me if I knew a  "Dallin Olsen, real tall, blonde, Park City kid."  I said, "YES I know DILLON Olsen, he's my best friend since the 3rd grade."  Apparently they lived in the same hall during BYU Summer Semester last year. 
      I have a lot more I want to write to you about but I only have 4 minutes left so I'll try to fit in a little bit more.  I'll send the rest by hand-written mail. Could you type it up and put it on the blog?  These stories are for everyone to hear.  I want to share with them a couple miracles that happened this week.

     For now, I love you all and hope to be able to hear from you soon.  Again I'll say that even if I can't reply to them all, I love to get letters!  I know this Church is true and I know I'm in the right place, doing the Lord's work!  

 

-Anziano Proctor 

MTC week #4

"We're almost halfway through!  Isn't insane how fast it goes?  I wish I could've seen that special on the Vatican Library, I love everything to do with Italian (especially Roman) history.  Fratello Bulloch told us this story about his Italian Professor here at BYU.  Apparently he has been allowed 2 or 3 times to view the original Bible scripts in the Vatican Library. "

     " I wish I could've been there for Dillon's farewell.  I'm so excited to have him here in the MTC with me.  Only a few more weeks right?   I got my package alright.  It worked out well because I opened it in class and I immediately had 3 or 4 Elders offering for tie-trades.  It's funny.  Before the mission, us Elders would've gone crazy over $100, some concert tickets or a new car.  Now we go nuts over tie-trades, letters and packages from home.  Keep those letters coming!  Even if I can't reply to them all, and I can only write one day a week, it's still nice to get them :)  "
     

  "Anyways, Anziano Hays and I are off to the temple now!  Io so che la Chiesa e vera, e Dio ci ama.  Joseph Smith era una profeta degli ultimi giorni.  I love this gospel.  Ci vediamo!"

 

-Anziano Proctor