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