September 18,
2013
We have had a
really good week. This week. We have seen the love of God a lot and
we have been blessed by him exceedingly. Anziano D. is doing pretty
well. He is being a trooper even though for him, this is probably
pretty difficult.
On Thursday we
were in Modena for a zone meeting. It was really good. We met with
Jerry from English class. He seems to really be searching for truth
and meaning in this big old crazy world. Please pray for him. We had
English class and it was fun. We played Taboo and they had a ball. I
remembered how much fun the family has playing that game, especially
mom and grandma ;)
We taught
Revindar and Stive on Friday (They are both growing a lot and it is
really good to see) and planned our week. We realized that thing will
be picking up a ton here in Bologna. We are excited.
On Saturday, our
investigator, Prince introduced us to his friend, Joshua from
England. That was a really good lesson. We explained the Restoration
of the Gospel and I feel like both of them are so prepared and ready
for the truth!
Sunday was good!
Four people came to church on Sunday! Three of them for the first
time! Yay!
On Monday, we had
district meeting. I love my district! After that, we met with Jerry,
Revindar and Lucky. All of those lessons were really good. I am
especially excited for Revindar because he seems close to the goal we
made together for his baptism which should be on the 28th of the
month!
Yesterday, We had
a lesson with Stive and it went well. We talked about priesthood and
baptism and serving others. We learned a lot together and I also feel
like Stive is close to baptism.
I love you all a
lot and I am looking forward to hearing from you! Stay well!
September 25,
2013
This has been a
good week. A lot has happened. It has been fun.
Well on Thursday,
I went to Ferrara for Scambi. We taught an investigator of theirs who
ended up getting baptized the next day in Catania. I gave him a
baptismal interview and it went really well. I was excited. We did a
ton of finding work which was actually really refreshing. We had a
bunch of really stimulating conversations mostly with non-Italian
European tourists. A piece of somewhat disheartening news... Anziano
D. called me that night and told me that President Dibb had been in
contact with Anziano D. family and Stake President and they had
together reached the conclusion that Anziano D. should go home to
rest up. He left in the morning of the next day before I was back in
Bologna. Pray for him.
On Friday, we
went to Modena for interviews. And I joined the companionship with
Anziano T. and E. until Monday. (Its was like February of earlier
this year!) That was pretty good. Sorella Dibb fed us some really
delicious soup. It is always a pleasure to talk with President and
Sorella Dibb. We taught Stive again that day which was good and also
a new convert named Elizabeth. Both lessons were great.
Anziano T. has
this project going where he is recording Moroni 10:4-5 in the native
languages of all of our investigators, members, and new converts! It
is cool to listen to it! I found out about that on Friday.
On Saturday, we
did a lot of work with the Cappi's investigators. We had a lunch
appointment with some members which was nice. That day I weekly
planned by myself. Weirdest. thing. ever. It was good though.
On Sunday we had
a super good day at Church. We all moved into our new building. An
English School through out the week. We taught Revindar and that was
great. I love that guy.
On Monday, I went
to Reggio Emilia for their district meeting with the cappi. Our Zone
is so small now since it was split two transfers ago, that with mine
and the cappi's presence it was one coppia short of a zone meeting.
That got a few laughs from the other missionaries. After that, i made
lunch and then ran around the train station in Bologna like a chicken
with its head cut off looking for my new cellphonless companion....
Speaking of that,
Introducing Anziano H. from Idaho Falls! He is great. He is my new
companion and he is in his 4th transfer.
Well together, we
taught Stive and then got him all unpacked
Yesterday was a
good day, We had district meeting after which I made a good old
southern style home cooked meal of biscuits and gravy, eggs and taco
potatoes. It was good and surprisingly low in price. Between lunch
and bedtime we were running around the city between lessons. We
contacted a referral which turned out to be an American Family from
North Carolina here fir an extended (several years) business stay who
invited us back on Wednesday! I am SO excited to FINALLY teach a
family! They were super nice. We also met with some less active
members and had an impromptu lesson in the park. It was a good day.
Today, I showed
Anziano H. around town. I also got my whole weeks groceries for 8.26
euro. I can hardly believe it myself. It gets sparse towards the end
of the month out on the mission. We have three lessons planned this
evening.
It been a great
week and a great time to be a missionary! :)
October 2, 2013
Hello Everyone!
What a great
week it has been! Anziano H. and I are growing together and we are
seeing so many miracles! I am loving it! It has been a lot of fun.
On Thursday, We
had a lesson with a potential investigator. It didn't really go
anywhere and he said that he showed up just to be polite, and that he
wasn't totally interested in anything of the religious sort. But he
listened politely and thanked us when he left. We had English class
that night and I gave them a Spiritual thought (something that I had
been trying to test the waters on for a while) from Romans Chapter 8
(the last few verses that talk about how God loves us and that
nothing can separate us from that love) That was a really nice and I
am pretty sure that they liked it.
We taught Stive
on Friday and did a lot of pass-by's and finding work. It was still a
good day.
On Saturday, we
taught Revindar. That went really well. We are trying to get him to
come to church which he said he would happily do if he didn't work.
We are trying to get him to ask his boss to give him the time off.
Also that day, we taught Elena and Givanni our Family from Romania
that Anziano H. and I taught at the beginning of our time in Bologna.
That was awesome! They all accepted invitations to be Baptized on the
5th of November! Yay!
On Sunday, we
had church and Anziano H. and I did a ton of Pass-bys and a trip to
the hospital to visit a member.
Monday was fun,
we had District meeting and I hosted Anziano R. who is serving in
Ferrara for Scambio. That was fun. We taught Stive again and then we
taught the Romanian family again.
Yesterday, we
got stood up, so we went finding and taught an impromptu lesson to a
girl from Bangladesh. She was awesome! Super Prepared. We gave her an
invitation to be baptized on the 5th of November as well. We then
taught Revindar and then you guessed it, The Romanian Family :)
Today we will
see Stive and the American Family. I am super excited!!
I love you guys
and I am so thankful for you all! I hope that you all are feeling
close to God and knowing that he loves you. I have felt this love as
I have been here in His service and I know that all we need to do is
repent and come unto Him and he will bless our lives!
October 9, 2013
The title sums
it up. It has pretty much rained every day of this week but it has
been fantastic. Every little bit of it!
Well this week
had a lot happen.
We met with that
American family, and they wanted to take us out to dinner, so we did.
We answered a lot of their questions and ate some pretty good food.
We are returning today and we will teach them about the Restoration
of the Gospel. I am excited. They are way nice.
On Thursday, We
taught Stive, our Romanian Family and Had English Class. All of it
was really good. I love my English class! They are awesome. We talked
about food that brings us memories. Also that day, we dropped off
some Books of Mormon in the only room left open in our Chapel. That
place is totally wrecked because of all the construction. But they
are going to make it a lot better, so I am glad.
On Friday, we
talked to Stive, the Romanians, and Revindar.
On Saturday and
Sunday, We went to Modena for General Conference. Rocking! Whoever
hasn't seen this round of General Conference need to go see it now.
You won't regret it. I especially like the talks that President
Uchtdorf gave.
On Monday, We had
district meeting, and then we taught Stive and the Romanians.
On Tuesday, it
rained a lot and we were in the middle of a park and got totally
soaked! We still managed to teach the Romanians and Aiuni, (an
investigator who was given to us as a referral from the Capi from
Palestine)
Today, we are
going to go take a bunch of pictures from high points in Bologna and
then teach Stive and the American Family.
I am going to
Ferrara on Saturday to give a baptismal interview.
That's been my
week!
I love you all!
October 16,
2013
Well I actually
have news for you all! The Lord has called me to Trieste. Trieste is
really far away from Milano pretty much a stone's throw from
Slovenia. so the joke is that I am being "exiled" My
companion will be called Elder Poole (I actually have no Idea if I
spelled that right) I am super excited! Leaving Bologna will of
course be a little bitter sweet as leaving a city always is for me. I
have learned a lot from my service here in Bologna. I feel like I
have grown a lot and have felt the Lord shape me and help me grow.
Well That is cool.
This has been a
really good week! We have had alot of fun this week.
Wednesday night
after P-day we went to see Stive and Also the Kernan family! They
invited four friends over. Two of which came form Portland. One of
which works at Lewis and Clark College and has offered to help me get
in to L&CC! that will be super great! We had fun and we talked
and we gave them a spiritual thought. Super nice!
On Thursday, we
taught a less active member and we had English class. That was really
great. The bread and cinnamon rolls that Anziano H. and I made for
them turned out great! I love my English Class!
On Friday, I went
to Ferrara to do a Scambio with them and pass by a lot of their
members with Anziano C.
On Saturday
morning, I gave a baptismal interview for their investigator who will
be getting baptized this Saturday!! We taught the Romanian family
after I got back to Bologna which was about 5 that evening.
Sunday was a good
day. Church was definitely nice. I had a scambio with the Cappi. That
was good. I went with Anziano E. and passed by a bunch of less
actives and former investigators.
On Monday we very
thoroughly cleaned our house and taught our Palestinian Investigator,
Aiuni. He is so amazing!
Yesterday, we
taught Stive and a man named Aftab.
That was
essentially the week! I love you all. Next week from Trieste!
Love Always,
Anziano John
Colin Cook