Crazy Things

Dear Family and Friends,

I will define this week simply. It was one of the craziest of my mission. Considering all the things that have happened to me, I honesly treat this as one of the best/interesting/unexpected weeks of my life.

Let's begin: First off, while Anziano Mars was trying to clean the sink one day, the faucet broke. So that led to us figuring out how to remove and replace it...which led to us later in the week having to take apart the whole sink, disconnect the lines while the water was still on because there was no shut-off, and then finally having a fixed sink again at the end of the week. I'm so glad Anziano Mars is good handyman because all I could really do was offer support on the sidelines.

Comunque, we are just starting. We had our zone conference this last week (which for me is like Natale!) and so that meant, I got to see Anziano Draghi again! Oh he's just the best trainer a missionary could want, and will truly be my best friend. We had a gesso which was fun and we certainly met interesting people, and of course Anziano Draghi wanted to end it all with singing "America the Beautiful". I learned a lot from the conference but the thing I learned the most was about love. Just as Anziano Draghi was about to depart, I gave him a hug and just started crying. Yah, I don't know really why but it was nice to have a minute to say that I really do love and appreciate everything he did. Luckily, since he's Italian, he's a lot closer about those things than maybe other people would be haha.

On the way back from Zone Conference, we missed the bus we wanted to take. That was a little annoying but we made it up with gelato and brioches (YUM!). The bus driver before was looking at our tags, and when we boarded the bus, he asked if we were musicians. I had my violin with me because we played a musical number, Rock of Ages, which also went well. We explained who we were, but he still invited me to sit in the front and play for him a song. Sooner or later, I played for the whole 2 hour bus ride all the hymns, classical music, christmas songs, and even suzuki method book pieces I could remember. It was a blast! It felt so unreal yet people applauded, people encouraged me to continue, and we left the bus driver with a pamphlet. I guess I need to use this talent a little more.

It only gets better! The festa of San Giovanni has hit and so the parades have begun, fireworks have been lit, and his birthday is on Tuesday still so this is just the beginning. The streets in centro are packed with vendors selling normal goods like candy, toys, food, as well the unsual like clothes, pets, cooking utensils, and even lightbulbs. It certainly is a nice welcome back to Ragusa after everyone has been on vacation on the sea and the summer is about to end.

Sebastiano continues to move up and down in confidence and his preparedness for his baptism but we are moving forward for the interview this Saturday so I am praying a lot for him and hope he really takes the leap of faith to baptism, that it will be better!

We also had a lesson with Emanuele which was interesting as he insisted that we needed to tell the prophet to add wine to the sacrament water cups. Also a member brought us giant ricotta stuffed rolls which were absolutely buonissimo! We also had two great pranzos with members which as always was simply a delight to enjoy laughter and also explain how they could introduce their friends to the joy of the gospel. Today we were at Siracusa which was nice to see again. We checked out some ancient Jewish baths and just enjoyed a nice day in that great city.

While driving back, I was talking with Sebastiano who drove us there about my mission and how I felt in general. As the words were leaving my mouth about how I might leave the next week because of transfers, I started to cry a bit (yes, it happens, I won't deny it.). I couldn't even say I would miss Ragusa because I would have probably bawled. I honestly do not understand why completely. It might have to do with how much I love Ragusa and the people and the food and everything here. Or it could be how much I have grown as a missionary, as a child of God. Or just how much I have gone through with my companion and district of missionaries, the high highs and the low lows. It could be that I still feel like I need to do something more here. Whatever it is, next week will be interesting. Maybe I am just a more emotional person? All I can say with confidence is that I am going to make this week worth it all, that I will be here until the end, when I have to go where there will probably also be more tears. I know there is a purpose for why I am here and intend to find out what it is before I leave. I know there is a reason I am here in this mission at this time and that God has a plan for it all. He loves me and all of us so much that the plan for each one of us seperately is the best thing that could ever happen to us, no matter what.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Just Loving Life

Dear Family and Friends,

It's such a struggle to remember all the things you did at the end of a week because we do just so much here! I had to buy my second journal which is crazy to think that I have been out here long enough to be able to do that! In fact, I have been in Italy for just over a year now and I can honestly say without a doubt it had been the best experience of my life. Italy and my mission here have changed me for sure (now let's hope it's for the better!)

Comunque, this was a great week! First off, we celebrated Ferrragosta! Pretty much means middle of august and every takes a week off to go to the beach for the day when the Virgin Mary ascended into heaven. Surprisingly we still were able to teach 2 lessons on that day which is unheard of! Granted, our only investigators are not the normal people to celebrate Ferragosta i.e. super old (Emanuele), not from Italy (Elias), and acts sometimes like he is always on vacation (Sebastiano). Sure it was difficult to see days where there was hardly anyone on the streets but we perservered and had some cool experiences.

One day we were in the park enjoying the much needed cool breeze in the shade after our studies, and we decided to go in an area we nevee really go into. While walking with the intention of going to check if some addresses were correct, we see two ragazzi sitting on a bench. Of course, we need to go talk with them. Turns out they do speak English and we got into a conversation. Who are you? Americans! Missionaries? Do you want this homemade arancino? (That was a surprise and it was so so good!). Daniele and Leonardo immediately launch into big questions (what's after this life? What's good and evil? What makes someone good or evil? Why does God allow suffering to exist? Does God exist?) and so we tried our best to explain all of it in the context of the plan of salvation. In the end, it came to the point that we really don't know all the answers because we live in mortality, we are meant to walk by faith, and if want these answers we turn to God. We gave them a Book of Mormon and they want to meet with us again sometime after Ferragosta! È stato bellissimo!

We also had a scambio this week where two other missionaries (Anziano Perfili e Alexander) came to Ragusa and we worked with theem seperately. We all first went to pranzo with the Lo Monaco family because they are amazing (seriously, one of the best ragu pastas I have eaten) and Anziano Perfili started his mission also in Ragusa. I was with Anziano Alexander for the day and for part of it, we literally just turned down random streets, searching for the one person on that we could ask a question, that we could help and share our message with. It was a great opportunity for me to learn and put myself out there to talk with literally everyone and just be a light.

Other highlights include: We went to Catholic Mass with Emanuele for the memorial of his wife who passwed away 8 years ago which was actually very interesting to observe how they worship. Emanuele certainly appreciated it that's for sure! We passed by a former investigator's house who proceeded to talk with us about the bad things that happened in his life while eating peaches soaking in a glass of wine, but he is still a great guy. We have started teaching Elias italian which is pretty fun and he wants to make really fast progress so he talk to everyone. And afterward we got Magna Magna pizza, probably the best pizza here (but sadly not like Napoli). We also had a fun pranzo with the Guastella family from Comiso who just make me laugh and smile that these great people exist.

Oh and since we stopped English Group, we were finally able to go to Falcone's class. For those who don't remember, he is the guy who had a giant library of books on religion and philosophy and considers our religion  one of the best and comes to church often. He holds a class where his friends gather and talk about different religions and philosophies and also argue with one another at the end. It was a really cool experience because they asked lots of deep questions about our faith and what we believe (so definitely worth our time!) And they also enjoyed the sugar cookies we brought haha! By the way, we didn't have a rolling pin when I made the cookies so my first thought was unwrapping a roll of aluminum foil and using the cardboard tube. Let's just say it worked, but there was a big mess afterward.

To conclude, I'll talk about Sebastiano. He has been on and off for over a year now investigating the church and I have had the great opportunity to teach him for almost 6 months now. We had a lesson last week where he straight up told us in the middle of the lesson that he received revelation that he needs to be baptized on the 9th of September. It's a huge miracle and we will do everything that we can to help him get there still. To see people change and feel the same way I do about the gospel and how it truly makes you a better person, fills my heart with joy. When I go out each day, I try and imagine with everyone I meet, how their life could be more happy, more full of peace and our purpose, which hopefully gives me the courage to declare unto them the truth that will cause that might change of heart. I am definitely not perfect but I'm trying to let faith guide me, not fear. I know there is more I need to here, and time's sadly running out. I love this work, my comoanion, these members, and everyone really in Ragusa. I really believe that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the best thing to change someone's life for the better and I hope I truly fulfill that duty before my time runs out here in the great city of Ragusa. I certainly owe it to God to do my best!

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

What a Blessing!

Dear Family and Friends,

Italy is the best and I'm so blessed to be in Ragusa. Yesterday, we did a gesso near the Ibla Duomo and I got to play my violin. I remember thinking how much of a dream this is for some people, but it is my reality. One lady even tried to give me money but I quickly explained how we were missionaries and were doing this as a service, although the thought means a lot to me.

Ferragosta is here and that means lots of closed shops, more tourists, and more challenges that we are ready to face. Sadly, I could have used a haircut but nothing will be open until next week. The heat recently has gone down a lot so that has been a miracle considering everyone in Ragusa agrees this is the hottest that it has ever been! Really, we have seen a ton of blessings that are making up for the challenge of summer.

One day in particular was a miracle. We received an online referral (rare and far between) so we planned a day to go pass by. On the way there, someone stopped us about English Group. Then we met Salvatore who turns out to be from South Africa and speaks perfect English. I was definitely not expecting that for sure. He was super funny and nice and wants us to come over again for a pranzo! And after that crazy experience, some random guy on the street asked when our church meets and when he could come!

We also helped Elias who's from Nigeria wall to church and meet everyone. It's harder of course since he doesn't understand too mucu Italian, but he explained how he feels good here, especially when we sang the hymns in sacrament meeting. He's a very perceptive person and wants to come back next week! Sebastiano is doing better at recognizing what he needs to do, so we are trying to help him actually make those necessary changes in his life like better eating/sleeping habits and reading the Book of Mormon. Hopefully, he will be prepared for his planned baptism on the 9th of September.

Other cool things were dolce less active member finding (sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting!), Guido from English Group giving me hug since we are pausing it for 3 weeks, celebrating Fratello Lo Monaco's birthday with the cheesecake we made, normal long Emanuele lesson where he gave us "interesting" wild figs, cleaning the church with Stefano and Simone and then they mention they both want us to teach someone, and a surprise pranzo at the Manzini's house with the Scoville senior couple.  Vescovo Manzini was pretty disappointed that we still didn't bring him a dolce (sorry!).

Yesterday I had the opportunity to give my first talk in church so as you can imagine I was nervous (we also sang a musical number too!). The topic was "The Most Difficult Part of Missionary Work" which I thought at first was a really interesting topic to choose. As I thought during the week, a lot of ideas came to my head of course. Talking to people, walking lot, rejection, serving others, but I finally summed it all up into Turning Outward, not Inward. The hardest thing is always sacrificing your will for that of God's, but as I mentioned yesterday, the reason we do it is because we love God and Jesus Christ so much (because they have done everything for us!). There is no other reason that can replace that. I know the mission is truly a blessing, an experience that refines us and makes us better, as well as blessing the life of every other person we meet. I thank God everyday for telling me to serve this mission and the opportunity that I have to be his representative everyday.  I just love it so much and want to stay more! My favorite advice: quit worry about yourself, just go and do what's right and God will make up the rest

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

One Step at a Time

Dear Family and Friends,

While summer might be ending on that side of the world, it has just begun for Italy. And that means it is hot! Honestly, I was cleaning the balcony on our deep cleaning day Saturday night and thought to myself, this feels like home. So either Italy has become just that for me or it's about as hot as it is in Peoria haha. Apparently according to the people I ask, these longs periods of caldo are very unusual and so the people here at Ragusa are also having a hard time adjusting to it as well, as shown by the increase in men not wearing shirts on balconies (2 times there was someone just in a speedo!).

But even the heat can't stop us, or at least I am not going to let it. Our finding days have resulted in us walking around town looking for the only person on the street to talk to, calling people, searching for addresses, heading to parks to escape from heat and find other people escaping it, and of course classic Via Roma. One night coming home after talking to this one kid (who actually began trying to convince us to read the Quran in the end after we explained about the Book of Mormon) and this lady that thinks she speaks English, asks us, "Are you fine?" (Translated: How are you?). It was hilarious!

This week also involved a lot of waiting. Anziano Mars finally got his fingerprints done at the Questura (only took 2 hours this time) so that was successful! We also visited Comiso this week and had two great lessons with members, especially the Guastella family. I love feeling the Spirit come from these people and the dedication they have despite the great opposition they have usually. It's very powerful and they always bring a smile to my face (because they are just so dang funny in italian!). But the bus that was supposed to take us back never came so we ended up waiting an extra hour outside. Don't worry, we made up the lost strength with an extra helping of pasta. I have to say that we are getting pretty good at cooking pasta like the ragu pasta al forno we made to start our fast, was soooooo good. Mmm!

Okay, side story! We decided to have pranzo one day in the church so that it would make the long walk to Emanuele's house more managable. That was super fun and spontaneous but comunque, we arrive at Emanuele's house sweating still from the hot sun. Basically, this is the way we think is the best to teach Emanuele. Remember when we talk, it mostly us yelling slowly so he can hear.

Introduction (3-5 min)
Tangent story about what he did that day (~5 min), then he mentions that it's not his fault for talking so much, it is our fault because we didn't bring a stapler for his mouth :)
Prayer
Emanuele argues about how we shoudl drink wine in the sacrament instead of water (3 min)
Open the scriptures, Turn to 2 Nefi 31, Emanuele reads one verse
Pause, talks about catholic baptism, we explain how we do baptism by immersion like Jesus did, etc.
Next verse
Emanuele proceeds to explain a random story about a Catholic pope
Skip to important verse, he reads
Emanuele explains once again how even though he doesn't like some people that practice his religion, his faith is still in his church and he doesn't want to change followed by a story that explains why not (~30 min). He is really loyal to his father and he believes that he would be disgracing all his father ever did for him if he changed. But he said he likes us a lot still.
Emanuele offers coffee. We deny. He asks if we can eat cookies, to which we say we can.
Emanuele offers a ride home. We try to deny but he says don't worry, just give me time to put on some pants.

Anyway, that was the best lesson we had because his side tangents were related to the scriptures we were reading. He is so funny, interesting, and he totally surprised us yesterday by coming to church which was totally unexpected.

Also Sebastiano is making great progress and continues to be awesome! He picked us up for church without us calling and he said he stayed up until 3 that night. We probably should talk to him more about his sleeping and eating habits haha. But he is great and the ward is more on board with his conversion too so we are hoping that are fasting and prayers will help him receive his testimony. Miracles are really happening and I don't think I can appreciate it enough. Like yesterday, we heard someone yell "Mars!" So we turn and see Elias, a contact we had met two weeks ago that promised to come to church. He explained his situation and we planned the next week to walk with him to church. Before he mentioned that he wanted to know about our "doctrine" in his words, so luckily I brought everything we had in English for him to read. I guess we will see what happens on Sunday!

I'm looking forward to this next week and recommiting myself to work even more. As I have been reflecting on these past few weeks, I have realized there is a lot more I could and should be doing as a missionary. I guess that's the real beauty in what we are teaching as missionaries, that God gives us the opportunity to change every single day and only waits for us to ask and receive his help in that change (repentance). So I am going to work as hard as I can because God loves me and knows that all these trials are good for me. I will not shrink before this fight. I need to give my all. Bring it on! I can talk to all these people, I can withstand rejection, persecution, old sicilians talking for long periods, the heat, all thanks to our Savior (sorry, that was my personal pep talk haha). I truly love being out here unlike anything else or at least I really want to love every second of it, because I know that this mission is changing my life and I hope the lives of everyone else here.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price