Second Chances

Dear Family and Friends,

It's getting more and more difficult to recount the weeks. They are just normal to me these days. Yet there is nothing normal about taking giros on Italian streets, trying to talk to random strangers about who God is. It's nerveracking and breathtaking at the same time, especially when you make things really fun.

Let me give some examples. One day we were riding the metro home and I had the idea to talk to this one guy on the other side. I had no idea how to go about it but it is a lot easier to just ask if I can sit next to someone. So I did that and just asked, "Hey can I practice Italian with you?" And surprisly he said yes! We started talking with my broken italian and his broken english about normal things (which always leads to why I am here all the way from Arizona) and we communicated pretty well. I guess it was the Holy Ghost. It was a cool experience and at the end, I got his facebook profile. That's two things I have learned recently. Ask and you shall receive, and it is really easy to ask for people's facebook.

There were many times in fact where I could really feel God guiding us to do what we did. Sometimes, it seemed like we were lost, without a purpose, but then we popped into a random music store and I try and play a violin in the attempt to strike up a conversation. Or we would pass by a ragazzo, realize we needed to talk to him and then turn around in the attempt to ask him a question. I'm really learning how to follow promptings, to do it the first time and never ignore, even though I still mess up on that a lot still.

Okay, I'll talk about the Halloween party now. First off, I thank all the leaders and my parents for all the parties they ever pulled off in my ward back home because it takes a lot of work. The bishop put the missionaries in charge of the party and so we did our best to organize. In the end, there were multiple trips to the grocery store, some hours of planning, and lots and lots of baking. We made peanut butter frosted brownies with peanut butter caramel popcorn while the Sorelle took care of cookies and cinammon rolls and jello, and the decorations. Yah we went all out with our 100 euro budget :) It was a crazy party in the end, the ragazzi like to take over things with their music and dancing, but it was actually a lot of fun for the families and our investigators. It made having to clean our kitchen like 3 times in a row worth it haha.

Other small things include going to a fun pranzo at the Smedilas, another cena with la famiglia Rochira, translating a talk into english for an American couple on the spot that called out some Italian members for talking too loudly during church, daily night schenanigans with the other great Anziani we have in our house, and normal missionary work.

So yeah, missionary work is great! It requires so much strength, faith, repentance, obedience, love, discpline, hard work, and lots of mistakes, but there is no either way to do. I believe that the time when I have given it my all has been the time when it has been most worth it and I just loved the mission. I am working my way up to it again so I am grateful I believe in a God that is merciful and gives second chances and whole lot more after that because I need them and the world needs them. I just want to tell everyone this truth that has only become more true thanks to my mission here.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Lots of Thoughts

Dear Family and Friends,

So the calls have come and as I expected, I am still here in Catania and I am in fact here with Anziano Perfili still too. That was a little more unexpected but it usually takes me two transfers with someone to get united and do my best work (considering 6 weeks now goes by sooo fast). We are a good duo with still a few kinks, but what great companionships don't have kinks?

The ward is certainly happy that we are still together as seen from the hugs, bacces (missionary talk for "italian kisses"), and compliments.  There is nothing like an Italian ward that's for sure. Yes, wherever you go in the world the church has the same organization and structure and of course the sacrament, but there are always some unique features. Like the one old sicilian in Elder's Quorum that is famous for giving long and interesting comments, the first counselor handing the person giving a talk a note that says they need to end their talk in one minute because they used up too much time, and of course the overwhelming sense of love you feel from all their buon giornos, handshakes, and especially their hand gestures. I even got the privilege of seeing a lot of the youth from Siracusa and Ragusa, and even someone from Pozzuoli yesterday as well and it's amazing to see that my friendship with them still exist.

I certainly also love being in this same zone and treasuring the relationships I have with these great missionaries that I work with. On Thursday we helped send missionaries off to their new cities, including Anziano Mars who will be going to Rome. I got to do a little mini scambio the night before with him which reminded me of what seems like forever ago in Ragusa. And of course, we got kebab (look it up, it's really good here!).

So after the craziness of helping others with transportation, Elder Ballard's conference,zone leadership councils, and helping the vescovo charge batteries for translation, we were still able to make a difference in our work. From an apostle, we received the challenge to talk to 10 people every day and so I have been really trying to put it into practice. You talk to anyone and I mean anyone to reach that goal, like these two full grown men racing RC race cars in the parking lot for fun haha.

For me, talking to people has always been my struggle because I'm a nervous guy and I don't like to bother other people. I kind of have to turn my brain off actually and just go for it, saying "Hey how are you?" or "I like your dog. What's his name" and things like that, and soon things always progress to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This one lady we stopped immediately recognized us as missionaries because her sister recently was baptized nearby in Caltanisetta about a year ago which really shocked us. We were told by Elder Ballard to expect miracles so I am working hard to truly believe and do my part.

Really, this week has been a wake-up call to the fact that the end is getting closer and closer than I think. 9 months is nothing in missionary time. I want to end as my best self, doing everything right. While that expectation isn't healthy (especially since I've recently become a clutz and cracked the kitchen stove in my attempt to clean), I want to live everyday from now on without regret. To make the most of every day because today is the day! Soon I will have to leave this great country and take off the missionary tag, so I want to do it with the utmost assurity that I did my best. Because I owe to God to try.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Car, Italians, and Normal Work

Dear Family and Friends,

It's going to be a good day. Tonight we get transfer calls and I have no idea what to expect. Anziano Perfili has his predictions, but I've learned for myself that I can never really predict where God wants me to be in the mission. I'm so happy though because we had a great week and I feel like it will just continue to get better.

First off, we finally got the car back! Yes after my stupid mistake and waiting 2 weeks, we got to work with the vehicle. We made appointments with members, were able to make it to appointments on time, and not have to wait for late buses. I love using public transportation but a car is necessary sometimes, especially here.

We had an appointment with a great family named the Sanfillipos. We enter their house hearing a two year old scream, the house in a little disorder, and the parents working on fixing up dinner while the kids were roaming the house. Families like that are amazing to me. Sorella Sanfillipo managed to make a tiramisù in less than an hour and Fratello Sanfillipo  The kids were cute, Vincenzo is a stud youth, and the parents are amazing young converts. Might I add the food was really good and we invited them to give a friend a Book of Mormon.

Actually the inspiration for that challenge came from one night we were on the Lungomare. While walking and trying to talk to some ragazzi, these three boys randomly stopped us and asked who we were. This is normal so we begin to explain and soon these ragazzi are posing questions at us that are pretty big. What's after this life? What does it mean to believe? Who's God? Are their evil spirits in the world? Why would God create evil in the world? And so we opened up the Book of Mormon and explained it all our best. It was cool and the Spirit was there, helping these 13 year old boys understand the truth. Maybe something will come out of it soon.

As for the rest, we visited the Famiglia Rochira and like always give us the most amazing food and stories. We also were able to do a fun activity with the GANS which was crazy and the rest was more finding people who seem to be interested. I love the members here dearly and what was even better was hearing Elder Ballard do a broadcast here for all of Europe. In fact, when we arrived, there were two random men who walked into the church wondering about "mass". Turns out they were interested to learn more about this church they knew from about 30 years ago and found the gate open. They promised to come back next week when church actually starts and I think they want to learn more.

Like always, it's up and down. Days where it feels like nothing is happening and then everything is happening. Days where I want to teach everyone and days where I don't feel willing and able to give it my all. But there are two things I will never deny. Food and the blessings of this mission. I want to do my best and live up to the challenge that I have been given. It's an honor to serve a mission here and I just want to change Catania as much as  it has changed me.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Another Week

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm in Siracusa right now just enjoying a nice day back in my old city, living up the memories. Man, I love my mission so much! It has really built my testimony on how God has divinely designed our lives with the amazing people, tender mercies, miracles, and even challenges that make us happy and reach our potential.

Really, the whole week centered on zone conference and the persepective is definitely different when you are in charge. On Monday, my scambio with Anziano Smith got rained on and so we decided to go out anyway. It was an amazing night, even if we didn't find anyone or get the car back, because I was able to see why I was called as a zone leader specifically to help him that night. While I won't share the personal details, I was able to relate and just show love and support and it was great.

Nevertheless, the rain continued thoughout the week. And without the car, we had to do a lot of replanning in order to help our mission president move from the airport to the church, meet for a pranzo with the vescovo, do all the interviews for the missionaries, as well as organize how the missionaries can arrive safely to our apartment to stay the night (let's just say some people got soaked!). I loved seeing all the missionaries gathered together and as well as my father in the mission, Anziano Draghi(who gave me a tie), and my son in the mission, Anziano Mars(who made me an apple pie!). The hard part was cramming that many missionaries into one apartment and then getting to bed on time.

Zone Conference was great and our part of the training went well. We also had Sorella Rochira from the ward make pranzo for all the missionaries and it was soo good!  Funny story: so the car we rented to take President Pickerd home was a stick shift as well (luckily he knew how to drive). But the problem was I had to drive the car back to the rental store. Well 15 minutes later I finally figured out how to change gears again and get the car back all in one piece. :)

Really there isn't much else to report. I feel like God is blessing us even when I also feel I could be doing so much more. Our lessons have been going well, the members are great and funny and good cooks, and I have great missionaries to work with. I just want to keep doing my best. I know God has called me to this mission for a reason. I'm learning so much and it really is a blast! I know God lives and loves us and has a plan for each of us. All we have to do is ask Him and trust Him in all things.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

The Little Red Fiat That Could

Dear Family and Friends,

Today was nice. We played soccer with all the missionaries in the zone. Just a nice fun day with good food, laughs, old fsces, and new friends. Now it's raining hard like it has for the past couple days and it's sadly getting in the way of our work. Oh well, what's one more trial right?

I'll just get straight to the good stuff. As Zone Leaders, we have the responsibility to teach and inspire the missionaries we serve. We felt strongly the need to strengthen the Ragusa district and so we decided this week to go their district meeting (I promise this gets more interesting so stick with me).

We pull into the great city of Ragusa and I couldn't help but feel that same special love once again for the time I spent here. Exactly the same good old tranquillo Ragusa. We park in front of the pristine church to find Anziano Morrill and Mars already waiting for us. Anziano Morrill gets a big hug of course and I don't let go of my figlio, Anziano Mars, in the mission for a minute (I didn't realize how much I missed him). Dolce was eaten, the meeting went well as we delivered our message of encouragement and diligence, and we even were able to give blessings of comfort to the Sorelle there.

Now, as we are leaving Ragusa with Anziano Morrill and Mars because we are about to do a scambio, I see we probably should get gas. That leads to Anziano Mars recounting the story of when Simone, a member in Ragusa, put diesel instead of gasoline into his car. I get out, finally figure out how to pay for this, and then grab the black handle and start putting what I think is gas into the car. It was diesel.

Now I know many of you are shaking your heads because I was at that point too. And of course, we reasoned that it probably wasn'ta big deal so we drove. 50 minutes later we are on the side of the highway in the middle of sicilia, waiting for a tow truck to come get us. Finally, it comes after a couple of hours, and I'm just grateful at this point. They give us a car to drive back and follow the truck back home. But twist, it's a small red Fiat 500 and it's a stick shift. Quick update: I don't know how to drive a manual. But since I was the only one authorized to drive, I had to learn. The Italian helping quickly taught, "It's easy! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!" In short, I manage to finalky learn how to change gears, get the car all the way to 3rd gear on the freeway and stay like that until we get into Catania. In Catania, there was a traffic and it starts pouring! I'm forced to change gears and really finally learn how to drive the car in this rain. In the end, after several times stopping and having to turn on the emergency lights, we made it safely to the auto shop and currently, we hope to get the car soon. That's another mistake I'll never forget.

Really I have been working on encouraging myself more and I had been wishing for more exciting experiences so I got my wish. Nothing else too interesting really. My scambio with Anziano Morrill was nice, my first one so I'm glad it went decently well and that I was able to comfort him and help him serve in Ragusa. As well as I went on a scambio with Anziano Lambert, a greenie here in Catania, and I loved it! I loved seeing that enthusiasm, the desire to attack the world, even if a lot of things got in the way. Other than that, we taught Giuseppe and had an amazing cena thanks to the Rochira family, I had an astounding pistacchio bomba (i'll try and get a picture for next time), and of course, General Conference!

All I can say is, I really needed general conference. I asked God for a mountain to climb and he certainly has given some mighty hills to mount, but I feel there's still more waiting for me. Hearing the words of prophets and apostles really enabled me to feel the Holy Ghost confirm that these things are true, that I just need to keep enduring, and learning, and growing! Have peace, don't fear, and know you are doing the right thing! I know this church is lead by Jesus Christ through his prophet and apostles. I could complain and try to get by with little effort, but that's not what God expects and wants me to do. I'm going to give it all, and hopefully this week I will be able to really feel that I did it!

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price