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

Ragusa: Round 4!

Dear Family and Friends,

*Transfer Calls*

-Anziano Draghi: "Hey Son! How are you doing?"

-Me: Hi Dad! Great, come stai?

-Anziano Draghi: Bene bene. So I just wanted to tell you that you will be staying to continue to train Anziano Mars. Keep taking good care of my grandson. 

-Me: Sounds good to me 

-Anziano Draghi: Okay good luck. I love you son! 

-Me: Love you too!

(I have the best father in the mission :) )

Quindi, transfers have come and gone and I am still here in sunny Ragusa with my own "son" Anziano Mars as was expected. This will be the longest time I have ever stayed in a city and also I am now the oldest person in our district of missionaries here. My how time has flown and the tables have turned.

But before the serious stuff, let's reminesce on the good stuff. August is coming and that means week/month long vacation for almost all Sicilians so the missionary work is starting to become a little more stressful for me, but it also gives us a lot more to be creative and fun with how we do it. Like always, we did a lot of walking in the usual spots and I am seeing the Lord's hand more in our work. On Monday, we met Elias (who calls me AnZaino Price) from Nigeria who had never heard about Mormons but wanted to know about our "doctrine" and he promised us that he was going to come to church. Sadly, he never showed up but we feel it is more likely because he couldn't find it because he basically gave us his word. We also met Lorenzo who shared with us his life story about moving to Ragusa and believing God didn't exist because he didn't hear his prayer to save his dad from dying (crazy stuff!). I love testifying simply that God lives and loves us because it's a simple truth I hold dear to my heart. 

So other random events included getting asked by a group of old Sicilian men on the bench (milestone!) to explain to them what reincarnation is (turns out they were actually talking about the resurrection), and then subito a man, Francesco, came up to us complaining about how ugly our English Group biglietinni were because it made Italians look like they came from South America (we changed them!) and somehow that was related to Hollywood being racist but we got his number and want to help him understand more about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon later hopefully. 

We actually were blessed this week because there was so much cool wind in Ragusa! It was like there was an air conditioner blowing onto the hill of Ragusa. It was heavenly! We saw the wind especially when we visited Salvo at his summer house in Scioglietti doing home teaching with Fratello Magrograssi Jr. where we ate really good pancakes with real maple syrup! (Never thought I would say that in a sentence!). 

Other news: Our English Group threw us a small pizza party and it made me love them even more! Also we helped GianPaolo who stopped us on the road search through family history records since he was on a trip from London here to learn more about his family history. We also threw a small after church pranzo/genealogy ward activity and the members liked the cheescake I made so that was a nice compliment haha. Sebastiano is progressing well and we took a leap of faith with him. We normally call him in the morning to wake him up for church but he promised to pick us up without the wake up call. So we did, and up to 9:10, it looked bad but he came in just in time and was one of the first people there for church! His testimony is growing and he is finally finally recognizing the Holy Ghost's influence in his life so that is definitely a good sign! We also met a random member who is a refugee from Sierra Leone in the park and helped him find the church again so that was unexpected. Anziano Mars has reached the point where anything that happens no matter how unexpected is just what Italy is like.

I have to admit though...missionary work is hard! It is really hard to give up youself as a missionary everyday. One of the biggest things I have learned from this time training with Anziano Mars is relearning how missionary work is hard again from the eyes of a greenie. It's hard to wake up everyday at 6:30, it's hard to walk outside for most of the day when it is hot, it's hard to talk to random strangers and almost always have them say to you, "non mi interessa", and it repeats. I've reflected so much these past few days and I have seen how far I have come in one year to believe and feel that all this hard work is so worth it and more that it has turned into only blessing, not burden. It's hard to honestly explain why we do this sacrifice but I can say with all my heart that I love love love doing this work of salvation here in Ragusa. And like I say to Anziano Mars like Anziano Draghi said to, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven".  I try to tell myself everyday, "Don't stress, don't worry, just tell people about the joy of having Christ in our lives, and all will be well. It's hard to explain to Anziano Mars, to ya'll, and the people of Ragusa. It is something only understood once it goes through you and changes you ultimately for the better. And based on only what happened this week, missionary work is just a blast!

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Just Keep Walking

Dear Family and Friends,

After all that happened to me this week, the lesson I learned the most is I am so grateful to be in Ragusa, especially with Anziano Mars. It's crazy to think that this week will mark one full transfer of me training. So much has happened that it seems to have just blurred into one event with small breaks such as sleeping and eating pranzos.

Honestly, this is the most I have ever walked though. If we aren't teaching, visiting members, or at the church, we are walking outside trying to talk to people. One day, we went to Vittoria, a city nearby, to visit a member, Sorella Ferraro. We hadn't been there in a while so the visit was definitely for Sorella Ferraro and we got the side benefit of eating her delicious powdered sugared donuts/ciambellas. But the next bus wasn't for a while so we decided to use the time to find other less active members to visit. We walked all the way to the edge of the city to this dirt road to find out that the house we were looking for most likely did not exist. So that led to us walking all the way back to the station and dying of exhaustion on the bus ride back. Anziano Mars commented afterwards, "I think we've probably done enough walking for the day." It reminded me of walking and getting lost back when I was a greenie in Pozzuoli.

But walking has its benefits. I feel like I am getting in better shape or at least conteracting the pasta and dolce we eat on a daily basis. Every day we either do a giro to the park, a giro to Via Roma and the park nearby, or just a giro everywhere really. Once we saw a crazy person yelling at a store window and the shop owner just rolled her eyes at him. We do our best to talk to people but they usually shrug us off because we are always there and they understand why we are here. Almost everyone we talk to expresses their frustration with the world and are searching for peace. We try our best to explain that's why we are here, to share the message of the peace that comes from Christ's gospel, but they usually stop listening before that point.

Comunque, we also had some great missionary moments! Emanuele read another 90 pages in the Book of Mormon so that was amazing! And we were able to talk more about the Restoration and praying about the Book of Mormon so that was a success! Also, Sebastiano has recommited himself to be baptized and so we are doing all we can to support him, remind him daily, and just be there for him. We actually have had some very personal and spiritual lessons lately so I have a lot of faith in him and feel like he has a lot more desire to make this commitment with God. Speriamo bene!

Other than that, it was normal crazy missionary things. In English Group, we teach this awesome student named Giovanni who always calls us "his boys". We had a little party after ward council for Nuria and Joseph, members here in Ragusa, and I experimented making a cheesecake. It was good but Fratello Lo Monaco said it wasn't cheesecake (which is good because I don't really like cheesecake haha). These members here just love to joke and are so so funny! We also helped Giorgio Lo Monaco with his service project. It was a little difficult without gloves and certain tools and so they left and came back instead with snacks for the snack break :)

We also went to Catania and did a scambio which was fun (I love Anziano Allen, the ward party we had, and even the finding), but really in the end, what I learned was how much I appreciate my companion Anziano Mars, and the city of Ragusa. Yes, it's hot, but a lot cooler than other places. Yes it's difficult to find people, but when the miracles happen, they are amazing and where are you going to find members this amazing! What companion will talk about his views on world politics, self driving cars, Google, and famous composers? I've never met anyone as complex and interesting as Anziano Mars. Sometimes, it is stressful and I don't believe I can teach and train someone. But everyday is an adventure and God nevers gives us a commandment that he he will not help us fufill if we truly desire it. I just hope I am doing my best for this city, these people, my companion, and especially God in the end. He is my support everyday and without him, I couldn't make it through the day, let alone two years in his service. I thank him for the opportunity I have to serve here and know that he lives, loves us, and only wants to bless us! I just going to keep walking and try to do what he wants me to do.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Why I Love Italy!

Dear Family and Friends,

Right now we are driving home from  Noto, a Sicilian city known for its Baroque architecture. It was well worth the hour long trip and Sebastiano's crazy Italian driving to see some more beautiful buildings, an amazing Duomo, and eat a great arancino and probably the best granita(almond and pistacchio flavor) I have had yet. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing the rich history and culture (i.e. old buildings) that I just love, especially here in Sicily.

As you maybe can tell, I love Italy! Especially Ragusa! That's one thing I realized this week is how much I have put into this city and how I have only received more in return. Anziano Mars' quote has been "Everything's better in Italy!" and I can only agree. My love for Italy only continues to grow every single day I giro these as a missionary. Of course, our other motto is "Benvenuti ad Italia" (Welcome to Italy) which we say whenever we witness something crazy or something unexpected happens (which is usually a daily occurence since we are after all in Italy). For example on saturday, we witnessed a lady crash her car in a parking lot by slowly running into the only curb which easily could have been avoided.

So in general, we struggled to accomplish our purpose as missionaries but still tried our best with cicumstances including crazy heat, nobody really willing to listen to our message, and lack of appointments (which honestly is very normal except for maybe this crazy heat). Now you might be wondering, "How can you love a place that seems so hard?". There's a lot behind that question that I will try to sum up but really it comes down to this fact. Christ loved all of us so much more, and I think we are also easily more difficult to handle.

My love begins with the food. This week nothing felt better than to return to the apartment around 1 o'clock, boil a pot of water, cook sauce, and eat a great plate of pasta. Anziano Mars and I are very Italian and basically have only eaten pasta for our pranzos for about forever. It is a nice feeling to have worked hard enough and earned what you are about to eat. Of course, it's not always that good; I am still learning. But it's just sooo good when it is done right! And not just pasta, all food is good here! We bought a 13 kg watermelon just because we could and it is so good!

The city and architecture are also amazing! The feeling of walking up and down narrow winding streets not made for automobiles is exilirating. Sure it is hot and your shirt is usually soaked with sweat, but then you look at an old Duomo and you remember, you're in Italy! I would even say it is more the landscape. The rolling hills surrounding Ragusa are beautiful! When I see them, I always try to reach out as if to touch them because I don't want to forget them.

But in the end, my love for Italy is my love for these people and their culture. ​​Who made the food, the buildings, the language, the culture? These people, whether it is members, investigators, or the random people we meet, are Italy for me! We had a lesson with Emanuele and brought Carmelo Guastella as a member/Sicilian translator in case. Turns out Emanuele read 90 pages in the Book of Mormon but was having difficulty understanding it all. Carmelo successfully yelled his testimony in Emanuele's ear (because he can't hear well), and we tried to actually explain everything, but Emanuele proceeded to tell us so many life stories again. He loves to talk so much! If we didn't have Carmelo there to yell and interrupt Emanuele, we might not have made it home on time. Italian conversation culture is fascinating.

The bishop's family had us over for pranzo and it was absolutely amazing and fun! But at the end of the meal, they bluntly encouraged us that we should start bringing desserts to meal appointments so more people would invite us over, and then suggested we trying making cheescake. Well I've taken their idea and hopefully we can apply it haha.

Other highlights are Fratello Lo Monaco's dedication to holding correlation despite his desperate need to take a nap, Giuseppe saying prayer for the first time, Sebastiano opening up and recommiting himself to baptism, and helping with an Eagle Scout Project. We are helping clean up this small park with lots of overgrowth so it's actually really cool.

I also got to play my violin in church with Anziano Mars. We just improvised A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief because Anziano Mars is more used to the organ. It was beautiful and I loved playing again. Someone asked me where I got my violin which of course brought up the story of Siracusa. My love for these people honestly is indescribable and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to meet new people and share my love for them and this gospel. I guess that's just the miracle of the pure love of God and Jesus Christ.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price​

Talking to Old Sicilians

Dear Family and Friends,

This week officially was my year mark. Yikes I'm old now in the mission! Luckily with age finally comes the wisdom. Really, the things I liked the most about this week was the fact that I just felt like a good missionary. Obviously there's a lot to improve on; I'm not done progressing. But the sweet assurance that in general I know what I am doing and I truly feel like a representative of the Lord.

The week really started with Emanuele. Remember last week when he came to church with a pamphlet? Well we spent about an hour trying to find his house in campagnia (turns out the street didn't exist on google maps). Upon arriving, he greets us to his home in the country wearing only underwear (Side note: Since it is very hot in sicilia, it is very common for the old men in their houses to not wear shirts and sometimes not even pants!). After learning about his long life story, we tried our best to share him the message of the Restoration but it was difficult considering he cannot hear very well. Fortunately, he loves to read and so we gave him more pamphlets and the Book of Mormon, and he promised to read it. Considering he is 88 years old and lives only with his friend/caretaker, Segio. He in fact is from Romania and knows Emmanuele because Emanuele baptized his cousins in the Catholic church when visiting. We still have no idea how he found out about the church. 

Really our goal for the  week was to improve our finding considering everyone has disappeared for the summer, going off the beach, or staying inside their houses, which honestly I don't blame them. But the Lord blesses those who work hard especially during these difficult times with miracles so Anziano Mars and I put out our faith and we walked the streets of Ragusa several times this week. And we talked to so many people! Obviously, almost none of them were interested in our message of Jesus Christ (a lot want to come to our English Group though!), but we certainly had some interesting encounters. Like explaining to an old man how we weren't Amish and how we can use electricity. Like talking to one lady who had a Westie and explaining how it reminded me of Auggie. Like a Iuri, a kid who learned English from playing videogames. Like talking to another old Sicilian who insisted we have 4 wives.

Actually, we talked to a lot of old Sicilians (because they make up a big part of the population here). One conversation that really touched me was with Gianfranco. While in the park, we first asked him if he believed in God. Before he could really answer, another old sicilian interrupts the conversation, jumping and wildly waving his hands. What he said, I honestly couldn't understand because it wasn't Italian but the hand gestures made it seem like he was excited and didn't think Gianfranco should have been talking with us.  After that one minute outburst, Gianfranco lets us sit down and we actually had a real discussion. He talked about normal things (politics, America, basically how things have changed since he was a kid) but he really opened up about losing his belief in God and also about losing his wife 6 months ago. My heart reached out to him as we shared the Plan of Salvation with him since he felt like there was no purpose to him living anymore, and nothing really changed in him but he thanked us for talking to him and said maybe he would come to church one day.

For me, the mission has really become a mission of miracles! Sebastiano continues to make progress and we are working with other potential investigators too! On Friday, we helped Fratello Dimartino clean the church (since he was by himself!) and I'm sure my mom will love to hear that I can definitely say I have improved my cleaning skills on the mission, especially mopping. Anyway, right as we finished, a potential investigator from the Area Book we had contacted said he wanted to stop by and see the church. We showed Salvatore the newly cleaned church and tried to give him a Book of Mormon but because he loves the Bible so much and knows it well, he doesn't feel like there can be anymore of God's word left.  But he was touched that after 10 years, we had saved his number so he promised to come to church one time. Nothing gets better than that!

Honestly, I can say that coming home tired and really sweaty everyday, I feel really good. I absolutely love being a missionary, especially being a trainer right now because Anziano Mars is awesome and we are working together really well now. Most of all. I am grateful for every opportunity to bear testimony of Christ and help these people at least know who "the Mormons" are. I made a promise to myself to work hard everyday so that everyone in the city can recognize the "Mormon missionaries" and we can try to befriend them. One day I specifically prayed to have someone stop and talk to us. Twice during the day, ragazzi who I had met before, stopped us and talked to us. It wasn't about religion, more about swear words or "Bruno Mars (sorry Anziano Mars) or drugs, although we certainly tried to bear our testimony of Christ. But I still know it was an answer to my prayers that God is watching over this work and is proud of all those who defend the name of Jesus Christ. The amount I have grown spiritually and emotionally from my mission is incredible and I still have an amazing year left in this great country. I hope you all too can feel the joy that comes from God's light and can find the time to share it like I try to do everyday.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price