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

Cool Stories

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm settling in finally. In this beautiful city of Catania, near the newly snowcapped peaks of the volcano, Mt. Etna, I am finally feeling at home. Yes, while I still may get lost here like in my old greenie days, my mental map is starting to click as well as my confidence in driving with these crazy Italians is growing. Yes, the grocery store, people, and missionaries are different here, but that's just another change that I have to tackle and love while doing it.

Okay I first have to thank all the mission leaders I had before. I never realized all the tiny details you have to take care of as well as the late nights writing up reports, brainstorming how to help other missionaries, mixed in with the busy schedule of normal missionary work. I've probably never been more tired in my life, but I just focus on the love I have for all these missionaries. Especially for Anziano Perfili.

He's the best. Different than any missionary I have worked with (which I should have expected because all my companions have been different), but overall, he's been helpful. We had a really good talk one day about how I felt inadequate and doubted why I had been called to this position because I felt like I wasn't cut out for it. Yes tears were shed, that's been me lately, kinda emotional, clumsy, but just doing my best to be humble and learn everything I can from Anziano Perfili. Fortunately, I have someone like him to lift me up and tell me all the good things I am still doing.

For the rest, all I really have are some cool stories. When finding in a park one day, we stopped this young couple and asked them about their belief in God. Instead of normally turning away, they became interested and we soon established contact through Facebook. Then on Friday we met them with the sorelle missionaries and ate a pizza while explaining more about who we were and our beliefs. Emanuele and Stefania were super nice and actually might investigate the next time we meet.

We also had a meal appointment with an american family who gave me a nice memory of home. Classic american meal with good old conversation, an amazing spiritual thought, they committed to planning how to give someone a Book of Mormon, and they even gave us a Reeces Peanut Butter pie which was quite the treat. Let's just say, I'm trying to make a goal of eating healthier this week :)

One day we had an appointment with Fratello Palla (old member who talks in funny grumbly Siciliano) and his family so we figured out the one bus that goes by there house to the middle of nowhwere. We walked in only expecting him and his wife, but we walk in to teaching almost all his less children and grandchildren. That really put the pressure on us, but we just decided to keep it simple with teaching about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It was a really cool miracle and we might even get a chance to go again tonight.

Miracles just happen here. One night we were in a piazza where we a met a member who is a recent convert and recently just came from Nigeria to here that we had no idea about. As well as then we walked into a comic book store to follow up on a contact, to which an employee there began ti talk to us and added us immediately to his Facebook. And then that night while waiting to get a dolce called bombe (it's the best!), a couple noticed we were speaking in English, asked who we were, and we basically taught the Restoration in 10 minutes.

Giuseppe Paternò continues to be a stud. We read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon and he didn't understand it clearly so we invited him to read it again. He then sent us a photo the next day of the summary of the chapter that he was memorizing! We also met up in Catania where he brought his friend Salvo and we manged on a cipolline (super good onion mozzarella pomodoro ham pastry) and we explained who we were to Salvo as well. And on the way to that appointment, a man named Filippo stopped us and asked if we could teach him about the Book of Mormon. And to top it all off, Giuseppe shows up to church in a nice suit, making all the members wonder if he was a missionary without a tag.

Truly, Catania has been a city of struggle mixed with the blessings of miracles, something I need to be more grateful for. I'm growing to love the city and want to give it my all. As I learned in my study on charity this week, I need to learn how to give up all of myself. Yes I already do that with my time and desires, but that also includes my fears, worries, doubts. My favorite words of advice are to quit worrying about myself and just do what I have been called to do, sacrifice it all. I look forward to this next week with great hope that I am serving God and striving to do the right thing. Hopefully, I will also receive the answers to my prayers this week as we listen to prophets and apostles called by God to lead us. I love you and pray that all is well with you as it is with me.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price

Nothing Like Catania

Dear Family and Friends,

Where do I begin? My perception has accelerated by at least tenfold being here in the bustling city of Catania. It really has made me reflect on all that has happened already during my mission and that really there is an end to all this. I got to make everyday count if I will ever reach my goals and enjoy every glorious minute as a missionary for the Lord.

First off, it's weird to have an older companion. I feel like I am being trained again because Anziano Perfili is showing me some many things that I didn't even know or think about (small things like language because he's a master at that, big things like end mission goals, how to be a zone leader). To be honest, it has been a really difficult thing to adjust to, but I am working on being really humble and letting God lead me to what I need to know. I know once I get back into the rhythm of things after all these big changes, things are going to be great!

I mean things already are great. There is nothing like Catania. Where else can you wake up and have the view of an active volcano from your balcony? Catania is such a big city and without the car right now, we are constantly on the streets right now trying to talk to everyone. It's a nice problem to have too many people to talk to rather than not enough and so I'm grateful for that. The only downsidd is traveling to appointments and such, especially when the bus you planned on taking ends up being late by 45 minutes, totally changing your game plan (reminds me of Pozzuoli haha). Luckily, we have very nice sister missionaries who offer us rides (don't worry, I made them a cheesecake to make up for it)

I'm sorry there's nothing too funny to report other than the fact that every 5 minutes while we are on the streets, Anziano Perfili attempts to kick a smashed cigarette box between my legs (old missionary tradition), and 3 out of 10 times, he gets me. We have just been really focused/tired from the work we are putting in (although Anziani Perfili insists we finish the day with a game of chess before bed and I can't deny that!). We did have some fun member appointments this week, mostly thanks to Anziano Perfili's profound knowledge of Italian, Napolitano, and Siciliano which causes everyone to just laugh and ask how he knows their dialect so well.

The one investigator we are teaching right now, Giuseppe Paternò, already shows great signs of progress. He loves talking to us about the gospel and even went to church while we were out of town.He certainly has built my faith that they're people really here who want to hear the gospel message.

Also cool story. One day we were walking in the main square with the Duomo and there was a library on wheels sort of thing, where you trade a book to get a book. So obviously I couldn't deny the opportunity to give the library a Book of Mormon and in exchange get this pretty cool language study book for Italian. I hope someone will actually take the Book of Mormon eventually.

All I can say is that I am ready to love this transfer. I definitely need to give it my all if I will be any close to succeeding. I am ready to love these members, I am ready to love my companion, I am ready to love the work and get to work. It's time to finally clean this house (you know 4 man houses), it's time to really talk to everyone, to help my fellow zone missionaries, to lead, and quit judging and self doubting. After evaluating how I wanted to end my mission this week, I said to myself that I wanted to say that I had served each day with love. That if I couldn't do anything else, I could just live like Christ. This mission has shown me how much I can really be, and especially what I don't know how to do. But at least I can love and just keep growing. I know that's all Christ wants me to do. I'm just happy he wanted me to do it here in Catania as His missionary.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Price