Friday, September 13, 2013

Staying in Genova September 11, 2013

Ciao tutti!!

Ok, first I want to start by talking about sports, I'm sorry, but wow!!! The Dodgers are bums, so I'm not surprised. I just hope they don't blow it. They are actually doing well! BYU beat Texas, that is crazy. I only wish I could have been there, I would have been going nuts. That was a game I really wanted to go to. I really hope Hill gets his passing better, because we can only run so much. But with him and Baby J, that is a dangerous combo. I'm super excited and not surprised that the soccer team beat Utah. So proud of them. But the thing I want to talk to the most about is the USA men's team. Holy cow!!!! That is crazy!!!! 2-0. That is so awesome. We are officially into the World Cup and Mexico is looking bad right now. I really hope we go far in the World Cup next year. I will be cheering them on here from enemy territory, but I don't care. I'm proud of them!! I need to get a USA jersey when I get back. Also, if they win their next game, don't they break the record for most consecutive international wins?

Anyway, back to missionary work. So this week was hard. We worked really really hard and didn't see a lot of success, but I refuse to lose faith! I know that the only reason Heavenly Father gives us trials is to help us grow and become stronger. My testimony has definitely grown this past week. Last night we were doing some casa and this lady just full on starts yelling at us from her window. Then she gets on the citofono and starts yelling at us there. We had already finished suoning the palazzo, so we just left. Then we were walking down the street and we started talking to this girl. She immediately said she wasn't interested because she was atea, but we kept talking to her anyway. She said that she didn't believe in God anymore because she has prayed and prayed and never received an answer. It was just then when I realized that we were an answer. Heavenly Father heard her prayers and put her in our path so that we could talk to her. I tried to explain that to her, but she just called it a coincidence. I know that the Lord puts specific people in our path so that we can talk to them and present them with the answer to their prayers. A lot of people won't recognize this right away, but if we don't talk to them, then they never will. I'm so grateful for the people that we talk to everyday, even if they don't seem interested, I know that we are helping them come closer to Christ.

This week, we went and visited the Bishop and his family. They are so awesome. They are one of my favorite families here. They have these 3 adorable little kids, and the youngest, is just adorable. He's like Jude with a blonde fro. Anziano Salmon said it the best, you just can't be sad when you're around him. Yesterday, we visited the Ward/Stake mission leader and his wife. They are really awesome and great people. I love teaching members so much because the spirit is always so strong. Every time I bear my testimony, I can feel the spirit. Whenever we meet with someone, even if its on the street, I try and listen to the spirit so that I know their needs and I can say the things that Heavenly Father wants them to hear. That's the beautiful thing of this gospel, it can help literally everyone with any problem in their life. You just have to find the piece of the gospel that fits.

Since today is 9-11, I just wanted to share a little spiritual thought about this. In D&C 64:9-11 it says:
9  Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10  I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11  And ye ought to say in your hearts let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.
This is a powerful passage. There are a lot of bad and evil things in the world, and its really easy to not forgive someone for something they did, but this is not what the Lord commanded of us. He told us to forgive all men, so that we are not found more guilty at the last day. I love this scripture and I apply it every day in my life. Like when that lady yelled at us, I immediately forgave her. There is no good reason to stay angry, and to harbor those feelings. They only bring us down and further us from the correct path. The other little cool thing about this is that the date that this revelation was given to Joseph Smith was September 11 1831.

Mom and Dad, you both brought up Lorenzo Snow's experience here in Italy. I did actually know about it. In fact, apparently he came here to Genova and he wrote about it in his Journal of Discourses, but my Zone Leader told me to wait until I was transferred to read it. I'm pretty sure I already know what it says, but that doesn't discourage me. These people need to hear the gospel and I will do all that I can to help them find the joy that I can because of this gospel.

Ok, so a couple funny things now. So everyone here in Italy wants to come to California. When people ask me where I'm from, and they find out that I'm from CA, they freak out and tell him how beautiful it is, even though no one here has been there. Everyone also wears California stuff. Like Dodgers gear, LA Kings gear, and just shirts that say California, but no one has actually been there. The weirdest thing was that yesterday I saw this ragazza (girl) on the bus and her shirt said "California Beach Party, Zuma Beach, Malibu, CA". I was so excited, so I course I talked to her. She had no idea where that was, and of course wanted to go there. I think its also really funny how everyone in America wants to go to Italy. Every time someone has California stuff, it makes me smile.

Ok, so I cut my hair this week......and lets just say that its probably the shortest that its ever been before. I tried to keep it longer, but I failed so I just kinda cut the rest off. As you can see by the picture I absolutely hate it and I think I look super young, but on the up side, I don't have to cut my hair for a long time! Does anyone have any tips for cutting my own hair? I'm not paying 15 euro for a haircut. Also, we opened my moldable plastic this week. I've decided that I'm going to make little keepsakes for each of my companions to remember me by. I'm making a fish for Anziano Salmon of course! But the other Anziani love it and are making things out of it. haha

I actually really like the name Elenor Kay Hamilton. I think its really cute. I will probably just call her Ellie. I'm glad to hear that Linda and her are doing well. Mom, that video of Jude is adorable. he is so cute!! And he's so big! I can't believe it! Mom, yes we do have a washing machine in our kitchen, but the dryer are clothes racks! I'm too scared to hang them outside because I feel like they are going to fly away! It's so windy here! Anziano Salmon went out when he was 19 and he hits his year mark this week.

Lizzy, hang in there. Junior year is hard, but you can do it. I'm glad you like all your classes. Mrs. Boyd is super high energy, but is really cool. I'm really jealous of your extra lunch time. you need to tell my old teachers hi, especially Joe. I love Joe. Also, you need to ask Brian about the jazz CD. I don't care if it's not getting published, I want a copy!!!! I love all those songs and I don't care if its rough, I want it. Please keep me updated on the show and tell Madz to email me! I want to know how she's doing. And tell Patrick to EMAIL ME BACK!!!!! Thanks. haha

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going well back home. I thank you so much for all of your support and prayers. I pray for you all every day and I miss you a lot! Please tell Peter that I'm so happy he's home from his mission and I can't wait to see him in two years (unless he happens to be there for Christmas one time.ahaha). I love you all and wish you the best this week!

Vi voglio tanto bene!!!
Anziano Langlois
No caption needed :)

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