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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