Ciao tutti!!!!
Alright, let me just start
off by saying, a lot of things happen every day, but when I come to
write my email, I don't remember any of them. I usually run over my
journal before I come and write down notes about things to talk about,
but today, I didn't have time because we went with our entire zone
(minus the sorelle) to San Marino. It was super windy and kinda rainy,
but still really fun. A bunch of the guys bought swords. Silly goofs. I
don't have room for a samurai sword in my luggage. haha. We went to this
fancy restaurant there because no one was there and it wasn't that
expensive. After talking to the hostess for a couple of minutes, she
complimented me on my Italian and was shocked to hear that I've only
been here for a year and a half. Now, before you say anything dad, yes, I
know. Never be satisfied. Don't worry. I'm studying my Language every
single day (when we have time). It's so weird to think that I perfectly
understand a differently Language that I never even studied until a year
and a half ago. Talk about the gift of tongues. Speaking of that, I
Always think about you dad when that man on your mission asked you if
you believe in the gift of tongues. haha.
Well,
this week has had a ton of miracles. We are working with this man from
Kazakhstan who knew the Church and the missionaries there. This past
Sunday, during the fast and testimony meeting, he kept on turning over
to me to tell me that he really liked that testimony, or to share some
positive comment. After Church, we taught him a lesson and he told us
that he really liked fast and testimony meeting. After a great lesson
talking about the Restoration, we answered some of his concerns about
the Book of Mormon, and then he told us that he wants to be a member of
this Church. Not only that, but a perfect member. He really has a great
desire to gain a testimony for himself and he is really putting in his
effort to read the book of Mormon and pray about the truthfulness of it.
This
past Monday, we went up to Milano for consiglio (I drove both
ways...boy that was tiring, but fun) and I got to see Anz Andersen and
Windley who both just went capo. I love those guys so much. They are so
much fun. They haven't changed a bit. But that's not the important part.
So we Always have trainings from the AP's and Pres and what not, but
this time, It was different. We were talking about Always finding people
on buses and trains and whatnot, so what we did instead of a lecture,
was they gave us each bus or metro tickets and assigned us to a metro or
bus line and told us to not come back until lunch. It was awesome! Anz
Polson and I have no idea where this bus route was, but after we found
it we started talking to this lady standing at the stop. After she
figured out that we were "Mormons" she asked us if we knew her cousin.
No joke, I knew her. Her cousin is the Relief Society president in
Pavia. Where I spent 7 months, if you don't remember, so I knew her
super well. I immediately said a prayer of thanks in my heart and we
started talking to her about her life and whatnot. We rode the bus
together to the capolinea and got off and talked to her from about 20
minutes. At the end we invited her to Church and she said she would
come! We got her contact info and passed it to the sorelle there in
Milano, one of which, happens to be Sorella Carter from my Group (who is
finished her mission this transfer.....super weird....I'm old), who
also served in Pavia, so she knows this lady's cousin as well. It was
literally the coolest miracle ever!!!! I was so pumped and it blew Slla
Carter's mind. haha. I can testify that the Lord places people in our
path. It was not by chance that we got assigned to that bus route and we
chose that random bus stop.
In other news, I
wanted to share a story with you from the New Testament. It's found in
Matt 19. It's the story of the Young rich man who goes to Jesus and asks
him how to get eternal life. Christ responds by telling him to keep the
commandments, but after the Young rich man proudly tells him that he
has Always kept those from his Youth up, he asks a very profound and
soul searching question: "what lack I yet?". Perhaps the boy did not
realize the depth of his honest question, but we can all learn something
really important from this simple question. The Lord responds by
telling him to sell his riches and give to the poor, but that is not the
answer for all of us. In fact, the Lord was telling this specific man,
the specific thing that he needed to change in his life. This question
is linked with a personal commandment. I know that if we humbly ask the
Lord this question in our lives, we will find a great opportunity to
grow and become more like Christ. It won't be easy to change that one
thing, just like how it wasn't easy for the rich man to sell all of his
riches, but I can tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that it is
Worth it. So this is my invite to you. I want you all to look deep down
inside yourselves and humbly ask this question, "What lack I yet?" and
then do all that you can to change that one aspect of your life and I
promise you that you will see joy in your life that you didn't know was
possible. You will find strength Beyond your own. I know, because I have
seen that in my life. The atonement of Christ is real, and it is
available to all of us. Never forget that.
I
love you all so very much and I wish you the best of the best in this
upcoming season of Christmas. Don't forget the spirit of giving and
selfless service, because that is where the real joy and happiness comes
from.
Con tanto amore,
Anziano Langlois
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