1/2 way through transfer 7
Time is going by fast in Como. But also the mission seems to just get faster and faster. For actual Como things are going okay. We found some people that seem a bit interested, but the only lessons I've done have had to be over google translate into amharic. And sadly she is not legally allowed to come to church because she can't leave Switzerland... but she did enjoy the Book of Mormon we gave her in her language!
And in some ways it is good that things are not too crazy because I am having to spend as much time as possible sending out referrals from our tech ads. There are a lot of people that want to learn Italian from Spanish, and so far almost 1,200 of them also want to hear a spiritual message from the missionaries....I'm probably more than a week behind but they are being sent out to their local missionaries!
I have just felt very thankful the past couple of weeks. I'm grateful for my new city, my mission, all the things I get to be a part of, and how I am able to help in multiple different ways. One of my favorite people I have met in Italy is a member in our ward. He is from Lebanon so his first language is Arabic, he is fluent in German, speaks to us in English that is pretty advanced, but he was asked to give a talk in Italian so he asked if we could help him write it. So we all met and he was finally able to tell me all of his story. He is one of the most down to earth people I have ever met. And becoming a member has truly changed his life. He even showed us his pre-baptism facebook page and his post-baptism page. Apparently he used to own a nightclub and a restaurant, made lots of money, and in his words he used to just drink and smoke all day. But he lost it all when he moved to Italy and would just go to the lake everyday with his friends to drink all day. But while he was drunk on the bus going home one day sister missionaries gave him a card. He then explained all of the miracles that lead him to being baptized and changing. He now spends his time at the lake reading the Book of Mormon and talking to people about it when they pass him. That is when he is not busy working (he's a professional chef).
But I am also thankful that here in Italy and of course back home, we are able to legally follow our own faith, talk about it, and make our own decisions. Our friend was telling us that we have to be careful when other Muslims tell us they want to be baptized; and make sure that they have a true desire. Because he speaks Arabic he has had to help with interviews and he kept warning us of muslims that will want to be baptised just to stay in italy (In some cases Italy must let them stay after they are baptized because in many middle eastern countries it is illegal, some punished by death, to change from Muslim to Christian).
Another thing I am grateful for is the opportunity that I have had to make covenants. We live at a time where there is the priesthood on the earth, we have churches and temples. We read a chapter a day of the Book of Mormon with some members. And yesterday we read 3 Nephi 20. It says "Poiché farò al mio popolo, con cui il Padre ha fatto alleanza" (For I will make my people with whom the Father have covenanted). To be a disciple of Jesus Christ we make covenants with Heavenly Father, and how amazingly blessed we are to be able to do that.
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