My backpack was packed to the brim with goodies...

Ciao

So, this has been quite the week. So, our investigator that got up and announced to the branch that he wanted to get baptized called us up Thursday and told us he couldn't do it, and he was too embarrassed to come to church again. Huge kick in the knee. Well, I saw him by chance on Saturday and had a little talk with him. He said the main reason was he didn't think that he could pay tithing. It's a huge bummer to have that stop two desirous people from being baptized.

I find it so funny how everyone wants a nice church building, with heating, air conditioning, etc, but they themselves are not willing to sacrifice for it. Something I've learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is a sacrifice to live it, and not an easy one in anyway. That's why he asks us to live it.

So, Sunday night we went up to Bari to get my green card. The bus was all night and it took us all the way there. Within the first 5 minutes my companion had on his headphones and was sleeping. I didn't get one minute of sleep. It was a long trip from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Then I had to go to the questura to elbow my way through the crowd and show them my papers. They were looking at everything and told me that I would receive it that day. They asked me to wait and I would be called. About an hour and half later I was called to go back to this shed in the employee parking lot where they covered my hands in ink. They took my finger prints, and told me I could go and to be back in 2 months to get my card!! I explained that I was leaving before two months and that it wouldn't be possible. Then they told me to forget about it. I was a bit mad.

Well, the rest of the day was really great. I got to see a lot of old friends who just welcomed me with open arms into their homes, and gave me too much food. My backpack was packed to the brim with goodies for the trip home. We left that night at 12am and didn't get home until 12pm the next day. It was quite the trip. So, now we are in dire straights. I seriously had only two cents in my pocket when we got home. That is all I've got until next week. Luckily another missionary owed me some money so I could do internet today. Right now we have 10 missionaries staying at our house. It is a pig sty in our house, and I believe that President is suppose to sleep at our house as well! Wish us luck.

I love you all. take luck,

Anziano Paul