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

I don't think it gets much better than this.

WOW

So, I don't think it gets much better than this. This past Sunday was fast and testimoney meeting. We have this contact that has been coming to church for months, but just does it to pray to Jesus. Well, he got up to bear his testimoney. He's done it before and did a great job, so I wasn't really scared about what he would say. Well, he continued to say that as he came to General Conference he saw that all the members were there with their families, and they were all happy. He desired that his family could be there too, but knew that they wouldn't come. He began to think that maybe he shouldn't come anymore, but the next week while sitting at home he just felt so alone. He came to church, and said he felt so much love. Then he pretty much yelled that he wanted to get baptized, wanted to recieve the Holy Ghost, and waited for the person responsible to tell him when and what he had to do!!!!!!! It was a cool Sunday. So, we had a lesson with him yesterday. He has a cool house, and the lesson went very well. He had a bit of a problem with tithing, but he knows it's true. He's just scared of his wife who we met, and she was not happy to see us.

Other than that everything is going very well. English class is going really well. I have like 15 students in my class, and it's really fun. So, I have a request to make to all of you. I know that I have only one month left. I know that time is winding down. I know that I have to continue to keep working. I know all of this. None of you need to bring it back to my attention. I'm trying to stay focused, and I'm doing just fine. I'm not getting lazy or stopping to work. I'd really appreciate it if ya'll could honestly not write me these last few weeks. It will be better in the long run. I love you all. I'm really excited for next week becuase I get to go back to Bari to work on my permission to stay papers. It will be fun and great to see some more friends. I hope all of ya'll are very well. Have a wonderful week.

Vi voglio bene

Anziano Paul

Oh gosh I've become my mom.

Howdy everybody

So, I want to start out with this first. Yesterday my companion and I returned from a 3 hr trip to Siracusa (I'll explain why we were there in just a moment). We arrived around noon, and my comp was too tired to go out, so I let him take a nap while I cleaned the house. We just finished hearing General Conference so I was in the conference mood. We had some talks on CD that I put in while I cleaned the house. I had just finished sweeping the floor half way when it hit me. Oh gosh I've become my mom. I love you mom, and a happy birthday. So this last week started out really rough. Last Wednesday I sent off some very good friends that were going home, and I then became one of the OLDEST missionaries in the mission. It hit me hard, and I became a little depressed. Though the Lord is very merciful, and gave me the exact dose of what I needed.

My companion and I had to go to Siracusa to recieve his green card. We left Sunday morning, and got there just in time to see the rebroadcast of the Saturday afternoon session. It was amazing, and I loved Elder Jefferey R. Holland's talk about the Godhead. He really knows how to lay it down. Anyway it was so wonderful to see all the members there that I had known just a year ago. The next day I was also able to see a lot of people, and it was such a gratifying feeling to see all those good friends. It was one of the best days of my life.

A quick funny story. I was doing exchanges with a Anz Timmins a greenie from southern Colorado. We were down in Ortigia just touring around to wait for a dinner appointment that we had there that night. Then my companion called me and told me because it was raining they were not going to have the appointment. I was confused because it was not raining where we were. I hung up the phone, and instantly it began to pour. In a matter of seconds we were completely soaked, and stranded. It was a long 45 min walk back to the house in pouring rain. Also it was raining so hard there were streams of water ankle deep flowing through the entire city. It was intense. Anyway it was a good expirience, and we were laughing the entire time. I had a good time there, and next week I get to return to Bari to do some green card stuff as well. Anyway, I love you all.

Things are going great here. We are playing kick ball with the youth tonight, so things should be fun. Once again, I love you mom, and happy birthday. I'm working on your gift, but I think I might just bring it home with me.

Arrivederci.

Anziano Paul

Sorry I wanted to send some pictures, but the computer wanted to be complicated today. Next week.