Happy 2010!

Me and Sorella Zeller

So I rang in the new years with a beautiful karaoke concert from our upstairs neighbors (yes they are from the philipines) and then about a million people setting off fireworks all over the city (most of which were fire crackers! ) I however enjoyed all this from my bed where I had been attempting to sleep from 10:30 and on. My jet lagged companion, however managed to sleep through it all.
Yeah so my new companion is Sorella Zeller from Portland Oregon. She is very nice and very eager to get out there and work so I appreciate that. Our first few days we had training then new years eve we were asked to be in our apartments by 6 and New years day we had festa di lavoro, aka clean your apartment all day long, so we didn’t get straight out to work for a few days, but at least that gave my companion a little time to recuperate from her long trip through time zones.
Saturday was our first real day out and about and I was a little nervous only cause I wanted everything to go well and I seriously prayed all day long that we would talk to only nice people that day… and well, ask and you shall receive. It was such an awesome day. At one point we had to return to our apartment to resupply our selves with books of Mormon after giving them all out. It was so cool. We were on a bus and I was teaching 5 people at once and probably a few others as well since I noticed other ears perked. God really is so loving and he is quick to hear the pleas of his children.
One of my favorite parts of the last week was being able to go to the temple site again. We always get to see it when we first come into the mission and since it was just my companion who came it I got to accompany her on all her tours and activities. There is just such a special spirit there. It is hard to explain but standing there in that muddy field with a small grove of olive trees to the right and wide open space of potential to the left I can’t help but thank my Father in Heaven with all my heart for the blessings and the richness that land will be privileged to hold and I can almost glimps the future of the church her in Italy as I look over that land and can I just tell you how beautiful that future looks.
While studying my scriptures this week, I was reading about Nephi and his vision where he witnessed the downfall and destruction of his people, an entire nation, and the weight of sorrow he felt, and the question came to mind, why did Nephi, after seeing the hopelessness of what was to come, continue to try so hard to do what was right. Was there a point, would it even make a difference? And then almost instantly the answer popped into my head; love. It is as simple as that. When we have true love for someone we will do what ever we can to please them and to make them happy, and Nephi had that kind of love for his Father in Heaven and so it didn’t matter to him what anyone else choose to do or to not do, pure love of God gives us the strength to go on despite any odds. To think that the love we have for God can be so powerful only magnifies my appreciation for the Love God has for all of us which is far greater than anything we can even comprehend.
I love you all, and I hope that this new year brings plenty of blessings and opportunities your way (especially missionary opportunities).

p.s. Congratulations Katelyn and Jordan!!!


Pictures of the temple site