Sep28
September 28th, 2015
Good morning everyone. I don't have a lot of time this week unfortunately because I have so much to write about. So I am going to try and get as much in as I possibly can. I hope you are all doing well and everything is going great back in AMERICA. I love you all so much. Thank you for everything.
First off, we received transfer falls on Saturday morning. I was expecting to stay in Naples for another 6 weeks at least, well my expectations were wrong. I am heading down to Sicily to re-open an area that was shut down to missionary work. I am excited to re-open a little town called Mistretta. It is in the center of Sicily and is up in the mountains. I have heard that the work there is rough, but I am hoping to fix that with hard work and a lot of love. I will be companions with another Italian, which is exciting. He is younger than me in the mission, so it is a big opportunity to be the senior comp and re-open a pretty rough area. Hopefully we will make the most out of the opportunity that we have before us. The Zone Leaders here in Naples will be splitting and both training which is the best case scenario, because they know all of the people that we have been working with. I am sad to be leaving Naples so soon, because I have come to seriously love some people here. It is going to hurt saying goodbye these next few days.
Yesterday during sacrament no one knew that I was getting transferred, because everyone along with me thought that I would be staying a little while longer. Here in Italy after we receive transfers calls, they always let the departing missionaries stand up during sacrament and say a few things. Yesterday we had a few investigators in church that I am extremely close with and I couldn't bring myself to tell them that I will be leaving in the next few days. They called for the missionaries who would be leaving to come up and so I stood up.....I bore my testimony and said my thank you's. Immediately after sacrament ended, Mario the guy from English Course came directly to me in tears and hugged me. I started to cry. After I let Mario go, I looked to my right and Francesco, the martial arts guy, was right there teary eyed as well. We hugged and cried and held on real tight. I thought it was going to be hard to say goodbye, but I didn't think it would be that hard. It is crazy to me hoe close I can grow to someone in just 12 weeks... Saying my goodbyes is going to nearly kill me on Tuesday night. I love this place and these people.
This Morning we dropped Anziano Lazarte off at the train station because he is heading up to Rome to finish his mission tomorrow morning. I love Anziano Lazarte. We got along super well and I tried my best to soak up all of the experience he had. He was a wonderful missionary and finished his mission with honor. He will do big things in this world, just as he did throughout his 2 year service.
We were able to see the Ukrainians this past week and we were able to get out to their house. We ordered two Book of Mormons in Ukrainian so they could have a copy in their own mother-language. We had a great lesson with them and they are truly incredible people. One of the Zone Leaders will be taking them over and continuing the lessons with them.
Anziano Lazarte and I got to go over to Francesco's and Anna's house Friday evening for Martial Arts and a lesson. Little did I know that it would most likely be my last time over there. We had a sweet material arts lesson and worked hard. Afterwards we taught them the back end of the Plan of Salvation and bore powerful testimonies on the importance of the family and how families are forever. It was great and we had a good night together.
Last Monday night we had an awesome family home evening with Luigi, the one guy who came to us a few weeks ago ready to give up on life. We did it on Charity and the spirit was so strong. I love that guy. We will be having one last lesson with him tonight before I have to say goodbye. The other Zone Leader will be taking Luigi over.
It is never fun to get blown out of an area, but it is comforting to know that the people that I love here will be in good hands. As I said earlier...I haven't said my final goodbyes yet, but when I do....it is going to hurt. Napoli is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people. I am going to miss this place and the people in it. FORZA NAPOLI.
I am sorry for the lame email this week.... I am low on time today. I just want to bare a short testimony...
Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior and Redeemer. He is the Prince of Peace, The King of Kings, The Author of our happiness. He suffered for every pain we would ever feel, every tear we would ever shed, every sin we would ever commit. He paid that eternal price for us. He loves us perfectly; as does the Father that sent Him. Their love is unending. I know that we have a Father in Heaven who knows each one of us perfectly. I know that God hears, listens and answers our prayers; no matter how large or small they may be. I know He always responds. That response might not always be the answer that we want, but His answer is always the response that we need. I know that with faith, truly all things are possible. That divine Father above has blessed every one of us here upon the earth with talents and gifts. It is our responsibility to discover which abilities we have been given and use them to bless the lives of others. I know that we are never alone and that we are never left unaided in our trials, and times of difficulty. There are forces both seen and unseen that are constantly sending us love, comfort and support. As my favorite scripture says..."I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." We are never alone. I know that Families are Forever and that the blessings we receive from the Holy Temple are eternal. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith indeed translated the Book of Mormon. I know that The Book of Mormon came from God and it was truly written for us in these last days. Jesus is the Christ. The Book of Mormon is true. Families are Forever. God lives and loves us. He hears our prayers. We are never alone.
I love you all so much. Thank you for everything and anything. I am heading down to Sicily on Thursday. I am sad to be leaving, but excited for the new experiences ahead. I hope everyone has a good, safe week. I love you all so much.
I love you all. Vi Voglio Bene.
Anziano JarDee Nessen
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