Oct19
October 19, 2015
Good Morning Everyone,
Here we are again and another week has passed. I hope everyone is
doing well and staying healthy. I hope you all had a good week last
week and I hope that you all will have another good week this week. We
had a good week up here in the mountains. Our members introduced us to
a few people and those people turned into investigators. We also had
Zone Conference last Thursday. We had a branch activity Saturday evening. We had a good week this last week and I'm excited to give you
a report on how it went.
Last Sunday, the 11th, Anziano Da Ponte and I had the sacrament
meeting assigned to us. We were asked to speak on Missionary Work with
Members. Anziano Da Ponte did a wonderful job helping the members
understand the things that they should share with people who have know
nothing about us "Mormons" and the things that are not essential for
others to know in order to be converted. He did an excellent job. I
decided to talk on how powerful it truly is when members and
missionaries work together. The meeting went well and the members were
excited. After the meeting every single member mentioned to either
Anziano Da Ponte or I someone they wanted to introduce us to.
Throughout last week we were able to meet some of these people and get
ourselves some new people to begin teaching. We are starting to get
the ball rolling just a little bit up here in Mistretta.
Last Monday Night, we had a Family Home Evening with one of the
families from our little branch. That being The Portera Family. The
Portera family is truly incredible. They are easily the strongest
family that I have met here in Italy and are basically famous among us
missionaries. The father was converted in 1987 and served a a mission.
Came home, got married in the temple and they had had three daughters.
The father was the first member in Mistretta and was the branch
president for 17 years ( until The Senior Couple got her last December
). They are the kindest, funniest, greatest people. They are
constantly inviting us over for dinner and begging us to eat with
them. I will send a picture of them home soon.
Every Friday we head down off of the mountain and we go to a members
house for a Family Home Evening. We always go to Sorella Battista's
home. I sent a picture of her home last week. Sorella Battista is
pretty incredible. She lived in Germany for 35 years and so she speaks
both German and Italian perfectly. She is the nicest little old lady
and makes the best food. She feeds us a really good meal, we have a
spiritual message and then we play UNO or something like that. It is a
pretty good time. Sorella Battista's home, is also the place where we
hold our Second Sacrament Meeting on Sunday evenings. She takes care
of her parents, who are 93 and 90 years old, and she also takes care
of her daughter who is down syndrome. Her husband left her right after
they had their last kid, so it has only ever been her. She is strong
and her testimony is powerful. I respect Sorella Battista. She is one
of those people that has truly made this world a better place and she
has done that out of love.
We have another member here in Mistretta whose name is Ninno. Ninno
has been a member for a long time, over 40 years I think. He used to
be a professional cook. Ninno is slowly going blind and has already
lost most of his vision, but that doesn't slow him down. He reads the
scriptures every day, says the most humble of prayers and has one
powerful testimony. Ninno shares the gospel with everyone that he
comes into contact with. He invited us over the other day to introduce
us to one of his neighbors that he has been working with. She
introduced us to Marina and we had a good lesson together. She is our
new investigator. We plan on returning to her house a few times this
week to begin the lessons with her. Hoping for the best there.
Once again, we have some really incredible members here in Mistretta.
As I said earlier we had a little branch activity Saturday evening. We
ate some food, had some fun and watched a movie together. Earlier in
the week, Anziano Da Ponte and I thought that the branch activity
would be a good opportunity for our members to do a little bit of
missionary work. We printed off our very own "Movie Tickets" and
delivered them to all of our members on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
We were expecting to have a few new faces at our activity, but
unfortunately we didn't see any new faces. We did get one less active
there, so that's a start! We didn't get exactly what we were expecting
or necessarily wanting, but one less active showed up and had a good
time...So I'm going to call it a success. Anziano Da Ponte and I were
the Popcorn Guys. We made a ton of Popcorn. I love Popcorn.
On Thursday, we had our Zone Conference for this transfer. I love Zone
Conferences and this one was rather powerful. Anziano Eric Mika is now
in my zone. If you do not know who Eric Mika is, I will fill you in
really fast. Eric Mika is 6'10" and will be in the NBA in a few years.
He was on the National Champion Lone Peak Basketball Team my junior
year in high school. He than when on to play his freshman year at BYU
and had a phenomenal freshman season. He had the option to head to the
NBA or the Mission Field. He chose the mission field. We have became
really good friends over the past few months. Eric Mika is one of the
most incredible people on this earth. He has the amazing ability to
make everyone around him feel important. It is impossible to be sad
around Anziano Eric Mika. We sat by each other during the conference
and were standing next to each other in the Zone Picture. We already
have double dates planned after we have finished our missions and he
is also putting a good name in for me at BYU with some of their
recruiters. I love Eric Mika. Remember that name, Eric Mika. He is one
incredible human being and will do incredible things on this earth. I
am lucky to know him and call him a friend of mine. At the zone
conference, we received different trainings on asking inspired
questions, how great "Role Plays" really are, and how powerful
planning can be. There were many things said that stuck out to me
individually. One thing that struck me during the training that our
mission president was giving at the time was this..."Do you think The
Lord would continue to put Missionaries in Mistretta if there wasn't
somebody there for you to find?" Now that was not said out loud, but
it was surely something that came to me through the power of the Holy
Ghost. I have learned that when we take a question to a Zone
Conference, a General Conference, a Sacrament Meeting or even a
Personal Scripture Study and if we search diligently and with an open
heart, we will always receive an answer to our question.
Sunday, yesterday, was pretty great. We had our Stake President
visiting our branch and he gave two powerful lessons on the importance
of the Sacrament and also who we need to be as members of the church.
He was pretty powerful and did a great job. The afternoon sacrament
meeting was good as well. We went out to Sorella Battista's house. We
sang some hymns, blessed and passed the sacrament and watched Elder
Hollands talk from this last conference. I love that talk and it
always brings a deeper feeling of gratitude for the extraordinary
individuals that we each call "Mom". Sorella Battista also prepared
her famous "Chocolate Cake." Her chocolate cake is honestly the best
chocolate cake that I have ever had. It was so good, I took my iPad
out and took a picture of it. I also recorded my thoughts of gratitude
in my journal... I shall never forget that chocolate cake. IT WAS
SOOOO GOOD!!!
Well....That about is about it for this week. I would like to tell you
about the senior that I am serving with, The Wardles. The Wardles are
pretty incredible. They are from the Bluffdale area down by Salt Lake.
They went to Bingham High in the late 60's and he served here in Italy
back in the day. He was a general contractor and so we talk quite a
bit about building. One of their sons is the founder, creator, and
owner of "Dub Nutrition". So that's pretty cool. He sang in The Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and she is an amazing piano player. They have
actually been to my home town metropolis, Howell Valley. People that
they know from the Tremonton Area are Jimmy Summers and Bishop Wright
from Howell. When they said Jimmy Summers I got pretty excited because
Jimmy is a hero of mine. I guess that while Elder Wardle was the
bishop down in the Salt Lake area, Bishop Wright was his 1st
Counselor. It's a small world.
This week I wish to speak on a few scriptures that I came across this
last week. These scriptures are found in John 21.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We
also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship
immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the
disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship,
and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to
draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the
Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his
fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into
the sea.
Sometimes in this life we seem to be doing the best we can, but like
the disciples in these scriptures our nets turn up empty. Often times
when our nets are coming up with nothing inside Christ reaches out to
assist, but are we always humble enough to accept His divine
assistance? He is the Master Fisherman, He has fished these waters
before. He has experienced the currents, dealt with the tide, handled
the waves, and truly He knows how to catch more fish then there is
room in the nets. I pray that we will all have not only the strength,
but as well as the courage and faith to completely yield ourselves
over to Him. As it promises in D&C 45:62..."Great things await" for
those who put every sliver of their trust in The Lord. Family and
Friends let us shed our pride, our fears and our weaknesses and like
Simon Peter in verse 7, let us dive head first and swim as hard as we
can towards the Savior and Redeemer of the World. The wonderful thing
about all of this is that, Heavenly Father and His Son take us as we
are — but they can also turn us into persons and beings that we never
thought were possible. They take us places that we could never reach
on our own. They know our full and eternal potential, but They are the
only ones that can get us there. His ways are eternal. His ways lead
to everlasting joy and happiness. Our ways are "lacking, limited, and
inferior to the way of Jesus Christ." My invite this week is this....
To put all of the Trust that you have in The Lord. My invite this week
is to dive off of the worldly ship that is full of things that we are
unable to take with us after this life is said and done, and begin
searching for those things that we can take with us after this life is
said and done. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth." (Colossians 3:2) As the Lord said in D&C
18:45..."Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all
things." I testify that the blessings that He can give us will bring
us more happiness not only in the life to come, but also in this life
right here and right now. There is comfort in knowing that when we
turn ourselves completely over to Him, that truly "It will all work
out." I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Loving God. He
loves us and that love is absolutely perfect. He offers us more
happiness and joy that we as mortals can imagine, but in order to
receive all that He hath....We must do our part and trust in Him. In
closing I stand with the famous author C.S Lewis when he said..."There
are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." Family and
Friends, God doesn't merely want something from us, He simply wants
us. Let us all yield our hearts to Him.
I hope you all have a great week. I thank you for everything that you
do for me. For the love, the prayers and the support. You all stay
healthy and stay happy. I will talk to you all next week. I love you
all!!
Peace be the Journey,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
One last quote from President Hinckley because I feel it applies....
"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice with
prove instead to be the Greatest Investment that you will ever make."
I love you!
Here we are again and another week has passed. I hope everyone is
doing well and staying healthy. I hope you all had a good week last
week and I hope that you all will have another good week this week. We
had a good week up here in the mountains. Our members introduced us to
a few people and those people turned into investigators. We also had
Zone Conference last Thursday. We had a branch activity Saturday evening. We had a good week this last week and I'm excited to give you
a report on how it went.
Last Sunday, the 11th, Anziano Da Ponte and I had the sacrament
meeting assigned to us. We were asked to speak on Missionary Work with
Members. Anziano Da Ponte did a wonderful job helping the members
understand the things that they should share with people who have know
nothing about us "Mormons" and the things that are not essential for
others to know in order to be converted. He did an excellent job. I
decided to talk on how powerful it truly is when members and
missionaries work together. The meeting went well and the members were
excited. After the meeting every single member mentioned to either
Anziano Da Ponte or I someone they wanted to introduce us to.
Throughout last week we were able to meet some of these people and get
ourselves some new people to begin teaching. We are starting to get
the ball rolling just a little bit up here in Mistretta.
Last Monday Night, we had a Family Home Evening with one of the
families from our little branch. That being The Portera Family. The
Portera family is truly incredible. They are easily the strongest
family that I have met here in Italy and are basically famous among us
missionaries. The father was converted in 1987 and served a a mission.
Came home, got married in the temple and they had had three daughters.
The father was the first member in Mistretta and was the branch
president for 17 years ( until The Senior Couple got her last December
). They are the kindest, funniest, greatest people. They are
constantly inviting us over for dinner and begging us to eat with
them. I will send a picture of them home soon.
Every Friday we head down off of the mountain and we go to a members
house for a Family Home Evening. We always go to Sorella Battista's
home. I sent a picture of her home last week. Sorella Battista is
pretty incredible. She lived in Germany for 35 years and so she speaks
both German and Italian perfectly. She is the nicest little old lady
and makes the best food. She feeds us a really good meal, we have a
spiritual message and then we play UNO or something like that. It is a
pretty good time. Sorella Battista's home, is also the place where we
hold our Second Sacrament Meeting on Sunday evenings. She takes care
of her parents, who are 93 and 90 years old, and she also takes care
of her daughter who is down syndrome. Her husband left her right after
they had their last kid, so it has only ever been her. She is strong
and her testimony is powerful. I respect Sorella Battista. She is one
of those people that has truly made this world a better place and she
has done that out of love.
We have another member here in Mistretta whose name is Ninno. Ninno
has been a member for a long time, over 40 years I think. He used to
be a professional cook. Ninno is slowly going blind and has already
lost most of his vision, but that doesn't slow him down. He reads the
scriptures every day, says the most humble of prayers and has one
powerful testimony. Ninno shares the gospel with everyone that he
comes into contact with. He invited us over the other day to introduce
us to one of his neighbors that he has been working with. She
introduced us to Marina and we had a good lesson together. She is our
new investigator. We plan on returning to her house a few times this
week to begin the lessons with her. Hoping for the best there.
Once again, we have some really incredible members here in Mistretta.
As I said earlier we had a little branch activity Saturday evening. We
ate some food, had some fun and watched a movie together. Earlier in
the week, Anziano Da Ponte and I thought that the branch activity
would be a good opportunity for our members to do a little bit of
missionary work. We printed off our very own "Movie Tickets" and
delivered them to all of our members on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
We were expecting to have a few new faces at our activity, but
unfortunately we didn't see any new faces. We did get one less active
there, so that's a start! We didn't get exactly what we were expecting
or necessarily wanting, but one less active showed up and had a good
time...So I'm going to call it a success. Anziano Da Ponte and I were
the Popcorn Guys. We made a ton of Popcorn. I love Popcorn.
On Thursday, we had our Zone Conference for this transfer. I love Zone
Conferences and this one was rather powerful. Anziano Eric Mika is now
in my zone. If you do not know who Eric Mika is, I will fill you in
really fast. Eric Mika is 6'10" and will be in the NBA in a few years.
He was on the National Champion Lone Peak Basketball Team my junior
year in high school. He than when on to play his freshman year at BYU
and had a phenomenal freshman season. He had the option to head to the
NBA or the Mission Field. He chose the mission field. We have became
really good friends over the past few months. Eric Mika is one of the
most incredible people on this earth. He has the amazing ability to
make everyone around him feel important. It is impossible to be sad
around Anziano Eric Mika. We sat by each other during the conference
and were standing next to each other in the Zone Picture. We already
have double dates planned after we have finished our missions and he
is also putting a good name in for me at BYU with some of their
recruiters. I love Eric Mika. Remember that name, Eric Mika. He is one
incredible human being and will do incredible things on this earth. I
am lucky to know him and call him a friend of mine. At the zone
conference, we received different trainings on asking inspired
questions, how great "Role Plays" really are, and how powerful
planning can be. There were many things said that stuck out to me
individually. One thing that struck me during the training that our
mission president was giving at the time was this..."Do you think The
Lord would continue to put Missionaries in Mistretta if there wasn't
somebody there for you to find?" Now that was not said out loud, but
it was surely something that came to me through the power of the Holy
Ghost. I have learned that when we take a question to a Zone
Conference, a General Conference, a Sacrament Meeting or even a
Personal Scripture Study and if we search diligently and with an open
heart, we will always receive an answer to our question.
Sunday, yesterday, was pretty great. We had our Stake President
visiting our branch and he gave two powerful lessons on the importance
of the Sacrament and also who we need to be as members of the church.
He was pretty powerful and did a great job. The afternoon sacrament
meeting was good as well. We went out to Sorella Battista's house. We
sang some hymns, blessed and passed the sacrament and watched Elder
Hollands talk from this last conference. I love that talk and it
always brings a deeper feeling of gratitude for the extraordinary
individuals that we each call "Mom". Sorella Battista also prepared
her famous "Chocolate Cake." Her chocolate cake is honestly the best
chocolate cake that I have ever had. It was so good, I took my iPad
out and took a picture of it. I also recorded my thoughts of gratitude
in my journal... I shall never forget that chocolate cake. IT WAS
SOOOO GOOD!!!
Well....That about is about it for this week. I would like to tell you
about the senior that I am serving with, The Wardles. The Wardles are
pretty incredible. They are from the Bluffdale area down by Salt Lake.
They went to Bingham High in the late 60's and he served here in Italy
back in the day. He was a general contractor and so we talk quite a
bit about building. One of their sons is the founder, creator, and
owner of "Dub Nutrition". So that's pretty cool. He sang in The Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and she is an amazing piano player. They have
actually been to my home town metropolis, Howell Valley. People that
they know from the Tremonton Area are Jimmy Summers and Bishop Wright
from Howell. When they said Jimmy Summers I got pretty excited because
Jimmy is a hero of mine. I guess that while Elder Wardle was the
bishop down in the Salt Lake area, Bishop Wright was his 1st
Counselor. It's a small world.
This week I wish to speak on a few scriptures that I came across this
last week. These scriptures are found in John 21.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We
also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship
immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the
disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship,
and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to
draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the
Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his
fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into
the sea.
Sometimes in this life we seem to be doing the best we can, but like
the disciples in these scriptures our nets turn up empty. Often times
when our nets are coming up with nothing inside Christ reaches out to
assist, but are we always humble enough to accept His divine
assistance? He is the Master Fisherman, He has fished these waters
before. He has experienced the currents, dealt with the tide, handled
the waves, and truly He knows how to catch more fish then there is
room in the nets. I pray that we will all have not only the strength,
but as well as the courage and faith to completely yield ourselves
over to Him. As it promises in D&C 45:62..."Great things await" for
those who put every sliver of their trust in The Lord. Family and
Friends let us shed our pride, our fears and our weaknesses and like
Simon Peter in verse 7, let us dive head first and swim as hard as we
can towards the Savior and Redeemer of the World. The wonderful thing
about all of this is that, Heavenly Father and His Son take us as we
are — but they can also turn us into persons and beings that we never
thought were possible. They take us places that we could never reach
on our own. They know our full and eternal potential, but They are the
only ones that can get us there. His ways are eternal. His ways lead
to everlasting joy and happiness. Our ways are "lacking, limited, and
inferior to the way of Jesus Christ." My invite this week is this....
To put all of the Trust that you have in The Lord. My invite this week
is to dive off of the worldly ship that is full of things that we are
unable to take with us after this life is said and done, and begin
searching for those things that we can take with us after this life is
said and done. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth." (Colossians 3:2) As the Lord said in D&C
18:45..."Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all
things." I testify that the blessings that He can give us will bring
us more happiness not only in the life to come, but also in this life
right here and right now. There is comfort in knowing that when we
turn ourselves completely over to Him, that truly "It will all work
out." I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Loving God. He
loves us and that love is absolutely perfect. He offers us more
happiness and joy that we as mortals can imagine, but in order to
receive all that He hath....We must do our part and trust in Him. In
closing I stand with the famous author C.S Lewis when he said..."There
are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." Family and
Friends, God doesn't merely want something from us, He simply wants
us. Let us all yield our hearts to Him.
I hope you all have a great week. I thank you for everything that you
do for me. For the love, the prayers and the support. You all stay
healthy and stay happy. I will talk to you all next week. I love you
all!!
Peace be the Journey,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
One last quote from President Hinckley because I feel it applies....
"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice with
prove instead to be the Greatest Investment that you will ever make."
I love you!
Random Pics from Mistretta!
Anziano Mika on the knee, and then our AP's on the other side.
We call ourselves the Fab Four of the Italy Rome Mission.
0 comments: