Nov17
November 16th, 2015
Morning Fam. I love you all.
I would like to thank you all for the prayers that have been sent my
way. Everything is good down here in Sicily. I would ask that you
would include those people in Paris who are suffering at this time in
your prayers as well. It has been all over the news down here in
Sicily and it sounds like a pretty scary ordeal. Again, please keep
those people in your prayers. I hope you are all doing well and
staying healthy. We had a pretty good week this week. We still weren't
able to get everything that we wanted to get done accomplished, but it
was a productive week up here in Mistretta.
Last Monday, for our P-Day we headed down to a little town down by the
sea shore called Santo Stefano. Santo Stefano is famous for their hand
crafted ceramic stuff. It was pretty cool. Got myself a few things.
Afterwards we came back to Mistretta to start our missionary work. We
decided to stop by Ninno's to see how he was doing. Well to our
surprise there was a lady that we had spoken with a few weeks before,
but we could never set up an appointment with her. We sat down and
Ninno got us heading in the direction of starting a lesson. We got
right into the Restoration and began explaining the message of the
Restoration. She is a nice lady but has some strange ideas and
concepts. She thought that God only loves those who have faith in Him,
do good things and pray to Him....We helped her realize that God loves
us all no matter who we are, what we have done and regardless of how
many times we pray. He loves us because we are literally his children.
The lesson went really well. She agreed to continue to meet with us
and explained that she loves the way that she feels when she speaks
with us and Ninno. We are hoping for the best there. Her name is
Carmen. Afterwards we had a Family Home Evening with the Portera
Family because the senior couples grandson was heading back home to
America. It was a really good night.
Tuesday Morning we had our weekly district meeting down in Palermo,
our last district meeting with Chandler. Chandler spent a month with
us here in Mistretta. Some days he would come out with us and do some
missionary work. Even though he didn't speak Italian, it was still
nice to have one more person there. He was asked to give the spiritual
thought at our last district meeting and he did a really good job. He
shared his favorite scripture with us and bore a really nice testimony
on why it was important to him. He is a stud and he has surely been
missed. He went home Wednesday morning. District Meeting was good. We
had a training on The Holy Ghost and finished the meeting with
everyone baring a short testimony. After our district meeting, Anziano
Da Ponte and I went on some exchanged with our Zone Leaders. Anziano
Da Ponte stayed in Palermo and I came back up to Mistretta with
Anziano Oscar Trejo. Anziano Trejo is from Tampico Mexico and finishes
his mission in 5 months. He is a good guy and a good missionary.
Tuesday evening, we went tracting with Ninno. We went to see a guy
named Pippo. We got to his home and Pippo was a bit rough with us,
pretty stubborn and almost rude. He explained to us that he was
completely atheist. It was the first time that someone has looked at
me and told me that there was no God. He confused me though, because
he told us that he lives the 10 commandments... I was just scratching
my head thinking....Those 10 commandments that you are loving came
from God pal. As we were talking outside, his daughter poked her head
out of the house. We asked him if that was his daughter and we asked
him about his family. Now it was my turn to look him in the eyes and
give him the truth. I told him about the Plan of Salvation and hoe
families can be forever.....if we do what we are supposed. He just
looked at me as if I had 3 eyes. So we left Pippo alone. As we were
heading back to Ninno's home, we ran into a guy named Dino. He is a
younger guy, probably 35. Dino has met with the missionaries in the
past and agreed to have us stop by later on in the week.
Wednesday morning we finished our exchanges up with Anziano Trejo and
I heading back down to Palermo to switch back to our normal
companions. We caught a bus at 8:30 and got into Palermo by train at
11:30. In the morning or in the early afternoons, we have started
reading the scriptures to Ninno because he has such a hard time with
his vision. He can see a little bit, but reading really causes him
pain. So Anziano Da Ponte and I have decided to read it for him, so he
can just sit back and listen. Ninno is my hero. I love know the guy!
He is 65 years old, going blind, lives alone and comes out with us 3-4
times a week to do missionary work. He walks just as fast as we do,
teaches the lessons like he has done it a million times and he can
practically get us into any house that he wants. I love Ninno. He is
always so positive, so happy and so willing to do anything. He is a
champ!! We went over to Dino's house with Ninno and had a lesson. We
left him with a spiritual thought and the following lesson we will
start up with the Restoration. Dino has kind of had a more difficult
life, but he is strong and has some character. After Dino, Ninno took
us over to see a friend of his who has a large family. We met the
Marchese family, and yes they have a very large family for Italians.
He is already a Great-Grandpa and he is 59 years old. We got into
their home and they were very kind to us. Cigarette smoke filled the
air, which is completely normal for an Italian home. They had all of
their kids, grandkids and even their one little baby
great-granddaughter there. It made me sad and a little bit mad that
some many of them were smoking inside of the house with all of the
windows shut, and there was a 16 month old baby girl barely walking
around the house. That cannot be good on her little developing lungs.
Anyways, we had a good lesson on the family with them. We talked about
the importance of the family and how, once again, the family can be
eternal if we do what we are supposed to do. They all agreed that it
was correct, but refused to hear anything more. I'm sure that I was
staring at them with kind of a dumb look on my face after they said
that it was true, but denied us the opportunity to return and teach
them more. Hopefully we planted a few seeds there Wednesday Night that
will be harvested in the future.
Thursday Morning, us and Anziano Wardle headed over to a mans home to
pay him a visit. Dr Enzo is his name. Dr Enzo has a mansion of a home,
is a doctor and lawyer, and was the mayor of Mistretta for 14 years.
He is a stud and is super good to us missionaries. He got really sick
about a year ago and they actually had to remove a piece of one of his
lungs. His wife was there as well and we had a good chat. His wife,
when she was a little girl, attended a few Mormon baptisms, sacrament
meetings and activities. She was very excited to see us and talk about
us. Anziano Wardle brought pictures of his family to show Dr Enzo and
his wife. It was a nice little lesson. They want us to come back soon
and have another little visit with them. They are good people.
Thursday evening we had a lesson with Gino, our Shepard investigator.
Gino is an interesting guy, with a lot of interesting opinions. We
showed him a Mormon Message and began our lesson. We showed him the
video called "Your Potential, Your Privilege" from President Uchtdorf.
If you have three minutes to kill this week, I strongly suggest
watching this video. It is pretty funny, and has a really good
message. Gino likes to take the lesson where he wants it to go. He
loves to talk, and talk and talk and talk a little bit more. I don't
like to be rude and cut people off, but when we are trying to go right
and Gino is jerking the wheel back to the left....It gets kind of hard
to go anywhere. Anziano Da Ponte and I grabbed the reins and held on
tight. We invited him to start taking the lessons again. He agreed,
but I am still unsure of his commitment level. We will see.
Saturday morning Ninno spilled a whole bunch of olive oil all over his
house and so we spent around an hour or so and helped him get it all
cleaned up. Poor Fella, he looked worried sick about it, but by the
time we left, he was okay. Afterwards we went over to visit Antonio
and Lydia. They are the ones that are taking care of their mom, who is
on her death bed. We got over there and they were both struggling and
pretty frustrated with the situation. We stayed for about an hour just
to give them someone else to talk to, another face to look at. It
seemed to really help. They are good people and have a lot on their
plate right about now. Antonio came to church yesterday and it was
good to see him! Saturday evening we had a branch activity! We
seriously have the best branch in all of Italy. I'll put money on
that. Mistretta is incredible and I love it here. Things are going
really well. Anziano Da Ponte is a stud. Everything is good. This week
we have Zone Conference on Wednesday morning down in Palermo. This
coming weekend we have Stake Conference. Also tonight we have a
funeral, because poor little Sorella Battista's father passed away
Sunday Morning. He was 92 or 93 years old. Keep Sorella Battista in
your prayers as well. She is incredible. Last Tuesday I hit my 11
month mark which is pretty cool! Time is flying! Thanksgiving is
coming up and the weather is surely getting colder up here in the
mountains. All is well. All is well.
Today, I wish to share some scriptures that I found this last week in
the Doctrine and Covenants that give us comfort during our trials and
times of difficulty. The Lord is speaking here to the Prophet Joseph
Smith while he was in Liberty Jail after he asked the question...."O
God, where art thou?" ( D&C 121:1 )
D&C 121:7-9
7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine
afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou
shalt triumph over all thy foes.
9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with
warm hearts and friendly hands.
D&C 122:5-7
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation;...
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine
enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy
father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword
thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine
offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall
cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t
you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?
and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be
dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for
the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of
murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast
into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce
winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the
elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws
of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son,
that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy
good.
This life is a state of trial. We have received, we are receiving and
we will continue to receive trials and difficulties throughout the
remainder of our lives here upon the earth. The comforting thing to
know is that all of these trials and hardships are for our own good.
No matter how hard it may be, we can always find something positive
that comes from a trial. All of the things that we experience during
this life will give us experience and truly be for our good. I am
grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves us enough to hurt us. In the
midst of difficulties, heartache and pain....Keep moving forward. Keep
chopping wood. Keep doing your best. We are never alone in these
difficulties, in these moments of pain and times of heartache, the
Lord has promised "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." (D&C 84:88)
I love you all. Have a good week. Be safe. Take care. Please remember
those people and families in Paris. I'll talk to you soon.
Peace be the Journey,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
I would like to thank you all for the prayers that have been sent my
way. Everything is good down here in Sicily. I would ask that you
would include those people in Paris who are suffering at this time in
your prayers as well. It has been all over the news down here in
Sicily and it sounds like a pretty scary ordeal. Again, please keep
those people in your prayers. I hope you are all doing well and
staying healthy. We had a pretty good week this week. We still weren't
able to get everything that we wanted to get done accomplished, but it
was a productive week up here in Mistretta.
Last Monday, for our P-Day we headed down to a little town down by the
sea shore called Santo Stefano. Santo Stefano is famous for their hand
crafted ceramic stuff. It was pretty cool. Got myself a few things.
Afterwards we came back to Mistretta to start our missionary work. We
decided to stop by Ninno's to see how he was doing. Well to our
surprise there was a lady that we had spoken with a few weeks before,
but we could never set up an appointment with her. We sat down and
Ninno got us heading in the direction of starting a lesson. We got
right into the Restoration and began explaining the message of the
Restoration. She is a nice lady but has some strange ideas and
concepts. She thought that God only loves those who have faith in Him,
do good things and pray to Him....We helped her realize that God loves
us all no matter who we are, what we have done and regardless of how
many times we pray. He loves us because we are literally his children.
The lesson went really well. She agreed to continue to meet with us
and explained that she loves the way that she feels when she speaks
with us and Ninno. We are hoping for the best there. Her name is
Carmen. Afterwards we had a Family Home Evening with the Portera
Family because the senior couples grandson was heading back home to
America. It was a really good night.
Tuesday Morning we had our weekly district meeting down in Palermo,
our last district meeting with Chandler. Chandler spent a month with
us here in Mistretta. Some days he would come out with us and do some
missionary work. Even though he didn't speak Italian, it was still
nice to have one more person there. He was asked to give the spiritual
thought at our last district meeting and he did a really good job. He
shared his favorite scripture with us and bore a really nice testimony
on why it was important to him. He is a stud and he has surely been
missed. He went home Wednesday morning. District Meeting was good. We
had a training on The Holy Ghost and finished the meeting with
everyone baring a short testimony. After our district meeting, Anziano
Da Ponte and I went on some exchanged with our Zone Leaders. Anziano
Da Ponte stayed in Palermo and I came back up to Mistretta with
Anziano Oscar Trejo. Anziano Trejo is from Tampico Mexico and finishes
his mission in 5 months. He is a good guy and a good missionary.
Tuesday evening, we went tracting with Ninno. We went to see a guy
named Pippo. We got to his home and Pippo was a bit rough with us,
pretty stubborn and almost rude. He explained to us that he was
completely atheist. It was the first time that someone has looked at
me and told me that there was no God. He confused me though, because
he told us that he lives the 10 commandments... I was just scratching
my head thinking....Those 10 commandments that you are loving came
from God pal. As we were talking outside, his daughter poked her head
out of the house. We asked him if that was his daughter and we asked
him about his family. Now it was my turn to look him in the eyes and
give him the truth. I told him about the Plan of Salvation and hoe
families can be forever.....if we do what we are supposed. He just
looked at me as if I had 3 eyes. So we left Pippo alone. As we were
heading back to Ninno's home, we ran into a guy named Dino. He is a
younger guy, probably 35. Dino has met with the missionaries in the
past and agreed to have us stop by later on in the week.
Wednesday morning we finished our exchanges up with Anziano Trejo and
I heading back down to Palermo to switch back to our normal
companions. We caught a bus at 8:30 and got into Palermo by train at
11:30. In the morning or in the early afternoons, we have started
reading the scriptures to Ninno because he has such a hard time with
his vision. He can see a little bit, but reading really causes him
pain. So Anziano Da Ponte and I have decided to read it for him, so he
can just sit back and listen. Ninno is my hero. I love know the guy!
He is 65 years old, going blind, lives alone and comes out with us 3-4
times a week to do missionary work. He walks just as fast as we do,
teaches the lessons like he has done it a million times and he can
practically get us into any house that he wants. I love Ninno. He is
always so positive, so happy and so willing to do anything. He is a
champ!! We went over to Dino's house with Ninno and had a lesson. We
left him with a spiritual thought and the following lesson we will
start up with the Restoration. Dino has kind of had a more difficult
life, but he is strong and has some character. After Dino, Ninno took
us over to see a friend of his who has a large family. We met the
Marchese family, and yes they have a very large family for Italians.
He is already a Great-Grandpa and he is 59 years old. We got into
their home and they were very kind to us. Cigarette smoke filled the
air, which is completely normal for an Italian home. They had all of
their kids, grandkids and even their one little baby
great-granddaughter there. It made me sad and a little bit mad that
some many of them were smoking inside of the house with all of the
windows shut, and there was a 16 month old baby girl barely walking
around the house. That cannot be good on her little developing lungs.
Anyways, we had a good lesson on the family with them. We talked about
the importance of the family and how, once again, the family can be
eternal if we do what we are supposed to do. They all agreed that it
was correct, but refused to hear anything more. I'm sure that I was
staring at them with kind of a dumb look on my face after they said
that it was true, but denied us the opportunity to return and teach
them more. Hopefully we planted a few seeds there Wednesday Night that
will be harvested in the future.
Thursday Morning, us and Anziano Wardle headed over to a mans home to
pay him a visit. Dr Enzo is his name. Dr Enzo has a mansion of a home,
is a doctor and lawyer, and was the mayor of Mistretta for 14 years.
He is a stud and is super good to us missionaries. He got really sick
about a year ago and they actually had to remove a piece of one of his
lungs. His wife was there as well and we had a good chat. His wife,
when she was a little girl, attended a few Mormon baptisms, sacrament
meetings and activities. She was very excited to see us and talk about
us. Anziano Wardle brought pictures of his family to show Dr Enzo and
his wife. It was a nice little lesson. They want us to come back soon
and have another little visit with them. They are good people.
Thursday evening we had a lesson with Gino, our Shepard investigator.
Gino is an interesting guy, with a lot of interesting opinions. We
showed him a Mormon Message and began our lesson. We showed him the
video called "Your Potential, Your Privilege" from President Uchtdorf.
If you have three minutes to kill this week, I strongly suggest
watching this video. It is pretty funny, and has a really good
message. Gino likes to take the lesson where he wants it to go. He
loves to talk, and talk and talk and talk a little bit more. I don't
like to be rude and cut people off, but when we are trying to go right
and Gino is jerking the wheel back to the left....It gets kind of hard
to go anywhere. Anziano Da Ponte and I grabbed the reins and held on
tight. We invited him to start taking the lessons again. He agreed,
but I am still unsure of his commitment level. We will see.
Saturday morning Ninno spilled a whole bunch of olive oil all over his
house and so we spent around an hour or so and helped him get it all
cleaned up. Poor Fella, he looked worried sick about it, but by the
time we left, he was okay. Afterwards we went over to visit Antonio
and Lydia. They are the ones that are taking care of their mom, who is
on her death bed. We got over there and they were both struggling and
pretty frustrated with the situation. We stayed for about an hour just
to give them someone else to talk to, another face to look at. It
seemed to really help. They are good people and have a lot on their
plate right about now. Antonio came to church yesterday and it was
good to see him! Saturday evening we had a branch activity! We
seriously have the best branch in all of Italy. I'll put money on
that. Mistretta is incredible and I love it here. Things are going
really well. Anziano Da Ponte is a stud. Everything is good. This week
we have Zone Conference on Wednesday morning down in Palermo. This
coming weekend we have Stake Conference. Also tonight we have a
funeral, because poor little Sorella Battista's father passed away
Sunday Morning. He was 92 or 93 years old. Keep Sorella Battista in
your prayers as well. She is incredible. Last Tuesday I hit my 11
month mark which is pretty cool! Time is flying! Thanksgiving is
coming up and the weather is surely getting colder up here in the
mountains. All is well. All is well.
Today, I wish to share some scriptures that I found this last week in
the Doctrine and Covenants that give us comfort during our trials and
times of difficulty. The Lord is speaking here to the Prophet Joseph
Smith while he was in Liberty Jail after he asked the question...."O
God, where art thou?" ( D&C 121:1 )
D&C 121:7-9
7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine
afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou
shalt triumph over all thy foes.
9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with
warm hearts and friendly hands.
D&C 122:5-7
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation;...
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine
enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy
father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword
thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine
offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall
cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t
you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?
and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be
dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for
the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of
murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast
into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce
winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the
elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws
of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son,
that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy
good.
This life is a state of trial. We have received, we are receiving and
we will continue to receive trials and difficulties throughout the
remainder of our lives here upon the earth. The comforting thing to
know is that all of these trials and hardships are for our own good.
No matter how hard it may be, we can always find something positive
that comes from a trial. All of the things that we experience during
this life will give us experience and truly be for our good. I am
grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves us enough to hurt us. In the
midst of difficulties, heartache and pain....Keep moving forward. Keep
chopping wood. Keep doing your best. We are never alone in these
difficulties, in these moments of pain and times of heartache, the
Lord has promised "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." (D&C 84:88)
I love you all. Have a good week. Be safe. Take care. Please remember
those people and families in Paris. I'll talk to you soon.
Peace be the Journey,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Ninno and I. I love this guy!! He used to be a professional cook....and I'll tell you what. He still has the touch today with bad vision and all. Ninno is a champ!!
 |
Here is our DISTRICT from this last Transfer. |
Anziano Trejo took a little snooze on the way back to Palermo...so I took a picture. He says.. "Hello Nessen Family!"
 |
Our Family Home Evening with everyone last Monday Night. I love these people!! |
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