Mar21
March 21st, 2016 // #12 of 2016
Good Morning Everyone!
Here we are and another week has come and gone. We had a solid week up
here in the Mountains. The work here is tough, but I love this little
city. I just started my 11th transfer here in the mission field. Crazy
to think how fast time goes by. Anziano Dunn is doing really well. He
is picking up on the language quick and working hard. He is a good guy
and we're getting along really well. Here is a little recap of our
week.
For PDay last week, we decided to head down to Palermo and spend he
days with the Elders that are serving there. We had planned to go play
some volleyball and basketball but the weather turned out to be pretty
nasty and so we played ping pong for most of the day. It was pretty
strange weather though. The sun was shining and there was hardly a
cloud in the sky, but the rain was coming down so hard. After PDay was
over we stayed down in Palermo for the night and went on Exchanges
with the Elders. This time Elder Whiting and I hit the streets
together, while Elder Dunn went out with Elder Chilvers. Elder Whiting
and I had a good evening together. Now when I say this, you probably
won't believe me but it is the honest truth. Here in Italy when e
Africans arrive as refugees, 99% of them change their name. I've heard
some of the strangest but also some of the coolest names here in
Italy. I'll name a few, for example: Endurance, God's Time is Best or
Prince John (I was fortunate to give Endurance the Gift of the Holy
Ghost while I was serving in Crotone shortly after his baptism). The
Africans always have the best of names. Well Monday evening I had the
opportunity to teach an African man and his name is Hillary Clinton.
I'm not joking there and I just had to get a picture with him. He was
one of the kindest and most humble people that I have ever met. Every
time we would pay him a compliment, he would quickly deflect it away
and give someone else the credit. We taught Hillary the Plan of
Salvation and it went really well. He is a stud and should be getting
baptized on the 9th of April. After I was blessed with the privilege
to teach Hillary Clinton, I went and bought some African style fabric
and we went and visited an African married couple that the
missionaries are working with. This couple makes African clothes,
dressed and suits. I decided that I won't have to many more chances in
my life to get a hand made African suit, so I thought it was about
time that I got myself one. It should be ready in the next ten days or
so and I'm seriously super excited for it. I will never have to buy
another Halloween costume again. We got my fabric and went and visited
them for two reasons though. Number One: This couple is seriously
incredible. They just have a good spirit about them. They have good
personalities and are hard workers. They are just fun to be around. It
was good to get around them and speak a little bit of English. There I
was able to see just how big the language barrier can be sometimes. I
was able to click with them so fast and made a good relationship right
from the start. They are good people. Reason Number Two: I really want
a hand made African suit.
Tuesday Morning we held our last District Meeting of the transfer. It
went really well. I really liked our district last transfer. It was a
solid one indeed. This transfer we have another Greenie that just
arrived and we also received an Elder who will finish his mission at
the end of this transfer. I'm excited for our district and to see the
good we will do his transfer. After District Meeting Elder Dunn and I
got back to the train station and hopped on a train heading back home.
Pippo Portera came and picked us up from the train station and gave us
a ride back up the mountain to Mistretta. I love that guy. That
evening we ended up stopping by Nino's house to see what he was doing.
He was in the middle of cooking Easter cookies for everyone and was
having a hard time because he was all alone. I walked right over to
the cupboard, threw on an apron and we got to work. When we arrived I
could tell that he was a little bit down and a little sad, but Elder
Dunn and I surely turned that around. Poor old feller just gets lonely
sometimes. Here in Mistretta around Easter all of the Mothers make
cookies for their children in the shape of horses. They decorate them
with saddles and all sorts of good stuff. Nino made me a horse and
Elder Dunn a dinosaur. While he was making my horse, because I always
talk about the farm and how my Papa Gordie is a cowboy, he began
talking about his mom and how she used to do the exact same thing for
him when he was a little feller. He started to cry and get pretty
emotional as he was making my horse for me. It was a pretty cool
moment to share with him. I was able to tell him that she wasn't very
far away, because I know that my own mother isn't very far away
either. He gave me a big ole hug at the end of the night and told me
that he loved me. It was a good day.
Wednesday we had a solid, and a real solid, lesson with Dr. Enzo. We
decided to teach on the Godhead. We brought Pippo Portera along with
us. We started off by talking out Heavenly Father and how He is
literally our Father. We moved on to the Savior of the World, Jesus
Christ. We finished it up with the Holy Ghost. We all bore testimony
and brought in the spirit very strong. I asked Dr Enzo, "Do you
believe that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ on that
spring morning in 1820?" He replied, "Yes." I than invited him to be
baptized, and his response was stern but just what we needed to hear.
Asking those questions lead us right to his needs. Judging off what he
said and how he said it, he believes that the church is true. I just
don't know if he has the courage to change. With the help of heaven,
we will get him there. It was a solid lesson.
Thursday we were able to see Maria, Nino's sister, for the first time
in a few weeks and it went so well. We talked about the Savior and his
Resurrection and His infinite and eternally saving Atonement. We all
got a little bit emotional and the lesson was super powerful. She is
the sweetest little lady and I want nothing more than for her to be
happy. She had a heart of gold and reminds me so much of Grandma Nan.
As we were getting ready to leave, she opened up her cupboard and
filled a bag full of goodies for Elder Dunn and I. She is a champion.
Pippo wants to come along with us this week and we plan on getting her
to church this week.
We had some other lessons and neat things that happened but I don't
have a lot of time and I want to tell you all quickly what happened
yesterday at church. We were asked to speak in church Thursday evening
and I had the topic of "Easter." I prepared pretty well but on the way
to church I had the feeling to bag everything I prepared and really
just wing it. I was very confident in my just wing it prompting that I
received, but I decided to following anyways. I got to the stand and
gave the best talk that I have ever given. I got emotional towards the
end and when I looked up everyone else was teary eyed as well. I spoke
on Easter, but I spoke a lot about the relationship between the Father
and the Son. I give all the credit to the Spirit because with out the
promoting to bag what I had prepared, my talk wouldn't have went the
way that it did. During the closing prayer, a member said..."Father we
thank thee for the missionaries, especially Elder Nessen who always
starts his talks with a smile and finishes them in tears." After the
prayer everyone was giving me hugs and telling me thank you. Nino
said, "How come you get up there and always make us cry down in the
audience?" I have felt an outpouring of love from these members here
and they all consider me part of the family. I love this little town
and I am so grateful to be here for my 5th transfer. It's a good
little town, and these people have changed my life forever.
That's about it for this week. I hope you all are doing well and
everything is staying healthy. I hope you all had a good week and I
hope that you all have a good Easter week. This week is truly a
beautiful one, and Easter is truly the simple most important day of
the year. I'm grateful for a Savior, who lived a perfect and flawless
life here upon the earth and oh so will it took upon Himself our sins,
our pains, our weaknesses, our fears, our sadness. Truly He descended
below all things, so He could comfort us in a perfect way every single
time we experience some sort of mortal pain. I'm grateful for His
character. Thinking about it, I'm not sure if in the scriptures you
can find the Savior saying the phrase, "I love you." He didn't need to
tell anybody that He loved them, He just showed them with his actions,
teachings and dealings. He bled from every pore in the Garden, took a
whipping across His back, was nailed to a cross in between two men who
had committed serious crimes, but He rose on the third day, completely
voluntarily. Even after His suffering in the garden, He healed the
soldiers ear. Upon the cross He said, and this could be one of the
most beautiful quotes of all time, "Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do." Upon that very cross He continually reached
out to comfort those around Him. To one of the sinners next to him
upon the cross He said, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise." His character was without flaw. His life was
without blemish, but never the less He willing paid the price for our
sins. One day we will all have the privilege to stand in front of this
Jesus Christ, and in that very moment I believe that His arms will be
open, I believe that He will have a smile on His face, and I believe
that He will say something along the lines of...."Welcome home..." I'm
not sure if I will be ready to stand in front of Him, but I do know
that in that moment I will wet His scared feet with my tears of
gratitude. He is the Savior of the World, The Redeemer of us all and
the Author of our salvation. This Easter season I pray that we will
remember Him and His eternal and infinite sacrifice, for without Him
this life wouldn't be worth living. Let us remember Him this week. I
can testify that the more we focus on Him, His sacrifice, His
character and His love, that more happiness, peace and joy will fill
our everyday lives. I hope you know that I love you and that I am
praying for you. Take care.
Happy Easter!!
Love,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 1:15-16
Here we are and another week has come and gone. We had a solid week up
here in the Mountains. The work here is tough, but I love this little
city. I just started my 11th transfer here in the mission field. Crazy
to think how fast time goes by. Anziano Dunn is doing really well. He
is picking up on the language quick and working hard. He is a good guy
and we're getting along really well. Here is a little recap of our
week.
For PDay last week, we decided to head down to Palermo and spend he
days with the Elders that are serving there. We had planned to go play
some volleyball and basketball but the weather turned out to be pretty
nasty and so we played ping pong for most of the day. It was pretty
strange weather though. The sun was shining and there was hardly a
cloud in the sky, but the rain was coming down so hard. After PDay was
over we stayed down in Palermo for the night and went on Exchanges
with the Elders. This time Elder Whiting and I hit the streets
together, while Elder Dunn went out with Elder Chilvers. Elder Whiting
and I had a good evening together. Now when I say this, you probably
won't believe me but it is the honest truth. Here in Italy when e
Africans arrive as refugees, 99% of them change their name. I've heard
some of the strangest but also some of the coolest names here in
Italy. I'll name a few, for example: Endurance, God's Time is Best or
Prince John (I was fortunate to give Endurance the Gift of the Holy
Ghost while I was serving in Crotone shortly after his baptism). The
Africans always have the best of names. Well Monday evening I had the
opportunity to teach an African man and his name is Hillary Clinton.
I'm not joking there and I just had to get a picture with him. He was
one of the kindest and most humble people that I have ever met. Every
time we would pay him a compliment, he would quickly deflect it away
and give someone else the credit. We taught Hillary the Plan of
Salvation and it went really well. He is a stud and should be getting
baptized on the 9th of April. After I was blessed with the privilege
to teach Hillary Clinton, I went and bought some African style fabric
and we went and visited an African married couple that the
missionaries are working with. This couple makes African clothes,
dressed and suits. I decided that I won't have to many more chances in
my life to get a hand made African suit, so I thought it was about
time that I got myself one. It should be ready in the next ten days or
so and I'm seriously super excited for it. I will never have to buy
another Halloween costume again. We got my fabric and went and visited
them for two reasons though. Number One: This couple is seriously
incredible. They just have a good spirit about them. They have good
personalities and are hard workers. They are just fun to be around. It
was good to get around them and speak a little bit of English. There I
was able to see just how big the language barrier can be sometimes. I
was able to click with them so fast and made a good relationship right
from the start. They are good people. Reason Number Two: I really want
a hand made African suit.
Tuesday Morning we held our last District Meeting of the transfer. It
went really well. I really liked our district last transfer. It was a
solid one indeed. This transfer we have another Greenie that just
arrived and we also received an Elder who will finish his mission at
the end of this transfer. I'm excited for our district and to see the
good we will do his transfer. After District Meeting Elder Dunn and I
got back to the train station and hopped on a train heading back home.
Pippo Portera came and picked us up from the train station and gave us
a ride back up the mountain to Mistretta. I love that guy. That
evening we ended up stopping by Nino's house to see what he was doing.
He was in the middle of cooking Easter cookies for everyone and was
having a hard time because he was all alone. I walked right over to
the cupboard, threw on an apron and we got to work. When we arrived I
could tell that he was a little bit down and a little sad, but Elder
Dunn and I surely turned that around. Poor old feller just gets lonely
sometimes. Here in Mistretta around Easter all of the Mothers make
cookies for their children in the shape of horses. They decorate them
with saddles and all sorts of good stuff. Nino made me a horse and
Elder Dunn a dinosaur. While he was making my horse, because I always
talk about the farm and how my Papa Gordie is a cowboy, he began
talking about his mom and how she used to do the exact same thing for
him when he was a little feller. He started to cry and get pretty
emotional as he was making my horse for me. It was a pretty cool
moment to share with him. I was able to tell him that she wasn't very
far away, because I know that my own mother isn't very far away
either. He gave me a big ole hug at the end of the night and told me
that he loved me. It was a good day.
Wednesday we had a solid, and a real solid, lesson with Dr. Enzo. We
decided to teach on the Godhead. We brought Pippo Portera along with
us. We started off by talking out Heavenly Father and how He is
literally our Father. We moved on to the Savior of the World, Jesus
Christ. We finished it up with the Holy Ghost. We all bore testimony
and brought in the spirit very strong. I asked Dr Enzo, "Do you
believe that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ on that
spring morning in 1820?" He replied, "Yes." I than invited him to be
baptized, and his response was stern but just what we needed to hear.
Asking those questions lead us right to his needs. Judging off what he
said and how he said it, he believes that the church is true. I just
don't know if he has the courage to change. With the help of heaven,
we will get him there. It was a solid lesson.
Thursday we were able to see Maria, Nino's sister, for the first time
in a few weeks and it went so well. We talked about the Savior and his
Resurrection and His infinite and eternally saving Atonement. We all
got a little bit emotional and the lesson was super powerful. She is
the sweetest little lady and I want nothing more than for her to be
happy. She had a heart of gold and reminds me so much of Grandma Nan.
As we were getting ready to leave, she opened up her cupboard and
filled a bag full of goodies for Elder Dunn and I. She is a champion.
Pippo wants to come along with us this week and we plan on getting her
to church this week.
We had some other lessons and neat things that happened but I don't
have a lot of time and I want to tell you all quickly what happened
yesterday at church. We were asked to speak in church Thursday evening
and I had the topic of "Easter." I prepared pretty well but on the way
to church I had the feeling to bag everything I prepared and really
just wing it. I was very confident in my just wing it prompting that I
received, but I decided to following anyways. I got to the stand and
gave the best talk that I have ever given. I got emotional towards the
end and when I looked up everyone else was teary eyed as well. I spoke
on Easter, but I spoke a lot about the relationship between the Father
and the Son. I give all the credit to the Spirit because with out the
promoting to bag what I had prepared, my talk wouldn't have went the
way that it did. During the closing prayer, a member said..."Father we
thank thee for the missionaries, especially Elder Nessen who always
starts his talks with a smile and finishes them in tears." After the
prayer everyone was giving me hugs and telling me thank you. Nino
said, "How come you get up there and always make us cry down in the
audience?" I have felt an outpouring of love from these members here
and they all consider me part of the family. I love this little town
and I am so grateful to be here for my 5th transfer. It's a good
little town, and these people have changed my life forever.
That's about it for this week. I hope you all are doing well and
everything is staying healthy. I hope you all had a good week and I
hope that you all have a good Easter week. This week is truly a
beautiful one, and Easter is truly the simple most important day of
the year. I'm grateful for a Savior, who lived a perfect and flawless
life here upon the earth and oh so will it took upon Himself our sins,
our pains, our weaknesses, our fears, our sadness. Truly He descended
below all things, so He could comfort us in a perfect way every single
time we experience some sort of mortal pain. I'm grateful for His
character. Thinking about it, I'm not sure if in the scriptures you
can find the Savior saying the phrase, "I love you." He didn't need to
tell anybody that He loved them, He just showed them with his actions,
teachings and dealings. He bled from every pore in the Garden, took a
whipping across His back, was nailed to a cross in between two men who
had committed serious crimes, but He rose on the third day, completely
voluntarily. Even after His suffering in the garden, He healed the
soldiers ear. Upon the cross He said, and this could be one of the
most beautiful quotes of all time, "Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do." Upon that very cross He continually reached
out to comfort those around Him. To one of the sinners next to him
upon the cross He said, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise." His character was without flaw. His life was
without blemish, but never the less He willing paid the price for our
sins. One day we will all have the privilege to stand in front of this
Jesus Christ, and in that very moment I believe that His arms will be
open, I believe that He will have a smile on His face, and I believe
that He will say something along the lines of...."Welcome home..." I'm
not sure if I will be ready to stand in front of Him, but I do know
that in that moment I will wet His scared feet with my tears of
gratitude. He is the Savior of the World, The Redeemer of us all and
the Author of our salvation. This Easter season I pray that we will
remember Him and His eternal and infinite sacrifice, for without Him
this life wouldn't be worth living. Let us remember Him this week. I
can testify that the more we focus on Him, His sacrifice, His
character and His love, that more happiness, peace and joy will fill
our everyday lives. I hope you know that I love you and that I am
praying for you. Take care.
Happy Easter!!
Love,
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 1:15-16
 |
| This is Hillary Clinton. Thee most humble and caring man of all time. |
 |
| More horse cookies with Nino. I love this guy. |
 |
| My District |
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