Apr11
April 11th, 2016 // #15 of 2016 🇮🇹💰
Hi. We've made it 16 Months.
Well here we are once again and another week has gone on by. Once
again, I would like to apologize for my lack of time last Monday. I
didn't really get to write to anyone individually and I feel bad for
that. This week we remained up in Mistretta, so we have lots and lots
of time to email. I'll be sure to get everyone a good one today. I
thank you all for the love, support and prayers that you send my way.
I'm not worth all of the love I receive, but know that I am truly
grateful for each of you. The weather has been off and on up here in
the mountains. Some days it's real hot and other days it's pouring
rain, but I love it. I hope everyone is doing well back home and
staying healthy. The birds are chirping up here and it reminds me of
home. This week we had a pretty good week, nothing to intense, just
another week of missionary work. Here are a few highlights from the
week.
Monday we were down in Palermo to play soccer with the Elders from the
other district in Palermo. My district took it to the other district.
It was a beat down, and I loved every minute of it. I hope you all
liked my Gordon B. Hinckley jersey that I ordered. I love President
Hinckley. He was one of the greatest. Anyways soccer went well and
nobody was injured which is always a positive. Afterwards we went and
tried on my African Suit. We got over to the little place where they
make them (which by the way is a pretty sketchy part of town) and I
began to try it on to make sure it fit how I wanted. I walk into the
changing room, which was a bathroom in the back of the apartment and
found an empty bullet cartridge from a pistol on the ground. We were
on the ground level and there was a window in the bathroom, so I could
only imagine what had taken place. "Comforting," I thought to myself.
Anyways the Suit Shirt fit perfectly, but the pants where way to
baggy. So they are still working on the pants, but I should be getting
it in the upcoming weeks. I'll be sure to send pictures. We also went
to a store called, Zara. Zara is like thee store here in Italy to get
fancy clothes and suits for a pretty good price. I found another two
suits that I could resist and walked out of the store with two more
suits in hand. I'll be sending home some pictures. There are pretty
sharp. That evening we went on exchanges with the Elders from Palermo
2. Elder Chilvers, the kid who was wearing the TS Monson jersey,
taught one of their African investigators and this time I got to teach
a guy by the name of Prince Gyan (In English Gyan means John). Prince
Gyan is one of the smartest individuals I have ever met. We taught him
the plan of salvation, and he soaked it up like a sponge. He was a
very sincere feller and I could honestly see him being the Temple
President of Ghana in like 10 years. He is a young 25 year old guy and
knows the scriptures real well. He is a stud.
Tuesday and Wednesday we went on Exchanges with the Elders from
Bagheria. I went with Elder Rasband. Elder Rasband is from New York
and yes, he is related to Elder Rasband the new apostle. Elder Rasband
will finish his mission in a few weeks and is a stud of a missionary.
We did some house finding up in Mistretta and we met a guy named
Mario. When Mario opened the door, he peaked his head around the side
because he was completely naked on the other side. We could hear that
the shower was on and so we imagined that he would just close the door
(I mean he had a good excuse) and hop in the shower. To our surprise
he went and got dressed and let us in. We shared a small message and
he told us that we could return. Kind of a small miracle, but I
thought it was more funny than anything. His name was Mario and for
the rest of the night Elder Rasband and I just laughed about him
hiding behind the door because he was NUDE. Hopefully we will get to
work with Mario this week and I'll make sure that he is clothed before
we enter the house.
Wednesday Elder Rasband and I had a really simple, but really nice
lesson on the Restoration with Dr Enzo. It went well and this is where
I was really able to see that he is warming up to us and our message.
During the lesson he was paying attention very well (which is strange
because Italians struggle in that category) and afterwards he was very
calm. He told us that he believes that Joseph Smith was called of God
and that Jesus Christ went to America....now he just needs to build up
the courage and take the next step, which would be baptism. After the
lesson he asked us if we wanted to take a spin in his new BMW 5
series. We couldn't turn down that offer. That car was seriously one
of the nicest cars I have ever been it. He offered to let us drive it,
but unfortunately there is a rule in the mission where we can't drive
cars that are not assigned to us. He put the pedal down to the floor a
few times and would giggle like a 17 old kid revving his car up for
his friends. We were all laughing and having a good time. It was good
to see him lighten up a little bit and be himself around us. He is
such a good guy. He always prays for our family and for our church. I
want nothing but the best to come his way. I love Dr Enzo.
I want to skip ahead in our week a little bit to Saturday. Saturday
morning we went over and visited Maria, Nino's Sister. We went over
along because we didn't have a member available Saturday morning. We
got in, sat down and she offered the opening prayer. We had planned to
teach the restoration and get her going on the Book of Mormon, but
from the words she said during her prayer we completely changed the
direction that we wanted to go. In her prayer she talked about how she
her pretty much wasted her life and thrown it away. At the close of
her prayer I asked her why she felt like that?.. Anyways we had a
really nice discussion and seemed to help out the best we could. It's
comforting to know that as long as there is still time on our "shot
clock" if you will, we can always start again and become something
better. The best part about that is that we are never alone in our new
starts and new paths. There are always family members, friends,
coworkers and most importantly Jesus Christ. After all, He is the
reason behind every fresh start and new beginning.
Sunday we had our second sacrament meeting down in Acquedolci (Sweet
Waters) where Sister Battista lives. We brought down two talks from
General Conference to share after we took the sacrament. The first
talk we used was from Elder Paul V. Johnson and he talked about the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I'll be sending his talk home this week
and I would invite all of you to read his inspired words. The end is
super powerful for everyone that has ever lost someone that they held
dear and loved, and that includes all of us. Death is such a hard
thing to deal with, and truly it hurts. I'm not sure if that pain ever
really goes away, but there is still peace, hope and comfort in
knowing that we will see these loved ones again. Nothing brings a
bigger smile to my face than knowing that I'll get to see that pretty
lady I lost on August /6th, 2000. Nothing makes me happier than
knowing that I'll get to spend forever with my family, my entire
family after this life is said and done. The Lord is so merciful and
so loving. I'm grateful for Him.
To close this week, I'd like to share a thought...
If there has been one reoccurring thought that I've had throughout my
mission that has changed me the most, it would have to be, "The Savior
wants to Forgive." From sitting in on a lesson where a man told me
earlier that very day he nearly committed suicide, to simply hitting
my knees in prayer at the end of the day, I've come to really see and
really understand that our Savior wants to forgive, and He doesn't
want to forgive a person here and a person there. Rather, He wants to
forgive everyone from Adam and Eve all the way down to the end of the
world, for every single sin that have committed, that they are
committing and that they will commit in the future. I can't begin, nor
will I ever to fully comprehend His love, grace and mercy. I would
like to share a few examples from His own life here upon the earth.
Number 1 - The Adulterous Woman
The scriptures say that the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman
before Jesus who was taken in adultery. In the Law of Moses at the
time, stated than anyone taken in adultery should be put to death.
These men wanted to stone this woman, but they wanted our Lord and
Savior to be the one that gave them the nod to begin to launch stones
at her. Here is where we see just how merciful Jesus Christ truly is.
He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone
at her." One by one all of the men in the temple began to file out of
the room, one by one until there was only Jesus Christ and this woman
alone. When the room was empty, Jesus raised His head and asked,
"Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"
She replied, "No man, Lord." What Jesus says next is a perfect example
of just how Perfect, Loving and Forgiving He really is. He said to
her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." On this
occasion I see a man, a perfect man without blemish of any kind,
looking upon someone who has slipped up and gave into temptation. I
see the very Son of God Himself looking down and saying, "Keep moving
forward. Keep trying. Be faithful. Be true. Don't you quit. Don't you
give up. Be Strong." I know that His call and plead with that Woman
will be and is today the same call and plead to every one of us, "Go,
and sin no more."
Number 2 - Upon the Cross
After Jesus had suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and "took upon
Himself the sins of the world," He was brutally beaten, spit upon,
scourged and humiliated. They made Him carry His own cross until He
could carry it no farther. They arrived at Golgotha where they drove
railroad tie sized nails through His palms, wrists and feet. He was
than raised up, in between two sinners. The soldiers and onlookers
mocked Him and offered Him vinegar to drink. Through all of the
sufferings in the Garden. Through all of the whippings He took across
His back. Through the spit that ran down His cheeks and the slaps He
took off His chin. Through the nails that were driven through His
innocent skin. Through the mockery and pure humiliation He willingly
went through for each of us. He still said humbly, "Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do." After one of His disciples
betrayed Him. After He was brutally whipped, spit upon and bruised for
our iniquity. After He was mocked and lifted upon a cross that He was
tasked to carry Himself until He could no longer. After He was nailed
down and lifted up..He still forgave.
From the experiences that I've had out here in the mission field
representing Him, I've been able to see that truly The Savior wants to
Forgive, but along with that, He wants us to forgive as well. Upon the
cross He gave us the perfect example. He forgave the ignorant ones who
spit upon His face. He forgave the man who weaved the crown of thorns
that was placed upon His head and caused Him to bleed. He forgave the
soldiers who nailed Him to the cross and mocked Him from below. He
forgave all and I can testify that He wants us to do the same.
We are all imperfect. We all carry some kind of weakness. We all do
things that drive other people insane, and other people do things that
drive us insane. I'm sure that each of us have, at one point or
another, said something or did something that either offended or hurt
someone else. I am also positive that someone else has said something
or has done something that has offended or hurt us. Healing comes only
after we decide to let it go. Healing comes when we begin seeking for
the good in those that have caused us pain, rather than only seeking
for the bad. A scripture says, "Seek, and he shall find" and I know
that if we seek for good, that is what we will find, but if we are
seeking for the bad, that is exactly what we will find, regardless of
how much good there is too see. I would like to share a quote from an
email that I received some weeks back. This person, whom I love very
much, wisely said, "During school people always judge each other and
I'm one of those kids as well but Gods creation is beautiful and the
worth of souls is great. I love that scripture "D&C 18:10" because it
makes me realize that no one is ugly. Everyone is a beautiful creation
of God." I pray that we will all find the strength, the courage and
the desire to let go of grudges, to look past the mortal weaknesses of
others and to completely Forgive, just as our loving Savior Jesus
Christ so compassionately did upon the cross at Calvary. It is my
humble prayer that each of us will be able to see the people around us
(whether that be a spouse, a neighbor, a coworker, a friend or whoever
else it might be) just as The Savior sees them. Only in that moment
will we be understand that Christ loves them, just exactly as He loves
us. In that moment we will be able to see the good in that person, no
matter how much or how little there is to find. In that moment will we
be able to look upon the heart and soul of that person, rather than
focusing on the scars on the surface, and we will find that truly
"Everyone is a beautiful creation of God."
A quote from General Conference last week that I love, "none of us
should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done." How true
and powerful is that.
In closing, I just want to leave you with my testimony that I know
that The Savior and Redeemer of the World wants to forgive and also He
wants us to forgive. I know that He paid the price for both the pain
we feel, and the pain we cause within others. No matter what side of
the fence we may find ourselves on, and we may even find ourselves on
both sides at the moment, I testify that we can move forward, that we
can heal these open wounds. I testify that with the divine assistance
from our loving Savior and a little bit of work on our end, we can
overcome these pains and weaknesses. Family and Friends, "Forgiveness
is the very reason God sent His Son." I pray that we will all follow
the example of Him, the only perfect example, and prayerfully make our
best attempt to mimic exactly what The Savior did in the temple and
upon the cross. The Savior wants to Forgive. He wants us to be clean,
to feel free from the burdens and weights that cling to us as we sin.
He wants to help us overcome these things, because He sees us as what
we can become, not as what we have done. He is merciful, and more
merciful than we can wrap out mortal minds around. He also wants us to
forgive. He wants us to strengthen those around us, by looking upon
their heart and bringing out the best in them; rather than passing
judgement and forcing them to live in their mistakes. Family and
Friends His grace is sufficient for those who plead for forgiveness,
and as well as for those who forgive, who forgive others but also
themselves. Let us trust in the Him, the only One who will never let
us down and never leave us alone. He is merciful. The Savior wants to
Forgive, and He wants us to Forgive.
I love you all. Thank you for everything. Have a great week and take care.
God is Good.
Families are Forever.
The Lord blesses those who simply try.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
P.S....
Pippo Portera sent me this a few weeks ago, and I thought it was very
kind of him.
"Allora. Ho conosciuto pochi missionari come te. Sento nel mio cuore
che il Signore ha qualcosa di speciale per te. Sento che quando
tornerai in America il Signore sta preparando qualcosa di grande che
tu farai, non so cos'è ma so che sei stato preparato per questo. Hai
un angelo speciale in cielo, e prega per te e ti aiuterà a raggiungere
quello che il Padre Celeste sa. Tu sei umile ma a mio avviso sei uno
dei grandi e nobili di cui parla Abrahamo. Ti ammiro tanto e ti voglio
bene. Non dimenticarlo mai."
I didn't realize that Google Translate translates that bad... Haha.Here is what Pippo said to me in that text:
"Alright. I've known few missionaries like you. I feel in my heartthat the Lord has something very special for you. I feel that when youreturn to America the Lord is preparing something big that you willdo, I'm not sure what it is but I know that you've been prepared forthis. You have a special angel in heaven, and she prays for you andshe will help you accomplish what Heavenly Father knows. You arehumble but I believe that you are one of the great and noble thatAbraham spoke of. I admire you a lot and I love you. Never forgetthat."
--Anziano JarDee NessenItaly Rome MissionRomans 8:35-39
Well here we are once again and another week has gone on by. Once
again, I would like to apologize for my lack of time last Monday. I
didn't really get to write to anyone individually and I feel bad for
that. This week we remained up in Mistretta, so we have lots and lots
of time to email. I'll be sure to get everyone a good one today. I
thank you all for the love, support and prayers that you send my way.
I'm not worth all of the love I receive, but know that I am truly
grateful for each of you. The weather has been off and on up here in
the mountains. Some days it's real hot and other days it's pouring
rain, but I love it. I hope everyone is doing well back home and
staying healthy. The birds are chirping up here and it reminds me of
home. This week we had a pretty good week, nothing to intense, just
another week of missionary work. Here are a few highlights from the
week.
Monday we were down in Palermo to play soccer with the Elders from the
other district in Palermo. My district took it to the other district.
It was a beat down, and I loved every minute of it. I hope you all
liked my Gordon B. Hinckley jersey that I ordered. I love President
Hinckley. He was one of the greatest. Anyways soccer went well and
nobody was injured which is always a positive. Afterwards we went and
tried on my African Suit. We got over to the little place where they
make them (which by the way is a pretty sketchy part of town) and I
began to try it on to make sure it fit how I wanted. I walk into the
changing room, which was a bathroom in the back of the apartment and
found an empty bullet cartridge from a pistol on the ground. We were
on the ground level and there was a window in the bathroom, so I could
only imagine what had taken place. "Comforting," I thought to myself.
Anyways the Suit Shirt fit perfectly, but the pants where way to
baggy. So they are still working on the pants, but I should be getting
it in the upcoming weeks. I'll be sure to send pictures. We also went
to a store called, Zara. Zara is like thee store here in Italy to get
fancy clothes and suits for a pretty good price. I found another two
suits that I could resist and walked out of the store with two more
suits in hand. I'll be sending home some pictures. There are pretty
sharp. That evening we went on exchanges with the Elders from Palermo
2. Elder Chilvers, the kid who was wearing the TS Monson jersey,
taught one of their African investigators and this time I got to teach
a guy by the name of Prince Gyan (In English Gyan means John). Prince
Gyan is one of the smartest individuals I have ever met. We taught him
the plan of salvation, and he soaked it up like a sponge. He was a
very sincere feller and I could honestly see him being the Temple
President of Ghana in like 10 years. He is a young 25 year old guy and
knows the scriptures real well. He is a stud.
Tuesday and Wednesday we went on Exchanges with the Elders from
Bagheria. I went with Elder Rasband. Elder Rasband is from New York
and yes, he is related to Elder Rasband the new apostle. Elder Rasband
will finish his mission in a few weeks and is a stud of a missionary.
We did some house finding up in Mistretta and we met a guy named
Mario. When Mario opened the door, he peaked his head around the side
because he was completely naked on the other side. We could hear that
the shower was on and so we imagined that he would just close the door
(I mean he had a good excuse) and hop in the shower. To our surprise
he went and got dressed and let us in. We shared a small message and
he told us that we could return. Kind of a small miracle, but I
thought it was more funny than anything. His name was Mario and for
the rest of the night Elder Rasband and I just laughed about him
hiding behind the door because he was NUDE. Hopefully we will get to
work with Mario this week and I'll make sure that he is clothed before
we enter the house.
Wednesday Elder Rasband and I had a really simple, but really nice
lesson on the Restoration with Dr Enzo. It went well and this is where
I was really able to see that he is warming up to us and our message.
During the lesson he was paying attention very well (which is strange
because Italians struggle in that category) and afterwards he was very
calm. He told us that he believes that Joseph Smith was called of God
and that Jesus Christ went to America....now he just needs to build up
the courage and take the next step, which would be baptism. After the
lesson he asked us if we wanted to take a spin in his new BMW 5
series. We couldn't turn down that offer. That car was seriously one
of the nicest cars I have ever been it. He offered to let us drive it,
but unfortunately there is a rule in the mission where we can't drive
cars that are not assigned to us. He put the pedal down to the floor a
few times and would giggle like a 17 old kid revving his car up for
his friends. We were all laughing and having a good time. It was good
to see him lighten up a little bit and be himself around us. He is
such a good guy. He always prays for our family and for our church. I
want nothing but the best to come his way. I love Dr Enzo.
I want to skip ahead in our week a little bit to Saturday. Saturday
morning we went over and visited Maria, Nino's Sister. We went over
along because we didn't have a member available Saturday morning. We
got in, sat down and she offered the opening prayer. We had planned to
teach the restoration and get her going on the Book of Mormon, but
from the words she said during her prayer we completely changed the
direction that we wanted to go. In her prayer she talked about how she
her pretty much wasted her life and thrown it away. At the close of
her prayer I asked her why she felt like that?.. Anyways we had a
really nice discussion and seemed to help out the best we could. It's
comforting to know that as long as there is still time on our "shot
clock" if you will, we can always start again and become something
better. The best part about that is that we are never alone in our new
starts and new paths. There are always family members, friends,
coworkers and most importantly Jesus Christ. After all, He is the
reason behind every fresh start and new beginning.
Sunday we had our second sacrament meeting down in Acquedolci (Sweet
Waters) where Sister Battista lives. We brought down two talks from
General Conference to share after we took the sacrament. The first
talk we used was from Elder Paul V. Johnson and he talked about the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I'll be sending his talk home this week
and I would invite all of you to read his inspired words. The end is
super powerful for everyone that has ever lost someone that they held
dear and loved, and that includes all of us. Death is such a hard
thing to deal with, and truly it hurts. I'm not sure if that pain ever
really goes away, but there is still peace, hope and comfort in
knowing that we will see these loved ones again. Nothing brings a
bigger smile to my face than knowing that I'll get to see that pretty
lady I lost on August /6th, 2000. Nothing makes me happier than
knowing that I'll get to spend forever with my family, my entire
family after this life is said and done. The Lord is so merciful and
so loving. I'm grateful for Him.
To close this week, I'd like to share a thought...
If there has been one reoccurring thought that I've had throughout my
mission that has changed me the most, it would have to be, "The Savior
wants to Forgive." From sitting in on a lesson where a man told me
earlier that very day he nearly committed suicide, to simply hitting
my knees in prayer at the end of the day, I've come to really see and
really understand that our Savior wants to forgive, and He doesn't
want to forgive a person here and a person there. Rather, He wants to
forgive everyone from Adam and Eve all the way down to the end of the
world, for every single sin that have committed, that they are
committing and that they will commit in the future. I can't begin, nor
will I ever to fully comprehend His love, grace and mercy. I would
like to share a few examples from His own life here upon the earth.
Number 1 - The Adulterous Woman
The scriptures say that the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman
before Jesus who was taken in adultery. In the Law of Moses at the
time, stated than anyone taken in adultery should be put to death.
These men wanted to stone this woman, but they wanted our Lord and
Savior to be the one that gave them the nod to begin to launch stones
at her. Here is where we see just how merciful Jesus Christ truly is.
He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone
at her." One by one all of the men in the temple began to file out of
the room, one by one until there was only Jesus Christ and this woman
alone. When the room was empty, Jesus raised His head and asked,
"Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"
She replied, "No man, Lord." What Jesus says next is a perfect example
of just how Perfect, Loving and Forgiving He really is. He said to
her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." On this
occasion I see a man, a perfect man without blemish of any kind,
looking upon someone who has slipped up and gave into temptation. I
see the very Son of God Himself looking down and saying, "Keep moving
forward. Keep trying. Be faithful. Be true. Don't you quit. Don't you
give up. Be Strong." I know that His call and plead with that Woman
will be and is today the same call and plead to every one of us, "Go,
and sin no more."
Number 2 - Upon the Cross
After Jesus had suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and "took upon
Himself the sins of the world," He was brutally beaten, spit upon,
scourged and humiliated. They made Him carry His own cross until He
could carry it no farther. They arrived at Golgotha where they drove
railroad tie sized nails through His palms, wrists and feet. He was
than raised up, in between two sinners. The soldiers and onlookers
mocked Him and offered Him vinegar to drink. Through all of the
sufferings in the Garden. Through all of the whippings He took across
His back. Through the spit that ran down His cheeks and the slaps He
took off His chin. Through the nails that were driven through His
innocent skin. Through the mockery and pure humiliation He willingly
went through for each of us. He still said humbly, "Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do." After one of His disciples
betrayed Him. After He was brutally whipped, spit upon and bruised for
our iniquity. After He was mocked and lifted upon a cross that He was
tasked to carry Himself until He could no longer. After He was nailed
down and lifted up..He still forgave.
From the experiences that I've had out here in the mission field
representing Him, I've been able to see that truly The Savior wants to
Forgive, but along with that, He wants us to forgive as well. Upon the
cross He gave us the perfect example. He forgave the ignorant ones who
spit upon His face. He forgave the man who weaved the crown of thorns
that was placed upon His head and caused Him to bleed. He forgave the
soldiers who nailed Him to the cross and mocked Him from below. He
forgave all and I can testify that He wants us to do the same.
We are all imperfect. We all carry some kind of weakness. We all do
things that drive other people insane, and other people do things that
drive us insane. I'm sure that each of us have, at one point or
another, said something or did something that either offended or hurt
someone else. I am also positive that someone else has said something
or has done something that has offended or hurt us. Healing comes only
after we decide to let it go. Healing comes when we begin seeking for
the good in those that have caused us pain, rather than only seeking
for the bad. A scripture says, "Seek, and he shall find" and I know
that if we seek for good, that is what we will find, but if we are
seeking for the bad, that is exactly what we will find, regardless of
how much good there is too see. I would like to share a quote from an
email that I received some weeks back. This person, whom I love very
much, wisely said, "During school people always judge each other and
I'm one of those kids as well but Gods creation is beautiful and the
worth of souls is great. I love that scripture "D&C 18:10" because it
makes me realize that no one is ugly. Everyone is a beautiful creation
of God." I pray that we will all find the strength, the courage and
the desire to let go of grudges, to look past the mortal weaknesses of
others and to completely Forgive, just as our loving Savior Jesus
Christ so compassionately did upon the cross at Calvary. It is my
humble prayer that each of us will be able to see the people around us
(whether that be a spouse, a neighbor, a coworker, a friend or whoever
else it might be) just as The Savior sees them. Only in that moment
will we be understand that Christ loves them, just exactly as He loves
us. In that moment we will be able to see the good in that person, no
matter how much or how little there is to find. In that moment will we
be able to look upon the heart and soul of that person, rather than
focusing on the scars on the surface, and we will find that truly
"Everyone is a beautiful creation of God."
A quote from General Conference last week that I love, "none of us
should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done." How true
and powerful is that.
In closing, I just want to leave you with my testimony that I know
that The Savior and Redeemer of the World wants to forgive and also He
wants us to forgive. I know that He paid the price for both the pain
we feel, and the pain we cause within others. No matter what side of
the fence we may find ourselves on, and we may even find ourselves on
both sides at the moment, I testify that we can move forward, that we
can heal these open wounds. I testify that with the divine assistance
from our loving Savior and a little bit of work on our end, we can
overcome these pains and weaknesses. Family and Friends, "Forgiveness
is the very reason God sent His Son." I pray that we will all follow
the example of Him, the only perfect example, and prayerfully make our
best attempt to mimic exactly what The Savior did in the temple and
upon the cross. The Savior wants to Forgive. He wants us to be clean,
to feel free from the burdens and weights that cling to us as we sin.
He wants to help us overcome these things, because He sees us as what
we can become, not as what we have done. He is merciful, and more
merciful than we can wrap out mortal minds around. He also wants us to
forgive. He wants us to strengthen those around us, by looking upon
their heart and bringing out the best in them; rather than passing
judgement and forcing them to live in their mistakes. Family and
Friends His grace is sufficient for those who plead for forgiveness,
and as well as for those who forgive, who forgive others but also
themselves. Let us trust in the Him, the only One who will never let
us down and never leave us alone. He is merciful. The Savior wants to
Forgive, and He wants us to Forgive.
I love you all. Thank you for everything. Have a great week and take care.
God is Good.
Families are Forever.
The Lord blesses those who simply try.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
P.S....
Pippo Portera sent me this a few weeks ago, and I thought it was very
kind of him.
"Allora. Ho conosciuto pochi missionari come te. Sento nel mio cuore
che il Signore ha qualcosa di speciale per te. Sento che quando
tornerai in America il Signore sta preparando qualcosa di grande che
tu farai, non so cos'è ma so che sei stato preparato per questo. Hai
un angelo speciale in cielo, e prega per te e ti aiuterà a raggiungere
quello che il Padre Celeste sa. Tu sei umile ma a mio avviso sei uno
dei grandi e nobili di cui parla Abrahamo. Ti ammiro tanto e ti voglio
bene. Non dimenticarlo mai."
I didn't realize that Google Translate translates that bad... Haha.Here is what Pippo said to me in that text:
"Alright. I've known few missionaries like you. I feel in my heartthat the Lord has something very special for you. I feel that when youreturn to America the Lord is preparing something big that you willdo, I'm not sure what it is but I know that you've been prepared forthis. You have a special angel in heaven, and she prays for you andshe will help you accomplish what Heavenly Father knows. You arehumble but I believe that you are one of the great and noble thatAbraham spoke of. I admire you a lot and I love you. Never forgetthat."
--Anziano JarDee NessenItaly Rome MissionRomans 8:35-39
My New Suits. Grey Wolf and Blue Steel
Elder Dunn and I! Inside Dr. Enzo's car. WOW!!!
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