May02
May 2nd, 2016 // #18 of 2016
Good Morning Everyone and Hello from Cosenza.
I don't have a lot of time this week, we got stuck waiting at a bus
stop on our way home from grocery shopping for a few hours. Got to
love southern Italy sometimes and the wonderful organization and order
(That's Sarcasm.)
Not going to lie, this last week has been the hardest week of my
mission without any doubt. I've never felt so homesick, so down and
ultimately just feeling empty. Leaving Mistretta was harder than
leaving all of you back home. I knew that when I said goodbye to you
all, it was for two years and not a day more. When I said goodbye to
Mistretta, I don't know when I'll have the chance to come back. I'll
tell you a little about my last moments with Nino and the Portera
family.
I went over to Nino's house on Tuesdsy evening to say Goodbye. I
walked in and right from the first couple words I let him know that I
came to say goodbye. We talked for a bit and we said one last prayer
together. After the prayer we got up and hugged. I was crying
throughout the entire thing and Nino stayed pretty strong, not
shedding a tear. I told him that I loved him and I thanked him for
everything that he has ever done for me. He told me to tell all of you
thank you back at home for everything that you have done for him. I
started up the steps to his front door, turned around and said, "I
love you Nino..." And in that moment, he broke down. He started
sobbing, I turned back and gave him another big hug. He called me his
son and told me he loved me. Following that hug that lasted for
minutes, I walked out of Nino's house for the last time as a young
missionary. I left Nino my Nessen Farms hat, because we always talked
about how much we love farm work. He loved the gift.
Wednesday I said goodbye to the Portera Family. I haven't spoke much
about Portera family, but they are thee most incredible family that I
have met here in Italy and they have become part of the family. They
took such good care of me over my time in Mistretta and I became like
a son to them. They are incredible and have honestly changed my life.
I said goodbye to them, and while I did I left them my football and I
also left my missionary scriptures with the father. They were honored,
and let's just say that I have a Shrine inside of the Portera house
now. Anyways they have done so much for me and have never asked for
anything in return. I said goodbye to two of their daughters up at the
house, before Pippo, Pina and Arianna took me down to the train
station. We got down to the train station and got my luggage ready to
go. The train arrived, I chucked my bags up and gave them each a great
big hug goodbye. I couldn't say a word to any of them, I was just
crying. It literally felt like my insides were just blowing up inside
of me. It was honestly painful. The door of the train slammed shut and
I stood there looking down at them just crying. They were all crying.
It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. They wrote me
a letter, gave me a few reminders and let me know just how much they
truly love me. I will forever miss the Portera Family...
Leaving Mistretta nearly killed me, and to be honest it is still
hanging with me today. I've been super homesick and I find myself
constantly looking back on the experiences I had in Mistretta with our
members, with our investigators and just about everything else. It was
such a privilege to re-open Mistretta to missionary work and to have
the chance to stay there for 7 months. There I had the chance to
really get to know some people in a pretty special way. They will be
with me forever, and I hope that a little piece of me will remain with
them forever as well. Mistretta honestly changed my life. The love
that I received there is absolutely indescribable. The people there
are so loving and welcoming. The members there would literally die for
the missionaries. Let's just say that it has been a real rough week.
Cosenza is surely not Mistretta, but with time I will learn to love
it. My new assignment put a little more pressure on my shoulders but I
am loving serving amongst the missionaries here. Anziano Taylor
Garrett is my new companion and he is seriously a champion and a half.
We have seriously gotten after it these last few days and we are going
to have an amazing transfer together. Coming off of the hill was
difficult, nearly killed me, but I've never been more excited for a
companion. We are going to do awesome work. I can feel it.
I am doing well. I'm sorry this is kind of a strange email home this
week, but I really am doing well. My heart just got ripped out of my
chest at Nino's house and at that train station and I'm slowly trying
to put it all back together. Everyone of the Portera's sent me an
email today thanking me, I'll translate them throughout the week and
send them home next week. I thank you all for the love and support.
Have a great week and a Happy Mothers Day. I love you all so, so very
much. Have a good one.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
I don't have a lot of time this week, we got stuck waiting at a bus
stop on our way home from grocery shopping for a few hours. Got to
love southern Italy sometimes and the wonderful organization and order
(That's Sarcasm.)
Not going to lie, this last week has been the hardest week of my
mission without any doubt. I've never felt so homesick, so down and
ultimately just feeling empty. Leaving Mistretta was harder than
leaving all of you back home. I knew that when I said goodbye to you
all, it was for two years and not a day more. When I said goodbye to
Mistretta, I don't know when I'll have the chance to come back. I'll
tell you a little about my last moments with Nino and the Portera
family.
I went over to Nino's house on Tuesdsy evening to say Goodbye. I
walked in and right from the first couple words I let him know that I
came to say goodbye. We talked for a bit and we said one last prayer
together. After the prayer we got up and hugged. I was crying
throughout the entire thing and Nino stayed pretty strong, not
shedding a tear. I told him that I loved him and I thanked him for
everything that he has ever done for me. He told me to tell all of you
thank you back at home for everything that you have done for him. I
started up the steps to his front door, turned around and said, "I
love you Nino..." And in that moment, he broke down. He started
sobbing, I turned back and gave him another big hug. He called me his
son and told me he loved me. Following that hug that lasted for
minutes, I walked out of Nino's house for the last time as a young
missionary. I left Nino my Nessen Farms hat, because we always talked
about how much we love farm work. He loved the gift.
Wednesday I said goodbye to the Portera Family. I haven't spoke much
about Portera family, but they are thee most incredible family that I
have met here in Italy and they have become part of the family. They
took such good care of me over my time in Mistretta and I became like
a son to them. They are incredible and have honestly changed my life.
I said goodbye to them, and while I did I left them my football and I
also left my missionary scriptures with the father. They were honored,
and let's just say that I have a Shrine inside of the Portera house
now. Anyways they have done so much for me and have never asked for
anything in return. I said goodbye to two of their daughters up at the
house, before Pippo, Pina and Arianna took me down to the train
station. We got down to the train station and got my luggage ready to
go. The train arrived, I chucked my bags up and gave them each a great
big hug goodbye. I couldn't say a word to any of them, I was just
crying. It literally felt like my insides were just blowing up inside
of me. It was honestly painful. The door of the train slammed shut and
I stood there looking down at them just crying. They were all crying.
It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. They wrote me
a letter, gave me a few reminders and let me know just how much they
truly love me. I will forever miss the Portera Family...
Leaving Mistretta nearly killed me, and to be honest it is still
hanging with me today. I've been super homesick and I find myself
constantly looking back on the experiences I had in Mistretta with our
members, with our investigators and just about everything else. It was
such a privilege to re-open Mistretta to missionary work and to have
the chance to stay there for 7 months. There I had the chance to
really get to know some people in a pretty special way. They will be
with me forever, and I hope that a little piece of me will remain with
them forever as well. Mistretta honestly changed my life. The love
that I received there is absolutely indescribable. The people there
are so loving and welcoming. The members there would literally die for
the missionaries. Let's just say that it has been a real rough week.
Cosenza is surely not Mistretta, but with time I will learn to love
it. My new assignment put a little more pressure on my shoulders but I
am loving serving amongst the missionaries here. Anziano Taylor
Garrett is my new companion and he is seriously a champion and a half.
We have seriously gotten after it these last few days and we are going
to have an amazing transfer together. Coming off of the hill was
difficult, nearly killed me, but I've never been more excited for a
companion. We are going to do awesome work. I can feel it.
I am doing well. I'm sorry this is kind of a strange email home this
week, but I really am doing well. My heart just got ripped out of my
chest at Nino's house and at that train station and I'm slowly trying
to put it all back together. Everyone of the Portera's sent me an
email today thanking me, I'll translate them throughout the week and
send them home next week. I thank you all for the love and support.
Have a great week and a Happy Mothers Day. I love you all so, so very
much. Have a good one.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
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