Jul18
July 18th, 2016 // #29 of 2016
Good Morning Everyone!
So I again would like to apologize for the weekly email I sent out
last week, we had a little too much fun at the beach and didn't leave
ourselves with a ton of time. It was the first time in over 19 months
that I was able to toss a baseball around with a baseball glove on,
and it's safe to say that I had missed it. I woke up on Tuesday and
the ole cannon was a little bit sore, but it was so worth it. After
our PDay was over, we ended the evening by going on exchanges with the
Elders who are serving in Crotone. I went with Anziano Draghi (Elder
Dragons in English) and we went and visited a sister who is less
active. Sister Amoruso is her name, and Elder Kiser (my trainer) and I
worked with her in the beginning of my mission. At that time I
couldn't speak the language whatsoever. I didn't understand the
language at all and often wondered if they even understood each other.
Throughout a good majority of the lessons I remained pretty silent,
and would pitch in a little testimony here and there. During those
first few months I felt like I wasn't asking a difference. I felt like
I wasn't hurting anybody, but my presence surely wasn't blessing
anyone as well. Those first few months were tough, I loved being a
missionary and serving the Lord, but they were tough. Here is where I
am going with this... Elder Dragons and I showed up at Sister
Amoruso's doorstep and she opened the door. She seemed a little bit
surprised when she noticed that Elder Dragons usual campaign wasn't
there, but she then looked at me smiling and said..."Hey...I remember
you!" I just smiled back and asked her how she was doing.
Unfortunately she was literally walking to the front door when we
knocked, and so we did not have the chance to have a lesson with her.
As I was walking away I was smiling ear from ear, not because she
remembered me, but rather because for the first time since I left
Crotone the first time I felt like I made a small little difference
even though I didn't really speak, nor understand.
Coming back to Calabria (Calabria is a Region, and both Cosenza and
Crotone are cities in Calabria) has truly been one of the biggest
blessings of my mission. It has been the most difficult time by a long
ways, but it has also been the most rewarding two transfers I've ever
had. I can't even count how many times that I was beaten to my knees
in Cosenza, but yet I feel like I learned so much from those moments
when I was open my knees. It was a pleasure to go back, and it taught
me that God is truly merciful. I've come a long ways since my days in
Crotone, but I wouldn't have come all that way if it wasn't for those
hard times that came my way. I'm grateful for a Father in Heaven who
loves us enough to hurt us. I know that seems like a strange concept,
but sometimes hurting us is the best thing for us.
BARI. Goodness gracious I love BARI. Seriously I've never been more
excited to serve somewhere in my entire life. We got into the city on
Saturday afternoon and I already feel at home. We received a warm
welcome from the ward (that's right. I said Ward. this is the first
ward that I have served in my entire mission.) and I feel like we are
going to do good work here. My companion, Elder Borough is a STUD.
Holy Cow we go together like Chinese Food and Chocolate Pudding. Haha
Just Kidding, but he really is a STUD and we are going to get some
work done together. He is from San Diego California and finishes his
mission in October. I'm so happy to be here, serving with him.
Friends and Fam. I love you all. I thank you all for all of the
love and support that you send my way. I'm not sure how many of you
know this, but in Bari last week there was a serious train wreck and
many people lost their lives. There were no missionaries involved, so
don't worry about that... But I would ask that you would keep the
people of Bari and the families of those who were involved in your
prayers. Thanks for everything everyone. I hope you all have a great
week.
PS.....UNDER FOUR MONTHS TO GO!!
PSS...Here is a story that I came across and enjoyed. Figured I
would share it with everyone.
"A story written by Karen Nolen, which appeared in the New Era in
1974, tells of a Benjamin Landart who, in 1888, was 15 years old and
an accomplished violinist. Living on a farm in northern Utah with his
mother and seven brothers and sisters was sometimes a challenge to
Benjamin, as he had less time than he would have liked to play his
violin. Occasionally his mother would lock up the violin until he had
his farm chores done, so great was the temptation for Benjamin to play
it.
In late 1892 Benjamin was asked to travel to Salt Lake to
audition for a place with the territorial orchestra. For him, this was
a dream come true. After several weeks of practicing and prayers, he
went to Salt Lake in March of 1893 for the much anticipated audition.
When he heard Benjamin play, the conductor, a Mr. Dean, told Benjamin
he was the most accomplished violinist he had heard west of Denver. He
was told to report to Denver for rehearsals in the fall and learned
that he would be earning enough to keep himself, with some left over
to send home.
A week after Benjamin received the good news, however, his bishop
called him into his office and asked if he couldn’t put off playing
with the orchestra for a couple of years. He told Benjamin that before
he started earning money there was something he owed the Lord. He then
asked Benjamin to accept a mission call.
Benjamin felt that giving up his chance to play in the
territorial orchestra would be almost more than he could bear, but he
also knew what his decision should be. He promised the bishop that if
there were any way to raise the money for him to serve, he would
accept the call.
When Benjamin told his mother about the call, she was overjoyed.
She told him that his father had always wanted to serve a mission but
had been killed before that opportunity had come to him. However, when
they discussed the financing of the mission, her face clouded over.
Benjamin told her he would not allow her to sell any more of their
land. She studied his face for a moment and then said, “Ben, there is
a way we can raise the money. This family [has] one thing that is of
great enough value to send you on your mission. You will have to sell
your violin.”
Ten days later, on March 23, 1893, Benjamin wrote in his journal:
“I awoke this morning and took my violin from its case. All day long I
played the music I love. In the evening when the light grew dim and I
could see to play no longer, I placed the instrument in its case. It
will be enough. Tomorrow I leave [for my mission].”
Forty-five years later, on June 23, 1938, Benjamin wrote in his
journal: “The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up
something I dearly loved to the God I loved even more. He has never
forgotten me for it.”"
I love you all. Have a good one. ❤️
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
So I again would like to apologize for the weekly email I sent out
last week, we had a little too much fun at the beach and didn't leave
ourselves with a ton of time. It was the first time in over 19 months
that I was able to toss a baseball around with a baseball glove on,
and it's safe to say that I had missed it. I woke up on Tuesday and
the ole cannon was a little bit sore, but it was so worth it. After
our PDay was over, we ended the evening by going on exchanges with the
Elders who are serving in Crotone. I went with Anziano Draghi (Elder
Dragons in English) and we went and visited a sister who is less
active. Sister Amoruso is her name, and Elder Kiser (my trainer) and I
worked with her in the beginning of my mission. At that time I
couldn't speak the language whatsoever. I didn't understand the
language at all and often wondered if they even understood each other.
Throughout a good majority of the lessons I remained pretty silent,
and would pitch in a little testimony here and there. During those
first few months I felt like I wasn't asking a difference. I felt like
I wasn't hurting anybody, but my presence surely wasn't blessing
anyone as well. Those first few months were tough, I loved being a
missionary and serving the Lord, but they were tough. Here is where I
am going with this... Elder Dragons and I showed up at Sister
Amoruso's doorstep and she opened the door. She seemed a little bit
surprised when she noticed that Elder Dragons usual campaign wasn't
there, but she then looked at me smiling and said..."Hey...I remember
you!" I just smiled back and asked her how she was doing.
Unfortunately she was literally walking to the front door when we
knocked, and so we did not have the chance to have a lesson with her.
As I was walking away I was smiling ear from ear, not because she
remembered me, but rather because for the first time since I left
Crotone the first time I felt like I made a small little difference
even though I didn't really speak, nor understand.
Coming back to Calabria (Calabria is a Region, and both Cosenza and
Crotone are cities in Calabria) has truly been one of the biggest
blessings of my mission. It has been the most difficult time by a long
ways, but it has also been the most rewarding two transfers I've ever
had. I can't even count how many times that I was beaten to my knees
in Cosenza, but yet I feel like I learned so much from those moments
when I was open my knees. It was a pleasure to go back, and it taught
me that God is truly merciful. I've come a long ways since my days in
Crotone, but I wouldn't have come all that way if it wasn't for those
hard times that came my way. I'm grateful for a Father in Heaven who
loves us enough to hurt us. I know that seems like a strange concept,
but sometimes hurting us is the best thing for us.
BARI. Goodness gracious I love BARI. Seriously I've never been more
excited to serve somewhere in my entire life. We got into the city on
Saturday afternoon and I already feel at home. We received a warm
welcome from the ward (that's right. I said Ward. this is the first
ward that I have served in my entire mission.) and I feel like we are
going to do good work here. My companion, Elder Borough is a STUD.
Holy Cow we go together like Chinese Food and Chocolate Pudding. Haha
Just Kidding, but he really is a STUD and we are going to get some
work done together. He is from San Diego California and finishes his
mission in October. I'm so happy to be here, serving with him.
Friends and Fam. I love you all. I thank you all for all of the
love and support that you send my way. I'm not sure how many of you
know this, but in Bari last week there was a serious train wreck and
many people lost their lives. There were no missionaries involved, so
don't worry about that... But I would ask that you would keep the
people of Bari and the families of those who were involved in your
prayers. Thanks for everything everyone. I hope you all have a great
week.
PS.....UNDER FOUR MONTHS TO GO!!
PSS...Here is a story that I came across and enjoyed. Figured I
would share it with everyone.
"A story written by Karen Nolen, which appeared in the New Era in
1974, tells of a Benjamin Landart who, in 1888, was 15 years old and
an accomplished violinist. Living on a farm in northern Utah with his
mother and seven brothers and sisters was sometimes a challenge to
Benjamin, as he had less time than he would have liked to play his
violin. Occasionally his mother would lock up the violin until he had
his farm chores done, so great was the temptation for Benjamin to play
it.
In late 1892 Benjamin was asked to travel to Salt Lake to
audition for a place with the territorial orchestra. For him, this was
a dream come true. After several weeks of practicing and prayers, he
went to Salt Lake in March of 1893 for the much anticipated audition.
When he heard Benjamin play, the conductor, a Mr. Dean, told Benjamin
he was the most accomplished violinist he had heard west of Denver. He
was told to report to Denver for rehearsals in the fall and learned
that he would be earning enough to keep himself, with some left over
to send home.
A week after Benjamin received the good news, however, his bishop
called him into his office and asked if he couldn’t put off playing
with the orchestra for a couple of years. He told Benjamin that before
he started earning money there was something he owed the Lord. He then
asked Benjamin to accept a mission call.
Benjamin felt that giving up his chance to play in the
territorial orchestra would be almost more than he could bear, but he
also knew what his decision should be. He promised the bishop that if
there were any way to raise the money for him to serve, he would
accept the call.
When Benjamin told his mother about the call, she was overjoyed.
She told him that his father had always wanted to serve a mission but
had been killed before that opportunity had come to him. However, when
they discussed the financing of the mission, her face clouded over.
Benjamin told her he would not allow her to sell any more of their
land. She studied his face for a moment and then said, “Ben, there is
a way we can raise the money. This family [has] one thing that is of
great enough value to send you on your mission. You will have to sell
your violin.”
Ten days later, on March 23, 1893, Benjamin wrote in his journal:
“I awoke this morning and took my violin from its case. All day long I
played the music I love. In the evening when the light grew dim and I
could see to play no longer, I placed the instrument in its case. It
will be enough. Tomorrow I leave [for my mission].”
Forty-five years later, on June 23, 1938, Benjamin wrote in his
journal: “The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up
something I dearly loved to the God I loved even more. He has never
forgotten me for it.”"
I love you all. Have a good one. ❤️
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 8:35-39
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