Oct25
October 24th, 2016 // #43 of 2016
Howdy Y'all.
I hope that each of you had a great week back at home in the USA.
Things over here in this part of the world are going really well. The
weather has cooled down a fair amount, which is always a blessing. The
missionary work is continuing to move forward and the Lord is
hastening His work here in Bari, its a really neat thing to be apart
of. I don't have a ton of time today, so here are a few of the
highlights from this past week here in Italy.
Last Monday evening we were invited to participate in a family home
evening with a family from our ward. The Straziota family, who I am
very close with. The husband, named Gianluca, served a mission in
England back in the day and he is seriously one of the coolest members
that I have met. His wife is one of the kindest ladies that I will
ever meet. They have two little kids, who are 7 and 5 years old. We
arrived and had a really nice meal with them. We laughed, joked around
and had a good time. As Elder Jacob and I were thinking of what we
could share with this family as a spiritual thought, a thought came to
my mind to do something like a Pop Quiz for the kids. We thought of
about 7 questions for the little kids, and we brought some pens and
pieces of paper for them to write their answers down. It was
incredible to sit around this 7 year old little boy, who is already
talking about his baptism that wont happen until next April, and this
cute little 5 year old girl and watch them respond to the questions
that we asked them about the Savior and His gospel. They knew every
single answer, and answered confidently. At the end, I showed the
little kids a few pictures of Christ that I have on my iPad and asked
who He was... They boh lighted up and proudly shouted, "Jesus!!!" I
started to ask them a few simple questions, and at one point I asked
"If you could say one thing to Christ, what would you say?" The little
5 year old girl replied, "Thank you." I followed that up with, "Why
thank you?" And she quickly responded, "Because I love Him..." The
Spirit filled the room, and tears filled the parents eyes. We all kind
of just sat there for a moment, and basked in the power of that
response. As we were driving home, I thought a lot about how that
little boy and that little girl acted when I started showing them
pictures of the Savior and how they responded to my questions. There
is just something about small children and the way that they feel
about the Savior. They don't understand everything perfectly, but they
do understand that Jesus Christ did and still does a lot for each of
us. They understand that Christ loves us, that He will always lend us
a hand, that He will always give us another shot, and they have zero
doubt in His infinite and redeeming power. They look at Him as an
older brother, a friend, a hero. The little kids from last Monday
night told us that they couldn't wait to meet Him again. Two things
from that Family Home Evening stuck out to me: 1 - The little girls
answer to my question "..because I love Him.." and 2 - How they were
excited to see and be with Christ once again. That night has stayed
with me and I have had some thoughts throughout the week, such as:
"Jard...Do you love Him as perfectly and as deeply as those kids do?"
"Are you excited to see and be with the Savior once again?" I hope
that if I am ever asked those two questions that I will be able to
respond just as those two little ones answered, and I hope the same
for each of you. We should love the Savior, just as genuinely and
sincerely as those little ones do. We should also be excited to see
Him once again, be excited to be with Him, to talk with Him and thank
Him... I know that thinking about being with and standing in front of
the Savior often times came seem a little overwhelming and nerve
racking, but I think that we will be surprised at how merciful, how
loving and how gentle He will be and especially if we have truly loved
Him both in word and in deed here upon the earth. That Family Home
Evening will stick with me forever... I thanked my Father in Heaven
for the opportunity to be with the Straziota family for a little bit.
Wednesday we climbed up on a train and headed to Rome for a
conference. We arrived in the giant Rome Train Station and were
greeted by our assistants. They handed a bunch of materials and we set
off to get some proselyting work done in Rome. What an experience it
was. For me, I have never been able to serve in Rome, and so it was
the first opportunity that I had to walk were some of the original
Apostles walked and testify where they once testified. It was a
surreal evening, even though we didn't see a whole ton of success. I
was able to bump into Anziano Da Ponte, my companion from Mistretta,
and we were able to stop and talk to some people just like old times.
It was truly a beautiful experience and a night that I shall never
forget. Following a fear hours of tracting, we headed to the hotel
that we stayed at that is located right next to the mission home. Now,
a year and a half ago Elder Bednar came and visited our mission and I
stayed at that exact same hotel. I had a moment or two to think back
and reflect on who I was at that time and who I am now. It kind of
became real in that moment that I won't be here much longer and that
was a tough pill to swallow.
Thursday morning we got up early and made our way to the Rome 1
church house. We arrived about an hour and a half before the
conference began and started getting missionaries in their seats.
Right at 8:40, President Russel M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, entered the room with President Hallstrom, of the
Presidency of the 70, and President Kearon, the Europe Area President,
and each of these men were accompanied by their wives. Each missionary
was privileged enough to be able to shake the hands of these men and
look right into their eyes. It just so happened that I was the last
missionary to shake their hands, and so that gave me a little extra
time with them. I looked right into President Nelson's eyes and I
thanked him for coming. He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He
just looked gentle, loving and kind but so composed and powerful at
the same time. I will always remember the feeling I had when I shook
his hand... It was a powerful moment. The conference was uplifting. It
seriously felt like a general conference. Having so many big time
General authorities speaking to us and bring their testimonies. It was
great. We heard from President and Sister Kearon, who were followed by
President and Sister Hallstrom, who was then followed by Sister Nelson
and President Nelson closed the meeting. The 92 year old rickety old
man stepped to the pulpit as if he was 40 years old and taught for a
solid hour. He used no notes, no printout. He stepped to the pulpit
and went completely by the spirit. It was incredible. He held up his
set of scriptures and said I bought on May 27th and made the goal that
I was going to read every single word... Which he did in two weeks. I
was shocked, we all were. It took him two weeks to do something that I
haven't ever done in twenty years. Haha. He taught in such a humble,
but yet powerful way. He is definitely human, but he is nearly
perfect. It was a pleasure to be in his presence and to be taught by
him. It was yet another day that I shall not forget.
Well family, thats about all of the time I have today...I wish I had
a little more, but this week was a solid one and it was full of days
and experiences that I hope to remember forever. Im so blessed to be
where I am, to be doing what I am doing. I love the Italian people. I
love this country. Most of all...I love all of you. I'm praying for
you and I hope that all is well. Keep believing. Keep moving forward.
There is power in the scriptures and hitting our knees in prayer,
daily. Let us always remember Him, so that when the day comes and we
will stand before Him once again...we will be ready. I love you family
and friends. I wish you nothing but the best. Have a great week and
take care. I love ya.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 1:15-16
I hope that each of you had a great week back at home in the USA.
Things over here in this part of the world are going really well. The
weather has cooled down a fair amount, which is always a blessing. The
missionary work is continuing to move forward and the Lord is
hastening His work here in Bari, its a really neat thing to be apart
of. I don't have a ton of time today, so here are a few of the
highlights from this past week here in Italy.
Last Monday evening we were invited to participate in a family home
evening with a family from our ward. The Straziota family, who I am
very close with. The husband, named Gianluca, served a mission in
England back in the day and he is seriously one of the coolest members
that I have met. His wife is one of the kindest ladies that I will
ever meet. They have two little kids, who are 7 and 5 years old. We
arrived and had a really nice meal with them. We laughed, joked around
and had a good time. As Elder Jacob and I were thinking of what we
could share with this family as a spiritual thought, a thought came to
my mind to do something like a Pop Quiz for the kids. We thought of
about 7 questions for the little kids, and we brought some pens and
pieces of paper for them to write their answers down. It was
incredible to sit around this 7 year old little boy, who is already
talking about his baptism that wont happen until next April, and this
cute little 5 year old girl and watch them respond to the questions
that we asked them about the Savior and His gospel. They knew every
single answer, and answered confidently. At the end, I showed the
little kids a few pictures of Christ that I have on my iPad and asked
who He was... They boh lighted up and proudly shouted, "Jesus!!!" I
started to ask them a few simple questions, and at one point I asked
"If you could say one thing to Christ, what would you say?" The little
5 year old girl replied, "Thank you." I followed that up with, "Why
thank you?" And she quickly responded, "Because I love Him..." The
Spirit filled the room, and tears filled the parents eyes. We all kind
of just sat there for a moment, and basked in the power of that
response. As we were driving home, I thought a lot about how that
little boy and that little girl acted when I started showing them
pictures of the Savior and how they responded to my questions. There
is just something about small children and the way that they feel
about the Savior. They don't understand everything perfectly, but they
do understand that Jesus Christ did and still does a lot for each of
us. They understand that Christ loves us, that He will always lend us
a hand, that He will always give us another shot, and they have zero
doubt in His infinite and redeeming power. They look at Him as an
older brother, a friend, a hero. The little kids from last Monday
night told us that they couldn't wait to meet Him again. Two things
from that Family Home Evening stuck out to me: 1 - The little girls
answer to my question "..because I love Him.." and 2 - How they were
excited to see and be with Christ once again. That night has stayed
with me and I have had some thoughts throughout the week, such as:
"Jard...Do you love Him as perfectly and as deeply as those kids do?"
"Are you excited to see and be with the Savior once again?" I hope
that if I am ever asked those two questions that I will be able to
respond just as those two little ones answered, and I hope the same
for each of you. We should love the Savior, just as genuinely and
sincerely as those little ones do. We should also be excited to see
Him once again, be excited to be with Him, to talk with Him and thank
Him... I know that thinking about being with and standing in front of
the Savior often times came seem a little overwhelming and nerve
racking, but I think that we will be surprised at how merciful, how
loving and how gentle He will be and especially if we have truly loved
Him both in word and in deed here upon the earth. That Family Home
Evening will stick with me forever... I thanked my Father in Heaven
for the opportunity to be with the Straziota family for a little bit.
Wednesday we climbed up on a train and headed to Rome for a
conference. We arrived in the giant Rome Train Station and were
greeted by our assistants. They handed a bunch of materials and we set
off to get some proselyting work done in Rome. What an experience it
was. For me, I have never been able to serve in Rome, and so it was
the first opportunity that I had to walk were some of the original
Apostles walked and testify where they once testified. It was a
surreal evening, even though we didn't see a whole ton of success. I
was able to bump into Anziano Da Ponte, my companion from Mistretta,
and we were able to stop and talk to some people just like old times.
It was truly a beautiful experience and a night that I shall never
forget. Following a fear hours of tracting, we headed to the hotel
that we stayed at that is located right next to the mission home. Now,
a year and a half ago Elder Bednar came and visited our mission and I
stayed at that exact same hotel. I had a moment or two to think back
and reflect on who I was at that time and who I am now. It kind of
became real in that moment that I won't be here much longer and that
was a tough pill to swallow.
Thursday morning we got up early and made our way to the Rome 1
church house. We arrived about an hour and a half before the
conference began and started getting missionaries in their seats.
Right at 8:40, President Russel M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, entered the room with President Hallstrom, of the
Presidency of the 70, and President Kearon, the Europe Area President,
and each of these men were accompanied by their wives. Each missionary
was privileged enough to be able to shake the hands of these men and
look right into their eyes. It just so happened that I was the last
missionary to shake their hands, and so that gave me a little extra
time with them. I looked right into President Nelson's eyes and I
thanked him for coming. He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He
just looked gentle, loving and kind but so composed and powerful at
the same time. I will always remember the feeling I had when I shook
his hand... It was a powerful moment. The conference was uplifting. It
seriously felt like a general conference. Having so many big time
General authorities speaking to us and bring their testimonies. It was
great. We heard from President and Sister Kearon, who were followed by
President and Sister Hallstrom, who was then followed by Sister Nelson
and President Nelson closed the meeting. The 92 year old rickety old
man stepped to the pulpit as if he was 40 years old and taught for a
solid hour. He used no notes, no printout. He stepped to the pulpit
and went completely by the spirit. It was incredible. He held up his
set of scriptures and said I bought on May 27th and made the goal that
I was going to read every single word... Which he did in two weeks. I
was shocked, we all were. It took him two weeks to do something that I
haven't ever done in twenty years. Haha. He taught in such a humble,
but yet powerful way. He is definitely human, but he is nearly
perfect. It was a pleasure to be in his presence and to be taught by
him. It was yet another day that I shall not forget.
Well family, thats about all of the time I have today...I wish I had
a little more, but this week was a solid one and it was full of days
and experiences that I hope to remember forever. Im so blessed to be
where I am, to be doing what I am doing. I love the Italian people. I
love this country. Most of all...I love all of you. I'm praying for
you and I hope that all is well. Keep believing. Keep moving forward.
There is power in the scriptures and hitting our knees in prayer,
daily. Let us always remember Him, so that when the day comes and we
will stand before Him once again...we will be ready. I love you family
and friends. I wish you nothing but the best. Have a great week and
take care. I love ya.
--
Anziano JarDee Nessen
Italy Rome Mission
Romans 1:15-16
-Elder Chilvers and Elder Vrska. My brothers from the mission.
--Elder Da Ponte. My partner in crime.
---Elder Dunn. My greenie.
I love all of these guys...it was a pleasure to serve with and around
each of them. Some of my closest friends in the world.
THIS JUST IN
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