The Gospel Blesses The Family

Anziano Warren and Smith
Visiting Anziano Benson's Family in Idaho

January 22, 2013 

Well IM SO EXCITED that you got to see Anziano SMITH! I love that guy so much! He seriously was such a blast and one of the best missionaries I will ever know.  That entire 2 transfers was one big laugh and we worked so hard it was insane. Not to mention how much weight we lost there all from the sweat!! Anziano Warren was a great missionary too. Good times good times.

Tell Joel that I found Anziano Lindly. Actually he is in the Cimiano district. We will be visiting them next week for scambio.




Anziano Benson's Trainer! So great to meet him!

So this big news! BAPTISM! Yeah! We will be having 1 on the 2nd and the other on the 16 of February. I am so very excited and we will be doing the dee dee dance for a while. We have worked really really hard for these baptisms and we are so excited for them. More info next week on them. Well thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Well Ellis is a champ! She is so awesome! I am so happy that she has chosen to serve a mission. My guess is that we will replace Anziano Benson with Sorella Benson and that she will be taking my place here in the Italy Milan Mission (you never know haha) Hopefully I will get to see her for more than 2 weeks when I get home. May 16 so it’s only a 2 week gap and she could be gone after that. But that’s ok.  All is good in the service of the Lord and well, the best part is that we will all get to be together for eternity. Sounds like a good deal to me! All the time we missed together here can be made up on the other side. Thank goodness because I feel like I missed a lot of chances to be with the fam. I’m so so so thankful that I was born in a family where my parents respect and observe the commandments of God. The gospel blesses the family. Period. That’s all I’ve got to say. Thank you for your example and the way you and mom have raised the family. It will be a pattern that I will follow and well to be honest my dad is one of the hardest workers there is. Mom told me that haha. And it’s true. Love you!

Anziano Benson

Couldn't Be Happier!

January 15, 2013
My new comp Anziano Tanner. Awesome! Fiorentino was a really good missionary and probably one of the best teachers that I have ever met. He’s sitting on the beach now basking in the sun a bit in Florida. Just a little jealous haha. Things are going well here with Anziano Tanner. We taught the most lessons I have ever taught in the mission this last week. I think it was quite the accomplishment especially with Anziano Fiorentino leaving and transfers and everything. We had like absolutely no time to do anything except teach! Not complaining, but I do have to say that it will be hard to match last week that’s for sure. I couldn’t be happier with the work we are doing. We are really seeing the progress with several families. They just accept whatever we throw their way. The only obstacle left is tithing. We will see how that goes over. Sometimes I don’t even realize how hard it is to be a member and it really amazes me how awesome members of the church are and how much they sacrifice. What a blessing it has been to grow up in the church.

Well we are going forward and will certainly see some good things in the weeks to come this transfer. 99% sure this is my last 6 weeks in Muggio and them I’m gone. But there is always the chance that I stay. Never know. I am doing great. I’m staying happy and we are doing the work of the Lord. It’s not the easiest thing but it’s great. Its tiring but somehow I find the desire and the strength to do it.

Yes so I did see Allison at transfers! It was really great to see her! We chatted a bit and said hi and then she left. She is Sorella Fullers new comp in Milano 1 Lampugnano. But she is still in the other zone. Glad to hear that Taylor got home too.  Well I still have a very busy day so I will write you all next week. 

Love Anziano Benson

A Gift From Above

 January 8, 2014

Well transfer news is in. My new companion will be Anziano Tanner. He is coming from Busto A. So it will be nice to get an update on how things are going on the other side. I’m looking forward to meeting him.

Well it has been a really incredible 3 transfers here in Muggiò. I’m already feeling sad that one day my time in Muggiò will end. It really is a great city and the work always just goes so well. We are always busy teaching lessons and we seem to find a lot of success. We haven’t quite hit baptism hill, but we are having lots of success with progressing investigators. I probably won’t see any baptisms here, but after I leave there will definitely be at least 7 baptisms. We are teaching 3 families and one elderly lady who are really awesome. I really have had such great experiences here in Muggio; perhaps more than any other city. The best part is we are teaching families and we know that they will build the future of the church and grow the church in Italy. We are even teaching a 22 year old so we are hoping that he will go on a mission when he gets baptized. We even went and ate a pizza with him today.  

The truth is that I love these people so much! They have changed me forever. It has been a miracle to see the change the gospel has made in their lives. They are completely different people and they now have a hope and joy in their life that they never found in any other worldly things. I’m so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to serve them. And though many may thank me, it’s not me, it’s the power of the Holy Ghost and the teachings of Christ that have brought this change. And is the greatest of all Gods miracles ( The changing of a human heart). I have been touched serving these people and I know that only the gospel has brought this changes. I’m so happy! I love being a missionary. I didn’t come just to baptize but to change people’s lives. That’s what counts and it’s not a measurable number of how many people you got into the church. It’s a gift from above. Well that’s all I got for today. Busy busy. I love you all. Thank you dad mom Ellis Bre, pee wee, Bre, and Anni!

Anziano Benson

My Bike Seat Got Stolen!!
"And I got a flat tire: didn't have time to change it so I wore 
the extra tire around my neck all day."  
 

Happy New Year!!!!!

January 1, 2014

Christmas Dinner at Bishops

Well New years went out with a BANG! Literally and figuratively haha.  

We have had some really elect investigators. It has been a really great experience to teach them and they have taught me a lot as well. They were just the perfect investigators; all the right questions, all the right things, they love coming to church and living the commandments. We've got future leaders in the works here. I have seen many changes in them and it’s probably the best part of being a missionary is watching people change their life and see the difference the gospel makes for them. Good stuff.



Christmas Day Dinner with the Cradock Family

Well we had our fair share of food and we have more in the fridge. It just doesn’t end! We are stuffed full of food. Only one more week and Anziano Fiorentino is home bound. He is freaking out a little bit. 3 transfers left for me. Well that’s about all the news here in Italy. Things are going well. Next week we find out who my new comp is. We will see what happens. 



Presents



Everyone Was Too Kind!!!



Christmas Day!

Anziano Benson Via Skype Christmas Day

December 25, 2013
It was great to visit with Anziano Benson on Christmas Day Via Skype. He is doing great and the work is moving forward in Italy. He said the Christmas Recital went well and that he survived the piano playing but wanted us to know it had 6 flats. He said it was the most difficult thing he has ever played and it was far from perfect but the members still loved it. I have to relate one story that he told us.







The Package!

 
Drew had a Christmas package for his family ready to go about 4 weeks before Christmas but just got too busy with the work and didn't get a chance to mail it. Every evening when he got home, he would see that package sitting there and it made him feel bad. He said that by the time he got around to checking to see how much it would cost him to mail the package and get it there in time for Christmas that it would have cost him $100 Euro's. Way too much money and he was depressed that it would never get mailed. The week right before Christmas was busy busy and Drew and his companion were visiting with some people in a park. They came upon a homeless man and stopped to talk with him. Drew said that the man looked at him and right off asked if he could have his gloves. Drew said, "No, I need my gloves." They visited for a bit longer and the man asked him for his gloves again. Drew said "No, I really do need these gloves." They had to leave because they had an appointment and were walking away. Drew said that he couldn't stand it and turned back and gave the man his gloves. He said that even though he really did need them, he could not stand leaving the man in the cold without any gloves. The very next appointment they went to was an investigator. They gave him one of the discussions and as they were leaving the man said. "Elders, I would like to do something for you for Christmas. I work for shipping company and would like to mail a package home to your families for free.  Drew said he could not believe what he was hearing.  Drew said “how did you know I needed to mail a package?” He said I didn’t, but I would like to do that for you if you have anything.” Drew said he brought the package back to the man the next day which was the Thursday before Christmas.  We got the package the following Monday, two days before Christmas.  Drew felt certain that this was a tender mercy that the Lord sent him because he sacrificed his gloves for the homeless man.  We would like to send a big “Thank You” to the kind Italian investigator who mailed that package to us.  You will never know how much that meant to us.


Thank You!!!





The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

December 18, 2013

Well sounds like a good week of fun. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Well news here is that this week we are doing a Christmas recital and I got volunteered to play the piano. I’m not sure how but that’s what it has come down to. They don’t want me to play just some hymns. They want me to blast the audience with some arias from one of the world’s famous operas La Scala........???  Who do they think I am?! I’m not that good at the piano, but they gave me no other choice. So zero practice I will be performing 3 songs that I have never even heard of. Even better I don’t have time to run through them. This will be interesting. I’m just not going to stress about it. I am going to try to find a solution. Pray for me.  I need it.
 

Christmas money. What?  I think my jaw hit the ground when I read this. Ok, I think will be weird to have some money. I do not know how long it has been since I had money to spend?! Last Christmas was the last time that I spend more than €15.  I don’t know what to do with it. Thanks Grandmas.  It will serve me well when I get home because all my stuff is DESTROYED!  Totally! My suits are so trashed, my coat has holes, my shoes have holes, and my backpack was destroyed with chocolate because I put some in and forgot about it.  I will keep my eye open for suites.  I’m not sure what to get but I would like to save some money for when I get back.  It just hit me that I have like next to nothing at home.  I will have to get a job subito as they say in Italian. I’m not too worried about all that though. Looks like Drew will have start being a big boy and providing for himself. Tough luck!
 

Well this week we have seen some miracles! We have this lady that we have been teaching for about 3 or 4 months and she has made some good progress. She has progressed so much and we fasted together with her this last week and she got answers to her prayers! It’s hard to explain the whole story but just know that the fast changed everything! It’s been great! 

Then for the people we are working with to get married. They have agreed to marry, but we don’t have a marriage date yet!  We are working on it and they will most likely be married next February or March. They have to plan everything. We will be having another marriage late January. We have found 2 new families totaling to 7 new people to teach! What a miracle. I think the Lord is giving us very Merry Christmas! It’s not all roses though we have been working very hard. I think we are late home every evening. It’s exhausting most of the time but it’s rewarding. Also another lady that I taught back in Lecco got baptized down in Lodi! Super cool!

 

Milan East Zone Christmas Conference

We are staying busy with the zone and doing tons of scambi (splits). Christmas will be pretty crazy here. 7 days of madness. Here everyone is partying like it’s the end of the world. Literally! It’s a madhouse here this time of year! But it’s beautiful.

I got some Italian cook books to brush up on my cooking. I will bring them home with me so I can teach you guys how a pizza is really done! And of course some bomb pasta. We just need some good cheese though. That’s the secret is having good cheese and fresh ingredients.

Well not much to report on here. We see miracles every day though! We have been so very blessed to see the sun for 3 weeks straight here. I’m so thankful for it every day of my life! The weather is being kind to us. Nice for me who has to go around on bikes? I think it will get nasty though in January. It usually does.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Buon Natale Buone feste! Auguri! Babo natale è vicino! In questo momento dovremmo ricordare più l'esempio di Gesù Cristo. Sono molto grato per le persone qui in italia che hanno un buon spirito di amore, e non si menziona il loro appettito per mangiare! Vi amo tantissimo i miei genitori e care sorelle. Cos' Avete fatto qest'oggi per aiutare qualcun altro. Grazie per tutto quello che fatte

Anziano Benson

Out With The Old, In With The New!!!

December 11, 2013

Things are rolling along again in Muggiò! We have been receiving some divine counsel from the European general authorities on how to move the missionary work forward in Italy, and we have been putting it into practice! As a result of this we found a family of 4! They are really really interested and we are now teaching them the lessons. Miracles!! President Dibb is inspired!

We also had our Christmas zone conference this last week! Ham and potatoes! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOD! I haven’t had ham in so long! It’s nonexistent here! I about died it was so good. However, I am loving the Italian Christmas as it is. They have quite the spread of foods as well. I even splurged and bought a ton of nuts. I took on the grandpa D tradition I have an obsession for nuts. they are really good. and healthy! I have been working on my own Christ like attributes and I love the Italian mentality at the New Year: out with the old and in with new! They throw stuff off their balconies! T.V.s fridges, couches, plates, everything! Man it’s a mad house here! I advise you to do the same Out with the old garbage and in with the clean! Get rid of bad habits and set new goals. 

Well I really am enjoying this time of the year. It’s merry and bright. The sun is shining in Italy and the gospel is going forward. I have a really strong undeniable testimony that this is the restored gospel and that we have the priesthood. Simple but strong. The scriptures are amazing as well, and they have the words of life.

Merry Christmas! Buon Natale! Augurui! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Love Elder Benson