Working Working

July 3, 2013
Well just working working working. Not much new here. The weather has been pretty good although I have wanted to jump in Lago di Lecco a few times since it’s been so hot.

This week has been normal. Not sure what to say. But one thing that I can say is that I’m not sure why I was lucky enough to be born in such a blessed land and family. You step outside the Idaho/Utah bubble and it’s a sad sad world my friends. There are many good people yes, but I just feel so bad for them. While we sit in the comfort of our own homes there are wars raging and people begging for food. I think it’s been a real eye opener. I’m not sure what I could do to help all this, actually I don’t think there is much I can do at all. But I feel so bad for so many people. Thousands have immigrated to Italy to find just the tiniest bit of life that would be better than what they left, but when they get here they find themselves in a world where they don’t speak the language, don’t have an education, and can’t find work. You really can’t imagine or know what it’s like until you teach them in their homes, the street, in the parks and wherever else they may be. Even then I still won’t know what it’s like. But I try to understand. When I come home I find a nice house and a bed. Anyway, what do you do? Only God knows how to make it all fair in the end.

Well have a good day eh. Eat some corn on the cob and watermelon on the 4^th for me.
Love you all!

Anziano Benson

Times Are Changing

June 26, 2013

The times are changing in the world. Things are not the same as they used to be. President Wolfgram said that as the good gets better so does the bad. It has too. The good and the evil must divide. Right now there are many people who are just kind of on the fence. They are good people and live decent lives, but don’t really care to do more. Soon it will not be like that anymore. The truth is that you can’t be on the fence of good and evil. It’s one or the other. We really need the members to help us out.  Do you know how much easier it is to do missionary work when a member invites the investigator to our lessons. It is so much better. People are afraid, they are skeptical of everyone; they don’t trust people off the street. So when they have friends who are members, it makes it so much easier to get over the prejudgments.

Sometimes I’ve felt like I haven’t done that much good here, and it might be true. But I’ve found just 1 eternal convert and priesthood holder who will stay active and that is myself. I feel like I didn’t get sent here for the others and to baptize an entire ward of families, but instead to teach myself. I didn’t think that’s why I was here, but that’s what I’ve seen and I’m very thankful. I just understand so much more than I used to, but there is still much to learn.  I feel like, as a person, who I want to be has changed.  I’m still Drew Benson, I still like skiing, golf, soccer and piano. I’m just more serious haha. My time here is going so fast and since the year mark I feel like my time is slipping away and I can’t stop it to wait a second and catch up. I just have to do my best. Anziano Davis has taught me a lot. The good thing is that my mission is not over and I really want to find a family like mine and baptize them. That’s my only goal. That’s all I want. I think it’s totally possible, so we will have to go find them, and if I don’t that’s ok, I did my best. President Hinckley encouraged all missionaries to stay in contact with the people that they baptize. I encourage you to do the same. If you don’t know what happened to them. Go digging! Find out! I think there is a reason for everything and that it’s never too late for anything with the atonement.

Well imagine that, of course Ellis gets the door fixed and the windows on my car. Ha ok that’s cool! Not. No just kidding, that’s ok it builds character and I wouldn’t trade the hot days in the car. It taught me to appreciate the little things. That’s the good thing. The scout things sounds awesome I wish I could go. I always loved scouting. It was one of my favorite things and I was pretty blessed to be with such good leaders, Markel Bateman, Mark Hill, Ryan Riley, Travis Dallimore, and my Dad. Pretty awesome.

Anyway, we get a new mission president in 3 days. It’s going to be weird, but I’m excited. President and Sister Wolfgram were amazing and I learned so much from them.  We will miss them. We have lots of conferences now since we have to get to know the new president and I’m looking forward to that.

Love you Mom and Dad and Sisters, You are the best!

Elder Benson