A Shower of New Investigators and Referrals

November 20, 2013

What a WEEK!

The Milano "Bone Church"

Oh man we had quite an amazing week! Well first the good, the bad, and then the ugly!

The Good
 Well this week it rained and showered new investigators and referrals. We had a crazy week! 10 new investigators!!!! I have never ever found that many people in one week! And not to mention the referrals! 12 referrals, we exceeded our goal of 11! It was really fun this week. That is the good.

The Bad

Bad well many of the people we have found have stopped answering the phone so now we can’t teach them. But that’s ok we are still teaching some amazing people.

The Ugly

Nice Bike Wreck This Week

Well I will give you a photo of the ugly. The hand is from my bike wreck the other day. This is 2 days after the crash, but what happened was I found some mud on the paved bike path that I did not see so when I turned the corner I just slipped right out and fell face first and caught myself with my bare hands. Result, well I had to clean out all the embedded rocks in my hand. About 15 pieces of gravel got taken out by one of the loving members. Thank goodness she helped me out. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been and everything is ok, but the gravel was the worst part. Actually 2 days later we didn’t manage to get it all out but after time the rocks will come out.  A couple of days later, I crashed again on my bike. 2 times in 3 days. I’m not sure what’s going on lately but bikes are my worst enemy! I hate them! Nothing hurt but all bruised up and my knee is a little blue haha. So that’s the ugly for the day. Well I am all good and trying to avoid crashing on the bike again.



Sorella Astel, Anziano Benson, Anziano Salmon
All from the Same Home Ward in Idaho
Just missing Anziano Jensen

I did finally meet up with Anziano Salmon and Sorella Astel at Zone conference.  It was awesome to see them at the same time.  All we were missing was Anziano Jensen. It seemed like home for a small moment.    And Aunt Holly, I did finally meet up with Sorella Fuller from your ward. I talked to her at the zone conference. She seems really nice and said she knows the Jolley family really really well. So when she got her call you told her to find Elder Benson! So she found me.  Small world. 

"That's it, CHEESE"

Have a nice week!

Elder Benson

An Explosion of New Work

Well we had a pretty good week this week! After the conference with the area president, President Teixiera we have been seeing some good sucuess. He gave us some pointers and inspiration and some ideas. we have been hard at work and we have been doing our best to follow what he taught us. Unfortunatly this has been a rather hard transfer for me. And I think I was a better zone leader last transfter, but im not letting that stop me. We are picking up the slack and doing better with taking care of our zone members. Its not always easy being a leader, but its very rewarding. This week we have seen an explosion of new work to do. We found new people left and right and we have some bap dates. The path is looking good towards baptism for several! Im not sure if I will be here to see it, but I think I will be. Everyday is pretty much a battle here. Im always so tired! If someone asked me what the hardest part of a mission was I never thought I would have said being tired. But man just 8 hours never cuts it when it comes to sleep,but the joy that comes from the work is great! Well I love you.  Sorry for the shortness. I have to go! Love you!

Anziano Benson

Anziano Benson With Sorella Fuller.  Sorella Fuller knows Anziano Benson's Aunt Holley

Happy to Serve

November 6, 2013

Well, here is the good news. After having my line in the water for about 2 transfers I think we finally got a bite! We still have a ways to go and we don’t have a bap date, but we really have some winners and they will be baptized for sure! We will see how it goes. Other than that, everything is all good! I’m happy to serve and I just know that you just have to do your best. I’m doing that so I’m happy. Well that’s about all I have to say.

The weather here has been pretty nice and not too bad. Well more sporadic that’s what I would say. It’s not good weather but it’s not bad. It hasn’t got really cold here yet but it’s really cloudy all the time and rains about 3 days a week. Sometimes a little depressing to have 6 days of clouds and 1 day of sun but that’s about the norm here.

This week we have a big mission tour going on in Milano tomorrow. One of the 70 is coming to speak to us. I already saw him about 7 months ago when I was in Busto , so it was really cool and he is a really good speaker so it should be fun! Should be about 1/3 of the mission there so I’m looking forward to seeing some of my old comps and I will try to get a picture with Riley and Allison.

Well have a good week and take it easy

Elder Benso

Find the Elect and Share the Truth

October 30, 2013

Cara! Belissima! Dolce Famiglia!

Come state! Spero bene!

Jack-O-Lanterns in Italy

It’s been a good week in short. We have a really really big ward here in Muggiò so I’m looking forward to getting things moving! I have learned that in all this is richiede pazienza! Patience! It’s great to see the miracles. This week we had little work, but many miracles along the way. We found some really cool people, some crazy people who won’t leave us alone and send us wacked texts, not a fan, and we think we may be on to a baptism in the near future. We finally found some winners. It’s an amazing experience to be in the mission right now. There are just so many missionaries its crazy! They just added 2 sister missionaries in the ward so now things are really cookin. Anziano Fiorentino is great and we have been polishing up our cooking skills. Well let’s just say that I’m not a good cook like you mom or Ellis, but I have come a long long way from where I started! Its kind of funto learn some new skills. Well I really really love you guys. I am excited to do this awesome work of the lord. It is truly an honor to be a part of the true church. I love the opportunity to share such a great message con la gente in Italia. Things are going well and this is just one of the greatest things I have done in my life. Well with all those words, there must be a bit of realism. This work is hard! Rewarding, but it’s all about attitude, sometimes missionaries have a really bad attitude about everything and they are no fun to be around. But fake it until you make it! False enthusiasm and then everything goes for the better.
I really love the fact that we get just gigantic massive blockades in missionary work and we are in the dark trying to find a way around the seemingly insurmountable obstacle. And then the Lord in his mercy and for the good of other people takes the blindness from our minds and for a small moment penetrates the veil, showing us a way in the dark. This world is wicked, you have no idea how wicked it is. It’s different to visit the people than it is to live among them, enter their homes, see their life; listen to their story. The earth is ready for destruction, but our Savior is waiting for us, to build up his kingdom, find the elect and share the truth. The field is white already to harvest and he that thrusteth in his sickle with all his might, perish not, but bring salvation to his soul. Many too many prophecies have been fulfilled, the end is so near, but we are not done. We need to work a little harder and a little longer before he comes again. The gospel is going forth quickly and rapidly but it’s not enough. The members need to do their part. We are doing ours they need to do theirs. We need more help!

Always be an example of the believers.

Elder Benson

Che settimana!

 I know it is Halloween tomorrow, but I am getting supper excited for Christmas! I really really loved Christmas here last year, mostly because of all the good food! And even more the good deserts they do here! That’s the best part. They also have chestnuts everywhere here! Its super cool that they just cook them all over the place on the corners and you just buy some in a bag, mostly because well I have never seen chestnuts roasting over an open fire like they songs say. Also because they don’t have Thanksgiving here so they start celebrating in November Christmas! Supper awesome!