What A WEEEEEEK!!!

February 22, 2014

Back to Milano!

WHAT A WEEEEEEKKK!

Anziani Steving, Benson, Bendezu

I got transferred on Sunday evening to the office here in Opera/Milano to be the Secretary. The last 2 transfers I will be here in the office. I don't think that was what I expected; actually I didn't see it coming at all. I had planned out my week in Muggio already and was planning to leave on Thursday. Nope! I didn’t even get to go to church in Muggio with the ward. I just got transferred so fast I didn't even get my bags all packed! I just threw it all in the car pretty much and somehow, not surprised, I lost some slacks and they were my favorite kind! I'm still mad about it! Oh well. My new P-day is now Saturday.

Anyway, the transfers for all the missionaries was really crazy. Usually you get trained when you get to the office and well I didn’t get that. They just said here you go! And gave me the computer and started to fill up my to do list with random tasks that I had no idea how to do. The missionary who was in the office before me was a physics major and a math mathematician genius so he created all these super crazy formulas, calculations, of like who knows what on the excel spreadsheets that I have no idea still how to work. In fact before I knew that I was coming here I was thinking man it would be nice to know how to use a computer when I get home. Wish granted! But I didn't think about this! This is much more rigorous and intense than I thought! But that’s alright when I get home I will know all there is to know about word and excel if you need anything haha. Projects anyone?

Lake Como

I’m really tired. Let’s just say it was not an easy change. It was actually a frustrating week and I still have a headache from all the hours of staring at a monitor. From 8:00-10:00 PM one day I was answering calls and fixing stuff on the computer. Arranging things and changing the stuff for transfers. I basically crashed mentally after a few days and finally we got all the new missionaries here and to their cities. The amount of things I have had to learn in like a matter of 24 hours was way more than I could handle and there were some mistakes and some frustration with transfers and departures for going home missionaries. We had dinners, lunches, runs to airport 4 times new missionary pair ups and I had to reorganize the mission roster of who is in what city. Like I know who is where? I just got here Sunday night! Anyways I am just the do whatever they tell me guy but hey I got my own car and computer. That’s cool. And we get to hang with President Dibb and the assistants all day. Baptisms will be tough because we are white washing the city.  It’s a new area for us. Should be a lot of fun and baptism should be pretty possible. We just have less time though because we are here in the office until 5:00 every day. So little time!! But it will be all good.

Well we have a car and I am the designated driver. Pretty cool. Italy is terrifying though. I fear for my life every time that I get in that screaming metal death trap. People do not drive like they do in Idaho! Not to mention that the roads make no sense AT ALL!!  I have taken so many wrong turns even with the GPS! And when I do actually follow tom tom there is always road construction and we don't even end up on the same road because there are no detours because it’s not possible here! Everything is too old and they can’t make a temporary road because there is no space haha. I don't even know how you are supposed to drive a Ferrari here because there are no straight roads! There are a few speed limit signs but you don't need them because none of the roads are straight for more than 100 yards. You can’t possibly exceed 30 MPH!

My New Comps in Como

I  have 2 comps here. We are in 3. Anziano Steving is from Idaho Falls and Anziano Bendezu was trained by my son, Anziano Heaton! He is a really cool dude. He is from Rome. He is Peruvian and his family moved here when he was like 5 or 6 so he has grown up here and is practically a native. My whole mission I have wanted an Italian... close enough. We live across the hall from the mission office here in Opera. It’s like 15 min south of Milan in some small suburbs. It’s a really small quiet place with no stores haha. All is well.

Well that was my week and I’m really tired so I’m going to take a nap. Tell everyone hello for me!

Anziano Benson

Poland!!! What???

February 12, 2013

Well, I didn’t see that one coming. I’m excited that my little sister Ellis will be serving in the Poland Warsaw Mission. I was really convinced that she was going to Rome, but unfortunately it’s not to be. But that’s ok, its Europe. Hopefully there are more members there than in Italy but I doubt it. Ellis is just fantastic! I love her to death. I sent her a good email. She will do great! In the end it’s ok if you don’t speak the language haha no one cares anyways because it’s the spirit that changes lives and they will just love her. I will have a nice talk with her when I get home though and prep her. Its mission training time!!!!!!! Get in shape (spiritually, mentally, physically!) Yeah! I can help her out with a bunch of stuff. I think Poland is really cold, so you better get her all geared up for the cold weather because I thought I came prepared for the cold and well that jacket that was supposedly water proof is a water spoof and its totally garbage. It soaks up water not repels it so make sure to send her with a rain jacket so she at least stays dry. It looks like we will have about 4 weeks all together before she leaves and I am thankful for that. Well I’m really happy for her and I hope that all will go well for her. Tell her not to stress too much. She will be an amazing missionary.

Well things are going just great here. My comp is awesome. We get along really great. I think I get along with him better than he gets along with me though haha. But that’s ok with me. I tend to take over a bit and I need to let him be in charge more but I will be handing over the reins here in about a week. Anyway, things are going great. No complaints here.

 Hmmm well I don’t have much to say and we are in a little short on time. But the baptism is confirmed this week for Friday and its all planned and ready to go. I’m really excited! Other than that we lost all of our investigators and well all we have left is 1 family of 3. The rest we have given to the other companionships of sisters and elders here. Transfers are next week. I’m really excited. I might be training, but you never know. But I hope that I get sent really far from Lombardia.  I have spent most of my mission here. Well I love you all and thank you so much mom and Dad!

Love Elder Benson

Baptism!! An Awesome Experience!!

Feruary 5, 2014

Hey well the baptism went really great this week! I was really touched from beginning to end and the spirit was so strong.  I had the privilege of baptizing D_______ and it was really an awesome experience.  I thought it was a really amazing service.

 
We are doing great and we are teaching less, but that’s partly due to baptisms. But that’s ok that’s the best way to lose lesson count is through baptism. We will be having another baptism on Feb 14! Wooooo! I’m really excited. This one is the work and result of 5 ½ months of work in Muggio. This sweet lady has been our investigator since the very first week I got to Muggio. We just love her so much.

 I’m doing just great and we had some good trainings things week with President and the assistants. Next week we are in charge of zone training. We have another meeting with President Thursday.

 

The rain still hasn’t stopped here. All my stuff smells really bad because it’s all just sopping wet. Yuck! I think it’s growing mold, honestly, but I’m not buying anything new when I’m about to come home. Maybe just a garbage sack will do the trick. We are constantly on bikes and can’t use an umbrella; just appointment to appointment on bike; appointment and then a 30 min bike ride. Then an appointment then 15 min on bike. Then lunch, and we don’t have properly functioning heaters, (that’s normal in Italy everything here is too old) so nothing dries. At first I was rather bothered by the constant rain, but lately it hasn’t been bothering me except I am even offended by my own smell. I think I’ve just gotten used to it as a fact of life. That’s Milano in the winter.

Elder Benson

All the Hard Work Has Been Repaid In Muggio

January 29, 2014

Baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this weekend the baptism is confirmed! I’m so excited! We will be having it February 1st in the afternoon.  He is a really great guy and he makes me laugh all the time.   We are so happy and I feel like all the hard work in my mission has been repaid here in Muggio.  Following him is our Italian sister from Sicilia.  She loves the church and she is best friends with a member. Her baptism should take place on the 16th of Feb. probably my last week in Muggio. But then you never know. But she is just such a sweet lady and she treats us like we were her sons. Great lady. I’m very happy with our work and I think I have done my best here. I don’t think I have been perfect but thank goodness the Lord doesn’t ask for perfection and he just gives us a hand when we need it. Things are going great and we are enjoying the work.

My companion Anziano Tanner is really great! We get along well and I like his style. He is an Arizonian, fast paced hard working companion. I think that covers it. He is great and we are doing just fantastic.

I did have a dream that Ellis got called to Rome. I think I’m right. Where does she want to go? Well next week we will know where she is going! I’m excited for my little Sis! When did she put the availability date? Can't wait to hear. 

Love Elder Benson