"The MTC is Amazing"

Dear Family and Friends,

I want to start out by thanking everyone for all the cool things you have done and all the support I have received from everyone!! The MTC is amazing! I know its only been one week but it really is great here. The spirit is strong and the people are great. For those who don't know I am on the West campus not the original campus. The rooms are bigger the food is better and the work is just as strong:) I know that this work is true. The spirit is strong here whenever there is a devotional and whenever we are together. I did get called as our district leader but its kind of funny because we only have 4 people in our district, me and my Comp Anziano S and two sisters who are going to Rome as well. Our branch is only 15 people strong but we have grown so close together as a group that I wouldn't change it for anything!! The first day was quite crazy, they rushed us off and we got all of our books and tags and all of that then we had to rush to get on a bus that was taking us over to the West Campus so that we could put all of our stuff down in our living area. Our living area is huge compared to what I expected, We have two rooms with a bathroom, a living area with two couches and a kitchen area. From what I've heard it is a ton bigger than what the people on the main campus are sleeping in! We then went to our classes where we waited until everyone got there and then we started. The only people in our class is our district so those same four people. I think that helps a lot with the language because each of us can get a little more one on one time with our three teachers who all went to Rome on their missions. I have learned how to pray in Italian and I know the "scopo" or our missionary purpose it Italian as well. I am half way done with the first Vision but it is quite a bit harder than the other two. They only speak to to us in Italian so at times it is frustrating but its alright. I have learned how to say "Posso dirlo in englese" which means can I say it in English and they usually say yes so if I am struggling with carrying a conversation in Italian that helps a ton! After class we met the Branch Leaders and we had a little get to know you testimony meeting with us and they interviewed us all and thats when they called me to be district leader. I was honored to be responsible for the district even if it is just four of us. The sister are Sorrela K and Sorrela P and because we are in the Class more than any other place by far we have grown together as a district and we all get along very well. They are by far the best at the language too so I have to give them their props! We finally got to relax as little bit after all of that and unpack. We then met our roommate Anziano P who has actually already been here for 7 weeks but he got delayed because of sickness and physical reasons so he has been there for a while. He has a very strong testimony and has really helped us as a group. We have two Zone leaders for our group who also have very strong testimonies of the gospel as well but Anziano P is kind of our leader for now! We have two guys in our district that are over 6 foot 7 so when we play basketball they have to be on different teams. Sunday was really amazing!  It was so spiritual.I  was able to bless the sacrament for our small little branch but it was defiantly special for me. Also we all had to prepare a Talk and on Sunday during Sacrament meeting they chose who was going to speak. And yes you guessed it, I was asked to speak. Luckily it was a short talk but I kind of went over a little bit, o well:) We had leadership meetings in the morning and priesthood and then we went to devotional at night. It was really good and was all about how we need to work hard and Prayer especially and how the gospel truths cannot be testified of without prayer!! He explained about how necessary it was that we always pray. We also had an amazing devotional by a member of our branch Presidency about how we knew Joseph Smith before this life and in Doctrine and Covenants 138:56 when he is talking about the meetings that we could have been in them with all the prophets and how it wouldn't be a stretch to say those were taught by Christ to help us to prepare for this time in my life. It was really incredible and it made me think about my purpose in life. We also had a great devotional on Tuesday from a member of the seventy. Elder Martino, if I remember correctly he spoke at either Conference or something recently because the name sounded super familiar but it was all about testimony and was super good. In this last week we have taught six lessons all in Italian and they were okay. Some of them went good and some didn't go as good but we tried to testify of the gospel of Christ in each. My comp and I get along but we are very very different. Our investigator has the desire but just hasn't been taught by the spirit yet that it is true so we try to help him recognize it in each lesson. Well that has been the update for the week. hopefully I answered everything you all wanted to know because I am rushing to finish so! I want each of you to know that I have a testimony of this gospel and I KNOW that it is true. I am out serving because of that Testimony. I know Christ loves us all and cares about everyone. He has shown me a lot in this last week. I love you all and I pray for my family and friends all the time. Thanks again for everything you have done to support me!

Love 

Anziano Passantino