Pictures

Some pics from last P-day. The first one is the Zone here in Napoli from our Zone soccer game and the second is of an investigator that works at a bar. He thinks he is really funny because he always will offer us alcohol but then he will explain to everyone else in the Bar (remember that a Bar in Italy is like a little Cafe in America) who we are and what we do. We passed by to see him last Pday and he wanted to take a pic with us because it was the first time he saw us in normal clothes haha

2/9/15

Hey Family,

How is it going?? We have been doing really good down here. Just like you guys have been talking about in your  emails the Lord really blessed us with what we needed this week which, for us, was new investigators. The Zone leaders came down on Wednesday after lunch and we did a Scambio for the day! I went with Anziano G******* and Anziano S**** went with Anziano B********* (Fun fact is that my first scambio and Anziano Scott's first scambio  was with the same person haha) The Lord really blessed us during the scambio as we were able to find some of the Lord's elect. I really was shown this week the fact that the Lord blesses those that endure. When I first got here to Caserta the work was going well and we had a few baptisms then the last little while it has been a little bit harder but the thing is that the work level was going up and up. This week we saw the blessings of that hard work and effort as we were able to find 4 new investigators 2 of which came to church on sunday!! 

We are still striving to reach our goals and work hard towards our vision. It was really cool because we had the idea that we should give our district vision to our ward mission leader. Yesterday during our Coordenation meeting he followed up on it and we were able to given an accounting of that which we had done through the week toward our vision. It really helps to have that person who will help us to become the missionaries we want to become. It has also taught me the importance of following up with our investigators,members, less-actives and all those in whom we contact every day. This helps them towards their true potential. 

We have had many miracles this week and the Lord is really guiding the work here. Anziano Scott is making leaps of progress. He is really getting out of his comfort zone while finding and then he is doing well at helping in lessons as well. I know that I need to get him more involved in teaching but we are working on planning lessons more thouroughly so that we can be prepared for them. It has been a great week and we are doing really well!! Thanks for everything!! Love you all!

Anziano Passantino

2/2/15

I have 0 time to write and email this week but I want everyone to know that Miracles are happening and that the Lords work is going forward. I love you all and I love my Savior Jesus Christ you makes this life worth living!! Thanks for your strength and Love!!

Anziano Passantino

1/29/15

Hey Everyone,

Well it has been a good week here in Caserta. It's cool to think that I'll be here for 7.5 months by the end of this transfer and who knows maybe even 9 months!! Well I am glad to report a good week to finish off the transfer. Anziano Scott and Anziano Del Dotto arrived safely on Thursday and they got straight to work here in Caserta. We were able to do some good work this week and we know that the work is going forward. Anziano Scott will be my "son" in the mission and Anziano Del Dotto is from Luca in Tuscany. He is like 6'6 and he is with Anziano Pingree 6'8 and so everyone just stares at them when they walk on the street haha. 

We are excited to have Anziano S**** and Anziano Del D**** here with us now. I think that we can all benefit from their talents and ideas on how we can improve. Anziano S**** seems to have fit right in and seems like a great missionary who will have lots of great input in the work here. 

I have prayed and feel like this transfer(and all those to come) that I need to focus on a certain goal or objective. I am going to try and make sure that this transfer our District has a VISION. I think that will be the word of the transfer:) I really have noticed the importance of having a vision of where we are going and how we are going to get there. I have had this testimony in the past but for some reason it has really sunk in this transfer. We will use Preach My Gospel and the Standards of Excellence to formulate not only district Visions but also visions for each and every companionship and each missionary. I know all you buisnessmen who read this know the importance of this in work but what about our everyday lives. It is soooo important so that we can reach our full potential. The scripture that triggered this is found in Proverbs 29:18 which says " “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. In my opinion the one thing that needs to be eliminated in missionary work is wasted time and just going around doing missionary "things" instead of missionary "work". Something to think about even in our everyday lives in my opinion. 

I hope everyone has a better week this week and that everyone is doing well! I love and pray for you all!!

Anziano Passantino

1/19/15

Family and Friends,

Well I was a little bit shocked when I got on my email today and found out about the news for this week. I am not sure exactly what to say as I just sat here for the past 20 min thinking about all of the amazing memories. I had a little bit of a miracle, friday night in fact, while I was saying my nightly prayers. I have developed the habbit of writing down promptings and spiritual ideas or revelation as I say my nightly prayers. This friday as I was praying, my thoughts were on those of my family and those who either have or have not had the chance to recieve the joy and knowledge that comes with the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ in these last days. I prayed for those, not in my emediate family, namely Aunts, Uncles, cousins and Grandparents and that they might be touched by the Love of God this next week. I don't know exactly what will come of this situation and I don't think we are ment to understand everything that happens in God's PERFECT plan. I do know, however, that the Lord loves you and that you will be blessed beyond belief for your love and Charity to your Sister both her on the earth and after. I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His only begotten son who came to earth to suffer not only for the sins of the world but also for the sorrow that we sometimes feel sorrow but we know that "men are that they may have joy". I know that The Enabling Power of the Atonement is real and that it can and will give us the strength to do whatever the Lord sees fit that we do. One of my favorite quotes from Elder Henry B Eyring is "If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing."

My advice would be that of Elder Worthin when he said "“Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.”  I love you all and hope that everything goes well this week.

Love

Anziano Passantino

1/5/15

Sorry I lost track of time as I was writing and forgot to do a big email. I love you all soooooooooooooooo much. I hope you all had a happpy New Year and that this year will be filled with happiness and joy!! Thank you all sooooo much for your support. The work is going better and we are doing well here. I am grateful for you prayers and support. You guys can take little parts of the person emails to put on a big one if you want but just make it a review of what I said!! Love you all!!

12/29

Dear Family,

I hope everyone had a great rest of the Christmas week!! We had a great time at Christmas and we feel grateful to have members willing to invite us over for this amazing day!!

 I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and the opportunity that we have each and every day to testify of Him brings me more joy than I can possibly describe. I have tried this week to reinforce in myself the knowledge of the importance of bearing testimony of Jesus Christ. It is sooo important to testify of Him because as we do so the spirit can testify to others of the truth of what we are bringing with us. Something I have always struggled with is saying the right/most important thing without adequate preparation but I have learned in my mission and can testify of how the spirit will literally give you the words you need to use at the correct moment, especially as we testify of our Savior Jesus Christ and let others know exactly who we are as His representatives. It has been something on my mind that has really stuck out to me recently. 

The work has been going okay, it could be better, but we cannot complain. Last night was one of the more productive nights that I have had here in Caserta as we were able to go and see different members and less-actives with our Bishop and share quick 20 min messages with them about the Savior and His earthly ministry and what He actually did here to save us. While pondering and praying about the message of Christ and the mission of His earthly ministry I have come to realize exactly the importance of Him descended below all things. The condescension of Jesus Christ is something that I hadn't really grasped until recently. And if He, being perfect, had to descend below all things, who I am I to complain during trials or abandon ship when things begin to get difficult? We talk often about His perfect example but how much do we really understand about it and how much do we really put ALL His teachings into practice? I think more than anything it has served as a reminder of the importance of being humble and willing to submit our will to the Fathers "even as a child doth submit to his father" as said in Mosiah. I Love my Savior and am grateful and humble to be his representative for those that we come in contact with here in Italy. I know that we must always continue to grow and learn on this our journey through life and that if we will endure to the end, we will receive eternal life. Of this I am sure.

 I love you all and hope and pray that everything is going well. I love you all and Hope you have a great New Year!!

Love

Anziano Passantino

ps haha in this pic, I tried to time a jump so that I would be bigger than Anziano Pingree and totally failed as you can see, haha o well these are the families that we were with for Christmas! Love you