More than a Month

Anziano Burton hasn't heard the Sunday afternoon session of Conference yet, so I sent him this line from one of his favorite speakers:

What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the tree of life, so if your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine. I know this work is God’s very truth, and I know that only at our peril would we allow doubt or devils to sway us from its path. Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. (2013 April General Conference, “Lord, I Believe”, Sun. Afternoon Session - By  Jeffrey R. Holland)


Geez, I love Elder Holland.  Thank you for that quote, Mom.  Fan the flame of faith.

Y'know the thing about flame?  It's hot.  And it hurts.  But I'm crossing my fingers that what everyone says is true: it's a refiner's fire.  It burns away all the impurities and leaves a block of pure gold to be shaped into something valuable and beautiful.  But right now... it's just hot. And it hurts.

Give and Take

Goodness, so little time!  I'm going to apologize right now for all the people who write me personally that I'm not replying to yet.  An hour and a half is not enough, so I'll probably stick to making the blogs as all-inclusive as I can.  Thanks and love to all who write me!

Got a bunch of letters.  Will reply and send them sometime this week.

I've got a ton of stuff to write, so sorry if I miss any questions.  Send them again if I do!  I hate being rushed... andiamo.

"We've been having such successful days."

Okay, this has just been a bad week for writing, but a fantastic week in literally every other possible thinkable way.  Thank you for the compliments and questions, Mom.  I promise I'll answer them next week.  I only have about fifteen minutes to write right now.

"We've been having such successful days."  Anziano Burr just said that from behind me, and it sums up what I wanted to say pretty well.  Next week I'll go into more detail about FINDING, when we go out on the streets (we call it strada) or go to where people live (casa) and the difficulties/joys that come with that.  I'm ALL BETTER from that nasty two-week virus, and I've gone out to several places in Padova, especially Centro, several times now.  I don't know if I can really call myself experienced since I've had all of four or five days of real missionary work, but at least I'm not scared to pieces every time I get on my bike now.

All Better

Virus is gone after two weeks, all better.  Mi sento ottimo!  Amazing week, but no time to write now.  Spent the whole day in Venice (yeah, VENICE) and teaching English (so fun).  Will probably find time to write tomorrow.  Lots to share--plus I got everyone's mail, so thank you so much for that.  Vi voglio bene!  Forza Italia!!

Anz. B.

Something Bitter First

Buon giorno, tutti!  I don't have much to write this week because I've been sick the WHOLE TIME.  I'm not sure who told you we're all sick, but that's not true.  In fact, I tried to go to a New Missionary Conference in Milano on Friday, but AFTER getting all the way there my fever hit full swing and dear Sister Wolfgramm sent me back to Padova to see a doctor.  I was kind of expecting some other new missionaries to be sick, like we got it on the plane or something, but that wasn't the case.  I'm the only missionary out for the count in all of Italy.  It's a horrible feeling, but at least I'm getting better--thanks to a ton of medicine.