That's What Progress Is

We had a great week.  Our list of investigators is growing, along with our list of potential investigators.  That means more lessons, more meaningful studies, more joy in the work.  I'm excited.  Andiamo.

The ward's mission plan is centered on developing real friendships with the full-time missionaries.  When they know us and trust us, they'll find the courage to introduce us to their friends who need the Gospel.  We've been visiting a lot of families in their homes and getting to know the members.  That helps with the language, with branching out of our comfort zones, with showing us that we know how to teach, and helping us feel more loved and more encouraged where we serve.  When the members remember that missionaries are also members, things go a lot smoother, I think.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that Anziano Petterborg and I performed a musical number during sacrament meeting a few weeks ago.  He's a fantastic violinist, so I made up something on the piano that sounded close enough to "More Holiness Give Me" and he played a 200 year old violin we borrowed from a new convert.  One family that we don't know well suddenly jumped on us after that performance.  They have a few musicians in their home, and we got to go to their Family Home Evening.

On request, we brought the violin, along with a game tied to the Book of Mormon.  I love teaching about the heroes and stories in the Book of Mormon.  It pulls me back to the roots of my testimony and reminds me why I know this Church is true.  Playing the piano and singing with this wonderful family was so fulfilling.  I really felt like a missionary, accepted and appreciated by the ward, and that makes every other part of the work easier, even when we're out walking around in the cold with three other (uninterested) people on the streets.

I'm so happy to be in Italy.  I think I'm on one of my "highs" on the mission.  I feel great, and I'm hopeful that things will get even better as we work hard.  Elder Teixeira talked about the highs and lows of a mission, and emphasized that it's normal and okay to rise and fall a bit--as long as each high is higher than the last.  That's what progress is, and I came on a mission to make progress, to become what only God knows I can become.

I love you all.  Thank you for the prayers in my behalf.  Know that I am praying for you, and that you will find opportunities to find as much joy in sharing the gospel as I have.

Love,
Anziano Burton