Magnified

Anz Kessler and I being awesome. (It's not hard.)

I can't think of a lot to write about as far as this week goes.  We're working with three really great investigators, two of which are Italian, and this week we're going to take one of our favorite members to a lesson.  In fact, we have a lot of good things set up for this next week, which is great because in all likeliness it'll be my last full week in Verona.

That's weird to think about.  A talk fell through on Sunday, so Anziano Kessler and I were invited to bear our testimonies.  Mine felt a lot like a "goodbye" testimony, not only to me but to many the members I've befriended over the last 6 months.  We were invited to lots of lunches, ha!  It'll be a good week.

Starting Tomorrow

In my email to Ky today I sent a line from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's Conference talk 'You Can Do It Now!' as our missionary begins the second round of his best two years: "We acknowledge that your path will at times be difficult. But I give you this promise in the name of The Lord: rise up and follow in the footsteps of our Redeemer and Savior, and one day you will look back and be filled with eternal gratitude that you chose to trust the Atonement and its power to lift you up and give you strength."

I love that you quoted President Uchtdorf's "You Can Do It Now".  That was my favorite talk from last session.  Strange that was way back in October... and that I was still in Verona.  I've been here a long time.  But I would stay here for the rest of my mission for the members alone.  I've made so many good friends here and I love so many of the families.  Good thing I have another month to be among them.

2 for 20

Wow, I had a lot of emails and have very little time left!  A few cool things from this week is all I'll write:

Anziano Kessler's birthday happened on the 24th.  That was fun.  Now we're both 20 years old.  Weeeeeird.

I'm in Padova today!  It's so good to be back!  My Permesso di Soggiorno [residency permit] FINALLY ready to be picked up... y'know, the one I started in late March, 2013.  Ha!  It's amazing to walk these streets again after 7 months.  Bizarre to say "That's where that one story I told you happened!" to Anziano Kessler.  We'll head back to Verona after this.

Yikes, no time left!  Sorry for the short email!  Thanks for all your love and prayers.

Anziano Burton

I want what God wants

This week was infinitely better than last week.  We're still not seeing a lot of numbers in our work, but my attitude is getting much better and I'm starting to understand the whole "successful missionary" thing.  Starting to.  But I'll get to that.

What contributed to this week's awesomeness?  Well, tons of things, really, but I'll just type out three:

FNAA

Things are going well here in Verona.  The weather's been cold and rainy and the work slows down because of it, but we have a lot of potentials we're calling and have a new project to keep us going.  It's called FNAA: Find New Activators Always.  We're looking for something new every day to keep us going and finding and working hard.  It's not easy, but it's fun and different.

Anziano Kessler is teaching me a lot more than I'm teaching him.  I'm so happy to be with him and dread the day we'll part.  My journal is bursting with thoughts and insights he's given me without even trying.  I'm really proud of him.  He'll be an amazing missionary.  He has the right attitude.

Find a Way

Thank you for bearing your testimony at the end of your email, Mom.  Dad did the same thing this week.  I'm always touched by testimony, especially here on the mission.  Anziano Kessler and I have seen a dip in the work and our (okay, my) attitude has suffered.  We often talk about our purpose, and how to know if we're doing well as a missionary. 

He's helping me come to the conclusion that a missionary is happy when he does his job: invite and help others to come unto Christ.  How do we do that?  By making direct invitations and committing people to act on the word of God, to try out His way and obey His commandments to receive His promised blessings.  That's what changes lives, creating a personal relationship with Heavenly Father.

Patience

Christmas meals and presents (Anz. Kessler bought me The Little Mermaid!  He knows me so well!), new years' haircuts and silly pictures.  The mission is so much fun.

Thanks for reminding me of how many people love me and of my siblings' good choices.  I'm very, very happy to hear it.

It was so good to see my family on Christmas!  I always get that feeling afterward--not just with Skype, but also with these emails--that I forgot to say something important, or that I said something silly that didn't need to be said.  I think we all get that way.  The weird part is that there's nothing we can do about it.  I'm reminded sharply of that as 2014 rolls in.  There's no way to turn back the clock and try again, or try it a little different.  We've done what we've done.  Now it's just forward, and making today better than yesterday.  I don't know if that makes as much sense as it does in the little philosophical nook of my head.