Because we had to get our permesso's (permission to stay in Italy cards) renewed, we combined the Bari Zone and Taranto Zone into one Zone Conference. This allowed us to make the trip back to Rome where we stood in line for hours to be fingerprinted. It was step two of a three step process. We only have one more step to go--until next year when we have to do it all over again. It's time consuming and inconvenient, but it's something we are required to do in order to stay in Italy. All missionaries are required to do the same thing.
Six of the missionaries in the Taranto Zone were unable to get bus tickets to Bari and were unable to attend this conference. They will now travel to the Napoli Zone in a couple of weeks to attend that conference. Ferragosto or Festival in August is a traditional Italian holiday where many businesses close for the month and go on holiday. The streets in the city are nearly void of traffic and the resorts and beaches are crowded. It makes driving very convenient, but doing business very inconvenient. Buses and trains are crowded and the missionaries were unable to get tickets to travel to Bari.
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| Bari Zone |
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| Taranto Zone |
The zone leaders chose the topic of faith for the conference this time. (Thus far all the conferences have centered around faith and obedience. We find that faith promoting because President is focusing his remarks on faith and I am talking about obedience. It's amazing how all the different areas are focusing on the same thing and it's exactly what we are teaching about.)
The Zone Leaders prepared a bookmark for everyone in their zone that contained many of the quotes they used in their adestramenti (teachings). Following are some of the quotes:
We challenge you to rise to a new sense of commitment to
assist our Father in Heaven in his glorious work. Every missionary has an important role in
helping “…to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men.” (Moses 1:39)
The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and
prayerfully
serve Him. More happiness
awaits you than you have ever experienced
as you labor among His children.
(First Presidency Message, Preach My Gospel)
As we continue to develop our “5 star features” of skill,
joy, heart, honor and unity we will rise to the next level. As we strive to ascend to a heightened sense
of conversion, miracles will follow. For
our charge is to do nothing less than that, TO WORK MIRACLES AMONG THE CHILDREN OF MEN. (Anziani Romano & Sorgiaomo)
“When you are doing the work of the Lord, the power behind
you is always
greater than the obstacles before you.”
(Elder Dallin H. Oaks)
The Sister Training Leaders taught about the importance of looking towards the future with faith and not looking back. They talked about the story in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis that tells about Lot and and how they were told to flee the country and not look back, but Lot's wife turned around for one last look and was turned to a pillar of salt. Missionaries should always look to the future and not look back and wonder what might have been if only something else had happened or wish that they could stay in a certain location instead of being transferred. Heavenly Father is in charge of our future and only asks us to do the things that are designed to bless us and teach us the things we need to learn.
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| Beginning Testimony |
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| Beginning Testimony |
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| Beginning Testimony |
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| Beginning Testimony |
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| Departing Testimony |
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| Departing Testimony |
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| Departing Testimony |
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| Departing Testimony |
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| Departing Testimony |
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| Happy Birthday, Anziano |
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