History Repeats Itself

June 1, 2016


Histories are so important.  While sorting through some things in the villa, we found an old history of the mission.  President said it was the history from when he was serving here in Italy as a young missionary in 1968.  He opened the book and thumbed through some of the pages.  One picture immediately caught his attention.  It was a picture of him and his companion at a baptism.  The names of the two missionaries were transposed, but it was certainly their picture.

Golden Envelopes - May 2016

June 1, 2016




Opening Golden Envelopes is a magical time.  Every missionary anxiously awaits the moment when President Waddoups calls their name to come to the front of the room and open their envelope.  Any sign of tiredness is immediately replaced with anticipation mixed with a little bit of fear -- excited to finally find out where they will be serving and fearful because they don't know where it is or anything about their trainer.  I wish we could bottle the enthusiasm and energy and open it back up when the hard days arrive.  Sooner or later, every missionary has a hard day.  It's inevitable.  It's part of the stretching process, but for this moment, it's a glorious opportunity to finally be a missionary serving in the Italy Rome Mission.   

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D&C 112:21-22

21  And again, I say unto you, 

that whosoever ye shall send in my name, 

by the voice of your brethren, the Twelve, 

duly recommended and authorized by you, 

shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation

 whithersoever ye shall send them—

22  Inasmuch as they shall humble themselves before me, 

and abide in my word, 

and hearken to the voice of my Spirit.

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New Missionaries - Day 1

May 31, 2016

Day 1 is one of the hardest days in the mission.  Missionaries are tired from the long flight, they are stressed, and sometimes they just wonder what they have gotten themselves into.  We don't make it any easier for them because we keep their tired bodies moving all day long.  We give them some pass-along cards and send them off with the Assistants on a finding/sightseeing adventure.  That way they are ready for bed early and it helps them adjust to the time change. (We also give them lots of food and water.)

If you walk through a Jubilee Door your sins are supposed to be forgiven, so we decided to get rid of all our aggressions before walking through the door.

We try to keep them awake!

Oops!

He saw us taking pictures and wanted his taken, too.