Siena!

Cara Famglia,

Welcome to Siena! It is pretty much the greatest city of all time history! We got here Friday afternoon, since Friday morning I had to take a detour back over to good old Torino to get my new Permesso. So now I am here in what could possibly be the prettiest city in Italy. It's divided into 16 contradas, i.e. neighborhoods, that all battle twice a year in the Palio(an awesome horse race that takes place twice a year, July 2 and August 16). The Piazza del Campo is the biggest Piazza in the city and is incredibly gorgeous, dominated by the Torre del Mangia that overlooks the city and it's surroundings. We walk everywhere, because it's way too hilly for bikes and the bus system isn't the best. Next week I will send some pictures.

The branch here is awesome! This last Sunday we had about 15 people in church, including two of our investigators. There are only one or two of the members that are active that live in the city of Siena, the rest live in little towns and villages outside. The former branch president lives in Grosseto, which is about an hour and a half drive away.

My companion is awesome, he speaks really good Italian! He is from Palermo, which is apparently about as big as Torino; there are two wards there.

Right now the work is going pretty well. There are about six new converts here in the branch, which is a pretty sizeable amount. Right now our main investigators are as follows:
-Andrea, a 45ish year old Italian man who we haven't yet taught a lesson to, but he came to church on Sunday and is a pretty cool guy
-Miwako, Andrea's Japanese wife who has two kids. She told us over the phone that she wants to be baptized, which is usually a pretty good indicator to know if someone is going to be baptized
-La Famiglia Velez, a Colombian family with a 13 year old daughter named Kimberly. Apparently the parents aren't as much interested but Kimberly reads the Book of Mormon, prays ever day, and wants to be baptized.
-Tony, a Nigerian man who is a Jehovah's Witness, yet surprisingly accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon! We should be seeing him today or tomorrow.

Other than that we are working really hard trying to find new people. The city itself is pretty small and unlike in my other cities the people have usually had some contact with the missionaries before. Pray for us to find families to teach and baptize!

Today I read again some of my favorite verses in the entire Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 26. I was struck by verses 24 and 25 this time:

24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

Jesus Christ loves us so much that he gave up his mortal life so that we can come unto Him, and salvation is open for all to partake. I can testify that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, who offers salvation 'without money and without price' but simply with our faith and our willingness to follow Him. I know this is His church, and that it really is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. I love you all lots and lots!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith