Training!

Cara Famiglia,

Well well well, I have a new companion down here in Siena and he is a stud. His name is Anziano Benson and he is from Idaho Falls, coming to Siena straight out of the MTC. He is a really good kid and basically spent his time before the mission working. He also played soccer in high school! We drove up to Milano last Wednesday and spent the night there and on Thursday morning we met up with all the new missionaries and the other trainers. It was really cool to see that Anziano Scheurn is also training.

In doing street contacting and working in general, Anziano Benson puts me to shame. He talks with everybody! It is really cool to see how much faith he has and it gives me an example to work harder and remember the fundamental purposes of missionary work. Since he has come we have probably talked with more people and gotten more phone numbers and appointments in such a short space of time than I have in my entire mission. The work is definitely growing.

We found a really cool guy named Adam who is from Mali. He is living in Siena studying to be a doctor and his wife and two kids are still in Africa. He speaks French, English, and pretty good Italian, and really loved the Restoration. He grew up in a Muslim family but read the Bible and believed it, so now he is a Christian. He is going to love the Book of Mormon.

We are still working with Kellan, our chinese friend. He came to church again on Sunday! And even though he barely understands what is said he can feel the spirit and said he likes coming. We taught him on Monday and figured out that we were making things way too complicated for him with the language barrier and everything, so we basically just talked about the really simple concept of praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. He agreed and promised that he would pray. He is super sincere and even after the lesson he basically said 'Hey Anziani, if I don't join your church, can we still be friends?' It was super cool and we just said 'Yeah of course!' It was a good lesson.

This week I really enjoyed reflecting on a talk from David A. Bednar in the November 2006 Conference called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them". I quote:

"When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not acondition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation."

The idea of 'acting' versus 'being acted upon' is a really cool concept that you can think a lot about. Every time we choose to not get angry, offended, upset, or bitter towards someone we are choosing to act instead of being acted upon. I am grateful that the example Jesus Christ gave was to act, and that by acting we not only better ourselves but are more capable to serve others and bring to pass our missionary purpose. I love this church and I love this restored gospel. I love you all lots too!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

Transfers!

Cara Famiglia,

Transfers strikes again! My companion is being taken away and shipped off to Trieste where the wind will carry him into Slovenia. Just kidding! But he is really excited. My new companion will be fresh from the United States of America. It should be fun!

The Palio was awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwesome!!!! You probably saw me somewhere in the crowd if you were watching. It was a really cool experience and made me feel like I was in Siena in the middle ages. When we come back to visit we have to be in Siena either July 2nd or August 16th to see it. Also today p-day is special! We are spending the night in Milano tonight and so on the way we stopped here in Genova for pday. Genova is beautiful, and the focaccia is the best in the world.

This week was pretty good! It was hot but we worked really hard. We are teaching Kellan, the chinese miracle kid! We printed out Preach My Gospel in Chinese and basically for the lessons we just read it with him and bear simple testimony haha. But he is really cool and has sincere desire to know Jesus Christ more. We also found another new investigator this week named David who is from Nigeria! We found him on a park bench and taught him and he is interested in learning more, so we will see where that goes.

Other than that there's not much going on. This week I read over one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, Alma 34, it's a hidden gem! I like verse 10 a lot:

 10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

It is an interesting thing to ponder the infiniteness of the atonement of Jesus Christ that passes all the way from the fall of Adam to the present day and on to the future! I am grateful that this power is infinite and therefore never runs out, because I need it every day! I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I love this work and I love you all!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

Palio Time

Cara Famiglia,

It's Palio time! That, together with the fact that Italy made it to the final for Euro 2012 in soccer, made it slightly tough to talk to people yesterday, especially because Italy got rocked. Oh well. The Palio should start officially in about four hours. Look for me on the campo.

The work this week went a lot better than last week. We were able to see a bunch of less-actives and members to introduce this missionary program we are starting in the branch. We told the members that the first purpose is simply to strengthen the faith and testimony of the branch, and then that missionary work will be a natural result. We are hoping and praying that it works!

We taught the miracle chinese kid on Saturday (Kellen) and he is awesome. He really liked the Restoration film in chinese, is going to read the Book of Mormon, and even said he wants to bring a friend to meet with us. So we are hoping that goes well. He is really busy during the week though and so we will probably have to wait to Saturday to see him again. We also found a new investigator named Jennifer who is from Nigeria. She met the missionaries about seven years ago and then they found her on scambio two weeks ago. She actually seems pretty brava and interested so we will also see where that goes.

This week I was really impressed with a line from Robert D. Hales' talk from the most recent conference. In talking about the Sacrament he said: "As we sing the sacrament hymn, participate in the sacrament prayers, and partake of the emblems of His flesh and blood, we prayerfully seek forgiveness for our sins and shortcomings. We think about the promises we made and kept during the previous week and make specific personal commitments to follow the Savior during the coming week." I really liked the idea of 'participating' in the sacrament prayers and also the idea of not only looking backward at the previous week we think about commitments and ways we can make the coming week more exemplary of the savior's life. I am really grateful that every Sunday we can partake of the Sacrament since we need to be reminded often of the eternal significance of the Savior's sacrifice. I know this is the Lord's work. I love you all lots!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

P.S. I got the two letters mom sent in the mail. Grazie!

Palio Time

Cara Famiglia,


Well the biggest non-spiritual news this week is the Palio! [A big horse race in Siena, see the Wikipedia article for details] In only 5 days Siena will go crazy. It is going to be awesome. Next week I will email on Monday since we're switching our P-day to see the Palio. Look for me in the middle of the campo. I believe the race actually starts at 19:30 our time. In other news, it was really hot the past week, but we worked really hard.


Andrea unfortunately did not come to church, but we taught him last Friday morning. We talked a lot about his doubts and his testimony, and he opened up a lot. Apparently he found some not so pro-mormon stuff on the internet, and fortunately wasn't totally shocked but was curious to find the truth. We will hopefully be seeing him and be able to just help him understand that the only real way to know for himself that this church is true is just like it says in Moroni 10:3-5, by reading and praying sincerely. We talked about Moroni's promise a good bit and what it means to have real intent. Keep praying for him to recognize and receive his answer!


Our bangladeshi friends are really busy with exams, so we didn't get a chance to see them this week. But we called and they are still reading the Book of Mormon which is cool. I think they are mostly excited because we actually have it in Bengali, which is probably a rare find here in Italy. 


We are still working a lot on finding every day, everywhere, and putting a lot of focus on getting at least 20 inviti per day again. It is helping out a lot. We can see good progress and more people are getting to hear about the restored gospel. I love this city!


This week I have two spiritual thoughts. The first is because on June 27th(today!) in 1844, the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred in Carthage Jail. I second what John Taylor wrote when he said "the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century." I testify that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God who saw what he said he saw, and was the instrument in God's hands for restoring the true church of Jesus Christ.


The other thing I wanted to share was the awesomeness of Amulek. In Alma 15:16 it talks about what Amulek gave up for the cause of the gospel:


16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;


The footnote mentions 'prophets, rejection of' and it made me think about how prophets, and a lot of people in the church, are rejected not only publicly, but privately by their own families for having accepted the gospel. It helps me appreciate how much of a blessing it is to have a family that loves me and helps me live the gospel. I know that this church is true, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love you all lots!


-Anziano Benjamin Smith

Working in Italy

Cara Famiglia,

Ciao from Pistoia! I was here on a scambio yesterday and we are doing internet in the university library here. Pistoia is great, we had a good day yesterday and taught two lessons. We are going to riscambio in good old Firenze and hopefully get back to Siena in time to clean the apartment. The week has been going really well. Mom asked me to include more random details about life here in Italy so I will throw in a surprising fact that will shock everyone that knows me. My new favorite snack includes tomatoes! If you put cherry tomatoes with mozzarella di bufala, it is incredible. Mozzarella cheese here is amazing. Italy rocks. Also, the weather is getting really hot, it is great. I am getting an awesome farmer's tan.

This week has gone well with finding work! We even had a training at zone conference on Monday about how to really improve finding work and just talking to more people and helping them feel the spirit. Even just yesterday in Pistoia we saw a difference in finding those that 'hearken to the voice' and those that don't. Also I got a sweet letter from my main man Elder Goodsell who is now in the MTC. I will write him a nice return letter. It sounds like he is tearing it up in the MTC and will be an awesome missionary in Germany. I am really grateful for friends on missions that inspire me to be better!

We found three new investigators this week! They are from Bangladesh, and speak good English. They are students at the university, but finals are over so now they have a ton of free time and they were really interested in the Book of Mormon in Bengali. We also had the most success in finding work this week since I have been in Siena, we were able to teach a lot more lessons that the previous week. My pure joy level goes up when we are really able to find and teach people about the restored Gospel of Christ.

We are also working on improving our abilities to invite members to do member missionary work. It is so crucial! Share the gospel with your friends!

This morning I was reading Alma 7 which is a phenomenal chapter in the Book of Mormon not only about the Atonement, but the Doctrine of Christ. I really like verses 14 and 15, and I wanted to quote verse 7:

7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.

I like to pay attention when superlatives are used in scripture. I can testify along with Alma that the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the living of His gospel is the one thing that is 'of more importance than they all', because it is the only thing through which we can find eternal happiness with our families forever. I am so grateful to be able to invite people every day to learn of Jesus Christ, His church, His gospel, and the Book of Mormon which testifies of Him. I know this message is true. I love you all lots and lots!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

Siena Week 7

Cara Famiglia,

Well this week has been pretty good. We had a great P-day today playing probably a total of four hours of soccer. It was sweet. I also got pretty sunburned which was nice. Maybe I will get a better tan. The Anziani from Firenze 2 came down and we had a good time.

The work this week was pretty tough(dropped by one of our major investigators and temporarily dropped by the other), but we are working a lot on the quality of our invites on the street and knocking doors, and are seeing results. Keep praying that the people of Siena will open their hearts to the gospel and that we as missionaries and the branch can be ready to receive them! We are feeling the power of your prayers though. The gospel is going forward here.

Sorella Eole Feri from the branch who is here in the Family History Center says hello! She is awesome, and is the one who helps all the missionaries see the light and root for the right contrada (l'Oca!).

This week I was really impressed with the conversion story of Alma the younger. I especially liked how even though he saw an angel whose voice shook the earth, he still had to go through two days and nights of real repentance before he was truly converted.

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal andfallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

 27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.

 28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.

 29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness andbonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

I wish I could quote the whole chapter basically, but I like these verses a lot. I am grateful for the constant struggle and blessing that we have to 'put off the natural man' and 'become a saint through the atonement of Christ.' I know that is the only real way to do it, and the way that will bring us the most happiness. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this gospel with my brothers and sisters every day, and for all the help Heavenly Father gives us. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and that Jesus Christ guides this, His church, today! I love you all lots!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

P.S. My back-up spiritual thought is Austin's talk. It was awesome! Woohoo!

Siena Rocks

Cara Famiglia,

Siena is awesome! We have been having a pretty good week. The weather continues to be excellent and Siena is still beautiful. Transfers happened this week and my father finished his mission! Bummer too because his companionship is now in my district. But that means Anziano Warren is in the district, and he's training yeah! Today is a great day for P-day, we are going to play soccer/frisbee/gatorball with the BYU students. They are awesome and are a really great help to the branch.

Andrea and Miwako both came to church again on Sunday! It was awesome. It was fast and testimony meeting and Andrea got up and bore his testimony! At first I was a little nervous like 'Oh no, what is he going to say!' But he basically just talked about how the teachings of the church are really blessing his life. He also said (not verbatim) 'I was supposed to be baptized today (he had a baptismal date for the 3rd of June) but we had to move it, so I will be baptized in the future.' It was sooooo cool! He is doing really well and continuing to read the Book of Mormon. Also his son Leo who is 11 is almost finished reading the Book of Mormon kids stories book. This family is so golden! We also had another cool miracle in that Bianka, a new convert, brought another friend to church! She was visiting from Calabria just for the weekend but apparently is reading the Book of Mormon and is super cool. The branch here is great and there is a lot of potential for growth. We are working really hard to find people and are feeling your prayers helping. This morning we also taught a lesson to a Peruvian lady named Gloria who's nephew is 18 in Peru and apparently preparing to go on a mission. She seems super cool and accepted a soft baptismal invite so we should be able to see some good things happening. 

I really liked the scripture Dad sent me in Alma 6:6 that talks about members fasting and praying in behalf of those that are not part of the church. It reminded me of a really awesome quote by Bruce R. McConkie in Preach My Gospel that talks about a usually less-common part of prayer: action. He said in a talk “Our deeds, in large measure, are children of our prayers. Having prayed, we act; our proper petitions have the effect of charting a righteous course of conduct for us”. I was reading conference talks the other day and an article that really exemplified this principle was by President Monson from the April 2002 General Conference called 'They Pray and They Go.' I have really been trying harder recently to not just pray for miracles to happen but have my actions, planning, and studies reflect that desire. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect, and that this is His church. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I love you all!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith