Hey guys! I am so glad you are all doing
so good and I can't believe the school year is practically over! Hang
in there because I know things get pretty crazy!
This
has been a great week! We are looking forward to transfers because it's
going to be pretty exciting for what will go down! The whole island is
up for switches since there are people who have been in their areas for
forever!
Investigators are doing good! This weekend was a
little crazy because there was a three day festa for the Sardinian
culture, and the weather has been ridiculous. It's been raining almost
non-stop since Sunday and unfortunately a huge part of this annual
cultural event was cancelled. Nearly no investigators came to church
either for that reason so things have been a little slow.
Wednesday we did another lesson with Margherita and
she is progressing well, but we still haven't done another lesson with
her mom yet. For that reason it is hard for Margherita to come to church
because her mom is so busy with work and Margherita needs to keep an
eye on her brother. Members are really available to give her rides so
she will make friends in the branch easy. She promised that this week
she'd come!
Javier has been busy with work but he's doing good,
and so is Salim. Since he is studying at the university he has a dorm
and we went to it. It was a little weird doing a lesson in a foreign
college dorm but overall it made me miss and get excited to go back up
to school. I don't know how he knew this but he asked me if I could say a
little prayer for his momentary home for protection and a place where
he could feel safe. It was a cool experience doing a dedicatory prayer
for his home! He is so great and he is understanding everything we teach
him, and he is even sharing these things with his friends who now want
to hear the gospel! True conversion brings missionary work!
Adhemar is doing great! We did a lesson with him and
then as we were leaving we met some of the Jehovah Witnesses that were
walking up the stairs to teach his wife. We had a nice little encounter
with them. They have this little trick they like to use (and
everyone of them uses it) when they encounter missionaries from The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They all know we are here
for two years but they always ask how long we serve missions. I've made
the mistake one time in the past by saying two years, and then the JW
quickly made note how he's been doing his work his whole life. Well when I
was asked the question this time I responded the same, two years, but
we are missionaries our whole lives. We've been called of God to leave
our lives for a moment, like when the Apostles of old were called by
Christ himself. The man didn't say anything after that.
Well, talking to Adhemar a few days later I guess
this particular man was the leader of the JW congregation here in
Sassari. He tried to show Adhemar a bunch of anti-Mormon stuff on his
laptop, but Adhemar told us he didn't listen and bore testimony instead.
How cool is that! He was very proud as he used his Book of Mormon to
confront him in their hour long conversation. I love Adhemar! We are
still pushing baptism but things haven't worked out yet. Piano piano.
Saturday there was this huge market around town that
zig zagged through the streets. I refrained from buying stuff but my
companion bought a bow and arrow (not a real dangerous one)! It was
funny because the moment he strung it when we got home it broke right
away! You should have seen the very unhappy look on his face!
Sunday night we went down to Olbia because our
district has been preparing to do a musical version of the first lesson.
One person explains a part, and then we sing a hymn that goes along
with that particular topic. We are doing somewhat of a reenactment, and I
am Joseph Smith in the grove... I drew the short stick and all the
missionaries say "Leonardo DiCaprio should do it!" I thought that this
DiCaprio similitude was dying down until I did a split with Anziano
Schwing in Olbia, we met a less active, and she was freaking out because
she thought I looked exactly like him. It was good though because she
didn't smile once throughout that whole visit until that point!
Speaking of splits we were in Olbia from Sunday
night until Tuesday morning. Anziano Schwing impresses me with his
diligence as a missionary, but also how much he speaks Italian. It is so
easy to speak English with companions, but he is the man and does such a
good job with disciplining himself to speak nearly only Italian, and he
benefits from it because he has mastered the language. It has somewhat
inspired me and I've spoken nearly only Italian (English course doesn't
count) since Sunday! I gotta keep it up! I saw the Mazzone family and my
love keeps growing for them every time I see them. We were talking
about when I will come back after the mission to visit, and they really
want to meet you all! They also want me to come with my future wife of
course!
Today was so much fun! We met the Olbia guys at this
city called Castelsardo almost right on the top-middle of Sardegna.
There is a beautiful castle on the top of a mountain right on the shore
and we had a blast exploring it. I took a ton of pictures, but
unfortunately I don't have my cord right now so I can't send any! I'll
be sure to send them next week.
That's the sum up of the week! Things are going
great! I'm excited/scared/nervous for transfer calls! If I'm out of here
I'll be sure to have Antonio let you know through facebook! (He's a
member here in Sassari and he is a great guy! He comes to our English
course). I'm pretty sure I'm staying and I would really like to stay
because we are so close to a baptism here!
I love you all so much! I love you Dad, I love you
Mom, I love you Morgan, I love you Brooke, I love you Heather, and I
love you Greg! Have a great week and hang in there with the craziness of
the end of the year activities! Vi voglio una galassia do bene!
Un abbraccio!
Anziano Clay Lacey
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