Week of Service...

Servizio.....That's what we did.

I don't think I have ever done more service on the mission than this past week. It's amazing how awesome the week has been, service makes a huge difference in our lives! We were able to go out to the country and move some lumber from the side of a mountain. It had a gorgeous view. It made me realize how much I love the mountains. Although it's very mountainous, it's still very warm. Like 'sweater weather' type of warm, which makes for a weird Christmas, but still a good one! I mean I can't complain.....I spent my Christmas in Sicily!

 Sunday we were able to go out and have a pranzo with Salvo who is a member in our ward. Haha he is hilarious. He knows some English words so every once in a while he'll throw them into his Italian, it's awesome. We have some investigators that are doing good. We found a really cool guy, we showed him the Christmas initiative video and he really liked it. Today we headed to some catacombs. These catacombs had the remains outside of there coffins. There were a ton of skeletons, it was pretty cool. Sorry no pics, they were not allowed...

Seeing how we did so much service this week I think it would be appropriate to talk about service. A cool scripture I really like in Matthew 10:39 says 

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

That's why Christmas time is so happy. We often are serving others, they decide to forget about themselves and see what else they can do for others. So my invite, for the week leading up to Christmas, is to lose yourselves in the service of others! Love you guys! Have a good week! 

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

Old Faces...

Old Faces.....

The week of zone conference. It's always a good one, you get a free lunch, see friends and grow spiritually. I was able to actually see some old comps, like Anziani Jackson and Fryer. Both of whom I really enjoyed and wished I could have done more than just one transfer. Thursday rolled around and I realized I hadn't eaten a pizza in a week and started hyper ventilating. It's kind of sad, none of the pizza I will ever eat again will be the same as Napoli pizza. However, Sicily is known for their deserts, like Conolo! Man that is some good stuff. The work is going along great, hopefully we'll find some success this transfer. We met a really cool guy last Sunday showing the Christmas video the church has put out and he ended up coming to church and is doing really good. Here in Palermo we have a pretty cool ward. Yep, a ward! First one I've been in, and the members are really down for missionary work, so I'm excited about that. For P-day we went on a super fun hike and ended up seeing some sheep. So that's that. 

During zone conference this week we talked a lot about the fall and 

Adam and Eve. A lot of people who are not of our faith think it was a bad thing, something that has cursed all mankind, but in reality it was all apart of God's plan. 

In 2 Nephi 2:22-24 it says:
      "22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things."

It is because of the fall that all of us are here. It's because of the fall that we feel happiness in this life. Pretty cool huh? Anyways hope everyone has a good week! Much love! 🤙 ‎

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

Sicily, the land of cannoli, brioscia, arancina and hopefully a couple baptisms.

Yep, I have now made my way to the island of Sicily! I didn't really think that it could get better than Napoli, but some how I lucked out. I'm in the city of Palermo. Saying goodbye to the members, investigators, pizza and the city of Napoli was hard, I'll never get used to leaving a city or the people I meet, but I am stoked to see what Sicily has in hand this transfer. I have a great companion who likes to work hard and I can already tell I'm going to love it here. 

So, side note, Italy doesn't sell eggnog.... Weird right? Well, I really like eggnog, so I decided I was going to try and make some. So with optimism in the air, a heck of a lot of eggs and the song 'Joy To The World' playing in the background, we put on our aprons and started. The further in the process we got, the more worried I became, it wasn't easy! What should have been a complete disaster turned into some pretty good eggnog! I don't really know how, but it actually tasted like the stuff you buy from the stores. 

In my studying this week, I came across a scripture talking about the love of Christ, which is something we are trying to share this Christmas season. In Romans 8:38, 39 it says 

"38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

It's pretty comforting to think that nothing can separate us from that love that Christ has for us. No matter how many times we mess up, He is still there and still loves us! I hope all of you can feel that love this Christmas season and share that with others. Thanks for all that you, much love coming over here from Italy!

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍