Conference on conference.....

 Hello everyone! It has been a fantastic week here in Napoli. We are all getting pretty excited for general conference, it is like the super bowl for missionaries. We also have zone conference this week as well, so we have a solid line up. This week we did a solid amount of finding, which means we did two things: we walked a lot and we met a lot of people. Everyone we met had different views on God and how they see the world. I have really learned a lot from the people  of Napoli. Though our belief in God may be a little different and our backgrounds and interests completely different, when you take the time to talk to someone new, you can see the world through their eyes. On Sunday a lady in our ward gave her farewell talk and it kind of reminded me of when I did my farewell talk. It seems like just yesterday. In a way I am kind of jealous that she is just barley starting her journey, at times it seems like mine has just flown by. Then today for pday we were able to do zone soccer!! Ya know, Pompeii, Vesuvius, the Amalfi coast and all of the breath taking sites I've been able to see have been amazing, but some times you just need a good old zone calcio for pday. Always a favorite of mine!

      This week in my personal study, I came across a popular verse in Heleman that I think we all know. In chapter 5 verse 12 it says: 

And now, my sons, remember, remember that is on the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind , yea , when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Like a building, our faith needs to built on a solid foundation so that when the mighty storms and trials come into our lives we, too, might become steadfast and immovable. The foundation of our faith is Christ. If our foundation is built upon Christ, then surely we "cannot fall"! 

Well guys I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Love you all,

Anziano Andersen 

He is hastening His work......

This week was a packed week. We started it off with a correlation at Sam's house (our branch mission leader) which is always a good time. Then we were able to have some really cool lessons. One of our investigators is so ready for baptism we just have to work some things out, but we had an amazing lesson with him and afterward he said one of the most sincere prayers I've heard. It's been a blessing to be able to work with him. 

This week I have a verse from the Book of Mormon. In the book of Moroni, Mormon starts telling his son about the wickedness of both the Nephites and the Lamanites. Instead of giving up he gives his sons some words of encouragement saying "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." (Moroni 9:6). Despite the fact that everything around them was terrible and just in turmoil, he suggested that they continue to labor diligently. That's what we must do too! This time we have here is 'but a blink of an eye', let us perform our "labors" while we are still here. Love every single one of you, hope you guys have a great week!

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

I don't have a lot of time today, Not too long ago we got news that Facebook was going to be avaible for our mission as a proslyting tool. I have to admit it will be weird to have Facebook after not using it for so long, but it just shows how much the Lord is hastening His work.  We will be permitted to use Facebook to forward the work in a couple weeks. 
Communications will still be done through email, but you can see and share the stuff I post. Anyways love you guys. Ci sentiamo fra poco! 

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

August has finally come to an end.....

Haha, I think our numbers in church doubled, and there were so many people in the street. That were actually from Napoli. For those who don't know, in the month of August all Italians, and when I say "all" I mean it, go out of town. The weather is starting to cool off as well, so things are going great. Some how another transfer has come and gone. It seems that time keeps getting faster and faster.

The work is coming along fantastically. It's probably one of the most amazing experiences when you see something start to click in an investigator's head. When they start recognizing the Holy Ghost and the peace and joy it brings to their lives. 

Speaking of the Holy Ghost I would like to share a quick little scripture, in 2 Nephi 6 he says "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do". Sometimes in life we don't have the slightest clue what we are doing, but if we listen we will be guided by the spirit, in all things that we do. Try and listen to him! Hope everyone has a great week! Love ya!

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

P.S. I've sent lots of pictures this time. we went to Pompeii! it was so cool, look it up if you get a chance!

What an amazing week here in Napoli! 

We started off the week with a scambio (exchange). This time, I went with Anziano Ruiz, and it was a blast! He has a great work ethic, and just loves talking to people, which taught me a lot. While finding also we ran across Castle St. Elmo! Which is a huge castle, that has an amazing view! We were able to teach the restauration to a lady who is from northern Italy. She pointed out to us that she felt the spirit which was way cool and does not happen very often. 

On Sunday after church we had around 5 hours to do some finding, which happens pretty frequently. We went to couple different places, all of which we were lucky enough to meet people who had some interest in the gospel. We decided to walk down this really busy road and, within seconds, we were stopped by people that wanted to talk about the gospel. It  was a couple of people from another church wanting to convert us, rather then allow us to share with them the fulness of the gospel. It was okay though, we kept it positive. After all, we are all trying to make the world a better place. I was disappointed that they didn't want to learn more of our message.  Out of nowhere, a lady randomly walks up behind us and asks if we are the missionaries. Of course, we respond with huge smiles, assuming she's a member from northern Italy on vacation.  It was the exact opposite, she knew the missionaries from the past and had learned about the power of priesthood blessings. She then asked if we would be able to give her mother who is in a hospital a blessing. We, of course, we said yes!  We, then were able to offer a priesthood blessing. 

This experience kind of leads into what I would like to share this week with you all. One of the most important things we tell investigators is that the priesthood, the power to act in Gods name, was restored! It is what separates us from all other religions. There is good in every religion and good people striving to make the world a better place, but because of the full restoration of the gospel, we also have the power given from God. What a blessing it is to be able to have this priesthood on the earth, never to be taken again. We can feel that power every day in our lives as well, and I am so grateful for this wonderful oppurtunity I have to share the message and blessing that come from my membership in Gods church.I hope we can all see how blessed we are to see this!

For p day we went to Amalfi which is just another city on the coast of Amalfi. Oh my goodness it was just absolutely gorgeous. That drive along the coast is just absolutely breath taking. Anyways love you guys, hope you guys have a good week!

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

Miracles are cool and so is the weather!

The mission has it's ups and downs, and apparantly the weather does too. At the begining of this week it was hot, and I mean HOT. Were talking 100 degrees with a lot of humidity, haha. Then on Thursday it just dropped. It felt so amazing to not be constantly sweating, haha.  I'm definitely looking forward to fall!   We've had an incredible week, that was just filled with lessons. We have one of our investigators who has an interview for her baptism this Wednesday! If it goes good she will be baptized on Saturday. We have definetly seen a lot of miracles this week, and without the hand of the Lord none of it would have been possible. 

This week I would like to talk about families! We've focused on families latley and it's made me have a better appreciation for mine. Especially the fact that I can be with them for eternity! In the Proclamation to the Family it says "The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally." It's so amazing that our Father in heaven has made this possible for us, and I am so grateful for that! I hope everyone has a good week this week! Love you all!

  

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍

Heat, Pizza and miracles....

Besides just eating a ton of pizza and the heat (it feels like we're walking on the sun, but swimming at the same time, haha.), we've had some really cool stuff happen!! The work has just absolutly exploded! We've seen so many blessings this week. We were able to meet with a lot of people, and the lessons all went really well, especially considering that it's August and everyone goes on vacation in August.  We are really excited to see what happens this transfer. Anziano Lamoureux is such a good guy. It is incredible how much charity he has. He is a great example of how a missionary should love the people and the people he is serving with. 

In Matthew 7:7-8 it says "7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." We will always receive an answer but first we must diligently seek it out first. Many times we are guided to the scripture or a quote or a feeling we get after diligently searching!  We may get our answers right away and it may take time, but I know He always answers....

Thanks for all the support! Love all of you guys. Have a good week!

Anziano Andersen 🚀
Romans 1: 15&16    🌍