Buona Pasquetta tutti!!!
Hope that everyone had a nice Easter Sunday and a great weekend. We were able to have a really nice Easter yesterday and the rain luckily stopped for the whole day.
This past week went really well and we were able to enjoy a nice week of work here in Cosenza. We were only able to see one of our investigators this week, but we went over to his house and then were able to sit down and talk with his whole family, which went really nice, and they want to have us all over to have dinner with them again. They were super nice and the father speaks English really well due to work, so he loved to be able to speak English with us the other night. The lesson with the investigator went well, but we, unfortunately, didn’t get to talk about the spiritual things with the family when we sat down with them. We will look to pick them all up as investigators the next time that we go over to meet with them all.
During any time this week, where we didn’t have a prospective lesson or anything, we went in search of less actives, and finding the right places here in Italy can be very difficult sometimes. We were unable to find some of them and the ones that we did find we were unable to get inside to get to know them and share a short message. It was really neat the because Saturday night we had helped a Sorella from the church here in Cosenza buy some Easter eggs for the kids in the branch. After that we went out again in search of some less actives and we were able to find some of the places, but one didn’t live there any more and the other wasn’t home. We then decided to walk a ways to try the last two of the night. We had to walk up these pretty big hills to get to one and it ended up that Apple maps sent us to the wrong street. We had two good conversations and one was with a younger couple who were both really cool and super nice. It was awesome to be able to see that we may have been sent to the wrong street to talk with them. They directed us to the right street and at last we found the house that we were looking for. Upon arriving, we knew that we only had this one last house before having to head home. We doubled tapped the citofono (that double tap works miracles) and the door just opened. We went up the stairs and got to her door and rang the door bell. When she opened the door she was so surprised. She told us to wait and came back out 15 seconds later. We weren’t able to go in since there wasn’t a man at the house but we got to know her for a little bit and were able to share the Easter video with her. It was really awesome and super special that we were able to do that and it was really touching to see that she appreciated the visit. I really hope that we will be able to see her again soon and help her in any way that we can.
Easter was really nice and we got invited over to a member’s house for lunch and had a nice meal with them. We had some home made gnocchi with a red sauce with some beef in it. For the second plate we had potatoes and chicken, with a zucchini casserole on the side, some meat balls, salad, oranges for the fruit course, and then finished up with two different types of cake and some chocolate. It was a really nice meal and the family was so nice and were super happy to have us over for lunch. They are so nice and I look forward to continue to getting to know them better. They gave us chocolate eggs here too which is a different tradition than the Easter egg hunt that we do back home.
They were really good and I was able to hold their pet bunny so I thought that was pretty festive as well. It was a good time and we were able to then go and visit a less active in the afternoon as well.
We then finished up the night with another Geso down in centro about Easter that went really well. I met this guy that worked in oil/energy and remembers working with this guy that was really important in the industry who was Mormon. He was super cool to talk to and seemed like a guy who likes to think and ponder about things. We were able to exchange numbers and I really look forward to hopefully being able to meet with him real soon.
Today, we spent all day inside, since there were not going to be many people out on the streets, doing a deep clean. This is mission-wide and we have the permission to email late if we got done cleaning late. That is why this email is coming in late, because we were inside all day cleaning everything that we could. The house is super clean now so it is really nice.
It was a really awesome week and we had a really good time in church with good talks on Easter, Jesus Christ’s Atonement, and the resurrection. I am so thankful for Him and all that he has done for each one of us. I am thankful for the spiritual testimony that I have received through prayer and reading the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for the blessings and effect that the Atonement has on each of us.
That we can be forgiven of our sins and transgressions; He has felt our pain, sicknesses, afflictions, hardships; He knows exactly how we all feel at in all moments of our lives; and that we will all live again thanks to Him. I am thankful that Heavenly Father has given His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for us. I know that Christ has sent prophets and that all the prophets before Jesus Christ testified that He would come and do the things that Heavenly Father asked Him to do. I love this scripture in the Book of Mormon when King Benjamin is giving an address to all the people in the land and a ton of people came to watch … so many that they had to build a tower so the people could hear him and even still, not everybody could hear him. He testified of the life of Jesus Christ and what He would do and then he goes on to say this.
Mosiah 3
12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.
I am so thankful that the Lord provides special witnesses for us to know that Jesus is the Christ and that He would do this for us. I am thankful for the scriptures that tell the stories and the testimonies of these prophets, men called of God. I know that these prophets were real men and not just made up stories in a book. I know that their testimonies are true and will stand for all time. I love Heavenly Father since He has provided prophets in the world today. That we have a living prophet with the same authority that Moses, Abraham, and Isaiah had. I know that our prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson, is a true and living prophet, a man truly called of God to do this great work. Jesus Christ is at the head of the church and He works through those that He has called to participate in this great work. I know that we have 12 apostles on the earth today whose mission it is to testify of Jesus Christ. To testify that He lives. I know that it is true. I am so thankful that we are going to have the opportunity to hear from them all this weekend. I am excited for this and look forward to hearing what the Lord needs us to hear. I would invite you all to think and ponder about questions that you have and then watch General Conference this Saturday and Sunday and prayerfully seek your answers through the words of the living prophet. I love this quote from President Ezra Taft Benson.
“God knows all things, the end from the beginning, and no man becomes president of the church of Jesus Christ by accident, or remains there by chance, or is called home by happenstance.
The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture, plus the current scripture from the living prophet.
Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering that you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words. …
Yes, we thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days [see Hymns, no. 19].
Beware of those who would set up the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”
I know that is true and know that we will be able to receive these great messages from the living prophets and apostles this weekend. I am so thankful for all that you guys do for me and I love you all very much. Hope to hear from you all again soon!!
Vi voglio tanto bene!!!
Anziano Garrett
[Here’s a photo of the bunny (being held by Sorella Pinnegar) referenced in this week’s post (photo courtesy of Sorella Carver’s blog)]
Sorella Pinnegar holding the “Easter Bunny” on Easter Sunday at the Lopez home. (photo courtesy of Sorella Carver’s blog)
[Taylor hasn’t sent any pictures of Cosenza yet, so here are a couple of stock photos (licensed from Adobe Stock)]
Cosenza, Italy
Cosenza, Italy
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