December 31, 2008

Anna Caprio and Cosimo are doing well. We had a lesson with them and the D'Andolfo family and it went well. The spirit was strong and we all said things that were perfect for her. I am praying that she prays to know if this is true and acts and does the 5 principles of the gospel. We taught it in a really neat way thanks to Anziano Kunzler. He has this neat book that has the best ideas for teaching investigators. We taught it as son that lived at home and had to go to school to learn and grow and become like his parents so they gave him a car to arive to school. On his way home from school he has an obstacle- a body of water. A man comes and builds a stone bridge which is free. The boy continues on his journey home when he runs into another obstacle which is an earthquake. The same man that built the stone bridge built a woodbridge to go over the earthquake but for this bridge we have to pay 4 euro and then we are able to go home. Home is heaven, the car is our physical body, school is life on the earth, the body of water is physical death, the stone bridge is ressurection, the earth quake is spiritual death, and the wood bridge is the atonement. The 4 euro are faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The road is enduring to the end. I loved this lesson. I need to teach more with stories and parables they touch us so much more and remain with us. I gave the training on Repentance and change on Monday and it went so well. I learned so much. Today i am going to make 2 newyears resolutions on temporal and one spiritual so that i can become better and like my savior Jesus Christ. I love the many miracles that there are in the mission. I have seen so many miracles when i listen to the spirit and act upon it but when i try to do the work in my way it never goes great, at times alright but never as amazing as it would have gone, trusting in the Lord.

Love Elder Brewster

Christmas 2008

Beau called today.  He sounded great.  He misses everyone. He has been in his area for almost 7 months.  He is glad to be in the branch and maybe have a baptism before he gets transfered.  He loves the people in Italy.  They are so traditional that when they convert they are so strong because of the sacrifaces they have to make.  Most are disowned by their families.  

Here are some pictures of Him and his companions.  

  

December 17, 2008

Oh, and i didnt tell you but we just got the transfer call and i am staying in battipaglia! yeah. I have been here since july. This will be my 5th transfer here and i am so happy. I know that i am meant to be here and baptize people that i am working with. I am praying for so many miracles. this city really has need of them. The sacred grove activity went well. We didnt have as many people as i would have wanted but it went well for the contacts, investigators and members that did come. The number was good but the people that i wanted to be there were not able to come. I would love to do this activity another time. We had a christmas activity last night with our english class students and we are having another one tonight with our members and investigators. I am excited. We are going to sing a lot of christmas songs. I am learning a lot about forgiveness and true charity. I have been having struggles with an Elder that is in my apartment that has been with me since August. He is a good kid but just the type of person that drives me bonkers. I am not sharing this with you to complain but to tell you how grateful i am to heavenly father for helping me with this trial and giving me this trial to help me grow. i know that we are together for a huge reason. I have never been with another elder for 4 transfers so i know that it is meant to be. I have really discovered what i need to do better to treat others better and love them for their faults which i have never been able to do. I love this gospel and I love the mission. I am learning the importance of enduring and always improving and never platoing. Today we went to Paestum with an investigator and it was fun to go to the museum and see many greek and roman mythology that i studied my senior year. It was neat to teach the people that worked there about some of the mythology. I am so glad that i took that class. The best class ever! Love Elder Brewster

December 10, 2008

We have been decorating for 3 days but i am excited. It is called the sacred grove (il bosco sacro). In the first room we are going to reinact a scene of priests arguing with much contention, power and pride and then they are all going to go upstairs were Joseph Smith will be praying in a grove that we have created. They will then watch a part of the restoration and hear the testimonies of some of the members. It is going to be a powerful and spiritual night. I am excited. We have been praying so much for people to come and have spiritual experiences that will bring them to baptism. I love my members and investigators. I am getting frustrated with those that arent progressing but i need to have patience and promise many blessings! Love Elder Brewster

A typical P-Day in Italy