June 24, 2009

Things are going so well. We were able to do 2 exchanges since i last wrote. I went up to Olbia and had a great exchange with Elder Sullivan and i just got back last night from an exchange with Elder Bowen in Oristano. I had some neat experiences. I was able to see some of the same people that i saw last transfer and even the transfer before that. In fact, my first transfer here i did an exchange with Elder Pepperdine in Oristano and visited a former investigator and her family. We had a great lesson and they invited us over a second time. After that they werent able to see them because they were never at home and never answered the phone. I even went last transfer and passed by but they were not home. Elder Bowen planned for us to stop by them when i was there because he had never met the son nor the husband. When we knocked on their door the son answered and let us in. We had a great lesson with him. He doesnt believe in God and doesnt believe that he doesnt exist. He really doesnt know and didnt know how to ever find out. We told him that he can find out through the holy ghost. Praying and reading brings the holy ghost and answers any question that we have. It was an amazing lesson. The spirit was very strong. Right when we had finished the father walked in and talked with us. He has a great character. He has a dry humor and says jokes/witty remarks with a blank face. I love this man. We talked about the gospel and important principles in life. He is a very wise and God knowing man. We shared the same scripture that we shared with his son previously, Moroni 10:3-5. He loved it and started reading more of the Book of Mormon. He is going to read it, pray to know that it is true and come to church. They will be wonderful members. Right after that we had one of the best visits with an inactive member that i have had. We used Moroni 10:3-5, bore our testimonies and shared our personal experiences. We then asked him how he came to know that the Book of Mormon was true. At times inactive members kind of deny having spiritual experiences that came when asking that the Book of Mormon is true but this man did not. He said that he prayed and received an answer that it was true. He then said that he had to leave one way to follow another. We invited him to church but he could not come this week. He was very kind and showed me how important inactive work is and what a difference it can make. I know that there are more concerns that they will have to resolve with him but it was a wonderful start. He has 3 children and his wife is visiting her parents in sicily for a little while. Oristano only has 7 members so a family of 5 would be such a great strength. I love exchanges because i learn so much from the elders that i serve with. The next day i was able to help a new convert, Alessandro. I was actually the one who gave him his baptismal interview. His testimony was so pure when i gave the interview but now i could tell that a few things were bothering him. He was struggling. We talked about temples and shared our great love for the temple. He was zoning out and asking if we were done. We knew that something was not right. We finally pried it out of him. He is debating on serving a mission or going to school. He plans on going to Torino for school for 3 years but the missionaries challenged him to pray about it to get his answer. He prayed about it but you could tell that he didnt listen because he doesnt want to get that answer that he knows the Lord will give him. We knealed and prayed with him and you could feel the spirit. He his worried that if he goes on a mission and comes back, he wont find a job and it will be hard to go to school. He also doesnt feel that he is capable of serving a mission, that he doesnt know enough. We bore our strong testimonies that the Lord will provide and that as he follows this commandment The Lord will guide him to eternal happiness. I love the mission and would be no one without it. I have learned and grown more in such a little time. I have learned many christlike attributes such as patience, faith, virtue, obedience, hope, diligence and love. The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall i know! Love, Elder Beau Brewster