Forza Italia: Q and A

Sunday Night Gesso with the Pescara Squad

Q) What is your favorite food in Pescara?

A) Without a doubt, Arrosticini... these succulent lamb skewers can be eaten by the tens, and the Law of Diminishing Returns, or marginal benefit doesn't seem to apply! I haven't had the opportunity yet to eat any fish from Pescara, but everyone I talk with tells me I can't go wrong with Arrosticini!

Q) What is one important thing that you have learned from your current companion, and one thing that you believe you have taught your current companion?

A) I don't quite know how to limit the things I have learned from Anziano Waddell to just one, but perhaps the greatest takeaway of the last two weeks has been the unquenchable thirst for knowledge that he carries with him everywhere he goes. His energy, happiness, and desire are all contagious! I hope I have taught him to some degree the diligence and consecration a mission requires.

Q) How are you doing at modeling the standard of obedience to your district?

A) While it seems to be a point I seem to never be able to perfect, it is always one I'm searching to improve upon. President Nelson, if I remember right, gave a talk entitled, "Perfection Pending," and that's just about exactly how I feel about it! I'll continue to work my tail off to get there!

Q) How are you doing in the absence of the Pickards and how is the mission doing?

A) Absence no more! President Pickard should be returning tomorrow, and Sorella Pickard should be joining us in early September! In their absence, things went smoothly, helped a lot by a pair of veteran missionaries currently serving as APs... They took care of small scale, logistical issues, while decisions were made by President Euvrard. Here is an excerpt from my weekly letter to the mission president, "I'm not quite sure which President I'm reaching with this letter, but given the opportunity, I wanted to thank President Euvrard for his example of selfless service. In the MTC we were taught that we were sent to our specific mission to learn from the mission President we would have there. I have no doubt this included both President Pickard and President Euvrard! I will strive to always keep in mind the concept of finding, focusing on, and saving "the one," and seeing others with the eyes of God. I will also strive to be ready to be called upon when there may be a need!"

Q) How are you feeling about your Italian language skills having now been in the country for about six months?

A) Fortunately, that hasn't been a worry of mine in quite some time. I am more than capable in communicating with just about anyone, a gift I never can thank my Heavenly Father enough for. I have room to improve, as with all other areas of the work, but my language study seems to be improving my ability to comprehend and teach every day!

Q) What have become two or three of your favorite scripture verses? Why? How has your gospel study changed since becoming a full time missionary?

A) Certainly among my favorites, would be the entire Chapter of Alma 26, with its different applications to the praise of God, and the success we receive as missionaries. See verses 10-12, 16, 22, 27 for a few of my personal favorites! I would be remiss to leave unmentioned Alma Ch. 5, with its self-evaluation based on desire, worthiness, and asking myself if I have received the image of God in my countenance, and if I have, can I feel so now? Mosiah 28:1-4 should have a special place in any missionaries' heart, emphasis on verse 3, "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." As unreachable as that desire may seem, it's a goal, and seeking to obtain it certainly can't hurt!

Q) What are one or two things that you plan to do differently in your life, than before, based on having served a mission? How do you plan to make sure that those are lasting changes?

A) I would say the two biggest changes will be an increased gospel study, with daily scripture study and prayer, and more effective time usage. When you spend hours and hours every day striving to bring salvation to the people of Italy, all other endeavors can seem insignificant, but with that comes an appreciation of what things are most important! School and personal progression will no longer take a back seat in any sense to social media, entertainment, or similar pursuits!

Q) What are two or three of your favorite things about Italy? When you think about the day down the road when you will have to return to the United States, what will you miss most about the country?

A) I love the food, and fortunately that is something I'm able to bring back with me, in the form of knowledge learned. I feel like my cooking skills have been consecrated out here, and I can't wait to show all of you the product of 2 years of perfecting my ragù! One other favorite has to be the people I've met, and continue to meet every day. Members, investigators, friends, even crazy people, I will miss their Italian pride and crazy side!

Q) What was one of your funniest conversations this week or this month?

A) Explaining to an Italian ragazzo, the cardinal sin he was committing as he wore a LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, with Golden State Warriors shorts and socks... I likened it to wearing a Francesco Totti Roma jersey on top, with a pair of Juventus shorts, or even worse, clashing Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona... He laughed, and told me he would continue to wear the two together regardless... I shrugged my shoulders, continued the conversation, and left him with an English Course bigliettino, laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing.

Q) How do you feel you are doing with getting along with your companion? What are you learning thus far in your mission about this great skill?

A) Can't say enough good about Anziano Waddell! We get along great, largely as a result of his desire to work, and work we do! The amount of sweating we did this week pales in comparison to that which I did a few weeks ago. I just don't think I'll ever adjust, but my body seems to be doing fine nonetheless. As far as developing this skill for work, with each of my last 3 companions, I have gotten progressively better, and look forward to continuing the pattern.

Q) How are you doing in staying morally clean, placing appropriate barriers between you and the adversary (see Alma 53:3-4)?

A) The church does real well, protecting us there, as we apply with exact obedience the guidelines found in Safeguards for Using Technology, but there's a secondary factor, my mind. Striving to constantly "let virtue garnish [my] thoughts unceasingly," has been a significant blessing in my ability to, as Anziano Callister suggests, serve without a foot in the door.

Q) If I asked two or three missionaries in the Italy Rome mission to tell me about Anziano Christian Toronto, what would they say? What would President Pickard say about you? What would your local bishop say about you?

A) In true reflection, I would hope each would give similar answers, specifically my leaders, but my peers and fellow missionaries the same. I would love that it would be said of me, if the Lord, President Pickerd, my Bishop, my companions, and other mission leaders need an errand run, a service performed, a person taught, or a message shared, Anziano Christian Toronto is the one to do it.

Q) If we had just one hour to talk to each other, what would you talk to me about? What things do you wish we had more time to discuss each week?

A) Honestly, an hour could cover so many different topics, but among the most pressing, or even entertaining, would be first, advice for the future. I came out on the mission, knowing at some point I would need to decide on a major, or career path, before I would return, and in the past 7 months I haven't really had the opportunity to give it any thought. Now, knowing that some fairly critical decisions need to be made in the next year, and even in some cases less than that, I could certainly use the guidance of one far more experienced than I. It in no way has become a distraction, but President Pickard likes to remind us there is life after the mission, and that we are preparing for a lifetime of service after this two years of service here. There is a small corner in my mind reserved for post mission consideration, and in the next six months I will need to begin to address a few of those things contained within. An hour could pass by in a wink talking of that... Also, just a man talk about sports, or politics, or Team of Rivals, or Star Wars, and what will happen in movie 8, or just about anything normal. Sometimes I just need to unwind, and that is one way. Knowing that football is starting up again is hurting me just a little bit, but I think I'll make it through all right... I'm prepared for reports of heart wrenching losses, caused by the only consistent in Cougar sports: inconsistency.😉

Another fantastic week out here in Pescara, with some great progress seen in our investigators' journeys! Can't wait for the success the Lord is waiting to give to us!

Vi Voglio Bene,

Anziano Toronto II 🇮🇹