Soaked🌧🌊

Carissimi,

We made it through another transfer week friends, and there's only good news all around! Anziano Cutler and I are staying together for another transfer here in Napoli, and that means at least six more weeks of procrastinating my return to 'healthier' eating. I told Anne Katherine today I have been seeing little success from the "Pizza a day keeps the doctor away" diet*, so we might have to try something else...

The only aspect of Napoli itself, that could be conceivably portrayed as negative, (besides the thriving drug trade or any myriad of actual problems the city faces), would have to be the constant downpour! It rained just about every day this week, and unfortunately you notice that a lot more when there are holes in your otherwise durable-in-every-way shoes! I cease complaining however, knowing there are those in the city who would love a pair of shoes, holes and all. How grateful I am to once again, to be humbled by my surroundings, and the children of God around us who so desperately need the gospel message we bring!

As the rains came down, the baptismal font was filling up, for our brother Stanley! Here's an excerpt from his conversion story: "Stanley spent his second day in Italy, exactly where he needed to be, in church, with friends from his refugee camp. He proceeded to come, just about every week for the next 4 or 5 weeks, until eventually Anziano Cutler and I realized he wasn't a member already! We asked him if he had a Book of Mormon to read, during our second hour Gospel Principles class in English, and he said "No," but told us he wanted one, and that he wanted to be baptized like his other brothers. We were happy to oblige to both requests, and began teaching him. We hit a roadblock, when we found out his literacy wasn't super high, but luckily that was solved by the Book of Mormon audio recordings, which we would send him almost every night! He progressed quickly, and was fueled by a desire to follow Jesus Christ, and keep his commandments." After I baptized him on Saturday, Anziano Cutler sealed the deal, giving him the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday morning during Sacrament Meeting!

My personal study finally crept it's way out of the tail end of the Isaiah chapters and 2 Nephi, but despite being a bit spiritually drained, I didn't mind taking the time I did to study Nephi's words. They were written for our day, and they contain a powerful, convincing witness of Jesus Christ, built on revelation, and experience. Nephi didn't just write about keeping the commandments, he prospered in the land because of his diligence in doing so! As I head on to the powerful sermons of his brother, I am more grateful than ever for the example of this spiritual giant!

Hope all is well on the Eastern front! Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Toronto II 🇮🇹

*Just in case you were wondering Mom, no, it's not a pizza a day, that'd be over the top... it is however a good amount, and how many, will remain undisclosed😁