Slightly Surprised! February 25th, 2016

This week was pretty awesome. I'll start off with the news my zone got late last Thursday.  One of the other Italian teachers burst into our room and started talking furiously to our teacher in Italian.  I couldn't understand a word of it but at the end they told us that they had received news that because of a mix up in transfer schedules, the Italian missionaries would be leaving from the MTC a week earlier than we had anticipated. Che Cavolo! Initially we were scared and I think some of the missionaries cried a bit but after everything had settled down we were actually really excited to finally leave the MTC.  The food is destroying me, the blank walls are driving me insane, and I've decided I don't want to live in Utah ever again.  Or may'be all those things just seem worse because we've been looking at cities in our mission on Google Earth and we just want to get out there and do what we came on a mission to do.  We leave March 8th and even though our language is still gonna stink at that point I couldn't be happier.  The speaker at the Tuesday devotional this week we Sister Wixom of the Primary presidency.  She taught about how we need to become like children if we want to become effective missionaries. The characteristics of meekness, humility, and love of everyone are some of the things that we can all learn from children and are essential to anyone who wants to follow the example of Christ.  I've been singing in the MTC choir for the past few weeks with the rest of my zone and the performance for that devotional was precious.  We sang "Child's Prayer" with a group of primary children and I wish that I could have the simple, strong testimony of God's love that was evident in their voices.  We had another companionship inventory this week and I think it was the best one yet.  I'm grateful that we have all been willing to change based on the things that have been brought up in previous inventories because this week everything was super positive. Even when we suggested ways we could improve to each other, they came out more as compliments than anything like "Anziano Kim, you should speak more in our lessons because everything that you say is so powerful and contributes so much to the lesson."  Then we told each other what our strengths were and it was such a sweet experience because we all had amazing things to say to each other.  I can't think of 3 people who are more different than us but I've learned so much about loving others unconditionally and I've also learned a lot about myself in this companionship.  I know God loves me and I know He loves everyone who has ever lived because I'm starting to feel that love for others even while I'm still at the MTC.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed me so much and I can't wait to share it with the people of Italy.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Younce