Week 5

Ciao Mama! My week has been fantastic. I just got back from the temple just now, I have to say that I love being able to go once a week, and my companion has personal names so it makes it just a little more meaningful. Thank you so much for all the help! I still feel bad about the camera, but I'm grateful I have someone who's keeping track of all the numbers for me. I get too busy to keep track of it all the time. I will definitely be watching for the Christmas package! And I'll be sure to hint to my collega (companion) that he will be getting something also. But I won't say from who! Well, let me just start by saying that Anziano Briand is starting to seem like a brother to me. We definitely have differing opinions, but we don't argue, and we tend to make those opinions help us with our lessons so that they are even more effective for an investigator. I'm very grateful for your concern about him, I didn't want to ask you to do those things for him, but I can't say how happy I am that you are. He has told me a lot about his family situation, and his faith and positivity about it are astounding to me. His family is not supportive of him, in any way, about his serving a mission, or being a member of the church. They have a very bad view of the church, and express it to him, but lately they have actually been emailing him. And his mom for the first time said she'd keep him in her prayers. So that definitely is a great improvement. Speaking of which, I can't say how grateful I am for the love and support I have. Thinking of how much he has given, and continues to endure, made me realize how blessed I am to have been given such a loving, and caring family. That includes all the aunts, uncles, and little cousins as well. Thank you for his medicine also! He was running out, and his parents don't contact him. Well, despite the few sentences that they send which tend to not be too supportive. And he had no other means to stop those things that he gets whenever he isn't able to take it. I know he is grateful, and I am very grateful for him, and I am also beyond thankful for the things you've decided to do for him. But that sounds like it was a very good talk. I hope Sawyer does well in his new area, and I feel like he definitely will. People definitely turn to the Lord when things such as this happen. I hope you guys have a good thanksgiving week! I ship out two days prior, so I'm missing out this year. But that's ok, I'm sure I'll be getting some amazing food for my thanksgiving in Italy. I'm definitely feeling inclined to be more grateful for the amazing opportunity that I have right now to serve this mission, and to be able to invite others to Christ, so that they will have even more to be thankful for. The blessings of this gospel are really amazing. The way my companion describes how it's changed his life is a great story. He always says how much harder it must've been to grow up in the church though. Which I thought was strange, since it seems like he has had a difficult life. But I asked him about it and he said that having to live the way we live, throughout childhood and through high-school would have been just as, if not more difficult, but the difference is the blessings that support us as we live this way. I know that's true though, so to Jack. I just feel like I need to say that living the way we're supposed to is difficult, and I know you're doing great with it. I remember in high-school especially, which is coming up in no time, it was hard sometimes. But from the words of my collega, there is no amount of fun that is comparable to the lasting joy we receive when we live the gospel. Love you little bro. And since it's thanksgiving, I'm grateful to have been able to spend my last months or two with you at home. What is dad hunting back there, the llama? Just kidding, I'm sure there are some deer or something. I've ever seen anything back there though. And yup, if there's anything thing I know, I know I have an amazing father. And mother for that matter. Make sure to tell me if he ever gets anything though, that'll be amazing news in itself. Indoor soccer is fun! I'm glad Jack is liking it. I know I loved playing it. Kicking the ball off the walls, doing jukes that usually made me just trip on myself.. good times. I hope Jack continues to work at it though, indoor soccer isn't even about winning or losing. Just have fun trying to do fun jukes, cool shots, and other crazy tricks. That's what I felt like anyways. Cole is a good kid, I'm glad Jack's hanging out with him while at church. He should help him enjoy the activities more than me or Sawyer ever could have. I'm glad you're keeping up the good work in your calling! The sorelli here are amazing, they have such great testimonies, and they're so dedicated that they make a lot of the elders look bad sometimes. But yay Ellie! Keep up the practice! When I get back she's going to be playing Mozart. Christmas music is great, I'm going to miss not being able to sing Christmas songs with you all the time. But I'll still be singing them, just in Italian. And I think you teaching piano is a great idea! Music is a great gift to have, I've quickly learned. I often get asked to play piano, sing, or help arrange a musical number, anything. I wish I could say I volunteered for all these things, but they actually came because Anziano Briand brags all the time about my not-so-great talent for me, so people come to me with all these things. I always told myself I wouldn't be thankful for you making me learn piano, but I definitely say a little thank you to you every time I get to help someone with those kind of things. I love you all, and pray for everyone's continued safety and happiness throughout the week. Ti voglio bene, Anziano Vaclaw