Well this week was actually pretty good. I was able to go
to Brindisi on an exchange this week. Made me super grateful to be in Lecce.
Brindisi is kind of a sad place. Lots of high rise buildings, graffiti, crime,
and funny smells. But I got to meet some super good folk over there! Also I was
on the scambio with Anziano Wulzl. He is from Austria. Funny guy. Very
European. Here are a few pics from the day in Brindisi.
.JPG)
The man with the boat. His name is Eddie. He is currently
on a trip around Italy in his Sailboat (shown in the picture). Complete with
his dog, he has managed to sail from Venice to Brindisi. He has been staying in
that city about 2 months just enjoying the sun and the fishing. The
missionaries met him while walking along the coast one day. He is rad! Within
one month he has read the whole Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Cov, Pearl of
Great Price, and all the materials the missionaries have given him. He is very,
very intelligent actually and has literally memorized all three of the books.
Very smart man. This week he said he was going to sail out and kneel in a
prayer. Eddie. He is super cool. We taught the lesson on his boat (don’t know
if that’s okay but we were tied to the shore the whole time and it was super
relaxing).
This week I also ate two Kebab.
We also has a Talent Show on Friday! The attendance
was fair but it was fun for all who attended. Our one youth did a free style
rap about Pokemon, another played a hymn, some people told jokes, sang songs,
told poems, it was actually really, really fun! After the talents night we had
Karoke. I don’t know what it is about Southern Italian and Karoke but they love
it! I personally song a jazzy rendition of "Our Song" by Taylor
Swift. Country Music. Italians love cowboys and Indians. They still watch
spaghetti western movies. Good stuff.
This week we also went to Taranto for Stake Conference
which was actually Area Conference. It was broadcast from Switzerland to all
West Europe I think. In any case. They sang one hymn in German, Spanish,
French, English, and Italian. I really enjoyed it. Our ward mission leader also
told us he got accepted to BYU. He will be getting out of Italy as fast as
possible. He is 35, married, 2 kids and has been trying to get to the US or
Australia about 10 years. I am happy for him. He deserves it. It’s very sad
though because all of the leaders of the branch are the ones who get the opportunities
to leave Italy and get a life in America. Brain Drain. It’s a very real thing
for the church here in Italy. About 5 leaders of the branch have moved out of
Lecce in the past while... Sad... Italy is not much of a place to grow up,
work, live, etc. Fantastic place for vacations and tourism! But... It’s rough.
At least in Southern Italy. Good on him for leaving. (P.S. He does not want the
branch to know yet.)
Miracle Moment. The miracles with our youth. I
personally was not here for the event because I was on scambio with Anziano
Wulzl (Great experience by the way. It is always a great experience to see how
other people work). But it turns out that one of our youth, Kevin, gave his
friend a Plan of Salvation opuscolo which lead into a lesson with this youths
friend about the Book of Mormon. It was not awkward at all and his friend took
the lesson very seriously. He went home read the chapter of the Book of Mormon
and the next day at school the youth member (13 years old) invited the friend
to read the next chapter and to pray. The friend received an answer to a prayer
and wants to meet with us again. Miracles.
Well. That’s all Folks.
