1 transfer down 15 to go

11/29/2017

It's weird to think I've been in the mission already 6 weeks and that new missionaries are flying into Italy today. That's how it all works though, time always moves forward for some faster than others. I think it has been moving pretty fast for me personally. People here in the mission have been asking me "what's the one thing that you didn't really expect to happen once you got out on your mission?" I honestly didn't know at first. Then I thought about it and realized up to this point I already knew what I was getting myself into with coming on a mission. I knew the mission was going to be hard, that the language was going to be harder and so I kind of just said whatever happens its going to happen. I honestly didn't like that this is how I felt about being out here, I want this to be the hardest two years of my life, I need to be more willing to practice the language and to make a better effort to learn why I am where I am in the mission. Well know that I've talked about that lol let's see how my week went... I had a pretty decent week my trainer just got sicker and sicker while I got better and better which was weird but I dunno how the body works so haha he's getting better ish now... I think. Friday last week was P-Day so it's really only been a few days since I last emailed... Saturday we had an amazing appointment with the Poncino family (Renzo our eternal investigator) we went in thinking he'd been taught everything about the gospel so we prepared a lesson on the Priesthood and how it blesses the lives of the family. Come to find out, in 40 years of all the lessons from all  the missionaries not one lesson ever did the other missionaries talk about the Priesthood. Not once. He doesn't want to baptized cause of one thing, tithing. We didn't try to talk about that at all. But the discussion headed in that direction. He told us at one point "All the missionaries ever did when they would come and teach me was tithing. Tithing this tithing that." he said "I love the missionaries, I'll invite them over for a lesson, I'll make them lunch or dinner, just don't teach me about tithing, that's all I ask of you." We were dumbfounded how could this guy literally after 40 years not know what the Priesthood was and how it works and all of that. His wife has been a member for just about 39 years. That's crazy to me, but don't worry we will get him sooner or later. Sunday we had Benjamin, and Cletus (pronounced Claytus) come to church they both had to leave after 2nd hour though. We then had the monthly ward lunch they do which is right after 3rd hour and we ate a ton of Phillipino food lol the ward is more than half non-italian mostly Phillipino and Argentine or Peruvian lol but they all speak Italian lol

The sorelle taught the GANS FHE lesson that night was really good about Christ-like Attributes. Monday we got up did studies and then went over to the Mecca's house across town. They are an Argentine family that moved here 15 years ago they have all girls one is preparing to go on a mission (she's 26) that's the age most Italians go on missions here is what I've heard from most people. They are honestly one of the coolest families ever though really nice and sweet especially when it came to me speaking in Italian lol that night we went out with a bunch of our students from English class to get pizza as a farewell party for the Sorelle. Anziano Younce taught basically two lessons in about half an hour to this one guy Georgeo who isn't really interested in the gospel but might be after what Anziano Younce shared with him!! Then yesterday we had a lesson with Cletus and we did a half soft half full baptismal date invite!! for either the last two Saturdays in December or the First Saturday of January!!!! We told him it all depends on how often he meets with us and if he keeps his commitments that we give him which he has been so far!! Then we had English class the Sorelle taught cause it was their last one before then leave tomorrow. Which is sad cause I'm causing my first deaths in the mission (sending missionaries home) Today for P-Day we've been at the apartment just writing emails aren't really doing anything cause we aren't suppose to travel on the P-Day before transfers (aka tomorrow is transfers) so not much else to report to everyone. Hope everyone is getting ready for Christmas! I invite all of you to do the 25 ways in 25 days of service you can go to Mormon.org to learn more about it and I'll be posting on Facebook about it as well so look for it!! Love you all! 

Sinceramente, 

Anziano Harrison 

Don't run faster than your guardian angels can fly! 

We took dying pictures as a distinct lol I think it's super funny lol

Our dying pictures, I'm a murderer lol

 Here's a quote I liked from Facebook

I got peanut butter and celery

Malato

11/24/2017

Hello peoples!

Malato in Italian means sick, my trainer and I are both getting sore throats and we're not going to make it we've decided. Quindi questo è mio ultimo messaggio per tutti. lol jk we will probably be alright in a day or two. Today for P-Day we are just staying in Alessandria because we both aren't feeling too good. 

This week has been crazy fast though we started the week off last Friday with a few appointments one of which was with Carmelo which was super good cause we were about to have Pietro come with us and it was a really good lesson, but then after we were driving back and there was a car accident on the highway so we sat in the car for almost 2 hours. Pietro showed us what type of music he listens too lol he's so funny! Saturday we got had lunch with Nonna, she made her famous purple chicken which literally looks purple but I didn't get a picture of it sadly... We got bidonied that night by one of our Africans. Sunday we had Conferenza di Palo (stake conference) got to see a few missionaries from my first MTC group which was cool! We then had scombi (exchanges) with the Capi (zone leaders) Sunday night into Monday morning nothing really crazy happened cause we got bidonied with the 3 lessons we had planned for when we were suppose to be on scombi Monday night we got to see Claytus and really made some progress we taught repentance and he really seemed to understand how it all works! Tuesday we had district meeting, and went to Andrea's pizzeria (the member we know) it was good got some nice pizza again! Wednesday we took the train to Milano for Elder Sabin's mission tour with us! It was super good mostly about keep habits after the mission but still super good and I got to see some more people from my first MTC group! I'll throw that picture in at the bottom. Yesterday we had some appointments so we moved P-Day to today so we wouldn't have to cancel any of them and they all turned out to be bidoni so great right? That's about it for the week though! Oh yeah there's a holiday that some people have been talking about... Hmm which one was it again.... Hm Christmas no wait its not December yet.. Oh yeah that one everyone forgets about THANKSGIVING! We didn't do much for Thanksgiving but I hope you all had a wonderful day of giving thanks! I'm so very grateful for my Savior who lived died and has risen again for us all, He took all of our sins so that we can return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven! I am also thankful for my family and friends who have supported me through all of my trials that I've gone through! I love you all send me a list of what your thankful for! I want to know! 

Love, 

Anziano Harrison 

Don't run faster than your guardian angels can fly!

 

 

 Missionaries from my first MTC group!

 Getting ready to take a group picture with Elder and sister Sabin

 This place sells BIG burgers 25 kilograms is about 55 pounds of meat.

My trainer took the back seat

Italian cheesecake

Portofino

11/16/2017

This week has been pretty good all things considered lol, we had a lot of bidoni again this week... We are working on that with our Africans. Mostly Nelly and Wilson so we will see how that goes. P-day last week was good! Really enjoyed it, church on Sunday was a little disappointing cause sacrament meeting started and we had 0 investigators there, then all of a sudden every single one of our Africans minus one so we had 5 show up and another one who we haven't taught a lesson to in a while! That was so good so in totally we had 6 there, but they all left after 2nd hour except Claytus he stayed!! He's been the one that has been really doing everything we have been asking him and is progressing really well! Oh I forgot on Saturday we met with Vincent who lives in a city north of Alessandria called Valenza we teach him normally in the train station and he has been doing really well too though! We didn't get to see Carmelo this week sadly but that's okay we will see him next week and on Sunday at church! Monday nothing crazy happened except for we played ping pong with a Romanian who was really good he isn't a member but his friend is one of the Phillipini in the ward so that was cool! Tuesday we had district meeting and that was good most of the stuff has been about the 3 missionaries that are going home before the new year, but I still enjoy it! We had English class at 8 and then went home. Wednesday we got up early and went to Milano for a new missionary training which was pretty fun! I got to see my MTC group and Anziano Rußbült everyone seems to be doing great! The work is going good! That's why today being Thursday you are all getting my email instead of Wednesday, next week will be the same way as well on of the quorum of the 70 is coming on Wednesday to speak to us so P-day will be Thursday again. Today we are going to this place called Portofino it is suppose to be beautiful on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea I will for sure send pictures from the hike and stuff besides that we aren't doing much today cause the train ride is pretty long to get there 2 ish hours so we will get there are 10 am but we have to be back in Alessandria at 6 for Italian class so we will see how that goes! 

For the Spiritual side of my email this week I want to talk about Faith. It is something we have been working with our Africans a lot because the way they are when we ask them if they will come to something or doing something they will day "by the grace of God I will be there" or "do what you have asked" and then they never do it cause they believe faith is something you just need to believe in. I want everyone who is reading this email to know believing isn't the only thing you have to do in order to have faith, yes its a major part of it and you should still have it but it is a principle of action. In order for you to actually get anything out of your faith you must also act upon the things which people are asking you to do or that you want to find out you must search with faith that if you find the answer or whatever it may be that you will act on what you receive otherwise there is no point to your belief. I'm not trying to shake anyone's world up by bringing this up I just want everyone to understand how important faith really is and how you yourself can have greater faith in whatever you want! I just went on a rant I am sorry for those of you who found that boring I hope you didn't though! I love you all and hope all is well wherever you all may be! 

Love, 

Anziano Harrison 

Don't run faster than your guardian angels can fly!

 The sun was shining in the worst spot so we both look very bad in this picture lol

 This describes my trainer

  Portofino

 We hiked out to this lighthouse and you could look all the way down the coast which was cool!

 The point of Portofino you could see the Alps from there with the snow on them!! Crazy!

 The harbor of Portofino

 The walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino took about one an a half hours

This is how clean the water is here in the Mediterranean which is dope! 

Bidoni

11/8/2017

This week has been really fast! Not necessarily a good thing because we've had a lot of bidoni (which means no shows for appointments) we had scheduled a total of I think 8 appointments this last week, and only only 2 went through but it's okay cause we are trying harder and praying harder fast Sunday was well worth it! Because Carmelo our Italian investigator had a lesson with him for yesterday, we got to talk to him about baptism and he really does want to get baptized but he's got a lot of things holding him back he recognizes everything he needs to change, but we are working with him! Carmelo works at a members pizzeria so we always try to do our appointments there so we can have a member present the cool thing is they always make us pizza and give us dessert as well! I will send pictures of both in the bottom the pizza was called Filippa which has buffalo cheese and speck on it (speck is basically bacon) but it was sooooo good! And it was also free :) Claytus one of our African investigators is the other one we got to meet with and he's absorbing the gospel really well understands just about everything we tell him but we are going slow with him cause we need him to understand everything! He's super cool! We went to this outlet center that was in our area and it literally has all the expensive stores you could think of Gucci, Calvin Klein, Prada, Versace, and Hugo Boss just to name a few it was cool didn't get anything really cause it was super expensive but it was worth the adventure! I'm going to include a picture of my district and Pietro (English his name is Peter) he's a member who is leaving on his mission in December to London England which is so cool he comes to all our English classes so he can get a head start on the language. Hmm I don't know what else we're having a blast here that's for sure I love the ward and I think they at least like me XD Love you all and would love to hear from you!

Love, 

Anziano Harrison

Don't run faster than your guardian angels can fly!

 pizza from the pizzeria

 chocolate cake was sooooo good

Street in a town called Acqui Terme 

 focaccia dolce (sweet bread)

 district with Pietro (I seriously cannot get enough of that smile :)

 More pictures of Acqui Terme, and what I had for lunch on Sunday! Milka bars are heavenly.

Caldo Cioccolato

11/1/2017

Wednesday last week we started a scripture study class for our English speaking investigators, we only had one come to that and he technically isn't even an investigator yet lol

Thursday we had an appointment with Carmelo but he cancelled, his friend Gero who is a member said he cancelled cause he felt ashamed because he didn't follow through with the commitment that we had left him with which is good i guess but we need to start meeting with him more. Not much else happened on Thursday except we had Italian class where we taught our Africans Italian, and then English class where we taught Italians English lol weird right??

Friday we went out to Valenza which is a town north of Alessandria where one of our Africans Vincent lives. We had a member drive us Petro (who actually has his mission call right now he will serve in the London mission idk which one though), we get to the train station where Vincent told us to meet him. We pick him up and he starts to give us directions to where we thought was a park, but it turns out he wanted to have us come into his camp (refugee camp for the refugees) and normally we aren't allowed to go in them, but he insisted so we did we got to meet two of his friends Paul and Sameul who are both interested in our message! We didn't bring any extra English book of Mormons so we said we'd bring some next time we come to see Vincent (which should be sometime this week). We taught the first half of the plan of Salvation went really well kind of weird teaching in English after studying 6 weeks to teach this all in Italian lol! We then leave Valenza to go to one of our member appointments, this woman insists on all missionaries calling here Nonna (Italian for Grandma) she is the sweetest lady and makes really good food! She cooks with a lot of wine... It tastes good :D but I don't know how much of the alcohol actual cooks out so we don't really ask questions about what she cooks with lol, we left her house to go and wait at the church for an appointment that ended up falling through, then we went to the Moralis home for some dinner! This cute couple is a Philippinen couple and they are just awesome the wife speaks really good English but I was trying to speak Italian as much as possible! The only problem is since we had lunch at Nonna's we were still stuffed and so we didn't eat a lot and we felt bad... They cooked really good food it tasted amazing! Just couldn't eat a lot... 

Saturday, we went out to Asti which is one of the 3 città (cities) we can proslyte in. We went and visited a less active who really isn't less active just can't get to church cause of soldi (money). He is super cool kind of strange has a conspiracy theory about the Masons (the founding fathers in america) and the JWs (Jehovas Witness) but that's for a different time lol, We had a good lesson on Ammon from the Book of Mormon! After that we walked around Asti for a little cause our next appointment wasn't for 30mins nothing interesting happened in that time. We then went to visit with Renzo and his wife Gabrielle who is a member. Renzo is what they call an eternal investigator, meaning he always meets with the missionaries but won't get baptized. He knows the church is true but won't give up smoking and coffee. He's been "investigating" the church for 39 years now. We're hoping we can try and get him before the 40 mark but in the end it's up to him. He really loves his family so that's what we focused on in our lesson today families and temple marriage it went really well! He's also been have a lot of knee pains so a few weeks ago Anziano Younce offered to give a priesthood blessing to Gabrielle over the phone and today he said that we could give him one! We made sure to tell him after that the blessing will come to pass through his faithfulness so that he can see the power of the priesthood! First blessing in Italian!! Now the title of the email is there for a reason Gabrielle made us hot chocolate (hence caldo cioccolato) it was literally like melted dark chocolate super thick, tasted like heaven but it was soooooo strong but super good! They literally put the cocco mix in and then the smallest amount of milk so it gets super rich and thick! 

Sunday we had a good turnout for church again with 5 of our Africans and Carmelo our Italian! So 6 total, we have to translate the gospel principles class for our Africans and sometimes it turns out to be quite crazy they ask really strange but good questions! We then had a GANS activity which is basically YSA over here. Got some good pasta!

Monday we had 2 lessons planned one with one of our newer investigators but he hasn't shown up to our appointments yet so we can't consider him one yet XD We scheduled for 4 we called him around 4:15 and he said he could around 7 so we prepared for our next lesson which was at 5:30, this one was with Nelly and Wilson. These two are like glue I have never seen them apart from each other. We taught the second half of the restoration of the Church and watch the Restoration video with them, sadly Nelly got up during the video to use the bathroom and then they both got phone calls during it as well at some point but I think it was still really good for both of them! We then taught them how to pray, starting with "Dear Heavenly Father" then saying things we are grateful for and asking for His help and answers to questions we have, and then closing "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." Wilson repeated this to use and then offered the prayer, in the exact same way that he has always done before I got so frustrated. We thanked him for his prayer and then I continued to make a promise with them, that if they read the scriptures and prayed in the way that we had just showed them that Heavenly Father will bless them with the compacity to learn the Italian language quickly. I didn't even know what I was saying until I said it though.... We then shook hands and they were on their way! That night we made brownies for the Halloween English class we had on Tuesday.

Tuesday we had district meeting at 10:30 in the morning we finished around 1ish cause we had a lot to discuss, then came home for lunch did some 12 weeks training and by the time that was over it was time to go to the church for the service project thingy, this Saturday there is an event that the church is donating 2000 hygiene kits to 5 different organizations and so basically we were organizing the stuff to be put into those kits. By the time we finished that it was time for English class we had all of 3 people show up XD but we did some scary mad libs things they were cool then we ate brownies and this other dessert that was pretty good that the Sorelle made! 

Today, we haven't really done anything today yet we're going to see this thing called "Cittadella di Alessandria" basically it's a fort of some sort I don't really know lol, I'm going to take pictures and add them to this email should be cool! Later today we have our scripture study class with our Africans and then I don't know what else we have planned so we will see how this goes!

I love you all and hope the world is treating you great! If you have any questions about anything shoot me a email, or send me a Facebook message and I can answer it most likely if it's church related! 

This week for the spiritual thought I want to just express that I know Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us! He is the Father of our spirits and wants to hear from each and everyone of you! I promise that if you make the effort to communicate to Him he will respond to you! If you have any questions on how to do this please email or message me on Facebook I'd love to help you out!! Once again I love you all!! 

Love, 

Anziano Harrison

Don't run faster than your guardian angels can fly!

 

Cioccolata Calda (Hot Chocolate Italian-Style)

 

"Hot chocolate Italian-style is one of the most amazing treats in the world! You have to try this pudding-like chocolate decadence! Add some cinnamon, and whipped cream for a fun variation, or create your own!"

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

1. Mix the cocoa powder and sugar together in a small saucepan. Stir the 1 1/2 cups milk into the saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Place over low heat; slowly bring the mixture to a low simmer.
2. Whisk 2 tablespoons of milk together with the cornstarch in a small cup; slowly whisk the cornstarch slurry into the cocoa mixture. Continue cooking, whisking continually, until the hot chocolate reaches a pudding-like thickness, 2 to 3 minutes.

Ciao Tutti da Alessandria, Italia!!

10/25/17

My last week has been pretty crazy, well I haven't emailed in about 10-11 days because I'm now in Italy!! Everything over here is great I'm in a little town called Alessandria, and when I say little it's only little cause all the other cities around in Italy are huge. My trainers name is Anziano Younce he's really cool, He is from Raleigh, North Carolina has been on his mission for 22ish months so he is dying (a missionary term used when someone is finishing their mission) with me. In my district there are only 4 missionaries, my comp and I and a set of sisters who are dying (referring to them going home) this transfer. The work here in Alessandria is coming along great! We had 7 of our investigators come to church on Sunday, granted most of our work here is African refugees we did have one of our three Italian investigators come to church though!! He's awesome, his name is Carmello we have another lesson with him on Thursday, so tomorrow lol. Emmanuel one of our Africans has a baptismal date but we have to drop it cause he's only come to the 1 of the last 5 Sundays.... We are starting to do a Book of Mormon reading class Wednesday nights to help some of our Africans out cause only really 2 of them know how to read so we're doing it so we can teach them and get some gospel topics in there while reading! We have English class every Tuesday and Thursday, Tuesdays the Anziani teach (that's us lol) and Thursdays the Sorelle teach. It's super fun cause it's actually something I can help with! XD We also have this Italian class on Thursdays before English class which is for mostly our Africans so they can learn Italian and get better about communicating with the Italians, super cool! For me the language is coming slowly but surely, I got up in sacrament meeting on Sunday and bore my testimony in Italian and I think it went pretty well, no one has thrown me out of there ward yet lol so that's good! Besides all that I've already had fresh bread, real chocolate and I'm getting real pizza and gelato this week at some point my trainer said lol. I haven't gotten to see much of Italy yet but from what I've seen this place is gorgeous! We went to Genova for a special district meeting which combined 2 districts so that the zone leaders and sister train leaders didn't have to travel all over the place. They talked about our mission goal it's 3, 2, 1, (insert word here) they are still working on it but I'm hoping that we can all come up with ideas for the insert word but 3 represents 300 baptisms we want to have as a mission and 2 is making 2 new wards (which about 150 members make up a ward) and then 1 temple (obviously not one in Milan right now) the Rome temple. So our focus is going to be on trying to get these 300 new converts ready to enter the temple when it is finally open!! Some of you have probably already noticed but I am allowed to use Facebook on my mission and I had to create a new one, so if you could go and add me that would be great! Full name is: Dallin David Harrison. For those of you in the US time zones, if you are sending me personal emails I would suggest sending them to me Monday nights your time cause by that time it's basically Tuesday morning here and it just makes it easier for me to respond if I know what I'm responding to one day in advance! Thanks! I'm going to try an include a bunch of pictures cause alot of stuff has happened in the last week and a half. I don't think there is much else to talk about. I just want to let everyone know that I know that my Redeemer lives and that He loves each and everyone of us, Heavenly Father wants to help us and hear from us but he won't do it without first us asking. I challenge each and everyone of you to atleast try to communicate with Heavenly Father, I promise that if you will do this He will hear you and help you. I love you all can't wait to hear from you!! 

Ti voglio bene e anche ti amo 

Arrivederci!

Remember who you are and what God wants you to become!

Become as He is! 

Love, Anziano Harrison

 

Where is Alessandria? I was wondering the same thing!

 

It's about an hour and a half train ride south west of Milano!