I forgot to title my email 🤦 oh whale 🐳

1/10/2018

CLETUS GOT BAPTIZED!!!

So I baptized him it was awesome quick funny story, he didn't bend his knees soooo he hit his head on the back of the little pool thing we had but I got him to go all the way under so we didn't have to do it a second time

Other part to the story is he showed up 30 minds late for church soooo he hasn't been confirmed yet but it's happening this Sunday! 

That's probably the highlight of the week for those of you who are just skimming this just read that and you can stop here lol

Was in Alessandria last P-Day now I'm back in San Remo but today's my last day here in all honesty I love it here its wayyyyy prettier here than Alessandria but the church is struggling here and I don't know if I'd be the best at strengthening it to be honest ma no lo so forse io ritorno a Sanremo un altro giorno! (but no I know maybe I return to San Remo another day!)

I'll add pictures a little later

Last Saturday before the baptism we got transfer calls and I found out that I'll be getting Anziano Minnoch who is coming from Rimini he was the Zone Leader there and only has 4 transfers left i keep getting old farts as comps in the mission lol

Today for P-Day we went to this little town called Albenga on the coast here to go on a beautiful hike in the mountains, it was so gorgeous! I took a lot of pictures on my GoPro but I probably won't get to send those today but I took some on my phone too ill include those! The hike wasn't too hard but we did bushwack a little to get to one of the summits but there was nothing really there. Then we got to the real summit and it was awesome! I got to know Anziano Nordgran a little bit it was good hiking with him. I also got to talk to Anziano Baker a little bit we wrestled a little on the trail but before I could take him Anziano Jackson joined in and he destroyed both of us lol

We tried doing something it was fun but it didn't work out so ya know no one probably needs to know what it was we probably should've stopped after the first try but we did it 3 times lol 

As for spiritual experiences this week we've had a lot of success in finding! We have about 6-8 potential investigators which is super nice! One of them is actually Anziano Jackson's new boyfriend hahaha jkjk just put that in to make him made cause he's on this email list love ya man! But honestly we've been trying to get as many potentials as possible finding seems hard and in my opinion it kinda scares me but people actually enjoy talking to you (sometimes) and then that can lead to talking about something gospel related or even English class and then you can help them from there! For the rest of the day here we have a lesson at 7:15 and then we're going over to Nonna's house, I'm going to die because she feeds us so flippin much. I gained 5 kil (11 pounds, he's says he lost it again though - why can't it be that easy for me - Mom) since I've been in San Remo. That's a lot. I hope you all who are home are doing well and progressing in life and in the gospel! If you need help with anything that I could help with let me know! I love you all! 

Love, 

Anziano Harrison 

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

Picture time!!!

1. Anz Jackson, Baker and I (all in the MTC together the first time I was there) 

 

2-5. The view from the hike we went one! Bellissimo (Very beautiful)

 

Cletus' Baptism

1/6/2018

Today I had the opportunity to baptize Cletus, one of our invesigators. I have been teaching him since the first lesson and all I can remember is how much he wanted to come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. His desire drove me to want to help him and other investigators we have! Thank you Cletus for being an example to everyone around you, I know you made the right choice in getting baptized!

 Cletus and Anziano Harrison

There and Back Again, a Missionary Tale

1/4/2017

By: Anziano Harrison

Quindi la settimana scorsa era una bella avventura qui in Italia.

Haha alright I'll go back to English for you all who can't read the celestial language. 

This last week was a crazy adventure, I'm back in Alessandria already i was in San Remo for a total of 6ish days and now I'm back in Alessandria for 5 more days then we go back to San Remo to finish the transfer which ends next Thursday. I will find out who my new permanent companion is this Saturday.

We are back here in Alessandria because Cletus is getting BAPTIZED!! For me this is super exciting because he wants me to baptize him! I'm so happy for him he had his baptismal interview yesterday and he passed! Now we're just figuring out who is giving talks and saying prayers and stuff but it's actually happening! My first baptism!

Okay giving a run down of the week quickly. 

Thursday got up and jumped on a train to Genova with Anziano Younce to meet up with Anziano Jackson and Kim (because Anziano Kim was going home with Anziano Younce) from there I said bye to Anziano Younce and Anziano Jackson and I jumped on a train to San Remo about a 2 hour train ride. Funny quick side story (don't know if it is quick actually lol) So the last time Anz Jackson was on the train he met this Italian girl from a town near San Remo that was on the train turns out she had taken a picture of him at the Duomo in Milan last Christmas when he was caroling, then they met her the second time the last time he was on the train and then we got on the train to go to San Remo and the next stop, and guess who gets on the train this same girl. The first thing she says when she gets on and sees Anz Jackson is "È destino" (it's destiny) so we talked to her and her sister who was with her and gave them The Book of Mormon (in Italian of course) and invited them to English class buuuuut they didn't come sadly... We then went to Nonna's house (this is a different Nonna than in Alessandria) and her goal in life is to make the missionaries FAT. So far it hasn't worked but I did gain 5 killi while I was there soooo it was starting to work lol the rest of the week was kind of a blur

Besides Sunday when I had to sit on the stand and lead the music it was weird the church in San Remo is only a branch very small but super nice members! The church building is above a store right on the harbor on the Mediterranean Sea it is soooo beautiful! Sunday night was New Years! Buon Capodanno a tutti!! Italy is like WWIII on New Years if you are sleeping you will wake up at midnight cause they pull out fireworks and pistols and go nuts for about an hour. Good experience glad I survived! Yesterday we took a 3 and a half hour long train ride to get back here to Alessandria so we could start preparing for the baptism on Saturday. Not much else has happened today we are changing the water in the boilers cause they stink and that's the water we have to baptize Cletus with and that isn't good to have smelly water... Then we're going shopping later I think cause Saldi is about to start or started i don't really know yet haha just looking around right now then later in the month you get good deals on stuff! Not much else this week I'll send pictures in a few minutes. Love you all have an amazing week! Oh yeah my sister Bailey got home from her mission yesterday, HI BAILEY HOW IS IT AT HOME?

Love, 

Anziano Harrison 

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

Picture time!

1. A view from 1 of the 2 apartments in San Remo

 

2. Anziano Jackson taken a snooze on the train

 

3. Turtle Island

 

4. San Remo at night

 

5. Ciao Ciao Anz Younce and Kim! :'(

 

San Remo?! Forte

12/27/2017

So I found out I'm going to San Remo for 2 weeks before transfers happen cause my trainer is finishing his mission early. I'll explain later in the email. 

This week has been super crazy. 

Thursday morning we woke up and got on a train to head to Genova again but this time for scambio (exchanges) with the Capi (zone leaders) it was really fun right now our Capi are Anz Johnson and Anz Johnson which is super weird but they are in fact two different people! I was with Anz Johnson (lol they both are Johnson) but I was with the one who has been ZL for the least amount of time, we went that night to go and visit the less active Ward Mission Leader who is super nice loves the missionaries just doesn't want to live in Italy he wants to move back to Ecuador (i think is where he's from) went back to the apartment and did studies, then played "bang" (the card game) before going to bed

Friday we woke up had pancakes and then left for a lesson with a potential investigator that the Capi have who is very interested in religion in general and has studied a lot of other religions but has never heard of the "Mormons" we went in going to teach about the gospel of Jesus Christ but ended up teaching about modern day prophets and tithing lol was quite weird we then jumped on a train after lunch and came back to Alessandria and got ready to go to a birthday party we were invited to! The party was for twins names Chris and Grace, they are Phillipino both very nice girls, it was their 18th birthday party! Exciting!

Saturday morning we went over to our old Ward Mission Leaders house and had a pancake breakfast again (but his were better) I had 2 with syrup and 4 with just Nutella ahhhhh I love Nutella.

After that we had to run back to the church because we had Zone Conference and it was at our building and we were a little late it was a really good conference they taught a lot about the importance of planning well and having good English classes! Oh and we also had another party for Pietro as a farewell party it was good! 

Sunday we had church it was only an hour but it was super good! Anziano Younce bore his testimony in Italian for everyone first then Sorella Walker gave a talk about Christmas, and after her Pietro Campini gave his farewell talk he leaves Friday for the Preston MTC for 2 years he is serving in the London, England mission (I'm going to be honest I will miss him because I've grown really close to him as a friend) he will do great as a missionary in England! And then the second counselor closed the meeting with a talk twas very good! Around 3 we went to go visit Nonna and sing some hymns to her, we then left there to go to the Dioquino's house (Grace and Chris' parents house) where all of the Phillipini were and we had this huge feast of Phillipino food and it was sooooo good! The best part of the night though was the Karaoke. I can't express how great Phillipino Karaoke is!!!

Monday was Christmas!! I got to speak to all 4 of my parents and my siblings! I even got to talk to my sister who is on her mission in Oregon!! Which was super cool for me cause it's 9 hours time difference from here to there. Before all that though our district got invited to go to the Campini's house for Christmas lunch (lunch is the big meal here no matter what) we stayed they for a few hours then ran to the church and all called our families. After that we started the one movie we could watch for Christmas. We watched the new Beauty and the Beast because 2 of us hadn't seen it before (I was not one of them) it's a great movie if you havent seen it I would suggest it! Then we went home and that was Christmas! I wanna stop for a second and talk about the importance of Christmas those of you who have read this far are in for a treat. What is the meaning of Christmas? Like the real meaning? For all who do not know Christ is. CHRIST-MAS literally means more Christ. Just think what the world would be like if we didn't have Christ in our lives, we wouldn't have the Bible or the Book of Mormon we wouldn't have Christmas to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. This world we live in would be for nothing, but that's not what happened. Christ came he was born some two thousand years ago and lived for us and died for each and everyone of us so we could return to our Father in Heaven! I love you all and hope that someone will be able to learn something from what I explained! 

Tuesday was pretty normal day besides the call from President Allen explaining that because my companion is going home early as in tomorrow, I will be spending the next 2 weeks in San Remo which is a smaller city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea on the western side of Italy near France. After the 2 weeks are over he said I will be returning to Alessandria so no worries there! The only problem is that Cletus our progressing investigator has a baptismal date on the 6th of January... So we will see what ends up happening there once I get to San Remo. Besides that exciting news we had English class yesterday it was really good we talked about past tense and English is so difficult lol explaining it is so hard but I will get better at it eventually

Finally today we haven't been doing much mostly packing Anziano Younce because he is going home tomorrow, but I've been packing too. We are going to do a little shopping today as well but don't know if I'll get anything cause I'm waiting for Saldi in January (everything is like 50-80 % off for almost a whole month) 

Well that's all for this week I'll let you all know next week how San Remo is and about Cletus' baptismal date. I love you all and hope the New Year greets you kindly! Set goals and make plans to come closer to Christ! That's my challenge to everyone! 

Sinceramente, 

Anziano Harrison 

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

Pictures-

1. The twins birthday party

 

2. This is Pietro!! 

 

3. This is one of the streets in Alessandria 

 

4. The Christmas present the Allen's gave us for Christmas, a tie with the Rome Temple on it!! 

Christmas Call

Anz Harrison and Younce in matching sweaters on Christmas Day w/ a ward member

Our Three Way call with our missionaries! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

20th Birthday in Italy/Christmas Time

12/20/2017

Thursday last week was pretty normal, except we started wrapping Book of Mormon's and pass along cards like presents, Friday we woke up and went to the church to practice "The First Noel" (later on I will explain why) and then finished wrapping Book of Mormon's and pass along cards had an appointment with Cletus about tithing it went very well! Friday night we went to Piazza Libertà and Caroled and gave the Book of Mormon's and pass along cards as presents!!! Italians didn't understand we didn't want money and that the presents were free. but we still ended up giving out all put one Italian book! We also got this potential investigator his name is Jacopo he seems really interested but he's only in town till tonight cause he's going home for the Holidays till the end of January which kind of blows but we will teach him for sure!! Saturday was my 20th birthday! It was mostly just like any other day in the mission lol, we went as a district and got pizza at this place called "Planet Pizza" (I know almost like Pizza Planet from Toy Story) It's the best pizzeria in Alessandria so we actually go there a lot, I ate 2 whole pizza's.... I'll send a picture and you'll see I'm already done with one pizza while everyone is only half way done with theirs lol (they were good pizza's) when then missed our train to go to an appointment in Valenza, we called Vincent our investigator and he said he couldn't meet with us anymore anyway so I guess that was kind of good (not really but kind of lol) That evening we had the ward "Concert" (not Christmas party) basically we were asked to sing "The First Noel" in English for this concert it was really good!! At the end of it all, everyone gets up and Pietro (the member who is about to leave on his mission) starts playing the Happy Birthday song on the piano and everyone starts singing "Happy Birthday" to me but in Italian I was going to get a video but by the time I started taking it they were finished (it was better than the ones my family does that's for sure ;) lol) Sunday was good nothing really different expect we had correlation for the 2nd time ever since I've been in the mission, mostly because they just called a new ward mission leader. His name is Martin (he's a return missionary, he came home from his mission the same day I came into the mission) Monday's are the worst days to be missionaries in Italy cause no Italy wants to do anything expect sit at home and do nothing. We still worked though!! we had 2 lessons one with Vincent and one with Cletus. The one with Vincent was on Repentance, and the one with Cletus was on every greenies worst nightmare to teach, The Law of Chastity. It was a really good lesson and it wasn't bad at all!! Yesterday we had district meeting and we went to La Dolce Vita, it's a pizzeria that's owned by a member and we always get free food so it's nice to go there! :) Then we also had English class which was good. Finally today, we aren't doing much because Anziano Younce is going home next Thursday so he is packing today and I also have to go to the Questura for my fingerprint appointment so I can legally live here in Italy XD Anziano Younce also wants to go shopping but I don't know if we will get to it cause we have a lot of stuff going on we will see though. Love you all! I wish you all a Merry Christmas this next week, I hope you all remember why we celebrate and it's because of our Savior Jesus Christ! Ciao Ciao!

Sinceramente, 

Anziano Harrison

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

Pictures

1. Caroling with GANS

2. Birthday lunch at Planet Pizza

3. This is Andrea who owns the pizzeria and that my friends is what you call fresh prosciutto (that leg is like 450€)

4. This is the pizza I got at the pizzeria its called the clown pizza and it has jam bacon and cheese on it trust me it was delicious.

Zone P-Day in Genova

12/14/2017

This last week has been really fast and has had ups and downs haha

So last week Thursday we had our normal Thursday night with Italian class English class then we didn't have Institute because all of the GANS were all driving to the Switzerland temple (I wanted to ask President if we could go but Anz Younce said no) haha Friday was a day of Bidoni lol no fun, Saturday was we went and saw Nonna who is the woman I talked about in my Facebook post if you saw it! Gave her a blessing cause she hasnt been feeling well. Sunday was legendary in Gospel Principles the teacher didn't show up so Anz Younce taught the whole lesson but in English cause the class had 8 English speakers and 1 Italian speaker lol so Sorella Kopischke translated for the Italian the whole time but the lesson was on Priesthood Organization and the Africans were sooooo confused but also not at the same time it was weird duuuudes. We had a lesson with Cletus on Monday went well it was about the Word of Wisdom and he already doesn't drink or smoke he just drinks tea and coffee but he said he would stop so that was awesome! Tuesday we had district meeting in complete Italian and I was dying cause I understood 50% or less lol but it was good we then went and got gelato as a district at La Romana its the only gelato place I've been here but it's baller! We then passed out English class fliers then had English class at 8 it was so good we only had advanced students so we just talked about Christmas! Today was Zone P-Day hence the title we got on a train this morning at 9:30 to get to Genova at 10:30 to play calcio (soccer) it was super fun, one of our Zone Leaders messed up his knee though (Anz Wilson) because Anz Jackson tripped while running for the ball or something and like flew into Anz Wilson, besides that calcio was fun! We then went and had Peruvian food at this cool restaurant in Genova. Now we're on the train back to Alessandria I'll add the two pictures I took from this week to the email just of Gelato and Zone P-Day picture so yeah lol besides that our week was pretty good besides 2 of our Italian investigators decided they didn't want to take the lessons anymore so yeah that happened yesterday within hours of each other... To finish off the email I'm just going to say that Italy is great I'm loving life as a missionary and am looking forward to the time I spend here. I love you all and wish you all the best in the next week! If you've read them far send me a little email not long just something about what's going on in your life! Oh yeah it's my birthday Saturday! 20th birthday in Italy! It's also the day of the ward Christmas party so that's cool! Ciao ciao tutti!

Sinceramente, 

Anziano Harrison 

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

1. Gelato at La Romana