Give Me A Challenge

Dear family and friends,

Stai attento ragazzo. Il tuo anime è in pericolo. (Watch out boy.  Your souls are in danger)

Hielo is doing pretty good. We have started to teach him at his apartment. Because last week someone broke into his apartment complex and stole his bike. His bike was a yellow beauty. Hielo is a bit sick in his body. He has less strength for walking so this was a pretty big blow to him. Something cool was he walked to church for us one day. Which is a long walk. We didn't ask him to do that but he did. Later he found his bike. Someone had bought it from the thief who is from Morocco. And gave it to Hielo. This is really good as hielo could not afford to buy another bike. This will help him come to church. Hielo is pretty lonely without any really close friends etc. We are trying to help him to continue to do good. He has been making some pretty amazing changes in his life for the better as he has been doing all the things we have been asking. He is a great example of good change and how the gospel can help you.

Silver is doing really good. He is a homey. On Friday it was raining out of nowhere in Thiene. We were going to have to walk to the station without umbrellas with packages and nice clothes on. (We had come straight from zone training so we could see silver). But Silver came with us so we could use umbrellas. He doesn't feel like he's got a good heart. But Silver is one of the sweetest guys ever. All three of the three musketeers came to stake conference. Onyeka also brought a friend. Stake conference went super well. Yeah we were content with how many of our guys came. They really liked it.

Onyeka is doing really good. He's ready to be baptized. We are just waiting to help finish helping Silver be ready.

We found Shima again. The friend of Christian. He just has gone undercover and without him having a phone we couldn't help him as would have been good. He was doing good with Christian and Chris. But then we lost all of them and then found Christian again. We taught Shima, Christian, and Onyeka together. It went fine. We got Shimas number and we tried to see him with the other two again last night. But it didn't happen. I invited Christian to try to help Shima come to church. Christian said that you can only lead the camel to the waters. You can't force the camel to drink. Haha. With some of the cool guys we have tried to help and teach like Shima some of them tell us of no problems and if we ask they don't talk about it. But there is a problem cause they don't come to church meet with us etc. It's better that they let us help if there is a problem. That's one reason some people don't get baptized.

Yeah all our other guys that were baptized are doing pretty good. We see them decently often and they still try to come to church etc. Anziano Keller / Davis and I did a good job of helping the four guys know we care about them and have positive emotions associated to the church. quality is a very important thing.

George is from Nigeria who we met a few months ago. We have met with him a few times and right now we are going to try to help him learn how to read and to get baptized. He still needs to come to church so that's one of the next big things. Also some of his friends I think are a bad influence on him. Which was a red flag. But he's doing fine and has done the things we have asked so I can't blame him for it.

I met the belly dancing lady Patricia this week. That was interesting. Never trust two types of people. An Italian. And a woman. Haha. Together that's a powerful combination.

District meeting was a bit sub par. The sisters were seriously late (they were sick). And then we got a call that someone got into an accident and we were needed at the hospital. We were not needed. But we were able to say hi. We then we came back. And we didn't really have time to do an adequate district meeting. Happens. I just want to have the most legendary great district meetings ever but in the end it's a lower priority say under people.

My missionary mojo has been waning recently. I'm not sure what's wrong with me. But I'm not able Rocky the sixth movie. The mojo isn't the same. Hopefully I can bring it back.
to do what I once was able to do. I'm like Rocky in

We are playing Football with the guys today. I'm pretty dang excited. I don't plan on losing.

Before football we are going to hopefully have lunch with Godwin. He is going to teach me the art of fufu today.. So I know hopefully how to make it etc. Give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime.

Aspettate me.

Buona vita,
Anziano Gridley

The Miserables. Are You Miserable? You Will Be.

Dear family and friends,

There out in the darkness. A fugitive running fallen from grace.

One of the highlights of the week was that we got the sisters a couple of referrals again this week.. Which hasn't happened for a bit of time. So that was super good.

I'm not sure what the sculptor
was trying to do in depicting Gandhi.
Nothing against Gandhi.

Last week I got a spam text from a member who hasn't been coming to church for a while. Members have been asking me about him and if we've heard anything from him. I hadn't ever heard from him. I checked to make sure it was the correct Raymond and then I returned his spam text with a call. Haha which is fair play and obviously he was on his phone. He answered and we had a good conversation. We then were able to come see him in Bassano on Saturday. Bassano is awesome with beautiful mountains. We had a good lessons about temples inviting him to go. He should be coming to church next month. There have been excuses for him not to come but he is going to come next month. He also showed us a friend that lives next door named Churchill. He will hopefully come to church with Raymond. We gave him a Book of Mormon. This was kind of funny because of how it happened. And because the members had been asking about him.

We were wanting to go play football with the Africans but. It's raining today. It was supposed to be just cloudy. Yahoo weather has failed me. Unimpressive.

I got Anziano Esmay to start doing exercises with me at night. Victory. I keep the faith going as I picked it up from Anziano Delgado and he went home quite a while ago. I've been trying to get someone else to start and have been unsuccessful up to this point.

My three musketeers came to church. It was awesome. Onyeka, Hielo, and Silver came to church on Sunday. Despite the rain for the second week in a row. Onyeka came with us on bike (also Christian). He is doing good. He would be getting baptized Saturday but we have stake conference. So we will wait a bit. Hielo wanted to come. And didn't come last week due to the rain. And so this week he girded up his loins and he came. Heck yeah. Silver got a ride to church from Stefano. And then we spent the day with him as we later ate dinner with brother green and his family with silver. It was super good. His wife is fantastic at making soup. It was a really good day. A day invested in silver. He's awesome.

Hielo and me.

I was getting attacked in church on Sunday. I'm kind of the veteran missionary here so if the branch president wants something from the missionaries. He talks to me. He talked to me about six times on Sunday about random things that needed to get done. He is awesome so it's fine. Sunday's are a little more busy for missionaries.

I got a few things this week. It was kind of funny. Because both times they said a price that was a bit too much. I would just wait a little under a minute thinking about if I really wanted what I was getting and if I could get it cheaper somewhere else. And then they'd slash the price a lot less.. Italy's awesome that way. If I was more cut throat it would be fun trying to get things for nothing. They discount things a ton in January and August.

We have been trying to find new people because we really only have the three musketeers right now. Which isn't bad especially if all of them get baptized. But we are full time missionaries. A bit more time than that. So we have been searching. Maybe I'm losing the mojo a bit. But strada ("street" contacting) isn't working like it did with Anziano Keller. So I've been trying to use the bus stops more like in the past. It's too cold and rainy for parks. Which also destroys talking to people on the street a lot of the time. I don't blame them for not talking to us. I'm not that good looking and it's raining. So we are left with the bus stops. It works OK.

At the end of the day. You are another day older.

I Hail you,
Anziano Gridley

Everybody was KungFu Fighting.

Dear family and friends,

I pity the fool.

Things are going good. I really like my new companion. He tries which is a great thing. And he speaks super good. He has been in Italy for four months. And he speaks super good. He has the gift of tongues. I'm going to try to nourish him and help rise even better. Let him do and become better than I ever was or will be. He already is. Just give him the tools of lots of my fails. We speak only Italian to each other. Which is super nice. Anziano Keller and I would kind of do it. But we are going all out. I love it. So we're getting along good. He brought settlers of Catan and today for p-day we've been battling as two players. We go to 25 points. I'm too competitive. Pretty fun, though.

Our three guys doing really good is. Hielo. We have continued to meet with him and he's progressing fine. He didn't come to church on Sunday because it rained. I don't blame him. Africans hate rain.

Onyeka has been sick this last little while. He is now getting better. He also didn't come to church. But sickness combined with rain is understandable. Only three African members came. And one had a ride hence rain isn't a problem. But he will hopefully be baptized next week. There is stake conference so we might do it on Friday. But we are excited for him.

Silver is doing alright. He left Africa because his uncles and aunts tried to kill him. So he has some deep feelings that make it hard for him to forgive. He really likes meeting with us etc. Brother Green came to the lesson with us. And Silver was able to talk openly to him in French. I really like brother Green. We then got sushi afterward. It was super good. We were trying to organize a ride for Silver so he didn't have to take the train to church every week from Thiene. But Brother Green said he said that he couldn't come last Sunday. There was a communication error because he did want the ride. And came on the train anyways. Even with the rain. He passed the test of if he's solid. He beat the rain. We gave him an umbrella and some gloves for the return journey. We are going to see him tonight.

We had fufu two times this week. I about died and went to heaven. We had okra and draw soup. Anziano Esmay is being welcome to Vicenza by the African fire.

I am now the district overlord of the Vicenza district. I have omnipotent power. Just kidding I basically have no power. Who cares any which way. But I did the district meeting training. These are the notes. I didn't have time to do all I wanted to do. But that's ok. I airdropped everyone the notes and then we started. The quotes area we took turns reading in different accents. That was probably the highlight of the training haha.

District meeting. Woot woot.
29 And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
30 And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take.
Today we are going to talk about strategies and get y'all trained on the strategies of war.
The world expects only one thing from us. That we will win. It's ok to be scared. Remember there is no courage without fear.
Men of gondor my brothers. (And sisters) I see in your eyes. The very fear that would take hold of me. There may come a day of shattered shields and testimonies and broken book of Mormons. But it is not this day. This day we fight.
Paint the fence.
Yo Adrian!
They say before you start a war you better know what your fighting for. Well you're all that I adore. If love is what you need. A soldier I will be.
I will make you fishers of men. How good of a fisher are you?
Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?
If I could have just One minute of just an insane amount of courage. I could work miracles. This is how I found my wife.
In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children
Why should we die before our journeys through? Happy day all is well.
(You are now inspired).
In theater we have objectives. What is our objective. As missionaries.
Why do we have that objective.
Why do we have the why of the objective.
How do we help people see that we care about them? Why is this important?
I like good actions. I may go to hell or change. But the good I do is something that can't be taken away.
What kind of finding do we do?
Why do we do that kind of finding?
What works.?
Hint. It's not casa.
Style. Battle dawn. Quality and quantity. What tools do we have as missionaries in finding.
If we die. We die with honor. Do things worthy of big home welcoming party.
What is the goal of a finding moment.
What needs to happen to reach our goal.
How do you break the ice. You are doing a members job in one minute or one second or less. How do I than reach the objective..
At a point we run into their agency. But if we are going to be out working hard. I want results. And sure maybe I tried my best. But if I didn't get any results. Over and over again. Well I need to fix it by any strategism if I need to. We are allowed to fight dirty.
Go fight win.

Now some sick role plays and critiquing by everyone.
Hopefully I gave you some tools for the desire you wield. Now it's a sword like Labans.
Anziano Wilson

Because you can't win rock.

I greet you,
Anziano Gridley

I Should Have More Mercy. Mercy Is For the Weak.

Dear family and friends,

Good morning sunshine, the earth says hello.

Silver is doing really good. He came to church by himself again. We are going to ask Stefano if he can stop by Thiene and take Silver to church so he does not have to spend money every week for church. We are hoping on Friday to see Silver with brother Green who speaks French.

I met a man name Hielo two p-days ago while Anziano Davis was skateboarding. He is super cool from Nigeria. He has been here a long time (ten years). And he has a super nice yellow bike. He is making good progress and is a proof that easy finding work can be done on p day.

Onyeka is doing really good. He is super solid. A lot of Africans fast for a week or go to mountains to fast and pray. Pretty awesome and intense things. I believe it when a lady tells the sister missionaries that she has visions. You get what you put in.

We went out with Frederico Sunday. We went up on the hill behind the station. There is a famous church there that is for Mary. They say that that hill was never taken in the wars because it's sacred ground and due to the church. It was cloudy and hence we

didn't get to see much. But even with fog, you get an interesting view. Frederico didn't really want to talk about things spiritually like what worked last time. So we probably won't do that again. Unless it's p day. He does come to English class. He is just learning and is pretty bummed that he doesn't understand or speak better.

The Moores had their baby. His name is Liam. He weighed six ounces. We went over to see them. They are doing really good. I got to hold Liam for a while and we got to talk to them. The Moores are Anziano Davis' favorite.

Anziano Davis is going to Milan. I'm getting a companion who has been in Treviso. He has been in the mission for about six months. And Sorella Stevens is going to Varese. I'm really happy as I really like Vicenza and I wanted to stay. I need to rise up and have the eye of the tiger. I'm certainly not the best around. But I need to be the karate Kid.

I can see that.

I salute you,
Anziano Gridley