Padawan of the Pizza

Buona Vita Famiglia e Amici,

You are either a one or a zero, Alive or Dead.

My favorite sister, I am most happy about you making a quilt, I read this Proverbs 31:10-31 and thought of you. Hopefully this helps you in life. On that note, I have just finished reading Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Those books in the Old Testament are so groovy cool. They are just basically basic wisdom and knowledge from about life and God. They're probably my favorite book(s) in the Old Testament. Solomon (I'm pretty sure is the author) and I have thought of a lot of the same stuff. If you are LDS, Christian, or anything it would be good to read and just gain some basic knowledge about life.

There isn't really an apostrophe on these keyboards. Sorry Dad. (Editor's note: all apostrophes in his emails have been added  :(   

We went to the Pizza restaurant owned by the LDS member again. I started talking to him about the dark art of Pizza. Next week we are hoping to go over to his store and to learn this art first hand. I asked him what the secret is, he responded that passion is the secret. I've got plenty of that so I should be coming home a pro. Also that ingredients and experience is important. The water is very important, dont touch the water too much, and since the water in Utah isn't as good as in Italy, he suggested leaving the tap running 24 hours before using the water to make pizza. I'm not sure if everything he will teach will be vale la pena. (Worth the pain) The best pizza in the world might be worth it however, so we will see.=)

We also ate cow intestine at his restaurant. It was really good. There were veggies and oils in the dish that helped make it good.

Anziano Larson was a serious hardcore dancer before the mission. He has won National competitions and what not. He also is usually always sick. Not much I can do for him. Our heating was broken for about a month a week ago. We finally got it fixed and that has been helping. I often am teasing him all in good fun.

The weather here is probably warmer than Utah right now. It is pretty nice.

I have really grown a gigantic liking for General Conference talks. I can't seem to read enough of them. I decided I wanted to read all of the Conference talks available which means the last 44 years worth. I'm really excited to start that.

I tried to start exercising in the morning starting with jumping jacks. I started to hurt my feet, making blisters, hence stopping for a few days. I can report gladly though that Anziano Larson and I went running this morning. Hopefully this legacy will live on and help me become super healthy. 

Alberto should be getting baptized this Saturday. I have been asked to Baptize him. Which is really cool. Something kind of special. He is a bit of a bigger man and I'm hoping I don't drop him. The baptismal prayer in Italian is. "Avendo ricevuto l'incarico di Gesù Cristo. Io ti battezzo nel nome del Padre, del Figlio e dello Spirito Santo."(Pardon the spelling). I dont want to forget that either. So basically I just have to not drop him and say the words right and it should be good. He is a really great man and I am blessed to have been able to teach him. Some fun things about him.. He has some interesting views about marijuana and how it can and should be used for medical purposes haha. Also he wanted to get a tattoo of a heart on his shoulder with his daughters name, which we explained to him about our bodies being a temple. I am excited for the gospel to help him even more when he becomes a member.

 I have been studying the gospel and life quite a bit recently. I can't share everything I learn with you, but the more I learn.. The more I am converted to the gospel and believe in the Church. I don't like how people wont listen to us on the streets and don't care about religion and things that are important and aren't willing to change. In proverbs it talks a lot about how a wise man should love being rebuked or love changing to becoming better, that if you strike a wise man he will learn more from that than a fool who recieves 100 lashings. For myself I am always going to try to hear people, give them respect and learn more of good things.

Good work family in giving the missionaries some names. This is a good thing (speaking from experience). 

Faith Hope and Charity are good things, Six things that are Dangerous, Destructive to this is. Doubt leads to, Discouragement, Discouragement leads to Distraction, Distraction leads to Lack of Diligence, Lack of Diligence leads to Disobedience, Disobedience leads to Disbelief, you have now joined the Dark Side.. Congratulations. Work on good things and not these bad things. Try to have more good things than bad things in your life, and if you aren't doing this right now. Change It.

If we are doing these three things among other things than you are on a good path and shouldn't fall away. (This is a guideline). Praying (especially at morning and night), Going to church, and reading the scriptures. If anything in your life is making you not want to do these things, it's generally not a good thing and you should do the three things. When I don't want to do these three things is generally when I needed them most. We met two men on the street both in pretty dire circumstances. One refused to pray the other askes US to pray for him. Sometimes people don't let God help them, how can you expect God to help you if you won't let him. 

Hence I challenge y'all to be willing to take reproof. To be willing to change and reach your potential. If you do something kind of dumb and Dad says something trying to help you learn. Listen, and take the reproach and become better. Be willing to learn from the strike instead of the 100 lashes. I'd invite you to pick one thing specifically in your life that is of this topic of changing or accepting criticism and working on it.

I do care about y'all. May you find, deserve and earn, love, in honor of this time of season, from God, your family, and that other person.

Auguri. (I wish you the best)

We do have a monopoly here. There is no second place.

Anziano Gridley

Kings and Pawns. Emperors and Fools.

Salve Family and Friends,

Kings and Pawns. Emporers and Fools.

Thank you for the letters and the candy. It was really nice to get those yesterday. Pero do not send me more candy. I will eat it and become a big balloon of chubby. So please do not give me diabetes anymore.

We had a Zone training yesterday. I learned about teaching to find, and choices determine destiny.

Alberto the Ecuador husband should be baptized next Saturday. Which is super duper exciting. We taught him everything and he is all for it. If you would like pray for him. It would be a good thing.

Zone Conference, Yay!

They way to say COME ON in Italian is Dai. Which means You Give. So if something doesn't go your way or you are a bit frustrated you just say "Oh Dai". Its a very common phrase type thing... and I've sort of picked up on it. haha

I've been really happy this last bit. This gospel is happy, the essence of the gospel is love. A few especially wonderful moments have been when I've made a connection with an investigator, or they see that I really do care about them. The moments when I really love them. Those are good.

A thought... do you think Ether was a bad missionary? He converted basically no one. No one. Yet I believe he was a good missionary. We let outward non positive results get us down. Others have their agency. It's not all Gods fault despite what people may tell you.

Elder Larson

The way we often try to start talking to people on the street is. we ask a question like... "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" People really do cast him as a thing of naught. Remember to defend him and try to be nicer to strangers than people who are nice even though they don't believe in Jesus.

2 Nephi 4:26

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

For Gans we read the end verses of 2 Nephi 4. We then put negative and positive things that Nephi said from the verses. There were a lot more positive things than negative things. Showing really that life is worth it. Even though its not always a walk in the park. We should have faith like Nephi instead of being fearful like Laman and Lemuel. Try keeping true perspective and it should be easier to be happy.

There is really good talk that I have liked from last general conference.

I like the talk itself... the Elder speaking speaks with no emotion really.. but what he says when I first heard it took me by a big surprise.

He talks about living the gospel in fear is no fun and is completely unnecessary. Listening to the negative (Satan's voice) inside your head. When Satan wants you to sin he tries to put distance between you and God. So stay close to him. He suggests 6 ways to improve life and to help get rid of his voice. ( So that we can approach the throne of God with more confidence.

1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual well being. (Stop making excuses etc (trust you me... everyone and their dog has excuses and its honestly not an OK reason though.. You should not be too busy for Jesus.)
2. Take responsibility for your own body. (Your body effects your spirit... so take care of it).
3. Embrace whole-hearted obedience. (Yes my little siblings.. this includes obeying Mom and Dad. Go do the dishes Jonas. Thank you.)
4. Become really really good at repenting. (We can repent everyday all the time so why not do so).
5. Become really really good at forgiving. (Forgive everyone and don't hold grudges.)
6. Accept trails setbacks and surprises as part of your mortal experience. (Remember we are here to be tried and tested. Millions of our brothers and sisters are and have been tested... why should you be excused. Acknowledge and face your weaknesses. But don't be immobilized by them. Because some of them will by with you until you die.)

Snow the size of my face

If we are grateful and have faith, hope, and charity, we should be happy and doing good works (things) as a concequence.
I'm very grateful I'm here in Italy right now. Helping myself by helping others. It is great.

I invite you to gain more Faith, Hope, and Charity this week. Also try the six points to destroying the ring of evil power.

I hope you may be uplifted by this email, and that you may find comfort. I have found faith out here. I'm praying for y'all and hope everything works out for you. Remember. There is no spoon. So be happy =).

To remember better days.

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Take a Stand

Buona Salute e Vita Family and Friends,

"Your Father failed, because he failed to act."

We met this Indian man who is a Hindu recently. He was extremely patient and very kind despite all odds etc. (He had head phones etc). We met him on the street taught him about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. We met him again and gave him an Italian BoM and we are working on getting him one in his own language. He is very patient and I believe genuine. He came to church with us on Sunday to Testimony meeting. He is really cool and hopefully good things will happen.

The monk guy we met a while ago may or may not like other monks type of a thing, and long story short. We wont be meeting him again.

There is a Nonna (Grandma) here who feeds us every couple of weeks. She has special permission from an old president of the mission for us to visit her without a man in the home. She is really kind to us. Però (however) she prays that the evil people in the world and some people who aren't Christians be destroyed like the Book of Mormon again. I suppose we all have our faults as this isn't a particularly good thing to hope or pray for.. I just found it a bit odd.

We were finding and went around a corner and I had just seen a man... felt to talk to him.. did so.. he speaks English and is from another European country. He the day before had lost his licence and hence would no longer be able to work at his job.. and was feeling really low about that. We taught about the restoration and tried to offer comfort to him. He said that if God would show me a sign or let me know then I will do it. I told him this was the way that God could show him of the truth. We exchanged numbers and set up a time to meet with him again after a prayer with him, we haven't been able to see him or hear from him after this encounter, but I believe we were meant to meet with him if only to provide some comfort in this hard time in his life.

To address some normal (for me) things that you may not know.

We eat with members about two meals each week.

Food wise... I eat a lot of pasta. It's dang good. There is pesto which is a sauce pre-made you throw on pasta that you just made... that's really good. You just can't really have it as left overs. Gelato is really good here as well... but I'm trying to stay away from eating it... kebab.. and Nutella haha. Despite what the world tells you... those things aren't very good for you. I've had Filipino food quite a few times as well.

It is really gray and not exactly pretty here. Anziano Larson isn't super impressed. I do like it though. I'm not here to see a pretty country.

Italians take fooseball way serious. The older men as well. They have different ways that they hold the rod thing. Like a different grip of holding a lightsaber. or like penholder to standard. It's really funny to see them so crazy about this little soccer game. I'm the same way though haha.

A general conference talk I very much enjoyed was by Elder Holland a few years ago called the First Great Commandment. I particularly liked this because the Bible is not crazy descriptive and I appreciate him filling in some holes of some non scriptural but what he imagines probably went down.

He has great sympathy for the apostles. A few days after Jesus death he believes Peter said something like this to the other Apostles. Brethren, it has been a glorious three years. None of us could have imagined such a few short months ago the miracles we have seen and the divinity we have enjoyed. We have talked with the very Son of God Himself. We have walked with him and wept with Him, and on the night of that horrible ending, no one wept more bitterly than I. But that is over. He has finished his work, and He has risen from the tomb. He has worked out his salvation and ours. So you ask, What do we do now... I don't know more to tell you than to return to your former life, rejoicing. I intend to go a fishing.

And at least six of the ten other remaining apostles went with him. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately. But alas the fishing wasn't good. Their first night back on the lake, they caught nothing.. not a single fish. At first light they saw in the distance a figure who called out to them... Children, have you caught anything... Glumly these Apostles turned again fishermen gave the answer no fisherman wants to give. We have caught nothing they muttered, and to add insult to injury they were being called children.

"Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." the stranger calls out and with those simple words, recognition begins to flood them. Just three years earlier these very men had been fishing on this very sea. On that occasion too they had toiled all the night and had taken nothing.
Now it was happening again. These children as they were rightly called eagerly lowered their net and they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John said the obvious. It is the Lord. And over the edge of the boat, the irrespressible Peter leaped.

This next was a very important conversation. (and the background of this story Elder Holland gives helps explains why). He proceeds to ask Peter three distinct times if he loves him (Jesus). The third time Peter says "Lord thou knowest that I love thee." To which Jesus responded (in Elder Hollands words). Then Peter, why are you here.. Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation... Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish.. What I need, Peter, are disciples.. and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need some one to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless.. it is not hopeless.. it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.

Kind of some background to the scriptures and an inspiring Jesus speech. To those of my fellow friends and family serving missions or are enlisting I applaud you and I'm happy for you. This is the work of God and it is a cause worth leaving the fish and living and dying for. This I know. I found this helpful to me as a pick me up.. and I hope it is helpful to you as read that story. (Here's the talk with video).

We meet and talk to a fair amount of Africans and Muslims as we go out and try to find people to teach. Normally they will at least hear us more, hence we talk with them more. One thing I believe should be a thing is this. Jesus Christ was either a liar... or the Son of God. As he claimed that he was that.. and hence would be a liar if this was not true... and to think you can take some middle ground to me is silly. Same thing with the Book of Mormon.. Our church.. The apostles of today are either men of God... or they are lying about a lot of things. After having examined a lot of these things. I believe that all of these are true good things and it has greatly helped my life... but to try to pretend some middle ground at least of the core of things is not wise and I invite you all to find out for yourselves what is true.

I try not to be overbearing to people and hence sometimes I just let Anziano Larson do the talking.

I invite you all to find out for yourselves to act. Do not procrastinate this. What really is important..

Anziano Gridley and his Grandma (also serving currently in
the Kiev, Ukraine Temple on a mission with Grandpa),
at the 2014 Low Reunion.

I'll tell you right now.. its not money. I bear my testimony that this is the way to find a sign from God if he exists and what is true in the world. Through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon.... Stand up and rise from the dust.

"That man had a gun."
"Would that stop you..."
"I've had training."
"The training is nothing. The will is everything. The will to act." - Ra's al Ghul

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Patso Tranquillo

Salve Family and Friends,

Set the phasers to stun number one.

Anziano Larsen is my new collega. He's short, he likes scarves, he danced before the mission, hes from Provo Utah and was going to BYU. His eyes are a bit bouncy. He's not a mago or magician at the language as has been Anziano Lewis. We get along fine, and Ill try to start being more nice to him haha. 

The Investigator with the Ecuadorian wife is doing good. He's come to church for the last few weeks and we then teach him after church. We are hoping he gets baptized this month. He has a bit of smoking problem etc. He has lots and lots of auborn facial hair. He is kind of hyper you could say, but is pretty cool. Italians talk really fast, hence I feel the urge to speak pretty fast as well. In our lesson on Sunday he could tell I was struggling a little bit, and he was like Tranquillo. Letting me take my time. He's a really good guy and hopefully we can help him.

The other evening at about three in the morning, there was a car that honked It's horn for about twenty minutes. Yes it is true... I have arrived in Italy.

The other day a missionary that had been serving from our ward returned home. He had served in the Rome mission, and we had a ward party at the church to celebrate his return. I learned a few useful things from that day.

In life we have two choices... accept the way life is... or change it.
It's my job to teach those who are ready. 
I as a missionary should do things worthy of a return home party.

(Editor's addition)

I taught a lesson to an active family this week of some things about the Sons of Helaman. (Alma 56. 47/48/56 ... Alma 57. 21/26) I was reading about them on my own and kind of applied what I was reading to myself. I read about their mothers and how they did not doubt because their mothers knew it. I thought to myself. Well I know my mother knows it. The story took on a whole new meaning. They did not doubt, and were exactly obedient and they took on a whole new level of super saiyan. But yes I know my mother knows that the gospel is true.

(Editor's addition)

We played a game last P day that was pretty fun. It's the card game war... but it was the General Authorities fighting each other and they had special abilities based on last General Conference as well. Anziano Wilson and an old collega of his took like three months to make it a while back haha. So that was cool. 

Anziano Wilson will sometimes kind of quote starwars etc. When President Dibb let him know he was going to be senior Zone leader he said... Now Anziano Wilson I know you aren't going to abuse your new found power. Anziano Wilson said... Of course not President.... Then they both laughed. Anziano Wilson sometimes says Omnipotent Power... like Emperor Palpatine.

We met with a potential on the street this week. He smokes a lot... is around 60.. divorced and lives in a small appartment. He is sooo cool. He's basically your stereo type Italian. He uses his hands a lot and speaks Extremely loud. When we were teaching him after about three sentences he would stop us and say... Excuse me.. I have an experience I need to tell you.... He would then proceed to tell us a story for 10 minutes. The lesson lasted about two hours. We are going to try to have them not be that long from hear on out. He is a good guy and I hope we can help him.

With Anziano Larsen here I've had to step it up... because the first day when we tried to do finding etc. I knew we would have zero success unless I stepped it up. He's adjusted to this city, but I'm still stepping it up. Which is good. Anziano Larsen has been out about a year and half. But yeah Alto Gioco in practice you could say.

Some specific things I learned from General Conference talks that I liked etc. The biggest three regrets of people before they had died was.

1. I wish I had spent more time with the people I love most. This speaks for itself but some regretted all the hours on the treadmill instead of doing better things. 
2. I wish I had lived up to my potential.
3. I wish I had let myself be happier. 

If you are too busy for the important things etc you then are too busy. Can you imagine Jesus being in a hurry all of the time etc> I don't.  He always gave the people he was with the gift of his time and wasn't in a huge hurry all the time.  If we labor as missionaries all of our days (not just on a full time mission) if we should bring save one soul unto Christ... how great would be our joy.

I have thought a lot about the gospel etc in my time. Sometimes to the point where it's not good.. where it just leaves me frustrated. Ezra Taft Benson said... Every person is eventually backed up to the wall of faith and there must make his stand. In some things all we really have is faith etc from what we do know. Jesus Christ has though invited all of us to come and see... Come and find out for yourself... to gain this faith. That's all we really do as missionaries. We want to help people find out for themselves.

Editor's note: A little gem of a pic I found on the mission blog.

I found out a hidden ring of power this week. I started reading General Conference talks picking and choosing the topics I liked reading about 20 plus the last two days and I realized that General Conference talks are sweet.. The scriptures are hard to apply to our lives now at times and sometimes are just stories. General Conference talks apply quite a bit etc. 

You have been told the secret of how to improve your life.
I challange you to read a conference talk this week.
That is all.
Punch it Chewie.
Oh no It's the Kobayashi Maru test of life.

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

Finishing the Transfer With Alto Gioco (High Game)

Dear Family and Friends,
I have had the best pizza in Italy...

It's the end of the transfer and we had some pretty big changes here in Alessandria. Sorella Johnson is going to go be a Sister training person somewhere else leaving Sorella Albos to be trained by someone else, etc... which is unusual and Sorella Albos is pretty sad about it. Anziano Taylor is going to Milan to be the new Assistant. I told him that you know you are a pretty good missionary when you are a Zone leader and then an Assistant. He left on Sunday, hence making Anziano Lewis, Wilson and I in a three collega until thursday when my trainer arrives. Anziano Lewis is becoming the new Zone leader. Hence hes going to be Anziano Wilsons new collega and moving down stairs from where we live right now. It's not a super big deal since Ill still see him basically everyday. Which means Anziano Lewis in Genova is coming up tomorrow and is going to be finishing my Jedi training. I've met him before he seemed really nice. He's really short, really patient, and recently had a birthday. 

It's been pretty fun with Anziano Lewis and Anziano Wilson and me together. They are both really good guys. Anziano Wilson basically talks to everyone on the street con senza paura. They are both really good examples and I'm trying to learn from them. 

This last week and during a lot of my mission I've been pretty humbled. I won't go into super details here because some of the stories are kind of embarrassing, but yeah its all good now, but sometimes it's too the point where I get a little frustrated. Sometimes you have to take several steps backwords to make a lot of steps forwards I suppose. It's all good.

It's snowing today which is very unusual and I may never see it again on my mission. The snow flakes are huge due to the humidity, it doesn't snow a lot due to the humidity, and the snow won't stay due to the humidity. It's pretty great.

There is a member with his family that lives in a city about 20 minutes from Alessandria that is in our ward. He's kind of a more grande man with fantastic facial hair who owns and runs a pizzeria. His wife is perfect for him as well. Their kids are so cute haha. But we've gone out to him twice to eat free pizza and have a small lesson, and the other Anziani have said that his pizza is the best in Italy if not the world... and I tend to agree with them. It's pretty good.

We met this man who was a little crippled the other night. We met him on the street and Anziano Lewis talked to him a little bit. We then walked him to his appartment which was one minute away and taught him how our church is different outside his appartment on a bench. It was really touching to me because Anziano Lewis let the man take his arm and helped him. One of the more touching things I've seen in Italy for sure.

Another biker almost hit me while I was on my bike the other day. (He was going the wrong way on a one way street and turned a corner and was going extremely fast). It happened in about five seconds so I didn't have much time to react or anything. He basically almost hit me while I was riding on my bike, but we barely missed each other. It was kind of scary and could have been bad. Pretty nice to see a miracle like that, which will allow me to keep serving.

I learned about prayer this week that, we should pray like everything depended on him, and then act like everything depended on us. That we should pray for the strength to change things that need to be changed, or to do things that need to be done. Also if we really want to 100% do something, we can.

A scripture I liked this week was 1 Corinthians chapters 6 - 7. Which basically says that we shouldn't fight other people and if they want to do us wrong we should suffer it. I feel like that applies to basically everything. We should have a goal to be extremely long suffering. Seven times 70 you could say. =)


Language of the week. Alto Gioco means high game, con means with, senza = without, paura fear, also = anche, pace = peace, fuori = out/side.

I hope everyone is doing well. Things generally get better after you sleep it off. I challenge you to pray with the good attitude I told you about. (God helps those who helps themselves). I'm praying for you. 

Pace Fuori. (Peace out)

Today the snow flakes outside are almost the size of my face. 

With Love,
Anziano Gridley

I have met Buster Baxter

Dear Family and Amici,

His power level is over 9000,

To answer Mom a bit, I'm glad you're pleased with these letters, normally I'm a bit more of a private person I suppose. Kind of how I've been molded. Even in my journal I'm writing in.  No one but me will understand too much what I'm writing haha, everything I write is sort of in code etc. These letters have a lot more details and what not than my journal. These letters are kind of like The large plates of the Book of Mormon, my journal is the words of Mormon, and there are smaller plates that I'm making as well.

We had a change for a day in comps, I was with Anziano Wilson. He is sooo funny, and he was really respectful to me which I appreciated. We had quite a bit of success. About six lessons in 24 hours and two new investigators which is really good. He did all of the talking really. I'd pray for us every little bit and we had a lot of success. In Italy people interrupt each other a lot. The older missionaries have adapted and know how to interrupt to say what they need to as needed and tactfully. I don't know how to do this yet. Literally one lesson with Anziano Wilson the whole time someone was always talking, they'd just interrupt each other hence zero silence. Hopefully I'll become a master of this skill.

Anziano Wilson and I had a really cool miracle together. We went to this other city where, there is this man who about a month ago was really excited to be baptized, he had a date, he was getting ready etc. But one day Anziano Taylor and his comp at the time couldn't get a hold of him again. They called about 1000 times etc, went by his house often, he was gone. We went by yesterday and we found his apartment, he wasn't there, we left a little note for him and were leaving to go teach on the street. We met him outside shortly after, he was carrying a bunch of suitcases. He had been in the Hospital in another city for over a month without his phone, and was just coming home from the train station when we met with him. Coincidence... I think not. Anziano Taylor thought we were lying at first because of how odd it was. We were all really happy.

We got a referral from the Sister Missionaries of this man named John. We met with him after a bit of trouble. We taught him and his sister in their home, with his brother in the other room. (They spoke English which at times was kind of hard to understand). They were so ready to listen and to understand. We left two Book of Mormons with them. We are hoping things work out with them. I have grown a love quickly of Africans. They are so great, generally very humble and kind. I care about them a lot and hence have big hopes. It does seem a lot easier to be kind to those who are kind to you, more than being kind to those who treat you terribly.

The church here in Alessandria just bought a table tennis table that got here last week. It's fun to spend time with the Gans (Single adults), Sunday night for their family home evening. I have a lot of passion for competitive things for some reason. Sometimes its not manifest in my life quite as much. Which I don't particularly like. Especially with the gospel etc here on my mission. Granted I have passion for it, I'm hoping to gain more and that it'll be more manifest though.

Which brings us to Language Of The Week. Instead of saying though or other words in certain scenarios, you say però, which roughly means however. It's a word used a lot.
We have met a man and taught him a few times, his name is Paul. Hes a Catholic who's a really good man, hes taking care of his mother right now, and he is thinking about joining this sort of Catholic monk group where basically they give away all they have, and spend their time helping disabled people. He was thinking of doing this, wasnt completely sure.... and then he met us=). Hopefully we can help him to make whatever the right decision is.

I noticed last week that kind of part of me hasn't been here the whole time on my mission. Sort of asleep you could say. I've made sure I'm all here and that seems to be helping.

Alberto (the man with the wife that is out of the country) has been coming to church the last two weeks. In church he made an observation in Priesthood saying, You know I've watched a lot of Dragon Ball Z and it seems to me that Goku goes and trains a whole lot, and then he becomes super strong, and eventually becomes a super Saiyan. I wonder/think about, if people work the same way, they train and master themselves and then they become super Saiyan. It was really funny haha.

Spiritual Thought I have been reading quite a bit from the old testament recently. I wanted to read all of the four books of scripture on my mission (I'm almost done), and hence I'm reading in the Old Testament.

2 Chronicles 28/29/32. Chapter 28: There Is a wicked king who like a lot of his fathers does wickedly and then dies. Chapter 29 his son becomes king, and for whatever reason he turns to the God of Israel despite his father and lots of other bad examples and helps his people turn to him as well. Chapter 32 A city that's important is surrounded by some of the philistines and it doesn't look super good for the Israelites. An angel comes and kills some of them (during the night). The philistines leave.

The huge point I've taken out of the Old Testament is... if you keep Gods commandments you will prosper and he will help you.. if you don't he will not. This happens over and over in the Old Testament with lots of bad and good examples. For me I want to be like the good kings. I'd invite those of you to try this out. As in follow what God wants you to do, keep his commandments and teachings etc, and he will bless you. Try it like this good righteous king. Another story you may like is 2 Chronicles 20 if you'd like to read it of another righteous king who is helped.

Things are pasta side up here in Italy, things are going good. Trying to improve myself as a missionary and person and hopefully I'll have more good news for y'all. Auguri... (best wishes). I am thankful for the good friends and family I have, I'm praying for y'all.

Can you hear me now............................................................ Good    =)

With Love,

Anziano Gridley

Salute Per Tutti (Health for all)

(Cosi Cosi) Caro Family and Friends,
I'm afraid I've gone mad.

The Mediterranean Sea=)

​Genova the city a little bit.

It's been a great week. Sort of odd was that.... well the story is... Sorella Albos is from the Philippines and she did not know how to ride a bike before the mission and just barely learned how. Which was really cool and funny. Sadly She got hit last week by a car whose driver might have been a little drunk after New Years. She was fine except her ankle being a little scuffed up, and that she was in shock, then being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. and her bikes now ruined. She's fine now. Kind of gives a reality check of not being too crazy on the bike and that we shouldn't act like proud super heroes type of a deal. It's unusual for this to happen though.

​Genova. Italy kind of feels like
Europe's New York City,
slightly tropical jungle, type of a feel.

At a training a little over a week ago we got challenged to aim high with lesson count trying to get 21, President Dibb testifying of this. When the week before Anziano Lewis and I had gotten 7 or 8. Which seemed almost impossible to me at the time of getting 21 lessons, but this last week we were on the streets a lot more and I'm not exactly sure how but.... we got 21 lessons.=) Which was super exciting! We got a lot of new potential investigators, and I have hopes that some of these people we talked to will work out. We are having a decent amount of success though and it's nice to see. 

The outside of the Genova Church.
A little different than back at home.

We are on the streets a lot throughout the day, which is good and bad sometimes. I'm getting more into the swing of things, and I'm probably more officially level two on the language skill wise. When you answer the phone you say "Pronto" which means "ready" or if you are answering the telephone door bell which someone rings to get into your building, you can say "Chi è" which means "who is it". At the MTC we joked that we would say someone like Paura... which means fear kind of funny.

We had a conference in Genova on Monday which was really cool. I got to see the Mediterranean Sea, and we watched a little bit from Fiddler on the Roof, which brought back lots of good feelings from back in the day.

More of Genova.

There are quite a few Africans here in Italy, who mainly speak English, we got a lesson with one set up for Thursday and I'm really excited. They have a really great English accent like... How are you doing my brother. If you can use your imagination.

We met two people on the streets that stood out I guess. One was a drug addict who had been kicked out of his house and his family wants nothing to do with him even on Christmas day. He's now homeless and you could say a slave to his addictions. The other we call an assassin, then his name. He's awesome yet at the same time, disturbing. He loves his old girl friend a lot. If you can imagine we will see him and say hi, he will then come up to us and begin talking to us about 12 minutes about his old girl friend and what is the update with her. This has happened twice now. Kind of funny. But she broke up with him and started to date someone else, he still really likes her. He stayed two days outside of her apartment telling her that he loved her. She got him a restraining order. He likes her a lot to the point of rage a bit, so that's a bit scary. We try to help him do good things, like not kill people, but anyways.

It seems a lot of the time that the people who need the most help wont take it. (From a movie I cant take credit for the complete wisdom). I think that Heavenly Father loves us all equally though and he still wants to help all his children even those who wont take it, are we not all beggars, if we are the means of trying to help at times, and we don't accomplish too much really or are thrust out, I suppose we shouldn't take it too harshly. It does no good to complain about how things are in the world or in your situation. You can't control a lot of things but with what you can control you can do good and help yourself. 

One man was given 10 talents, another 5, another 1, they were then left to their own devices. Sometimes Heavenly Father isn't going to spoon feed you or even help too much with some things in your life, you are supposed to do it by your self and multiply your own talents you are borrowing not just sit there and mope about things. Just something I kind of put together for myself this week and maybe it'll help y'all. I hope you'll take the wisdom and it will help you. 

I challenge y'all to try to allow others to help you if you need it. Sometimes when you are in quick sand you need outside help to get out.

Do you want to know a secret? All the best people are.

With Love, 
Anziano Gridley
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Editor's addition:  I noticed they posted pictures of the incoming missionaries from December on the Mission blog and am adding those of Anziano Gridley, shown here: