Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Monday, April 18, 2016

Final Full Week

Carissimi Amici e Famiglia,

This will be my last general email as a missionary... Next Monday I turn in my iPad and the next morning I fly out of Rome for New York, then Salt Lake, and then Lewiston.  I should arrive at about 10:15 California time.  One more week to go!!!

This last week went really well.  Work wise we went all over the place.  We went to Maddaloni, Ruviano, Caiazzo, Gricignano (American base), and Santa Maria a Vico.  We got fed well this week.  Friday was the traditional Italian meal with lots of courses.  Saturday was Romanian food, very good.  And Sunday we had a lunch in church and my comp made some bomb garlic mashed potatoes that even a some month old baby ate.  I also ate a pizza with some piglet sausage on it and some cannoli were gifted to us as we preached about the restoration on Main Street.  We had some good lessons and made contact with some less actives and part member families.  One investigator asked how warm the water was for baptisms in our church and another said he had to really think well if he wants to get baptized.  Our recently baptized friend has already experienced to guidance of the Holy Ghost.  I look forward to finishing it out strong this week in Caserta until Saturday when I will take a train to Napoli and then to Rome to pass my last weekend as a missionary in Italy.  Oh and we also went to a Chinese buffet in Napoli next to a sweet castle.  The sushi was on point.

Have a great week.
Anziano Blazzard

The pictures are of the amphitheater in Santa Maria Capua Vetere and also the remnants of the walls of the old amphitheater.  Gladiators used to fight and train there.  Pretty sweet.






Monday, April 11, 2016

Baptism on the Base

Cari Amici e Famiglia,

It was a great and busy week... as it usually is getting everything ready for a baptism.  On Wednesday we made the mistake of going to an Italian hospital for a checkup.  It took more than two hours but we also met a cool multi-generational family that invited us over for lunch.  We also taught a lot about the church and the restoration.  On Friday we went to a city called Ruviano to meet with a member who can't come to church because of the distance.  She was super nice and her husband who isn't a member was very funny.  He moved to America for higher education and spent much of his life there as a language professor at several universities including UCLA.  The town where they live is also really beautiful and very well kept... No graffiti or trash.

On Saturday we went to the American navy base for the baptisms of one of our investigators and one of the sisters'.  The baptismal ceremony was held in the base's nondenominational chapel which was very beautiful.  The baptismal font was also pretty cool.  The baptisms went well and lots of members showed up for support.  The investigators had a good experience.  Afterwards a member in the ward took us to Taco Bell.  It had been close to two years since I'd been there so it was pretty awesome.  Later I didn't feel too awesome though.  Then on Sunday we did the confirmations (gift of the Holy Ghost).  There was also a baby blessing.  Lots of blessings.  Today we went to the Reggia which is the royal palace.  The gardens behind it are stunningly beautiful.  Hope everyone has a great week.

Ciao
Anziano Blazzard