Week 63 - Roma 3, Roma, Italy

Amici e Famiglia,

It was another fast week here in Rome.  On Monday Anz Russo and I went to this Chinese buffet. I got lectured at the end for not cleaning my plate each time... I thought they were joking.  Also, Chinese food is better in America.  Then Anz Mercado and I went to visit a Philippino member in Cisterna di Latina. We ate some really good Philippino food (meat stuff and rice) and drank homemade cantaloupe juice. I ate a little too much that day.  Tuesday was DDM and afterwards we got some Kebab. Then we went to a few appointments and had cake at one and a full meal with two deserts at the end at the other.  The next day we had some lessons. On Thursday we had some lessons and English course.
We also went to the hospital to give a blessing to an investigator who wants to be baptized really bad but is having serious health problems. She was much calmer afterwards and said she felt warm inside.  On Friday we planned and then had some lessons including two meals.  On Saturday we went to the baptism of a really cool investigator of the other companionship.  The baptism went very well and afterwards we had some refreshments and one of the senior couples brought some chocolate pumpkin bars which reminded me of the ones Mom makes every fall.

On Sunday we went to church and it was pretty crazy. I had to translate, make sure a new member got to church, fellowship a man who just showed up at church wanting to know more, and play the piano.  I can't wait to have just one calling.  Then later we had a few lessons and met this girl on the trenino (small train). She kept looking at my tag and then at me and then at the tag and back at me. I asked her if she had a question.  She said she wanted to talk to us when we got off at the stop.  When we got off she first asked if we were Jehovah's witnesses and was relieved when I said we weren't.  She then said she was
looking for help to overcome some of the challenges in her life. We said we could help and fixed an appointment for later in the week. Afterwards I felt the impression that many people are watching us as missionaries and that we always need to be letting our lights shine so that people can recognize us as disciples of Christ. Vi auguro una buona settimana!

Anziano Blazzard

Week 62 - Roma 3, Italia

Cari Amici e Famiglia,
It's really hot. This week I went to two conferences and had a lot of lessons fall through but we still saw some good things happen.  On Monday we went to the Indian food place again and this time there was air conditioning and some fans so it was an even better experience. I know I'm in Rome and there are so many "cool" things to see but when you pass by it everyday it loses its appeal. On the other hand food never loses its appeal... Later we went to an FHE activity. On Tuesday I went to a conference and I took the trenino (small train) to get to termini and it was packed full of Arabic, African, Bangladesh, Asian, and Eastern European people who don't think daily showers are a necessity. I was sweating badly too having had to bring my suit for the conference and an especially intense workout session that morning. After the conference we went to Porta di Roma to get some delicious pizza at Fratelli La Bufala. I got the diavola and then ate it under the blazing sun because all the shaded tables were taken.  Then we had English course and a lesson later that day.  The next day was zone conference. It went pretty well and we didn't get booed off the stage during our training so I was pretty content with it.  The next few days consisted of a lot of canceled lessons and me calling a billion people to fill in the slots because si muore in this heat out on the streets. We got some gelato too so that helped.
Anziano Blazzard

Week 61 - Roma 3, Italia

Cari Amici e Famiglia,

This week in Rome was good.  On Monday we went to a Pakistani friend of Anz. Russo's Indian restaurant. It was pretty amazing with a bunch of varied dishes brought out to us in these cool copper dishes. And the best part was that I felt completely normal afterwards without having any sort of problem. I guess the cliche isn't completely true about Indian food. We will be trying out the experiment again today with a return trip to verify the results.  Afterwards we went to Cisterna di Latina to see a member who is a cook from the Philippines. We ate pretty well there too and tried out this homemade cantaloupe juice. We also finally bought a portable AC unit and I have been sleeping comfortably enough since then.  On Tuesday we went to Rome 2's church for DDM with the Ostia and Ladispoli missionaries to present a training. Later that night we ate a bunch of rice, potatoes, peas, and meat with a member family.  The next day we went to another family's house for lunch, where we had a great Mediterranean meal of cold cut meats, tomatoes with oil and vinegar, and mozzarella .

That night we celebrated Anz. Palazzo's birthday with some other members and had a huge meal there too. The next day we arose at 4:30 to head to termini to direct transfers. We were there most of the day with a little break in the middle for lunch and some riposo. I also got my new comp from agrigento, Anz. Mercado. He is half Bolivian and was born in America. He went to UofU before the mission and worked. We get along very well. On Friday we planned and then had some lessons. On Saturday we had some more lessons. Sunday was church and I guess everyone went on vacation. Also the public trans is getting worse and worse so that might have been an issue. Then we had some more lessons. Today like I said we are eating some more Indian food. Not the best idea considering we will be adding heat to the heat.

Anz. Blazzard

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Week 60 - Roma 3, Italy

Cari Amici e Famiglia,

This last week was crazy busy.  On Tuesday we went to Ostia for a funeral of a father of one of Anziano Palazzo's old investigators.  It was in an interesting Catholic church that reminded me of a cave cavern.  They administered the sacrament and baptized the coffin which was also pretty interesting.  Then we each got a ton of fries of which I gave the majority to a crazy guy on the street.  Later we had a lesson and English course. On Wednesday we had a few lessons.Thursday we did some English course finding in the morning and then had a few lessons and English course.  Friday we planned and had a few lessons.  Saturday we had a few lessons and Marlon was baptized.  Everything went very well.  We got transfer calls that day and Anziano Palazzo will go to Terni and Anziano Mercado is coming from Agrigento to be with me.  Also, Anziano Holbrook will be in the other companionship in the house so it will be pretty awesome.  Then yesterday we went to church and after went to lunch and then we went to Piazza Carnaro for a fireside with Elder Cook because he is here to pick up his granddaughter from the mission.  It was really cool and he knows the entire D&C by memory I think.  It is very hot here all the time.

Anziano Blazzard

from the Italy Rome Mission Blog