Snippits from Anziano Orso's emails to us (few and short)

from March 18th

this week has been really good! very busy week for us as zone leaders....we have to do 5 exchanges....2 zone tranings....and we have general conference. and ward activities....this transfer is going to fly! but we have a lot of stuff we want to do for easter! the church is going to release a new video so im excited! we are also having a conference with anz. Bednar!!! im so excited! i have never met an apostle before (: Our mission is now getting ipads.... -__- but i wont be here to use them because i go home 4 weeks after the conference...and they have to do a lot of things first before the give them out. but its cool....how can i be jealous of something i never had right?

sorry i dont have a lot of time! but thanks for all the prayers! hope all is well with you!! i pray for you often too! let me know how it goes with tories mission call! thats so excited! ti voglio bene!! ciao!

from March 4th

Its true anziano andersen is getting transfered!!! it seems the time has gone by so quick! these past three months flew so quick! we have some of the best memories of my missiion together....but im really excited because he is my flight buddy haha. hes going off to be a district leader and im staying here as zone leader. my new comp is anz. tolman...i dont know much about him....solo that hes from idaho and is going into his 13 transfer. im starting my 15.....this is the transfer i get my customs letter haha. im really excited though about this transfer! we have a lot of stuff to do! and there are a lot of new people in the zone that im really excited to know! and some of my favorite missionaries are getting transfered into the zone haha! so this should be a really fun transfer! 

so it was not a good week for us work wise! we got dropped by almost all of our inv. so when my new comp. comes we are going to have to start from the bottom....they all had weird reasons...but in the end it was their agency...we still have contact with them and will do the best we can to keep givving them interest. 

other than all has been good! thanks for all the love and prayers! have a good week! ti voglio bene! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter December 17, 2014

mi sto abituando....

so this city is really weird and something im not really used too....its really cool i have a car but i have to wait to drive until i have consiglio....we are also really busy all the time which definietly a change for me. but me and my comp work really good together. are teaching is very well and we just know how to get things done. we are both really good with the language and being outgoing....its a really cool experience. and we get  a long really well. so i found out i know his cousin by the way....trey branham whos in costa rica. so its a small world haha. but i do have to admit we get a trunk fest going on sometimes because we both go home at the same time haha. and we're from arizona so we talk about home a lot haha. but its okay...it doesnt get us distracted from the work! 

so this week has been just me learning how to be a zone leader. which im really excited about...most importantly its just more numbers haha. but its cool! being a district leader has helped me a lot with all this stuff. so it was sad saying by to everyone in pesaro...i miss them a whole lot :( because i came here when they opened a companionship of sisters....so honestly i havent had the biggest welcome here in this ward.....everyone cares a lot about the sisters and im just shunned.....in a way its kind of depressing but im not letting that bring me down...im just trying my best to build a good relationship with the members by myself.

the weather is of course cold. wet. and cloudy all the time.....its a huge bummer! but im not a lone when i complain about the weather haha. my apartment is really cool and fun! we all get  along so well and its a blast! we joke all the time. also the sisters in the ward are so cool also! one is brand new and is learning italian...which makes me laugh sometimes because i used to be like that....it really shows how much progress i have made in the past year and a half. 

things are getting ready for natale! which is going to be fun! we're having a dinner on saturday which should be really fun! its my chance to make good friends with all the members. its crazy to thing this is my last city! which is what we all think...its not certain but we can most likely assume this will be my last city.....im so happy to be a missionario here in italia! i have loved every single minute of my mission and i am going to continue to push forward the work as best as i can. 

a cool miracle we had was two people from brasile came and we tought them already two lessons...and they came to church for the first time! we had 4 new people in church this past week! it was such a cool miracle! i know this church is true and when we work hard heavenly father will bless us, i know he knows us better than we think....and if we put our effort in he will make up the rest. vi voglio bene! ciao!!

#condividerildono  #sharethegift BUON NATALE!!!

Anziano Orso Letter December 10, 2014

Ciao how is everyone!?!?! so here are my stats so far in the mission!!

Transfer: 13/16

Companion: Anz. Anderson

Leadership: Zone Leader

City: Muggio' (Milano)

so much has happened and im thankful for all that i have learned this past 6 months here in Pesaro! im grateful for the lord and the blessings he has given me her. i know we serve is by inspiration. i love my mission i know this is the true church. im in my last 6 months of my mission and im going to continue serving with all my heard might mind and strength....because really the end isnt the end, missionary work is a never ending thing! love and miss all of you!! Buon Natale! ci sentiamo!! ciao!!

 

 Mi Trasferisco..... :( sento cosi' cosi'

yes my time here in Pesaro is done and im going on to my next big and great adventure! i have been called to be a Zone Leader in Muggio', which is the Milano Est zone haha. so im going back to milano...but its going to be in the either zone! so im excited! and my comp is going to be Anz. Rick Anderson! if you rememer him from the MTC and he was the one who i was told about before i left on my mission. even in the MTC we said dont worry we'll serve together as zone leaders haha....crazy to think 18 months later its happening haha. so this is going to be fun Transfer! im excited for the new risponsibility. also being his comp helps me  alot because switching right before christmas is difficult so now im not so worried...and i get to do a scambio in my old city again with the AP which is Anz. Miller who i served with in milano already...so when we do our scambio its going to be like old times haha.

this week has been busy with saying good by to all the members and trying to leave my city better than when i found it...which i can confidently say i am proud of what i did in this city. 

there is  a new church video about christmas which is really cool! im so excited and i invite all of you to go on it and check out what really is the true meaning of christmas! im grateful for my savior and for all that he did and does for me. im greatful for the plan of salvation and i know exactly where my grandma....its hard saying good by...but actually what i heard from someone yesterday....its never goodbye its Ci Vediamo (see eachother later) because its true! i love this gospel, this church, my life has been changed and im ever grateful(:  vi voglio bene!! ciao!!

mormon.org/ita/natale      go check it out!!!

-Anz. Orso!!!

Anziano Orso Letter December 3, 2014

Ciao!!

HO COMPIUTO 21 ANNI!!

mamma mia i cant believe i have 21 years haha. its really crazy!! so much has happened this past year, in tanto age is just a number, the importance is how you act. you need to take the experience you have growing up and everyday and use it to better your life. but i im so excited, growing up i would expect to be here in italy for my 21st birthday haha. im so blessed to be here!! but i have been so busy! man what a week!

okay so for Thanksgiving (il giorno di ringraziamento) we had a little party! it was really awesome!! especially since i planned the whole thing in two days haha. and i made a Pumpkin Pie! it was like the one that moms know how to make, but being in italia and having to do everything by scratch i think i did really good. except the crust was really salty...but everyone was very nice and said it was good anyway haha. i guess there's always christmas!!

we have been so busy lately its insane!! the last few weeks of the transfer have been flying! we found out this sat. if im going to get transferred....its  a bittersweet. i really want to see a new city! but i have build such strong relationships with everyone here its going to be really sad to leave. but i know God has a plan for me, and i know im need somewhere else in italy to help continue bringing souls unto christ. but who knows, i could stay here haha.

so i probably havent told you guys but im the second counselor in the branch here, we dont have enough people for another counselor, and because im older as a missionary and in age i have been second counselor. but last sunday was the first time i had to sit up at the podium haha, it was really weird lol.

cool thing, we had a scambio this week, i was with Anz. Giles, and he taught me how to read and play the piano....of course its going to take a lot of practice...but i have the basics down and i can practice, so hopefully in 6 months when i get home i can play something...im also practicing my singing so i can stop sounding like a dying horse haha. hopefully i improve lol. then last night we had inglish class! it was really fun!

so i have made almost everyones dream when they come to italy, beside coming to italy, i have made good friends with 2 pizza places! haha, they are so awesome! im going to miss them! haha im so thankful we live in  a world with Facebook haha, we can always have contact with our friends from the mission(:

i love being a missionary! i couldnt picture myself anywhere else in the world! i love being  a representative of Jesus Christ, i love wearing his name on my chest everyday, and being called Anziano Orso haha. this past year a half has been so crazy, and i have grown and changed a lot! its really insane! and now im 21!! when did that happen, i feel like i just graduated high school haha. life goes way to fast to just be lazy and throw it away, we need to live life to the fullest and do the best we can grow spiritually and mentally, im grateful for my savior and his sacrifice. and im grateful for my heavenly father who cares so much about us, we just need to open our eyes and look at all the blessing he gives us. :) grazie a tutti, thanks to everyone for all that you do for me! thanks for the prayers and birthday wished!! i want a sack of good for your all!! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter November 19, 2014

Ciao Tutti!! dont worry im still here and alive!! i have been really busy with the work here.....and figuring other things out. but im doing good! here is the update for me!

City: Pesaro (still...)

Comp: Anz. Cortes (hes from New Jersey)

Transfer: 12

District: im still the district leader...but my district changed. we got put with another city called Rimini, its a really cool city. much closer than Ancona

this past week was really awesome! i got to go back to Firenze!! wahoo! we had a conference with a member of the 70 Elder Fingerle....he basically talked to us about what elder bednar said in a world wide broadcast....about using technology to push forward missionary work. and we were all thinking "are we getting ipads??" but thats not that case haha. our mission isnt ready for that yet haha. but its a good idea to have us use the members to do it themselves...so we are going to do out best to have our members share mormon messages...and post stuff from conferences....im just hoping that they translate more messages for us. the have some but not any of the new ones....so its kind of difficult. technology can be a blessing or a temptation...it all depends on how we use it. 

then this sat i will be going to Prato (which was my first city!!) because we are having a stake conference!! it has been over a year since i have been there...im really excited! ill let you all know how that goes next week. 

the branch is doing good here...this place is like another family haha. i have so many families its ridculous haha. but thats whats so great about missions, you realize we're all part of one eternal family! 

who are we teaching?: his name is christian.....he has a bapt date and we are preparing him for that, hes about 25 and hes from nigeria. but he is a kid whos mind of the world. but our big focus these past weeks is to prepare our priesthood holders to get the Melchisedic Preisthood. because we have a lot of eligble men....they just need to learn and prepare themselves. 

how im holding up? im doing good, id be lying if i said i dont get stressed or frustrated or disappointed. but i have still so many moments when i can say im blessed, happy and grateful. these past two weeks i read the whole book of matthew. it was really good! all of us are fishers of men, we must all develope charity, we must humble ourselves and become like a little child if we want to learn and do the things necessary to enter in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ was a perfect Man, Teacher, Leader, Example, Brother, and was the Son of God. i know that he lives and he atoned for our sinces. im grateful for the light he brings into my life and missionary work. im far from perfect and still make mistakes...but i know that through him we all can be cleansed, find peace and joy and return to our heavenly father. 

-Anziano Orso

Anziano Orso Letter October 22, 2014

un miracolo, due miracolo, tre miracolo.......e continua ancora!!

this week was really interesting! more than last week!! therefore i have something to talk about this week!

we have this guy named ricky who we found on the train and have been teaching for about a month and a half...hes really cool and pretty elect. he has met with the missionaries in the past so he knew a lot of stuff! anyway we gave him a bapt date for this sat. but we gave him tht date a month ago! and hes is ready....so hes we're having a baptism!!! wahoo!! we're so excited(: and anz. moa is going to baptize him!! its going to be his first one!

this week i did a scambio with anz. stringfellow, hes fresh out of the MTC so hes been in italy for about 5 weeks haha. its so funny and he makes me laugh so much...just because hes new and getting into the hang of things. makes me remember when i was a greenie and all new haha. we had a serata familiare with almost the entire branch! it was so fun!! i laught so much i couldn breathe. and scambio was funny too becuse i dont think stringfellow really knows how to ride a bike...and if he does not used to riding on a bike in traffic haha. becuase he crashed into me three times and almost went right into the middle of the intersection.....it was interesting haha. 

tuesday we had inglish class, it was really fun because i have made really cool friends with the students...so we just  talk and play games and stuff! we played a game where they had to make up a story...and i made them tell a story about me. so what ended up happening at the end of the story i was stranded on an island with hayden penattiere.....it was so so funny, we ended getting married at the end. i love my inglish class students haha. and the coolest miracle....so my fault but i forgot to turn in a rimborsment so i had to b careful on what i bought this week. well one of our students bought us groceries!! how awesome was she!! it was a huge miracle and a amazing thing to do (: so awesome!

so today has been the coldest day since i have been here....this morning it rained....then it got really windy and hailed....now its its really sunny outside! but its still really cold!! good thing i have my jacket and scarf (: (scarfs arent gay in italia so hop off) haha. i like them a lot, because they keep my neck warm and cozy.....plus you have a pillow if your tired haha. 

the mission is awesome!!! i count my blessings everyday and so happy for this chance i have to serve the Lord! Temples are amazing!! and its as close to heaven on earth!! life lesson i learned this week: i never completely understood how the spirit is so strong when your in the service of your fellow man. charity is really one of the biggest attributes of christ that works miracle! and this experience will forever be with me. 

Miracles: so sunday was full of miracles!!! Ricky had to come to church to be baptized this week! last week we mat a member from the UK who was visiting her boyfriend, sunday he came to church and asked for a book of mormon, and we got a referal from a member in another city that wants to come with us to see this family!! and then the lady who brought us groceries!! heavenly father blessed us so much this week!

vi voglio un sacco di bene!! ciao!

Anziano Orso Letter October 9, 2014

che bella era la conferenza de generale

another amazing week in the Pesaro Italia! i love being in this country!!! words cannot describe how much my love has grown for these people here.....even though at times it may be difficult i truly love these people. and thankful for every opportunity i have to serve them. this week was really busy! had two scambios with missionaries! i went to Ancona and Ravenna! so cool and loved every minute of my time there.

not much really happened this week!!! just went and did missionary work to be honest! we set a goal to talk to a lot more people to get more investigators! a huge blessing this week was Ricky our bapt date came to conference! wahoo! it was really good and we really liked it.

cool story this week! there are a lot of people here who smoke....so i made a goal to get cigarettes from people...but tell them its bad not just ask for a cigarete. well this guy we were talking to agreed with us and i asked if i could have his pack of cigarets and on the secong time i asked he said yes! wahoo! made my goal lol. dude gave me a whole pack! crazy! but i saved his life a few days lol. 

the work here is amazing!!! me and my comp had a really good correlation with our ward mission leader...its tough at times because our branch is the smallest branch in the entire stake! so its a lot of work for us....but we helped him realize that its not just us that can do it.....missionaries and members need to work together! it was really good. he told "wow anziani i really feel the spirit telling me that everything you've just told me we need to do" it was a really good meeting....and i felt the spirit really strong. because as missionaries we are in a city for a while...and we give all our heart into the city, people, and members....and we want them to be really good when we all leave, we say leave the city better than you found it. 

conference was stupendo!! i loved all the talks....how cool was it that we were given the translation in english for  few talks this time? i love how the church is letting speakers talk in their own native tongue!! now more people are probly going to be able to talk! the church is growing! my favorite part was how they talked about the importance of having a profet! and how we all need to sustain and support him, i know that thomas s monson is called of God, and we all need to know that as the world changes Gods laws dont....and conference helps each of us everytime remember that. but also shows us that the changing in the world can be used for pushing the work of the Lord forward!

i have had really amazing lessons this week with our simps! where the spirit has been so strong and we all share our testimonies! and they lessons have ended with baptismal dates(: wahoo! i mean who can so no when the spirit is so thick your whole body is numb and relaxed haha. i can really see myself stretching here! probly one of the most stretches i have in my entire mission. of course i can always improve everyday... im far from perfect. but the changes i have made in my life and the blessings i have seen from it is amazing! and i thank Heavenly father everyday, and all your support for this. im a changed person....im still Dominic, but im becoming the Dominic that Heavenly father wants me to be and who i know i need to be. missionaries are amazing! the church is True! Italia is beautiful! how lucky are we to have the full Gospel! vi voglio un sacco di bene! ci sentiamo!! ciao!!

Con Amore, Anz. Orso!!

Branch President Di Nuzzo

Me, Fratello Falchi Simone, Anz. Moa

The Italians are tired of all the cavities :) haha

they asked me to model for the church ...

This is the outcome. haha

Zone Meeting. Love this zone!!

Anziano Orso Letter October 1, 2014 (finally got a letter to post)

Ciao a tutti!!! che cambia della stagione.....non mi piace!!

ciao amici miei!! man this week has been crazy!!! being sick for almost a week we have busy trying to see all of our investigators that we havent been able to see. that was the worst sickness i have ever had on the mission...but im all good now! one of the things that i have realized is how important it is to stay healthy on the mission....and give your body the rest it needs. because if your just pushing yourself a lot that fine...but when your push to much...then you get sick and you cant do nothing....so its not worth it. but im grateful for the blessing that my banch president gave me.....1. first blessing i have gotten in italian 2. i felt the spirit really strong and i love our branch president so much!!! hes a really awesome guy!

Thur. we finally recovered enough to go outside and meet withs some of our investigators. but it was tough to be honest....no energy to ride my bike haha. but we did it...and it was good.

fri: we did our weekly planning and went to go to see our inv. in a city called Fano! which a really cool old italian city.....they have one famous road that leads to Roma! its kind of like our Route 66. and there are a lot of old buildings and castles there...next time ill take fotos and show you guys! it was really cool. we also went to the doctor.

sun: we had church! and i had to give a talk....i thought it was good haha. i gave a talk on the prophet jospeh smith! and my comp gave a talk too haha. i swear every sun. me and my comp are part of the sacrament meeting haha.....either hes talking or im talking haha.

mon: we had district meeting! which i have to say im really freakin excited for this transfer!! all the anziani are so awesome!! and this transfer we are doing a harry potter themed transfeR!! yup you heard right haha. this is my third transfer as district leader in the same city! so to keep me excited and coming up with new ideas i need to be creative haha and all the 4 houses are in italian of course...we are in italia! haha and i did an exchange with anz. Beaulac who is from canada....and hes from the part that speaks french....so he tried to teach me a few things.....i didnt succeed haha.

tues. we had our inglish class and thats pretty much it.....we call that Pday eve and its when we get excited ha party it up alittle haha

today: we went to a country....yes i said country named San Marino! its this little country in the middle of italia haha. its so cool!! but all the rules of italia dont apply there....and the day we went they were having a little festival! they were changing their president.....so we saw their new president and they had a marching band and eveyrthing haha. it was a really cool experience.....too bad the weather wasnt really that great. but theres always next time haha.

anyway thanks fgor all the prayers!! im better now and ready to continue doing the work of the lord!!! i love everything about my mission!!! i couldnt ask for a better mission. and i love all the members and all my inv. hope all is well at home!! ciao!! Dio vi benedica!!

Anziano Orso Letter September 3, 2014

Ciao!!

Che Tempo abbiamo avuto questa settimana!!

ciao!! how is everything!!! this week has been a little chaotic!! but it was really good!!! so for the weekend we had a lot of rain.....so it was a huge bummer for all of us, because we're not fans of going around in the rain everywhere. but it was okay. this sunday was really good!! we had a few talks in church that were very spiritual....and then we went to the branch presidents house for lunch....hes really awesome!!! and then we went to the villajuans later that day and they gave us dinner.....most meals i have ever had in a day! so far since i have been here. then monday we had zone conference. and we went (drum roll.......) Firenze!!! wahooo!!! i missed it so much!! its such an awesome city!!! one of my favorite cities in all of italy!!! and the best part was i got to ride first class on the train!!! i tell you traveling in style is the coolest things....and we got complimentary drinks haha. it was really cool. yesterday i did an exchange with anziano pugsley, which i have alreay done one with him in milano!! it was really cool because him and i are a lot alike haha. so it was a fun scambio, we taught english class and did all that good stuff. and then our branch pres., took us to go get gelato! so good!! im in love with gelato!! and pizza! its going to be weird going back to america and not eating food like this. so im going to have eat as much as i can these next 8 months! so we think anz. moa is going to be transfered :( we'll find out in about two weeks!! this transfer is flying! its insane!! 

our teaching pool is good, we had a simp come to church for the firs time last week!! wahoo! his name is christian! he was really cool, of course we know it takes time to do stuff. but its all good. everything will work out. we are seeing him later this week. the other day we got yelled at by an american....:( he started making fun of us and telling us we're pathetic and that we should go home, and that we are bunch of horrible people...and what we are doing is a loser thing to do.....but its okay, because he was bashing us, and then i asked him....well what do you believe, and he said i dont, im athiest....and i said well that why you dont believe in anything we say. it was better to not argue, because i believe in god and he doesnt....so we wouldnt ahve resolved anything. but its cool!! moments like these grow my testimony.....and i know God exists! and that knowledge and testimony i have no one can take away(: 

 Vi Voglio bene!!

Anziano Orso Letter August 27, 2014

che settimana!! caspita!!

ciao!!! come state tutti??? so this has been a really crazy week in my mission.....so much has happened that its hard to explain it...but i will say i feel really blessed right now to have the companion i have, and thats im here in Pesaro right now. i have such a strong testimony for my comp. right now, and the strength that he has, one of the things thats i love about him. and im so glad that heavenly father has made me his comp, even though i cant compare his experiences to mine, or how hes feeling, but i have been able to help learn the things it took me a while to learn a lot faster. and it has been really tough because im seeing this happen on another side, another perspective. but its still not fun, because someone you love and care about is in pain. but i know that all will be okay. i can explaine how blessed i am to have him as my comp. we have moments togethr where its really tough for me because i just know how hes feeling, and its deja vu all over again for me. but i know heavenly father has put us together for a reason, and its so comforting to know that he knows us, and has a plan for all of us. this is a testimony to me that i know im suppose to be here right now at this time. and it has made me so thankful and greatful for the plan of salvation. my comp Anz. Moa is so awesome!!! and i ask you to pray for him and his family....because he needs to think about a lot of things this next week....and it gets me nervous, but i want him to stay, but what ever deciusion he makes ill support him cento per cento!!

but anyway this week was also filled with good things!!! but first i only think its appropriate that i explain a little bit our baptism!! allora! so it was not my fault in the beginning, because he wasnot getting baptized in the first place, and then it all happened so sudden and quick it was hard to rememebr all the things i wanted to say. but his name is Prince, and hes about 35 hes from Nigeria, hes really cool! such an awesome person....and he really loves us, its the funniest thing because he cant even say my name......its four letters but for some reason he cant seem to do it....dont worry, im getting him to practice it everytime we meet haha. and the funny story about how he chose me to baptize him....well we were planning his baptism and we asked him who he wanted to baptize him and he said his exact words "i want the white man to baptize me, so it shows on my record i was baptized by a white guy" so me and my comp looked at our skins, hes hawaiian, and everyone else in our branch is peruvian.....so that was me...but he was happy about it, and i was blessed to do it. Anz. Moa gave him the Holy Ghost. and now hes getting the Priesthood in a couple of weeks!! wahoo!! im so happy how this branch is going lately. we're really doing our bestt o build the branch, so they dont alway need us missionaries doing everying. we're really important in this branch, which is good, but its our calling to help sustain them. and we're seeing a lot of success with that. 

cool thing also! right next to the Church they are having un Circo (a circus) how awesome is that!!! so we are thinkiing of going!! if not ill defintely get pictures of what it looks like right now...at night its so Bello!

other than that i have had a good week!!! we have a lot of work we still want to do! im praying everyday for my comp. and that heavenly father blesses us with miracles!! but i know that i have been blessed so much on my mission already!! and im so grateful! 

sono molto grato di essere un missionario, preferisco stare un missionario per piu di tempo che mi mancha io. ma so che ho tanto lavoro di fare qua a pesaro! sono molto grato per mio collega! non potrei volere un diverso. vi ringrazio per tutte le tue preghiere e letture....(solo alcuni....per cui li conoscono) ciao!! buona settimana!! e il bocca del lupo con la scuola!!

Anziano Orso Letter August 13, 2014

Didn't get a letter from Dom this past week, but he sent lots of pictures.

beautiful hills!

I went to Ravenna today!

Yea, same old me. haha.

Urbino

yes i take selfies....dont judge.....when your in the moment ....you have to do what you have to do haha

Bathroom selfie

district meeting selfie ... yea, we're cool!

selfie in an ally, in ITALY!!

Anziano Orso Letter August 6, 2014

so nothing is really changing here for me! this is transfer week and me and Anz. moa are staying together!! but im losing a whole bunch of friends, they're all finishing their missions, :( all the girls who left after the age change. so all these girls left on missions. now they are now finishing their missions. and this week starting the first group of girls going home.....in December the sisters that came with me go home....then ill have 5 months left!! crazy! i realized my missions is flying by a lot quicker than i thought it would haha. when you have a leadership position and you know people going home your mission just flies! but its okay, i know there is still a lot that i can do, and i have to do.

i have a lot to do this transfer as district leader.....i have to write a report on the work not only in my branch, but also in another city ancona. but cool news! nothing is really changing this transfer in my district, but one missionary is leaving, and we're getting Anz. Puggsley! he was in my district in milano, and he was comps with my comp right now. so it'll be really cool to do an exchange with him. we're are doing a lot of finding this transfer because our teaching pool is dropping, but we got a lot of referals this week, so we're going to be busy contacting them this week. 

well we have been having some ups and downs with our simps. one was suppose to be baptized last week, but went into the hospital, because he went blind for a couple of days. he got out and we were going to baptize him the next week, well we decided to pass by him and right then we saw him light a cigarette. and we were like "what the heck! he said he doesn't really have a problem, but now we have to make sure he stops smoking for good. the other ones are good, a lot of problems here with the law of chastity and word of wisdom! and they worst part is some people don't think its wrong. so we have to work with this kind of stuff all the time. but all is good and we're pushing forward! i have high hopes for this transfer. im starting trasnfer 10 of 16 next week....weird haha. ti voglio bene!! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter July 30, 2014

come stai?? hows the life in az?? i bet its rreally hot, well here its really hot, and then 20 minutes later im getting hit in the face with H2O......the weather here needs to be put on meds haha. its pazzo(crazy) lol.this week was really busy, we did exchanges and traveling, and this is the last full week until transfers, but i think im going to stay the same. and i just got news that a family from milano is coming to pesaro to come see me before they move back to the filipines!! im so excited! i miss milano so much haha. one of my favorite cities haha. the weather here suciks haha, one minute its sunny and really hot, then the dark clouds come in and it pours for the rest of the night......and we get soaked haha. but its okay, pesaro isnt that big of a city. so we can get to places pretty fast. man thats crazy i have lived in italy for a whole year!!! wahoo!! the time has gone by so quick i cant believe it. but i still have 10 months which seems like a long time, but then it doesnt......like i said in my mission we have 16 transfers, and after next week ill be in transfer 10.....what the heck....its so weird haha.

today we had a bike accident haha, we all good, it was actually pretty funny, my comp crashed first and then i flipped over him and got trapped under the bikes haha. but dont worry we're all good, no one was hurt, just some scrapes haha. 

im just so blessed to be here, i know its the same things everyweek, but every pday when i write i reflect on how my week went, and i just see all the blessing that padre celeste gives me!!

che bella vita!

selfies on Anz. Berg (:

​sono il tuo bel figlio (: 

what else can i say for this week, the time just keeps flying and im loving my mission, i know i have a lot of time left, so im not counting down the days, after december is when ill be freaking out haha. but until then im not thinking about it.....

Anziano Orso Letter July 23, 2014

mamma mia! does sound like an interesting week haha. but i bet it kept you all on your toes haha. i know i have been these past weeks. being  a district leader is fun, because you get to learn more about missionaries, their teaching, and helping push the work forward in all the areas of your district. i have two cities in my district. its awesome!!! it does get stressful, but im feeling myself stretch, which is really cool!

this week i have been on the road let say! i did 2 exchanges, and had to travel for all of them. then on monday we had interviews with president. man im so tired of trains haha. we dont have cars so we have bikes, trains, and buses haha. wahoo for public transportation...especially during strikes!! NOT! thats the worst part of having to rely on them haha. but trains make it real easy to talk to people! because when you sit next to them, they cant run haha. not trying to sound like we try to trap them haha. 

we started a new finding method, there is a book called my family, its about genalogy, its fun and easy! and as missionaries we had to make a book ourselves. so now we take this around with us to go finding, its fun because we just talk about families with people, and some even show us fotos of theirs! because i have fotos on mine. gotta love how clever the lord is in helping find new ways to find people! 

have a great week! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter July 9, 2014

ciao!!

i love my new area!!! its so pretty!! and next to the sea!!! and the weather isnt that bad, because we get the cool sea breeze!! we dont get really rain here, and if we do, its for about an hour and then the sky is all clear again haha. i love my comp. his name is anz. Moa. hes from hawaii, but we knew each other in Milano, so it was cool to learn i was going to be comps with him! the lessons are good, we have a lot of simps. but non really progressing, so we teach a lot, but i get frustrating with people sometimes.....cant control their agency. but its a good way to help me grow. and being district leader has given me a lot more responsibilities that i now have to be more focused, with my work and the work of my district! but i love it, the missionaries here are awesome!!! im making good friends!! there isnt really less actives here, and the ones that are, we are talking to them already haha. btw we have a really old apartment, about 15 yr. ago they had church in our living room haha. funny. but thanks for eerything and all the love and support!!! ti voglio bene!! the key board is making it hard to write a lot. talk to you later!! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter July 2, 2014

Ciao Tutti!! sono arrivato a Pesaro con sicurezza!!

 how is everything!!! this week has been so exhausting!!! i honestly thought i would be going to another place and it would be more relax, because milano was so insane! i love the work, it was just really stressfull sometimes. so when i found out i was going to Pesaro i was excited, next to the beach, trangquillo, i and go back to doing finding every once and a while. NOPE! i get sent to one of the busiest cities in the mission! yes all the other stuff is true, but i have been on the go since i got here. and im on a bike again.....been six months since i last rode a bike, its weird not to rely on public transportation.....but thats what happens. 

my new comp is Anz. Moa! hes from hawaii! its really cool because i knew him before, when i was in Milano, he was in como, and we were in the same zone! and this week has been a blast, we have a good time and get a long really great with eachother. we teach really good together too! i hope i get to serve with him for atleast two transfers. 

so this week was good! the weather is very bipolar, because we're next to the ocean no one can really predict the weather. good thing the city isnt that big, and we can go home a change really quick if we need to. but this place is so pretty!!! im basically in toscana again! its not exactly toscana, but the hills and green look like it. its another region i cant remember, ill tell you next week! on one side of the city is the sea! so we get that nice cool, breeze during the day. its hot like arizona, which i love. on the otherside there is mountains and hills, when your think of italy you think of this scenery. im so excited to be here!! one of my prettiest cities i have served in!

the church here is pretty small, its a branch, its weird to go from 170 members a week, to 15 members....its really weird. but there is so much work here! so im really excited. working with africans again haha. half of our simps are african, its weird, because up north all i spoke was italian, now i have to speak inglish a lot....but i can speak the language now, so that wont be a problem. 

monday we had our first district meeting! and i was in charge, its weird, to be district leader, its actually a lot of work, your wouldnt expect it to be. BUT I GOT THIS! all the anziani in my district are so awesome too! there is Anz. Howell (has twin brothers), Anz. Hallulli (has twin siblings) Anz. Berg (has twin Siblings) Anz. Moa (has twin Siblings) me! i am a twin, and then theres Anz. Gomez (who doesnt have any twins in his family) its really funny how almost all of us are related to twins! but im so excited! im the second oldest in the district in the mission! the other is one transfer above me. its weird to start being this old......im love my mission and excited for my new adventure i have here in Pesaro!!

vi volgio bene!! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter June 18, 2014

ciao Tutti!!! come state!! Dio ci ama!

thur. we had an emergency transfer, so now im still in a threesome, but im with anz. briand, and now anz. alder, him and i are from the same MTC group, its weird to be with someone in the same group, because we talk about how we're going home next year, and we talk about the MTC, its pretty fun. then over the weekend we just finished strong teaching and finding new simps. ill tell you i am so tired, but its good, because it means you working if your tired haha. i love my mission so much!!! i couldnt have been blessed with this chance i have if it was for heavenly father helping me, and with all the love and support from all of you at home. and this past week i have been thinking a lot because i could be getting transferred now, which means ill have to say goodbye to everyone, and this is going to be one of the hardest things to do here in milano, because i have been here from 6 months, these people are my family and i have made strong great and strong relationships. only thing that is a bummer about the mission, saying by way!!! tooo!!! much!! me and my comps have made a deal, only speak italian, in all places, except now....and when we have to talk to someone who only speaks english, its pretty hard, but i have seen a massive improvement in myself and how fluent my language is. if anyone has to learn another language i would recommend doing this, it will help you learn the language so much quicker. so this week i have never ran so many times in my entire mission, i hate public transportation, i will never live in a big city haha, its hectic, i had to catch a bus and a tram, which i had to run to both of them, such a tiring day. these past couple days have been good too!! monday was the start of the week, and we taught and had a serata familiare with a member! it was good, the spirit was really strong. yesterday for inglish class we watched a movie! "the prince of egypt" it was a good movie, ill tell you i kinda miss movies haha. but its not on my mind all the time. and today we went to switzerland again, its so cool to just cross the boarder and go to a different country, and then come back to italy, if i could choose a place to live so far, it would be switzerland haha.

we are working hard trying to find investigators, we had a few disappointing experiences this week, we got dropped by two people, which was hard, because they were so close and then some how they just got scared or worried. but we are still working with some awesome people!! this south american family who has a brand new baby, i met them for the first time and they seem really awesome. then teresa, who has to wait to get divorced, but because the law changed she may be able to get remarried sooner, and then baptized! then we have the teen his name is alberto! hes cool we hadnt seen him for three weeks, and now im sad because i should be leaving, hes an awesome dude! as you can see its going to be hard to leave this city, and a cool thing there is an activity this friday multicultural night!!! we are excited!!

i know that my savior lives, i know that God answers prayers. and i would choose to be anywhere else right now. vi voglio bene!! ciao!!

Anziano Orso Letter June 11, 2014

Ciao Tutti!!!

so much has happened these past weeks its hard to write it all down haha.
sunday we had an investigator come to church, he doesnt stay for the
whole thing because he has no money and has to go eat. we organized a
lunch so he could stay the entire time. he has a huge smoking problem,
almost two packs a day. well we then had a lesson with him and
challenged him not to buy anymore cigaretts. and so far his has done
it!!! its been two days, so we'll keep praying and encouraging him.

monday we had a scambio, there has been this kid who has done alot for
us in the past few week, so on our scambio i decided to take him
somewhere to eat. its was good, the closest thing i could find to
american food here. but earllier that day we went to the park to do
some finding. ill tell you im starting to die here haha, its hot and
humid, i can do hot, but not the humidity. so pray for me haha. but
its was really funny when we were at the park, because there was a
bunch of people tanning, guys an girls, i swear in this country any
chance they have to wear less clothes everyone goes on it haha. so we
have to be careful for the park again. haah. but one this that was
really funny was at one part of the park, there were a lot of people
tanning, like 10 people. i didnt think much of it until we left, i
realized it was all guys, im not kidding, it was a lot like jersey
shore. GYM TAN except i never see the Laundry haha.

tuesday was the busiest day so far here in Milano. because we're in
three, we do a lot of switching, where i go with other people and my
comps go with other people, this way we can get a lot more work done.
well i left the house at 10:30 in the morning, and didnt return to he
house until 9:30 at night, because it was a lot of finding and
teaching and traveling. i was so tired haha.

wed. morning we got a call telling us there is going to be a space
transfer, (its when you get moved to another city on short notice
during the transfer) well ill tell you that im not going to be the one
transferred, im staying here and any. smith is going to be transferred
to another city haha. so that means im staying here to finish out the
transfer here in milano. which is good because i would like to finish
the transfer here.but im staying in a threesome still haha. but its
cool my new comp in the threesome will be any. alder, hes from my
group and we were in the MTC together. so its going to be fun haha.
now im just curious where im going to go after this transfer. btw,
tomorrow will be one year that i left for my mission, so this is my
year mark haha. wahoo!! im a big boy in the mission.

miracle for the week, one day me and my comps were waiting for the
bus, it was really hot and we were roasting in the sun, well out of no
where a dude on a bike comes around the corner, says "fresh water" and
drove off, it was so awesome!!! so thanks for all the prayers on
keeping us safe haha.

grazie per tutto!! vi voglio bene! spero che la vostra settimana vada
bene!! ci sentiamo! ciao!

Anziano Orso May 2014

There were no emails for Dom's blog for the past two weeks. He just says that he is in a threesome companionship and still in the same area. Also very excited about his mother's baptism this coming Saturday, May 31st at 7PM.

We will update the blog when we get more messages from Anziano Orso.

Anziano Orso Letter May 7, 2014

ciao Tutti!!  noi facciamo l'opera del Signore. 

this week has been really crazy! but so much fun and rewarding.

thursday! we went to the family giavazzi, they are so awsome!!! one of the coolest families that i have met on the mission. welll if you remember a while ago i went to the military base in Vicenza, well i bought a Dr. Pepper, the dad speaks inglish and italian, and has heard about dr. pepper, but they dont sell it here, well i brought it over and had them all try it, they were really excited haha. it was pretty funny. but also that day i we went to the park with all the filipini, and played soccer, basket, and just had a BBQ it was really fun. 

friday!! we went to the mission office, and i had to figure everything out with my card! the guy was from georgia, hardcore accent! but then i was able to call mom!! even though it was only a little while it was awesome!! a sneak peak for this week haha. then we had to take the metro all the way from one end of the city to the other because we had to run an errand. i tell you, taking the subway stinks sometimes, its full most of the time, so you definitely get over any claustophobia you have haha.

sat. we had a lesson with clarence, i dont think i told you but we set a bapt. date with him!! so we're really excited!!.

sun. was church, we visited three families, our ward is really pushing family mission plans, so we have been asked to visit as many families as we can. its good and bad, good, they get family mission plans, bad, we eat everytime so we're become balloons haha. 

mon. was zone meeting! it was fun, i got to see all the missionaries in my zone, and my comp gave his last testiomony because he goes home next week, weird to think that he goes home, but i have a year left haha. but we got caught off guard, this sisters in our district are moving to a new apt. so last minute we have had to help them for the past two days!! which is fun, but i have helped moved missionaries in every single on of my cities haha. im becoming quite the handy man, ill be set for my family when i go home haha.

tues. same thing, we helped the sisters pack and move all their new stuff in the apt. a lot work because me and warnock had to move a washingmachine. but we managed, then we had to hurry, go home, and change for inglish class and serata familiare. it was fun as always!! i have made quite the group of friends haha. theyre all my age, so we have good times talking, i have made good friends with this kid named angelo, hes not a member, but still really legit, the sisters are teaching him, so im praying he'll get baptized soon!!

wed. today we have planned to go to the other church and play soccer with all the missionaries practically in the zone, im excited, its fun to hang out with them. im curious, because i see other missionaries go do things with sisters, on p days, in my mission we cant do anything wit the sisters, the only time we see eachother is on sun. and church activities, wierd......

im so very thankful for this chance i have to serve a mission, i love being a missionary, and i still have one whole year left! i know that God loves me, and he loves all his children, and i know that as we continue to follow his example, we will find happiness in this life, that will carry on to the next. 

grazie per tutte le preghiere che mi date! sono molto contento ad essere in missionario, io so che questa chiesa e' vera, e abbiamo la pienezza del vangelo di gesu' cristo sulla terra oggi. vi invito di seguirlo. ciao!! vi voglio bene! ci sentiamo!