Livorno Bound

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Okay, so I think I may have had the craziest two weeks ever. I'll just start at the beginning.

So on Wednesday after emails Anziano Robinson and I were lucky (or unlucky?) enough to get a ride home from a member. While entering the car, Anziano Robinson hit his head on the door frame on accident and I guess pretty hard too. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, except for the fact that he was already getting over a concussion and so his head was already weak. This second hit was enough to cause the headaches and other symptoms to flare up again. So we were given orders from the mission doctor to yet again stay inside and not leave the house for any reason.

So to our dismay we were suddenly launched back to exactly where we were over a month ago. Then the next night we got a call from the head mission doctor over all of the European missions and he all but told us right then and there that Anziano Robinson would have to go home to rest up and be in the care of American doctors. The next day we got the official call from President Dibb and suddenly my companion had a flight to catch on the next Monday morning. We were both really sad about this, but he handled it very well I think, even though going home was the very last thing he wanted to do.

That Sunday we went to church (I gave a talk) and Anziano Robinson gave his departing testimony, then we both headed up to the mission office in Milan. I had to stay in Milan for the next three days and it was there that President gave me the news that I wouldn't be going back to Pisa, but instead was to go to Livorno (pronounced leave-or-no) for the rest of this transfer (it's about fifteen minutes away from Pisa by train). And if you were wondering, yes I had to be the one to make the awkward call to tell the bishop that there wouldn't be any Anziani in Pisa for the rest of the transfer.

On the bright side, I ended up being able to go to a conference with the General Relief Society President and General Young Women's President, which was a conference that all the Sorelle were invited to as well as the Milan Anziani, because the conference was in Milan. After the conference I caught a train with the Livorno Sorelle back to Livorno. They were the reason I stayed up in Milan so long, so that I wouldn't have to travel alone. That was a slightly awkward train ride though hahaha. Anyway, so I met the Anziani in Livorno that night and thank goodness I have a solid companion again! Two of them in fact! We went back to Pisa to grab my stuff the next and now I'm officially moved into Livorno.

I know what you all are thinking at this point, that the Italy Milan Mission is a crazy and disorganized mess, but let me assure you that President Dibb and the Office elders tried their best to make the best situation for me they could out of what they had. The timing for my companion to go home was absolutely atrocious considering the conference that was held here this last Wednesday. That being said, good came from this fiasco too, in the form of meeting new people, getting practice with the language (I carry the phone for the Pisa Anziani for the next three weeks), and seeing the examples of many different missionaries. I learned a lot from this experience and I honestly am grateful for those things that I learned, even if I had to see a friend go home a few transfers early (hopefully they'll let him come back out).

And best of all, from what I had heard from literally everyone is that 1) My new companions Anziani Jensen and Brown are amazing people, and 2) Livorno is the best city to serve in and the ward here is the best Ward in the mission. The shear volume of praise for Livorno that I had heard was astounding and I'm can now see that it is well deserved! Plus, president said he will most likely be putting me back in Pisa next transfer; I have come to love Pisa, so I would be very content if he does!  So anyway, things in Livorno are going great! We are teaching a high school age kid named Giacomo (Jacob) right now and he is growing in his faith every day! At first our approach was simply to help him feel comfortable with us because he is a very shy kid, but now, especially after the ward Halloween party this last Tuesday he is really open with us! He prayed with us for the first time in our last lesson and it was really powerful. He is such a great kid with a very sincere desire to learn more about Christ and His gospel! He has a baptismal date set for November and your prayers for him would be more than appreciated!

As I mentioned before there was a ward Halloween party this last Tuesday and it was extremely well done. Lots of people showed up, both members and nonmembers and I think everyone had a great time. I got the chance to meet a lot of people there and got to even sit down and hold a few conversations with some of the people who came. Ever since coming to Livorno I've been putting a ton more effort into engaging in conversations with people and I am surprised every day at the blessings as I simply take the leap of faith to try.

It's still scary at times and often difficult to understand what people say and to respond intelligibly, but as I've trusted in the Lord I've found that it always pays off when I do. I gain confidence, learn new words, become more familiar with the grammar, and hear new ways to say things every time I do so. But not only that, I witness the gift of tongues work within me each time and it always fortifies my faith and inspires me to try again and again. Faith is like a muscle, you can feed it all day with nourishment (like the scriptures and words of the prophets) but at the end of the day it will not grow until it is exercised!

At the Halloween party we shared a spiritual thought about overcoming our fears, which topic is very applicable to me right now as I just mentioned. One of the scriptures that has really helped me overcome my fears so far in the mission is 2 Timothy 1:7, which says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I love this scripture because it shows us that no fear of ours is one that is given of God. Heavenly Father has not given us our fears, quite the opposite in fact! He has given us sound minds, and His power, and the spirit of love! Therefore, of what have we to fear? If God Himself has endowed us with His power then there is no reason to fear anything as long as our pursuits are righteous! The bible dictionary describes fear as "something unworthy of a child of God." What is there that can be said more than that? As children of our Heavenly Father, fear is beneath us! Therefore, let us press forward in faith and cast fears far from ourselves! I encourage you all this week to face your fears in faith and follow the council of our loving Heavenly Father to "Look unto [Him] in every thought; doubt not, fear not." I promise that as you do you will find that the Lord will provide a way for you. Give him your fears and He will turn them into faith and you will feel His love poured out upon you. So in honor of Halloween, conquer your fears! There is no better time to do so!

Have a great week everyone and Happy Halloween!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson