Verona!

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Here to Stay,

So transfers have come and it turns out that I get to stay in Verona for another transfer! I'm excited to stay in this amazing city! And still with the added bonus of Mantova for part of the week! Anziano Te Maari is still my companion too, which is really good because he is the one that knows Mantova and I'm still learning it.

We have a new mission president coming in at the end of this month who name is President Allen and as such, President Dibb has asked us to make June a month of "consecration". In essence, he has asked us to work as hard as ever and with even greater focus on and concern for the people we teach and encounter. The difference has been seen as Anziano Te Maari and I have tried to invite the Holy Ghost more than ever into our teaching appointments and daily routines. We're making efforts to be more prepared for the lessons we teach and to look for more opportunities to uplift and serve. Although this week we spent a great portion of our time with transfers, adjusting our apartment to accommodate two again rather than four, traveling and waiting in lines for visa documentation for Anziano Te Maari, and planning for the month's upcoming events, we can tell that great things will soon come from our increased efforts to bless the lives of others.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude recently. I'm extremely grateful for the blessings that richly define my life. I have a loving family back home, loving friends both in the mission and at home, and the amazing chance to be in the position to uplift and edify others as a full-time missionary. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy. He knows what is meaningful to us. He knows what will make us the most happy. He has a plan for us all and it exists for the only to help us realize our fullest potentials as divine sons and daughters of God. He sent His only begotten Son to set an example of righteousness for us and ultimately pay the price for our sins so that if we would rely on Him, we wouldn't have to. We have a God watching over us 24/7 making sure to keep His promises to bless us when we do right and teach us when we don't. I'm so great full for the knowledge that we will never be alone as long as we keep close to God.

There are blessing all around us to be grateful for! Take a moment to count your blessings this week. You will find many. each of us has been richly blessed with our own strengths and weaknesses, loved ones, and tender mercies. Look for them and you will find them!

Have a fantastic week!

-Anziano Jake Wilkinson