Dove sono I miei genitori???

Hey everyone, for some reason my parents decided to go somewhere I've never been today... Rome!! C'mon! I guess they decided to do an Italy trip without their tour guide son. Anyways, this week was pretty eventful.

Soo our new mission president did a meet and greet with us this week. He is a really nice guy, who really has a love for others. I think he will make a big difference in this mission and a big difference for the members in this area. All the missionaries were thrilled to meet him.

I also had my first bistecca fiorentina this week. Basically it's a huge thick Tuscan cut steak cook very quickly to were it is the rarest of rare, and then you add olive oil and salt. It was strange for me because I usually like a little more well done, and it was sooo chewy. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was tasty! One of our new converts wanted to be the first one to make me this steak.

For simpatizzanti Adama is doing really well. Even though there is a language barrier, his Italian is getting better, and our bishop loves teaching him in French. I haven't seen someone as spiritually inclined to become better than I've seen in him. He's got a ways to go, but he wants to make that change.

Liviu is doing good, he is starting to read the scriptures, and realizes there are a lot of good things that can come from them. We just need to help him understand the nature of God and how sometimes God will or will not interfere with events. We don't understand the mind of him, but we understand that he is perfect and does it for the benefit of everyone.

Stefano is ready to start meeting with us again so we are excited to get back on track with him. We know he is ready for the gospel, he just needs to personally acknowledge his own testimony out loud.

On the Fourth of July (God Bless America!) after our meet and greet with the new mission president, we went to an American style grill, and I borrowed a tie from a member and we took a California picture with all the missionaries from California. Needless to say, even though I was far away from home, I still kept my pride high.

This last little period has been focused on gratitude. It is something I have been trying to think about because sometimes we don't realized how blessed we are. I am blessed to have served a mission, I am blessed to have come to Italy. I have been blessed with the gift to learn a new language, and to be able to see so many amazing things. But I've also been blessed with struggles. I have been blessed with long days of no success. I have been blessed with sleepless nights,
loneliness, exhaustion, mental breakdowns, and other trials. But I have been blessed because it all came from Heavenly Father. He plays a part in every moment of our lives. He knows that everything that happens to us, happens for a reason. We should Always be grateful for whatever comes our way. The trials make us stronger and the blessings give us even more hope. When we have an attitude of gratitude we can be happy. We can understand that God wants well for us, and that we are blessed abundantly. I know this mission has and will bless my life forever. I know his gospel is true, and that it is he perfect way for us to return to him. I know that he answers my prayers and that he allows me to have my agency in the path to him. I know he loves us, and I know that we are his children.

I can't wait to see you all very soon, and have a fantastic week!