Time Surpasses

Wow, another week gone by! Sure enough, we spent our last Pday in
Venice. This Pday was in Claut, and all this travel is so fun. I must
admit

Thursday we had a SUPERB thanksgiving with the Hart family. And we
jammed together, making music with so many instruments and voices. So
cool. I feel like that was my first thanksgiving dinner inside of a
home. My only memories of other dinners have happened in churches. So,
yes, this was a triple special experience. The Harts are an amazing
American family. Again, such a good night

The time has raced by, and we've kept ourselves busy. Friday, we
spent our day in Maniago. It is Italy's knife/steel capital (who knows
why), and we did finding and passed by an old investigator. We didn't
find him, sadly. It always seems to happen that way. We got home cold
and wet, but it was fine.

Saturday, we decided to pass an inactive Roberto who lived in a
distant place called San Vito al Tagliamento. (You can look these all
up if you want.) The city was a 22 km bike ride from our apartment, so
we got there and we were exhausted. We rang, knocked, and there was
nothing, so we went and got gelato. When that was done, we tried
again, riding once more from the city center to his home. No luck, so
I began writing a note about how'd we missed him.
A couple passed as I was writing and I said, "Scusate" (okay I'll just
tell you in English)
I said "excuse me. Do you know (said Roberto)?"
They said, "Yes."
Me, "We are missionaries from his church and wondered if he'll be back soon."
He said, "No he won't.... Ha, just kidding it's me!"
I laughed, asked how they were, and then told them of how we had
ridden 1.5 hours to find him. He said he didn't have time and escaped
inside. What?!?
HOW DISAPPOINTED we were. I mean, come on!
We rode back (in the dark, with only one working light, yikes) and got
dinner at an "American" Diner. So sad, but we did give an English
class flyer to the waitress and talked with her. So that's good

Sunday, was fine. Nobody we've invited showed up though.
I can't remember anything special Monday. Tuesday, we had district
meeting as usual. Then at night we ate with another American family,
the Gublers, which was also way fun. All the Italians are on a temple
trip, so this week will be slow with the member work. I love this city
and the people.
I can barely believe how great God's work is though! There is so much
more good than bad, so much more light than darkness. Remember which
side you're on. A man cannot serve two masters.
Love you all!
--Anziano Benge
1-San Vito al Tagliamento
2-Claut Forest
3- Venice

A Green Missionary's First Lesson

Dear Readers,
As you have probably noticed, the work in Pordenone is a bit slow. We
get lessons, but not as often as other cities. So with this in mind,
you must realize that my new 'Verdino', fresh out of the MTC
companion, had his first lesson in Italian on Monday.
And of course, it was a Siciliano man, that neither of us could
understand, and he's Xmafia, explaining how many people he's killed.
But don't worry he's reformed now, though he won't come to church
because 'the bishop is evil, and the members are all afraid of him.'
Oh well, we did our best, and although he's done 15 years behind bars
and committed every known crime, he's a really sweet guy with a really
well-raised family. Anziano Douglas (my trainee's name) liked the
lesson a lot. Welcome to Italy...

Anziano Douglas is from the Riverside area in California. He's fresh
out of High school, is a gym/beach/videogame type of guy, and is
really strong in his testimony. We're very different, but have enough
in common to teach awesomeness.
(His mom is from Napoli, but she never taught him Italian, though he
speaks it extremely well already)
I picked him up Thursday from Milano and have already showed him
around the city. Sunday we had a lunch with members in Budoia,
tomorrow for Thanksgiving we have lunch/dinner with an American
family, and last night we ate with the Rust Couple. At least we're
getting fed!

The work is picking up steadily, 3 non members came to our Italian
Ward, and it's exciting. One other funny part of the week is that we
discovered that Anziano Douglas' IPad they issued him is completely
busted. It has no camera app, can't download anything, has no
Bluetooth, and no Siri. It's useless except email. Haha, we'll get a
new one later, but for now I am the only one with the Area Book App.
As the mission has gone fully digital, it's a bit hard to have only
one functioning device for Area Book, when we need two!

Other than all that, life is good. We Pdayed in Venezia, and I think
that's all for today.

E pluribus unum, Doctrine and Covenants 38:27.
"Unity, harmony, goodwill are virtues to be fostered and cherished in
every home. Slander is poison to the soul." President David O. McKay

--Anziano Benge
(Mountains are always nice
Anziano Douglas and I (the two in the center) when I picked him up in Milan)

What Brings You Joy?- Happy Thanksgiving

Another week blows by in the wind, another chill sweeps through the air.

My scarf doesn't keep out the bitter cold bite, but I don't really care.

   On Saturday we received our transfer news, and as suspected, Anziano Green will be leaving to Vercelli. I will be finishing my mission here as a New Missionary Trainer. Whoa...quite the change I may say. I take a train today after 4pm to Milano and I'll pick him up tomorrow morning! So exciting.

   Sorella Barlow, the British sister in my district, is going home. Today is her last day. The sister that will be coming up to replace her is Sister Carter! The same Carter that I just had in my district in Livorno! So yeah, both the sisters (Carter,Marshall) will be in their fourth transfer and neither speak the language too well. Likely I will be the only one in the district to speak Italian unless my newbie missionary somehow already speaks it.

   This last week we did a lot of saying goodbye, and Anz. Green finally finished the process with his Residency Permit and has it now. I'll have to do this process again with my new companion, which really sucks because doing the math, I have already spent 60+ hours inside the immigrant office/questura during my mission.

Anyway, I am loving this mission even though it's difficult. I am excited to train. Please remember that all the unfairness in the world is made up through hard work and then, the Grace of our Loving Heavenly Father and the Son.
Stay happy 
--Anziano Benge

(Autumn Dolomites, up by Claut)

A sick daze

Green had a sore throats and cold symptoms all last week. Now it's
been passed off to me. And I spent all my time writing to family, so
it'll be a short email. Sorry.

Pordenone is cold, and so is Trieste (what we did last Wednesday was
tour there). The work has been slow because it seems everyone is sick,
but Monday we saw the Giurintano family and ate a lentil pasta with
them. Every time I go over the grandfather plays two games of chess
with me. Let's just say I need to practice.

Last week there were a bunch of cancellations just as we'd be leaving.
It's so annoying when that happens.
The biggest change of all is that we've gone all digital now. We spend
many hours taking our Area Books and transferring the paper
information to our iPads. We no longer use missionary planners, as it
is all on our new app. The conversion process is difficult, and fairly
boring. It doesn't help that I have to do it all on an Apple device.
(Sorry for those who prefer Apple), but I mean there are way to many
glitches. There's also no reason my iPad should freeze when ever I use
the mail app or Area Book app, I have several GB of free space still.
It's started happening that when I try to add a new person or lesson
on the app, that my whole iPad crashes...and of course, Non esiste il
tech support.
This conversion is going to take me a very long time.
The Bora hasn't hit yet. I am suspenseful for that.
Next week are transfers, I will let you know next Wednesday. I will
very very very likely be staying here (although I thought the same in
Livorno).
Until next week!
--Anziano Benge
1- Anz. Green admires weapons in Trieste; S. Giorgio castle's museum
2- Trieste (not my favorite pDay)

An Extremely Short Email

I just threw some random contacts on this email, so I hope you don't mind!
As always, I am doing well. I'm keeping this email short because of
technical problems and time. Today's Pday was up in Barcis, so I tried
writing this on a bus, but it kept crashing. Sorry
We had our American Military Ward Halloween party, lots of people came
and we met many contacts. I got to go on Base and did some shopping at
the commissary (peanut butter, root beer, pop tarts, Jalapeño cheetos)
for things that I haven't had here.
We had a lesson with a newly moved in member named Race, from Idaho.
What a cool guy.
That's all. Love you all

--Anziano Benge
(Me forgetting to smile at Barcis with the district)

A Long Move

The most memorable day was Saturday.
Waking up at 5:30, we hitched a ride with some members and drove the
long (circa) 1 hour 40 minute trip to Belluno to help Isabel and Mario
move. In the misty, dewy morning, the Dolomites were beautiful.
Hopefully we weren't distracted too much as we hauled boxes and bed
frames, washing machines and cabinets, downstairs to load them in a
truck. (Also a fridge and a table, and two massive red couches
(massive for Italian sizes at least(actually small))). The truck, of
course, arrived an hour later and then we loaded and made the drive
back home.
Once again, we emptied the truck and this time had to bring it all
upstairs to the second story (third floor in U.S measures).
Fortunately for the men that were there, they had a lunch prepared for
us when we were finished.
Sunday was fantastic because so many members are bringing their
friends to church. We are contacting them all, and most said that
they'd be here for the dual-ward party this Saturday (which us
missionaries will be the judges for a chili cook-off competition).
There will also be a trunk-or-treat.
We've had many dinners (Italian on Friday, Senior Missionary Couple on
Monday, American Restaurant with an Airman yesterday) and we do a
'Family Home Evening' at the church on tuesdays, so yesterday I taught
that lesson.
For Even more news, we had a surprise exchange with the missionaries
in Mestre on Thursday to Friday, so both of us were there for that
night. Then, yesterday morning and afternoon was a Zone Conference in
Mestre for all the missionaries from Trieste to Bologna. Yes, I've
been to Mestre twice in the last week, hard travels!
So yeah, we've been busy, and I don't have much more to write. Today
for our free day we haven't decided what to do...so..until next time!

I love this gospel, and I KNOW it's true
--Anziano Benge
1- Driving home from Belluno
2- Driving through Cet (Belluno)
3- View from my apartment balcony. (Pordenone)

Pordenone, God Bless America

The work is very different here. Very productive.
My companion is Anziano Green, from Palmyra, NY, although his family
moved to Clarksville TN while he was out here. We get along super well
and this is going to be a really good transfer, we laugh often and
think alike.
I am the only westerner in the district though. Sorella Barlow, this
is her last transfer, is from Great Britain. Sorella Marshall is from
the Toronto Canada area. So, they often make fun of the USA, and more
especially Utah.
But guess what, too bad, because they serve over the American ward
here. There is a large military base here in Aviano, and it makes
things so fun. Yesterday we went to Burger King and it was paid for by
the members. The young single military men often invite us to shop on
base with them at the commissary, so we can get anything we want for
cheap. Though, honestly, Italian food is just fine

Thursday's we visit Renato Leban, a locally renowned artist who is a
convert. Wednesday nights we teach English to Italians. Thursday's
nights we teach Italian to Americans.
Tuesdays we have a 'Family Home Evening' serrata familiare , with
anyone from either ward. Last Saturday we painted a house for service
of some Portuguese people, (there was no communication between us,
perbacco!). Lots of people we talked to in parks, on the street, and
then lots of people came to church that were invited by members. The
work is slow but we may say that the field is ripe.
Questions?

Cool, love you all, remember your prayers!
--Anziano Benge