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

A (Long) (Insane) Week

Last Tuesday we went to Firenze for an exchange, Wednesday last we
went to Siena, then Thursday we were told by the mission to clean all
day to have a perfectly clean apartment then had English class (it
went well). And then Sunday rolled around; the ticket bought us
tickets to Milano (a massive train ride, may I say?) and we arrived in
the Lampugnano area chapel to hear from one of our beloved Apostles,
Elder Holland.
No, I didn't get a photo of him, but I can testify how strongly he
brought the spirit. Elder Holland shared about how strongly his
mission affected his life and gave us a lot of good counsel. I don't
have lots of time, but I will say that he advised us to be obedient so
that we might have the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is the third member of
the godhead, and sometimes we take that for granted.
He also reminded us that we missionaries are apostolic. Like him,
we are called representatives of Christ and his gospel. That is our
Full Time calling.
He finished, he shook all of the missionary's hands (actually he shook
our hands before the opening prayer), and then the meeting was over.
The office had prepared for us sack lunches. Our train left at 5, but
we missed it, and had to take the next one, which was at 6. The office
had also chosen this train for us...and it was WAY to long of a trip.
We endured another 5 hours on that train and got home after 11pm.
Yuck.
Most of our appointments have fallen through, we don't have many
lessons, and we have to spend long durations being clever in how to
contact people. Anyway, I know this mission is the best for me. It's
really hard but the 'salvation of a soul is the most important thing
any person can participate in'.(Elder Holland).
love you all!
--Anziano Benge
(Our district after a long day and hike: Freckleton, Carter, Johnson, Me)

I was was lost but now I'm

Still lost, I haven't been sleeping well even when taking melatonin.
My head is swimming and normal cognitive abilities are a bit
difficult. But that is all good, it only means that today's email will
be short.
Thursday, we had a lesson planned, and he didn't show. We did finding
and then had English class which we have now started on Thursdays not
just Tuesday. Nobody showed to my base class.
Friday, two potential investigators didn't show up to our lessons. Two
more bidone, it's quite annoying. I'm losing hope to ever see anyone
progress in this city, but I just need to wash the slate clean and
start over. Before me there was a lot of disorganization going on and
even our 'strongest' investigators have no personal testimony they
just sit in on lessons and go back to their normal life afterwards.
Saturday, the summer holidays are officially 100% over. I don't think
we did anything memorable.
Sunday, Robert came to church which is good and I had to do
translation for him and a visitor from Rexburg. The rest of the day
was habitual proselyting with no recognizable success (although one
man and his wife did want to come to English: fast forward to
Tuesday--)
Monday: An awesome district meeting, I absolutely love this district.
Sorella Carter is the chill person that you just have to respect and a
really great missionary even though she's a greenie. Sorella Johnson,
the life of the party and the ward and everything. She's hilarious.
Anziano Freckleton is a great guy and just knows what to do, and gets
it done (or at least he calls those he remembers even if nobody
answers) and he keeps good discussions rolling. What a great district
Tuesday, like I said. Emily and Aldo came to English class and as I
taught them they became interested in my calling and the gospel. And
like that: restoration lesson

So, that's all, sorry. And no photos either. Love you all, stay strong
in the faith!
--Anziano Benge