il District, la Zone

--Anziano BengeMe, Wheeler, Carnahan, Cabrera

And thus: Another week bites the dust

Anziano Isaac Wheeler from Orem and I both had a good week. This is
his second city, so he's having some time to adjust. I don't sleep
very well, but even that's gotten better. We're happy and working hard
in the terrible heat.
Today I would like to mention that a dear friend from home has
recently chosen to be baptized. I found out the wonderful news from
herself, and I was overjoyed. She's started her path just as many
others have and will...
Which leads us to Maryke. She has chosen a baptism date and will be
going forward with it when she gets home. She flys today to South
Africa, and we pray that she can return on time to be baptized the
23rd of August.
Ting is continuing to progress, we met with her at a shopping center
and had a lesson in a cafe. We introduced the Word of Wisdom, which
she accepted and promised to observe with little regret. She
immediately agreed to stop drinking tea as she was used to. At this
rate, I predict that she may choose a date for baptism within the
month.
We began the full lessons with Serena, with help from Maryke and
Isabella from the ward. Serena came to church, as well as Maryke. Ting
came to the young single adult activity that night. They're all so
blessed and understand why they come.

That's all for now, gotta go!
I love you all, and remember your prayers!!

--Anziano Benge
Novara alleyway
Novara buildings

Avvicinandosi al Crepuscolo

Ciao tutti. It seems that my companion goes home tomorrow. He is so
excited, for sure.
Saturday we received our transfer news and I am staying here in
Novara. Stale months of mugginess await, but my next companion is much
fresher in the mission. His name is Anziano —— Wheeler, he's from ——,
he's coming into his 5th transfer. that's it

Next week you'll have more for sure.
This week has been that week of awaited goodbyes and long-due
last-moment photos with Anziano Jaques and the people he likes here.
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting and he gave his last farewell at
the pulpit. He is currently packing.
Both Ting and Maryke came to church again, neither considered
otherwise, and they were very happy at the end. Ester will be gone
this next month but the other ward members have opened up and become
friends so we are not worried.

Yesterday we had lunch (sushi again, I'm so sick of going to sushi
buffets when I despise them so) at the mall with Victor, Ting, and
Maryke. Afterwards at Galliate we had a massive lesson with Maryke,
Ting, and Serena present. It was awesome, spiritual, and at the end
Maryke told us she wanted to be baptized on Aug. 23, which is the
Tuesday before transfers. She asked me to preform the baptism which I
will do gladly!!! I hope that it doesn't get pushed back or else I may
not be here to do it!
Serena wants to come to church next week, and It looks like we're
going to double the Relief Society within a year if they all get
baptized :)

Well, that's all for now. I do not have time to respond to every email
or to write everyone personally, but I do Thank You.
Love you all!

--Anziano Benge
Maryke, Alessandro, Serena, Ting, Anziano Jaques (not
pictured:everyone else) sitting at an outdoor bar where we may freely
teach lessons and not freely drink soda and eat chips

New Things

Nín hǎo, en welkom, to so many, culture diverse. (Chinese, Afrikaans,
English, Italian)
I guess I'm working this week with Chinese, Italian, Dutch, South
African, Nigerian, Gambian, Republica Dominican, Peruvian, German, and
American people. It is very hard to keep a straight mind with so many
different views and languages and accents, but it's also super fun.
Saturday was the big day this week. President Dibb is no longer here
and on Saturday we were in a zone conference at Torino to meet
President Allen and his wife!! He is so very different from what you
normally see in important men; meek, mild, intelligent and he and his
wife 'wear the pants' together in the marriage.
They are from Salmon, Idaho and love outdoorsy things. He just retired
as a dentist and sold his boat and home to come out here. He served in
the Italy south mission forty-something years ago.
Sunday, both Ting and Maryke came to church and enjoyed it. Ester is
their mediator for Relief Society, but the whole ward loves both of
them. Maryke is thinking to be baptized the end of August if things
turn out.
Monday, was Independence Day!!! We had a delicious BBQ in Galliate
with Maryke and Serena and their families. There was pasta salad, made
by Anziano Jaques. All sorts of meat, provided by the amazing BBQ
chef, Hans Van Der Vliet. Sticky buns (gigantic leavened cinnamon
rolls, I could only eat half of one) baked by Serena. And ice cream
and drinks, lamely bought by lanky Anziano Benge. Afterward we had
some photos with an American flag.
It was a good week, and we taught a lot of lessons. We met many new
people and did some good. Love you all!
(A shout out to all the missionaries that are finishing their missions
soon! Finish STRONG)
--Anziano Benge
A) the Allens
B) left, Afrikaans. Right, Dutch

A Personal Letter to You All

You might think this weird, but I had the idea last night to write
each of you a personalized sentence or two. I've only sent this email
to the select individuals who I think it likely would read the email.
It's a sort of gratitude letter, and then at the end I'll update you
on my week. (Don't feel obligated to respond) Let's begin!

Dear Father, I've already written you a response to an email you sent
me. But really, thanks for writing often, humorously, and spiritually.
Love you!
Dear Mother, Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I love receiving your
emails and testimony, but I don't always respond because I'm lazy or
can't think in English. I love you as well!
Dear Hannah, keep working hard and praying! God has given you amazing
talents, he's also given you trials that you may learn. I love you and
miss jammin' on the guitars!
Dear Elder Benge, It seems Washington state is treating you well. I
miss singing with you also! Remember charity never faileth! Love you!
Dear Miriam, When dark clouds hang o'er you, turn first to your
family, leaders, and then friends. Stay in practice with all you
musical skills! Love you, and good luck with high school. It's a
rollercoaster.
Dear Andrew, are you alive? Just kidding, your parents have
thankfully written that you are in fact alive and well. Stay creative,
and play piano and guitar, or you'll regret it later! Love you and
miss you!
Dear Lucy, I'm also convinced you're alive, I think. I love you, but
make sure to keep sending me your poetry and books!
Dear Rachel, you're at that age when I come home you're going to be
a completely different person. Take care of your cough, play violin,
love life. I love you!
Dear Joshua, it is your job to say hello to Enoch and Ester because
they don't have emails. (I hope.) give them each a hug for me. I hope
you're having fun in sports and life! I love you buddy!

Dear Grandma and Grandpa Nielson, you've always been busy people!
Always serving first the Lord and second your massive Family. I love
you, and wish love with all of your endeavors. You are wonderful
people!
Dear Grandma and Grandpa Benge, I really miss you as well! I don't
know what you're currently doing in life, but it's probably awesome.
I've always been proud of my grandparents. I love you both!

Dear Sorella Sharp, methinks you're still in Liguria? Hope to hear
your crazy adventures soon! Baptize nations, smile often, and see you
later!
Dear Sister Bucco, I'm sorry that I didn't talk to you when I
passed through Firenze! I almost missed the train though, so it's a
good excuse. I wish we could have caught up! Thank you for your
Italian teaching and preparation, I really have used it much and
cannot express fully my gratitude to you.
Cara Ester, amica, sei privilegiata d'aver un messaggio di
Italiano. Tuo lavoro missionario è la benedizione più grande di tutta
Novara. Senza esagerazione, la tua gentilezza, amicizia e carità sono
le cose che questo mondo esige.
Dear Anziano Harris, you have no idea how awesome you are. At transfer
calls I'm definitely calling to know what is going on. Keep
practicing, for practice makes perfect.
Dear Heather, I hope that you're killing it over there in the USA.
I included you on this list much because you wrote me a very kind
dedica, and I hope to hear from you and your adventures of school.
Keep smiling!

That's all! Thank you all very much. If you're reading this on the
blog and wondering why you didn't make this list it's because
A) you might be a figment of my imagination or B) I'm lazy or C) I
also make mistakes, maybe I just forgot, D) I don't have your email.

This week was slow and hot. Maryke came to church again, many of
the members love her. She was touched in sacrament meeting,
participated in Sunday School, and then spent Relief Society with her
new friend, Ester. She is sure that this is the right church from her,
and she says she'll want to have a baptism date planned before she
goes on her family vacation to South Africa. That's only two weeks
away, which means she's praying hard and preparing. She's already a
few books into the Book of Mormon.
All is well, gotta go!!
This is the Mission of our Saviour
This is love
This is service

--Anziano Benge

Evangelical Vanguards

I apologize for not distributing an email last week, the wifi
situation has become almost impossible to work with. Last week, to
make things worse, every my iPad's email info was reset and nobody
knew how to fix it until Sunday. I'm writing this email at home,
Wednesday afternoon, I can't promise you that you'll read it any time
soon. Sorry.

Our week was awesome, our South African friend, Maryke, came to church
and LOVED it. She is reading the Book of Mormon, she's praying, she's
talking about baptism. If she stays faithful the ordinance will be
soon. She was definitely prepared to receive the gospel!
Now look, she's African...but she's Caucasian! Her last name is Dutch
and Sud Afrika origin. Pale, blonde, speaks English, Italian,
Afrikaans, some Dutch and more. She's lived here for twelve years and
is hoping to get into the USA soon! Her parents have raised her well
and they love us missionaries.
We went on a beautiful bike ride with them to have a discussion about
temples. The 25k ride along the 'Ticino River Valley' (?) was
exhausting but perfect for several gospel conversations. (No photos
because I'm lame)
They hope to take us on another bike ride discussion soon, and also
want to take us shopping for the Fourth of July... I think.
Our progress with Ting is great, we hope to watch Meet the Mormons
with her soon. Our less actives are disappearing, and it's hard to
contact anyone since school got out. Oh well... I feel as though there
is more to say...hmmm nope.
I love Galliate. I love this ward and the members.
The gospel is simple, God loves us, Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know
these things!

Until next time, when I have a combination of time/wifi/care
Take care
--Anziano Benge

The Little Things the Make Time Pass:

(They're called gears)

Oh hey..hmmm it's another Pday already. Seems like I have to type out
another email about all the wonderful things I've done in Italy
recently. Well, for starters, I taught lessons. We watched Meet the
Mormons with Ester and her mother, that was great. We taught Ting the
full lesson on the Gospel, again with the help of Ester. Ester teaches
as much as we do.
We had a heap of cancelled lessons, which is normal, and we had a lot
of scheduled appointments disappear or lost after endless phone calls
without answers. That's also normal.
It's getting hot...nowhere near as bad as last year, so I have no
complaints. I can still sleep with my bedcovers on, so it's not
unbearable...obviously.

But all in all, I am doing fine! A pinched nerve in my neck has been
my only setback, I just have to ignore. This week was transfers, so
Anziano Sean Penfold in our district was moved to Modena, I believe,
and in came Anziano Lott to Vercelli. Both he, and my companion, are
in their last transfers. Both will be 'dying' this transfer, and both
Anziano Carnahan and I will be 'killing' them...which means we will
both probably do at least another transfer here after they go! (Unless
they still close this area in Novara)

Tonight, Jake, our American friend is beginning a book reading
tutorial class to help teach English to Italians. Since we don't have
an English class running here in Novara, he's asked us to join and
participate (for free)'and it should help our missionary work by a
lot. The class will be reading Tom Sawyer. If you want to join...uh,
come to Novara.

Now here's the uplifting spiritual part! These are the things I've
read, and brief summaries:
John 1:1-14. Who can deny that Jesus Christ is the light and the life?
What a great passage.

Malachi 3:6. For he is the same! Mormon 9:9, there's no shadow of a changing?
If God never changes, than neither does the gospel, and neither does scripture!

2 Nephi 29:8-9. God's work is not yet finished, and never will be in
your lifetime. Learn all that you can from the witnesses that He
lives! (Everything)

Benché sono timido e non parlo molto, io ho una testimonianza! So
sicuramente che Gesù Cristo è l'unico genico figlio del nostro Padre
Celeste, e loro ci amano più che comprenderemmo mai. Il Libro di
Mormon è un libro di scritture sacre, è stato scritto per nostro
benessere spirituale. Queste cose sono fatti a me, e loro rendo qui
nel nome di Gesù Cristo..Amen

--Anziano Benge