20 June, 2017

New Missionaries Arrive - June

We welcome our new missionaries.
(This is the first time the Sorelle outnumber the Anziani.)
We look forward to working with these willing
servants of the Lord.
"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God
ye are called to the work."
D&C 4:3

We are grateful for the desires that have brought you to the 
Italy Milan Mission.



Excerpts from the first day:
The airport





On our way to D'uomo di Milano
Finding and teaching as we go...



















The day ends at the mission home for dinner.
Our oven is "on the blink".
Thank goodness for pizza!



Day two - First companion, first area.

 Welcome Sorella Pope
Trainer - Sorella Blandford
Serving in Brescia

 Welcome Sorella Button
Trainer - Sorella Lewis
Serving in San Remo

 Welcome Sorella Bowthorpe
Trainer - Sorella Morgan
Serving in Lampugnano, Milan

 Welcome Anziano Gillett
Trainer - Anziano Aglaure
Serving in Cimiano, Milan

 Welcome Anziano Wright
Trainer - Anziano Simcox
Serving in Merate

 Welcome Sorella Knight
Trainer - Sorella Causse
Serving in Reggio Emilia

 Welcome Sorella Riley
Trainer - Sorella Orr
Serving in Forli

 Welcome Anziano Davidson
Trainer - Anziano Cuthbert
Serving in Torino

 Welcome Anziano Carter
Trainer - Anziano Blom
Serving in Torino

Welcome to you all!

We move forward from our desires to striving.
Striving to do our best to be our best - 
to be Disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is His time - not ours.
We must never forget.

11 June, 2017

Benvenuti Shumakers


We are especially glad to welcome
Anziano and Sorella Shumaker
from Arizona.

The Milan Italy Mission
is certainly grateful you have come.
We promise you will have a rich experience here
as you respond to this call to serve.


Serving in Arezzo as MLS missionaries.

Benvenuti!


10 June, 2017

Broken ankle

We are so sad to be losing 
Sorella Lo Russo
to a broken ankle.  It was a simple wrong step on
uneven ground to cause a devastating injury.
She still continues to "scatter sunshine all along her way"
in spite of the evident challenges.
These are the kind of missionaries that bless the people of Italy.



What's harder?
Serving or being served?
Sorella Lo Russo is one to meet the needs of others
and finds ways to serve in spite of her injury.
Thanks to her great companion, Sorella Tullis,
for "being there" in the best of ways.

"Where love is - there God is also."

New Missionary Training


One month after their arrival
our new missionaries are gathered again for additional training.
This is a wonderful group that is here
"for the right reasons".
We love them already,
and are so grateful they have come.


"The work of our missionaries
is a magnificent expression of
the Lord's redeeming love."
~D. Todd Christopherson~


We learn by doing in a mission.
It's primarily "on-the-job" training.
This "face drawing" activity related to the importance
of being a patient and caring companion.
We do our best.
Every face was different,
but every one was able to create a very fine face.








06 June, 2017

Goodbye to the Clarks and Ferraras


What a blessing it has been to serve with these two great couples.
They have won the hearts of all they have come in contact with
through their humble, diligent and focused service.
Because of you, the beautiful Missione di Milano is a better place.


 Anziano and Sorella Clark

Anziano and Sorella Ferrara

 Our lovely meal was peppered with comments like:
"This was the hardest thing we've ever done."
"We couldn't find our apartment."
"Our alternator went out on day 3."
"We were locked in the parking area."
"We did not realize we would love the members so much."
"I love these missionaries like they are my own children."
"We didn't realize how important the Pathway Program is."
"I have been crying for one and a half weeks."


We hope to gather again for another meal - 
in just a couple of years from now.
(We all know how fast time flies ...
and nothing proves it like a mission.)

Thank you! Thank you!
You did not come for our thanks and appreciation,
you came to serve the Lord by serving His children.
We are so very glad we were here when you did.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servants."
Ci Vediamo!

27 May, 2017

Zone Conferences - May 2017

Every six weeks we spend time in training with each other.  
It is a wonderful opportunity of 
 doctrinal instruction, training, counsel and reunion.  
We need this time of connection.
Sometimes - most of the time - this work is 
just plain hard.  
We are here because we have covenanted with God
to do our part in furthering His kingdom on earth.
Specifically,
 nella Missione Italiana di Milano.

....Missionaries....
 The Genova Zone

 The Torino Zone

 The Verona Zone

 The Milano Est Zone

The Milano Ovest Zone

 The Bologna Zone

 The Venezia Zone

The Toscana Zone

 
The Rimini Zone

What happened in this Zone Conference?
Wonderful special musical numbers that set the tone and touch our hearts.
We also have an inspirational thought - both morning and after lunch.

*President Allen talked about the difference between being anxious
and anxiety.  One helps us move the work forward.  
The other impedes our efforts. 

*The Assistants talked about what makes us happy on a mission.
We can be happy even when we are having hard days/experiences.
"Grateful in Any Circumstance" - Elder Uchtdorf (April 2014)

Breakout sessions - Sorelle with President Allen, Anziani with Sorella Allen
*Slle Allen - My role is to love and encourage the missionaries.
Anziani, have the courage to make the changes you need to be
the very best missionary, then student, husband and father you can be.
"Rise Up, O Men of God" Hymn # 324
Allow your mission to bless you the rest of your lives.
Pres. Allen - They are equal to the Anziani in teaching ability and effectiveness.
Taught the importance of womanhood and motherhood.
Encouraged to set goals - spiritual, education, physical health.
-Lunch-
*Zone leader training - How to conduct an effective English class.
Make it organized, informational and fun.
*Sister Trainer Leaders - How to conduct the spiritual thought
at the end of the English class.

Our goal is to increase the number of investigators that come from
our English classes.

*Final words from President Allen.
*Testimonies of "Twinkling Missionaries"
*Mission hymn.
Prayer.