Nov 30, 2015

Yes my week was good. I got to experience what a tripanonship feels like (3 Elders.) One of the elders had to be with us for a day and a half. It was really fun. So hard to focus.

Thanksgiving was a blast. So in the morning our ward had their turkey bowl. It was so much fun, three straight hours of football. They had us four elders as captains. My team was the championship team. It was a blast. I ran into bishop multiple times, but he still gave us assignments so I think he forgave me.

Yeah, so we had three dinners that day, that was rough. rough. It hurt, but it was good. One was at our recent converts house, the "F's" then right after that we went over to a Polynesian family in our ward, and then directly after that we went over to an investigators house. I thought I was going to die. I slept great though.

On Saturday we went to the Indianapolis temple and did baptisms with "C" and "K". Later that night I assisted in the baptism of one of the sisters' investigators. Elder Dahl performed the ordinance, I just stood in and helped her up. It was pretty cool.

Church was good as always. Love you!
Elder Verdoni 

 Multitasking 

 Elder crossing?

 Squirrel!

Nov 23, 2015

It finally snowed on Thursday! 3 inches I think. But it is cold cold. Not Arizona cold like the 60's and 50's lol. The hottest it got yesterday was 27°. Today has a high of 38° so it's warming up. Oh but the snow is so beautiful! It is so nice. Except that it is a wet cold and not a dry cold so when the wind blows and its 17 degrees outside, it pierces your bones. But its fun.

Thursday my life changed. It was one the greatest experiences of my life. Elder Randall K. Bennett of the Seventy came and visited our mission. He didn't plan anything he was going to teach us but he studied the scriptures diligently and he and his wife had constant prayers that he would say what God wanted to say. It was amazing. So spiritual. He and President Porter taught and both their wives. Our mission is unlike any other mission. Elder Bennett at the end said with tears in his eyes, "There is not a better mission president on this Earth. There is not." I know that I was called to this mission. President Porter is the most inspired person I have met. Our mission is changing. The windows of heaven are opening on this mission. The promises that have been made to us by those holding priesthood keys and those under the direction of keys will come to pass. I know it. There are going to be big big miracles happening very soon in the Greatest Ohio Cincinnati Mission. My life is changing.

There was a point where Elder Bennett asked us to share what we were feeling. So I stood up and shared that I felt a lot of hope and relief because so far my whole mission I have been trying to control the work and control the things I couldn't. And all I was seeing was my failures. But now I understand that all I need to do is focus on my faith, do the things I committed to do, and as I do that, He will work through me. And He looked me in the eyes and said "You are not a failure." For the next 5-10 min It was all directed towards me. In fact he said that if he had a 17-18 year old daughter he would tell her to hang on and wait for me, lol. So yeah a general authority trusts me with his daughter haha. But besides that, I felt the Spirit so strongly and I felt the pure love Heavenly Father has for me.

My life changed, I know who I am. I will not be the same when I get back. I know that my Savior lives. I know he will always back me up. I will always make my next step in coming closer to Him. I love my Heavenly Father and I love Jesus Christ. And because of that I will be obedient. I will serve them. I know this work is true. I know miracles come as you follow the counsel given by those who hold the Keys of the Priesthood. This mission is changing, I am changing.

1. Matching ties matching Backpacks
2. Snow!!

Twins! Back Pack & Ties

 SNOW!

Nov 16, 2015

The weather here is so wack. It bounces. Some days it's really cold and some days it's really warm(60's). Not sure why. But fort wayne has the most random weather. The other day it was like 40 degrees but with the wind it felt like it was in the low 30's, and we had to bike 20 min uphill in that. we were barely moving haha, It was Like biking up against a brick-wall. 

This week was good. We found a lot of new people to bring the gospel. We finally have a progressing investigator now too. It has been a while. I have just been on top of the world lately. The other night was one of the best nights ever. I have no idea why but I was just super happy. It was awesome. 

Ready for this next transfer. Finna Dunk Fort Wayne (means well done.) We have a new zone leader. He is really cool. 

Missions are great and horrible for the same one reason. How much you get to love people. As set apart representatives of Jesus Christ you truly can feel some of the love our savior has for people. I had a really hard experience with one of our former investigators. He used to be our most progressing and had a baptism date. But now he has completely hardened his heart and is very anti. This whole time I thought it was my fault and it was my responsibility. But after actual tears, I prayed to my Father in Heaven. I recognized that I did my best but couldn't do anymore. And I gave him up to the Lord. It was amazing. I do not have that burden that has been on my shoulder for months. I love my Savior. I know He knows me. I know He lives. I know I am a son of God. 

Elder Verdoni

Guess I'll just send an empty box for Christmas -mom

Remember their district shirt? Cats!

Nov 9, 2015

Transfers are tomorrow! I am staying though! I get at least another five weeks in Fort Wayne Indiana. I actually really love it here. It's so nice.

I got to drive on Wednesday! We went on exchanges and I got to drive the zone leaders van. First time driving in over four months. I only got yelled at for speeding six times, by a box not my companion. It's just getting colder and colder here. I'm pretty excited though.

I got to give a talk in church yesterday and it went really well. I talked about faith in Jesus Christ and the doctrine of Christ. I'm having a lot of fun out here with my companion. We periodically die laughing for no reason.

I love being out here. I know this church is the only true church of Jesus Christ on this Earth and that it is directed by a prophet of God who is led by Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true.
Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom

So are you freezing yet? Did anyone in your zone get transferred out or new ones coming in?
Yes and yes! Crazy this transfer is over. We are both staying. Time has flown by.
There are a couple leaving. Elder Jacobs is leaving and so are a couple other elders, but they have been here for 6 months so that's expected. Also the ward is awesome now. We are getting fed a lot. There are these amazing Guatemalan families, the "R's"and the "M's". they are feeding us lunch every Sunday now. It's awesome. They forced us to eat a lot and take a nap on the ride home. It was so cool haha.

First pile of leaves I've ever been in

 Change of Seasons

Nov 2, 2015

Day light Savings is wack. Honestly I will never understand it. So weird. (We don't change times in Arizona)

This week was pretty good! We had zone conference and it was awesome. Not much happened this week unfortunately. Oh transfers are next week so there's a chance I might be moving but not really. 

It is getting colder and we should be expecting snow any week now! Yay so excited. I just can't wait until it's in the negatives. We are finding more to teach. It is going pretty well. 

Halloween we had to be in early and we deep cleaned our apartment, much needed. Other than that not much! love all of you hope everything is great! Love you!

Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom

The week was good. It got pretty cold on some days but it's starting to warm up. We had zone conference on Tuesday. The main take-a-ways I got from it was the Importance of the Sabbath day and why there is a big focus in the Church for it now, and teach toward the temple and to be guides not teachers. It really helped. Wednesday we got to go on exchanges. That was so nice. It felt so good to be a junior companion for a day haha. No stress or worry. 

Saturday we picked up a new investigator "D". He is from Angola Africa (we teach a lot from that country).

Haha my shoes are messed up. For some reason I lean on the side of my feet when I stand and it wore them down and broke the waterproof seal. So they stink because they are wet. So yes I would love new shoes. 

Cool with an Umbrella

 Zone Conference 

 Saying Goodbye

 Really? 4 months