My Last Email

Jun 26, 2017

Hello everyone! Where has the time gone? These last two years have been amazing. I cannot express with words the feelings I have right now. I am so thankful for the blessing it was to serve here. I have really come to know Jesus Christ on a personal level. I have seen Him change people's lives, and He has changed mine. I have put my trust in Him and will put my trust in Him forever. I have learned for myself that Heavenly Father loves me. I can never earn His love. He already loves me. He has supported me always.


I still can't believe that the time has come. Here is a small breakdown of my mission:
Area #1: Fort Wayne, Indiana - 6 months
Companions: Elder Heiner - 3 months
Elder Taylor - 3 months


Area #2: Maysville, Kentucky - 3 months
Companions: Elder Grover - 7 weeks
Elder Broderick - 7 weeks


Area #3: Montgomery, Ohio - 71/2 months
Companions: Elder Lemieux - 6 weeks
Elder Love - 6 weeks
Elder Mckay - 6 weeks
Elder Keleher - 5 weeks
Elder Geary - 1 week
Elder Bee - 6 weeks


Area #4: Ball State University (Muncie, IN) - 6 weeks
Companions: Elder Palmer - 6 weeks


Area #5 Western Hills, OH - 41/2 months
Companions: Elder Macfarlane & Elder Mckay (Trio for 2 1/2 weeks)
Elder Macfarlane - 3 months
Elder Demke & Elder Holmes (Trio) - 6 weeks


Area #6: Hebron, KY - 3 months
Companions: Elder Folino - 3 weeks
Elder Allred - 9 weeks


I have loved my mission. I have had great companions. I have loved my areas. The members are supportive. The work is flourishing. I have truly witnessed the Hand of God work wonders in the lives of others and in my life as well. I love you. 

See you soon.

June 19, 2017

Good morning! As a continuation of last week's story, we were able to meet again with that girl. We taught her the plan of Salvation with another set of Sister missionaries that will begin to teach her! It was awesome. She loved it as well and really feels that this is all true. 

She had some confusion when she went to her church camp. Her leader told her a lot of conflicting things about the Book of Mormon and of the Church. We taught her about how God teaches us what is true by the Power of the Holy Ghost and that we can recognize him by how we feel. He comes through peace, hope, love joy etc. And one thing God will not do is confuse us. She prayed and was able to overcome her concerns. What a good week this was. 

I love you all!

Calling Down Miracles!

June 12, 2017

Good Morning everyone! This has been a really good week. Over the weekend we received a referral from Church headquarters. Someone had requested a Book of Mormon. She had come across mormon.org online and wanted to learn more. We met at a library because she didn't want us coming over to her house because she felt her parents would not be supportive. We answered some questions and then shared the message of The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was amazing. The Spirit testified through us and she felt like it was true and everything she was needing. she was very excited to read the book of Mormon. It really was a miracle.

A couple hours later she texted us and said that she felt that God had answered and gave her a solid yes. But when her Dad found out she had a copy of the Book of Mormon he was very mad and told her to get rid of it. He said she could never come to church. Her phone was going to be taken away and that she would probably never be able to meet with us again. She was very confused on what to do because she really felt that this was true. My companion and I knelt in prayer and asked God what to do. We felt calm and inspired to promise her that in time her parents would let her read and come. I thought "We have the authority to the ministering of Angels and to call down miracles." So we again knelt in prayer and petitioned God that he would soften the hearts of her parents. I was confident that the Lord would fulfill His promises when He says that this is His work. We then asked another set of missionaries and some members to pray for the same thing.

Three hours after she originally texted us with the problem, she said that the only repercussion of this whole thing is that her parents are making her go to church camp today for a week. and that after it is over, she can have her book back and meet with us again. I was filled with tears as I said a prayer of thanks to my Father above. I trusted that the promise would be fulfilled but I did not expect it to be so soon. Her parents hearts had been changed.

Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Our lives are in his hands. And because of His Son Jesus Christ and His Atoning sacrifice all can be made right. Jesus Christ really is at the head of the work. He has all power to fulfill all His words (1 Nephi 9:6). He fulfilled a promise He gave to me to extend to this girl. My own personal Faith in Jesus Christ has grown stronger in this experience.

I love you all!

June 5, 2017

Hello Family! We had some sweet experiences this week. The biggest one was for one of our investigators. He is 10 so his situation was little tricky. He lives with his parents, both are not interested but his grandparents are active members. He wanted to be baptized and obviously, we wanted that for him too. But he was in a tough spot. 

We prayed and received our own revelation and talked to the Bishop of that ward involving his priesthood keys, then sought revelation from our mission president and his priesthood keys. When you follow the keys, you are following God and are safe. And blessed. We were! Everything was smoothed out and Aiden will soon be stepping into the waters of baptism! 

Love yall!

The Lord's Work

Hello everyone! I hope you had a good week. This was probably one of the better weeks of my mission. All that really changed was how I looked at the world. I relooked at this as being the Lord's work. Somewhere along the way I lost that vision and started to put a lot of the weight on my shoulders. I got stressed and a little overwhelmed. But I remembered that it's not my work and that Jesus Christ has all power to fulfill his works. and it was great!

We received a referral from Mormon.org. when new went they were in complete distress. their life was in chaos. we talked and testified of Jesus Christ and said a prayer with them. When we left they were comforted and the spirit was in their home.

As we were out walking a man stopped us and asked us what church we were from. after we told him, he explained that he had been trying to find our church for a while. He was Catholic for a long time. Like hardcore too. Very devout. But his 24 year old son died a couple years ago. And that really hurt him. Things didn't sit with him anymore. He then lost a 19 year old son to Leukemia. then his older brother also passed away with Leukemia. He himself was diagnosed and it is coming around again for the second. time. He just wants to know that there is life on the other side. He wants to be happy. He came to church on Sunday and he loved it. We are going to teach him the plan of Salvation tonight.

Things are great. I'm great. I hope you're great. love you!

May 22, 2017


Hey guys! This week was really good! We found a lot of people this week. saw some sweet miracles. We were able to teach a lot of people the message of the Restoration. It was really sweet to see the Spirit work in their hearts as we bore testimony of the truthfulness of the message, the greater part was when they accepted the Book of Mormon and read it. It has been a good week. 

I love you all! 

Elder Verdoni

         

Green Skies and good times

May 1, 2017

Hello! Things went well this week. It was a great one actually. Saturday morning we went on a nice run. There was some cloud cover but it was bright outside. Right before we started studying it was pitch black outside. I went outback and the sky was dark green and the wind was blowing the trees half over. I've never seen it rain so hard. The lightning was loud. One struck so close around the corner that I jumped and our fire alarm started to go off. Haha that was a bright one. Luckily there were no tornados. I thought there was going to be one. Really neat storm.

But we had an amazing lesson with these people. We haven't been able to see them for a while. We took a youth from the ward with us and he actually goes to high school with the son of the person we teach. Anyway, we started teaching about the restoration. She has heard it before but we were going through it again. I felt the Spirit so strong as we testified and as she testified. She had received a priesthood blessing weeks before because she has cancer and it was so sweet to hear her testify she knew that was from Heavenly Father. She talked about how she always feels so good after we leave. And I asked her if she knew how she could feel like that every day. She looked at me and asked how. I pointed and said, the Book of Mormon. The first thing she asked was, "Where do I start?" Oh, it was great! The Spirit is so amazing and can truly touch the hearts of those we teach.

Apr 24, 2017

We had some good experiences this week! We went to the mission home and had new missionary training. That was fantastic. I loved being back there. But then one cool experience was the other night. We were praying about where to go. We had the prompting to go knock on this random house. A woman came out and she was very friendly. She started talking about the trials in her life. There was so many I thought it was a joke. We testified of God's love for her and of the plan of salvation. We said a prayer with her and she said she felt peace. It was cool to literally be moved by the hand of God to somebody in need!

Happy late Easter!

Apr 17, 2017

This week flew by for sure. We talked to a lot of people. Since we are both brand new we are trying to find solid people to teach. I'm not really sure how it happened but by the grace of God we hit our goals for the week! That sure was a miracle. Two people randomly showed up to church. One of which was the son of a family returning to activity in the Church. He is now wanting to be baptized!

Later on Sunday, we prayed to find more people to teach. After being rejected a couple of times we saw a man washing his car. We went up to talk to him. He was very friendly, then his two sons (3 and 4) ran towards us and started talking. Then their mom too. Next thing we know we are talking to the nicest family ever. They had just moved from Florida because the father retired from the Army. They said they were looking for a church. We testified of the Restoration and we are coming back tonight.

Well, I hope everyone had a good Easter. I sure did. It is a wonderful time of the year to reflect on the gift of the Savior. It is really because of Him every good thing comes into our life. Because of His resurrection, we too will live again. All that is unfair in life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful truth it is that He lives today! And he directs His church by revelation to His Prophets and Apostles. Love you all!

I got to see a lot of the other missionaries like Elder Taylor 

and my old companions and the Welchs at Zone Conference!

Elder Keetch my MTC comp, is now my DL and we went on exchanges the other day!

April 10, 2017

Being doubled in is fun! Neither of us had really any idea what was going on! I love Kentucky in the spring. It's so green! I have a really nice area. Not a lot of ghetto and a lot of middle class. Really friendly people out here too. 

We were praying to find people to teach and we walked into church Sunday and there was a man sitting in the foyer. We introduced ourselves. He said it was his first time coming back to church in 5 years. He just really felt like he should come again. He has a fiance and a brand new baby. Before he left church, he came up to us. He had tears in his eyes. I knew He felt the Spirit and the love of Heavenly Father. He gave us his number and asked us to come by. Was it a coincidence that our first time in the ward was his first time in 5 years? No. God knows His children.

Love Elder Verdoni

1. Elder Folino my new companion!
2. Our district

TRANSFERS

Apr 3,2017

Well Just like it says I am being transferred one last time. I am going to Kentucky! I am really excited to labor in this part of the Lord's vineyard. 

This week I had a really neat experience. We met a man through unusual circumstances. He described how his life had been hard to him and how he had never really gone to church or prayed. He is in his 60's and lives alone. I was surprised when he invited us back. We came and we taught about God, our Heavenly Father and how He loves us. I invited him to pray and was surprised when he accepted. I didn't think he was going to. He said he didn't know how, So I got down by his side and taught him how. I again was surprised at his willingness to pray with us and kneel down. 

He said his first prayer and it was heartfelt. He let us come back again and this time we taught about Jesus Christ and His Atonement, about the peace and happiness that can come from forgiveness. He then accepted the commitment to pray and ask to be forgiven. He had prayed every day since the last time we met. This was now Sunday morning and we invited him to General Conference the next hour and he came. He loved it. Step by step he is coming to know that God that gave him life, his Father. It was a really cool experience. Everybody has potential and it is never too late for anybody.

I really enjoyed watching the Lord's servants. I sustain them and follow their counsel. They are men of God. There is truly a prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson, there are 12 apostles and this church is led by the Living Christ. 

Elder Verdoni

Mar 27, 2017

Hello everyone! this week was great. We went on a lot of exchanges and talked to a lot of people.
The other day I had a real neat experience with the scriptures. I turned to Preach my Gospel and studied the Restoration in the Book of Mormon. I felt a strong Spirit and things really made sense to me. I was really excited to share that Heavenly Father has brought back so much truth so that we wouldn't be blind.

And we found a lady and had the most powerful restoration lesson. The Book of Mormon truly is the word of God brought forth by His power through the prophet Joseph Smith so that we would not be blinded by the craftiness of men.

We went on two exchanges, the second one I trio'd with some Elders in Oxford, one has been out almost 9 months and the other 7 months. I went just because I wanted to. It was so fun! They are some young elders. I didn't realize how long I had been in the mission until that moment. It was such a blast. They asked me questions the whole time and it was a really neat teaching experience. I was way impressed by them.  

Oh also before one of the exchanges we all stayed at the ZLs place and moved all the mattresses outside on the patio. It was pretty cold.

I love life!

Mar 20, 2017

We had a really cool experience with finding this week! We had a thought after we prayed to go visit a family that we contacted a month ago. We knocked on their door and the grandmother let us in. She looked really distraught. She was dealing with a bunch of paperwork to keep her mother in a nursing home because she had a massive stroke, which left blind and deaf. She can't really speak anymore either. We testified of God's love and the Restoration of Christ's gospel. She cried and was at peace. We left a book of Mormon and asked for referrals. Her grandkids she is raising quickly piped up and shared their friends. They walked us over to their friend's house and that mom let us in too! then her kids gave us referrals. It was a fun chase for sure. I am doing very well and its finally starting to get warm.
Sure Love you!