Jan 30, 2017

I have witnessed God's hand this week for sure. I came to the conclusion that I have no idea what to do and that I am weak on my own. So we really started to rely on God and got ourselves out of the way. And it has been amazing! 

We have seen many small miracles with our prayers being answered like finding a projector or someone opening a locked door. But also with the work of salvation. This week He has changed the heart of one our most progressing investigators. He has been speaking to him and leading him to what he needs. He accepted to be baptized next month. Heavenly Father has also led us to many people who are ready to hear the gospel! We had the prompting to head to the church one night and found a family playing basketball! We taught them the restoration the next day.

1 Nephi 9:6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen

Wednesday was a pretty historic day for missionaries! It was another worldwide missionary training broadcast. It was the Missionary Executive Council. Elders Oaks, Bednar, and Anderson. Elder Nielson from the 70. Bishop Waddell from the presiding Bishopric, Bonnie Oscarson and Steve Allen. It was a cool setting. They sat around their table and discussed things from last year's broadcast. Then they made some policy changes! They changed the missionary daily schedule. It's so we can exercise our agency better and focus on our purpose which is to Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts. They saw a lot of missionaries were stressed. So the morning Schedule is pretty cool. We used to have set times to exercise get ready personal study and companion study. from 6:30-10. But now from 6:30-10, we have our choice when to exercise plan personal study and get ready! We can adapt it to our schedule. Some other things changed and it was cool.

Elder Verdoni

Hello Again

Jan 23, 2016
This week was wonderful. I have truly seen the Hand of God work wonders in my life and in the lives of others. I have learned really to just let go and let Heavenly Father do His thing. I found myself getting in the way too much. I have time to share one really quick story:

So there is this family, the wife and kids got baptized last summer. That dad didn't but still comes to church. We have been meeting with them and they really do love us. And I love them. Well, the other night we were over and we finally got to sit down and have a real talk with the dad. We asked him what he wanted and what he saw, instead of trying to push anything. And he told us! He said he just wants to know if this is true before going all in. It was a really great lesson. We were able to help him see how he can have that, because he truly wants happiness in his life. There is no way that we could have done that. Only Christ can change hearts. It was one of the many that we saw this week.
Love you!!

Jan 16, 2016

I had a lot of fun this week. It got pretty warm like in the 60's. We didn't get any freezing rain unfortunately. Just a lot of rain. the average temp was like 37. It was pretty warm actually. I only needed a light coat. It was actually in the high 60's on Wednesday. It's weird over here, when it rains it actually gets warmer. Still not used to it. 

This week was so great!! Monday was one of my favorite days. We went to the airport and picked up the new missionaries! That was a special day. It brought back memories from when I got picked up. I will never forget that day. I still remember the assistants. I thought they were so cool haha. Elder Tanner and Elder Beckman. The fun part is, I have changed so much and this has blessed my life more than I could have even thought of and met my best friends out here and it will do the same for them. And they have no idea! haha they are just tired and nervous. It was fun to be the first ones they meet. We were with them for the whole day. Then the next day was transfers! that was a blast too! 

My companion and I made a really big focus on making sure we turn everything to Heavenly Father. If this is His work then we shouldn't focus on trying to do it ourselves. We saw so many miracles. We literally had people calling us this week. 

One of the coolest experiences was on Saturday. We went to a part of our area that we never go to. I was driving and I missed the house so instead of turning around I parked and we walked. We knocked twice but no one answered. As we walked off the porch we ran into somebody on the sidewalk. He immediately recognized us. It turns out that Elder Macfarlane met him 6 months ago in another area. He had just moved into our ward onWednesdayy! And now we're teaching his whole family. When you rely on God He will work things out. Love you!

Elder Verdoni

 

Jan 9, 2017 - Cold

This week got really cold! On Saturday we moved an elderly lady and it was 4 degrees outside haha. It was a blast. We helped a lot of people move. At one point we had to move another elderly lady and the stuff was too long for our truck so we used a bull whip to tie it down. Thanks Kanosh. 

This week flew by. We taught a lot of people and saw some of my friends go home to their families. We went up to Fort Wayne and Muncie to pick up departing missionaries! We went to the airport again on Wednesday morning. It was a sad trip kinda. I had a lot of good friends going home on that one. One companion too, Elder Love! And all the Sisters I came out with went home that day too. That was weird. I have been out longer than all the Sisters now haha. But wow this last transfer has gone by so fast.  Transfers are tomorrow and I'm staying with my companion. That the first time that has happened in over a year haha. 

God really does love us. He knows His children. How we can find true happiness and healing to our souls is through serving our brothers and sisters. That's what I have learned this week. I was a little frustrated and angry at first with some of the situations we were in and I had to take a step back. I was angry because I had a chance to serve and bless one of my sisters and One of Gods children. I quickly humbled myself and realized that life is not about me or "my time." Look for opportunities to bless. I love you!!

Oh and I went to an air force museum, that was sweet!  I went in a flight simulator with Elder Taylor and that was a blast!

Happy New Year!

Well, this week was fantastic. I had a lot of fun this week. Went on some exchanges with some Elders that I came out with but never got to serve around and that was a blast. This week I have felt a strong connection with God. My prayers have changed and I feel like He is leading us to do His work. 

This last Saturday I went up to Muncie to baptize "C"! Not sure if y'all remember, but she was the one we found on a park bench the day we prayed and knew that God would lead us to find someone to baptize! After two months it happened! It's actually a really sweet story. Previous to us finding her she had been praying to Heavenly Father that He would show her a new path. A way to more happiness and to know God more. And then we met! After two months of trials, she has broken out of the darkness and found the light that Jesus Christ brings.

Heavenly Father truly hears our prayers. He loves us. He wants good to happen in our lives. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is how we can live to find happiness. Love you!

Elder Verdoni

Letter to home

We did a new missionary training on Tuesday.  A lot of the trainers are my good friends, and the new missionaries are cool too. That really was awesome. We went on two exchanges with some missionaries and I finally got to work with some elders I came out with. One is actually from Mesa who I dove against! Elder Demke. Pretty cool huh?

The best day of the week I think was Saturday. We drove up to Muncie in the morning and ate lunch with 4 other elders up there. We went to this burger place and we all ate 7 inch tall burgers, I was stuffed all day. It was good though. But then we went to C's baptism! I got to baptize her. when we went around to the font I noticed that the font had been draining the whole time! nothing like fun stories at a baptism. We waited another 20 min for it to fill. I was wet the whole time because I had to tighten the drain. The baptism went great though. I was so happy and filled with the spirit. There was a ton of missionaries there too and that was great.

Yesterday we spoke at another ward, well technically it's a group, not big enough to be a branch, its becoming one next week. It's on the fourth floor of a bank in downtown hamilton! that was a ton of fun. We are driving up to fort wayne today to pick up some departing missionaries. I love you!

 "Even Mormon missionaries enjoy learning at a museum 

on their preparation day. The message on this display 

is so appropriate for these young men." W. Foister