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

Christmas

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! I had an amazing time with my family. I had a blast this last week. We had two mission Christmas Conferences. They were so much fun. They were pretty much mission Christmas parties. It was amazing. I was with my friends and we were celebrating the birth of our Savior. What is better than that?

This has been a great season to reflect on the gift that Jesus Christ really is. I have pondered and teared up many times this last week. How amazing is it that we have a savior! Heavenly Father wanted us to return with Him and have the same eternal happiness He has. So He created a plan for us. He created a world for us. And He sent our fist parents, Adam and Eve. As a part of His plan, they partook of the fruit. Because of that we could be born, learn and grow from mistakes and now experience happiness. He gave us the opportunity to choose to do good and follow Him. But also with that, sin and death came into the world. Misery and sorrow. All of us would pass through this, and all of us would make mistakes and sin. Heavenly Father knew this was going to happen. So He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ. He overcame sin and death. He has overcome every effect of the fall of Adam. Because of Jesus Christ, we can return. Because of him, we will live again. we can find forgiveness, healing, love, joy and happiness. He overcame sin but he also overcame everything. We don't have to be miserable. We don't have to be stressed. We have a Savior. A Redeemer. A loving Father in Heaven who knows us. So He sent His son, to help us. This life is supposed to be joyous. And because of Jesus Christ, it can be.

What a beautiful time of they year where we get to celebrate this amazing gift being born into the world! I testify that God lives and loves us. Jesus Christ also lives and it is through Him we can find our happiness. I love you all!

This week was fantastic. It was really cold. Thursday was a snow day,! It snowed and rained freezing water then everything froze too! Our car doors were frozen shut haha. 

We went to the airport to drop off some departing missionaries. It was weird because those were the Sisters I came out with. But man this week was jam packed of stuff. So many good things. 

I ate this hot sauce called king pepper. It is 500 times hotter than a Jalapeno. It was the hottest thing I have eaten in my life. I cried for 20 min. I didnt mean to my body was just freaking out. If air touched my mouth it burned. My body was freaking out haha. Man that hurt so bad. Most pain I have ever been in ever. It was great. 

But I am doing well. This week is going to be so great. It's Christmas week! I love Christmas. Such a great time of the year for everyone to remember our Savior Jesus Christ. He was born, He lived, He died, and He rose again. Jesus Christ lives. It is through Him we can find healing and happiness. This I know to be true. I am a changed person. My worries have gone away. I am not stressed I am not angry. The promise is real "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". 

Love you all!

Jesus taught others and so can you!

Good afternoon! This week was very good. We had the opportunity to be taught from the director of proselyting in the missionary department. I learned a lot more about how I can be more effective and how I can better teach repentance. 

We applied what we learned and saw a lot of miracles. Inviting others to repent and come closer to the Savior is amazing. One of the people we are teaching has had a big change of heart this week. His wife and kids got baptized 6 months ago. His whole countenance is changing. He wants to change and be a better man. He desires a happier family. We invited them to pray together as a family and taught about how that is a commandment. 

He was so excited to keep this commitment he made to God. Sincere and authentic prayer is the one sure thing that will change the trajectory of our lives. It is when we can create a relationship and communicate with God. I know He listens. The power of family prayer is the one sure thing to keep happiness in a home and love in a family. I know from my experience with my family, that family prayer will change the lives of the children and parents forever.
Love you all!!!

Dec 5, 2016

Well, things here have been great. I am now on the west side of Cincinnati. I am having a blast. My two companions are hilarious and we have so much fun together. 

We have really been seeing the hand of God in our work. After an extremely busy week, by the grace of God, we were able to reach our goals. Heavenly Father really does want to bless us. He wants to grant us our righteous desires. And something I do know to be true is that when we are obedient and faithful He will pour out blessings on us. In my case more than I think I really deserve. But He is a loving Father. And it's great. We rely on Him and have fun and we get a lot done! Things always seem to work out somehow. 

Funny story: we were trying to get dinner one night and we tried 4 different places and for various reasons, we couldn't go. Then... I was peer pressured into a hard decision. I didnt want to starve so I had Mcdonalds for the first time in a year and a half. I tried to go my whole mission without it but that didn't pan out. Oh well haha. 

Love you all!!

Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom - asked what his new responsibilities were:

I love the Christmas season! We have helped people set up lights and trees already. It is so much fun. 

Hmm, responsibilities? Well, criteria wise we are to run a model area and baptize. We minister to Zone Leaders and help them fulfill their responsibilities. We also minister to all the missionaries in the mission. We are to teach love and bless. To live the vision President Welch has set and show how it works. We also assist President Welch in all his responsibilities. We spend everyday in the office helping with the affairs of the mission. We are some pretty busy people haha.

This week was crazy how fast it went by. The day of transfers we had to pretty much run around the mission giving people stuff they forgot and left behind. But pretty much we are missionaries to missionaries and it's great. The Lord really blesses us too! We don't have very much time to proselyte but yet we have so many people to teach. We receive so many referrals and Heavenly Father literally brings people to us. It is actually pretty weird. But I love it. I love being here. We get t literally help everyone in the mission with stuff.