Mar 6, 2017

We didn't have much time left in the day on Wednesday so we decided to go and try somebody we met the other week. They weren't home so we knocked on their neighbor's door. Three kids answered and they looked at us and with no hesitation asked, "Are you speedboat salesman?" We laughed and told them we were missionaries. then their mom came to the door and we talked. We testified about how families can be together forever and that God has brought back prophets to the earth and more scripture. 

We have a return appointment for this week. My companion and I both screamed as we got in the car and said a prayer of thanks. I was amazed that because of acting on a small prompting to go see one last person instead of doing something else led to a family having the restored gospel in their home. God lives!

We had MLC on Friday and President had us teach most of it, It went really well. I felt the Spirit testify through me as I bore testimony and shared experiences. I love being a missionary. Life is just so good. I see God's power so evident in my life. 

Feb 27, 2017

This week flew by. It was a great week. My new companion is awesome. It was sad to see Elder Macfarlane go though. Elder Demke is great. nothing like two kids from Mesa teaching the gospel in Cincinnati.

We have seen miracles with finding and teaching. We also work really close with Elder Holmes and Elder Bee who I am really close with. This point of my mission is almost too perfect. I feel like I am walking with God's power. I am imperfect and nothing in my life is perfect, but I am not having bad days. A lot of the time and maybe most of the time, things never work out the way I plan, but I know I am in God's hand. I have not a bad day.

1. Elder Demke, Elder Macfarlane, me, Elder Holmes

Feb 20, 2017

Good morning! This week has been an amazing. Last Monday a good crew of us including the Welchs went to the Zoo! It was a lot of fun. 

The week has been full of very small miracles of finding people who have been prepared. One of the biggest was Andrew's baptism! He is one of the coolest people I have met. He is a way solid guy. He really desired this. One of the things he talked about the most was that He knew that this would give him a new beginning. A fresh start. He can start over and have God's power in his life. 

Elder Macfarlane is leaving. He is going back to Utah! He has been one of the greatest friends I have made and I am sad to see him go. But life is life. My new companion is Elder Demke! He is also from Mesa and we both came out together so I am really excited.

Life is just so good. God truly does love us. Things really just seem to work out, when you have faith in Jesus Christ. Well, I love ya!

Elder Verdoni

 

#Lit

Feb 13, 2017

Well just like the subject says, I am doing so good. I am lit. Lit with Faith. This has been one of the most testimony building weeks of my life. I am just really happy.

There have been things I have learned through my studies and through my experiences that have changed me. It is hard to put into words exactly what I feel. I believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God. He is our Savior and all things are made possible through Him because of His infinite sacrifice. God is the Father of our spirits. And He loves us. He knows us. His whole purpose is us. His work is us. Our happiness. To bring about our salvation. That the priesthood is His power on the Earth. And when the Priesthood is active in our lives the power of God is manifest in our lives. There is no need to worry about life. Any who come unto Christ shall never fail. Honestly, this is where I get so lit. I am hype as the kids would say. 2 Nephi 27: 20-21, 23 are so amazing. It's His work. That's us. It's His plan. That's us. He has all power to fulfill His plan, but it's up to us to choose it. He will work miracles in our life only according to our faith. So we have to believe and act. We just have to make sure we are aligned with His will and even if there are trials and adversity, we can still have joy and peace knowing that everything will work out. Sometimes we mess up and have to repent. Re-align. And change so that we can be sanctified by the Holy Ghost and worthy enough to make and keep covenants so that the power of God can be in our lives. Everything will always work out.

Cool story:
We went to go teach a man who was less active in the church. He had not been for years. He had some questions that troubled him and caused him to doubt his faith. We went in with the attitude that we wouldn't try to answer the questions but rather help him find the answers. Man, we were praying a lot. So he asked 3. the first one we explained. but as we talked about the second and third one, the conversation started to change. It was strange but in a good way. The Spirit was speaking through us and to him. All of us then realized his real question. And it got a little contentious. But then we shared some scriptures and something changed in him. he learned. The Spirit was speaking to him. Everything started to click and he understood. By the end, all of his questions had been answered but the funny thing is, is that We didn't answer them! He did. He listened. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he needed to change. He was so relieved.

Alright, Long email but I love you!!
I am Elder Verdoni

Feb 6, 2017

Hello everyone! Had a great time this week. It was really busy with a lot of meetings. But we are still seeing His Grace every day. It's amazing to see the love Heavenly Father has for His children.

We went to the tallest tower in Cincinnati on Monday. That was a blast. I am doing well and I am safe. I also found a bullet on the ground. "That's a 38 special, shot from a revolver. Look! they tried to shoot it. You can see a mark from the firing pin. It must have been a dud."- Elder Macfarlane.

We had another Zone Conference on Tuesday in my old Stake, Cincinnati East. I spent 10 and half months of my mission in that stake! 3 in Maysville and 7 and a half in Montgomery. It was fun to be back in that building. New missionary training was on Wednesday and the Mission Leadership Council on Friday! That was probably the best MLC I have ever been to. There was such a strong Spirit there. I learned a lot.

Saturday and Sunday were great too. We had Stake Conference. They broadcast to our building but the sound didn't work. You will never guess what they did. So at Stake Conference, they had someone call someone in our building, then they set their phone on the pulpit their and the receiving phone plugged theirs into the chapel speakers! It was definitely interesting for sure. You couldn't really understand much but if you paid attention you could feel the Spirit. It went great though. Our most progressing investigator still enjoyed it. He is so solid and converted. He is getting baptized in two weeks! But that was my week. Love ya!!

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!!