A Hug to Remember

Dear Family,

At times I get really overwhelmed to sit down here and write all of you because I know that the words and the short time that I have can't express thoroughly the humbling, learning, and growing experiences of this mission and this life. I'm thankful that we have eternity to talk about such things and I promise you that I am doing everything that I possibly can to help others to have that same eternity. I want to share with you a story from this past week that touched my heart more than anything has ever moved me in my entire life. For weeks I have felt the need to call a less-active member named Jon Zammit. Many times we have talked on the phone and he has expressed his desire, or lack thereof, to see us. Finally, after much prayer and help from the Lord, we were able to pass by him this Monday afternoon. We arrived at the address he told us which was a halfway-completed, four-story apartment building. From the moment we stepped in the unfinished doorway the Spirit and the rainy weather was telling me that the Lord needed us in that house for him that day. In broken English, Jon expressed that he is absolutely alone his life right now. After much discussion and trying to cheer him up, some of the following details were uncovered. A family that has left him, four kids within a stones-throw that haven't come to see him in years, without a job and working on the very apartment building by himself for about four years, in which every part of his earnings will go to the bank. The list goes forward; with a garage that he calls home, without utilities, has not had a shower for more than months, zero income, three sets of clothing, and just about as big of a broken heart and a contrite spirit that I have ever witnessed in my life. As he showed us around the apartment and all that has to be done I was just brought to tears. I've been around construction, I know what it takes. He has another solid three years working by himself until that apartment building will be finished. I just felt terrible. I prayed so much on how we could help him. Of course we started loosening up the tie right then and there and looking for ways to help out. But Jon needed something else. We told him that the Church is here, that we want to and are willing to help in whatever possible and the Lord had sent us there at this time as an answer to his prayers. But still, Jon needed something else. So I went to Heaven with a question about what it was that Jon needed. The Spirit whispered to me to do something so simple and so easy. The Spirit told me to give him a hug. So I did... and Dad, Mom, Tanner, Wyatt, and Hayley... Words cannot even begin to give a description of how much Jon Zammit needed that hug in that moment. The Spirit came so strong to both of us and as I recall back on the experience it almost seems to me that I was the third person in the situation. That it was the Lord that hugged Jon that day, because it was the Lord that knew he needed that, and the love that we felt was something indescribable. I am so humbled to write to you this week family. We have SOOO much and I feel your love from so far away. Whether it be a hug, a prayer, a friendly smile or a wave, in whatever way possible I hope we can all find someone to lift up and to find in their time of despair. That's what the Gospel is all about family. I can sincerely say that I have given up two years of my life for that hug... and that one hug, from just helping one of God's children find peace, brought me more joy and satisfaction than I have ever felt in my entire life! I love you all. Mom, I hope you have the most wonderful Mother's Day and I miss you so much and I hope family that you can pass a hug onto Mom from me this week. Thanks for all that you do! I'll talk with you this Sunday!

con amore,

Anzjan Gatchell

Easter Bunny's Week!

Good morning family!

Well, a lot of great things this happened this last week. In every branch that I have served it has been a recurring theme, even at the MTC, for the first Sunday to be fast and testimony meeting and then the following week I have given a talk. It came as no surprise when this was the exact way that things transpired yet again here at Malta. I spoke about the tree of life in Lehi's dream and the love of God. I noted throughout the week on many ways that we can feel loved, but I also learned that there is one thing that every single person has within them; that is, the infinite desire to feel loved. Thanks for all of your prayers and letters because I always feel loved from all of you. The highlight of the week was probably yesterday on a companionship exchange with Elder Garvin, who is from Elko, Nevada. We saw more people yesterday than I saw in my first week-and-a-half here at Malta and we worked really hard, I learned a lot. We went and saw a kid named Raul. He's fourteen-years-old and is investigating the Church, a pretty remarkable thing. He's a big gamer and loves to talk about just about anything. It was really cool because our lesson and message with him was sort of all over the place and it was hard to help him understand what we were trying to teach. Then there was a small pause and he explained to us that he spends his days playing a lot of video games with the newest graphics to make things seem real. He says it gets pretty cool sometimes because it feels as if you are even there. Waiting for a Sonic the Hedgehog comment or something to that effect we waited carefully. Then the Spirit moved into the room with us and he said, "But when I read the Book of Mormon, I can just feel it... I know that this is real. It's something that is actually real." It was so strong and it was undeniable that he had received that testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost. I was so amazed to see how infinite the capacity is of the Holy Ghost to guide us in all things. Another sign was last night on our way home when we were afraid of missing our bus but needing to hurry to make it to a certain stop. We would race from bus stop to bus stop in hope that the bus would not arrive while we were walking speedily in between them and thus leaving us without a ride home and on the street for the night. After a good twenty minutes of this nerve-wracking return, Elder Garvin and I both stopped and hesitated at a bus stop, we knew we needed to wait there. So we did, for five or ten minutes we waited. Then we shoved off what we knew we both felt and continued to walk until the next bus stop. Sure enough, like it always goes when we second guess a prompting by the Holy Ghost, right as we were smack-dab in the middle of the tunnel the bus passed, having no bus stop to stop it. It's incredible the gift of the Holy Ghost. From helping Raul to know that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God or from trying to help two stubborn Elders trying to get home on time, there's never a situation that we can't look for the help. This week is Easter and you all know how much I LOVE EASTER!!! The Maltese people also love this season and the island is packed and filled with Easter exhibitions and small processions with the Holy Mary and whatnot. It's definitely a different experience, even more-so than that of Christmas time in Italy, but I read something this morning that really stumped me. Elder Christofferson explained that,"Without a knowledge and a testimony of the Lord's Resurrection...there is no meaning to life." It's hard for me because so many people are celebrating the Lord's Resurrection this weekend and so many festivals are being done, but again I ask myself, "What are they really celebrating?" I hope I can help someone find the love and joy that I have found in this Easter season. The culture here is extremely Catholic. You can go to a different church here every day for a year and still not visit them all. But there are families to be found and work to be done.... thank goodness! I love you all and I just want to share with you how thankful I am for our Savior, Jesus Christ. The beauty in the words of, "Oh death, where is thy sting?" just ring in my ears during this season. We've been away from each other for quite some time now, but I know with a certainty that because He laid His life down to take it up again, that we too can be together forever! How great is that! It's true... it's all so true! Have a great Easter! I miss you!

from the middle of the Mediterranean,

Anzjan Gatchell

And My 2nd mission begins!!

Here’s his first email from his new mission! I think he needs mail..

My new address...

Elder Gatchell

Quatre Filles Hope Street

Mosta MST 03

Malta

...actually it is the address of the Church, but that's where we receive packages and mail.. Can you paste this into that mass email before sending it out? Due to the fact that we are rarely in contact with the mission home and WAY far away, it's definitely recommended to send all mail to this address instead of the mission home if that can be added in, too... Love you Mom!

Anziano Gatchell

Bongu' familja!

Well, this last week my world has been completely turned upside down. Leaving Brindisi and saying goodbye to Anziano Errante was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. As I took the train up to Rome and spent some time talking with President Kelly about the situation here at Malta I was overwhelmed with a pressure to keep this work moving forward here. It was a great experience, also because I was able to see Anziano Haberl and Anziano Russell, two missionaries that I haven't seen since we left the MTC. I sat alone in the Rome airport waiting for my plane to Malta and it seemed really weird. In a very real sense it gave me a scare of what it would be like to be going home and it made me grateful to have so much more time to serve the Lord. The plane ride down was very fun. I talked with a kid from Malta, but who spoke fluent English. After a small stop in Sicily, it was over the Mediterranean Sea to the small speck of island amongst the waves. When I arrived there my new companion, Elder Sturges from San Diego, was waiting for me with Elder Tilley, a senior missionary from Manchester, England. From the first point of view the island was different just because we were driving on the left side of the road on the way to my apartment. Little did I know, that was one of the many minor changes that I would have to get used to! The people here are from all over the world. This island is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! If I could describe it I would say it is a mix of Oahu, Hawaii with Florence, Italy. We speak in English every single day, but we are learning the Maltese language. The most part of the Maltese people speak English, but are not as able to speak and communicate like in their own language. Maltese is incredibly different than any other language I've ever even studied. It definitely is from an Arabic background! There were many new characters and people that we met. The buses here are from the WWII era and are so epic. Tourists are beginning to flood this island and I have heard that they will continue to do so until the streets are full for the entire summer. It's been a HUGE change for me. I feel as if I'm starting all over again; which at times is a bit hard but completely motivating. This place is so incredible I can't even describe it. Everywhere is a boardwalk and a party. The people here are definitely here for vacation and holiday, but there are definitely those families searching for the Gospel. The branch president here is a stud. His name is President Bateman and he's from Seattle, served in the Hiroshima Japan mission about 10 years ago, and works for the U.S. Embassy here at Malta. Hoping for this to be a casual gig of 3 years on an exotic island, he's now been thrown into a complete and hectic situation with Libya. Sunday was such a good experience in Church. We had fast and testimony meeting and all made me feel right at home. The branch consists of an American family, many Maltese members, many elderly people from England (who are awesome!), our branch mission leader Brother Foster from Pennsylvania (more to be said on him later), and many others from the likes of Austria, Ivory Coast, and much, much more. It was so strange to hear and see all of these people share their testimonies in English but it made me feel a little bit at home and a small part of me was found again in the Church that I once knew. The Spirit was so strong and yet again I received an undeniable testimony of the truth of this incredible Church! There are four missionaries here, along with a senior couple, the Tilley's, here at Malta. There is A LOT of work to do here and it doesn't take more than a week to figure out the many missionaries in the past here have taken advantage of a few transfers on a vacation island during the spring and summer. There is so much that I want to talk about! This place truly is a hidden paradise and I don't know how we have never heard of it before. I feel at times like trying to do missionary work on the Las Vegas strip, or the Newport Beach boardwalk. It makes it really fun! However, having all of the language skills that I want is a big help and I absolutely LOVE talking to people. We take the buses everywhere and the people are so much fun to talk to. My companion has been here for about three transfers and is a great guy. If I could describe him as someone from The Office I would say he's a definite Toby. We're going to have a lot of success together and the work is going to fly forward. Just sitting here in the internet point we have a couple speaking Arabic, someone speaking Russian, and another speaking Maltese. How much I love the Lord's promise that they will all hear the fullness of the Gospel in their own mother language! The history on this island is something else. At parts there are temples dating back to before the pyramids in Egypt were built. Words truly can't describe the world I'm living in right now and the people that we share the Gospel with. I guess you all will have to come and see it for yourself someday! Nothing goes by without thinking of you all and how much I'd love for you to be here with me, but there's a time for all things and right now is my time to work. I can honestly say that there is no other place in the entire world for a missionary to serve like this island. It is a twenty-year-old's paradise, a Mormon missionary's worst nightmare, and my biggest challenge yet. I'm ready to work, that's for sure. As I start what feels to be like my second mission I ask for your prayers and to help us find those that are ready for our message. The Book of Mormon is trying to be passed to be translated into the Maltese language and we REALLY need your help. Please, anything that is possible to pray for us to find someone to help translate this book and for the miracles to take place that need to happen for these people to know this message is true! I love you all, I'm safe, happy, and ready to work. The Lord truly does love the obedient and always chastens us to get the best He possibly can out of us. Where much is given, much is required... And I've been given a whole lot in my life. There is absolutely no reason we can't have success here and it truly just comes down to my desire and my faith. I promise I'll do my best so we can all come back here someday! I love you!

Anzjan Gatchell

"il Knisja ta' Gesu' Kristu tal-Qaddisin ta' l-Ahhar Jeem"

On the Road To Damascus

Famiglia mia,

As Paul set out on his mission to bring the word unto the gentiles, he left the Greek islands in hope of finding the Italian mainland. As he was tossed upon the seas with his small ship, the captain was unable to keep the control and the Lord ended up crash-landing the boat of Paul upon the shore of the small island of Malta in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of Acts it explains all of this story and how Paul went through some of his most brutal afflictions in his attempt to preach the Gospel that he knew to be true. I come this week very humbled to tell you that my mission has been changed. The Lord and President Kelly have come to a conclusion that the time has come that I go to this island of Malta to finish the work that Paul began 2,000 years ago. Last Saturday morning was a morning that I will never forget. At the end of every personal study I conclude by reading a chapter from Paul, whether it be a letter to Timothy or a chapter from the Acts of these great disciples. Saturday I read the last chappter of Acts that speaks of this incredible journey that Paul made. Moments following, President Kelly called me to break the news that I would be transferred to this island. A few small facts about the place that I am going, and then maybe all of you can go and look at the incredible history of this place.

- I am called to learn two new languages, including Maltese and another middle-eastern language.

- It is an indepent country

- English is spoken often

- Italian is spoken seldom

- During WWII there were more bombs dropped on this speck of an island than all of Italy combined due to the utility of the island in gaining way to the entire Sea.

- Where the film Count of Monte Cristo was filmed.

- Internationally re-knowned for it's incredible diving and scuba opportunities.

- Last, and I don't want to give any of you a scare, but on a clear day we can see the coast of Lybia from the island. I don't say this to worry Mom to the point disability! But I am now the closest missionary to the war in Lybia!

With all of that being said... I know this is what the Lord wants. I feel I am going home, and so does President Kelly. He has felt very impressed to send me there from when I came into the mission. These last few days have been some of the hardest of my entire life. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to Giuglio and Lina Brancasi. I thought leaving home was difficult, but the absolute heart-wrenching feeling from saying goodbye to the two people that I left home to find is a feeling that I will never forget. But there are those at Malta that await me. It's been hard to say goodbye to all of the members here, also. But yet, somehow there will be something that will be more difficult and that will be to say goodbye to my companion Anziano Errante. My best friend in the entire world. I'll see him again, but words can't describe the friendship we've had together. A memory that I will have for the rest of my life. Conference Weekend and this week was not a better way to leave Brindisi. The guidance and the answers received from the Lord during Conference Weekend will guide me to the island of Malta, and I hope to make it a little bit more easily than a crash-landing! Tomorrow morning I leave on a train from Brindisi to Rome and then I will take a small little AirMalta plane to my new home! I have never been so excited. My mind's at Malta but my heart is here at Brindisi. We'll see how it goes! It's so good to hear from all of you at home. I'm so glad that you all had a great experience at Salt Lake. I'm so thankful that we can continually move forward on this grand voyage of life together, with the Prophet to guide us and show us the way to eternity in our families. As he spoke this weekend I could only think of one thing, that he is the father of the earth, as is expressed in the scriptures defining a prophet. I know he's that prophet and I'm doing all that I can to share it with others. Hayley, CONGRATS!!! My companion and I prayed for you all week long! Good work! I know this e-mail is long, but it's been maybe the most exciting and self-finding week in my entire life. Paul went his way from Malta to Pozzouli(Napoli) untill he finished his mission at Rome. As I arrived here in Italy I landed in Rome, following his steps to Napoli and the Pozzouli bay, and now I set out, instead of on a boat but by plane, to the island of Malta. I'm thankful for your prayers, please help me to learn this language and share this Gospel with those that are waiting for me. I'm retracing the steps that Paul once walked here, and I'll continue to do so in writing my own mission story "On the Road to Damascus." I love you all!

Anziano Gatchell

In a Place Called Deseret

Where to begin....

This week was such an incredible week. I love the Brancasi's with all of my heart it makes me ache at times. PLEASE family, pray for them. We will see them at the Rome Temple some day. Please, your prayers are being heard! Please continue to pray for them to know that these things are true. I thought that you all might appreciate to hear the experience that they had in Church this last week. After making many sacrifices to go to Taranto the see the Church, the Lord rewarded them openly with so many blessings this past week. Lina is a woman that would slide right in with all of the Julie Beck's in all of Utah, always ready to serve, help, uplift, and give her all. When she arrived to the Church it was a bit funny how she described the scene, a saying that we from Utah know all to well. She explained that "you all are like a bunch of busy-bees working in a beehive! Everyone with something to do!" After all, it was President Hinckley that explained, "Activity is the genius of the Church". I began to laugh at her comment. Giuglio expressed the humility, the absolute love and unity of the members. I told him that the lesson he heard in Gospel Principles as well as Sunday School was heard in the proper language in every part of the world by every member of the Church. He said to me, "Anziano, I think that's the definition of unity." They are so incredible, but after all that they observed and noted from the way things went in the Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni, was highlighted when Lina partook of the Sacrament for the very first time. She expressed to us how an emotion came over her to the point of tears and she couldn't hold it in anymore. The same thing happened just yesterday with Giuglio when we went to go see him. He knelt and thanked the Lord for having brought him to know the true church of Jesus Christ. They know that this is true. It's a bit interesting talking with them due to the fact that they have a great testimony in this Church already. In a very funny mode, to show how Giuglio is, we explained to him that on one hand we have a piece of a cake that he can have, on the other hand we have the recipe, an infinite amount of ingredients, and also the Chef to show him everything he can do, what would he rather have? (In hopes to show the difference from the Church that he has known to that which he is finding) An intelligent man, he knew exactly what we were getting at from the moment we started the example. With a big grin he looked at us and said, "I'd eat the cake first and then make my own!" hoping to avoid leaving behind the traditions and the joy his beliefs has brought to him. It's going to be a lot of fun to see how the Lord uses the Book of Mormon to strengthen their testimonies to the point of baptism. They will be baptized, and we will go to the temple with them some day. I am as sure as it as I have ever been in my entire life. Another great experience that happened this last week, that absolutely built my testimony so strongly about the love of God for all of us. About a month or so ago we were with Sara. We were talking about the love of our Heavenly Father and how much He cares for each and every one of us. Sara was having difficulty in believing that. We shared that He cares about each one of our necessities and cares with every bit of His endless and divine love. She still couldn't believe it. I asked her what her necessities were and her cares in this moment. She said, "I need to find work and I need to build a relationship with my family, I need to stay close with them." We said that the Lord always works through small means to bring great things to pass. The Spirit prompted me to promise her she would find work and that her family would be united if she would read a chapter a day. I shrugged off the prompting with a big lack of faith. Italy is no place to find work and her family is already divided through divorces and contentions. It came again, "Promise her this." Again, I shrugged it off, thinking that I wasn't capable of doing that. In the mercy of the Lord, it came again, "As My servant, promise her this in My name." It hit me so strongly and I did so. She accepted the invite and we moved forward, being that she had a couple of interviews at Rome and the only opporunities to find work were there, dividing her family. As we left the lesson I just said now what? How will this happen? What can I do to help her find work? I remembered the promise the Lord made to her that evening. I fasted in that moment that she might read those chapters we had talked about. The weeks passed. The interviews came and gone. The phone never rang for her. The hope was being lost. She got to the point that she wasn't even answering our phone calls due to the stress and the anxiety from the situation. I continually thought to myself, "How could I make that promise? Now what's going to happen?" The Lord continually pushed us all forward. This last Friday Sara called us to see us in Church. When we got there she explained she had some bad news. She finally received the phone calls. The first, from the company telling her that she didn't get the job. The second phone call from the girl that did get the job and describing how lucky Sara was for not having received the job due to the fact of high hours, low pay, and the distance from home. Then a third call came... From an old teacher in High School that thought of Sara for an opportunity this Summer. Out of the complete blue she recieved this call to go to Spain this Summer with her mother and that teacher on a paid three-month teaching experience of the Italian language. Not only had the Lord blessed her with work but had brought her family together in a way that she could not have ever comprehended. My heart began to pound within me when she started to share this with us. Family, I leave with you my one-hundred percent conviction that the Lord lives and loves us. That He is so aware of what we need and how we need it that He will do ANYTHING when we do the small and simple things. I love you all... Thank you for teaching me the little things.

Anziano Gatchell

Family Of Mine

Buon dì!

It was really good to hear from all of you this week. We had a wonderful week here at Brindisi and are continually trying to improve all things that we do. While I am writing this to you, you all find yourselves in the sunny Scottsdale with the Duke's. Tell them all hi and that I miss them! Tell Ty I said that he's the man and that he needs to wait for me! The week started by setting a baptismal date with Sara. Sara's 18 years old and is incredible. It took a bit of convincing and helping her to understand the importance of these things, but she commited to make that covenant with our Heavenly Father so that she can return to Him someday and enter into the Lord's flock. This Sunday was another normal Sunday at Brindisi. Arriving early, setting up chairs, teaching Priesthood, teaching Gospel Principles, administering the Sacrament, playing the piano, giving a talk, and closing up and putting away chairs. How much I love this work! Sundays are definitely the best in the mission, without doubt. Just the other day we returned to the Brancasi's for lunch and to visit with them. They truly are incredible. I've found a second family here in them and they have found two sons in us. We spoke a lot about baptsim. They have so many ties to the Catholic Church, please pray for them to have the strength to follow their testimony! Lina expressed to us that while she was reading the talk given by President Monson to the Relief Society that it was almost as if she could imagine his face, hear his voice, and feel the Spirit with which he spoke. They have a strong testimony of the Restored Church, they just have so many traditions, callings, friends, and lives with the Catholic Church. We are doing our best to help them with that. It's awesome to have a companion that was Catholic, due to the fact that he knows when they go to Church and when are the moments to help them not go. To say the least, we utilize those moments to our advantage, giving them a call or passing by to help them! Cruel? I think not. Clever? We think so! Anyway, with the jokes aside, it was a great week, capped off yesterday by Zone Conference at Bari. I learned a lot, but what was even more entertaining was translating for all of the Italians. Anziano Errante, Destefanis, and Mangifesta stationed up around me and for the whole day I had that chance. It was a blast! Also it was an opportunity to keep them in line! We learned a lot about the importance of members in this work. It's so true. The work moves forward when the members catch this fire! I would love to hear from all of you at home a story in which you invited someone to hear a message of the Gospel in this week. Make it a challenge with the Duke's this weekened that you are together. Just someone. I'll wait for the results next week! Because honestly, there is no other joy like that to share the Gospel. Spring Break is a time to enjoy and find happiness. I don't see why there's any reason we can't give it a shot?! Anyway, I thank you for your prayers and I want to share with you again how much joy I feel from this work. It's so hard, so long, so exhausting, and SOOO WORTH IT!! All I can ever think about is football practice during the week. Always looking forward to Friday night with the lights and the crowds when all the memories were made. But now that I look back, not only was it the Friday night moments that made the memories, but every practice, struggle, up-down moment that we had throughout the week. Man, I miss practice! Maybe that's why our modern prophet Thomas S. Monson exhorts us to find joy in the journey. It's all true. Just accept it fam! The Church is true. Share it with someone!

con Steve,

Anziano Gatchell

Lo sto ancora qua!

Buon dì!

Hey family! Good, great, and fantastic news. The good news is that I am still here at Brindisi. The great news is that I am still with Anziano Errante! The fantastic news is that we set a baptismal date with Vita this past week! We're all very excited to be able to be here for another transfer. The miracles we have seen in this week are incredible and the Lord is preparing the people to accept His Gospel. President Brigham Young said that when a Temple is announced that "the bells of hell ring". Just as important, and a testimony of this work is what Alma explained that angels are administering to all people in preparation for the word. What a testimony that the light of Christ will always shine through the darkest times of all of our lives. After visting with Vita the other day for just the second time we had presented a baptismal date for just a few weeks, a way that she can show her Heavenly Father that she is willing and ready to act upon on answer. She accepted and is absolutely dying to gain a testimony of these things so that she can know that they are true. She speaks constantly about the search for that Light of Christ and that every time that she seems to find it that the darkness moves in around her and all things begin to take a turn for the worse. How many infinite amount of lessons that we can learn from the First Vision of the boy prophet Joseph Smith. We shared with her that it is by the obstacles and the opposition that we can continue on that search for the beeming light that seems to always come to those who continue in the faith. We will see her again tonight and she can't wait to come and share what light she has found. A cool experience happened yesterday when we went to a neighbooring city to find a man named Luca. We met him on the street a couple of weeks ago, where he gave us his humber and told us where he worked and invited us to pass by. After praying for an answer about what we could have done to help him accept our message, something came to mind. The Spirit told me to "call him when you're at the train tracks." I thought twice about it and moved forward. We went to go find his work and when we arrived two other men were there. We introduced ourselves and asked if there was a Luca that works there, that he had told us to pass by and gave us his number. They told us that Luca used to work there but had moved away and that it would be better off if we had left. As we started to walk away we noticed that his store was backing the train tracks... so we gave him a call, just as the Spirit had illustrated to do. Turns out he was on his way to work and he told us to wait there. The two men thought that we were undercover financial guys and told us to scram for that reason. We went in and began to talk with them. As all conversations go when someone is living the Gospel right, the discussion was changed to the Restoration and we began to teach them all in this refinishing garage. Surrounded by paint thinners and molding spack, we shared with them the message of a boy Joseph Smith and how the Church of Jesus Christ is restored through him. Luca, knowing the Bible and that such a vision and testimony can only be sealed with one's blood, asked if Joseph was persecuted following that encounter. My companion and I unavoidably began to chuckle. Anyway, it went incredible. All thanks to all of your prayers. Thank you so much. Please, please, please plead with the Lord to help these my friends gain a testimony through the Spirit. I love you all. I'm very happy and ready for the spring to arrive! We'll hear from you again next week!

con amore,
Anziano Gatchell