La Settimana Scorsa

Buona sera famiglia!!

Well... Good news.. All around.. From the last time I e-mailed you my fever
has dropped from 102.3 to a perfect 98.6.. I went to the most incredible
soccer game and a night that I will remember for the rest of my life... To
making preparations for the baptism that will be taking place this
Saturday.. To having the Prophet make an appearance here in Italy for the
ground-breaking of the Temple.. To seeing one of the most beautiful Italian
cities called Sorrento today.. The work just moves forward!! Let me rewind a
little bit, though.. The soccer game.. The security guards, the mad-masses
of fans, the fireworks, bombs, and chants went back and forth for ninety
minutes and there was only one thing that came to mind.... Utah State
Basketball. The game was incredible, it was truly something I will never
forget and the fans for soccer here in Italy and to be more exact here at
Napoli are more passionate than any other fans in the entire world.. With
that being said, the Utah State basketball games can contend.. They truly
can!! Although with less individual bomb-making, and there's no need for the
nets around the opponents' fans so that they don't get hit with flying
object.. But the game was incredible.. More importantly though was what
happened Saturday at Rome.. President Monson visited the temple site where I
stood not three months ago and dedicated myself and my two years to building
the temple.. He gave an incredible talk about the fact that we are doing the
work that Paul and Peter commenced so many years ago and that there are
saints in Heaven right now that are counting on us.. It was so crucial to
hear the very first thing he said, that the missionaries are the most
important part of this Temple being built.. What a work that must go forward
and how much better I need to be! Anyway... Surrounded by members of the
Church at the building where Paul landed at Pozzouli, it was an incredible
evening to have spent and the joy that will be brought to each of these
members as the temple is being constructed.. To have a temple in Rome..
Think about it for just a moment.. It truly is phenomenal.. This work is
true, this IS the only true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today and we
as members everywhere should be so grateful that the wonderful people of
Italy and of Rome can have this wonderful blessing.. Each day we run into
people on the street that ask us if the world can be saved, where has the
truth gone, and is there still light for this dark world.. The answer is
yes!! The answer is the Restored Gospel.. The answer is Jesus Christ.. The
work will begin to light like wild fire as this message gets brought to the
homes of these wonderful people, but they definitely need all of your
prayers.. Italy is ready family.. The Prophet has declared it.. What a
blessing it is to be serving here at this time.. You all know that it is my
favorite time of the year....Halloween. Let me be the absolute FIRST to
say.. Italy does NOT celebrate Halloween and for that I can be even MORE
grateful for serving here.. Anyway, today we went to the beautiful town of
Sorrento.. Mark it down for somewhere that I will bring all of you back to..
An absolutely incredible town on the Amalfi coastline where tourists come
from all over the world to see.. The entire town was exactly like what I had
imagined Italy to be.. Being born into Napoli, with the streets on fire and
the buildings awake all night, it's been a bit different for me here in
Italy during these first few months.. Needless to say, Sorrento was
beautiful and we'll definitely return.. I got the Dixie Elders and I
absolute LOVE hearing from the other Elders.. What a bunch of ballers, I'm
praying for their success, I'm thinking of them all the time.. I'm grateful
for such great friends and the example they have on me, something I haven't
been entirely grateful for in the past.. But even more so, I'm thankful for
all of you.. I love you family.. Thanks for always being there for me..

Con tutto del mio cuore....

Anziano Gatchell