Buona giornata famiglia mia!
Like a river the weeks roll on by, the only way to go with the flow is to jump in! And is it finished there? Then we survive by paddling our way and avoiding all objects ahead. I'm finding the objects to be a bit more than a stuck-out branch, but more of the likes of a whirlpool or an under-current. But at the end of the journey, when we finally hit the calm, peaceful, and big open sea, why is it that all we can do is look behind us and talk about those difficult moments? Because that's where the memories we're made. That's where the lessons were learned. I learned a lesson this week about finding joy and peace in the voyage. I am so convinced that it is through our difficult journey that we can come to the knowledge of our Commander, the Prince of Peace. It all comes down to receiving the direction from Him for not only the objects ahead, but those objects that are weighing us down in this moment. Last week I left with you a story about the Brancasi family and receiving the Lord's direction. I love the beginning of that word direction..."direct". When I think of that I do not think of a map that we used to make our trips through the Arizona Strip, but I think more of the direct GPS that we find in locating a store for Hayley to buy shoes in the chaos of Las Vegas. The direction of the Lord, not to be confused with a shopping spree at Vegas, is direct. Sometimes our problem is to ask for an answer in a direct manner. This week we really looked to receive his direction in every aspect of His work and to see what would happen because of it. Last week as we met with the Brancasi family we had a wonderful lesson with some members that came to help us from Taranto. It went really well and we left the lesson happy, uplifted, and progressing. They are reading the Book of Mormon and the wife, Lina, is beginning to find every hole that she has ever had in heart filled. It's incredible, the Book of Mormon. Giuglio (Giorgio) is absolutely incredible. He worked as a secret defensive agent for the Italian Marines and I'm trying with every part of me to pry a story out of him! They're absolutely incredible and we ask for your prayers in their behalf. With the blessings of baptism, eternal marriage, and the Gospel going to all of their family waiting in the balance, I would ask all of you to pray for one simple thing... and this goes for all of my friends that I'm trying to help. Pray that they will know the Book of Mormon is true. Please I plead with all of you to pray just this simple fact. It's direct, and the Commander will show them the open waters, I promise! I saw it at Napoli, and I've seen it here. Our Lord uses that Book for all of the answers of life. To avoid all of the many obstacles now, and in the future, all of the answers are included in the Book of Mormon. I test it daily, I try to prove it wrong, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ship that never sinks.I'm so thankful for all of you and I hope my e-mail can be somewhat of a booster for this week. I love you all and am safe and happy here. Pray hard, act quick, let Him direct.
con affetto,
Anziano Gatchell
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