Staying Here!

Buon giorno famiglia!

Good news all around. Tanner that's awesome that you are asking her to marry you, you know my criteria... Is she cool with me bumming it on your couch from May 31st 2012 to August 10th 2012 to watch every single re-run of the Jazz and Patriot games?? She'll say yes, that's for sure. As for us... We found our own amount of yes's and no's during this past week.. No to a baptismal date, yes to a pizza, no to a ride to Church and yes to teach someone in their home.. The rollercoaster of life goes on.. This week has been one of the craziest in the mission, with transfers and all sorts of other stuff.. I ask you all to pray for my companion's family as they are dealing with and issue with his grandma.. I had to translate for him with President Kelly during the week and with the issues that were coming up and I can just say this.. President Kelly is called of God! Talk about having solutions and being guided.. Anyway, all is well here.. I must have done the right thing by talking with him and figuring out this situation for my companion because shortly after he re-called me to tell me I had been assigned to be District Leader of the Puglia.. Humbling, but I'm excited for more opportunities to serve.. Right after my companion said, "Oh yay, you're mother would be so proud of you!".. So there you go, Mom, from Anziano Errante.. I'm starting to find myself in my work.. It's incredible in this work how one finds themself while losing themself to find others.. It's been pretty tough and not really pretty to try and find someone in this city, but it's incredible the opportunity to rely on the Spirit and go where He prompts.. You all sound great at home.. Thanks for the Dixie Elders.. DIXIE ELDERS: Shout out from Italy, we're praying for you, keep the success stories coming from your part of the vineyard, I show them to my district and other missionaries all the time so we can find that strength and that power you're bringing to all the people on the other side of the world.. And to Anziano Eames, I'm packing it on big guy, not so sure where I stand in pounds but I'm floating in the Adriatic at about 90 kilograms right now. Thank the pizza and my Italian companion.. Anyway, family.. This week has been really good and Sunday was an incredible day in which our friend Maria Grazia found her answer about our Church and found a family in us here.. The work is all over the place right now, members of 40 years that don't know Thomas S. Monson, and leaders that pass out tithing receipts during Sacrament meeting, however! The Church is young and we are all doing our very best.. I proposed that we read the Book of Mormon together and prepared all of the things to accomplish it, including firesides and such.. The Branch really took to it and we're already seeing the power of the Book of Mormon change the lives here.. Want to change your life? Read the Book of Mormon, it's really that simple.. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, family.. That's one thing that baffles me in Italy.. All of these people that pray to these saints, to the madonna, that believe we won't be saved, that we are already saved, that God is a little man, that the Godhead is a giant man.. As soon as a question that is asked such as, "How do you know God loves you?" all knowledge, experience, and influence falters and the testimony comes out. Truly we are seeing daily the "small and simple things of the earth confound the great".. I love each and every single one of you and I'm so thankful for this Church, the only true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth and the only true means in which we can all be together forever.. If it's okay to say, I top off a mazeltoff for Tanner!! The road begins for you big guy, thanks for the example.. Even though Nana keeps letting me know that I promised when I was little to be a doctor in Scottsdale without a wife, I'm glad you're being such a good example for me.. All of you are such great examples and thank you for your prayers.. They don't go unanswered and they don't go unused.. Love you!! Have a great week!

Con felicità,

Anziano Gatchell