well, i titled this letter "Austin" because that's ALL i heard about in my letters this week. but i'm happy for that. So if he's there at the airport for me, it would be really sweet!! but, lets not talk about that, i have lots of time left. Oh by the way, President Kelly is letting me extend a transfer so i'll be coming home the middle of august instead... haha, just kidding!! But, I'll skype you guys on the 13th and if 8pm my time doenst work for you, let me know so we can make some rearrangements. About MY mission now... It's been pretty intense this past week. We've had a few meetings with President ans Sister Kelly, pretty much just to plan this transfer out, and it's amazing how President is already talking about next transfer and the transfer itself with moving certain missionaries around. It's a lot of fun working with him. Anyways, our investigators are doing pretty well. We have Pietro, whos building the foundation of the temple, who we'll see tonight, and we have Edward, and Sariah and alsoa guy named Enzo. We're really excited becasue all of these people really want to be baptized. The only concern right now is we've been faced with a small problem with Sariah. Her father is the obstacle right now, and it's just laziness. They're not coming to church, but, we'll see what we can do for them. So, the work is going really well. Other cool and interesting things that are going on are just we have the Bari/Taranto Zone Conference coming up next week and we just had the zone leader council and we had all of the ZLs up here with us in rome. we have a mission goal to get 20 baptisms in the month of May. It would be the first time that this mission will have ever seen 20 in a single month. but, right now we have almost 40 baptismal dates for the month and we think we'll get it. A ton of other stuff has happened this week, but, you all know me and i dont remember things really well, but one thing that just came to mind is that it's never been so hard for me to write in my journal as its been these past few weeks. I'm all caught up, but, its tough because we have almost no time to do it certain days. I better get off the internet, my hour is just about up. I love you guys a ton!! have a great weekend!! Anziano Lane

Anziano Landon lane wrote about the pictures: just us and some of the couple missionaries and sorella Kelly

Man, i am having the time of my life. the mission is the best!! So, since last Saturday, i have honestly not had 5 minutes of down time. Its incredible!! On Sunday, me and Anziano Gatchell organized all of the travel plans for the missionaries in the mission. We ended up finishing it on Monday afternoon. then we went over to President's house and we reviewed it with him and just talked for a little bit. Then we went back to the office and we had to go help some missionaries do a move. On Tuesday we ran a ton of errands and we went over to the IKEA with the sisters of Rome 1 and we had to get a ton of stuff for their new house. then that evening we had to help another companionship move a few things. On wednesday, our new missionaries arrived from the MTC, so, we went to the airport to pick them up, and we took them to the temple site (which is really growing) and they got to take some pictures. We actually got 3 new sisters and 2 new Anziani, its a really good group. Then we took them to the mission home and we all talked for a little bit and we had their welcoming dinner and they found out their new cities. Then at about 9 we had to go back to the airport to pick up the missionaries getting transferred from Sardegna and from Palermo, and we split up and and took 2 cars. (It's so sweet!! i finally get to drive after almost 2 years). Then we dropped the missionaries off and me and Anzaino Gatchell headed back to the mission home and went to bed at about 12. then we got up at 5 and we had to split up again and i took some missionaries to the train station and from that point until about 4 it was non-stop driving and moving missionaries around. And at 4 we went back to the mission home for the departure of 2 sisters. We had a nice testimony meeting and dinner, and we got to bed at 9, then at 5 we got up today to take them to the airport, and only one could check in, because the other's flight didnt leave for 5 hours, and they wouldnt let her check in that early, so, we took her to her last sight seeing in Rome. Then after we dropped her off at the airport, we went to talk with President a little bit and had lunch and he told us to take a nap. (extreemly needed) And now were here getting some email time. We have a lot of good stuff going on this next week and we're going to do as much as we can to get a lot of appointments in. I'm not sure when i'll write again, it was supposed to be Saturday, b/c that's our p-day, but tomorrow we'll be super busy again. So, probably next saturday, if not, not worries. Love you guys a ton!! Anziano Lane About the Pictures: 1 me and Anziano Wright 2 and 3 Me and Anziano Gatchell 4 sono stanco.. im tired 5 sorella stebar, on her flight right now to Atlanta 6 il Vaticano the Vatican 7 our big meter pizza (from last transfer)

well, you're all probably wondering why im writing you all today. its because this next week i probably wont be writing.

So yesterday were transfer calls and i was almost positive that me and anziano Taylor would stay together but, i was surprised to get a phone call from President Kelly telling me that i would be in a sense transfered, but i would stay in the same house.... when he told me that, i knew what he was about to say next. He told me that he wants me to be one of his assistants. then he said that he and sister Kelly are really excited, but i think that im way more excited. Its going to be sweet. my comp is Anziano Packer's old comp, Anziano Gatchell and he's going home at the end of this next transfer (6 weeks away). Anzano Taylor is going to Malta, so, its pretty cool for him. But, im really excited for this chance to help President Kelly and the rest of the mission.
I love you guys,
Anziano Lane

so, President Kelly gave all the missionaries in the mission the assignment to write a paper on charity, and turn it in to him today, and here's a copy of it...

Charity April 11 2012
As we review from the incredible life of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was the perfect example of charity. It was a life full of difficulties and hardships, he was rejected from his own people, he was spit upon, hated, tempted, scorned, betrayed, afflicted, cursed, and even killed. Through all of this, he managed to continue and never cease from having a perfect love for these, His brothers and sisters. There has never been, nor ever be an example or charity, which truly is the perfect love of Christ.
Nowadays, the typical characteristics of a natural man can be as such: impatience, anger, frustration, and also pride. The Lord, God, has continued to warn His children of this spiritual destructor. In the scriptures we read, “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19) In short, we need to develop an increased amount of charity.
In fact, our simple task in this life is to come unto Christ. As Moroni puts it, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you…”(Moroni 10:32) For this to come to pass, we need to develop this Christ like attribute that is essential to our salvation. As a car without one of its tires is unable to fulfill its purpose and will unlikely arrive at its destination, so are we without Charity, unable to arrive at our Eternal Creator and Father in Heaven.
Moroni continued in his teachings stating, “… charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all…” (Moroni 7:45,46) How important charity truly is, when a prophet of the Lord tells you that without it, you are nothing.
A problem that is very commonly found is simply the fact that many people just do not realize that many things we do in our daily lives, in we’re not careful, can be very self-centered. We also might not think about how our actions can affect others. For example we can ask ourselves any of these questions: Am I willing and quick to forgive? Do I refrain from judging or categorizing? Am I patient when others let me down? Do I desire the welfare and the success of others? Do I accept differences and weaknesses? Is my heart full of unconditional love? It is very important that we asses our lives on a continuing basis so we can become more like our Savior and share the love that He has for others. If there is a will, there is a way.
Having served the Lord for almost 2 years by now, I’ve learned how important it is to have Charity in our lives. I can personally testify that if we do not have charity, we cannot have an enduring happiness. I am far from being perfect, and I still have much to learn in my mission and in the rest of my life, but I am convinced that if we develop a firm love for those around us, we will not only be able to help change their lives, but also of ours. Having charity in our lives we will learn to love imperfect people, and by so doing, we ourselves will grow closer to Him who is anxious to welcome us back to His Kingdom in Heaven.

ciao tutti!
So, nothing too spectacular happened this week, the baptism of Sariah will happen either this sunday or next, we're not too sure, last week didnt work becasue our bishop wanted the Father to perform the baptism, and he has prepare a little so he can do it. But, Saturday was really cool, we went to the Spanish Steps and we did Easter Caroling. We called 8 other missionaries and we all sang over at the famous steps and there were a ton of people there. It was really cool, everyone was taking pictures of us and we got a lot of stuff passed out. Then Sunday we had church and we went to a members house for Easter Lunch and it was the most incredible intense eating experience of my entire life. So the whole deal of italians eating a tonm of food was raised to a level i've never seen before. We littlerally ate for about 2 hours. I was full after eating just the apetizers and the pasta, and then after that there were 7 different meats and potatoes and beans and vegetables and 6 different desserts anda ton of bread. It was pretty incredible. I had to get up like 5 times to move around and get some air. I threw down more food than ive ever eaten at 1 sitting. It was sweet!And i've come to the point where i just love it too, it hurts really bad, but, all the things you do in italy, priceless. Im gunna miss it when i leave.
Then on Monday, we had most of the day dedicated as a mission Apartment cleaning day, and now its really nice.
Life is good though, transfer calls are happening this week, and i hope i'll stay with Anzaino Taylor again, but, we'll see, President said he might get transfered.
Love you guys!
Anziano Lane


Anziano Landon Lane wrote about the pictures:

the first is of me doin my business. nah, its just a fountain im standing by, then the next is of a Me and my Italy

I dont really know where to start this week, but, last thursday morning really didnt start off too well. I got up to do exercises and i was doing so tricep extensions, laying on the bench, i had the dumbell raised above my head and i had 2 10 pound weights on each side of the dumbell, and all of the sudden, the latch fell of that held the weights on one of the sides and they hit me in face. I got one square on the nose and another on the cheek, painful, but, im all good now.
Then on Saturdy, before the conference, we went to do a service project at bishop's house, and we cut down branches off trees, and then we put them in a van, no, not a truck, a van... anyways, i had a grip on one of the branches and my hand slipped and there was a sharp point that i didnt notice, and as the branch slid out of my hand, it got me and made a nice cut down my hand, so, my body has just taken a beating this week, im fine though.
But the rest of the weekend was really good the conference was awesome and some of our investigators were able to come, so we were really happy. Sunday was great, i had an awesome birthday, i lost track of how many times i got sung happy birthday to. Then, at the end of the day, after the last session of conference, Giacomo and Giada did a little surprise party for me. So that was really nice. then on Monday, it was my comps birthday, and we had a good time. We met with Sariah and her family, and the baptism is looking ood for this Saturday, we'll see how things go, and we have another appointment with them and our bishop tomorrow.
Yesterday was really interesting... we had an appointment with someone that called us and wanted to talk to us about the church, but, it was a big lie. They tried to sell us this Xamba juice that supposedly heals people and does incredible things for the health. So, had that little encounter and finally after 15 minutes, we told them that we needed to go, and we had more important stuff to do, in a nice way.
Edward, our investigator from Ghana is doing great. we've seen him every day since last wednesday and he's making good progress. Honestly,he's ready to be baptised this week, be, he's gotta come to church a couple more times.
Have a great week! love youall
Anziano Lane