This is going to be a hard letter to get through... After today, i'm only going to have one more chance to send an e-mail home as a missionary. Porca Miseria!!! 

Anyways, last sunday was great, and something that's pretty sweet, is i get to go and open up the Rome 5th branch. I'll only get to be there for 1 sunday (tomorrow) because the next sunday i'm gunna have to say goodbye to the members of the Rome 2nd ward. Then on Monday me and my companion went with the Kelly's to Napoli for their zone conference and it was sweet, i got to say goodbye to Anziano Ginolfi and eat my last Napoli pizza, and the conference itself was way sweet! Then that evening, the Napoli district President invited us and The Kelly's to eat at his house on the American base (he's american). On Tuesday, we had to catch up on some stuff in the office and The Kelly's son came home from his mission. Sorella Kelly was happier than i've ever seen. The next day we were called by the sisters in Ladispoli and we got to help them fix their door, and it ended up being a lot more than just the door. So when we got there as we were working on the door, my companion put too much pressure on one of the windows we were working on, and it broke, and i felt a nice sharp pain on the back side of my hand, and sure enough, it got me. The sisters flipped cuz there was a lot of blood, but, it really wasnt that bad, i got lucky because it barely missed 2 nice sized veins, but, its doing good now. On Thursday we had an awesome zone conference in Rome. It was sad cuz it was my last one,but, it was really spiritual, and part of it was because i followed the tree sisters im going home with after they had born their testimonies. Then today we had a meeting with the Kelly's to go over the rest of the transfer. 

I'm really hoping to be able to do some good missionary work this last week, because then transfer week is going to be like the italians say, un macello ( a slaughterhouse) Its gunna be extreemly busy with getting everything organized for the transfers and then going through with everything... so we'll see what we can do this next week.

sorry about the lame letter, we've gotta go see the Kelly's in a few minutes to send a mission-wide text message out. Well, I love you guys, see you soon.

-Anziano Lane

Buona Domenica!!

Ciao everyone, what a sweet week I had here in Italy. This past Tuesday, me and my companion started a trip that lasted until Saturday monring. On Tuesday we left Rome to head out to Bari, and on the way out there, President Kelly gave us permission to stop by Foggia!!!!! It was sweet, i got to see some of the members and it was a lot of fun, we were only there for about 20 minutes, then we hit the road again to Bari, when we got there we started an exchange with 2 awesome missionaries, one has been in the mission for about a year and the other is brand new. The exchange went really well, we got to teach lessons and teach english class and we ended up setting a baptismal date! Then on Wednesday we went with them and another companionship to a city called Matera, a really beautiful city that looks like its made out of rock, and apparatly the crusifiction of Christ in "The Passion of Christ" was filmed there, boh.. i dont know if its true. It was really hot though. Its getting to that time of the year when Italy surpasses the heat of the Arizona desert (just because its so stinkin humid). then that evening President Kelly started the interviews for zone confernce and he got about 10 missionaries done. We were there getting things organized, and we had to do a lot of transporting of other missionaries. On Thursday we had the actual zone conference and we were in about 40 missionaries. It was really sweet. Before the conference, we had to go and pick up the sisters who are serving in Taranto at the Bari station, and when we got there, and picked the sisters up, the car wouldnt start, and we sat there for about 30 minutes and then it started, it was really weird (we obviously said a prayer that it would start up and im sure God had something to do with it starting) so we did get to the conference in time. After it ended, you would never believe where we got to go to do our last exchange... Crotone! It was really cool, we got there at about 9, so we didnt have time to go out and do any work that evening, but in the morning we went to see Margherita to have a new convert lesson with her and she about had a heart attack when she saw i was there, it was really special to see her again. She's preparing to go to the temple in November too. We also passed by Vincenzo, who got baptized after i left and he's grown so much. It was a lot of fun, we did some good work, and at luch time we had to leave and start our 5 hour drive up to Caserta because we didnt have enough time to get to Rome, and I got to see my boy Anziano Ginolfi and he's such a stud, he really is one of the best missionaries i know. And yesterday moning we drove back up here to Rome, and last night we had an activity at a member's house, and this family invited a ton of non-members and we got to talk with a lot of people and get their numbers. It was sweet because some members from Terni came too. 

Today the vision i had in Terni almost 2 years ago is about to come true... At 4:30 this afternoon, a special meeting is going to be held for us (Rome 2) and Terni at the stake center. Rome 2 is going to split, there is going to be a Rome 5th ward, so Rome 2 is going to be a little smaller. But, Terni, my birthcity is going to be made a WARD!!!!!! Finally these incredible memebers are going to get the chapel they've worked so hard to earn. Honestly, our of all my cities Terni and Rome 2 have really understood the principle of member-missionary work, and they've acted upon the knowledge they have, and i feel like that is a big reason why this area of italy is receiving such incredible blessings. Anyways, i'm just totally excited for it today.

This next week we're busy as well, we have a zone conference in Napoli tomorrow and on Thursday we have the zone conference here in Rome, and i'll be giving my "dying" testimony there. It'll be pretty cool because when i got to Terni, my first zone conference i gave my "birth" testimony from the same pulpit. It's going to be sad, but fun at the same time. I still get to be a missionary for about a month!!! I'm pushin to the end. 

Love you all,

Anziano Lane

Buon D everyone!

 

One thing that's really cool is that the mission doesnt get old. No matter how many incredible, life-changing experiences you have, as long as you are obedient, the mission will always edify you in some way. This last week was especially awesome, becasue we had a special conference here in this region of Europe. There was a brodacast from Salt Lake, and Elder Nelson and President Eyring as well as a few other general Authorities spoke and gave instruction to the members here. The coolest part of the whole situation was Terni had to come down to Rome to see it, so i got to see the members again, and this next week Terni is going to become a WARD!!!!! I remember, that was my dream when i was up there, that Terni would become a ward, and now, after about 2 years, its happening, and they will start the construction for their chapel in the short future. Then in Monday, i got to go to Sicily for the first time, and it was Spettacolo!! Its such a beautiful place. Monday afternoon we landed in Catania, me President and Sorella Kelly (My comp stayed in Rome because we're trying to save the mission money and only one of us goes to the islands of the mission) And so we got in the taxi and went off to the Sister's appartment. I past Mount Etna and some incredible beaches, but, i was talking to the cab driver and doing some teaching, so i didnt get any pics of that stuff, which was a little bit of a bumemr, but, it would've looked terrible to that cab driver if i pulled my camera out while is was explaining the first vision and so i didnt do it, but, i got his information and gave it to the missionaries there. Then when we got to the Sister's apartment, President Kelly started doing interviews and i was alone with Sister Kelly and 6 sister missionaries (the elders were upset when they heard about it haha) it was fun though, we played games and talked a ton and watched a short lds film. There's a reason why Elders arent supposed to be alone with the sisters, especially when there's a lot of cute sisters in our mission. But, past is past, and after the interviews, we went to the Elder's appartment and there President did a few more interviews. Then on Tuesday, we had the zone conference and it was a lot of fun, we had some really good training. I tried to make my training a little funny to lighten things up. After the conference we went back home and continued the week. On thursday, i had some doubts about going to Sweden, and i stepped back for a little bit, i had a few concerns and then my prayers were quickly answered. In the next two days, so many things told me Sweden, and just the things that have nothing to do with it, just made it clear to me that that's where i need to be. One of them happened on Friday. We found the first Swedish lady i've ever met in Italy, its taken almost 2 years, but, i finally found one. Anyways, she owns a Tie shop by the Trevi Fountains and we talked with her for a little bit, and she's met the missionaries in the past, and she's actully trying to learn Russian, so, she made us a deal that if we gave here a book in Russian, she'd give eac of us a tie, and we knew ecatly where to get a book to help her... the book of mormon in Russian, we also gave her one in Swedish. It was funny though, i realized that my swedish has gotten considerally worse, but, at least now i speak the language of God (that's at least wha the italians say). So, yesterday, we went back to see Bridget, and we gave her the book and she gave us a sweet tie each, and unfortunately, she's going to Sweden next week, so we wont be able to teach her but, she's very interested and she wants to know about the plan of Salvation. And, thats about all of the time i have, we gotta get going to pick up President and Sorella Kelly from the airport, they're coming back from Malta, Elder Texiera made a special appearance there this weekend for the members and so they had the chance to go and be with the missionaries there. Well that's about it. I love you all,

Anziano Lane 

Good afternoon from good old Italy! What a busy past couple of weeks its been here in our mission. Its been non stop. Its awesome though. This week we had our zone leader council and we had a lot of fun with the leaders of the mission. We really have a great bunch of missionaries. We've been working on a lot of projects too these past few days and we're keeping ourselves non only busy, but productive. Its the greatest thing ever being an assistant, and im not saying anything n egative about it, but, we just dont have time to do teaching like im used to. I think it's a great transition though from missionary life to real life for after the mission, its helping me get ready... I'm not gunna lye, but, it will be nice to walk off that plane in a month and not have to worry about these my 130 missionary brothers and sisters like i do now. Its a miracle how much my love has grown for each and every one of them has grown getting to know each one of them. they're incredible missionaries. This really is the best mission ever. I'm going to miss it so much, and its going to be so hard to leave it all behind me and start the rest of my life. I never could have imagined how much a mission could change a young, immature, prideful, selfish 19 year old, until i put the tag on 23 months ago and started sacrificing. I know im not done yet, and im so grateful that i still have more than 1 month left, because there's nothing that makes me happier than serving the Lord and my beloved family here in Italy. Its gunna one of the hardest things i'll ever have to do is leaving this miraculous place that has so much changed me and my life. Weird tangent i got on there, but, as for this next week, i get to go to Sicily for the first time ever b/c we have a zone conference down there on Tuesday, but, me, sorella and President Kelly are going to be flying down tomorrow so he can do some interviews b/c there's about 40 missionaries down there. I love you guys, you're the best, Anziano Lane FORZA ITALIA!!!

Hi! I was traveling in Rome on Saturday with my husband and a few friends, and found some very cute missionaries while we were looking for the new temple site! Your boys are very happy, mature, and have the light of Christ in their eyes! You should be proud! It was so nice to meet them. They spoke Italian to our taxi driver, and helped us to find where the temple is being built. It is an exciting time for the Church in Italy. Your boys seemed so positive and happy. It was a pleasure to meet them. Good job! Love, Joyce Morgan Salt Lake City