Reflections over Ravioli: The Missionary Blog of Anziano Cannon: Weeks 6 and 7- Dorothy, you're not in Provo anymore

July 13, 2015

Well I could talk about what happened at the MTC but it all seems so irrelevant at this point haha. Except Elder Boyd K. Packer. That was one of my last days in the MTC and a very sacred day, partly because of that.

I won't soon forget on Monday morning at 3 am loading up on a bus with a bunch of missionaries to go to the airport. They were playing "I believe in Christ" on the radio and it was pitch black except for the lights of the Provo temple. That's how I got to say goodbye to home.

Our flight to Atlanta was fine. The flight to Roma was not so cheery. I got maybe two hours of sleep. I had to look up when going to the bathroom to avoid seeing devilishly enticing movies people were watching like Interstellar and Ender's game. We got to Roma at 7 AM, ready (or not) to begin our experience in Italy.

One thing the pictures never capture is the humidity. I don't think I'll gain weight here; you literally marinate in your own sweat walking around and then when you get home all you do is drink water (which we buy in two liter bottles here, by the way). It's kind of funny though, the first two days that was like such a trial for me (coming from the dry states of Oregon and Utah) but now I'm just totally used to the nearly 100 degree weather and humidity. You get sweaty. And you like it.

That day we got to see the Colosseum and the Roman Senate! Whoa! The next day we got our iPads!!!! They are sooo helpful. Scriptures, Ensigns, conference talks, and Mormon messages right at your fingertips. Plus a camera. Wednesday night we opened our "golden envelopes"- your first mission call in Italy. I was called to Bagheria, outside of Palermo, in Sicily!!! We also ate water buffalo cheese that night, sorry that was random.

Thursday we Sicilians spent the day on the train. I asked this old Catholic lady in our cabin to read scriptures with us, she ended up reading 3 Nephi 12, the Introduction, and some of JS-H and was firing off questions about doctrine that all five of us were desperately trying to even understand. That night I met my trainer, Anziano Borner. He is great, I've already learned a ton from him. Bagheria is an awesome city. Our apartment is insane. It's just us two. We each get a bathroom. AND WE HAVE A/C! Italians don't believe in A/C so at the mission home I was just lying awake burning to death.

Friday stunk because we had weekly planning and then just worked on getting my permesso [permit to stay] so I don't get deported. Zero missionary work, unless you count English class (yes you heard that right - it was a unique experience). I was really not doing well but I had this little miracle that made me feel much better. This super cool family came in with a little boy and girl that looked just like Italian versions of my siblings Jonathan and Elissa. I talked to the mom afterwards, she was so nice. They seemed pretty interested during my spiritual thought; I'd love to teach them.

Saturday was way better, we got two contacts Michelangelo and Giuseppe) and I taught my first lesson! It was awesome, we taught the restoration to a guy from English class named Filipo. He took a BOM and said he'd come to church on Sunday! We also taught this Nigerian named John (in English whoop, whoop).

Sunday I was asked to bear my testimony in sacrament. It was great. I was really sad Filipo didn't come to sacrament, but at least Lorenzo (who is supposed to be baptized August 1) did. The iPads really came in handy during gospel essentials which we taught when my comp showed this awesome Mormon message at the end after we were talking about prayer. I had been holding back a bit all day but finally started crying during that - a combination of the Spirit I felt, the stress of feeling the responsibility of nurturing a tiny ward full of convertiti [converts] and menoattivi [less-actives], my lack of understanding of what people were saying to me, and my gratitude that Lorenzo was having a good experience. Afterward he said an awesome, awesome, prayer.

On the plane ride here I read in the D&C how Christ would show himself to me in the days to come, and my Mission President promised me I would feel His love in our interview. In hindsight, I should have guessed that that would occur through the peace I have felt that He is with me even during some really, really hard days in Italy so far.

Love,
Anziano Cannon

If you want to see pictures of us at the mission home (built for Mussolini in 1924) and when we went to the Colosseum and Senate check out the Rome Italy Mission blog.

[There is additional narative about the new misisonaries first two days in Italy plus tons of more pictures. I'll post a few of the best pictures of Ethan at the bottom of this post. Also, be sure to click the "older posts" link at the mission blog or follow this link to see the second page.]