Un missionario fuori classe... A Missionary To Match the Message.

This was the title of a program that was being utilized in Europe while we were serving in Italy thirty years ago. Through obedience to mission guidelines and a profound study and application of key scriptures, we would become missionaries to "match the message" and have greater success.

Well, I don't know if it is possible to ever  become a missionary to match the message of the restored gospel, but I know that our work improved and we were privileged to participate in helping people come to Christ.

So, we leave for Italy in six months - July 16, 2011. We will tour with friends for about ten days and arrive in Palermo - ready to work - by July 1st. I can't wait!!!

Because we are not full-time missionaries, we will not have the same guidelines, and will not be under the mission president. Instead we will work under Presidente Nudo of the Sicily Stake. So I think we will have some autonomy.  We plan to use what we learned so many years ago in the mission field to prepare now. Let's hope we can become "missionaries to match the message".

We are memorizing the seminary mastery scriptures in Italian (no small feat when your brains are as old as ours). We are studying Preach My Gospel, together and individually. I have an added bonus of serving as ward missionary. Last Thursday I went out with the sister missionaries. That felt good and familiar :)

We are preparing in other ways as well. All three of us have had physical exams (I had no idea what senior missionaries were subjected to) and we are making trips to the dentist. We are working hard to put money aside and organizing our personal belongings, as we prepare to put our home in the hands of Jessica and Jared while we are away.

We are trying to help Junae learn Italian. We speak only Italian with her from Thursday through Sunday. Sometimes we forget, but we are trying. She will absolutely die if she gets to Italy and cannot speak! She is ten years old and very social. I am certain this will be an incentive.

In March I will travel to Palermo to look for housing. Daniel, our missionary son serving in Italy, comes home April 8, 2011. The time has flown by. Although I miss him very much, I am more sad for him than anything that his time is coming to a close. I know he loves the people there and it will be hard for him to leave. We heard yesterday that he has been called to be a trainer to a new missionary. He will be great!

The time we have left at home will fly, I know. I hope we will be ready...

Where there's a will, there's a way...

I believe that things in life don't happen by chance. Most of the things we do... that we experience... are a direct result of our own choices and actions. 

Unfortunately, this means that I have lost many opportunities in my life, either by not listening to the guidance of the Spirit, or just making unwise choices. But it also means that I have the power to control my destiny... a good thing! We can never change the past, but we can always create a new ending. And when we truly want something, if it is a good thing, and if we do everything humanly possible to obtain it, I believe the Lord will do His part to make it happen for us. 

So... it has been my dream for nearly thirty years to return to Italy and again share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A few months ago Michael, my husband, and I returned to Italy. While there we received an invitation, rather a call, to return to Sicily within the year and serve as part-time service missionaries, under the direction of Presidente Nudo, the new stake President of Sicily. We plan to leave June 16, 2011. 

There are many worthy things in life that I have endeavored to do. However, I have learned that when I put my life and my will in the Lord's hands, the things that He sees as worthy endeavors are much higher than mine and His adventures are greater than I could have ever imagined. 

So, "where there's a will, there's a way", and if it's the Lord's will, the way will certainly be opened. Or, as it is stated in the Doctrine & Covenants section 4, "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work."

We are so excited to return to Italy!!!  There is much to be done before we leave but it will be "light" work.  :)