"For Our Joy Is Full..."

Today was one of those days that missionaries dream about. We had two baptisms. These are two incredible young people who have been the perfect example of Elder L. Tom Perry's vision of how Outreach Centers can work to attract and bring new members into the Church.

Romina is the beautiful young woman who started coming to the Center when we first opened it. She came with a less-active friend and became one of our most faithful attendees. Her less-active friend has become active too. She climbed Lorenzo Snow's mountain with us and we loved her instantly. In the beginning she said she was an athiest and that she was not interested in hearing the lessons but she loved coming to the Center and she loved how she felt there. Little by little she began to feel the spirit during little spiritual thoughts and family home evening lessons we would have at the Center. She began reading the Book of Mormon. We have fasted and prayed to see her baptized before our mission was over. What a sweet blessing it was when she asked Elder Lisonbee to baptize her.

Torito is the young man who starting coming to the Center to play soccer. Torito is one of those young men so full of the light of Christ that many people thought he was already a member. No matter what is going on at the Center, we feel it is important to always stop what we are doing and take a little break to have a spiritual thought. Torito began to feel the spirit and started taking the lessons. He had to overcome opposition at home but he has been steadfast and immovable in going forward. As he faced opposition he told us that nothing would stop him from being baptized. Tonight when he bore his testimony he said that as he would come to the Center and he experienced the great friendship and food and feeling there he said it felt perfect and he was always happy when he was there and this feeling led him to desire that happiness for himself forever. Both Romina and Torito were two that were especially touched when President Hughes spoke to them when he and Bonita came to visit.

These two young people are a testament to the vision that Elder L. Tom Perry had when he saw that the majority of missionary work to be done in Central Europe would come through the young single adult-aged members. Tonight we had 35 of our young single adults at the baptism along with many other members. One of the talks was given by one of our YSA converts who was baptized 8 months ago. I spoke at her baptism and now here she was giving a masterful discourse on baptism. I conducted a YSA choir that sang "When I Am Baptized."

The Spirit was strong. Love abounded and Elder Lisonbee and I marveled at the miracle of this work. I will never forget the image of Romina with her long dark hair dressed in white, looking like an angel as she entered the font and I saw Elder Lisonbee take her by the arm as he prepared to baptize her. She was glowing with the sweetest smile I have ever seen. It was David's first time to baptize someone in Italian. Che bellezza! The beauty of the moment was indescribable. Our feelings can only be expressed in the words of Ammon in the Book of Mormon:

" Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. " (Alma 26:16)

Our daughter, Megan just got here for a visit and she was thrilled to get to see Romina and Torito's baptism as she became friends with them when she was here last Summer.

57 Years Ago Today!

The S. S. Contebiancamano

First of all I want to thank those of you who commented or sent emails with such great words of wisdom and encouragement. It meant so much to us. Things are going better! We are starting to relax more with our class. And they are trying not to use a lot of slang or speak at warp speed when they make comments in class so that we can understand them. And we are beginning now to do more role-playing and class involvement and so there is not so much pressure on just us. The class is growing in numbers and we are hearing from their parents that they are really enjoying it, so let it be known that this is proof that the Lord can work through a person to accomplish his purposes - weaknesses and all! I wish you could all have a chance to hear the students each week take turns reciting by memory D&C Section 4. They are so proud of themselves. And it sounds so beautiful in Italian.

We lived through speaking at our Saturday night session of Stake Conference. The Stake Center was packed. David did a fantastic job talking about the Center and Elder L. Tom Perry's dream that led to the development of these Centers for YSA in Europe. Many people told us they could not believe he was not an Italian return missionary. He spoke so well. He got emotional when speaking of his love for these young people we serve with.

As I was sitting on the stand waiting for my turn, I had an overwhelming awareness of my mother and father and sister who have passed away. I felt such a distinct impression that they were aware of me and were cheering me on. I don't think I have ever felt so blessed with divine help in giving a talk as I did then. I almost felt as if someone else's voice was coming out of me, and yet it was a voice deep inside of me that seemed to have found itself in that moment. It was a kind of redemption for me after the many times I have struggled and stumbled to share my heart with them in Italian. A precious elderly gentleman came up after. He was dressed so handsomely (not unusual for Italians) and he thanked me for the talk and then kissed my hands. (Ya gotta love these Italians!) In the talk I gave in Sacrament meeting a couple months ago I began to feel this joy at finally being able to share my heart with them, but this talk was even more personal. I told the story of my birth on the ship and my family and conversion. I felt a sense of completion in having come full circle - back to Italy - the only member left of that little family that set sail from Italy to America 57 years ago TODAY!

The Life preserver from my ship which is here in Milan. The S. S. Conte Bianca Mano

David here: Last week Bianca said she yearned to paint with colors like Magenta or Burnt Umber or to play a symphony in regards to her communication with the Italians. I'm here to tell you that on Saturday night she painted a masterpiece and played a symphony. I have known Bianca to give some good talks in English in the 36 years we have been married, but nothing compares to what happened Saturday night when she spoke at Stake Conference in Italian. That night and the next day at Stake Conference she was mobbed by so many people wanting to thank her for her talk. One man came up to me and said, "Mi fa ridere e piangere." "She made me laugh and cry." She brought the house down with laughter as she described the ordeal of getting her permesso here (it is like a visa that all missionaries must get) and the reaction of the office workers at seeing her birthplace on her passport as listed as "At Sea." But they went from laughter to tears very quickly as she told the story of her conversion. She is always worried about going over time in a talk and she even finished a little under time so she was happy about that. I know she felt so much joy to share her story with the Italians here in such a powerful way. On another note (pun intended)

We attended an opera at the famous La Scala Opera House in Milan with our Mission President and his wife. We saw the one act farce, "L'Occasione Fa Il Ladro"( Opportunity makes the thief). It was great. The theater was impressive.