Palermo to L'Aquila

What a wonderful week it has been these past couple days! At the start of the week we met with lots of the members from Palermo and it was hard to say goodbye to all of them. I'll truely leave a part of me with all of the people down in Palermo. I'll miss Wen's chinesse food even if president mannino says its really american, playing ping pong with guilio, teaching hillary at joel and christophers house, and a lot of other things, but that's how the mission goes:)

We took a train up all day friday and it was a long day ha. We did get pizzas from Napoli though which are the best pizzas you can buy in italy. Then we got to Rome and i got to meet my new companion Anziano Burgos. He lived in the northern part of the philipians up until 7 years ago when he moved to Italy. He hits his 6 month mark this week so that should be really good. He speaks Italian perfectly so hopefully he can carry us as a companionship ha.

We got to l'Aquila and it was pouring cats and dogs outside ha I'm glad the weatherman knew I was coming. The city was destroyed in an earthquake in 2009 so we are hoping we can fix some people's lives with the message of the resturation. It's funny when people ask us for help and we tell them that we only teach the gospel they sometimes back off. But when you think about it, the one thing that really matters in this life is our own personal standing with God and we are here to help bring people closer to him. Anywho, L'Aquila's going to be an adventure!

Vi voglio bene

Anziano Whiting

L'Aquila! With all the cranes to fix the city

My boy Bartolomeo who miraculously showed up at a dinner appointment to say goodbye to me

The old branch president of Palermo 3 with his wife and kids

Lulu, Wen, Josia (i think ha sorry President Mannino) and Cristian

Letter from President Pickerd

English:

Dear Families of the Missionaries serving in the Great Italy Rome Mission,

We are saddened to learn of a serious train accident that occurred a few hours ago in southern Italy between the towns of Corato and Andria.

We can report that no missionaries of the Italy Rome Mission were on the train.  All missionaries are healthy and accounted for.

We unite our prayers with the people of Italy for those impacted by this tragedy. 

Italiano:

Care famiglie dei missionari che servono nella grande missione italiana di Roma.

Siamo rattristati dalla notizia dell’incidente ferroviario occorso alcune ore fa tra Corato e Andria.

Possiamo dire con certezza che nessuno dei nostri missionari viaggiava in quel treno.Tutti quanti i missionari stanno bene.

Ci uniamo in pregharia con il popolo italiano colpito da questa tragedia.

Sincerely,

President Michael D. Pickerd

Sister Marian W. Pickerd

Italy Rome Mission / Missione Italiana di Roma

The week

This last week was really exciting and a lot of stuff happened. We had a party with the senior couple to celebrate america. It was a blast and we got to spend time celebrating our great nation. We had a blitz with the other missionaries from the district in mistretta again and it went really well. We hope that we were able to get some more work for our boys our in Mistretta. It was fun to get to spend more time with anziano scot because I am being transferred away him ha!

We got told that I'll be heading up to L'aquila! It's the coldest part of the mission in the mountains by Rome. I'll be with Anziano Burgos from northern Italy! It'll be sad to leave Anziano Carroll and all the people down here in Palermo. I also hit my 1 year mark which means that its all down hill from here. I ended up burning a shirt to commemorate the occasion. Don't worry mom it was a wore out shirt. We had a nice lesson last week with luigi and fabrizio, luigi had actually read 10 chapters in the book of mormon and were hoping he continues to read and pray to know if the book of mormon is true.

They had me give a talk in Palermo 2 on sunday so I made it a whole year without giving a talk in italian ha. The africans also decided that I'm one of them because I don't sweat as much as my companion does. I guess that's probably why president felt I needed to leave Sicily and head to the coldest part of the mission. We had a really good lesson with micheal and he actually brought his friend Tutu as well. Both of them are 17 and are really cool kids. I hope the new anziani can continue teaching them.

Vi voglio bene

Anziano Whiting

A family from Mistretta

Fourth of July

One Year Burning of the Shirt

Che scifo!

We had a really exciting week these past couple days. Probably the biggest news is that we went to Catania and got to meet president pickerd and his wife. They both served here and actually met on the mission ha, but they are really cool and we're excited for the direction the mission is moving in. It was a treat to find out that sister pickerd is an avid byu sports fan and to also see all the missionaries from our two zones in Sicily. Unfortunately with transfer calls this week I might be off Sicily but the lord can always throw a curve ball.

Micheal and Joyce finally got moved into Palermo, they're a family we have been trying to teach forever and now we can finally meet with them. Michaels super cool, he's only 16 and we hope he can be an example for his family in joining the church. We had a fun experience when this bigger lady got on the tram and broke her shoe and fell on top of me. Ha then she sat down next to us and showed us her broken sandal. This young couple sitting by us starting kissing like teenagers do in Italy and the lady just started yelling "Che scifo"!

Which means gross. It was hilarious ha.

We went to cefalu on pday with the district and got to see some old castle ruins. We got to help some members build part of their house this last week for service. We have some swag members down here in Palermo. I especially love all the young adults that we get to work with and help develop testimonies. It really just strengthens mine on the power of friendship. I would like to end with a quote from Vaughn featherstone in the October 1975 conference, "The United States of America is the golden door. I bear my solemn and sacred witness that the United States of America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth". happy fourth!

Vi voglio bene

Anziano whiting

There and Back Again

What a wonderful life it is ha! We had another good week here in Palermo and also Rome for a couple days. Anziano Carroll had to go up and get his permesso so we took of Monday night and had a short one hour flight. We got to spend a day in Rome and it was incredible. We checked out the Vatican and we even saw the criscone families because one of the sons lives in Rome and had one of his children baptized (the criscone's mother lives in Ragusa and they visited a lot). It was nice to be up there because it was also president waddups last week.

President pickerd should be coming today.

We had a fun volleyball activity with the youth which went really well even though it got pretty hot. Zone calcio was also last Monday in the heat. We had a new missionary couple come down to Palermo named the Garrett's who we showed around Palermo alittle bit. They are really going to be a blessing here. Our boy Joel kefus was also called as new branch president and we're excited for the work that he will do. It's a blessing to be a part of Palermo 3 as they work to become a ward.

One of our investigators named Collins introduced us to a guy named osay who has lots of potential. It's kinda funny how sometimes you meet an investigator and they don't really progress but then they introduce a friend who seems to be a golden investigator. The sisters also passed us these 3 cool Italian dudes that really liked the message of the restoration. It's really the greatest message that you could share with anyone, that God loves his children enough to reveal his gospel one more time never to be taken again from the earth.

Vi voglio bene

Anziano whiting

Us at the Vatican

Waiting at the airport

five day G's

We had a crazy last 7 days and it all started with the last specialized training we will have with the Waddupps. It was a really good conference and we will definitely miss the Waddupps as they take off to America this next week. And then after that Palermo caught on fire... ha we had a wind blow over from africa that was super hot and then people just started lighting stuff on fire ha. There were just random buildings and fields on fire. It got really smoky and hot which made proselyting all the better. That's palermo for you.
We also had the anziani from Mistretta stay over at our house for almost the whole week because there was a train strike and then some trains caught on fire. So we had Anziano Dunn and Scott over for 5 days in the heat haha. We did get to make some chicken with them. There was also a really cool genealogy activity that we got one of our cool new investigators named Daniele to show up to. He came to corso even in the blazing heat.
We taught our boy Appia last week and he only speaks twe and a little bit of italian so we always have to bring members when we teach him. He told us how he had a dream before we met him about us and that's we he agreed to meet with us even though he couldn't really understand us. It's really cool to see that God does prepare people to receive our message and wants the best for them. We also get to pay african prices now for all of the stuff we buy which is a major stepping stone ha. Our african homies have finally fully accepted us.
Vi voglio bene
Anziano Whiting
Happy fathers day dad!

Hillary Clinton...

This past week went by really quickly and we were able to get lots of work done and Palermo is looking up. To start off the week though, we heard from Hillary Clinton that he was heading back to a town by Ragusa called Comiso to go work on a plantation. It was super depressing because he left unexpectedly and I was so sad and felt like I wasn't going to see him again. We called him and he was freaking out because he forgot his documents on the bus. But he prayed and was able to talk with some people and got his stuff back. Then on sunday he came walking up to the tram like normal. Ha he said he couldn't handle not being able to come to church every week so our man is back in P-town. So that was a miracle. He also bore his testimony for the first time and it was killer.

Anziano Carroll and I have gotten really close really fast and it's pretty cool. He's a funny kid and I think we should get some nice work done together. We got to see some of the sights last P-day and it was fun. The ping pong game is still going strong and getting us lessons ha, will play with people after english course and then teach them. 

Our potentials are also looking really prime for this next week. It's funny how you can see the relationships you make just start to blossom and help people move closer to the gospel. We just have to remember that it is important to stand as an example at all times and always be nice to people. But anyways, this last week was good and palermo is looking up.

Vi voglio bene

Anziano Whiting

Where to start...

So this last week was really fun and I don't even know where to start. Well Anziano Chilvers left for Naples after serving with me for 4 months and now I'm with Anziano Carroll from Gilbert Arizona. He's young in the mission but he's a pretty cool kid. Hopefully we can take the work to the next level here. We also had a conference on sunday with the area authority of europe. They broadcast it to all the churches in western europe and we even got to hear from elder Christofferson. They also had a fun lunch after with all the wards in palermo for a sister who just returned from her mission. 

We had some good lessons this past week as well. We are trying to focus on getting more member referrals and meeting with all of our new contacts. We spent a lot of time saying goodbye to people for chilvers and now will get to spend time saying hello with carroll. Mike had a really good lesson with us this past week and he seems reinvigorated to move towards the church. Things are also looking really good for our boy Francesco Fillipone. We have been working with him since he's a new convert and he'll get the Melchizedek priesthood this next week. But the real news is we're helping him set up his lds singles account so be on the watchout all you single ladies!

For Pday we went to an island of Traponi called Favignana and it was gorgeous. We biked around the island with the anziani from traponi and it was a blast! We went over on a cool boat and got to see some really pretty beaches. The water looked really inviting but will save that for after the mission. Palermo is doing really well and I look forward to all of the work Anziano Carroll and I will be doing together helping people come unto Christ.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Whiting

That late night gelato with our stake presidency member

Conference Week

So this week was really good even though we had like 5 conferences ha.

We first had zone conference with president waddups and it was really fun. We talked a lot about planning something that I need to work on improving. We had that for almost two days and then a ward party right after making it really hard to go see our investigators. On Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference with an elder from the 70. His name is elder vindas and he was really cool. We sang during the Sunday sessions and I was asked to play the piano for all of the Saturday sessions so that was an adventure. All of the stuff we learned was really incredible though.

Unfortunately Anziano chilvers has been transferred to a city up by Naples so he will be leaving is week and Anziano Carroll will be coming down. He's a young missionary and I think we should have some fun together. I will defiantly miss Anziano chilvers, and hopefully we can keep up the work down here in Palermo. We also had our branch president from Palermo 3 get called to the stake presidency so hopefully our p3 brothers can step up to the challenge now since president mannino will be gone.

Last pday we went to the beach in bagheria since the elders there really wanted us to come. Ha it was so trashy but oh well we got to spend time with the other elders. We also ate the biggest burger I have ever seen in my life with the Palermo 1 Anziani. Anziano chilvers and I raced the sisters from both wards and defeated them! But it was not worth it since we had burgers at the bishops house later that night and we both felt like we were going to die. Anywho, I hope everything is dandy back home and I miss and love you All!

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano whiting

Chillin' with the bishop's fam

Here's the burger

My boy Anziano Bellows about to head home

Baptism of Irene

We had another wonderful time this past week and to cap it all off we had the baptism of Irene. She's the daughter of Rita and is the last one from the family we had to get baptized. Her real name is omotola but Italians can't pronounce it so they call her Irene. It was really cool and adjea who has been helping us with the kids recently was able to baptize her. Adjea is the coolest kid ever and he loves helping us out with lessons.

This past week we also had two scambios, I got to go to bagheria with anziano gizzel and spend time with anziano moraes  in Palermo. We had a good time for both scambios even though anziano moraes and I only went to meetings ha but that's how it goes sometimes. We had really good lessons with our investigators and we found out Carmelo lives in the p1 area so it'll be sad to pass him off but it'll be easier for him to go to church in p1.

Last p-day we went on this huge hike up a hill to some dudes house. Ha he says he wanted to build a temple on earth and so he decorated his house with tons of rocks and about 5 billion statues of sheep. The view was really pretty from up there though. I really enjoy spending time with all the other elders that are serving around Palermo. It really shows how working together to serve others can really help you learn how to grow together.

Vi voglio bene!

Anziano Whiting

Irene's baptism by Adjea

Anziano Moraes and I in front of a horse

Letter from President Mannino

Hello Whiting Family,

I would like to write you a few notes just to let you know how much appreciated is your son Elder Whiting's missionary service here in Italy, and more specifically in Palermo 3 (the Branch where I'm currently presiding as local leader).

From the very first time I met your son, I noticed great gentle manners in him. I still remembered the first time he came to my home (I have a little office in my home where sometimes we hold weekly PEC). As the "new" guest, I gave him some water first. He did not take it, but rather he gave/served the water to all the others and then he got water for himself at the very end. He takes off the shoes when he comes to our home and even helps to clear the table after dinners/church refreshments.

Your son is doing an excellent job in Palermo 3. He and Elder Chilvers brought back 3 outstanding LDS members (Melchizedek holders) to Church (to be honest, we even did not know they were around) and are really doing an amazing work with Rita's family whose young daughter Irene is going to be baptized this weekend.

Elder Whiting and Elder Chilvers did some very distinguished work for a relevant public school/sports event which took place in our Church building some weeks ago, in the presence of Palermo Local Council Mayor and other local public Authorities.

More importantly, Elder Whiting is always with a beautiful smile, good attitude, very proactive and is a great problem solver. He can identify very well where the problem lies and tries to find appropriate solutions. For instance, he has become our "official" Sacrament Meeting Pianist and he has learned to make "cheesecake" which is one of my very favorite desserts!!!

I'm sure that many of Elder Whiting's qualities are his own, but I'm also sure that  many of his qualities come from the teachings, love and care of you, his own family. Thank you very much for that!

Again, your son is truly devoting himself to the "good" cause and he is a wonderful person. You can really be proud of him.

Sincererly yours,

Cristian Mannino

Volleyball Word of Wisdom Activity

We had another fun week and I hope we can keep having more success. We were able to see our boy Giulio come to church which was really nice. We hope he starts participating more in church. He's a swag dude and he could receive so many more blessings and grow spiritually if he came to church. Oh well agency is a killer. Femi is going to be getting the priesthood this week and his sister Mortala should be getting baptized this week! If everything goes well their whole family should be in the church this next week. I feel honored to have helped with their conversion story.

We have also been making a lot of cheese cakes out here haha. The italians love it so much its not even funny. Our branch president just wants us to make one every PEC so that he can change out the cleaned pans we leave at his house with a full one. We also played a lot of soccer last week since it was zone calcio. It was really fun even with the heat going up in Palermo. 

Our boy Carmelo is still doing well and we really hope he can make it out to church next week. It would be really cool to get investigators visiting with both wards. The sisters put on a volleyball word of wisdom activity and it was really fun to participate in. Our P2 ward team was unbeatable and I still love watching Italians playing competitive sports other than soccer ha. They just aren't used to using their hands. Anyway, we have been seeing some nice progress with our investigators and have some potentials this next week that we want to make into investigators this next week so hopefully everything goes well.

Vi voglio bene

Anziano Whiting

My cheesecake