The mission has been a blast!

Hosford Family,

Its’ weird to think that I am coming home in two days.  It still hasn’t nit me. I have pretty much finished packing. I still need to make a couple dedicas for other missionaries, but I am pretty much all set. I have given a lot of talks. I gave one in the Catania ward.  I talked about faith without works in dead. I asked 20 questions after going through the Joseph Smith story. 20 different things that we can do to show our faith. I even would not have gotten all 20.  I also said that we didn’t get 20 then our faith just isn’t strong enough. Then I gave them a why.  Actually two whys. One because of the Church – it’s a restored church not a reformed church. And two, I read from D&C 84 about people who don’t accept the gospel and how valuable their souls are. I really broke everyone’s boxes and everyone talked about it all Sunday.  Then at Sigonella which is an American Branch, I talked about genealogy work and priesthood keys which was a lot of fun. Then I have to given another talk at Veronica’s baptism tomorrow.  I am very excited for it.  Then I will give another talk in Church when I come home.  Then hopefully I won’t have to speak for a while.  I have been saying goodbye to everyone these last couple days.  It’s been hard, but I will be here next year. Its sad that I really do have more friends here than in America. The mission has been a blast.  Well, love you all very much.  I will definitely be some before this letter, but oh well. – Anziano Hosford

Veronica is all set for May 2

Hosford Family,

I wanted to shoot off this letter before I got busy today. Today we are going to Taormina. Yesterday we had zone conference and I spent about 5 hours in the car shipping people around. It was really weird though. I gave my dying testimony. Just so you know in Sicily right now, I am the oldest missionary and the only one from my group. So when I fly up to Rome I will go by myself and I will even drive myself to the airport. Then on my flight home I will fly alone as well.

To be honest there isn’t a lot going on here. We have our typical work and I am just doing stuff to prepare to leave. I’ve been saying goodbye to people I’ve known for 15 months, checking in on old investigators, getting rid of stuff I don’t want.  I need to buy a suit and do a couple of other things.

We did the baptismal interview for Veronica and she is all set for May 2.  Usually her husband is indifferent towards us, but he invited us to eat with them and during her interview me and him talked a little bit. He is nice just got to warm up to him. So she is all set for her baptism.  This last couple of days I have been doing splits with Anz. Longhurst  (MTC companion).  We had a lot of fun.  It rained a lot, but we had a lot of fun and we just talked.  He is going to UVU so it will be nice to hang out with him when I get to Provo.  He is going to teach me to fish.

I read mom’s letter about the beach trip and I am excited for that. Either ways.  I really can’t think of any thing else to say.  Love you lots.  See you soon.  – Anziano Mitchell Hosford

My life is crazy

Hosford Family,

I thought I would give everyone some updates:

1.       My life is crazy

2.       I only have 3 p-days left

3.       I get to see a  baptism my last day in the mission

I thought that I could be leaving the 29t, but Veronica moved back her baptismal date to the second of May. As much as I want to see Rome I would rather see her baptism. Now here are my plans.  I will see her baptism at 5 to 6 pm then go to the airport for a 7:40 pm flight to Roma. Normally we would take the bus, but I talked with President and it’s going to cost more but with these circumstances he will let me do it. Then that night I will miss the dinner and maybe the testimony meeting, but it’s worth it.  Then the next morning I fly out.  Those will be my last days here.

My next p-days will be fun. Today we are doing shopping. I want new pants and maybe a new suit. I am thinking also about new shoes. My shoes now look pretty good on the top, but the bottom not so great.  Then next week we are going to Taormina.  I am looking at going with the Messina anziani. Then my last p-day is still up for debate. I am looking at Modica which is a bit south of Ragusa. I will think about it more later.  I’m not sure it will happen.

The work is slowing down here a bit. We have lost a couple investigators in these last couple weeks. Things are still going fine. We are still busy. We always have some little thing to do.  There are quite a few things that I have left to do here.  It’s going to be a quick two weeks.

Not much else to write.  Things are going well. Either ways.  Love you all very much.  Talk to you next week.  Anziano Hosford

She wants to get baptized ASAP!

The Hosford Family,

We had a real incredible week.  Our work has taken almost a 360 this last week. Even though no one came to church we set 4 baptismal dates and we are hoping to set one more this week.

The first and most important one is with Veronica. It’s a bit of a story. I thought she was going to get baptized after I was gone and after she had her baby. However, Friday we saw her and had a good appointment. We were one away to another appointment when we got a call. My comp took and it and responded. He then put it on speaker for me because I was driving. He also had a very shocked look. It was Veronica and she wanted to get baptized asap. So right now she has a date for April 24 and its’ going to be a great p-day.

After we set a new date with Anna and Mario. Its wasn’t anything great like Veronica, but even her brother accepted a date.  We really wanted a date with them so we could be working towards something.

Then we are waiting to set a date with Emanuele Castorina. They should be deciding as a family this week. I just hope to see the baptism before I go if possible. We  did a lesson with them on Saturday to show the family that he is ready.

Our last date we set yesterday with Valdina. We set a date for July 22.  It seems far away, but earlier can really scare people. We had a great lesson with her yesterday and it also when we set the date. She wants to quit smoking and its going to be hard after 40 years of smoking, but we have the time. She said yesterday during the appointment that she wants to believe in the church and everything. It made me think of Elder Holland’s talk about the young boy who believed or wanted but hadn’t received an answer. Yesterday I also met her granddaughter who is my age…… after the mission?

Things are fun here. My next p-days should be fun. I sent a package home on Sunday. I think the branch president will mail it out next week when he gets back. Our other investigators are doing well. We are trying to find some new ones.  Typical. Either ways.  Love you all very much.  Have a great week.  – Anziano Hosford

He’s only 9, but he wants to get baptized

Hosford Family,

It’s strange.  Technically I have less than a month left. I am excited to come home, but very sad to leave Italy and more than anything Sicily. However, if all goes to plan I should be able to come back here in a year. Hopefully, I can do in an internship or study abroad here.  I think a BYU for the Italian major it’s a class that you can do.  Then today I need to register for classes in the fall.  I shouldn’t have any problems getting classes because I have enough credits to be a junior and almost a senior, but I will be taking mostly sophomore/freshman classes.  I got every class figured out except for one.  However, I have an email in about it.

Stuff here is going well. I spent pretty much Monday to Wednesday at Siracusa. It was nice to see a lot of people that I used to know. I also got an exciting call on Wednesday.  One of my old investigators named Veronica wants to see us and so we will see her tomorrow. If you don’t remember, she had a baptismal date.  I would love to see her get baptized while I am here, her and Emanuele. He needs to come to church more and it’s hard for him because he’s only 9, but he wants to get baptized.

We are still working with Francesca and she is doing well.  She has read all of First Nephi. She is doing well.  We are just trying to strengthen her as much as we can so she can make the right choice when the time comes.  It might be coming soon as well. We are still working with Anna, Massimo, and Mario but we aren’t seeing any real progress. Then I missed several appointments with some of our other investigators. However, everyone is doing well.  We have a lot of new contacts and we are happy to see something come from all of this.

We are having some problems with our ward mission leader. He always wants to do correlation at the last minute and where he lives which is far away and on a big work night. So we haven’t been able to do it for several weeks.   He delegated us to clean the baptismal font which would be okay if he would help us. We really need the members to step up and do more.

Well, stuff here is good.  The summer is arriving and unfortunately I won’t be here for it.  I have 4 p-days and a couple days in Tome left then I will be home. I love everyone very much and will see you all soon. – Anziano Hosford

Effectual door

Hosford Family,

Because I know you all would like to know, I am finishing up here in Catania with Anz. Kasper. We have a good work going and I am very happy to finish up here.  I talked with President and he told me that I could stop in Napoli before I head to Rome. He would also give me a couple days to see Rome which will be exciting. It’s sad to think that in 6 weeks I will be heading home.  I still want to come back here for vacation, but I might have found something better.  I was looking under the Italian minor/major and I might be able to come here for an internship/study abroad.  I would love that to be honest. I would feel a lot better about it.

Things are fun here.  Silla Miles is going home with three of my other companions.  The only comps that are staying are Anz. Longhurst (MTC Comp), Prieto, and Kasper. The sadder part is that no one is going to remember me because I have been in the south so long.  It’s okay.  I am now making a list of things that I need to do before I leave. I am planning a couple of p-days.  There isn’t a lot for me to do to be honest. 

Only sad thing is with the work.  One of our golden families just dropped us.  They just told us that they need to decide about all of this.  They said that they would come to church.  We will see.  At least we are remaining friends with them.

We picked up at least 3 newish investigators this week.  The first is this kid named Santo. He is kind of a negative death-metal guy.  However, if someone can rally profit from the gospel it would be him. He is friends with Marco who is a recent convert and is starting to read the Book of Mormon a little bit.

Next we have Agata who is an investigator that I found with Anz. Hansen. We saw her yesterday for the first time in 4 months. She has read the first two chapters of the Book of Mormon. She also had a dream about her father in spirit prison and linked it right away to the plan of salvation.  We hope to see her again.

Then we are working with the Leanza family. The grandfather just died and we have already been teaching the wife and daughter, but now we are also teaching two nieces and a nephew. The grandfather is waiting because he has already accepted the gospel. They have had some dreams about it already. Long story short effectual door.

We have some good stuff going .  I need to prepare some stuff for tonight.  Talk to you in a little bit via internet.  Love you all very much.   – Anziano Mitchell Hosford

Mitchell with Anziano Daniel Hurlburt (Charleston SC)

Mitchell with his MTC comp Anziano Longhurst

With Francesca, Anziano Kasper, ???

Do you really want to know what this says?

Something has just got to give!

Hosford Family,

I have been thinking about it a lot and I would like to go to BYU and I think I would like to go in June. I have a very good friend here named Andrea.  I work with him and talk to him about everyday here. He is just like me, but 20 years ahead of me. Either ways he has been helping me make the decision about the school.  I love the other school, but I feel more doors will open for me at BYU.

Things are going good here. Last week we went to the home of Vincenzo Bellini who is the famous opera composer. I have the same birthday as him which was pretty cool.  There is also pasta named after him and his masterpiece (Norma). It’s called Pasta ala Norma. It’s pasta, sauce (with basil and garlic), fried eggplant (which is very good) and salted ricotta cheese.  We ate it yesterday. If I can find ricotta cheese at home I will make it for everyone.

To cause I am writing before our p-day has started we are going to Siracusa.  We are going to see Ortigia and the archaeological park.  I am going to see if my permesso di soggiorno is done.

Other than that, not a lot is going on. I will home  in 49 days. I think.  We did have a good week last week.  We saw the Zappala family twice which  is a record. They have pretty much accepted everything.  All the lessons, doctrines, but they won’t commit to a baptismal invite. She still has lots of questions from her parents like about parties and temples.  I am slowly picking them off.  I hope to see them baptized .

Next we had a great lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ with Anna, Mario, and Massimo.  We just felt so good teaching the lesson and they are feeling the spirit a lot more and I am hoping to see progress form them.

We have also had our little 9 year old investigator in church these last two weeks.  We are going to have a taco night with them maybe next week.  We are on the verge of having like 6 baptisms … something has just got to give!

We finally saw the Allanea family after 4 weeks of not seeing them.  When we go there, they were a bit gloomy, but when we left they were happy and wanted us to stay longer. I really wanted to, but we had English Course.  I hope to see something from them in these next weeks.

That random guy that showed up in church during district meeting actually came to Church. I wasn’t able to talk to him after, but I hope to see him again.  We don’t have his number, but I believe we will see him soon.

There is still more work going on. It’s fun and I am loving it. I am excited to come home, but it’s going to be really weird to be honest. Either ways, love you all very much.  Anziano Hosford

Served an honorable mission

March 11, 2013

Dear President Benjamin C. Poole,

Mitchell Brand Hosford will be completing his missionary service in the Italy Rome Mission on 03 May 2013. He has served an honorable mission, and you may be very pleased with him. Upon his return, he will bring to you his release certificate in a sealed envelope which you should present to him in his last interview.

I express my gratitude to all of the teachers and leaders who have influenced and contributed to his life. Their works have been multiplied through him, because, as a missionary, Elder Hosford has influenced and blessed the lives of many.

Elder Hosford has been greatly strengthened by the Lord as he has borne the weight of this high and holy calling. We pray that he will immediately be given the opportunity to use that strength to bless others, continuing to be strengthened by the Lord through the blessing of another inspired calling.

May the Lord continue to bless you in your most important work.

Sincerely,
Thomas E. Kelly
President, Italy Rome Mission

Flight plans

To Family: If you plan to travel to the mission to pick up your missionary, please call Church Travel at 1-800-537-3537 ext. 25153.

To Mission: This is a proposed itinerary. Please review and verify the date and airports. Also, verify the name matches the passport exactly. Tickets will be issued at least 4 weeks before travel.

CHURCH TRAVEL CWT DATE 07MARCH13

50 EAST NORTH TEMPLE ST AGENT VH/KT BOOKING REF X9MG73

SALT LAKE CITY UT 84150

TELEPHONE: 801 240-5111 HOSFORD/MITCHELL BRAND 241069-R

FAX : 801-240-5115

MISSIONARY TRAVEL

ITALY ROME MISSION

SERVICE DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE

_____________________ _____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______

LUFTHANSA 03MAY ROME MUNICH 845A 1020A

LH 1841 FRIDAY FIUMICINO MUNICH INTERNA

W ECONOMY TERMINAL 3 TERMINAL 2

SNACK NON STOP

RESERVATION CONFIRMED 1:35 DURATION

FLIGHT OPERATED BY EN AIR DOLOMITI

AIRCRAFT OWNER: EN AIR DOLOMITI

AIRCRAFT: EMBRAER 195

LUFTHANSA 03MAY MUNICH CHARLOTTE NC 1125A 315P

LH 428 FRIDAY MUNICH INTERNA DOUGLAS

W ECONOMY TERMINAL 2

MEAL NON STOP

RESERVATION CONFIRMED 9:50 DURATION

AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A340-600

SEAT 30E NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

RESERVATION NUMBER(S) LH/X9MG73

Cool little experiences

Hosford Family,

Instead of being a day late this time I am a day ahead. It’s not often that I find time to crack out a letter.  However, I found time now. We didn’t do anything really for p-day last week.  This week we have apartment check at 9:30 then we are going to go to the La Fiera which almost would be a farmer’s market, then to a Greek theater, then to a Chinese buffet. This is with the sisters and our senior couple. I am glad that I got into BYU. I just don’t know if I should go summer or fall or should I come here. I am thinking a lot about summer just so I can start getting things organized. Then I would go next year.  New stuff.  I sent a quad to get rebound in Florence and it finally jus t got back to me. It’s very nice and I can’t wait to show it to you when I get home. Work here has been going pretty well.  We are waiting for like 6 investigators to get answers to their prayers. I just hope they get them soon. We are getting a good routine here. Shorter lessons and more of them. Anna, Massimo, and Mario are doing well. We are really trying to get them to church and an answer. We are also teaching them about fasting tomorrow.  The Zappala family is another family that we are waiting on. They are so ready and we are waiting and praying so much. She has almost finished Second Nephi and is reading lots of stuff.  I would really love to see these two families baptized. Then we are working with Emanuele.  We had a good lesson with him and he came to church.  He is our little figo 9 year old. I would love to see his baptism as well.  After that we are going to be able to see the family whose grandfather just died. We will see them this week and another family we might be picking up next week.  I will tell you more as it happens.  We are losing one investigator because he is moving to Toscana, but it’s okay. We are really trying to teach more simple and more often.  We are very busy, but we are enjoying the work very much. We also have had some cool experiences finding people. On Monday we had a district meeting in the church. It’s very rare that we have it there, but while we were in the church we met this guy named Giovanni who is pretty much a much older Joseph Smith.  It just so happened that he came while we were there and we hope that he comes on Sunday. After that we were putting up English course flyers and we generally talk to people while we do it. This one older couple was talking to us and we left them a passalong card.  Usually people don’t read them but this lady read the Book of Mormon card and then asked for the book. I usually like bringing books to people’s homes, but I gave one to her as a gift for being awake (in the mind) and that’s really what the church needs.  We just have cool little experiences like that all the time.  I now have 8 little trees that are growing here. I am also growing tomatoes and peppers.  Some are starting to spring up. I really like seeing things grow.  Okay.  Well only 8 weeks or so left.  Love you all much and talk to everyone soon.  Anziano Hosford

I can grow mandarin seeds

Febbraio 28, 2013

Hosford Family,

Last day of February.  I hit 22 months in the mission yesterday. Things here are just flying.  Things are going good but they are flying. Yesterday was p-day and the first thing that I did was check to see if I had been accepted at BYU.  To my surprise I had been.  Even now I am thinking about it.  There is some stuff that I need to arrange. I need to find a service program to lead, housing  (with housing I would like 3 things:  good internet, my own room, and to live on the southside of campus), then I need to decide about classes and Italian.  Either ways it’s going to be a new adventure.  Three adventures in 6 years (BYUI, mission, and now BYU). Other than that I am doing well.  I have really proven that I can grow mandarin seeds to everyone’s surprise.  I have 2 more seeds that are trying to spring up, but they aren’t ready.  So I threw more dirt on top.  Then I added some tomatoes and peppers to the lot.  We will see here soon.

Our work is going well.  It could be better.  Sunday was a great day.  Francesca and Angelo came to Church.  They stayed for all 3 hours and the ward just covered them. Maribel who is the less active girlfriend of one of our investigators came for the 2^nd or 3^rd week in a row. She is making friends with many.  Many of our investigators are reading daily and many aren’t. However, we are focusing a lot more on feeling the Spirit and pointing it out. That and the importance of the restoration.  We have been doing a lot of work to grow the English course. We have placed many flyers that are pretty much permanent,  and are jus t waiting for people to come. We still haven’t been able to see several investigators which is very frustrating, but we are trying.  Things are a lot of fun here.  It’s starting to warm up already. It seems like we didn’t have winter here.  Last year in Siracusa it was much colder.  We are actually going there next week.  Other than that not a lot going on with me.  Just trying to figure things out.  Love you all very much and keep an eye out for my box.  –Anziano Hosford

BYU Bound!!

26 Feb 2013 Mitchell Brand Hosford 6403 Latta Springs Circle Huntersville, NC 28078 Dear Mitchell: Congratulations! You have been admitted to Brigham Young University to begin Fall 2013. Through your preparation and personal achievements, you have distinguished yourself from a very strong group of applicants. We believe you will make a positive contribution to the BYU community. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our campus to pursue your educational goals. To be eligible to continue to future semesters, you must register for and complete this semester or term. To secure your admission, it is essential for you to read the Frequently Asked Questions located at the link below and follow the instructions in question no. 1. The FAQ will also provide you with important information regarding scholarships, housing, financial aid, etc. We encourage you to maintain the standards outlined in the University Honor Code, and we look forward to having you on campus. Warmest regards, R. Kirk Strong Director of Admission Services

I call people more than I sleep

Hosford Family,

Its funny how somethings happen.  Yesterday I sent mom an email asking about the face wash stuff and as soon as I got home it had arrived.  This last week there was carnevale here so no mail came for a couple of days, but everything came yesterday.  Last week we had transfers and this week (tomorrow) Anziano Kent Richards will be visiting Catania on his mission tour. We have been extremely busy this week with that, cleaning the house after it got destroyed for transfers, and also for our work that we have going on. For us right now, we are packed in the afternoons with appointments. We are still looking for people to see in the morning, but usually there aren't many.

We do see Francesca in the mornings and have finished all of the discussions and now are focusing on reading the Book of Mormon with her. We are trying a new thing to have them read 5 minutes everyday and we are calling everyday to make sure that they read and pray. Francesca asked is she could become a member without being baptized. I think she knows it's true. However, she lives with her boy friend who is waiting for his divorce to come through. We are waiting patiently.

After that we are about to drop one investigator, Sills Coppa who is extremely nice, but isn't taking the lessons very seriously. I love her to death but she asks us all of these questions and we show her the answers or where you can find them and she listens to use, but the words go in one ear and out the other.  We will see how it goes in these coming weeks.

We saw Anna and Massimo last night. We talked about the law of chastity which they already live and we only need to talk about the law of tithing and we will have finished everything.  We are also doing the same challenge with the Book of Mormon.  You have no idea how many calls I make everyday.  I call people more than I sleep.

Last Tuesday we gave a blessing to a brother of a member. In that house there are 6 people, 3 that became new investigators.  We saw them last Monday and we see them this afternoon.  They have real problems and we are hoping they start progressing.

We have lots of other work going on. Things here are going great. We are super busy. I am very very tired though. We set a big goal that I am hoping to accomplish these three months. You should see my Mandarin tree, it's growing well.  It now has 4 leaves.  Love you all very much.  See you in 11 weeks. -- Anziano Mitchell Hosford

BYU-Idaho

08 Feb 2013

Mitchell Brand Hosford 
6403 Latta Springs Circle
Huntersville, NC 28078


Dear Mitchell:

Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission to Brigham Young University-Idaho. Rich blessings and life-changing opportunities await you here.

Below are the next steps in your Admission process:

STEP 1. Learn about the Three Track System: BYU-Idaho operates on the Three Track System, comprised of three equal semesters: Spring, Fall, and Winter. Each BYU-Idaho student is assigned a track consisting of two of these semesters. Please visit www.byui.edu/admissions to learn about this unique system that allows BYU-Idaho to admit thousands of additional students each year.

STEP 2: Submit your track questionnaire: Visit web.byui.edu/admissions/questionnaire to complete a track questionnaire used in the track assignment process. Please complete this questionnaire within one week of receiving this message.

STEP 3: Watch your email: You will be notified of your track assignment by email after the application deadline has passed. More instructions about your next steps will be included in that email.

At BYU-Idaho, we are very interested in your success as a student. Therefore, we use ACT and SAT sub-scores associated with your highest overall composite ACT or SAT score to help identify students for the Academic Transitions program. This program requires you to take additional pre-requisite courses prior to enrolling in some Foundations courses if your ACT or SAT sub-scores are below certain levels. If we do not have your test scores on file, you will be held to the Academic Transition requirements. For more information on these requirements and information about how transfer courses may satisfy the requirements, please visit www.byui.edu/academic-support-centers/academic-transitions.

Once again, congratulations on your acceptance to BYU-Idaho! We look forward to having you on our campus and feel that you will enrich the University.

Sincerely,

Admissions Committee
Brigham Young University-Idaho Admissions Office

The work is great

The Hosford Family,

We got transfer calls on Saturday.  Sadly, Anz. Prieto got transferred up to Rome.  He will be in a house with two of my old companions.  My new comp will be Anz. Kasper.  This will be his second city. His first was Pozzuoli like me. This will be his fourth transfer.  I am starting to realize two things:

1) I am really old in the mission
2) I barely know anyone because I have been stuck here in Sicily so long.

I am happy to stay here in Catania though. I think I will finish here, but its not certain yet. I would love to see Rome, but I really love Catania. Things are going well here.  We have received several referrals in these couple weeks. I am excited for transfers to end so I can get back to work. Its good transfers came.  I am also sending a package home.  Hopefully in about a month it will arrive.

Not a lot has happened here.  We have a general authority that will come and visit February 15th or something and once again because I am district leader I have to go to a special leadership meeting.  Which is a real joke honestly. However, the work should be starting back up again about Friday. I have started making a lot of calls to start getting everything organized. We need to have a good couple weeks.  I have been slacking a little bit.

We are still working with the typical old investigators: Emanuele, Anna & Massimon, the Zappala Family, Antonio, and some others. We do have a new investigator from Senegal named Teresa that we are trying to see in these coming days. We had a very good first discussion with her but she can only see us once a week.

Then we have the cousins of Zappala Family that we need to get out and see.  Usually we see them with the other family, but we just got their number and we are going to try to see them this week. 

We gave a blessing to a man last Tuesday. It was technically a referral and there were 6 people there that said we could come back, so we are going to try and see them this next week.

We also received a couple referrals.  These next two or three weeks could go very well if I get on the ball.  I just need to have a very good week this week.  Well, things are going ahead here in Catania.  The work is great and the weather is still very warm.  Its not at all like my first winter here.

Love you all very much.  Anziano Mitchell Hosford

Time is really flying

The Hosford Family,

Well, my 14^th transfer is about over. We receive transfer calls on Saturday and we had zone conference a couple days ago.  Time is really flying.

Not a lot has changed in these weeks.  About everything is the same.  Stuff with our investigators is going well.  Anna and Massimo finally came to church Sunday. It was her first time to church and he hadn’t been in about 20 years. He has been away for too long. We almost finished the lessons with her.  Her brother dropped us.  It was a little sad, but it didn’t affect us too much.  He never progressed very much.

Francesca, our other Brazilian is doing well. She finally came to church for all three hours and she just showed up. We didn’t call to remind her.  We did have a bit of a harder lesson though. We talked about the law of chastity.  We will see today how it went.

Then one of our best families, the Zappala family introduced us to their cousins and now we are teaching two families of four together. We had a real good lesson planned about the bible and the parts that are missing and all of the confusion then we talked about the Book of Mormon and moved into the restoration.  They really liked the lesson.

After them, we have Fillo Coppa and his wife.  He is coming to church, but just can’t quit smoking.  And we haven’t seen his wife in a while. We have been trying, but she is just never home.

We also found this new investigator from Senegal named Teresa.  She is catholic and pretty much stopped us on the street.  We taught her the restoration and we are waiting to hear back from her right now.

We have about 5 other investigators that we are trying to see, but they are busy or are about to leave us.  Things here are going pretty well other than that.  We are hoping to see some baptisms this transfer, but maybe they will happen the next transfer.

Either ways, not much else to report.  Have a great week.  Love you all.  Anz. Hosford

Tired of pasta

The Hosford Family,

I ran out of all my American paper and now I have to use Italian paper which is very strange to me. Things here are going well again. Everything with my companion is great and we talk too much and have a great time doing missionary work. However, once again I have a cold that I am trying to get over. My throat is fine, but my nose and ears are not the best.  Besides that, I am no longer making pasta at home.  I am very tired of pasta. I am making wraps (with Rucola, Buffalo cheese, salami from Milan, and sun dried tomatoes) and then I will eating Italian sausage with tomatoes that are shaped like pumpkins.  I am picking up a lot of seeds right now. So when I return I will be growing lots of stuff, so if you could prepare the dirt for me that would be awesome.

Work here is starting to pick up. We are seeing Massimo, Anna, and Mario again which is really nice.  We weren’t able to see them throughout Christmas, but we are seeing them twice a week now and we are hoping that they come to Church tomorrow. It will be the first time and they gave us their word. Francesca is great and doing well. We are having a hard time with her and keeping commitments. We are about to teach to her the law of Chastity which could be the make or break point. We are still working with the Zappala family and yesterday she asked us about the name Jehovah.  We weren’t ready to talk about it, but it really caught us off guard. However, in these days we have been studying the Bible a lot and really I have come to see a lot of stuff that’s been taken out and it’s really sad to me.  We have been working with others, I am not in the mood to write about them today.

We will be seeing lots of people in these next two days which is nice. We are trying to help a member and his wife quit smoking. That’s a real ward right now. However, we are having fun. I am hoping to get over this cold so I can get back to work.

I finally got the puzzle letter (mailed Dec 3).  I like puzzles but they drive me nuts. It was easy though. It took me like 15 minutes to solve it. In the end I liked it. Also, I will be sending a box home soon. I need to find a way to work it up to Caserta. Inside there will be seeds for when I return. I will try to send it soon.

Well, love everyone at home lots. I am still waiting for that letter from Megan. She said she wrote me one, but it hasn’t arrived yet.  Talk to you’all soon.  – Anziano Hosford

Another 22 months in the mission ...

Hosford Family,
I have a funny story for me at least … In my journal, I am trying to write without messing up and I usually mess up about once or twice a page, but finally I got a page 100% right.  Then I looked at the date and realized I had put 2012 instead of 2013 and I have been doing that since January 2.

Things are going alright. My companion blew up on me Monday and has said like 30 words to me since.  It’s a little less than usual. I can honestly say I didn’t do anything. He usually doesn’t let me finish my sentences and he took about half of what I said and threw a temper tantrum.  I actually had to keep myself from laughing. Honestly, he is a great teacher, but he is just going through the motions of being a missionary. So I am a babysitter now and just feel really lonely. I organize everything and I really miss my last companion. I even miss Anz. Kafel.  I am just leaving my comp be which is better for me than opening my mouth because I will tell him how I see it and it might be too much for him.

Other than that things are going well. I was finally able to see a Seria A game.  Catania v Torino.  They tied, but Catania had a played ejected after the first 15 minutes and they still almost won.
English course restarted here.  We have 10 students that come to the intermediate course and I am working hard on preparing lessons for the course. I am not using a manual.  I am teaching based off problems I hear and it’s super hard, but after the last course everyone congratulated me for the course I taught.  That made me very happy.

We weren’t able to see many investigators this week, but we picked up 2 new investigators.  One we are going to see and have a real lesson with on Friday and that other is named Angelo.  Really he is a great person. He has an orange orchard. He has like 700 orange trees.  We are working on the plan of salvation with him and he started explaining some of the feelings he felt at home when he read the Book of Mormon.  They were just little things, but it’s just the start.

Honestly, I want to stay here.  I am rejecting the thoughts about coming home.  However, I have been thinking a lot lately that it’s coming to an end and ya. It’s like any game.  There will always be another game and I just need to leave it all out here. I would honestly give anything to have 22 months in the mission.  Either ways, love you all very much.  Look forward to letters.  – Anz. Hosford

I hate my life sometimes!

Hosford Family,

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.  Good news is that I am 100% caught up in my writing. I wrote for about 3 weeks in my journal (thanks to my planner I remembered most of the stuff we did), I finished 3 dedicas for other missionaries, and now I am writing your letter today instead of next week which is a miracle! Bad news is I talked to President Kelly and he isn’t going to let me stay an extra transfer.  I hate my life sometimes.

This last weekend there were two baptisms of kids of the Church.  We had some investigators come. One family (of investigators) that came really enjoyed the baptism.  The Zappala family is moving along. That and my little twin Emanuele Castorina will be getting baptized this month.  His dad told me he could and so with him and the other family we need to set a date this week.  Francesca is doing well.  We had a really great lesson with her and we want her to do a one week challenge.  She said she would, but after the new year. We are working with an older less active and his wife… The Coppa family.  We just finished teaching the plan of salvation then we talked a bit about the baptism this last time. We need to pass by the restoration again.   She has already been baptized and doesn’t think she needs to again.  We are hoping this next lesson goes well.  We picked up a new family last week.  We are going to see them tomorrow hopefully.  We have a lot of contacts and lots of investigators who keep telling us to call after new years. The time is now.  We should be getting pretty busy here in the next couple of days. We are really hoping to see some baptisms this transfer and the next but more this transfer.  We have a lot of people that are ready.

So letter are slowly coming in.  Things are going well here.  Love you all at home very much and I will be home soon!   -- Anziano Hosford