14th Letter from Varese

Dear Family,
 
What an awesome week! I love being a missionary.  My companion is wonderful.  Punto.

We set two baptismal dates, two days in a row!!! One is for Richie, a Nigerian we met on the street this week, and Luca, the best friend of Gabrielle (an awesome member in our ward). I would like to expound a little bit about our experience with Richie. When we taught him his first lesson at the church, we came to see how prepared and elect he really is. He is always smiling, he is pure and very sensitive to the spirit. He has the Bible practically memorized and loves Christ with all his heart. As we taught him, he listened intently and ate up all that we said. He accepted a baptismal date for June 2nd. When we asked him what he would do to prepare for baptism, he responded, "I need to share this book with all of my friends, and invite them to church." We laughed, agreed and also advised him to read and gain a testimony of the book first.

When he went home that night he read the Introduction and first 7 chapters of the Book of Mormon. When we met him at the bus stop to go to church, he was wearing a beautiful bright blue African shirt, wooden necklace and nice pants. He had a notebook, pencil and his Book of Mormon. He looked sharp! We were really impressed with how prepared and excited he was to learn and to seek revelation in church. Richie thanked us for the Book of Mormon, and related to us the story of Nephi better than we could have done.

We were a little nervous to bring him to our branch on Sunday, based upon some negative experiences our members have had with African converts in the past. Contrary to our expectations, Richie was welcomed by the members with open arms! Some members who had served their missions in England translated for him in Sacrament meeting and Gospel Principles class. After church was over he knew half the members and a group of young single adults encircled him and invited him to the YSA FHE in Milano that night. After Sorella Mcnamara and I finished talking with some other investigators, we approached Richie and his friends and said, "We are going to go home now."  He smiled and said, "That's okay, I am going home with them! We will talk on the phone later."  Haha! That made Sorella Mcnamara and I so happy! We are counting on Richie being a strong and active member of the church after his baptism because of the members' support and his love of the Book of Mormon.

   After we set our baptismal date with Luca and as we were getting ready for bed,  Sorella Mcnamara and I said to each other, "Let's just make this a habit. Each day we will set a baptismal date, okay?!" Haha, we feel like the promises of the Lord are real- the field is white, all ready to harvest. Yes, even here in Varese Italia.

Sander is getting baptized Saturday! He and his mother are doing so well. It will be a beautiful experience.

 Sorry I did not have a lot of time to write this week.
 
Sending my amore to you all,
   
Love ,
       
Sorella Oakes