Missionario miracoli di Pescara, il Siciliano avventura inizia

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Lets start at the beginning of the fortnight. 

Lunedì ---- I don't actually remember what we did for P day on Monday.. awks! We probably played board games again.... wow I can't believe I have forgotten already and I didn't even write it in my planner.. all I wrote was 'p day' with a balloon next to it. Awks! But I'm sure I had fun! haha! Then we did a FHE in the evening with Tessi and Vittor! It was reaaaaaaaaaally cute!!! They are a family from Nigeria. They are AWESOME! I love them! They have a lil cutie pie boy and a new born baby girl! SO CUTE!

Martedì ---- We had DDM! I did the addestramento! I did it on the importance of not being over-bearing and the need for simplicity when teaching or street contacting. I began with 2 visual / practical examples. I have a ukulele. I told Sorella Nagliati everything she needed to know on how to tune it. Then I told her to go and do it. I then told Anziano Molner how to make scones.. and the recipe and quantities etc etc and said.. 'Okay, if I had all that stuff here.... do you think you could just do it without writing anything down or asking questions' and the answer was no, 1) cus it was too much info at once  and 2) cus some ingredients he didn't even know what they were, cus he's German and he doesn't know some of those words, cus he calls them something different! Then Sorella Nagliati couldn't do the Ukulele thing... Because My instructions were too fast and I hadn't explained simply! THEN! I spoke about the importance of being simple and profound and used examples--- I used a talk that Dad sent me a while back about the 5 fingers and 5 principles... then the other 5 fingers for how to strengthen the testimony (or in the case of simpatizzanti.. how to gain a testimony) I think it went really well! We then had a discussion about examples of where we weren't simple in our teaching and how we could have changed and controlled the teaching situation better. It was really cool... I think they all liked it haha! After that, we had the KINDER EGG SURPRISE PREDICTIONS!!!!!!! I'm a firm believer of those things. I got the same one that I had when I was in Rome 3 (some spinning top things....) and last time I got that I was moving... and then this happens! IT'S TRUE! Also... Anziano Tew got the same as me and he is moving to Sicily too! hahahahah tell me it's not true, I dare ya? :P Then Anziano McColloum brought us all ROOT BEER from the American Base... Because he had to go to sort his permesso stuff out! So, I put my order in for him to get me some Maple Syrup sooooooooo HE IS THE BEST CUS NOW I HAVE MAPLE SYRUP! wheyyyyyyyy hahahah!

Anz McColloum, Anz Kawai and Myself

A last Pescara District Photo

Although there was one thing happened on Tuesday, which annoyed me... at the end of the day we were on the bus... and I got a hunch that I should talk to this lady who was on our bus.... but I couldn't figure out how to do it without it being random or weird or creepy... so I told myself ok... if she looks at me I'll smile and go from there.... but then she didn't... and as I was getting off the bus... SHE LOOKED... and so I asked her how she was.. and she said she was tired cus of work... then she complimented me and I said thank you... then I gave her a mormon.org card and as quickly as I could, I tried to explain who we are, then our stop came and it was so rushed and rubbish and I was so annoyed at myself.... so yeah! I learnt a lesson. DON'T WAIT TIL LAST MINUTE. If you get the hunch ACT ASAP! I was super sad about it for the whole day after, but hopefully one day she'll look at that card! :)

Mercoledì ---- We began the day with finding!!!  And we used one of Anziano Molners (DL) finding ideas!! We used the Book of Mormon cards and the Joseph Smith cards! Sorella Nagliati used the Joseph Smith one and I used the Book of Mormon one... I just asked people in the street if they liked reading.. then asked if they had ever seen the book.. then explained the book. Not a ton of people were very interested BUT I was able to give a really nice lady a Book of Mormon!!!! Sorella Nagliati asked people if they liked history... then asked if they know what happened in 1820.. then explained... then with that she was also able to give a Book of Mormon out!! 2 Book of Mormons in 1 day is amazing!! :) Then we had lunch with Franca ... THE CUTEST MEMBER EVER!!! We went to her home on Christmas day!!! She tells us to call her Nonna (grandma) she's the CUTEST! :)

Then we had a lesson with Emmanuela.. about hope.. we shared a Mormon Message and bore our testimony.. and she fed us too!! We did good for food that day! :) In the evening we did more finding!!! And we had another miracle! We were doing casa in casa! (door to door) and this guy opened his window and shouted and asked what we wanted and I was like shouting back, telling him who we are and about our messsage (not the most ideal situation, but you gotta do what you gotta do haha) then he was like 'okay wait a sec I'm coming down' then I was like errrrrrrrrrr,  cus this has never happened before and I didn't know if he was going to get mad!!! But he came down and I just explained who we are... we spoke a little about the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon and he said we can come back on Saturday evening (next week)!!! So that was amazing and we were both SO happy after that!!!!!!

Giovedì ---- We had a lesson with a lady called Ghizlane! She's not quite a simp... her husband is an ex simp... but we go to see her anyway and teach her a little english and leave her with a message. This time we spoke about the Plan of Salvation. She loved it!! :) Then we did a member lesson with Sorella Ciconne! It went really well!!! :)

Venerdì ---- This was a day FULL of appointments!!! We didn't go home all day! We even packed ourselves a lil lunch!! haha! We saw Diana (New Convert) SHE IS THE CUTEST!!! then Luigi.. a member referral! It didn't go as well as we would have liked... But we hope that he will want to see us again... After then WE SAW THE SCELSOOOOOOOOOS!!!!!!!! :):):) I LOVE THEM SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!! we did the plan of salvation lesson! she LOVED it!!!!! ahhhh I'm gonna miss that family SO MUCH!!!!!!! <3

Sabato ---- TRANSFER CALLSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! We did our normal personal and comp study and it was the longest morning EVERRRRRRRR waiting for the call... we both felt there would be some kind of big change but weren't sure what! Anyways.... the phone rings.. and it's PRESIDENT... so obv we got the 'oh - nos' Then he told me I am being transfered to SICILY, RAGUSA and will be follow up training..... and SORELLA NAGLIATI IS STAYING IN PESCARA AND TRAINING A GREENIE!!!!!!!!!!!! sooooo I have like a 12 hour train and boat ride to get there this week!! WOO HOO! haha! after the call we both cried and hugged for like ... ever!!! We are so sad to be leaving each other, but so excited for the change! :) Sorella Nagliati is gonna be AMAZING!!!!!!! she really is! I'm so excited for her and her greenie is the luckiest greenie ALIVE for reals! :) Then in the afternoon... we went to print pictures off for each others dedica..... I had a little bit of a mare with mine.. cus the lead doesn't work in some computers cus .. well I dunno why but yeah.. so I had to send mine through wifi to the Fotomania shop manager's email.... but then each photo was sent to him individually and it took FOREVER hahahaha!! soooo with this happening... Sorella Nagliati took the opportunity to have a gospel conversation with him. It pretty much led to the full 1st discussion which was awesome! And she invited him to church... he said he would come and we were excited, but we didn't wanna get our hopes too high... Then after that we went to meet the Anziani to prepare our part for the Missionary Work Camminato (I think is how it is spelt) ... it means fireside!

Domenica ---- we took pizza to church, cus we weren't going home all day.. that was fun haha! So we were waiting for the fotomania guy (I forget his name oops) and he didn't come... so we were gutted, but unfortunately we have kinda got used to people saying they will come and just not turning up.. BUT then halfway through sacrament meeting...... HE WALKED IN!!!!!!! I was SO SOSOSOSO SO SO SO HAPPY!!! it really was a miracle!!!!!!!!! He LOVED it! The talks were perfect! About testimony!!! :) then as he left he picked up all the pamphlets :) and left with a tear in his eye and a committment to start the lessons!! I'm really sad that I'm gonna miss that!!! But I'm really happy that Pescara is finally looking up after our efforts! :) Then after church we met with a less active called Mijriam! SHE IS SUPER CUTE! and is SO ready to come back! We are really excited! Then we had the fireside!!!! We did Role Plays of how not to run a FHE with missionaries and a friend... and how TO run a FHE in the same situation! It was supposed to be one hour.... but went on.. and on.. and on... and was 2 hours! :) They really love to get involved here! :) We did our little act! The 1st one (IT WAS SO AWKWARD ) Sorella Nagliati was my daughter.. I played the role of the mom and Anziano Duffin was the dad (aawwwwwwwkkkks) then the 2 missionaries and Anziano Lurcer was the friend. We role played a really deep one about the spirit world, but going in way too deep and asking way too deep qs and then Sorella Nagliati told a story of her visit to the spirit world... it was just ridiculous,  but it's what missionaries often experience here! Then for a refreshment, I brought out a turkey for the lols just to go over the top! haha! It was hil! Then the second one was a perfect one (or near enough). I shared a message about faith,  asked appropriate qs and shared a mormon message vid! :) the members loved it!

IT WAS GREAT!!!

Saying Goodbye to my Friends of Pescara

Saying Goodbye to my Friends of Pescara

Saying Goodbye to my Friends of Pescara

 

The Fotomania Guy Came to Church :-)

Saying Goodbye to my Friends of Pescara 

Oh yeah! I have a funny story of the week too! Soo me and Sorella Nagliati were on the bus and there was something super gross (I can't really remember what it was),  but I said 'ew it gives me the heebie jeebies' and then later in the day there was another gross thing and she was like 'ew it gives me the flip wiggies' and I was like WOOOOTTTTTTT did you just say????? hahahaahhahah! and she was like 'the flip wiggies, you say that all the time?' hahahaha it was hilarious! aw I'm gonna miss my Nagliati!!! She's the cutest and the funniest!! ahhh!

I LOVE PESCARA!!! So many members I have grown to LOVE!! It is amazing here and the work here is looking up for the Sorelle!!! :) 

One Last one of  'My Nagliati' ...and Elder McColloum

I'm super excited.. and nervous about moving to Sicily but MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE!!! Hopefully I won't be there in the BLAZING heat!! I'm going there at the perfect time, so I am so so happy!! My new comp, Sorella Hamilton seems to be SUUUPER CUTE! I'm so excited to be in Ragusa with her! Ragusa was Sorella Nagliati's birth city.. that's where she was before she came to Pescara! So she's given me all the ins and outs of the area! :) 

I know that this gospel is true!!!! There is nothing more true than this (other than the kinder egg predictions ... JUST KIDDING) but really, I love that I had the PRIVILEGE of being brought up with the knowledge of this gospel! I am so so eternally grateful for the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. It is perfect. He is perfect. Jesus Christ is perfect. This gospel is perfect. AND it is an ABSOLUTE privilege to be here as a servant of the Lord. I love how, as I teach or contact people here I can feel the love that the Lord has for these people. It really is amazing. I love this. I love my mission. It's often hard, but I know that it's the work of the Lord and that he helps me on a day to day basis.

OKayyyyyyyy so for this weeks antics! 

SO Monday was a little bit stressful with packing for Ragusa.... somehow I have accumulated extra weight in my suitcases.... mostly paper and notebooks... I am thinking that perhaps I should send some stuff home... just so it is easier to travel with and so that I don't have excess baggage at the end of my mission... Then we did DDM bowling!! 

Tuesday.. Anz. Molner did DDM, it was SO good! I'm gonna miss that district so much - they were ALL SO AWESOME!!!!! amazing missionaries!!! It was all about journal writing. I am definitely inspired. SO far since then, I have written EVERY day. :) It was really inspiring and the way he taught it was incredible!!! :) I then wrote notes for the members. I got so attached to the members in Pescara. They are so great!!!

Wednesday we travelled to Romeeeeeee... :( My last trip with Sorella Nagliati!! :( She is so cute. She gave me this AWESOME Plan of Salvation thing her brother sent her for me and a BRAZILIAN football shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is the cutest and I am going to miss her so so so so flipping much!!!!  She helped me get through so much and just in general strengthened me so much. I will love her forever. She is amazing!!! And she is going to be such an amazing trainer!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh. NAGLIATI!! Then on Wednesday night I called one of the AP's and asked him to pick up the package that was sent from home.... and bring it to the station in the morning... (they were going there anyways) and HE DID!!!!! I WAS SO HAPPY!!!!! 

Transfers are always crazy... everything is done on public transport... so my 2 suitcases... the package and a backpack on 1 coach... 2 metros... 2 buses.. and a train... and another coach..... IT IS CRAZY and every time it amazes me how it works. Missionaries are crazy hahahahha, but literally, it always runs so smoothly. It's a miracle every time! haha!!

Thursday. WE woke up at 5:40... to get to the station to leave on the train for 7:20... then we had a 14(ish) hour ride all together (from Rome to Ragusa). IT WAS CRAZY! but we made it! Sorella Arnold's greenie was on my train and when we stopped at her stop, I SAW Sorella ARNOLD FOR LIKE 2 MINS!!!!!! We hugged and spoke, but then the train left, but it was SO AWESOME AND COOL to see her!!!!!!!! She's the cutest! Can you believe she will be finished in May?????? I probably won't see her again in the mission though, cus she will train for 2... then she will only have 1 transfer left..... She could be death transferred to Ragusa though!!! (she's been here before... she served here with Nagliati!!) Anything is possible haha! Then my new comp, Sorella Hamilton got on my train in Catania (our zone area) and I met her, SHE IS SUPER CUTE!!!! and so so so ready to just get out there and work her hardest!!! Her Italian is AWESOME, which is a huge relief!! She really is so so awesome! It's gonna be a really good transfer! I'm super excited! :)

My New Companion is Super Excited to work with me and I am equally excited

Meeting Sorella Hamilton on the Train at Catania

In Ragusa

With Sorella Hamilton in Ragusa...We will be so fit...So many Hills!

Since I got here, it has been raining pretty much non-stop!! There are hills literally everywhere!!! I will be so so fit when I'm done here haha! We walked so far on Saturday... all up hill then yesterday I could barely move hahahahah, but once I get used to it - life will be the best! ha :) The ward here is so cute!! Lots of old people and a few young families! The chapel is brand new!!  WE email here.. from the chapel, which is awesome!! 1) because we don't pay and 2) because we don't need to go to a smelly internet point!!! Also the chapel is like a 2 min walk from our apartment!!!! It's great!!!

Yesterday we taught Rosemary... she had a baptism date... she's been investigating for a while... even Sorella Arnold taught her.. and Nagliati! She's an african lady! WE went yesterday, but we figured we may need to push the date back a little. She's great and has a ton of faith though. She has so much potential!

But other than that... that was my week... We have planned an awesome week this week, so we are really excited!!

I read a really good quote that I really liked today. It was something like 'Jump off the cliff of comfort and let God open your parachute'. It's quite apt for these recent days! Both of us are pretty fresh in the mission and not perfect in the language, but I know that if we give our best.. which we are .. that the Lord will open the way!

I know that this church is true, senza dubbio. No doubt. This gospel changes lives. It blesses lives. It lightens lives. I know that Heavenly Father is constantly pouring blessings upon us. I know that he loves us and knows everything about us. I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer. I am so grateful for his infinite atonement. Because of HIm, we can be together FOREVER. Because of him we can be purified. Because of him we can return once again, for eternities with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Because of HIm, hope is real. I love that I know this, that I have been raised in a family based on these gospel principles. I am so grateful that I have been BLESSED with the opportunity to share this with the people of Italy!! I love it and I love to see how it changes lives. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I am just so grateful right now, I can't even begin to comprehend. 

I love you all so so so so so so much.

 You are always in my heart and prayers. 

Keep being amazing! 

I love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

From Kaufbeuren Deutschland to Bonstetten, Switzerland

So the city of Zürich (being the biggest city in Switzerland) is split into 3 (maybe 5 as Richterswill and Wetzikon have a little bit at the end of the city), but the inner city is split between 3 wards, Dielsdorf, Schwamendingen and Bonstetten. We (Bonstetten) have the biggest and best part and main part of it, so basically we have the real Kingdom of Zürich in our area!!! Awesome!!!

So on Monday before transfers, I had my first paid for hair cut. I figured I was due one and seeing as I was going back to the country that makes you bankrupt, I had best get it done while I was still in Kaufbeuren. That was an interesting experience, as I have no idea what German measurement of a number 2 is.... hmm... I don't get why they have to use mm instead of just a simple number.... haha!

Then Tuesday was my last District meeting in Distrikt Augsburg!!!!! :( Sad times! And it was our first one just in German (since the rule of German speaking from 9am to 9pm - no exceptions), which was actually awesome and I understood the whole thing!!!! Crazy!! So here is a copy of our Kaufbeuren district photo!

 

The District in Kaufbeuren

Then we finished the day by going to our GML's for dinner.
 

The Ward Mission Leader and Myself in Kaufbeuren

He has this awesome 3 legged cat.
 

His Awesome Cat

We also finally managed to get back in touch with James (our investigator) who we hadn't seen for like 3 weeks! So I got to say 'Bye' before I left! Then Wednesday I had to Abmeld! (Unregister as a resident of Kaufbeuren) :( sad times! And I finally began packing Wednesday evening... always leaving it till last minute... I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing... I just never want to leave the area!!!

So I'm in my 4th transfer in the field and 3rd area!! That is just ridiculously crazy!!!! Thursday was actually a fun day!! Our train from Münich to Zürich changed from being the 16.33 train, which they normally use to the earlier 12.33 train. So, as it was an earlier train we had to get out of the apartment much earlier than it would normally have been!! There were only 5 of us moving into Switzerland this transfer (just 1 golden out of the 9 that came in... crazy!) So Jake (my cousin, who was also moving back to Switzerland) and I had a pretty long chat for the whole train ride here... it was crazy!!

So, Friday was planning! Saturday the Chur Elders had a Baptism and as Chur is in our district we went to it too. It was an Albanian guy I think, but he speaks Italian, luckily one of the Chur Elders lived in Italy before his mission, so an Italian baptism was cool!!!! Then in the evenng, we had Gemeinde Sport Abend! It was fun!! Like legitimately you all know much I hate doing sports, but ever since I've been out I love it. Like, it is just something different to do and really relieves so much stress and frustration... so Saturday evening was a good evening!!!

Sunday..... I love this ward already ! I've only had one Sunday here, but I already love it. I have had a good few conversations with members in German as well!!! My German is definitely improving already! Weird! So a while ago Dad was looking at a job in Zug, near Zürich when he got made redundant??? It's so weird to think, but if he would have gone for it and we'd have moved, we would probably be in this ward!!!!! That is crazy (either that or Richterswil or Luzern). That's a weird thought now that I'm serving in this area!!!

So Jake is serving in Wetzikon... haha!! And his ward is ledgit right next door to mine. We are in the same stake, but not the same Zone :( The Zone and Stake boundaries are really dodgy around Zürich, so.... My new comp is French, his name is Elder Requillart.  His accent comes across really strong when he speaks German and English..... But I'm gradually getting used to it!

Being in Bonstetten, we still get to go and shop in Germany every now and then! We don't have any of Germany in our zone, but I'm told that once a transfer we can go into another Zone to go shopping in Germany, so we're going to do that today, as I have only got Euros left to spend this month. I wouldn't be able to buy much in Switzerland, but can still get two weeks worth at least in Germany! So that's good!!!

I love you all

Elder Ammon Robertson

Il missionario Giochi ..... Pescara è su fuoco!

Soooooo let me tell you all about my week!

On Monday.. we did games at the chapel again with Sara Colella and Lorenzo and the Anziani. Myself, Sorella Nagliati and Anziano Borough made a “lil” pact for our game of Monopoly and absolutely destroyed the others…. No hard feelings though...well,  I don’t think so. In the end some of them dropped out because they wanted to see us cave in on each other.... but teams don’t do that so we carried through to the end. BFFL! Haha!

Sara, Myself and Sorella Nagliati (I love these girls)

So, on Wednesday we had lessons with members. 1st with Emmanuela and her husband Adamo and their daughter Vittoria. (Emmanuela is Brazillian and is a member) her husband is Italian and has previously investigated the church,  he comes to church every week!!!! We did a Restoration lesson with them... and then sought referrals using Sorella Nagliati’s dads idea!! We did this awesome lesson with visuals and singing ... then at the end asked them to write 5 names of friends that come to mind.... then we knelt in prayer and Emmanuela prayed about these individuals. At the end she  knew exactly who she was going to invite for dinner  (FHE with us there to organise an introduction to the gospel!!!) We then did a similar lesson with Fratello Antonio..it went SO well with him too!!! He even asked for 2 Books of Mormon and by Sunday he had already given one out to a friend!!! Then we had correlation.....or at least half of correlation haha! It went on for everrrrrrrrr so we had the other half another day. The great thing is that the ward are getting so SO pumped up about missionary work here. Vescovo (Bishop) has an action plan... in 10 years he wants Pescara to be its own STAKE!!! They have called nice and fresh new ward missionaries and have assigned each of us full time missionaries to work with one of them! I have been assigned Sorella Di Iuglio. She is really cool! I’m excited to work with her! They have also arranged it so that one of the ward missionaries or the full-time missionaries are assigned to talk about missionary work EVERY week... I guess I was the guinea pig haha!! As I’ve already given mine, so I guess I have a break for a while.. haha!! and they are genuinely just so so pumped about the whole thing which is AWESOME!!! The members here in Pescara are so so cool. I love them LOADS! It’s crazy how attached you really do get to the members and how much more you love them when you work with them!!! :)

Pescara Beach at Night... We often street contact here when it is busy!

Then on Thursday we did a lesson with F Scelso (the girl in primary who wants to get baptized...) I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PUT MY CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION SKILLS TO USE!!!!! I made ‘lil’ visuals and stuff and it went so so well and she loved it and her Mum loved it too!! :):) Then I taught Sorella Scelso a bit of the piano!! :) because she wants me to teach her a Napolitan song!!! It’s super cool!!! I have never heard the song in my life but the way I play it, she says is right so that’s good.. haha!! :)

Then on Friday, we stayed at home because Sorella Nagliati came down with the  flu!!! So I was able to study the language more.. and look after her and play mummy.. haha!! :)

 

Even the Cold can't hold us back!

So in a nut shell that was our week.

The members here are so so great and I love that we can rely on them for ANYTHING!

However…..We are so so nervous for transfer calls on Saturday...............

I think we are both staying for 1 more transfer together... Sorella Nagliati thinks she could be moving..... But my Mom and Dad think I'm getting kicked out and Sorella Nagliati will train hahaha! Mixed predictions!! Tomorrow at DDM... we shall have our Kinder Surprise predictions and all will be revealed.. I’m sure.. hahaha!! I hope we stay together for 1 more thoughhhhhhh!!! I love herrrrrrr!!!

Can you believe, I'm nearly 1/3rd of the way?.... errrrrm wow. That flew right by..!!!

I want to thank you for everything you do for me. Small and big. For the emails of encouragement.. the prayers.. the fasting.. for the letters.. for the PARCELS! Everyone laughs here when I say parcels... apparently that’s a British word haha! That’s it for this week…. But remember…….

I. LOVE. YOU. ALL.

Also Members and Missionaries across Italy received a communication from Elder Massimo DeFeo (An area Seventy in Italy), inviting anyone who is interested in the growth of the Lords Vineyard in Italy to join with them in a special fast, which will be held on the 25th January 2015. Currently the construction work on the Italy Rome temple has been delayed and part of the fast is to make way for the Lords intervention, so that the temple construction can proceed without any further delays or difficulties.

STOP PRESS>>>>Mom and Dad were right...Sorella Robertson is on the move this week (Wednesday 28th January) to Ragusa, Sicily....And Sorella Nagliati will be Training a new missionary!!!

Weeks 1 & 2 of 2015 in Deutschland... Transfer news...Back to Switzerland!!!

Week 1 of 2015

So, where to begin with this week.... So, after emails last week, we went to the town centre and went to get some photos printed and chilled before going finding in Marktoberdorf!!! We decided in Weekly Planning last week that we'd do more finding as we do loads of member work here, but really need to increase our investigator pool, which is pretty thin at the moment, so finding is the focus!!! Tuesday was District Meeting and did I ever tell you in our District we always do a District Lunch after meeting, as it takes an hour for us to get to Augsburg and an hour for Ingoldstadt to get there; so by the time DM is done it is like 1.30, so we do lunch as a district.... It is really cool and helps us to be more unified as a district, as we spend a bit more time together each week in a more relaxed way!!! So that’s the enjoyable part of Tuesdays! Then we went finding in a city called Memmingen, as on Tuesdays we have a Bayern ticket, which is like the GA we had in Switzerland, but for just one day and only covers Bayern (Bavaria).  We took the train there and then almost got stranded!!! We managed to get a train to Kempton, which is another big city in the area, as there is no direct train to Kaufbeuren, so we had to Umstieg (no idea what that is called in English).  Our train from Kempton had a 100 minute Verspätung.... that's right.... 100 minutes!!!! Crazy stuff with the snow we had!!!! But that wasn't terrible compared to the train on the Gleis next to us... it was meant to leave at 17.09, but was still there at 19.40 when we finally left!!!!! Craziness!!!!

Wednesday, was a cool day!!! Then we spent New Year’s Eve with our Branch President’s family!!! They are the coolest family ever!!!! It was an awesome evening even if we had to be home by 10pm...So New Year’s Day kicked the year off awesomely!!!!! We had a load of vorbeis to do on less actives and potentials in the south of our area... so A- We went to the Mountains and B- We went to Austria... that's right I've worked in the 3 major countries of the mission and I'm only in my 3rd transfer!!!!! Basically we have a couple of little chunks of Austria in our area. And on Thursday we went down to Mittelberg. They really got the name perfectly cause it is right in the middle of the mountains... The drive was so freakin' stunning!!!! Especially the stretch from Oberstdorf to Mittelberg... It's the Alps!!!!! Snow covered mountains, snow covered ski towns, snow covered Alpine forests. It was the coolest, most beautiful view EVER!!!! I really wish I remembered my camera that day cause those photos would have been perfect.... unfortunately I forgot to take it with me on Thursday!!! :( Plus it was the clearest night sky ever, so I'm sure you can imagine the beauty I witnessed!!!!! Ahhhh! It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!

 

It has snowed so much (the Chapel in Kaufbeuren)

Snow as far as the eye can see!

Friday we helped a less active member move house!!! So we helped fill her truck with everything!!! This is the sister that has millions of dogs... I don't know if I told you about her, but yeah there’s about 15 dogs and 10 cats and who knows what else... chickens, parrots, horses.... Craziness, but it was a cool day!!! Then Saturday was pretty boring and Sunday was church... We had a guy walk in interested to know more!! He's apparently looking for the right church, which was so cool!!!! So that was Sundays’ highlight … so there we have Week 1 of 2015 summed up!!!!!

It’s transfers is next week!! And I have a funny feeling about it... but who knows! All will be revealed on Saturday when we get the call!!! It is crazy weird how fast this transfer has gone. I swear each one just gets faster and faster!!!! Last transfer was only a 5 weeker as well and I'm sure this one has felt like half the time!!! Weird!!! 

Week 2 of 2015- Zone Training, Versetzungen Anruf und Tschüss Zeugnis‏

We'll begin with the low down of this week then!!! Monday evening we went to a couple in the ward for dinner and it was a great evening!!! Tuesday is the highlight of my week, I think!! Zone Training!!! I love this Zone!!! It really is awesome! Zone training was brilliant! But there are 6 of us (including me) that were in the same MTC group in our zone, so we couldn't let the opportunity go by without a photo, cause I know how much you love photos!!!!! Plus, Elder Nebeker is in the zone, which really brightens Zone things up!!!! Plus, a couple of new rules that got brought up at Zone Training!!! 

 

At Zone Training with some of my MTC Group (after 3 Transfers)

Catching up with my MTC Comp at Zone Training

"We are a German Speaking Mission, therefore we speak German!" Rule number 1 from that is all meetings are to be done in German (District Meetings, Zone Conferences, Zone Training, etc.)- I feel bad for the Goldens, who will get nothing out of them! I'll probably get the majority of it, but I'm not sure about participating, as actively as I have been in them anymore!!!! :/ Rule number 2 is we must speak German and German only between 9am and 9pm!!!! I think one or all of you best get learning German cause I won't remember much English when I get back if I can only speak English to people who don't speak German on the street or in the ward! So that's a fun one to be sticking to!!! But it is definitely useful having it as a rule instead of a ‘You can do this if you want’!!! My German really will improve.... I hope!!!!

I legitimately cannot remember much from this week, if I'm honest!!! And I have a new planner, so I can't even look back!!!! Oooh, on Wednesday we went to Familie Spring again!!!! I love going there, amazing food; always a good spiritual discussion and then awesome service!!! Even if we were shovelling up horse manure!!!! I will definitely miss going there each week!!!! 

I want to say big “thank you to everyone” from me for all the Christmas cards and stuff!!! At zone training I got 2 packages! One from the YSA of the Lichfield Stake wishing me a Happy Christmas?... It was pretty nice, so a special ‘blog shout out’ from me, to thank any YSA who are reading this!!!! I also had a package from the ward, but the office forgot the other mail!!! That came later though and they put it out on a table in 3 piles! 1 pile was a mix of missionary’s mail, then the other two were just huge piles; one for a Sister and the other was for.... you guessed it, people Love me!!! It was ridiculously huge!! Then I also had a couple of cards and stuff in the mixed pile!!!! Craziness!!! So a blog shout out that I love you all!!!! .. You made my Tuesday!!!! 

Reminder.... I think I mentioned this on my family Christmas Skype, but I legit become a ‘Sister Missionary’ tomorrow!!!!! It becomes 18 months until I come home!!!!!! That is crazy ridiculousness!!!!!!!! 

As you know, it’s moves this week (Thursday) and I’m moving back to Switzerland.  My new area will be Bonstetten 2 with Elder Requillart from France.  I believe it’s the actual city of Zürich!!!  I will let you know more next week.  I was speaking to my cousin Jake (Elder Robertson) just now, who is also moving back to Switzerland and he thinks that Wetzikon (the area he is moving to) is in the St Gallen zone, so who knows we may or may not see one another! I'll find out for sure when we go back to the apartment!! But we do get a nice 4 1/2 hour train ride to Zürich together on Thursday!!! Wahey! Bonstetten and Wetzikon are only 40 miles apart, so we’re still pretty close, even if we are still in different zones.  

In closing I want to say how much I know this church is true! I know it with all my heart!!! I have no doubt in my whole being that it is true!!!

I am so grateful for your prayers for me!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Natale, Capodanno e rinnovato coraggio

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! SKYPING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS WAS THE BEST!!!!!
I was really sad when MY skype call was over because I literally could have spoken ALL DAY TO MY FAMILY!!!!!! AFTER, MY MIND WAS exploding all day!!!!! 

Skyping Home made me soooo Happy!

So after we Skyped... we all went to the Colella family for dinner and to watch Frozen"! It was so so good!!!!!!

Off to the Colella Family for Christmas Eve (Myself, Sorella Nagliatti & Sara)

The food was way different than what I imagined!!!! We had salmon.... some pastry bits... and some cheesy crepe things!!! Then a sweet bread (panettone)!! But it was great.
 

Christmas Day in Pescara

Then on Christmas day, we went to a sister in the ward called Franca Ricci!!! We ate SO much!!!! The food was so AMAZING, but I really did miss the traditional English Christmas dinner that we all have together though!!! :(:(

When we got home on Christmas day Sorella Nagliati and I had some hot chocolate that was sent in my Christmas Package along with marshmallows (and some of the other Christmas goodies) that we both got from Home!!!! It was great!!!! Also on Christmas day Sorella Nagliati and I were eating the After Eights that were sent from home and she was wondering why they are called After Eight hahaha I told her I would find out!

So I had to give a talk at church yesterday and it went really well!!! I wrote the talk out, but it was like way over 20 mins, so that was awks!!! This meant that I had to shorten it down, so, so much!!!! It's probs part to do with how slowly I speak Italian hahahaha awks!!

I have a really funny story from Sunday!!!!! We were on the bus and a random little old lady was trying to get on the bus and was really struggling and then this lady tried to help her and she screamed in her face to scare her off!!!! IT WAS SO FUNNY. It doesn't sound as funny writing it, but it was hilarrrrious!!!!! and the worst thing was - she had bags full of rubbish and orange peel and stuff and a suitcase! It was weird!! but it was so funny and I couldn't stop laughing!!!

As far as work is concerned.. no-one wanted to see us over the Christmas week because of it being Christmas!! but yeah!!! This week is looking like a good one!!

WEEK 2
On the Monday after Christmas for p'day we were together with the Anziani for pizza.  Then we went to play games at the chapel with some youth, the Anziani, Sara Colella and her brother Lorenzo. We played Uno, then Monopoly. It got a tiny bit intense hahahahaha (Anziano Duffin is quite the business man hahaha!) but it was so fun!!! Then we went to the Scelse family for a FHE!! Their house is the cutest little house. I was literally loving it so much!! And they are the cutest ever!!! Their little girl turned 8 recently, but hasn't been baptised yet and her Mom wants her to have all the missionary lessons before she is baptised, so we have been asked to start teaching them.  We will start the lessons this week!! I AM SO EXCITED! and I am so excited to get to know their family more!!! She wanted me to play the piano for her, so we could sing hymns and she cried!!!! It was the sweetest thing and the spirit was so strong!!! :)

With the Scelse Family

Then on Tuesday... WE HAD SNOW! Tuesday and Wednesday we went to Rome for a scambio with the STLs!!! It was good and kinda nice for a small change!! We did a lot of finding and found some really good potentials! It's cool to see how different missionary's approach finding!! These Sorelle are very bold and just go for it.. to start with I was a bit nervous... Because normally we do sondaggios (questions e.g. 'How many times have you smiled today' .. then lead on to a gospel principle).  This works really well.
 

Snow!!! I was hoping to avoid that for 18 months.

... But I found that by being bold, as they are - also works out so so well!!! So, this week we started doing 'Plan of Salvation finding'. We drew out the Plan of Salvation on paper and approached people asking 'Have you ever seen this before?' Of course there were some who didn't care and probs thought that we were weird haha, but it works so well and we even got to exchange numbers with a few people, who seemed really interested!!! One lady we met called Eleanor was particularly interested!!! We are planning to meet her this coming Sunday!!! And I gave her a Book of Mormon with my testimony written inside!! :) We felt so so good talking to her!!!! SO HAPPY!!
When we started finding we were feeling kinda down, then we met her and our attitude completely changed!!!!! She seemed GOLDEN!!! So we are so excited about her!!...

Anyway back to Rome.... coming home was a nightmare cus our route goes right through the mountains!!! AND THE SNOW WAS CRAZYYYYYYYYYY!!! and the roads were literally ICE!! so the bus went SO SLOWLY!!!!! but eventually we made it home in one piece!! haha :) A funny story from Rome was that a man walked up towards Sorella Marsh (one of the STLs) and myself and tried hugging us (yeah, it was weird), then we backed away, but then he started coming towards me.... and the only thing that I could think of to do was to say quietly but boldly 'NO!' It sounds silly and hilarious now, but it worked... all I said was 'NO!' - like telling a little child off and immediately he backed away!!! We really are protected by the Spirit!!!

Then on New Year's day we did our deep clean!!! That was fun! haha! Now our apartment is so fresh!

Then there was left over food from the ward's New Years' party and so we all went to the chapel for dinner to eat that!

Then a funny story from when we were waiting at the bus stop...... a man started talking to us... and was telling us he can speak like 6 languages!! and he was trying to show off and flirt (the old men here are hilarious... they literally flirt with anyone or anything) anyways! He told me that my eyes caught his eye and he had to talk to me.... which was awks! Then he was dancing for us and getting us to guess how old he is. hahahahahahhahaha - old people here are the funniest!!!! Then the bus saved us and we said our farewells! :) hahahaha

A real quick spiritual thought was a talk I read this week for Personal Study. It was from General Conference by Dieter F Uchtdorf called 'Living the Gospel Joyful'. I really enjoyed reading this talk!!! It spoke about how many blessings we can receive from keeping the commandments, how important EVERY commandment is and why we have these commandments! And how much Heavenly Father is anxiously waiting for us to choose what is best!!! I wish I could type up everything that I highlighted, but I forgot my Liahona!!! I'm sorry, but I really would suggest that if you have the time that you read it!! It was a great talk!!! I love it!!

Anyways!!! We are meeting with Sara again today for lunch and to play more games... whayyyyyyyyyyyyyy :):):):) She is SO CUTE!!!!!!

I love you all so so so so much!!!

Please keep your letters and email coming as I love to hear from you all :) :) :)