Robert's Mission Call 12 03 2009

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

TRANSFERS AND NEW MISSIONARIES

Dear Mom and Dad!!!
Well just letting you guys know I'm doing just fine don't worry!!! The weather has been OK the last couple days but now it's starting to get hot again. We got lucky for a few days and it wasn't humid and it was just lovely!!

I'm still losing weight! It is weird! I'm now at 175 ha ha! That's over 20lbs that I've lost (since leaving the MTC) ! ha ha! The bike riding is definitely a bit hard sometimes when we have to go up hills and what not but it's totally worth it. We save so much time in the end and it helps the work out and that's what matters!

Felice and Romulo are just fine! They are ballers for sure! We didn't get to see Felice last week cause his wife got sick and he had to take her to the hospital. But now she is doing great and we are going to see him later this week. Romulo is a stud. He came to church on Sunday which was big cause he skipped his cycling stuff to come with us instead. He said yes to getting baptized but he didn't want to set up a date for it cause he said he still has some doubts and wants to learn more. But we are very optimistic with him! We just went over the word of wisdom and it was funny cause he was all "frick i love wine!" ha ha it was just the way he said it that made us all laugh! But he said that he would live it and stop with all the coffee and stuff so that is good. He is solid we see him at least 3 times a week.

This last week has been way chill. Anz Mosley and I got along great and everyday was just a blast.

OK so for the cool little spiritual story of the week...
So we were doing casa and we found this guy named Sergio who let us in and said we could share our message and what not with him. So we did the whole first lesson and just talked about the restoration and then the Book of Mormon and how all ya gotta do is read a bit and pray to know if it's true. So of course like the rest of Italy he is Catholic so we taught him how to pray using his own words and stuff. The only problem was that he just had eye surgery awhile ago so he literally can't read. So we asked him to give the closing prayer and ask for a little help with his eyes. So he did and he said a great pray and then we gave him the Book of Mormon and were like "well if you can somehow it'd be really great if you read a little bit" and he took the book and started flipping pages and was all "I just had surgery you guys can't expect me to... hmm.. what the heck? that's strange... I can read it. That's so weird!" And he kept looking through it and noticed he could read a little bit of it! So we asked if he would read and he said he would try his best! But once again it was just really cool to see the Lord answer prayer! He really will help us out if we just have a little faith and just ask!!! So ya that was cool!! We are now meeting with him and have a lesson with him tonight! And also another one with romulo tonight!! So ya things are going well!

OK so transfers.... yep you guys are right... I'm staying here in San Remo! But Anz Mosley is not. He is getting transferred to Cuneo. And my new comp is going to be Anz Bartholomew. (or something like that I don't know how to spell his name ha ha) And Anz Mosley doesn't know him so I really don't know what to expect!!! But another really cool thing is that they are opening up another coppia here in San Remo! Anz Brookes (who is like a legend here in the mission and is supposed to be super legit) and Anz Roberts (who was Anziano Mosley's mtc comp) are coming here to do that! So that is exciting! There are gonna be 4 missionaries stuck in our tiny apartment!! It's gonna be nuts! ha ha I'm really sad to leave Anz Mosley but at the same time looking forward for this chance to grow and become better. I gotta take care of the solid people we have right now!! and I know I totally can with the Lords help!! So ya those are they changes that are gonna be happening!

So I hope everything all is well at home. It sounds like Brian is just doing great and being a little baller! Tell him not to worry about girls and to just play sports and get big and then the girls will come! :)

I hope all is going well with Ryan... I'm sorry it sounds like a rough situation but you guys are right our ward there in Provo is legit!! I love them all and miss them tons! Tell Issac congrats for me!! :)

Well that's about all I got for the moment! We got a busy day cause we gotta go around and say bye to all the ward members for Anz Mosley! ha ha

But ya everything is going great. Thank you guys so much for your love and support! I wish there was more I could do to help with all the stuff at home! ha All you guys are in my prayers every night! ;) I love you both so much you guys are ballin parents! Period!! And you can tell cause my friends still come over even without me there! ha ha I love you guys so so much!!! Tell everyone I say hi!!!! Can't wait for your guys next email!!! :) ha ha

MUCH LOVE!!!!
Anziano Robert Bona


(Brian's letter)

Dude!!!! What's up bro!? That is sweet that you are going to that party!! Tell Seth and Logan bye for me and that I love them like brothers and that I hope they have a great time! And dude you are gonna love scout camp! Get alot of badges!!! ha ha and I heard you're gonna play tackle football! ;) what a baller! ha ha Have a good time at camp! I love you so so so much! I look up to you bro!!!! Keep up the good work!!! I love you and always will!!!! :)
Love
Anziano Robert bona your bro!!!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

20 WEEKS AND ANSWERS TO PRAYERS

Dear Mom and Dad!!!

I'm very glad to hear that all is going well back at home!! Dad it is fine that you wrote me in Italian I was able to understand it just fine! But I'm still gonna write back in English! ha ha

And it's only been 20 weeks?! Dang seems like more! But at the same time your right it feels like I just left! Downing has been out for a year now and it's so crazy cause I totally remember us all going to his farewell just like it was yesterday!! Ah man good times!

Um OK some quick updates.... Adriana is well.... like fallin' off of the face of the earth. She just works to much and she says she is too busy to meet with us. Pretty sucky but oh well... Felice is doing really well. He came with his family to church again and is doing good. We moved his baptismal date back to the 14th of August cause we can only see him once a week cause he lives out in Imperia and we need time to teach him everything. But I'm pretty much like 99% sure he'll get baptized on that date! We are happy for him!

We have another investigator named Romulo from Peru who is progressing really well and asked about baptism yesterday so we are gonna ask him to get baptized during our next appointment! Hopefully that works out!!! We love Laminates!!! ;) ha ha

Yes you are right the summer is kinda hard sometimes. It is just so freakin humid here! ha ha It's insane!!! But don't worry we carry water bottles and stay hydrated and all is well. I've kinda had some ingrown toenail issues for a bit more then a week now but it seems to be getting a bit better. It's OK though its just a little thing no need to worry!!! :)

That is so cool that Ryan and Andy are getting ready to depart!! Good for them! I'm sure that they both did a ballin job! That's kinda scary about the visa thing! But I'm sure it'll all work out!! ha And mom I can still see that your trying to be the cool social mom talkin' to everyone and keepin' in touch!! ;) ha ha ha! I'm glad!!!! That's so awesome that people will still come over!! Tell all of them hi for me!!!

So... hmmm.. OK I got one kinda cool story! So these last two weeks have been really rough and we haven't gotten in doing casa (door to door) once during this time! But on Monday we did a scambio (switches/splits) in SanRemo where Anz Curtis (who was in the MTC with me so we are both still new at this whole missionary thing) and we were riding our bikes in a place where I've done like 100 times!! But I just had a feeling to do this random palazzo (apartment building) so we did. We got in and started from the top and just started going down. And one by one we just kept getting rejected!! ha ha So finally Anz Curtis was like this just ain't working and suggested that we do a prayer. So we did and asked for some help cause we needed it! So we kept going and on the very last one we got in and taught them a bit about the restoration and that we have a living prophet today and then they became new investigators!!! So it was pretty cool to just see how if you go by the spirit and put your trust in the Lord He will help you out!! So ya that's my little fun story for the week!! ha ha

I'm glad that all is going OK with Ryan and what not. Just have patience with him and love him. I think that is one big thing that he needs!!! Deep down I know he is a good kid. I'm glad all is going well at home!! Keep me updated and posted! For now I'm doin good and don't need anything special! Thanks though and I'll let ya know if I do! Thanks so much for all your love and support! It means so so much to me!!! I Love you guys so much and miss you all a ton!! Keep up the good work! ;)
Love you guys cant wait to get your guys email next week!
Anziano Robert Bona

PS... Sorry this one was a bit late today! Normally we do email earlier but we did it later today! and transfer week is next week! I'll keep you guys updated on what happens! LOVE YOU GUYS :)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

ADRIANA AND FELICE

Dear Mom and Dad!!!
Thank you for that little message it really did make me laugh! ha ha! And it also makes me happy to hear that you guys are reading the scriptures! Good for you guys!!!
But dang.... so so so sorry to hear about Cassandra... ugh that is so hard that she is pregnant. I know that there isn't much that you guys can do but just keep them all in your prayers. And I know it is different with Ryan there but I know that he really appreciates it and I know you guys are doing the right thing and this could really make a big difference in his life. Just be there and be good examples for him.
So ya, Adriana isn't gonna be getting baptized this week cause we haven't seen her in like two weeks!!! She is working as a bidonte and never has time and hasn't came to church!!! Ugh it is so frustrating!!! Hopefully we can find some time to meet with her and help her still get baptized.
Although she didn't work out exactly how we wanted... on Saturday we invited Felice to get baptized and he said yes!! So we lost one person to get baptized but at the same time we picked someone else up! We are really excited for him! The only hard thing is is that he lives in Imperia and is about a 45 minute drive from SanRemo so it's difficult for him to come to church. His wife is already a member and they blessed their baby at church 2 weeks ago and it was really good! It is also kinda' hard cause we can only go out there once a week and we still got a bit of stuff to teach him! His date is set for July 31st! It's gonna be kinda' hard but at the same time we know we can do it!! And he said if he doesn't get baptized that day he will get baptized after that so either way he is good!!!
On Monday we went to Genova and had zone council and got to meet the new president and his wife. President Wolfgramm is great and so is his wife! ha They are gonna do some really good things for our mission! It was also really good cause they have some dang good focaccia in Genova! ha ha
Things here are going really well. We also just recently picked up another investigator named Romulo who is really ballin and just loves Joesph Smith so its ballin! ha ha! He is planning on coming to church this week so we are excited for him.
It's about 1145 here and instead of using our pday for something fun we are gonna go teach people instead. There are just a few people who we feel really need some help so we wanna go help them. So we have two lessons planned for our pday afternoon! ha ha
But ya everything is going really well out here!!! And to answer your question mom ya we have the feeling that one of us is gonna be transferred. Normally a trainer is only with his trainee for 2 transfers but anything is possible so we will see! I'll keep you updated!!!
Thank you so much for your guys emails and updates from home! The Miami Heat are gonna be so good next year!! ha ha!
I love you guys so so much!!! Tell brian sorry for not emailing him this week! I took that time and emailed Ryan back instead! Next week I'll totally email! Tell him to have fun at camp and to keep being good! So ya I love you guys and I pray for you all every single day!! Thanks for your love and support!!! I LOVE YOU ALL :)
LOVE your son,
Anziano Robert Bona

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

July 7th, 2010

Dear Mom and Dad!!

First off thanks for the little sports update dad! you know I love that! ha ha ;) So I'm glad that you guys had a good time in Vegas!! That is so cool! and that's so sweet that you all got to see Talon in a show! How cool!!
And wow... I'm really sorry about the whole Ryan and David situation and all..... jeez that is rough. I will definitely pray for all them. You have no idea how great I think it is that you are letting him stay with you guys. All he needs is some love and the gospel in his life. This is just more proof of how great you guys are!!! ha ha Ya I was just like super shocked when Brian said something when you guys didn't! ha ha Just remember have patience and do your guys best to help him... You all will be blessed for this!! :)
I have already had zone conference this transfer. I had it the first day of the transfer! ha ha I have zone council next Monday but that is in Genova so I'm not going to be heading to Torino for a while now.... Shoot!!! I'm just praying that sometime during my mission I'll be transferred there! That would be my dream!! ha ha But ya Mirko is a stud! I love that kid he is a kid here in the branch. Last Friday we went and played some soccer with him and his friends and guess what?.... I SCORED A GOAL!!!! hahaha Dad you should be proud! :) hahaha! It was so much fun! But um I'm not really sure who the other people are.... ha ha
But that is so crazy that all of us are leaving now (0n missions) and are gonna be all gone soon! Good for all them! I'm so happy for all of us!! It's so cool to get emails from everyone all time! All my boys are just legit! Tell Ryan congrats on his call too! I already am in contact with everyone else! ha ha
About Adriana... she picked up work as a bidante (care giver) and is now working 24/7 and we can like never see her!!! So I don't know if we are going to be able to make it on her date.... We are gonna call her later today and see what we can do! The work is going a bit rough. But at the same time we are finding some people who are interested and it's all really sweet! So ya everything here is going great! The only down part is that it is so darn hot here!! It is so humid that we just sweat all day and riding the bikes up the hills here doesn't help! haha But its still all good! All is going really good! This guy named Felice is progressing really well! Things are going good!
So when do you want me to send the memory card? I can send it whenever you want. Oh I also heard that Kourtney came and did some weird presentation thing for some knives or something? ha ha Weird but funny at the same time! And sadly to say my footprint isn't there! I think they fixed it!
But hey I love you guys so so much! I look up to you both so much! Thanks for all you have done and what not! All is going good here and I hope all is going well there too! Tell Ryan that I say hi and to keep his head up! Things will work out don't worry!! But I gotta bounce!! I cant wait to hear another update about stuff!
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
much love...
Anziano Robert Bona


Hey Bro!!!
Sadly to say we haven't see those two guys forever now so I don't know what's going on with them. But we are working with some other people and are trying hard to get them to progress to baptism. And dang dude I'm sorry! I hope your mouth is OK!! I'll pray for you dude! I'm really glad that you guys had a great time in Vegas! That's so legit! ha ha Everything is going good out here! I love you so so much and miss you tons!! :) Keep up the good work bro! love you :)
LOVE Anziano Bona!!! Your bro!