December 18, 2013

Buon giorno tutti!

Well another week has come and gone in Livorno. It was a good one. The weather is still up around 20 degrees celcius and it's pretty nice. It's still going to be strange to have a Christmas without snow. But I guess that isn't what's important.

Today we went to Firenze (Florence) for P Day. What a beautiful city!!! It really is gorgeous. I'm not much for crowded city streets, so I wouldn't like to live there, but it sure is a cool place to visit. We went and saw the beautiful Duomo there. We climbed to the top of the dome and also the bell tower. Then, we went into the baptistry to check it out. All of it was beautiful...even in it's apostate state. Then of course, we went and saw the Davide statue. That was really cool. He's obviously a little naked...but it was still cool to see something that old and artistic.

We have really been lacking on miracles the last couple of weeks, but the other day as we were walking through the park, we came up to a man who was really open and willing to listen to us. He told us he was Hari Krishna, but was Catholic many years ago. He was generally interested in our message. When we got done telling him about the First Vision, he told us that he felt enlightened. It was really cool and it was such a relief from the tough weeks that we've had recently. It's funny how things really slow down right before a miracle happens. I think you really see blessings when you work through the tough times.

Well that's all for this week! Love you all! Have a good Christmas next week! Ciao!

-Anziano Cody Petterborg

December 11, 2013

Well we're getting close to Christmas!  Soon I'll get to talk to my family on Skype!!  That will be awesome!!  Livorno is really nice.  Today was a beautiful day!  I almost didn't need a sweater.  However, when Livorno gets cold, it really gets cold.  Pretty crazy stuff.  Being on the sea, you see lots of different weather patterns.

Well last P Day we didn't do anything...but today...drum roll please...I went and saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa!!!!  It was soo cool.  I even did the stupid thing of taking a picture like I was leaning on it (Picture attached).  While we were there we also decided to go up top.  It was a little pricey...but definitely worth it.  It was really a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Well as far as missionary work miracles, we didn't have a lot this week.  However, last night I was assigned to teach the English class here in Livorno.  We have lots of different levels of English class and I was put over the intermediate class.  I was a litte nervous about having to teach a class by myself, but it actually went really well.  They had letters that they had written and I let them read them out loud and then I would correct any mistakes.  When we finished with this, I opened it up to questions.  They had lots of questions, but they weren't necessarily questions about English.  A lot of them asked about what my role was as a missionary and what I was doing in Italy.  So I got to answer a lot of questions about what we believe and what I do as a missionary.  Maybe the next time one of them gets stopped on the street, they will stop to listen for a bit.

Well as Christmas grows near, I hope you all try to share the Love of Christ with those around you.  I think that would be a great gift to the Savior.  Well love you all!  Buona settimana!  Ciao!

-Anziano Cody Petterborg

Livorno, Italy December 4, 2013

Wow we're already into December!!  That means that I've been a missionary for seven months and I've been in Italy for 6 months.  That's pretty crazy huh?  Well like I said last week, I'm now serving in a city called Livorno.  It's a pretty city.  It's not as cool and old as Verona I'm right on the coast and I can go see the sea whenever I want!  Also, another cool thing about Livorno is that it puts me close to two cities that I have always wanted to see.  Florence (Firenze) and Pisa.  Cool right?  Pictures of the leaning tower coming soon!!  Also Firenze is a beautiful city with lots of cool things to see.  I think I mentioned last week that my new companion's name is Anziano Scott.  He is a really cool guy and a really good missionary.  One of the coolest things about him is that he is from Logan, Utah!!  Cool, huh?  We lived only 30 minutes away from each other and didn't even know it!

For my miracle this week.  Last night after our ward consiglio, the branch president took all the members of the consiglio to a less active member.  Our branch consiglio doesn't have many members but all of them are male priesthood holders.  When we showed up to this less active's house, I think she was excited to see us.  We sang some Christmas songs for her and then my companion gave a spiritual thought.  The moment Anziano Scott finished his thought, this sister burst into tears and told us all about how she is not well right now.  She told us how she is under a lot of stress and just doesn't know what to do anymore.  Our elders quorum president gave some counsil and then he offered for us to give her a blessing.  She accepted.  There was an incredible spirit as all 8 of us Melchezidic priesthood holder gathered around her and put our hands upon her head.  The branch president gave a great blessing of comfort and counsil.  It seemed that this sister needed this visit from us in the exact moment we gave it to her.  I'm grateful for a great branch counsil who is sensitive to the needs of the branch and is open to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Well sorry if the email was a little long this week.  I'm super excited to serve here in Livorno.  Love you all!  Hope everything is good there!  Ciao!

-Anziano Cody Petterborg

Me, Arena, and Star

Outside my house in Livorno

Everything is good in Livorno!  I like it here.  Anziano Scott is a rockstar missionary.  It is a realy change in tempo from Verona.  We teach lots of lessons and have several people to work with.  There are almost no Africans in Livorno so I get to speak Italian a lot more.  We've already done two mostras, where we stand out on the street with some banners and a table with a bunch of stuff to hand out.  And we have done an open house of the church, unfortunately only a few people showed up.  I am the senior companion, Anziano Scott speaks Italian pretty well, but he needs a little help here and there.  Our apartement is beautiful.

 I can go to Pisa and Firenze on P Day.  So...everything is great in Livorno!!

November 27, 2013

I'm being transfered tomorrow!  I am going to a city called Livorno.  It is located on the coast.  I get to eat lots of seafood!  I will be the senior companion of an elder named Anziano Scott.  I am excited but sad to leave Verona.  

We didn't have many miracles this week unfortunately.  We had a rough week.  A lot of appointments fell through.  But I actually don't feel too bad about it.  Things are going well!

Well I'm sorry I don't have much to say this week.  I've kind of run out of time today.  I love you all! Ciao!

Anziano Cody Petterborg

The guy that let me borrow the violin

(This was a 200 year old German violin)