22 Oct 14

Subject: Transfer 14 Week 5

Good week!

This week I feel like it didnt even happen because I wasnt in Piacenza very much. Wednesday I went to Reggio Emilia and was there all of Thursday, Friday was pretty normal, Saturday was packed so it flew (yeah, we got the phones working again), Sunday was packed as well. Every Sunday we go visit members with our branch president, who is the best. He's in his seventies but works like he's in his thirties. We've become really good friends while ive been here, so its great to work with him a lot. 

Monday I went to Modena for another exchange and was there until Tuesday afternoon. I swear the worst thing ever invented is the mosquito. There was one in our room in Modena and I swear there isnt a more annoying noise than a mosquito buzzing in your ear. So that wakes you up and then you start itching and you never fall asleep. I think I might have mentioned this before, but my testimony that Outter Darkness is really a giant swarm of "zanzare tigre" has grown from a seed to almost perfect knowledge. 

It was good to go to Modena, I had a really good time. I went with Anziano Guzzle, who is in my group and we had a blast. Then last night we saw a part member family that blew our expectations out of the water. We'd seen them before, and their non member husband didnt seem super interested. We became friends with him on the ride home, and then last night we passed by and he had SO many questions about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. So we're excited to work with them more.

Remember that primary lesson where you put rice and golf balls in a jar and try and fit everything in? Where if you put the rice first it doesnt work but if you put the golf balls in first it does? Well that one works like a charm. We have an investigator who is ready to be baptized but doesnt feel like he has enough time to give to the church. We haven't fixed any dates yet, but this lesson got his wheels turnin for sure.

Other updates, our ward mission leader got back from his honeymoon! Its really good to have him back. And then there is a family who is the best that weve been working with for a long time. Theyve been coming to church for months and are just right there. They're super prepared and ready, we're just waiting for that last little click and we're there.

Which brings me to transfers. We find out about transfers on Saturday. It's kind of a big deal because this will be Anziano Mallari's last transfer. So it looks like i'll either leave now or i'll finish my mission here in Piacenza. I want to stay so so so badly. Everybody talks about seeing cool cities and stuff, but the absolute best part about an area are the friendships that you develop with members and investigators. Other than Verona, I havent been in any of the "poster board" beautiful cities in Italy, but I would be so content finishing in little old Piacenza. But we'll see what happens I guess!

That's all ive got for this week. Keep being good people and CTRing! I hope the home comings both go well! Mom, could you email me Kenny's last email home? Brandon said it was incredible. Thanks! I love you all so so so much!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon

15 Oct 14

Subject: Transfer 14 Week 4

Hey again.

So here is the weekly rundown. 

Thursday we taught our high school class again and they filmed us to show to future generations. So pretty much were going to be famous here in Piacenza for the next few years. We werent allowed to "proselyte" technically, but it was still really cool to share the message of the Restoration with 60 kids.

Sunday we had a huge lesson with a family that we're working with. The Dad has taken longer than the others but he did a great job reading all week and he said that he's ready to prepare himself to be baptized! Then the mom said that she wasnt quit ready yet even though she's been ready for like 3 months. So we had a huge step forward with him and a little step back with her, but we're gettin there!

Monday. Monday monday monday. So we woke up to our street flooding over and I had the beginning of a cold that got gradually worse all day. So we had to go to Modena for District Meeting/Interviews. So we had to leave here around 1 to get to Modena by 430. Its only a one hour train ride but we went early because once bad weather hits everything goes into chaos with public transport. It was a good call because we got there at 4:15. So that was a long afternoon. District Meeting went well and I passed my interview so things are looking good. I got some scary news that every missionary that i've served with/lived with has finished their mission and is either engaged or married. So when I get home I will be going to school in Neverland until i'm atleast 30. Assuming that you can age in Neverland. Anyways. 

So this storm that hit us came from Genova, where there had been severe flooding for a few days (to the point where the missionaries couldnt go outside for a few days, which never happens here). The storm hit Piacenza and followed the train line through Parma to Modena. Parma apparently is the regional headquarters place for our phone company. Their building got flooding so we've been without working cell phones for a few days. Which means we cant set up appointments and we've got lots of strada to do. They started working again this afternoon so hopefully we can get some stuff set up.

So after interviews we went to the train station to find our train delayed by an hour. We were lucky though becuase there were some trains with 150 minute delays. So we finally got home Monday night, and my cold had went from "this is annoying" to "I hate my life" so that was the longest train ride of my entire life. I was inside pretty much all day yesterday sick while the rains came down and the floods came up, and now its today. Im feeling a lot better today but still kind of it. A guy asked us what church we're from and I said "La chiesa di Gesu Cristo dei Santi degli ultimi dias." Don't ask me why I said "Days" is Spanish instead of Italian because I still dont have a clue. 

Last night we still went and saw a member family and while we were on the bus, we were talking to some ladies. I guess congestion is an american accent multiplier because I havent had any mention my accent for awhile, and these ladies said "You can totally hear that you're american!" Thanks ladies, now i'm going to cough on you. Just kidding. 

Then today after P-Day im going to Reggio to do a scambio and yeah. That pretty muc sums up the week!

I hope everything is going well at home! Well, my companion just said that our phone network is down again so that really sucks alot. So we're going to have to find Anziano Burton and Smith later today without cell phones. I dont know how you less young people lived without modern technology. I hope you all have a great week, and I love you so so so much!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon

PS please forgive any grammatical mistakes that I may have made. Thanks.

08 Oct 14

Well hey again.

So the big news of the week is that we taught a high school class yesterday. A few weeks ago we were talking to a guy who wasnt super interested but wanted to share his ideas about the Bible. At the end of his discourse about evolution and stuff, we just said "Well, we still believe Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth. He said he liked our testimonies and asked if we could teach his high school class about what we believe. So we went yesterday and taught 29 17 year old girls and one 17 year old boy about our Church. That is one clever young man. It went super well, they all loved eternal marriage and all that stuff. Tomorrow morning were going back to teach a different class, but this time theyre the "science majors" so we'll see how that goes.

I do have to say, my heart is in pieces about Taysom Hill. We stopped by the church a few hours ago before going to give a member a blessing, so that my comp could check if his girlfriend wrote him and so I could check if BYU won. So I was pretty bummed afterwards, but we had a good time with our members. The shock is over and I can now write this letter with my eyes tear free.

Conference was awesome, it was the first time ive been able to watch all five sessions. Usually we cant watch Sunday afternoon but we pulled it off this time. Ill just put it on paper now, if I become a lawyer it is because Elder Christofferson is my new idol. His talk was so sweet! Elder Oaks and President Eyring are super high up there as well. Not that I have favorite though, theyre all pretty cool.

Other big news, every p-day it rains. So if its Wednesday and you want to know what the weather is like in Italy, its raining. 

We had a zone training on Monday, and our zone leader anziano Cook gave his "dying testimony" and that was weird because Anziano Miller and Garner are in that group as well. Anziano Burton and I were talking on the phone last night and we realized that starting tomorrow, were closer to the end of our missions than we are to the day we got to Piacenza/Reggio. I almost threw up. 

One things ive been doing the past while for studies is really study hard the Book of Mormon. Ive been reading it super carefully with the Book of Mormon institute manuel, and im just learning a ton. Ive been reading the Book of Mormon for studies for the past few months and my knowledge of the Gospel has grown so so much. When you read close, those "normal chapters" all of a sudden become "THIS IS THE BEST CHAPTER ON EARTH." Im just havin a great time.

Weve been working really hard on doing finding even when its not the best time. My comp was mad at me when we went out to do finding the other night a half hour before 9. We saw only one lady the whole time and she shut us down pretty fast with an abrupt "No" and the Italian finger wag. It's like what Dikembe Matumbo (spelling???) did but way more insulting. But we were out there doin our part, so it was worth it.

That's all ive got for this week. Ill try and get some pictures to ya'll soon. Keep being good people and doing good things. Im proud of you all for bein missionaries, keep up the good work! I love you!!!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon

24 Sep 14

Well another transfer officially done. Im now with Anziano Mallari, who is going into his second to last transfer. He's a ballroom dancer, or as he just clarified "Competitive Social Dancing", cooker, Phillipino, and a student at the University of Utah. He's very energetic and loves to talk and sing. He reminds me how much I miss Kate singing all the time, so there's that memory from home! When we got to the apartment after I picked him up from the train station, I went and sat down on my bed. Ten seconds later, I hear this loud sound from the other room. I went in to see what was going on, and he had started re arranging how our desks and tables were set up. So I just looked at him and went back and laid on my bed. I thought it was pretty funny. At night, I wish someone could just document what our room is like. He listens to music and dances in the middle of our room and I sit on my bed and read the Bible. Im sure that our lives are documented on a missionary version of Drake and Josh for the angels who watch TV. 

Missionary work is going well! This morning we got a phone call from this professor we had talked to a few weeks ago. He wants us to go and teach his class about what we believe. So we'll be doing that on the 7th of October. 

We did some less active pass bys that we havent been able to get ahold of. We ran into an ex branch president who's been less active for awhile who was really nice, and then a Phillipino family let us in. Anz. Mallari worked his Phillipino stuff and spoke in Tagalog, and now were going back to see them for dinner! Its cool to see how transfer calls are inspired!

I say it every week, but we are SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO close with some of the investigators were working with. Last week I forgot to tell a story. We went to see a part member family for lunch. The wife is a member, but the husband isnt. He's a really great person and was close to baptism but got really busy during the summer with work. The member's mom was there, who also isnt a member, but she was kind of against the church. The husband, for lack of a better term, threw down. He was like "This Church is so flippin true, theyre all about following Jesus, and they pay way more tithing than the rest of the world and its awesome! This Church is so true!" We just kind of sat there in silence thinkin "Yeah, you gett'er Michele!" It was a really cool experience.

Those experiences sum up pretty well our week. Im really excited for General Conference! Mom, you wont believe this story. I bought a tie today, and it wasnt blue or black. Thats actually a lie, it is blue, but it has lots of red on it too. You'll like it a lot.  

I wish I had more to tell you all this week, but I really dont. So i'll get you a better letter next week! I love you all so much! Im glad things are going well, and am glad that Sophie has some motivation to go to math haha. The number one first thing im planning on doing when I get home is watch Kate's singing DVD thing. Boo ya! Anyways, have a good week! CTR!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon

Donato, A. McKinnon, A. Jacob

17 Sep 14

Subject: Transfer 13 Week 6

Transfer news! I am staying in Piacenza!!!!! And Anziano Jacob is going south to Ancona. My new comp will be Anziano Mullari (sp?) who is one group ahead of me. We'll see how it goes! Im really really really excited to be here in Piacenza at least one more.

This week was pretty cool. Last weekend there was a European Market outside of our house, where vendors from all over europe came and sold food/other stuff from their countries. So we ate German bratwursts for lunch Friday and Saturday, and were very tempted to break the sabbath on Sunday (just kidding) (kinda). They were so good! I got some Christmas stuff for ya'll to, so get real excited.

It was our investigator's birthday this past Thursday. We went to a chinese store and got him a "police officer kit" and an "indian bow and knife kit" (dont tell him, but it was like 2 euro total). He was really excited. He said that he always wanted stuff like that when he was growing up, but never got it. So I guess we're just the answer to a little boy's prayer (30 years late). 

Sunday we had the ward lunch, Monday we ate at an old widows house, who got very mad at me for eating rice with a fork and for cutting my apple away from me instead of towards me. The Totem' chip carrying eagle scout inside of me wanted to tell her that according to the bear scout handbook, you should never cut towards yourself, and that I was already pushin my luck because she was in my "blood circle," but I decided not to. I just cut towards myself and prayed that the butter knife didnt slip, causing my untimely death. I am alive, and I have repented for breaking the scout law.

Tuesday we went and ate with our branch president, and today we went and ate with one of our other investigators. So pretty much we havent cooked in a week, which means no dishes (YES!!!). I still think im the most trunky when I look at a mountain of dirty dishes and think of my dear sweet dishwasher at home. This week I did make panzerotti, which are pretty much like scones with Italian stuff in it. It's what they sell at "Luini's," the resturaunt that Brad loves. I made a mistake with the ham ones and they got ruined, but the Nutella ones were so good. So good.

Missionary work goes on! We have some stressful moments sometimes, but we're handling it really well I think. Hopefully this week keeps on going well, and I hope that I like my new comp!

Sorry that this email is so short, today is the most insane p-day ever. We stacked wood all morning (literally 4 hours; I will never live on a farm), gave some blessings, saw some investigators, and weve got three more lessons tonight plus english class, consiglio, and we have to pick up some missionaries who are staying with us tonight to get to transfers tomorrow. So I get to see Anziano Lovett from my MTC group, so that'll be a good finish to the day. 

I love you all so much! Keep on being good people and reading the Book of Mormon! Its the best! CTR!!!!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon

10 Sep 14

Hey again! 

Big news this week was going to Verona for the conference! It was good to be back, but I feel like I was there just yesterday. I found out one of the investigators I was teaching there just got baptized, so that was really exciting! He'd been ready for a long time, and personal things ended up working out so he was able to get baptized. It was really good to hear about.

Anziano Richardson came to Piacenza and we did a scambio. It was a blast, weve become really good friends over these past couple transfers. We found this guy who wasnt very interested in what we had to say and explained his theory about Adam and Eve, which made me really thankful for modern revelation! He was a really nice guy, and it turns out he teaches a high school religion class and asked if we could go and teach some of his classes this November and explain what we believe in. Most teenagers in Piacenza know us as "The only people in all of Italy who wear helments while riding bikes," so im really excited to add on to the truth that they already have! Pun intended. It was a pun because we do that as missionaries with people of other beliefs, and because its true that we're the only ones who wear bike helments in all of Italy. Just in case somebody didnt get it. 

Transfers are coming up! We'll see what happens. Id be really sad to leave Piacenza, its been a really good few months here. I know I say this every week, but we are SO SO SO close with some people. We had a lesson with a really cool family that were working with who have been coming to church for a few months, and the lesson was so good! They had a question about Adam and Eve, so we read 2 Nephi 2 with them. Ive been reading the Book of Mormon really in depth these past few months, and when I was reading that chapter by myself, it took me literally a week to get through it all, just so I really undestood what was going on. After the week, I was feeling good, but I didnt know if I could explain it to someone else. So as we were turning to that chapter, I just said a little prayer "Dear Heavenly Father, please dont let me confuse the heck out of everyone." And it went really well! It was a seriously cool lesson, because we'd pause every few verses and talk about them, and as we'd talk about it, everything clicked about a billion times more than when I had read it by myself. It was a really cool lesson because Adam and Eve is one of those big differences in doctrine that we have with other churches, and they came out of it saying "Well yeah, of course the fall was necessary!" Ive had some really bad Adam and Eve lessons on my mission, so it was good to see progress, and all the help Heavenly Father gave us in there. I love the Book of Mormon!

Hopefully ill have more to report next week after we find out what's going on for transfers! Like I said, I really hope I get to stay because working in the branch has been so good! But we'll see what happens. Keep on being good people! Im so proud of you all for the good decisions youre making. Shout out to Sophie for being a chemistry tutor and for getting her braces off! Youre all just growin up so fast. Keep CTRing and pluggin along! I love you!

Anziano Christian Fife McKinnon