Week 41

Ciao Famiglia!  

Come state? Sorry this email is a day late but I ran out of time and didn't have wifi.

I read that email with the conversation you guys had the other day about me, that was hilarious.  Evan, I've never been to that dead body island but it sounds pretty dead.  Anyways it's good to know that you guys are thinkin' about me and that every time I drop my scriptures my wife gets uglier

Here everything is going well.  This week we worked really hard and we saw some cool things happen.

A little background/history: once upon a time Lorenzo Snow (the first missionary in Italy and also our ancestor) dedicated the land of Italy for missionary work on a mountain in Torre Pellice which is this tiny tiny little town way up in the mountains of Piemonte.  This place is also basically where the church started in Italy because while he was there Lorenzo Snow baptized a lot of people.  The majority of the people he baptized were called the Valdesi who were like a religious group who were persecuted a lot by the Catholic church.  After they were baptized though, they migrated to Utah and today a lot of their descendents are members of the church including my past companion Anziano Larsen.  That's that's right, my ancestor baptized his ancestor.  Boom.

Well this week we ended up going there to Torre Pellice!  Because we had to bring this lady a Book of Mormon.  Basically this American couple that had ancestors there went to visit Torre Pellice and stayed with this lady that lives there.  And later after they had left they emailed us missionaries and told us to head up there and give her a Book of Mormon.  They also told us to give her a letter explaining their ancestors' conversion story which is super super cool.  It was actually a small miracle that we found her just with the way things worked out and because we didn't have her last name and the chances of us finding her were pretty slim.  But we found her and gave her a Book of Mormon! ✔  It was a really cool experience and it was awesome to do missionary work in the place where my ancestor way back when did missionary work.  

So that was a really cool adventure/spiritual experience for me.  I hope you guys at home have had some spiritual experiences lately.  If you haven't then you are not paying attention well enough.

Other than that there's not really much in particular that has happened.  We are still trying our best to leave this Branch better than we found it.  I think it has improved since we have been here and tonight in an appointment with members they even said that, so that was kinda reassuring.  Sometimes it's hard to measure success out here but I would say that's pretty measurable.  

Well that is about it for this week's update.  I love you guys!  

Anziano Tagg

Week 40

Hey Famiglia! 

How is everybody doing?  Everything's going well over here in Italy.  Sorry for the late email but I haven't had the chance to send it because I haven't had wifi.  Today we traveled to Torino for our P-day and we went inside the molle which is a big building/tower in the city.  It's a really cool building with maybe the strangest museum I have ever seen in my life inside.  The museum was a museo di cinema and it was pretty cool I guess it just had a bunch of strange artifacts, references, and scenes from films.  It was just really chaotic and weird to be in.  We also had maybe one of the best pizzas I've had in my life.  Besides the ones I make of course.  Although, I haven't made pizza in a while I'm a little out of practice.

I realized that I really haven't talked about the work here in Cuneo that much lately.  Maybe that's because there is not a lot of it.  But we do have some potentials and we have been working really hard with the Branch.  We have managed to get a less active to come back to church!  His name is En... and he is just a really good guy.  He loves the missionaries but he has been inactive for a while.  But lately he has come practically every week for the past month.  We are also thinking about in the future giving him a calling.  

I also realized that when I was in Mestre we did the same thing we reactivated the Re... family and they came back to church.  I guess I just never told you guys about it because subconsciously maybe I didn't see reactivation as on the same level of importance as something like baptism.  Which is totally wrong they are of the same importance.  I think in the mission people get too hung up of baptisms and numbers of baptisms and maybe I just got caught up in that.  But that's wrong. In the end it is all the work of the Lord and it is just important that we do our best.  In fact one of my goals is to stop getting too hung up on baptism or discouraged if they don't come.  So I've decided I'm not gonna keep some sort of count of how many baptisms I have.  Don't get me wrong, baptism is importantissimo!  It's an ordinance of salvation so I'm definitely gonna try to invite people to make that step.  But I'm not gonna count or keep a mental trophy of it, because in the end they are not my baptisms they are the baptisms of the person who's getting baptized.

Anyways so yeah, sorry -I kinda got off topic.  I'm still loving the mission and loving Cuneo.  I love you guys so much.  I just wanna tell the girls that they really should go on missions if they haven't decided yet.  Decide now.  Because it is really the best experience that I have ever had in my entire life.  It will change your lives too.

Love you guys!  Sorry if this email is incoherent I'm just kinda tired.  Statemi bene!

Anziano Tagg

Week 39

Hey Famiglia!

How are you guys doing?  I hope everything is going well back there in mryland!

Right now we're in the church making some lasagna and then we're gonna Bring it to a members house and eat it together.  Should be fun.

Transfers came and it turns out we are both staying here in Cuneo!  Woohoo!  We kinda saw that coming though.  

So Mom, Ch is this awesome guy in Torino that my comp taught before I came here.  He asked Anziano Ruiz to baptize him so we went to Torino to do the deed.  I never taught him but he is a super super cool dude who was really well prepared for the message.  It was cool to see.

The work here in Cuneo is going well.  We have done a lot and a lot of work with the members and its been really good.  Our master plan is to organize some really good activities and invite non-members so the missionary work can grow. At the same time we will try to unify the Branch which desperately needs unity.  

But yeah I gotta say this transfer has been one of the strangest transfers ever.  It's weird serving both as a missionary and an ecclesiastical leader.  It's given me a different view point on missionary work and the Branch and how the church works.  It's been really good.

Anyways that's all I can really think of for this week.  We are planning to hike this really tall mountain near us called Bisalta which is super beautiful.  Also near us there's Monviso which is the mountain they use for all the Paramount intros so that's cool.  We should have some cool P-days.  Or we could go on a normal day and preach to the entire valley from on top of the mountain.  That would be dope too.

Anyways that's all!  I love you guys a ton!!! Sorry for the short email.  I'll call you guys in a bit

Anziano Tagg

Week 38

Week 38
Hey Everybody!!

How is everybody doing?

I'm doing well.  As I write this I am on a first class club seat train to Pesaro.  The mission office got us really really nice train tickets this time instead of the usual smelly ones.  But yeah, I don't know if I told you, but I have to go back to Pesaro because last time when I went there for my appointment to pick up my permesso di soggiorno the office was heckin' closed.  Apparently they decided to change their schedule around without telling anyone who had appointments already.  Italy is sometimes frustrating.  But on the bright side, I do get to go back to one of my favorite cities one last time and see the members there that I love so much.  

Other than that, things are going really well.  It's interesting being in the Branch Presidency as a missionary.  It's definitely hard trying to balance it with regular missionary work.  This transfer has been one of the busiest transfers of my mission.  But also I have seen a lot of little miracles that have come out of it and out of serving in this specific capacity.  We have been able to help members in different ways and it has really had an impact on me.  

How was the beach and Busche gardens?  I'm geloso that I didn't get to go, but at the same time I'm in Italy so I'm not gelosissimo.  Tell Evan to keep up sand.co (this is a made-up sand company the kids do at the beach.  Basically it's sand refinement) and to let it thrive.  Tell him that he better be willing to kidnap a thousand children before he lets the company die.  That's the kind of grit and commitment it takes.  

Please tell Audrey I love her and she's my favorite sister.  Also, tell Eliza I love her and that she's my favorite sister but don't tell either sister that I told the other one she was my favorite sister.  

We got a new Mission President an he is really cool.  He is from Idaho just like President and Sorella Allen and he served his mission in Rome.  We all met him on Teusday when he came down to Genova.  He is a convert to the church and a really cool guy.

I learned some Italian tongue twisters this week from some members and I gave them the wood-chuck one and the Betty Butter one in exchange.  

L'Apelle figlio d'Apollo fece una palla di pelle di pollo, tutti i pesci vennero a galla per vedere la palla di pelle di pollo fatta d'Apelle figlio d'Apollo.

trenta tre trentini entrarono in trento tutti trenta tre trottando 

Put those into Google translate and you'll get a good laugh.

Anyways, that's it for this week. I love you guys a lot and a lot.

Ciao!

Anziano Tagg

Pics

1/2 this cool hike we went on.

3 Paula in Pesaro finally let me hold one of her guns.

Week 37

Week 37
Hey Gang!!!

I thought I'd switch it up a little from the usual ciao Famiglia

I hope everything ober der is going well.  I heard you guys are all at the beach and that's not fair.  Why do you guys always go on the best vacations when I'm away. When I was there and Evan was gone I just remember going on the lamest vacations ever.  Haha I do wish I was going to Busche Gardens though. I miss that place a lot.  There are some good memories there.  I recommend that you all just go straight to Apollo's Chariot and stay there for the entire thing.  You waste to much time walking to other rides that aren't worth it.

Wow Mom thanks for telling me the entire plot to toy story 4.  Was it as good as the previous ones?

I guess it's not that big of a deal that you guys are at the beach because I also am at the beach.  I'm back in Pesaro!!!  I had to come back for my permesso di soggiorno.  So that means I had to take 10 hours of a culture class and then tomorrow I pick up my documents that make me actually legally allowed to live here.  So yeah I've been an illegal up until this point.  But I get to spend like 3 days here in Pesaro and see the members again, so I'm really happy about that.  

It's kinda annoying to have to be pulled away from Cuneo for so long but that's ok.  Things there are going well. We've been visiting members a lot and they are really cool.  I'm excited to be able to help them as much as possible.

How are duh Broders and duh Sisters doing?  Tell Audrey and Eliza to getoutfromwafromroundemboys

Tell Evan that he can't even start in fifth and his lines aren't even straight, and tell Nathan to start a family and name his future kid God's Power.  No joke that's like a really really really common African name here  there's also the other classics like Joy, Peace, Marvelous, Miracle, Precious, and Friday.  For your information Miracle, Marvelous and Precious are all really big black guys that I know .  

Anyways I love you guys a lot and a lot.

Anziano Tagg

Here's some fotos

Week 36

Ciao Family,

How are you guys doing?  

Everything here is Cuneo is going pretty well.  This week was a really really good week.  We were able to meet with a lot of members and I really love them.  They are awesome.  On Sunday my companion and I where sustained and set apart as Branch President and 1st counselor which was really cool.  I really liked what the Stake President said to us when he explained the situation.  He said that the reason we were being called into the presidency wasn't just one big one, but many small ones along with a very strong impression that he got that it should be missionaries to fill the position.  So he called the Mission President and apparently told him about this impression he had and the Mission President just told him, "I already know who I'm gonna send"  So that was really cool. It was just a strong feeling for me that I am meant to be here in Cuneo for some reason that might not be clear to me right now.  I thought that I was meant to be transferred to Torino as originally planned, and I was super excited. But I guess the Lord has other plans for me here.  

Anyways the public excommunication went well.  In the end we decided to go with the previous Branch President and his family so that there wouldn't be anyone claiming to be heir to the presidency or anything.  I think it was a good choice. (Drew is totally kidding here in case you can't tell)

Today we did spesa (shopping) and then washed 'Olga' (our car) she was a dirty dirty girl alright.  It was pretty gross.  But now she's clean.  We gave her a German name because before this area she was in Bressanone which is basically Germany.  It's in Italy but people speak German there.  It was pretty funny because there is this Sprella missionary in Torino who is German and when we told her that our car was named Olga she was like "wow that's such a beautiful name!"  And we were like "...yeah... we totally didn't just name her that as a joke..."

Anyways that's that haps up here in Cuneo.  What about over there in Mrland?  Everythung gud?  I have heard some crazy rumors that California is gonna be an open boarder state with Mexico?????  Might be fake news.  Also I heard that China's taking over the world.  Also I heard that like 16 tons of cocaine were found at the Philadelphia airport.  Also I heard that Eliza can't even beat me at ping pong.  I don't know where all these rumors come from but they're spreading like wildfire here in the mission.  I don't know whether to believe them or not but I somehow believe the one about Eliza and ping pong. I heard that from a very reliable source and it sounds real.

Anyways I love you guys 16 tons of cocaine worth.  I bet you guys thought that you didn't have a price and that my love for you guys was infinite right?  Well you were wrong.  There is a price.  And it's 16 tons of cocaine.

I'll send pictures later in the day

Ciao!

Week 35

Ciao Famiglia!

The hardest part of writing emails is trying to remember the week of the mission that I am on.  35 doesn't seem right.  But whatever.  

Anyways things are getting a little bit saucy here in Cuneo.  We finally got our licenses translated into Italian and we finally got the right sim card for our phone so wevwere finally able to actually go places and actually call people.  Those first couple days were rough and we weren't able to go anywhere or call anyone.  

But now things are better and people are kinda coming out of nowhere.  We got a referral and have been able to call and fix appointments with old potentials and members.  we've been able to kinda fill up our calendar which is very good. I'm happy about that.

Also I am super happy because this Sunday J in Mestre got Baptized!!!!!!!  I could tell he was soooo happy and that makes me soooo happy.  I'm really sad that I wasn't able to be there in person but that really doesn't matter at all.  The important thing is that he took a step closer to Christ through a covenant of salvation yo.  I bet I just slammed you all with my spiritual maturity and humility.  But yeah I'm really really happy for J.

Other than that there's not much happening.  we're working hard and I'm enjoying it.  Cuneo is really pretty.  We went on a hike today and saw a castle where apparently the story Pinocchio happened.  It was really pretty.

How are you guys doing at home?  Flubba still kickin? Any Disney cruises to report?  If you guys went on one you would tell me right?  Lol.  How's school going for Laudbod and Brynbo?  tell both of them to getoutfromwayfromroundemboys

I love you guys a lot and a lot.  I love the mission a lot and a lot.  I miss you guys a lot and a lot.  BTW did you guys know that I am coming up on my year mark.  That is craaaaazzzzyyy.  It feels like I just got here.

Also next Sunday we will probably be sustained into the Branch presidency.  That should be fun.  I'm thinking about making an example out of someone that first Sunday by bringing them up to the pulpit and excommunicating him on the spot.  Let me know what you think.  

Anyways on the lovely note I will close this email.  Love you guys!!

Anziano Tagg

Week 34

Ciao Famiglia.  
I actually don't know what week it is I just guessed 34.  Time is weird in the mission, it doesn't feel like it has been that long.  It feels like I just left the MTC, but in reality I am headed into my 7th transfer and my 3rd city.  I feel like I'm gonna get home and I'm not gonna recognize Brynbo.  Like she's gonna be an old bent over 90 year old lady and she's gonna look up at me and mumble something like, "where were you? It's been twenty years!!!"  I know that if it's only been twenty years then she wouldn't be a bent over 90 year old lady but whatever... it made sense in my head.

Anyways lately things have been sooo crazy.  I had to say goodbye to soo many people that I love and it was heart wrenching.  It was like this in Pesaro too but there were only like 15 people to say goodbye to.  Here there were a lot and a lot more.  It was like every other hour someone would text us or we would have an appointment with a member and that would be the last time I talked to them.  It was soooo sad.  The members here are great.  I am kind of worried however about the future of the ward because everybody is old and there are not many youth.  They told me that the problem is that the youth marry other members and move away.  Either that or they leave the church.  It's sad.  But the work goes on and we just try to keep on doing our best.  I wonder what would happen if the church in Italy just had a big gathering.  Like if they all gathered in southern Italy and then tried to spread geographically.  Like in Joseph Smith times.  You heard it first here.

Anyways it also was really sad saying goodbye to all the missionaries here.  I spent a lot of time writing in dediches which are basically like yearbooks for the mission.  It was fun trying to remember all the memories and the good times we  had.  But it was sad to say goodbye.  That's the mission though.  Having a new start in Torino will be nice.  And Anziano Ruiz is a cool dude.

So today is transfer day and so I'm writing this email on the train.  Let me tell you, it has been the craziest transfer I have ever done.  We are on the train and I had just said goodbye to Anziano Larsen so I was a little bit sad.  Then I reach into my pocket and I realize I still have the keys to the apartment in Mestre!  Long story short, we had to quickly find a way to get the keys back to the Mestre Anziani without being able to contact them or any other missionaries because we had no sim cards in our phones.  By the way, I was with two other missionaries Anziano Heiddeman (who is my brother in the mission) and Anziano Ross.  We ended up getting off early from our train and handing the keys off to another set of Anziani going the other direction on another train so that they could give them to them.  We are going to be a little late because we got off and had to take the next train that passed.

Anyways that's the story of my crazy transfer day.  This all happened in the pouring rain too so it just added on to everything.  

How is everyone at home?  I hope everything is going smoothly with school and everything.  I love you all and miss you all.  Audreygetoutfromwayfromroundemboys

Ciao!

Elder Tagg