Plentiful Plethora of Questions: Answered

Ciao famiglia!

Come state? Tutto bene?  Sto benissimo qui in Italia.  Mi piace sempre sentire da voi.  Come va con la scuola? Come potete vedere il mio Italiano è proprio perfetto.  Scriverò tutto questo email in Italiano.  Sto scherzaaaaando! (How are you? Everything good? I'm fine here in Italy. I always like to hear from you. How's school? As you can see, my Italian is just perfect. I will write all this email in Italian. I'm kiiiiiiiding!)

Anywho before I get in to the nitty gritty let me answer some of the plentiful plethora of questions that Mom sent me.  Yes, let me shed some light on that valuptious volley, that bountiful barrage, that rapid rally.  Let me reluctantly rectify that raging rampage of requests that Mother so readily reminded me of.  

Woah guys... I don't know where that came from.  I'm a poet and I didn't even know that I was one.  (By the way I'm kiiiiiding Mom I'd love to answer your questions).  Let's see the best meal I've had was probably this pizza that we got in Bologna that was amazing.  In Italy when you order pizza you don't order one to share.  You order one per person.  It's great.  The weirdest thing I saw was definitely when we went to this opera concert a couple days ago.  It was all going pretty well and then these two pretty girthy women walked on and started singing.  Literally the whole entire song was them singing the word 'meow' back and forth to each other.  It was supposed to be a "cat fight" I guess.  It was really weird.  The most surprising thing about being a missionary is probably that I really like it.  I was worried that I wouldn't.  There are definitely hard times, but hard doesn't mean bad.  The thing I miss the most is you guys.  Cheesy but true.  

Anywayz It's good to hear that everything is going well there.  I repeat once again to Audrey to get outfromwayfrom round them boys.  Also Eliza you better get me that Mario picture proprio presto!  (pronto!)

I'm glad that my letter got there finally.  Did you guys like it?  I don't even remember what I said in it.  I'll try to write another one soon, although it might be harder to mail it.  I always like getting your letters so don't stop writing them.  I can only get them certain times so I got like three all at once.  Anziano Leavitt liked his too.  He said too me "Wow she must have hard-core stalked me on facebook" and I was like "yup" haha. 

Fabrizio was confimed this last Sunday so we officially have a new convert.  L... is on her way too but she has some concerns about weird things.  Like for example she keeps saying that she thinks God doesn't love everyone equally because not everyone has equal curcumstances.  We keep talking about this in like every lesson and keep stressing that God loves everyone.  It's weird because we'll say "Dio ama tutti i suoi figli lo stesso" (God loves everyone the same)  and she'll be like "Sì sì, Dio ci ama e posso sentire il Suo spirito" (Yes yes God loves us and I can feel His Spirit) but then she'll go back and say "Ma penso che Lui ama una persona più di un'altra" (But I think He loves one person more than another) It's frustrating.  And it seems like she has concerns with the law of chastity too.  She was like "so if you're not married you can't have sex?" And we were like "no" and she was like "ahh"  and we're like "lady you're married with two kids!"  It's weird.  She's really nice though and I think she'll still be baptized.

Well that's basiacally what's been happening over here.  Hows going on back in good'ol'Merica? Any crazy stuff? Any awesome stuff? Any funny stuff? How's the economy? What war should we do? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Also Mom, I'll get those pictures of my apartment and stuff later today because I'm actually in Milano for a new missionary training.

I think that's it for today.  Thank's for being awesome! Ciao!

Elder Tagg

Raging Rampage of Revelation!!

Ciao Famiglia! 

How arw you guys doing? I hope all is well. How is school? 

This week was really cool.  Conference was awesome as you know.  But it was even awesomerer in Italian.  The translaters spoke really fast but I still got the point.  The point was that President Nelson is on a raging rampage of revelation!! (aliteration) So yeah two hour church that's crazy.  Make sure you guys do that stuff at home still so you don't go apostate okay.  12 new temples is also crazy!  I personally thought that they would announce street clothes for missionaries so I wouldn't have to wear this silly shirt and tie but I guess that will come later.

Yeah so I've been pretty busy this week with a bunch of random stuff.  It's no big deal we've mainly just been IMMERSING PEOPLE IN THE DELICIOUS JUICY SWEET WATERS OF BAPTISM!!  That's right, Fabrizio was baptized this week and it was amazing.  It was such a miracle that we were able to put it all together with two days notice.  He wanted one of his original missionaries to do it so that's why we had to do it specifically when Anziano Baker would be visiting.  The members here are so amazing.  They really pulled through for us with preparing talks, food, and the font.  They are a small Branch but they accomplish more than most Wards.  

So yeah, the baptism was really cool.  I played violin.  I played the song 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives' and it went really well.  I'm so glad I brought my violin.  I think I'll use it to go finding.  What I'll do is I'll play to distract people while my companion walks up from behind with a bowl of water.  Things get a little frisky, things get a little wet, a little bounce boogy and bump, and bam! We get a new convert!  Yeah... that will work out great. 

The work is going well here in Pesaro.  We have a lot of people coming to our English class.  What qualifies me to teach the English language you ask?  I dont know.  What qualifies me to preach the Gospel you ask? Couldn't tell ya.  But I'm out here doing it anyways and that feels good.  Hopefully after a year or two I'll be fluent and I'll know a boat load of crap about the Gospel. 

But yeah our English class is really fun.  There's this really old short lady named Paula who comes every time and she is hilarious.  She had us over to change a light bulb and she was showing us around the house and when we got to the top of the stairs she said, "there are weapons in that room do you want to see?"  And we of course wanted to see.  So she unlocked the door and we went inside and there were a couple guns on the wall in front of us so we were like, "Wow"  but then we turned to the right and the entire wall was covered in rifles, machine guns, hand guns, broadswords, katanas, the other wall had knives. She had a boomerang, and my favorite was when she pulled out a harpoon gun.  So hilarious.  I was just so shocked.  I had no idea that was coming.  Apparently her husband used to own a shooting range and collected guns so that's why she had them.  

Anyways so yeah, the mission has been really good so far.  Adjusting to mission life was weird at first but I really love it now.  My prayers in particular have gotten so much better.  I always go out on the balcony and pray for real for real every night.  Now every time I go out there, I just instantly feel the Spirit even before I start praying.  Prayers are important guys.  For so long before the mission I got into the same habit of impersonal and apathetic prayers without even knowing it.  These last couple of weeks though I've realized that prayer is such a powerful thing.  It's something that I look forward to everyday.  

Anyways I think that's it for this week! I love you all and miss you a lot. Ciao!

Here are some pictures from some random castle I went to today.  This country has way too many freaking castles.

1: castle picture

2: castle picture

3: nude babies beating the life out of animals

4: a Saint with a headache

Creepy Babies

Ciao famiglia!

Ok so this week has just been soooo crazy.  But first to answer your questions Maham.  I haven't bought any weapons yet (key word yet) and I haven't used my card from home.  I'll probably use it this week and hopefully it won't be frozen.  Our bikes are ok, they aren't great but they go forward mostly so that's good.  And yes, Maaahahaham I'm wearing a helmet.  My Italian is coming along well, I can understand a lot more than I thought I would. However, I still have trouble speaking.  Mostly because Italians just speak over each other the entire time and I can't really get a word in.  But it's coming a long and getting better each day.  

As far as investigators go, buckle up because it's gonna be a bumpy ride.  So we have probably about four legit simpatizzanti.  There are more but these four I think have the most potential. There's Jesus who's a 16 year old kid and super cool.  He's too cool to come to church though :(. He reads the Book of Mormon and I think he has a testimony of it.  There's Claudio who is an ex J-dub (Jehova's witness).  Ok, side note: there are J-dubs EVERYWHERE, and all of them are really old couples it's pretty funny.  Claudio is interested in the church and we left a Book of Mormon with him and he said he'd read it.  Then there's Luciana who we've had three really good lessons with her and yesterday we made a baptism date with her!  She's awesome.  Ok, and here's the last one.  His name is Fabrizio and we met him like two days ago and talked with him a bit.  He's an investigator from the old anziani.  The day we met him, he met with the Branch President and told him he wanted to be baptised.  But he wants to be baptised by his original missionaries one of which is visiting pesaro this Thursday so he's getting baptised tommorow! We've been scrambling to plan an entire baptism in two days and it's been soo busy.

So yeah I'll probably see two baptisms by the end of this month which is amazing.  It is so awesome to see the Lord's work in action.  My trainer is a really great missionary which is why we've seen this much success. 

Today we went to Rubino which is this really awesome walled city.  We went to this museum with TANTO catholic artwork.  I took a lot of pictures of creepy baby angel creatures so that was really fun.

I really miss you guys.  I hope you got my second letter, I sent it from the MTC right before I left.  It sounds like you all are doing well.  That makes me happy.  Nathan you better take care of Patrice.  Evan thanks for all the advice you gave me.  It really helps. I hope you're having fun at USU.  Tell the girls to don't do school and stay in drugs... yeah, I'm pretty sure that's right.  

Ok I think that's pretty much it for this week!  Here are some pictures. Ciao!

1. me and Anziano Miller

2. A Priest giving me the greedy eye (that just means evil eye in our family)

3. The back of a bald guy's head

4. The ceiling

5-8 and on are creepy babies
9. A nice view
10. A thingy thing

He looks so GOOD! (this is Kelly T, his Mom)

The "Greedy EYE"

A thingy thing

San Marino- The Most Beautiful City I've Ever Seen

Ciao Famiglia!

Oh my goodness it's been crazy here in Italy.  I love it here.  The members are soooo awesome.  Even though there are not very many of them they are so strong.  I met all ten of them on Sunday. The singing was so bad I almost started laughing but other then that they are super bravi.  

My companion is really cool. He's really experienced and knows a lot of people in Pesaro because he's been here for 3 transfers before.  He actually was born here and is gonna die here. ('Born' and 'gonna die' refer to the beginning and the end of his mission life.  It's mission lingo)  Before this transfer he was in the office as you deducted.  Also yes we have bikes and yes he's a runner.  Both things you predicted somehow with your crazy psychic Mom-senses.  Haha.

I'm sad that I'm missing Halloween and the rest of the holidays.  But especially Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Make sure you send a picture of Flubba in her costume.  That is if she's still alive.  I won't be too sad at Christmas because I've heard that Christmas in Italy is awesome.  Haha.

Tell Audrey to get outfromwayfromrounddem boys!  She's too young to be messin' around wit dem boys roun'dem parts!  Dem boys be no good fo her.

Anyways this week has been really cool.  I love going into the city.  Yesterday we were leaving English class flyers around town and the weather was amazing and we were walking down this really beautiful cobblestone street and we passed the music school and I could here the sweet sweet sound of a violin through a window and I was like holy crap, I'm in Italy.  This place is amazing. The people are amazing.  The Gospel is amazing. Haha

Ok so just now in between paragraph 3 and 4 our district and the Rimini district went to San Marino which was amaaaaaaazing.  It's an independant city state, so we actually left Italy for a few hours.  It's the most beautiful city I've ever seen.  I have tanto pictures.  We had amazing pizza there and there were these really cool shops that sold stuff like broadswords, katanas, crossbows, knives, and watches.  I wanted to buy some weapons but I didn't have enough money, (jk). San Marino actually has some really unique and really cool watches and I wanted to get one of those. I don't know how much money I have on my card. Can you check for me? And also if I use it I don't know if they will freeze the card because I'm in Italy or not. Can you find out? Thanks.  Haha

Anyways I think that's all for this week. I love you guys! Ciao!

PS Some pics

Anziani Calton, Me, Leavitt & Traedon

First Week in Italy

 Ciao Famiglia

I just arrived in my first area yesterday and we needed to go shopping so we just did Pday today.  

So here I am!!!! I'm doing well, I met my trainer yesterday and we went to our area last night.  He's really cool, really smart and likes running, so that's awesome.  Although he's way better than me, I'll still run with him cuz I need to with all this pasta I'm gonna eat.  His name is Anziano Leavitt.  I think you talked with him on the phone Mom.  

My city is called Pesaro and my trainer and I are whitewashing (this just means they are both new missionaries to the area) it.  He was trained here as well though, so he knows the area.  It's a small town near the middle of the country right on the Eastern coast.  There are ten members here and there hasen't been a baptism in a really long time.  But! my trainer has a few contacts from the last missionaries and even one who might be close to baptism.  

It is soooo weird being in Italy.  It seems like it's America, but everything is slightly off.  It's really trippy.  As far as the language goes I can't understand anyone except for my trainer and even then it's only sometimes.  I'm jetlagged, and culture shocked, and just overall confused about everything.  It's alright though because the food makes up for it.  

I learned today that Italians don't get sarcasm so that's just great.  

Overall I'm doing good.  My apartment is kinda big and has two showers so that's nice.  The only thing is that there's no AC and as you know I'm not a wimp when it comes to sweat.  

I love you guys! Tell me what's goin' on at home.  How's school going? How was the beach? is flubba still kickin?  That ol fart better still be alive when I get back.  I don't really care about Bruno but it'd be nice if he survived I guess.  I'm kiiiiiiiding.  I miss playing with that little goober.  

I think that's it for this week! there's probably more but I'm kinda out of it right now.  I'm so tired that I can't even keep track of what I've said already and what I want to say.  Anyways I think that's it for this week! there's probably more but I'm kinda out of it right now.  I'm so tired that I can't even keep track of what I've said already and what I want to say.  Anyways I think that's it for ths week! 

Love you guys the most! Ciao!  

Anziano Tagg

Stepping off the plane

Hard to spot him but he's down there.

President Allen in front

Duomo di Milano

Apparently they take the new missionaries straight out to do some street contacting from the airport.

Looks like they met someone friendly

Dinner at the Mission President's home

Sis Allen, Pres Allen, Anziano Tagg & his new trainer Anziano Leavitt

Pesaro seaside

An old prison

Soooooooo Excited!

Ciao la mia Famiglia!

So today is my last P-day! You know what that means... No more emails for two years I guess. I better make it a good one.  

I'm glad to hear that all is well back at home.  I miss you guys a lot.  I miss playin' with ma sisters.  I miss hangin' with ma brothers and tryin' to keep up with them.  I miss watching Last Man on Earth with you Mama, and I miss goin' on runs with ya Dad.  I had a good childhood, and I'm sad that those days are over.  Nevertheless! (I'm trying to use more Bible language) I am sooooooo excited to go to Italy!!!!  And more importantly, I am soooooooo excited to do the Lord's work.  If you count the number of o's in each "so" you'll see which one is more important to me.  

This week has flown by.  At least the beginning of it was.  Yesterday was long and kindof a hard day.  We were so busy that I didn't have time to study the scriptures.  I think that's why the rest of the day was a little off.  The lessons we taught were kinda all over the place without direction, and I didn't really do as well in speaking the language as I could have.  I don't know it was just a hard day.  Sometime those happen.  It's alright.  Today was better because it was P-day.  We went to the temple and did my last session for a couple years.  I'm glad that we've been able to go every week.  I always feel the Spirit in the celestial room.  

Thanks for all the letters you guys have been sending me, they are really nice.  I'm gonna try to write one today and send it before I leave the MTC.  I've heard that the mailing system is really messed up in Italy, so it might be harder to do it there.  Like for example if you send clothes, I think I'll get charged a lot of money.  IDK.  

The new Anziani e Sorelle came on Wednesday.  There are 28 new Italian speaking missionaries so in total. So that is like 52 Italian speaking missionaries in the MTC!  Usually we wouldn't overlap with the new ones like this, but transfers got a little messed up for some reason.  But it's good because now the Italians rule the MTC.  We have the biggest zone in the MTC maybe even in the world.  It's really cool to see how much the Lord cares about Italy.  A new temple, tanti nuovi missionari (many new missionaries) and the best red headed missionary the world will ever see!  They won't know what hit them.  

Io so che questa chiesa e vero.  Ho visto l'amore di Dio nella mia vita ogni giorno sulla missione. (I know this Church is true. I see the love of God in my life every day on the mission.)

I think that's it for now here are some pictures for you.  Ciao!

Elder Tagg

Me making a weird face

My District enjoying some Italian soda

Week 5 Almost Done

Hey Fam.

I just saw the pictures Mom sent of you guys.  I love all of you tanto.  Almost cried but I'm a man so none of that.  Ok wait nevermind because I just read Audrey's poem.  Dang you Laudbod!  now I'm in the computer lab tearing up and it's your fault!  It was butiful.  You're a poet and you didn't even know that you were one!  I bet you could make a rhyme at any moment! Haha.  I hope you listen to my written letter and know that I love you and I miss you... hhuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh.  That's from a vine in case you didn't know.  I wouldn't be surprised cause I'm better at remembering vines than you.  That's super awesome that you got into the advanced orchestra! When I come back you better be better than me.  I'll be playing in Italy too though so its gonna be tough.  I love you tango (much) Audrey.

Mom, I'll try to write handwritten letters as much as possible but I absolutely refuse to stop writing on the back of them.  There is simply too much waste of paper in this world and I will NOT be a part of it.  I'm kiiiiiiddding.  I got your brownies and ties and my patriarchal blessing and stuffs.  Thanks a ton.  My favorite is the reindeer one.  This week I had my first tie trade and it was lucrative.  I got a bunch of new floral ties.  I love floral ties so much.  I think collecting floral ties is gonna be my thing.  I have nine of them already.  

I heard Dad was doing a century bike ride.  I wish I could do it with you.  I miss riding bikes with ya. Maybe Nathan could do it with you.  Haha.  Speaking of Nathan, he gave me a present right before I left and told me never to open it until he told me.  Is that gonna be any time soon?  It's probably some ancient relic that will give me wisdom and the key to missionary work right?  Yeah I could use that any time now cuz missionary work is hard.  Thanks Nathan and Evan for the advice you gave me before the mish.  I liked what Evan said to me I think it was like "have a good time, do what you love, and when that becomes missionary work, you're set"  Thought that was cool, so thanks.  I really do love being here.  It's gonna be sad to leave the MTC but at the same time I'm so ready to get out there. But at the same time I'm so not ready to get out there.  

I definitely want to see a picture of Mario from Eliza.  Then I can think of it every time I say "Mama mia." Eliza, you better practice fuse ball, pingpong, bideodames, mario cart, and super smash.  Because when I get home we're gonna have an all out brawl.  Brynbo versus Booboolie.  "test your might"  I love you tanto Eliza.  Keep killing it in middle school.  Tell me all your teachers and I'll tell you if I had them!  

Today we did sealings in the temple (which was super cool) and my comp Anziano F went into the baptisimal waiting room for some reason and literally saw his girlfriend sitting in there waiting to do baptisms.  We went outside the temple and then waited for her to come out.  I kinda felt like we shouldn't be doing that and he was conflicted weather or not to just leave or to stay and talk to her.  While he was deciding, she came out and talked to us for a little bit.  It was kinda awkward.  I really love Anziano F.  He's an awesome friend and an awesome missionary.   He misses his girlfriend.  He talks about her a lot.  It was a difficult situation today but I think he's fine.  It's just a struggle for him.  I told him that he could always talk to me about it. 

So many things have happened this week.  Some of the Anziani in the two Italian districts are chumps.  I'm anti-chump but some of these guys are raging chump supporters it's ridiculous.  The other night they got together and brought the new elders who arrived that day into an "initiation"  which basically consisted of a dimly light room with a bunch of anziani wearing hoodies.  There was chanting, yelling, etc.  I was pretty funny actually but I felt like I shouldn't participate, and I didn't.  Some of these straight-out-of-highschool guys amaze me sometimes.  Haha.

I love you guys tantissimo!! (a lot)  I'll write again next week and probably maybe a handwritten letter.

Here are some pics for this week

1. A butiful sunset 

2. Anziano Bawden and Anziano Mosteller

3. A picture I saw of a city In Italy