Healthy, happy, and speaking Italian!

Wow.

So I just got a package (like 2 minutes ago), and I'll tell you what, I am one happy Anziano. I love packages!

So good.

I think I'm starting to run out of things to say!! Because we have the same schedule every week, and we do the same things. (learn Italian, learn Preach my Gospel e giocamo calcio) So...it's pretty much AWESOME!! haha.

But one of my highlights was last tuesday night. In my e-mail I had mentioned a little bit about planning. WELL, the entire fireside was about planning!! I think you'll like this: The guy said planners are just like the Liahona. So read Alma 37:38-43 (I think), and check it out.

Also, look at the chapter headings for Abraham 4+5. I talks about how God plans before he does things. So...how much more do we need to plan before we do things!! It reminds me of that scripture about how Jesus was even baptized, so how much more important is it that we are baptized!!! (2 Nefi 31:5)

So the Italiano is coming along nicely. We're going to try and SYL until noon tomorrow. That means only speaking Italian. Crazy. But I think we'll do alright.

Anyways, a highlight for the week was definitely the obstacle course. Blindfolded, led by the directions given by your companion in Italian. It was CRAZY. Cause it was also a race, and so of course we were running. I didn't hurt myself too bad. My companion ran into a wall, and that was pretty funny. The highlight was definitely when I was telling Sorella Miller where to go and I told her "Avanti! Salti!" Which means "Forward! Jump!" and she cleared a tipped over trash can. Que Ottimo!

Now that I think about it...there are tons of things to tell you about! But I really want to give you guys some character descriptions of my district. At least brief ones.

So here's everyone:

Anziano Garvin: My companion. He's from Elko, NV. He loves the Gospel, he loves obedience, he loves to talk a lot in response to questions in class.He's very motivated, and he's basically the ideal companion. I'm in the best shape of my life right now because we work out every morning and he pushes me so much when we play soccer.

Anziano Marzolla: He's from Germany. He's really funny. He's a pretty good soccer player, and he is really efficient when it comes to the Gospel. I like that. When he does work, he does work. He is also half Italian, and can understand it quite well. He speaks really good English.

Anziano Rowland aka Capo Distretto: He's our district leader. He's from Kissimmee Florida. He loves drumming, and he is usually laying down a beat while he studies. His mom makes awesome cookies and sends us a lot of them. He also has some really crazy cool stories, and he's taken two years of Italian.

Sorella Miller: She didn't show up until a couple days after we arrived. She is a "solo" sister. i.e. She doesn't have an official companion, and she's allowed to be alone as long as she's with our district. She speaks fluent Spanish and is from Denver Colorado. She's really good at focusing, and she also likes to respond a lot in class. Her Italian is coming along really well (cause it's a lot like spanish). She also loves to play soccer, but she can't play with us because sisters can't play with elders.

Anziano Garcia: (pronounced Garthia) haha. He's from Spain. He's really good at soccer, and he's an amazing artist. His English isn't that great, but his Italian is...so he definitely has the advantage because our teachers said they're going to start teaching in only Italian soon. When I say he's an amazing artist, I mean it. He's way sweet. He has a very organized mind. Like statistics and graphs. He is also really funny.

(Battessimo! Adesso!) hahaha.

Anziano Kramer: He's from Tennessee, and he spent his last year studying music at BYU-Provo. Like opera style singing. He's taken a semester of Italian pronunciation, so that gives him some advantage. He loves to sing about EVERYTHING. (think: "Anziano Banks is writing in his jourNAAALL") haha. But he's cool. He knows a ton about scriptures, and quotes.

Then there are our two teachers:

Fratello Auna: From Kona, HI. He was a legend in the Rome mission (so I've heard from people who served with him). He didn't hold back, and rocked the mission. He's very passionate about the Gospel. I think he's also a pretty mean Basketball player, and he's good at beat boxing and a little gliding.

Sorella Birdsall: She's from Utah. She seems to be really good at connecting, and she's also really good at covering a lot of material and making sure everyone gets it. We usually have her in the evenings and it's always a joy to see her.
She pushes us quite a bit with our Italian. The other night we had to teach her about the Atonement in Italian. She would do one person at a time and it was pretty crazy. It went really well. Good practice.

Anyway, I'm about out of time. But I think those references will help you get an idea of who I'm talking about. Be sure to keep in touch, and keep me in your prayers.

I'm healthy, happy, and speaking Italian, so I guess you can't really ask for more!! : ) haha.

So que la chiesa e vero. E so que Dio ci Ama.

Con Affetto,

Anziano Banks!