Thursday, April 26, 2007

88 pdays left

Hey Family,
Well its been a crazy week, really busy. First off Ill answer your questions, I have been reading my scriptures everyday. We have an hour every morning so I read for 30 minutes then write in my study journal. Then we do a companionship study for nother hour. Antonia Lagioia accepted his baptismal date, he is being baptised this saturday, i convinced him to get the elders quorum pres to do it, because he is a great guy. And I will be confirming him on Sunday in Sacrament. Then when he gets the preisthood his son will be baptised, and his wife is already, but she is less active. But she is active now that he is baptised. Well last wednesday night after talking to yall we got a phone call from the pres of the branch. They had an "amercian" activity which was like a sldieshow and food. But they wanted us to cook. So we figured sisters could bake and we could make root beer from concentrate with ice cream floats. Thursday morning he calls us and says he just bought a 30pound turkey..and guess whos cooking it..us. 4 elders who eat pasta everyday... So we called the office and found out how to make one..then the other half of the battle, trying to find an over double the size of every oven in Italy. Wefound one, the sisters have a sweet house with a huge oven. So we cooked the turkey, which turned out amazing, brownies and cookies all that. It turned out great. The relief society pres apoligised for yelling at us. She flipped out at us because she thought we were wasting everyones time cooking a turkey. She doesnt like mossionaries very much. Anyways, it was a good activity. Sunday we all went to sleep in the afternoon, because last week was intense we were so busy. When I was writing the email last week I was falling asleep. Yesterday we went to the beach with the branch for pday. It was a pretty cool activity. Anotnioa Lagioa got realy into it, he was bbqing for everyone. It was fun. Yesterday was Italys liberation day so it was quiet and everything was closed. Monday we met with this less active guy..he walked up to us on the street the other day, we thought we was crazy. But we met with him, and it turns out I think hes just lonely. So well probably be meeting with him once a week for the rest of the transfer. Ok I didnt send the pictures yet because I wanted to get a few postcards to send to you os some of the sights around here. So I did Monday and I will send the CD today..and try to send a few pictures again now. After the American Activity on friday night it didnt end until 10 so we were home late. Then we tried to put the key into the doory and it didnt work. The lock was busted..so we spent 30 minuted trying to break into our apartment. Neilsen went through the neighboors and climbed onto our balcony but we had all the windows locked. So we just got that fixed today…85$ later for a lock. When we were boxing sunday night I met started talking to a guy who seemed pretty interested, I think hell be coming to church sunday. So thats was pretty cool. We actually met some kids to and theyve been coming to english course which is cool. Living so close to the beach and ocean..its nice because of the breeze, but tempting to jump in. Im proud to here you two have been studying every morning, Im sure you have seen the effect it has had on you life already everyday. Keep being diligent, and you learn to love them more. I cant believe may ius almost over..next time I talk to you I will have been out 5 months. Its crazy.

Well Take care,
I love you all,
Anz Costa

Monday, April 23, 2007

89 pdays left

Well it’s been a good week, I didn’t get transferred neither did my comp. But we spent all morning tying to find the other anzianos comp on the island...the bus was 45 mins late and we were 10 minutes late picking him up…so we didn’t know weather it had come or not. Anyways, ahah about pasta and salad...I guess that’s the problem I eat both, but I haven’t gained any weight since I got here, but I guess I’m getting chubby ahah I don’t know you all can tell better then I can. Well I don’t know if I told you but my first week here I tracked into a guy while boxing, and me and my comp have been teaching him since. Last Friday I asked him if he would like to set a date for baptism and he said yes, surprisingly. He’s met with missionaries before but never felt ready. Anyways so last Saturday night he asked me to baptize him, he broke down crying which is pretty rare for an Italian to do in front of anyone. I’m really happy for him and if he can quit smoking things will go forward. Although I am going to try to talk to him about somebody else doing the baptism. I would love to and will if he really wants me to, but I think if we can get him some friends in the church and get someone else to do it he would be much better off in the future. So that has been the big news for the week, I’ve been calling him 4 or 5 times a day seeing if he’s smoked, he was doing really well, but these past 2 days have been really hard for him. Well tonight we organized a soccer game with some in actives, which should be fun. The weekend was pretty good we ended up teaching a guy pretty much most of satrday morning, and then into siesta. He had a friend over to so we were teaching with them both. As usual his friend was so surprised we weren’t Jehovah’s. Today we dropped off Anz Clayson who lived with us, he’s done the mission, his parents are picking him up in Catania and then they’re going to do a gyro of where he’s served. They’ll be coming back here for Sunday Sacrament. Des ahah Ill be shaving my head probably today so Ill send a picture, they don’t really enforce the short hair but I’m still doing it Dad. Sunday we had a missionary sacrament so we all gave short talks…really short because they thought they could squeeze in 6 missionary talks into 1 hour...Monday we had a little fairwell for Clayson Ill be sending a few pictures again today. One of them by the stairs I will forward after this, it is our whole district here in Siracusa, it’s a pretty good picture of us all. Sunday night boxing went REALLY well, we were really just trying to advertise our English course but I ended up handing out a few dozen billetini and almost 10 new people showed up which is really good.

We heard about the Virginia Tech shooting, we saw it in a paper in the grocery store it looked pretty intense...the newspapers are a lot more graphic here then what they are probably showing you all there. Last night after English course we went to the elders quorum pres's house and made hotdogs and fries ...ahah it was pretty funny eating the here. This will probably be my last transfer in Siracusa, I doubt they will keep me here for 3. That or my comp will go and ill leave at 4. The weather is beautiful its getting hotter and hotter but it still gets pretty chilly at night. Boxing last sunday night was pretty cold. I probably wont be writing you all next Wednesday because well be switching our pday. There is supposed to be a ward activity by the water were supposed to go to. And I guess we cant get out of it, but there is a whole lot of point in the missionaries going, because its warm and its the beach…and its Europe…so its probably not to missionary friendly ;). So well see when it happens. umm the language has really improved this week, we spent a night with a family and I was really practicing with them
I understand and can speak but Sicilians all have different accents and some speak SO fast its hard to separate words but its coming…slowly. Wellllll that’s about it for now , I hope your all doing well
I love you all thank you for all the supports
Anz Costa

90 pdays left

Well, I just wrote you all an email but the computers all froze and I lost it so I will start again. Ok Well I got a new email because mylds mail is really annoying and slow. So I got this so I can also send a few pictures of my weekend. Well yes Mom, I’ve been writing in my journal, almost every day since I’ve been here. I was reading a few entries yesterday and it was funny to read about my thoughts when I first got here, now it feels and smells like home. The language is going pretty well, I can communicate its just understanding that is a bit more of a challenge, because they slur a 3 or 4 words into 1 word so its’ hard for my brain to separate it into separate words. Spiritual growth. I don’t know I guess I can see a difference since I walked into the MTC, but I have a long way to go. Its good to here you are both working really hard, hearing that makes my days worth it here. Well you Easter sounded better then mine ahah We went to the Giubelisco's home. They are a great family, with a lot of family that don’t like missionaries a whole lot. Brother G.'s sister and her daughter pretty much sat on the balcony and smoked the whole time unless they had to come into eat. My comp felt pretty awkward, I was talking to the daughters boyfriend, I was really making him feel uncomfortable which was kind of funny, but I think he realizes were normal 20year old dudes..and were not Amish. All in all it was pretty good though. We left really drained so when we went boxing sunday night we were pretty wiped out. Monday was a fantastic day. One of our investigators and the elders quorum pres are really good friends. They’re both young…around 30. Anyways we all went up to Brother Pisannas (Elders Pres) cottage which was actually just a garden shed with a table inside…and a big field. But we had a great time. We taught them how to play football, then we played some soccer and basketball. We were covered in mud by the end of the day, it was a great time. My comp was sooooo sun burnt he was really red. Then they took us to the beach, we cant go in but we through the football around, the Italians thought it was awesome to see American football being played. The were laughing but for once not at us…with us more, just enjoying it. It was really nice to be normal for a day and be able to talk to people without them having them be defensive. I cant believe Jordan is getting ready to finish up..he’s got like what 5 months left..brians going on a year..Dan I guess 6 months or so...me 3 and a half. Its pretty crazy, it goes by fast, Tilini just wrote me an email saying how fast it goes by. I miss that dude. I m going to send another email with pictures from Pasquetta (monday). I am going to try to get a cd burned this week but the member is in Germany, and I use his computer to do it. We’ve been doing a lot of advertisement this past week for English course, because we give a spiritual thought at the end which counts as a lesson. And we get one investigator out of the last course. Last night me and another elder did scambi..or exchanges I guess you would call it..and we went with a guy from English course last night to his house. We taught him a quick lesson and basically just chilled with him for an hour before we had to be home. Its hard to see people that are actually interested in the gospel sometimes, because a lot just want to be American. So they like to hangout with us.

Oh, next week if I do get transferred I may not be able to email you until Thursday or maybe not until the week after. But I doubt I’m getting transferred until the one after this one.

Love,
ANZ Costa

91 pdays left

Ahaha All you see deer’s all we see is tray dogs, they’re everywhere. I got to see conference its all 8hours ahead here. So p-hood session was Sunday morning...and the Sunday night session we got a member to tape and we watched it for District Meeting. It was really good. They rededicated the Tabernacle, and had some really sweet talks. Check it all out when you can its all on LDS.ORG AND BYUTV.COM . On the BYU TV website you can see this world report about the church. Des try and find it and show mom and dad. The church is really growing, were taking over, and you can really see it’s the latter days. PBS.org should have a show coming up to called 'the Mormons', try and search for that. The church allowed a world renoun director to do a documentary. I can’t watch it but it’s sounded good. I actually do need two things. I need some deodorant. No dad not because I’m cheap. But because they don’t sell anti persperant...so you still smell..you just sweat less. So if you could send me some Gillette stuff that we buy at Costco that would be great. And if you could send me 1 or 2 of the 'accounting books' to. Mine is almost full. So if you could send them to Anz. N Costa Via Corsaro, 84 (Parco Inglese) 905030 Sant Agata Li Battiati Italy it’s the mission home. and I might get transferred so itll be easier to send it there. That would be great though because I don’t want to smell like...everyone else here ahaha just joking. Well Monday night we took a train up to Ragusa for Zone Conference. I had to give quick talk. Because I’m the new greeny. And then Pres Colton gave a presentation. Then we chilled for the afternoon. We rented that movie Happy feet....it was interesting. And we played some cards to. Then last night we to the train back and got in around 9...then we had to walk home. Ragusa is up in the mountains. So the town is a huge hill that you hike up to get to the apartment. I can’t believe I’ve been out 3 months to...it feels like it when I think about it. But it’s gone by fast. Our Mission made it in the Liahona which is the ensign out here. For a service project they did. That book my Elder Ballard sounds good, itd be pretty hard for us to get it. I met him in the MTC. So when you were in the States did you see the Bazooka? Dad you should get one...you could hunt cars or something. We haven’t done a lot in the past few days because all weekend was basically spent at the church for conference. With like an hour or 2 in between sessions. And then so far we’ve been in Ragusa all week. The weather is really nice, it’s getting warmer. Yea I definitely notice the grow in width ahaha. No its not that bad ..I’m still around 180. I still work out, and we eat as healthy as we can. Theirs fruit vendors everywhere so I usually get a red orange and some bananas or something pretty often…and of course a gelato. Easter is huge out here with all the Catholics. We had Jehovah’s hitting up our apartment…imagine the surprise when we one of us opens the door. ahaha they were taken back. They’ve got some big show they’re doing. I’ve been learning about the...I respect how hard the spread the word but they’re kind of crazy. The other churches all have flyers they’re putting out to for the holiday. A lot of businesses have closed for the whole week for Easter. Well...I think that’s about it for now. We’ve got a really busy day today. Were meeting with an investigator tonight at 8. Transfers are in like 2 weeks today, hopefully Ill stay here...and my comp will go ahaha just joking..somewhat Love you all Anz Costa

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

1st week in Italy

Well I’ve been in Sircusa for about a week now. Its basically been pouring rain since the night I got here. Up until today, which had been beautiful so far. So we’ve been coming home for the Siesta and putting our suits in front of a fan until we leave again. We leave our house at around 10am our time after our studies and getting ready for the day. Southern Italy still has a Siesta so we don’t leave the house unless we have an appointment, because everyone is napping or eating. So it’s a good time to study. Then we tract or go to an appointment until 8ish when everyone eats dinner, because no one answers the door if they’re eating. Same thing at 12, they start cooking and they don’t usually answer, or they getting changed to go out to eat. Food is huge hear, Sunday night we dropped by a members house at about 8 on the way home and they right away pull out pans and start cooking us dinner. Same thing after church Sunday, everyone wants to feed us. Friday we had a dinner appointment with the Caggegi family, they fed us a typical Italian meal, pasta for the appetizer (huge bowl) meat for the main course and then 2 desserts. We don’t get that many dinner appointments which is kinds of nice because it end up take up a lot of time, and we already don’t have a lot of time to tract. Not that tracting really accomplishes a lot most day but we still need to do it. The people are patient which is great. Even then they don’t have any interest in the church they usually respect and appreciate what were doing, so they listen for a few minutes. We had a lesson Monday night with Marcello, we watched a movie with the President Hinckley and then bore testimony, he could feel the spirit strong, he ended up leaving the room because he was crying. So were going to go play soccer with him tonight and then hopefully set up a baptism to. Sunday was fantastic because it was basically a stake conference. So I got to see Tilini, which was great its strange how you can bond with some people. Our apartment is really nice, 3 bedroom, big, kitchen and a big living room. It’s a small one for Italian apartments but pretty big nonetheless. Everyone lives in apartments and they all look really ghetto from the outside, but when they open the door its sooo nice. They have the nicest furniture all real wood, marble, and paintings, etc. So Sunday will be my first real Sunday in my branch. I’m giving a 5 minute testimony-talk...I don’t know where the slash key is so I put a dash. People are over all pretty friendly. We went up to the sea Saturday night to tract which was pretty sweet, it was more like an ocean from all the wind and storms weve had. Italian is coming along slowly, eveyone has different way of speaking so sometimes its hard to understand. What’s really great is the people that yell at us or make comments are usually speaking in Sicilian dialect so we have no idea what they’re saying, so its easier just to smile and say buona serra. My companion is good, we get a long pretty decent. But because we live with another companionship it evens out. There’s a few letters waiting for me at the mission home so if it was any of you I haven read it yet, but I will get them Saturday. People don’t really paint their apartments here, usually like a cream or a white. We teach an English course every Tuesday and Thursday night at 8 to 9, which keeps us busy. Were really blessed in this mission the Siccialian lifestyle is really relaxed, and I have no idea how missionaries elsewhere tract all morning and all afternoon then all night. It’s harder then it seems to do. One older lady let us in last week, I think she was lonely more then anything but we talked to here about America and Canada for a few minutes. The food is pretty good, the pizza is good the Gelato is amazing, and its like 1.50 but a huge scoop and cone. Pizza is like 2.50 at most for a pizza the size of the hotnreadys and little Caesars. UMMM everything is good here. Everyone thinks were Testimony di Jehovah (J.W) which is a lot of the reason most people don’t listen. So we hear that a lot. People really like trying out there English with us to which is cool. The pasta is better and the fruits for sure but so far nothing like AMAZING. But were lucky some missions all they eat is beans and rice. Were a walking mission but people stop and give us rides frequently, even if they don’t know us. I asked a guy Saturday night who had the best pizza, and he was just like ummm where do you live and then he was like get in and drove us to a place by our house…apartment. I can’t believe how cold it was, that’s pretty brutal. The coldest its been here is plus 6 one night. I think Monday night. Anyways I will write more next week, this week has been a bit of a blur, and everything goes by so fast. Well I love you all,
Ti Amo
Anz, Costa

1st days in Italy

Hey everybody, well I got in yesterday at the Mission Presidents house they took us out for gelato. Then we took a 2 hour nap and had some interviews. We attempted to go to bed early but by the time we looked up it was 1030. Well like I told Dad I’m in Siracusa , I got on the Bus this morning at 12 and came here. Met my trainer Anziano Yearsley, we get a long pretty well. He’s been out for over a year from Colorado and Texas. Well today I did my groceries and then went to a few other stores. Everything so far tastes really good, we got ground beef earlier, which they actually put through the grinder right in front of you. It was pretty sweet. And then I went back to the apartment and unpacked all of my stuff. Our apartment is pretty big. We have 2 other Anziani that live in there. And we got a pretty big living room in it to. The mission home is really nice. Its 4 floors, 5Bathrooms, a bunch of bedrooms and the mission office is in the basement. Things are different but not really that different from what I had expected. The address for my place is:

Via Polibio, 17
96100 Siracusa (SR)
Italia

So I will be there for a while. The mission pres will be sending you pictures today from yesterday after 24hours of flying, when we all looked and were pretty mashed up from sitting on planes all day. The Branch were in is supposed to be pretty strong and actually has a decent amount of people in it, which I wasn’t expecting. We kept hearing in the MTC that we would probably be in like a few member branches, which will probably happen eventually. President Colton was telling us that there are branches were they have elders as councillors and branch presidents. Anyways I will have more time to write next week, we get an hour here instead of half an hour. So I will write to everybody then. Talk to you all later, Love Anziano Costa

Monday, March 5, 2007

An Update

Nathan call us all from the airport today on his way to Italy. He is doing well and is looking forward to going to Italy. But not too excited. He was going to be getting a big mac and some candy bars before leaving for Italy. He said he may also send some stuff home when he gets there. It's the longest flight he has ever been on and is travelling with 2 elders and 3 sisters to Italy.

He's not sure when the next time he will be able to write but he wil try for next week. He said he has gained 21 pounds and is hoping to loose some weight when her gets there. Nathan also said he would like to get some nice ties in Italy apparently some return missionaries have come back with like $2 ties that would retail here for around $50.

He's not sure when the next time he will be able to write but he wil try for next week. He said he has gained 21 pounds and is hoping to loose some weight when her gets there. Nathan also said he would like to get some nice ties in Italy apparently some return missionaries have come back with like $2 ties that would retail here for around $50.

28/02/07

Hey everybody, Well I leave for Italy in like 4 days. Its crazy. My lastp-day last monday, tuesday etc. Its unbelievable but Im excited to gethit up some doors and here real Italian, and then be humbled by how lamemine is. So I guess Uncle Rick and Aunt Gail are all there to, I hopeyou all enjoy your time together. Des thanks for all the Dear elders. Wetaught our last lesson to volunteers monday. It went well, slowlyimproving and my Italian sounds better. Ill be released from Zone Leaderon Sunday, and the new ones will be called officially. The weather hasbeen weird here, one day it snows all day the next it melts. But 4 moredays and I wont see snow for 2 years. Im going to send a few pictures Iprinted off a few weeks ago home this week, just random ones, youllrecognize my comps, but the rest are just other elders who were going toItaly a few weeks ago. Not much has been going on this week, just beenreviewing everything and trying to go full days without speakingenglish. Ive noticed how bad my spelling in English has gotten since Istarted Italian, I make a lot more mistakes. My Italian spellling ishorrible because eveerything in Italian is how it sounds which is theopposite of english. But Italian makes a lot more sense instead ofconjugating sentences you conjugate one word which is the subject. Soyou ad and ending onto the end of a word. Like Voglio (Iwant) Vogli(youwant) Voglia(formal of you want) Vogliamo(we want) Vogliono(they want)etc. Im kind of glad were going soon though, because Im pretty sick ofthe food now. Im ready for some real food. Were slowing cleaning out ourroom from all the things you collect over 8 weeks. Well Ill give you myflight plans, we leave from here at 10am which means we leave MTC at6am. So I will call you all probably between 8&9 our timewhich is Iguess 11 your time. Then to NEW York which is only a hour stopover, orId called you all from there. Then from new york to Rome then Rome toCatania. We get there Tuesday morning at 924 am there time, so basically1 or 2 am Utah Time. 4isham your time I think. Noones said anythingabout me calling so Im assuming somebody will be there to say hi, but noworries if youre all at work or anything. I was going to call Germainbut I think it will be to early. Airport means we get MCDONALDS to whichwill be nice. And then we stay at the Mission Pres's house for a daywhile he interviews us, thenour comps pick us up wednesday which will bePday. So theres probably not going to be a good chance I will get toemail you all next week because I will probably be on a train all day.But I will try to get on a computer and get you my address at least.Anyways I only have 2 minutes, so I hope everything is good, Stay strongkeep the faith. Love Anz. Costa

Monday, February 26, 2007

21/02/07

Hey everybody, Well I just got your letters yesterday night from the weekend, it was presidents day Monday so everything was closed. What did you speak on at the singles ward dad? Yea I’ve gained quite a bit of wait since I got here, I weighed in yesterday at 175 which is up like 18 I think from when I first entered the MTC. But I work out everyday, I started lifting with some of the ex BYU football players a while back, and I still run & school these kids at basketball everyday. So I’m not getting fat, just eating a lot. I can’t believe how cold it is there, we barely need jackets most days, all the snow had melted and then we got down poured Monday. And it’s all slowly melting so it looks like spring in February. I can’t believe this is my second last PDAY in the MTC, the times gone by so fast. I didn’t get a chance to write you all Sunday like I usually do because we had a few problems happen this week with people in the District, so as zone leaders we were in a few meetings, and then checking up on companionships, so by the time we were done our personal study time was over and it was dinner. One of the sisters in my district has a hernia in her stomach so she had to leave on Tuesday and I had to approve it and then get it approved by the president. And so she’s in and out of here everyday. One of the sisters hustled me in 2 litres of coke...a cola :D so that made my dad yesterday. OOOOOOOOO yea I had talked to me Branch Pres about getting my Patriarchal Blessing a few weeks ago. I had it done yesterday by Patriarch Jenkins. It was amazing. The first 10 seconds of it hit me like a brick wall because I really felt like this pertained to me. I’ll send it or a copy home when I get it, and probably shouldn’t write it in an email. But yea it’s done so that’s good. Sorry I haven’t mentioned anything about my car, thanks you all for everything to get it sold, I appreciate it. If you’re busy you’re not homesick, so I try not to think about it. Well Mom I’m glad to hear you have a new calling, I just did a talk on Sunday about callings. So what exactly are you doing? Are you still dads assistant and still employment specialist? We all have to do our part to build up the kingdom so just work hard in those callings. Well this past week has been pretty uneventful, we taught the 3rd lesson in Italian which went REALLY well. The conjugations were better, we answered questions better. Somebody has an Andreas Bocelli album and I was listening to it. I can actually understand a lot of it which was pretty cool. The songs aren’t as good when you understand them ahaha Italian is a beautiful language, and I’m looking forward to eating some good food. Well hopefully everything else is going good there, thanks for all the letters they make nights here more fun. Keep the faith work hard, I love you all and I will talk to you later on, oh yeah I get my flight plans Friday, and like I said I will be able to call. So March 5 in the Am, if you have any questions email them to me this week and I will get back to you with the email next week, and then I’m off to Italy. OK TAKE CARE LOVE ANZIANO COSTA

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

14/02/2007 (Valentines Day)

Hey everybody. 2 more p-days to go and Im in Italy. Thats crazy. Wellthis weeks been different. The older district left on Tuesdaymorning...at 350am..so as zone leaders me and Tilini were up at 330signing them off and out, checking their rooms. Surprisingly we werenttired yesterday. If were 100% obedient the Lord takes care of you, so Iguess somebody was looking out for us. So they left and then we justchilled in the hallway for a few hours before the day started. Its weirdbeing the oldest district and the zone leaders. We taught the 2nd lessonin Italian which went pretty bad. We didnt prepare for it properlly. Wetried keeping it to basic and it just ended up leaving it open to tomany questions, which would be great if it were in english. We also hada native Italian come in and talk to me and my companionship on Mondayto. For an hour you just speak in Italian with him which was reallycool. He helped us out a lot because you see how crisp they pronounceeverything unlike english.Wow monday seems like a week ago..anyways lastnight we had Elder Hinckley (pres Hinckley's son) talk to us in adevotional. He is really cool, he just relaxed didnt take himself toserious. They had a time for questions at the end and this girl asked'how do you know if youre working to hard?" we were all expecting somespiritual response, but he just answered the best truest way possible"if you fall over and pass out" . I think it was good because a lot ofthe people here take themselves to seriously. So that was really nice tohave him come in. He was talking about Pres Hinckley, apparently hesdoing ok but he was talking about how most likely he wont be thepresident when we get back from out missions, hes 97..so 2 more yearsand hed be 99. His wife spoke to, she was just talking about likeappearance, manners some funny stories. She told us a quote by presidentHinckley, something he told a bunch of the missionaries after someonewas sent home "dont be stupid" which was funny. Well thanks for all theletters. There's been a lot going around here, fortunatly Ive been luckyenough to be the only one in the district not to come down with anythingso far. Weve been prepping for Sunday, Me and Tilini have to teachpriesthood because our branch pres has to go to a meeting, hiscouncilors to. Its really starting to hit us all that this time in 3weeks well be in Italy. I sent off some letters Monday morning to. Not awhole lot has been going on since Saturday when I wrote you all last. Weget a new district which Tilini and I have to give an orientation andtour tonight. So after this well go prepare that. Theyre all Catania. 7elders 2 sisters, which I think I told you on Saturday. So I heard yallfed the missionaries on Tuesday night, thats good. Keep feeding them.Ivemet like 3 or 4 missionaries going to our mission (in Ottawa). But itssuch a big mission, so youll probably meet some greenies that I met inthe MTC. Hahaha Des I had a good laugh when you said Tilini makes melook small. Dude is huge. I always try and take him down but hes like abrick wall, he plaed for the BYU football team, d-line. Yea I want togoto Hawaii when I get back, hes been telling me I have to come,because apparently they never seen a haulee boy (white boy) like me, cuzi hang out with all the togans and samoans, and apparently I actuallyfit in with them hahah. The polynesians remind me of my friends backhome. I printed off some pictures today, so Ill wait probably until a mylast week and send all of them off. British Airways doesnt have abaggage weight restriction anymore effective Monday (last monday) so wedont need to worry about that all that much anymore which is cool,because we have a lot of books. And every book we have is big, andnecesary. Well like I said its been a quiet few days so theres not muchelse to write. I hopeall of you are working hard, and studying. Have funremember me in your prayers, Love Anziano Costa -Alma7:23.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

10/02/2007

Sorry everybody the LDS mail was down Wednesday, so I couldn’t email anybody and I sat in front of the computer waiting for it to load for like 30 minutes. Anyways this week has been good. The district that came in before us is leaving Tuesday so our Branch Pres had to call new zone leaders for the Italy missions in the MTC....so myself and Elder Tilini were called to be the new zone leaders for everybody. Were getting about 10 elders and sisters on Wednesday which means we will be orientation them…which will be our first shot at the job. Zone leaders basically look after all the districts, The district leaders write us letters on how their elders and sisters are doing and we need to comment on how they can improve, etc. We also are basically responsible for everybody, and organizing sacrament meetings (who’s praying, blessing sacrament, hymns, etc). So I guess that is the biggest news this week. I got the study journals which were in perfect timing, I just finished the last page of my old study journal the day I got it. So thanks mom for sending them. I appreciate that. I am really happy to hear that you’re all being more diligent in studying. The Lord will bless you, continue to work and he will eagerly bless you daily. I’m really proud of you all, keep working keep studying keep learning. We taught the first lesson in Italian on Monday to 3 investigators to, that was intense...teaching the gospel in a whole new language. We didn’t have perfect conjugations but our teacher said it was molto bene per la prema lezzione. Everything else is good to. About 23.5 more days until I’m off to Italy. I’ll let you all know now that I’m allowed to buy a phone card here for long distance. So I can call home when I’m in the Airport. I can get a long distance phone card for like 7$. So I get to the airport at 5am…and It would be between 8-10am you time that I would call. If I called from Utah, but there’s a few weeks till then so We can figure things out in the next few weeks. I got a really good email from Germain this week, that definitely put some things into perspective, and definitely helped me out. Thanks you all for the dear elders and all the support, I appreciate it. Keep y’all heads up and work hard. Voi in Italian means Y’all so ..I can use it in English :P. Love you all take care Anziano Costa

31/01/2007

What’s going on? Well things are going well, I just got the package on Monday morning, so thanks for everything. I just don’t have Brian’s new address. But that tie he sent me, wow...molto skivo (nasty). AHAHAH no its cool though I’ve been wearing a few times this week. Well the weekend was rough, we couldn’t teach one of our lessons and it just lead into a really bad weekend, and then we got our hair cut...so we all look pretty retarded ..and then Sunday morning our alarm didn’t go off, and our Pres always comes to our class Sunday morning so that wasn’t to good. But last night we sat and talked about everything and things are good again. Were staying positive, and we prayed about it. And then we figured something out that really improved our teaching. So things are good. I got all of your emails these past few days updating me. While its been -30 out there I’m still chillin in a lava lava and a sweatshirt :P. Mom, Dad it was great to hear from you both, sorry that I didn’t tell you. But the clothes all fit great, the shoes are great to, I just shined them both up Saturday night...yes that was the highlight of my Saturday night. But they looked brand new when I was done. OH Mom if you have any more of those Blue 'BLUELINE' 'accountant' books...they’re like blue all the pages are numbered, can you send me one or a few if you can. I used one for my study journal and it’s a great way to organize, because theirs is only 100 pages and you have an idea where everything is in it. So if you could let me know as soon as possible that would be great. Because I only have 15 pages left in mine and I need to figure something out if I can’t get another one. I sent you all letters on Monday morning, and the pictures/letters should be there any day now. I hope everything is good with you all. Italian is still going. Now were working on sounding better in our sentences, trying to remember all the words we need in sentences. Sadie looks cute, I sent off a letter to Uncle Rick and Aunt Gail this morning but it won’t get picked up until tomorrow. Thanks for all of the addresses mom, it’s a lot easier to write people. I have Sundays and Wednesdays to write...but only 30mins on Wednesdays to email. There’s not a whole lot to write about the MTC is pretty much the same everyday. We watched the movie 'the Testament' on Sunday night. If any of you can get your hands on that, try to Bishop or something. Its an amazing movie. Its about the atonement in the Bible and then what was happening in the BOM at the same time. It was amazing it’s pretty inspirational, so if anyone can get a copy definitely check it out. I must be quiet in the house, but stay focused, you’re never alone. I hope everything is going well, thanks for all the dear elders everyone. Well I have to go put my clothes in the dryer and I only have 1:00minute left. So I love you all, read your scriptures. You’re all in my prayers, don’t worry about me, I love you Elder Costa

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Nate's third week at the MTC

Hey family, Well 3 weeks yesterday since I’ve been in the MTC. Things are going well still. Italian is going well I’m learning how to speak like a normal person in shorter sentences instead of saying every single word, so we sound a little less challenged then before. The food still sucks hahah. Everything’s good though, its been nice getting all of you letters. I can’t believe it’s so cold their, its nice here I can rock my lava lava and a sweatshirt on p-days and be warm. My comps are cool, we’ve been learning to teach with Unity in our lessons, and were just over all improving communication and planning, MTC is all planning every hour of every day of every week. Well Mom you asked what my days are like so Ill give you a typical outline. We have to be in class by 7AM , which is when we do personal studies on a topic. 745-815 is breakfast, 815-1230 were in class. If we have a teacher were working on Italian or getting tips on how to teach well, If we don’t then were doing personal studies, practicing lessons, learning doctrine, or studying Italian. 1230-115 is lunch which is my favourite part of the day. 115-400 is class the same as the morning. 400-530 is gym, I usually run 2 miles and schools these kids in basketball. 530-615 is dinner which is usually pretty gross over cooked meat and a few other things added. 615-9 IS class just like the morning or afternoon and then 9-930 we plan for the next day, like what were going to do, when were going to do it, what were going to study etc etc etc. 9-1030ISH is basically when we go back to our apts. Me and Tilini often get into pretty deeps conversations about something we’ve been studying, share insight on doctrine. Sundays we have a fireside and a church movie. We watched the making of the Salt Lake Temple, I could believe the faith they had in that dispensation. Me and Tilini were sitting in that hall until midnight just talking about faith. It was unbelievable. Tuesdays we have a devotional at night as well. So they keep us busy...but believe it or not theirs still not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do, and go over everything I want to go over. But if your heart and soul is in the right place I guess the Lord understands. Senior comp is pretty cool, I basically oversee everything we do, our branch pres essentially says if your senior comps doing it you can to. Therefore I take the heat for anything and than I pass it down if it has nothing to do with me. I sent the pictures and some letters to all of you yesterday, so you should be getting them early next week I’m hoping. I don’t know how fast the mail system is though. I got a dear elder from Dan so I have an idea what’s up with him, but I don’t here from Brian although I assume he’s busy . I’m proud to hear you’re all being more diligent in studying, keep it up and you’ll be blessed. The Lord is EAGER to bless you if you’re faithful with everything you ask. Good job getting those missionaries helping you this weekend, they have it to easy with cars…we have to walk in Italy hahaha. Like I said I wrote you all letters. SO take care, stay strong, trust in the Lord. All my love Elder Costa

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Nate's Second Week at MTC


I got all of your dear elders I appreciate them so much, they give me something to take my mind off of everything. Things are going well here. My companion is make me a true Hawaiian...I’ve got a lava lava no…google it and you’ll see what it is. Italian is coming along I can speak past and present tense short sentences. We only have 30 minutes a week so it would be great if people could dear elder me or write me a letter because reading them here takes a lot of time. Well my companions are going great, its trippy to see the new greenies coming in and thinking we were them 2 weeks ago. Now were welcoming them and trying to make them feel at home. Some of these dudes take it pretty hard being away from everything...walking through our dorm some night you can see it. But I think they focus to much on what they miss instead of what were doing. Were in the latter days and we need to focus on the work being done. The food is getting better...well I’m getting hungrier. I could definitely go for a BIGMAC though...and a coke. If you could send me the shaver charger we talked about on the phone that would be great to. The only internet site we can go to is mormon.org and lds.org so I can’t check out my blog until I’m in Italy. But thanks for setting it up that will be informative for people who want to know. I’m pretty tired here but obedience with exactness does have blessings...and if we go to bed when were supposed to I can feel the difference...it just doesn’t happen often. We had a devotional last night on faith which was pretty cool. They told us we could take off our jackets...it was pretty funny to see all the white shirts. Oh yea I was made senior comp of my comps...which is a lot more responsibility then I thought. Its cool but I need to be careful of everything I say more so then before. I weighed my self in gym on Mondays and Fridays I gained 9 pounds so far. I’ve been keeping up with one of my comps. He’s a 6"2 270 football player from Hawaii…man he can eat. Well how is everything everybody? I’m hoping good, I only have 5 minutes left. The picture developing thing is down as per usual so hopefully I can get them developed tomorrow...but I need to put it in our agenda so we have time...every minute of every day has to be planned, which take a lot of getting used to but that’s life. Io sono bellisimo dalla MTC, so don’t worry about me. Stay strong keep faith read your scriptures and God will help you with the rest. ALL MY LOVE, PEACE ELDER COSTA

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Belated birthday wishes

It was Nathan 20th birthday this past week, January 8th. We know he is not able to celebrate this day with his friends and family but we still want to wish him a Very happy Birthday and we are all thinking of you.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Here is the first letter from Nathan in the MTC!


Come sta? Well I’m great here in the MTC. I guess I’ve been here 1 week today. The first 3 or 4 days were rough but you move on and keep you head up. So I’ve only got 30 minutes once a week to write an email so you'll get an email from me every Wednesday, which is my P-day, while my laundry is running. So I’ve got 2 companions, Elder Tillini and Elder Gann. Tillini is from Hawaii he’s a big dude and Gann is from Idaho. We all get along great and we’ve been a great support for each other, because everyone gets homesick. I’ve seen quite a few elders actually go home already so I'm proud of myself for making it past the first week with out any problems. I had to get 3 needles last week my HEP. A, flu shot and another one. The food here pretty much...sucks but the hungrier you get the more likely you are to eat whatever they put in front of you. One of my Italian teachers was telling us that Southern Italy is actually pretty cheap. You can get food for like a few euros and everything in general is cheaper then here. Which is great. So in the MTC were basically in call all day long. I have my companions and 3 Sorelli (sisters). There’s about 15 other missionaries preparing to go to Italy 19 are coming in 2 weeks and were the only 6 going to Catania. I thought that was pretty special. There must be something big in store for us. When were not in class we have 45 minutes for meals 45 minutes of gym, a devotional every Tuesday night, and Sundays are basically a day off. Which is really nice because you brain needs it. I can already speak basic present tense sentences in Italian. Wednesdays we get to visit the temple, so this afternoon the Italian district is going. So I’ll be sending you guy’s pictures probably later this week. Mom, Dad you guys would believe the view here everyday. Its insane. The mountains are right in front of the MTC, the temple is to. I keep looking at the mountains my comps think its funny, but we don’t have anything like that in Ottawa. Last night at our devotional we had Elder Ballard the apostle come and release the MTC Presidency and gave us a talk. It was insane. The love and the spirit in that room were strong no matter who you are you could feel it. We left that room on such a spiritual high. We study hard all day and then you crash really hard at night and next things you know the alarm is going off again to get up. But the time goes by fast, and everyone says that 8 weeks you’re here feel like half that. The days feel long but they just go by fast. This emails kind of all smooshed together because so much has happened and I don’t really have time to put it all down properly. So I hope dad got back from Utah fine, although I’m sure I would have heard is something happened, I think you have the number for the MTC. They’re pretty strict here but I guess its good training for the field, that way when you don’t do some things out there its not actually that bad because the bar is set so high here. The new greenies come in today, its funny to see them looking around and thinking that was me a week ago. Well hopefully this email will find you all well. Don’t worry about me I’m doing great, the Lord is behind me, and I’ve had an amazing family that raised me right. You can email me back at this address costa07@myldsmail.net. Or write me my address is N.COSTA MTC MAILBOX #115 ITA-CAT 0305. 2005 N. 900 E. Provo, Utah 84604-1793. You can send me free letters through dearelder.com Because Ill get the letter the day after you send it, and its free. Keep me up to date with things at home, we feel so cut off here its like were on another planet. Well I hope everyone’s well I know I’m making you proud and that helps me get through some of the days, we will ALL be blessed for this time, none said it would be easy just worth it. Well I love you all get back to me soon. PEACE Anziano Costa.