(no subject)

Hello My Friends,

I am sitting here relaxing in my chair and writing this email. I also have a stranger sitting next to me, (my new companion) and I am ready to fall asleep.

My time with Elder Peel is up. I am actually really sad about it because we had such a good time together. I have nothing bad to say about him, only praises to rain down on him. He accepted me for who I was and just let me be myself. He saw me through a really hard time in my mission and helped me get to a very happy place. I keep thinking of that verse of scripture in Alma, “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” I’d change Moroni to Carl Peel though. I’ll really miss him. We have a little quote board, where we would write really solid quotes, and I wrote on it “Friendships made before this life carry on into mortality and into the eternities.” It felt fitting for the friendship we had developed and especially since we became friends so quickly. I can’t tell everyone about his 250 sheep now!! We saw members all day yesterday because Elder Peel was leaving and one of them, who teaches Christine and Jonathan with us asked us if we got along. After a very positive response, he said he knew we did because we taught so naturally together and with such a powerful spirit. He was really impressed by us. That makes you feel pretty good. I’m really glad Elder Peel and I became such great friends.

My new companion is Elder Bell. He is born in Texas, raised in Oklahoma. 

Elder Peel and I had a really nice week. We went over to John’s house last night (the member we clean the horse stalls for) and had such a good time. It honestly felt like we were hanging out with family. We had a wonderful meal and a great dessert. John’s sister lives in America and she recently came to visit and left John’s family the Bean Boozled jelly beans. So, we decided to play that. I got the spoiled milk jelly bean and almost puked - but I didn’t! John’s daughters shoved the vomit flavored jelly bean in his mouth and it was so funny. We had such a fun time. We played a game afterwards and just chatted - this is one of those families that you never forget.

I went to the shoulder doctor on Thursday and found out that I have a joint issue which could develop into arthritis. That wasn’t the most exciting news to find out, but I will go back so that they can put painkiller medicine in my shoulder. I guess we will see what that does. He also told me I wasn’t allowed to workout my upper body anymore, which basically means I can’t workout or play a lot of sports seriously. Guess I will be getting into biking.   

We also taught Stephanie. We taught her about temples and family history! She really loved the idea of being with her family for eternity and was very engaged in the lesson. She is a very faithful woman.

I don’t have much else to say. I feel alright right now, pretty tired, really excited for my life after the mission, but everyday grateful for the experiences I have had and the people I have met so far. The same member who complimented Elder Peel and I said that the last few months go by quickly, but they are harder because God is preparing me for something much better after. I am a little nervous of how the mission could get harder, but if God sees fit to refine me a little more, then I will willfully submit to what he sees as just.

Love you all,

Elder Molinari

A castle we randomly found while visiting a member family

(no subject)

Hello Everyone,

We had a really fun P-day with all of our district and so I had no time to write and I am tired, but because I love you all...I will write.

We had a really spiritual district meeting outside and I really enjoyed it. It was kind of cold and pouring rain, but we had some shelter and the spirit with us. I was asked to give a formation on what I thought was the most important thing I could talk about. So, I decided to focus on being worthy Priesthood holders and faithful husbands. I started in with the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood and moved on to section 121 of the Doctrine and covenants, with the warning about worthily exercising the Priesthood. I finished with some quotes and counsel. I think it went really well and from what the District said - they enjoyed it as well.

After I gave my formation, Elder Fields did his formation which was all about being bridge builders. He spoke about the positive encouragement he always received from his Grandpa, which gave him the mindset to continue striving to become better and do better. His Grandpa was a bridge builder. Now, we as the rising generation, whether as missionaries, or as future husbands and fathers, are the next bridge builders. We will build the bridges for the future generations. It was a super good formation.

After we finished, we weren’t really sure what to do because it was pouring rain and none of us wanted to walk in the rain, so we asked in our closing prayer that the rain might be held off, so we could walk without getting wet. Within seconds after we finished the prayer, the rain stopped. The storm clouds were still above us, but the rain stopped falling and the clouds even parted a little bit so we could see the sun. It was a beautiful moment.

We didn’t do much else this week. It was vacation in Belgium, so all of our investigators were gone. We were able to teach Jonathan about Tithing! He accepted the invitation to follow the law of tithing, even though it will be difficult for him and his family. We are really proud of his progress and willingness to follow the example of Christ.

We had zone conference this week. I don’t usually write about zone conference, but I will today because I feel bad giving you all nothing enjoyable to read? A few weeks ago I had my interview with President and expressed a few of my concerns about the mission. I gave him my concerns and then I told him I wasn’t just going to complain to him, so I presented my easy solution to the problem. I suggested talking about Christ more because it is important that the missionaries focus on who this work is directed by, who we should all strive to become, and who we represent as missionaries. So, fast forward now to the zone conference and President Sorensen’s opening formation was all about Christ! It was super great to just focus on Christ. I don’t know if President did that because of my suggestion, but I loved it either way.

We also received a really nice formation on the Temple and how to better invite people to the Temple. I really loved that formation as well. It was done by the Visitor center couple and they were super interactive and really captured everyone’s attention. I was participating a lot, and after answering a question almost immediately, Elder Woods said “This guy’s on fire!” and gave me a high-five. Honestly, it was a small thing, but it literally made my day. Then they did a roleplay on how to invite members to talk with their friends about the Gospel and I was chosen to participate in that. If I had been chosen to do that before my mission, NO WAY I would have been able to do it, but I had a fun time pretending to be someone and went right along with it.

I’ll close with my testimony of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for Him. He has changed my life. I can very easily relate my life to the story of the currant bush. There was a large bush that was not yielding any fruit, so the farmer pruned it back drastically to just a stump. Eventually that stump grew to become a great majestic bush with lots of fruit on it. It said “Thank you Mr. Farmer for cutting me down to make me great.” I can look up many times in my life and thank “the Farmer” for cutting me down to make me great. I am so grateful for a savior who has taken upon all of my sins and sufferings, taken upon himself the sins and challenges of everyone! He has made it possible for me, and for you all, to become someone great. I know that he is the Son of God, I believe that he is a resurrected being, who governs his church on the earth today. He leads us through revelation as he did in times of old through a living prophet. I love the Lord, I know He loves all of you. I strive to become as He is and I hope you will all strive to become as He is as well. Jesus is the Christ, pra to feel his love for you and accept his loving corrections and become the beautiful and fruitful tree you were meant to be!

I love you all. God bless you.

Elder Molinari   

Pictures are of our adventures in Dinant, a city destroyed during world war I and also where the first saxophone was made!

Late

Hello Everyone,

Honestly this week wasn’t very eventful, but I feel like every time I say that I still manage to write a really long letter. I’d say the highlights of the week were meeting with Stephanie and Saturday as well - I think Friday and Sunday had some good stuff too.

Great lesson with Stephanie on Tuesday. We taught with two of the members again and had a great lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephanie gladly accepted it and is continuing to show so much faith and commitment to the Gospel - it is honestly inspiring. It is also a very good reminder of how we should all feel about the gospel, we should rediscover it with joy each time we study from the words of the Prophets, whether in the scriptures or from other modern day revelations. I know that I can get very complacent with the Gospel, so I imagine that others do as well. A fun exercise I think would be for each of us to “rediscover” the Gospel and pray to know how we can each do that, so that this great gift doesn’t become repetitious. I’ve heard you need to keep your marriages fresh and new, why not try it with the Gospel too! I’ll try it too. Enough tangents, Stephanie came to church on Sunday as well and loved it. I’ve never seen someone get so much out of all three hours of church - honestly inspiring. I’m so happy for her! She told us that she may not be available on Tuesday because of a meeting, but she will see if she can get out of going because meeting with us and learning more is more important than the meeting! Stephanie is setting such a good example for not only me, but all of us!

Saturday was cool, we went and cleaned the horse stalls out again. We had some excitement when they were leading the horses out of the barn. The owners future son-in-law was taking one of the horses out and it was a little impatient and started running all the way from the back of the barn, and Simon didn’t let go and consequently hit everything in his path as he was dragged across the floor. I was standing outside, watching, and he flew out and got dragged across the stones. He managed to stand up and get the horse under control, was very impressive because if that had been me, I would have let go of the rope long before that. This is also why I don’t lead the horses, but that is another story! We also got to ride on bails of hay which was really fun, I leaned over to elder Peel, who is a farmer, and said “I feel like a real farm boy right now!” We finished cleaning the stalls and then shot off for a lesson with a new investigator that we had texted. He was super nice and accepted the Book of Mormon! Then, we shot back to church because John’s Nephew was being ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and we were invited, (John is the owner of the horses). That was a really nice experience to be part of the ordination.

Oh and I also had my shoulder x-rayed as well! I Have to go back and get the other one x-rayed too. Long explanation short, they make weird crunching sounds which is most likely a cause of lack of cartilage and cause me pain. Hopefully nothing too serious is wrong with them!

Yes, well, I do not have much left to say, thanks for tuning in!

Much Love,

Elder Molinari

1. Won't try explaining this

2. On top of hay

3. On a hoverboard

4. On hay still

The Return of the Sleeping Photo!

Hello,

This week was honestly, really slow. I feel like it has been a month since last Monday. No idea why, guess that just happens sometimes.

Elder Peel and I made some great progress with our investigators this week! I am very grateful that the Lord has placed these people in my life because it has been a privilege to see them: learn, grow, and develop testimonies.

We taught Stephanie on Tuesday with two members. Stephanie was really happy to see all of us. It is honestly incredible to see how much the Gospel has changed her life already. I asked her to share the story of how she knew the Book of Mormon was true, and she told us she had set a specific time to read because it was something serious and shouldn’t be done on a train or while watching TV. So, she found a CD of a choir singing and listened to that as she read and she said she felt so much love from God and knew the Book of Mormon was true. This is a miracle in and of itself, because she used to be completely non believing and now she is getting baptized! Woops, that comes later in the story.

We taught her the Restoration this time and used the Restoration video to tell the history of Joseph Smith. When the video finished she said she believed he was a prophet. She also said she agreed with the entire Apostasy. At one point Stephanie was trying to explain what she was feeling and one of the members said something along the lines of “this is like learning something new, isn’t it?” And Stephanie responded “No, I’ve learned this all before.” I was amazed because the spirit is just working through her so strongly and she did learn this all before! She accepted all of this long before she came to Earth. Elder Peel and I decided to extend the baptismal invitation. She accepted the invitation before I finished the sentence. She responded with a big “YES!” Her baptism is scheduled for April 29th!! She is very excited about it and texted us this morning asking if she could invite her friends. I am so happy for her.

We went and taught Christine with another member on Thursday and had a great lesson. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she agreed with everything. I really love how she just listens to us when we teach. She is a thinker, so it is pretty cool to see how well she absorbs everything we tell her. She totally agreed with everything and we decided to extend a baptismal invitation to her as well. She didn’t say yes because she wants to receive the confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true and this is Christ’s church. We were totally fine with that and I am glad she said that because that helped us figure out where she is on her path. She asks some thought provoking questions though, I’ll tell you that. I am really honored to teach her though - she is awesome!

I am very grateful for the people I get to meet and teach on the mission. This week was really slow because we had a lot of finding to do and didn’t really find anyone… but, these small moments of seeing someone changing their life are incredible and make it worth it. Almost all the friends I have made on my mission have finished their missions now and it is interesting to see that each of them tells me how lucky I am to still be out here, in France, preaching the Gospel. Sometimes it is hard to have the Eternal Perspective, but I really am lucky to be out here. I have a bad habit of just going through the motions, but I like to think I try to make every moment count. They are all right though, I am pretty lucky to be out here in France, and now Belgium, sharing the Gospel with others - helping save souls! I’m really grateful for this opportunity.

We visited some elderly members last night, the De Lauw’s, and it was really nice. I love talking with older people and listening to their stories, they have so much wisdom to share. It was a refreshing way to finish the week and spend the Sabbath Day. They are both converts and because of them all of their children and grandchildren are members - incredible.

As much as I want to start my life after the mission, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything else.

Love you all,

Elder Molinari

1. Companion selfie in front of a really old church

2. Sleeping selfie

3. I tried to take an artsy photo!

Forgot to mention that we had to move Jonathan's baptism because Jonathan couldn't make it to church for so many weeks in a row. Since he lives very far away from the church, we have to rely heavily on members picking him up. So, that has been our biggest obstacle. We are rescheduling it and it should be in two weeks. We have to finish up the commandments and the laws and ordinances with him and then he will be all ready to go! He came to church yeseterday and asked for a Book of Mormon for his Step father!! He is doing very well.

Hello + a Talk

Hello everyone,

Transfer decisions came in and I am staying in Niveles. I am very happy about that because we have been seeing a lot of great progress from our investigators.

We met with our friend Christine again this week and had a really great lesson. She had studied the Restoration pamphlet and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and plans to read the entire book. She wrote down a bunch of questions for us, but they were all mainly if we were going to abandon her if she started asking hard questions. We assured her we wouldn’t and she was very pleased with that. Her faith is incredible and she knows the bible so well. She has been searching for the truth her whole life and she is ready to receive it! We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she is a very social person, so she is very engaged, but during the lesson she just let us speak and explain the plan. When Elder Peel was explaining the Spirit World, she piped in and said that is biblical, and then fired off a list of all the scriptures in the old and new testament that talk about the spirit world and doing work for those who have passed on - she explained the spirit world by herself! The rest of the lesson went well and after we left I just felt so much peace and happiness. The spirit was present during that lesson and it was bearing witness to her of the truth that she has been searching for. As President Packer said, she was hearing the familiar “ring” of the Gospel.

Sunday was a really good day and the rest of my weekly will probably be about Sunday. Three days earlier our friend, Stephanie, who we had taught a few weeks ago texted us and told us that she had read the verses in the Book of Mormon we had left with her and she had really felt the love of God as she read, and that she believed. We invited her to church and She came. It was probably one of the coolest moments on my mission to see her actually discover, for herself, that the Book of Mormon is true and then she continued to exercise her faith and came to church. As a missionary, this was a very touching experience because all we do is ask them to read. If they read, then they have the promise that they will know the Book of Mormon is true and this is Christ’s restored church on the earth. So, when someone actually does it and receives that witness, it is an incredible honor to witness that. We are seeing her this Tuesday :)

I Also gave a talk on Sunday about the Light of Christ. I read the bible dictionary definition of the light of Christ and it is basically our conscience, but it is also something everyone has and can lead to receiving the spirit in our lives - I focused on that. I talked about how Stephanie wanted to meet with us again because she had seen the light from Elder Peel and I. It was a short talk, but I think it did it’s job - I’ll try to attach it. I did receive the best compliment of my life though afterwards! A member came up to me and said “That was a General Conference talk, incredible, very very good - I loved it.” Made me feel pretty good! Stephanie said the talk was great as well. Unfortunately she had to leave after Sacrament meeting, but I am glad she still made the sacrifice to come.

Later in the day, Elder Peel and I went to go visit a man we have talked with twice. His name is Jean Marc. Since we didn’t know if we would be transfered or not, we went and visited. He told us he didn’t have time to talk at that moment, but to come back in the summer. We explained that we might not be here in the summer. At that moment the phone rang and Elder Peel answered, so It was just me and Jean Marc talking. We ended up talking for 45 minutes on his doorstep. I learned so much about him in that short time and was so glad we were able to talk. He does professional photography as a hobby now, so he needed to work on his photos. I asked if I could see some and he showed me his four or five instagram accounts that have over 1000 followers each! He explained to me that anything that is free in life doesn’t really have value because it doesn’t mean anything to you or the other person, unless what the other person is giving to you has value to them. When he finished saying that I pulled out the Book of Mormon I had brought for him, with my personal testimony in it, and told him this Book is free, but it means a lot to me. He reminded me that he doesn’t believe in anything, but he is interested and because it means so much to me, he would take it. He then gave me all of his contact information, not because I was a missionary, and not because he wanted to talk about religion, but because I had become his friend. It was probably one of the best moments of my mission. Hopefully, I am still here in the summer so I can go back and talk with him a little more because he is interested to know why I care so much about this Gospel. If I am gone by then, I will make sure to stay in touch with him.

The week was great. You do not have to be perfect to be a missionary, you do not need to be perfect to do good things. All you need to be is willing and let the Lord show you the way. My mission has become something incredible and it is all because I changed my attitude. When we focus on the negative and all the bad around us, we become filled with that darkness. But, if we just look up and thank God for letting us have the ride, the world becomes so much better. Be more positive! It is a silly thing to say, but it can make a world of a difference and very literally make the world different.

Much love,

Elder Molinari 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sq9qVvD-bFYIPShvRBAWhl8v6iXsQp3CyB1PgdGBQCk/edit?usp=drivesdk

I'm not sure if that works...but there is my talk 

Following the Light of Christ

Recently, Elder Peel and I were attending a little party for all of the volunteers at the Resto that we work at each Friday Morning. We were a little unsure about going because we didn’t know if it would be the most effective use of our time, but we could see the pleading in the eyes of the owner, and so we agreed to come.

Right before we showed up to the party, we had just challenged our investigator, Jonathan, to be baptized and he had accepted the invitation. Elder Peel and I were both in very high spirits and filled with the love of Christ as we headed out to the little get together.

When we arrived, we were of course in our Sunday best, and stuck out instantly. We walked around and greeted the owner and others that we knew.

Finally, we looked around trying to find a place to sit. We decided to sit at a table that was off in the corner with four people chatting with each other. We went and sat down and then introduced ourselves. One of the women, Stephanie, was particularly interested in who we were and wanted to talk to us about the missionary work we perform and also our Church.

We didn’t get to say very much, but what we did say sparked an interest for her and we ended up receiving her phone number and later making an appointment to meet with her. We went with Brother Desmedt a few days later and taught Stephanie about the Plan of Salvation that God has for her. The Lesson was wonderful and the spirit was there as the three of us expounded the marvelous Plan that God has for us to her.

At one point in the lesson, I think Brother Desmedt asked her why she had wanted to meet with the missionaries. She responded that when we had entered the room of the party a few nights earlier, we had a light about us that caught her attention. She determined that anyone who carries such a light with them, must have something good to say.

Well what is this light that she mentioned? In the doctrine and covenants we read that, “The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (84:45). So this light, that we carried into the room that night was the light of truth, or the Light of Christ!  

The Lord said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”

Brothers and Sisters you are the Light of the World. I think in order to share that Light, then we need to continually have the Spirit with us. If we need to have the Spirit with us, then we need to be vessels that can carry the Light of Christ with us.       

Did you notice that before Elder Peel and I had entered the room of the party, we had just come from a very spiritual teaching experience. I think one way that we can receive the light of Christ more fully in our lives is by having spiritual experiences that invite the Holy Ghost to be with us and then sharing that light with others!

We prepare ourselves for spiritual experiences by reading our scriptures, praying, going to church, visiting those in need, and following the Will of the Lord.

The Lord said “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matt 6:22). So, if our eye is single to the glory of God, then we will be filled with the Light of truth, which light invites the Holy Ghost.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have all been given the Gift of The Holy Ghost. We are promised that we will have his Spirit with us forever, as long as we are worthy of it and remember him. We renew this covenant each week with the Sacrament.

When we focus our efforts on following the Will of the Lord, then we will more effectively be able to Follow the Spirit, which will invite more of the light of Christ into our lives.

One of the best ways I know to receive more Light, is by sharing or teaching truth.  Remember that “the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light!” When we share our testimonies we are sharing truth with other people and when we share that truth, we are spreading the light of Christ.

We have the opportunity every day, as bearers of Heavenly Light, to share the Light of Christ with others. It can be in a simple hello, or a word of thanks, or a Gospel discussion. Whenever we are following the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we are spreading light. Share simple statements of truth with your friends and neighbors that will invite the Spirit and allow, both, you and them to have a spiritual experience. We were not meant to put our light “under a bushel,” so that it profiteth nothing to all around. We were meant to share the light that has been given to us.

President Packet said, “the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar ‘ring’ to them.” Search for the meek and lowly in heart who are willing to listen and recognize truth. Stephanie had prepared herself already to hear the message of the Gospel. This light is nothing new, so when your friends see that light in you, help them feel the spirit and recognize the ring of the Gospel!

Read your scriptures, pray for spiritual experiences, go to church, talk with your friends and neighbors and spread the Light of Christ. Pray to know who to talk with, pray for opportunities to bear testimony, and you will begin to fill a world that “lieth in darkness” with a light that “enlighteneth every man.” The light of Christ will invite the Spirit, which will bring us to the Savior, who leadeth to the Father.

Just four days ago Stephanie sent us a text and said that she read the scriptures we had given her in the Book of Mormon and she felt the love of God and that she believes. The light of Christ is in all of us. Follow the promptings of the Spirit to spread the Light and the Lord will guide you to those who are prepared to hear the message of salvation and joy.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.