My Companion's Birthday and Padre Pio

Hey fam,

So this week was pretty cool. Today we got stuck in an elevator. That

was neat. We went for a run and then we got in the elevator to go up

to our apartment and the elevator stopped halfway up. Luckily there

are 4 missionaries in our house so we rang the emergency button in the

elevator and the other Anziani came out and then we couldn't open the

door ourselves so we called the fire department. They sent "la

squadra" which translates to "the squad". So the squad showed up a

little bit later and 30 min after the incident started it was over.

Also the elevator is really small so while we were waiting it got

really really hot so we made it out sweaty, but alive haha good times.

We were able to teach some new people this week so that was pretty

neat. We are seeing some good things happening and it's been fun. We

are loving the city and everything. Also we got transfer calls this

past week and me and Anziano Jensen are staying for a little bit

longer here in Foggia. It will be a good time.

In other news the other missionaries here had a baptism this Saturday.

That was neat. Also it was my companion’s birthday on Thursday and we

got in the elevator to go for a run that morning and then at the

bottom the sisters surprised him with a cake. We were really tired

because it was 6AM but it was cool too. Also that night we had a

waffle party at English course and we made everyone waffles. It was a

good time.

Today we went to this city called San Giovanni Rotondo which is the

birthplace of a man named Padre Pio. He is pretty famous here. He has

two churches and a lot of souvenirs. It was pretty cool. Very

interesting but still pretty cool.

Anyways. Love you guys. Have a good week. Stay safe. Never give up,

never surrender.

Anziano Yskes

I Like Food

The District

Padre Pio

My Companion's Birthday. IDK why I'm holding the cake

My Companion Sleeping

Ian's Mission Call

Dear Fam,

So I wrote an email but then it got deleted when I was trying to send

it.... So now I'm writing a new one. Hopefully I can remember all the

stuff I put in the last one.

Anyways this week started off pretty cool. On Tuesday we had a lunch

with all the missionaries in Foggia and one missionary made African

food. His last companion was from Africa so he learned a couple things

and made it for us. We ate FuFu and Eguzi soup. Idk if I spelled it

right but it was way good. Spicy and pretty heavy but good.

The work is going well here in Foggia. We are finding people to teach

and the Lord continues to bless us. We are seeing little miracles

every day so we definitely won't complain about that. Me and my comp

are working hard and we are excited for what the future holds.

Today is a big holiday in Italy, Ferragosto. Basically it's a holiday

where everyone does nothing and everything is closed. So we stayed

inside and cleaned the house (President’s orders) but now the house is

clean and mom would be so proud :) love you mom. But seriously tho,

the house is clean.

Yesterday we were downtown and we saw this huge precession and a bunch

of people were carrying this huge painting called "Maria dei setti

veli" which translated means "Mary of the Seven Veils". Idk if I'm

100% correct on the name. It's something like that though. Anyway,

this painting was painted a long time ago and when it was revealed the

Foggia Saint, San Valentino, was the first to see the painting and

then a miracle happened (I don't know what the miracle is). After

that experience it was completely encased so nobody could see it

again. And it's now been encased for like 700 years. Crazy. Idk how

they know if it's in there because nobody has ever seen it but it's

interesting none the less.

In other news my brother got his mission call two days ago. He will be

going to serve in the Fresno California mission and he will be

speaking the Hmong language. The coolest part though is that he leaves

November 16. The day after I get home from my mission. The Lord

definitely blessed me there. After two years of not seeing my family I

will have one night to be with my brother before he leaves for two

years. Our family will be reunited for just a moment. That's

definitely a miracle and a tender mercy from the Lord if I've ever

seen one. God answers prayers and this was the answer to mine. God is

good. Anyway, hope you all have a good week. Love you.

Anziano Yskes