Jai Hind (Happy Indian Independence Day)!!

 zone bowling activity

 bengaluru zone

Jai Hind!

HAPPY INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!  Jai Hind!!!!!

Not a whole lot goin' on for us this week, but it was a good one.  The work is slowly starting to pick up, all is well in Indiranagar!  I would have to say the highlight this week was definitely Mission Leadership Council with President Mortensen.  That was a cool experience.  It was awesome being able to interact with other elders from different zones in different parts of the mission (or country, rather) all coming together to address different concerns.  One thing I really like about President Mortensen is his take on repentance and the Atonement.  He doesn't see repentance as something restricting, binding, condeming--or even a roadblock--he sees repentance as a beautiful, enabling privilege that gives us a "fresh view about God, the world, and ourselves."  I really like that.  He understands the Atonement and what the Savior's loving sacrifice can and will do for us so long as we are humble enough to apply it.

We also had zone training this week!  That was fun being able to connect with our zone.  Some elders traveled for two hours by bus to attend!  We also had a zone activity last week haha, we went bowling.  Yes, of all things to do in India, we went bowling.  It was rad!  I will send some pictures.

That's all for this week though, unfortunately.  Haha.  I hope everyone has a solid week this week and Happy Independence Day from the motherland!

Love,

Elder Tuscano

new companion from Nepal. birthday dinner at Chili's? Cody Monson lookalike!

 Me and my boy E. Shrestha about to chow down on some Chili's!

 me and my boy E. Shrestha chowin' down on some Chili's!

 our apartment!  We stay on the second floor

LOOK!  I FOUND THE INDIAN CODY MONSON!!!  He's our elder's quorum president haha.

Hello hello all!  Hope you all had an awesome week, we certainly did out here in central Bangalore!

Our area is pretty sweet.  It's right in the heart of the city so there's big buildings and offices everywhere.  There are a lot of American restaurants, it's pretty westernized.  There are also a good number of trees which keep our area pretty cool.......see what I did there? (;  Our area also happens to be the smallest in the mission.  You can fit like three or four of our areas inside the other respective areas of our zone.

The members of our ward are AWESOME.  They are happy, helpful, and humble.  They love missionaries and, well, missionary work in general.  We are really excited to work with them.  Our current bishop's brother was one of the first mission presidents of the India Bangalore Mission, so that's pretty cool.

My companion, Elder Shrestha, is a boss.  A boss from Nepal.  He loves music and is especially good at the guitar.  He is a humble, hardworking guy and I'm excited to have him as my companion.  The morning of my birthday this past week, I rolled out of bed and the first thing he did was give me a HUGE hug and say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"  That meant a lot.  We went to Chili's for lunch on my birthday haha.  Crazy, right?  What is Chili's doing in India?  No idea.  But I will send some pics.  

Anyway, I hope everyone has a solid week!  Feels good to be 19 haha.

Keep the faith!

Elder Tuscano

transfer and zone leader assignment; 19th birthday and baptisms

 One of my favorite places in the Convent Road North area

where we spend a good deal of our time: Wilson Garden

 The baptism of Alex Raju (along with his family, none of whom are mormon)  

 Elder Jensen, me and Zia (our other favorite Muslim investigator who is

originally from India but was brought up in the UK.  He is AWESOME).

Jonathan's good friend, Haley and her parents.

Haley leaves this week for her mission in Argentina.

Parent note: Jonathan celebrates his 19th birthday this week on August 5.  He was grateful for the package that we sent to him yet it was tender to read his perspective about gifts that he sent to us in our individual email (separate from the general email that he sends for us to share).  I don't think he'd mind that I share it here: "If the only birthday present I ever received was the gift of repentance and being able to improve my character because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ I would be overjoyed.  But luckily for me I have a loving family and especially parents who have helped shape me into what I am.  And that gift is irreplaceable."

Hello hello all!  Hope you're not partying too hard back at home.

This week was transfers and it turns out I'm leaving Convent Road and heading across town to Indiranagar (to serve as a zone leader)!!  My new companion is Elder Shrestha, he is from Nepal and that's literally the only thing I know about him haha.  It will be fun, I'm excited.  Kinda crazy though, Elder Jensen's training isn't finished yet!  But due to an increasing shortage of missionaries some crazy changes have been made (i.e. me being transferred mid-training).

This week, I had the privilege of confirming brother Navaz, that was an experience I will never ever forget.  He was beaming after I said Amen.  But also it was the baptism of brother Alex Raju!  He is among my favorite people I have yet taught on my mission.  Here is an example of how strong his faith is: yesterday morning, Alex was a little late for sacrament (which was a slightly alarming to us because he was to be baptized later that day).  After sacrament he told us that shortly after he'd left his home to come to church, his motorcycle ran out of gas and he'd left his wallet at home.  So he literally walked his bike to the church so he wouldn't be late for church and his baptism.  If I can one day develop the faith that people like Alex, Gregory, and Navaz have I will be satisfied.  They are incredible examples to me.  I hope they are to you all as well.

Don't just keep the faith this week but cultivate it.  I promise growth will come.

Love,

Elder Tuscano

P.S. Shout out to Haley Lindsey (soon to be Hermana Lindsey) who leaves for the MTC this week!  Give her a shout out if you know her, she is dope to say the least and will do great things in Argentina.

Pioneers everywhere!

Hello and happy Pioneer Day everyone!!!  There were neither fireworks nor parades here in the streets of Bangalore, but we still had a pretty solid day.

Yesterday was our Pioneer Day, as we are a day ahead of y'all at home, three of the elders serving in the Convent Road ward spoke (we have four total, but one elder spoke last week): myself, Elder Jensen and Elder Sunny.  That was super fun.  I mentioned in my talk that as I looked over the congregation, it didn't look like anyone had ancestors who crossed the plains, but I did see a room full of pioneers who chose to change the course of their lives by choosing to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was the most amazing thing to see.

Speaking of pioneers, I believe there are few as unique a pioneer as brother Navaz: our favorite (and only) Muslim investigator who got baptized yesterday!!!  But really though, I can't think of anything else as unique.  And the way he found our church is equally as remarkable.  A couple months ago, Navaz decided he wanted to learn more about and follow Jesus Christ.  So he went online and googled: "true church," and obviously the link to mormon.org was one of the first results that came up.  So he went to the site and placed an order for the copy of the Book of Mormon.  The missionaries started teaching him, time went on and I came along and had the privilege of teaching him with Elders Sunny and Wakefield last transfer, and it was incredible to see how much he was learning in so short a time.  He was sharing with us examples he'd thought of about how Sabbath day observance would lead to eternal life and whatnot, it was awesome.  Yesterday he was baptized and is now a true pioneer.  I truly feel so blessed to have been a part of his conversion.

Also, our investigator Alex passed his baptism interview yesterday and will hopefully be baptized this coming Sunday!!  Got some photos from Navaz's baptism, I'll send em your way.

Much love, have a good week and keep the faith!

Elder Tuscano

P.S.  Side note: Navaz was interviewed and approved to take baptism by President Mortensen so as to protect himself, his family, and us.  We're all good in the Muslim brotherHOOD hahaha I thought that was funny. 

photo art and matching ties

painting-like scenery in the neighborhood

security guards with matching ties

Hello hello all!

Not a whole lot to report on this week, unfortunately.  It was pretty hot and humid this week, but nothing unbearable.  

We went on exchange a good number of times this week to Indiranagar, our  zone leaders' area in central Bangalore.  Last week I mentioned that Elder Jensen ALMOST got deported, but Elder Porter (one of our zone leaders), WAS deported haha.  He will be finishing the last couple months of his mission in Hong Kong.  But while Elder Braganza was waiting for Elder Porter's replacement, Elder Jensen and I got to tag along with him to do some work in his area!  It was pretty fun.

Also this week, Gregory, a recent convert of like MAYBE six weeks, was asked to teach the elders quorum lesson yesterday and the topic was temple and family history work.  He was literally the only one in the room who hadn't been to the temple and still gave an AWESOME lesson.  I think everyone was really impressed, especially me.  

Everyone have a good, solid week, and keep the faith!

Elder Tuscano

bit by a street dog and other close calls...

Hello hello y'all, what is up?

This was another good week here in Bangalore, not a whole lot that is super happenin' though, just a couple cool things.

Elder Jensen almost got deported this week haha.  He went to register at the Foreign Registration Resource Office here in Bangalore basically to inform the Indian government that he's here.  Americans have to do this same thing every time they go to a new city.  He went with another American missionary and, as it so happens, Bangalore's registration office isn't too fond of Christian missionaries, so they tried to say that his visa wasn't valid and told him he had to leave the country the following week.  Their argument has not support, validity, nor evidence to actually deport him, only bias.  So everything is all good, we will more than likely finish our training here in Bengaluru.

In other news, I hope you guys remember Gregory and Gowtham because guess what: yesterday, Gregory blessed the sacrament for the first time and Gowtham passed the sacrament!!!  As a missionary there are few greater feelings than seeing those you've taught progress and come closer to God through obtaining the priesthood and fulfilling its responsibilities.  Gregory also spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday and, had I not know he is a recent convert, I would have assumed he's been a member for quite a while, if not his whole life.  It was an incredible talk about faith.

Also I got bit by a street dog this week haha, I'm fine though.  No skin puncture or anything so no hospital visit.  It's all good.

Hope everyone has a good week, and wish Haley Lindsey a happy birthday if you haven't already!!  She is rad and it is her birthday today.

Keep the faith,

Elder Tuscano

new mission presdient is a former NFL QB; bird linving in a/c unit; pipal leaf painting

 

pipal (fig) leaf painting purchased from street vendor

 

 Alex and Elder Jensen

Shout out to America the beautiful on this wonderful Independence Day.  Not Indian Independence Day though, that's next month on the 15th. 

This week was pretty happenin.  As the Bangalore zone, we were privileged to be the first missionaries to meet President Mortensen!  He is a boss.  Literally, one of the coolest, nicest guys you'll ever meet.  He's the kind of person that upon meeting them you're best friends.  He's very genuine, and also super rad.  He served his mission in Taiwan, played in the NFL for a couple years as a quarterback for the Redskins and the Broncos (I think), and prior to his call as our mission president, he was a general conctractor for custom homes in Arizona.  He is a spiritual giant with a powerful testimony and I am excited to work with him for the remainder of my mission.

I think that's it as far as eventfulness goes this week, sorry.  Wait no, we have a bird living in our A/C unit in our apartment haha, so that's pretty interesting.  Fun, right?

Everyone have a good week and thank the Lord for religious freedom!  It truly is one of the greatest liberties we enjoy.  Keep the faith!

Elder Tuscano