May 8th, 1964

May 08, 2022

Date: 5-08-64

Progress, progress and more progress- I've been making great leaps forward with the language lately. I believe this is because I have been having the opportunity to use my knowledge of the language. We have a real fine investigator named Signor Lera, He wants to hear more so therefore, I have the opportunity to learn more and give that which I learn.

During the intervening time we have had Brother Muslic working with us. He was really a hard working Elder in the German Program and has been working with the President in the Mission Home. But during the President's stay in Italy he has been taking the place of Elder Camberlang to make things even. Some of us feel he is a spy for the President. I guess the President would like to know why we are not baptizing. I keep telling him wait until we get a little more efficient with the language, and he will se a little results.

Well, I've bene have a little trouble with my companion. It is funny but I have bever wanted to fight since I was a Freshman in college, but I almost hit my comp! I guess the problem started a ways back. To make it short, we got in an argument. I said that we should wait until we got home because we could talk about it with authority on the street. But he wouldn't wait, he continued to talk about that which he didn't' know anything. So when we got home after a couple of minutes of searching, I found that I was right. He held a grudge I guess. Then later we got into another discussion, disagreed, and I said, " Let's wait until we get home to answer it" but he wouldn't'. When we got home, I started to look at his information critically and eh blew up. He is the hot head type. He wouldn't' talk to me for the rest of the night even prayer. Two days later the President and crew came back from there time in Italy. We had a meeting with the investigators that night. In the mean time I had talked to the barber and he said he would take us to Ponte Tresa Border town about 7km away to buy some shoes (shoes cheaper).

When I told my comp that I wanted to go to Italy (ponte tresa) to buy some shoes, he blew up again. And said he didn't want to break any rules. And that he wouldn't go with me to Italy because that was out of the mission. I tried to reason with him, but he was too far gone. He reminded me of the "Sadducees" in the Bible. Knowing the exactness of the law but not the reason for the law. He became furious. At this point I about hit him. If I wasn't a missionary he would have been on the ground! Then he said, "I want to see the President." I said, "fine, Perhaps, the president is still in town, let's go to his hotel." He wasn't so then I said we could telephone him. As we walked to the telephone office he come to his senses a little. He said, " I'll write a letter to the President" and I said I would write one too. The adrenaline was really going through the system. When we got home, we both wrote letters. Then I said, " Let's wait until tonight and read them again before we send them." Once again he blew up saying he wanted to send his right away in a high pitched voice. I gave him my letter to read.

We went out that afternoon a dn worked. Stopped by the post office but he didn't go in. Later we stopped by the post office again but he still didn't go in to send his letter. I had said that I wouldn't send mine unless he sent his. To combat his ways I have decided to live the letter of the law not doing anything that isn't written. It was sort of fun because he wanted to take his suit to the cleaners the next morning. I might have done it, but he asked me in the imperative so that I wouldn't go if it had been in the subjunctive, I might have gone. In other words, I've changed from the liberal to the strict observance of the law. Saturday is the time to do those types of things.

We did a little mountain climbing with an investigator of ours- yesterday it proved quite interesting and adventurous. However, a little dangerous. After we were talking about the sport and how it could really get into your blood. Then I said that I thought it would be a great sport if you weren't a missionary. Say it would probably be a lot after for me to go sailing than mountain climbing. He said, " the mission rules see that you can't go sailing but mountain climbing is okay." "It is the purpose of the rule that's important- not the act" I said. I guess he was planning to become a mountain climber. So would I but this isn't the right time. I talked to the District Leader. I hope he can work something out so I can get a transfer. I can't stand this guy! The only good thing I can get form the whole thing is if I can channel the aggression that it produces like I did once before.