Mission accomplished - today.

Wonderful thing:  Things hardly ever go the way you plan; we were supposed to meet some of the Florence elders for a discussion, but that fell through.  Nevertheless, we had an appointment with Silvia, one of the Florence GANS, at 5:30.  We figured we could still make it with the sisters to an appointment in Prato with Diletta at 4:30, but it got moved to 5:00, and all we had time to do was pick the sisters up at the train station, and take them to Diletta's.  Traffic at 5:30 in Florence was congested and slow-moving; then, when we arrived at the piazza where Silvia lives, we couldn't find a parking space.  It was close to 6:00 when we finally rang at her door.  Silvia is a wonderful, wonderful young woman, president of the Young Women in the ward, who is struggling with some stuff right now.   The Institute director in Florence mentioned her to us a couple of weeks ago as someone who could use a visit; we kind of passed it off, since she's "active" and all, and especially in Florence, we're focusing on the less active.  However, Sunday another sister mentioned her to us, and we spoke with her a little after church; then that evening we spoke with someone in the Prato Ward about her.   Monday we put her on our "people to focus on list," and planned the after-missionary-appointment visit.  Today when we called, she was delighted.   What we didn't know till later was, that she never takes her phone to work.  Today, she thought her mom might call, so she had it with her; otherwise, the visit would never have come off.  We had such a wonderful visit!  Blaine said afterward, sometimes you wonder what you're doing here; what do you have that some other mature couple here in Italy, with church experience, doesn't have?  He went on to say, "If I have no other such experience in Italy for the next 16 months, I will count this mission a success because of what happened tonight."  There were experiences we've had, kindred spirit personalities, and the love and guidance of the Lord, all coming together in such a way that we just marveled at all the signs that the Lord's hand was in this all along.  After a good, meaty visit, none of us wanted to part.  This is what a mission is all about!

Fun thing:  Okay, I know it will be a lot of work, but it's also going to be fun:  Sister Dibb, the mission president's wife, called me today to ask if I would take charge of a dinner for 60 on Nov. 18. They will be touring the mission with Elder Fingerle of the Seventy.  She said to spend carefully, not big decorations, but to make it a hearty meal.  I'm thinking, not a Thanksgiving meal, but something hinting at a Thanksgiving meal.  Ideas are welcome...always considering what's actually available for purchase here.