The fruit of the Tree just may be chestnuts. Or peas.

Wonderful thing for Saturday/Sunday, 31 Jan/1 Feb:

Salt-of-the-earth people.  There are some people in the world you just know you can count on.  You know they'll do all they can for you.  You know they do what they do because they're filled with and driven by charity, which is defined as "the pure love of Christ".  When you're with them, you feel treasured, valued - because, in fact, you are a treasure of great value; it just helps to know that when you don't always recognize that truth, someone else, whom you intrinsically trust, does.

I think I've probably already mentioned Lorena and Alessio Bagni, and maybe even his brother Simone.  Now it's Mom and Dad's turn, Patrizia and Iliano Bagni.  Salt-of-the-earth people.  Recently they followed a course of training given by the church, in employment services.  In the next few weeks they'll probably start up a class, teaching about resume's, job-seeking skills, how to differentiate yourself, etc.

In the ward there is a young Nigerian, recently baptized, college-degreed.  He came here because his sister promised him he'd be able to find a job and save some money.  His desire is to save up enough to be able to get a higher degree, then to go back to Nigeria to teach.  Most people who come here from there, just want to be away from Nigeria.

After about a year, he finds himself about to be evicted from his brother-in-law's house, having sought unsuccessfully for months and months to find a job.  Italy is in "crisi" and there are literally hordes of people in the same boat as our friend.  We went to the Bagnis yesterday afternoon with him in tow.

We were met with simple cordiality and a refreshment table of pear nectar, soda, panettone and Iliano's castagnaccio (kind of like brownies, but no chocolate, and with chestnut flour).  We sat around the table for an hour, brainstorming.   When we left, our young friend had lots of ideas about job seeking that he hadn't tried; he had a slip of paper in hand with the name and address of a firm that is hiring; he also had lots of counsel about how to keep a job once he gets one.

More than that, though, he had renewed hope.  He had just basked for a good long hour in the warmth of the light of people who honestly, truly, love their neighbor as themselves, because they love his Father, who loves us all.

Blaine and I felt the same way.  We will all follow up on our friend.  If he does his part, which includes keeping the covenants he made at baptism, the Lord will help him find success and help him to fulfill his dreams.  Then he too will be a salt-of-the-earth person, like Patrizia and Iliano.

And so it goes.

Fun thing:

Eating pranzo in a small Italian kitchen with ten other people, among whom are Diletta and her family and two of her bright young friends, plus the sister missionaries.  Good food - wish I could remember the name of the pasta, it had peas and olives and a creamy red sauce and I don't know what else - jolly company, great spirit.

I love this work!