Wasting and wearing out one's life

Wonderful thing for Wednesday, 4 January:

Every day, I could put "the Pathway program" but that would get redundant.  We are making presentations about it to ward councils; Wednesday we made two, one in Pisa and then one in Florence.  We get more excited about it every day.  It will change lives!

However, I think I'll pass and talk about President Ianni.  He is a counselor in the Florence Stake Presidency.  He is a member of our Prato Ward.  He is "cheerfully doing all things that lie in his power" - see D&C 123:17 - to bring about the purposes of the Lord.

He was at the Florence ward council to do a little training, and rode back to Prato with us.  We dropped him off at the bus station at 10:30, in time for the last bus to the hill community where he and his family's live; he would probably arrive at his house about 45 minutes later.

He is such a gracious person.  He is always doing good.  Even though with work and all the duties devolving upon him as a member of the stake presidency, plus all the benevolent works he does "of his own free will" (D&C 58:27), along with the fact that his home is not close to much of anything, he still makes his family his first priority, even though it might be at odd hours or in unconventional ways.

I had already posted this when I realized I left out a very important component of his success: Ginevra, his wife.  Ginevra is the epitome of "meek" - and lest you think that description anything less than one of the best compliments that can be given, remember that the most meek Person on earth was also the greatest.  I don't know how she manages with work, her calling as Young Women president, mothering, and everything else I know she does.  I admire her every bit as much as I admire him.

It seems as though everyone knows "Rocco" (his first name).  I know one thing for sure:  the Lord knows him - and vice versa.

Fun thing:  When it gets late, sometimes the Italian slips.  Blaine was struggling a little during the presentation at Florence.  One of the benefits of the Pathway program is that it helps develop leadership, which is a word that crosses straight over from English.  When he said "leadership", albeit with an exaggerated Italian accent, after having struggled over several Italian words, someone said, "Bravo, Anziano!"   He accepted that little jibe with aplomb, remarking in Italian, "That's the first word I've pronounced correctly tonight!"