Pathway to my heart

Wonderful thing for Thursday and Friday, 5 and 6 March:

Dear friends, please forgive me for skipping the occasional day.  Things just are not that routine around here.  Perhaps it is a failing of mine, but there you have it.

I could say that the wonderful thing is that no one near and dear to us here was harmed in any great way by the tempest that went through Tuscany Wednesday night, through Thursday midday.  There were trees down, roofs damaged, etc., someone said a couple of people died. I couldn't sleep for the sound of the bullying wind.

Sorella Maria-Jesus said the devil is angry because of the ongoing temple construction in Rome, because such a thing as this has never happened here.  As good an explanation as any.

I could say, as I think I shall, that the wonderful thing has to do with the presence of BYU-I Pathway in-the-flesh, in the person of Ismar Vallecillos.  We picked him up at the station in Florence yesterday, an hour late because of obstacles on the tracks left from said winds.  He said they kept saying they were late because of the weather, and he looked out the window at blue skies and felt perplexed.

Ismar is a very down-to-earth, savvy guy, whose dedication to the Lord and to Pathway is crystal clear.  He met with us, Pres. Ianni, and the Ferrinis, yesterday (stake presidency rep and Institute leaders), and will do a presentation for priesthood leaders today, and a fireside tonight.  He bore testimony that the Pathway program comes straight from the inspiration of the Lord, and I believe it.

fun thing:

Ismar brought us stuff from home!  Since he lives in Rexburg, I ordered stuff like suppements, herbal tea, and - yes! - pie pans! and had them sent to Ben and Bonnie; Blaine added ink cartridges and Equate cold medicine.  Ben and Bonnie added measuring cups and spoons and, best of all, hand-drawn pictures from Olivia and Sophi.  Wahoo!!

Bless Ismar's heart.  His wife has family right here in Prato; I suspect the space left by our stuff will be well filled up on the return trip.