Nothing without His notice

Some child once played basketball here. Count your blessings.

This mission is focused, at least for now and probably for the entire 18 months, on supporting the missionaries in "building the kingdom". We attend many of their lessons and back up the principles they teach with our own testimonies and experiences. We accompany them to shore up members who are in need of an extra boost, a little encouragement. What we strive to do to prepare is to "obtain the word" (Doctrine & Covenants 11:21) and to prayerfully apply it in our own personal lives. By thus "treasuring up" the words of life, we find ourselves able to contribute insights, perhaps counsel, perhaps emotional support...whatever the situation calls for. This is because the Lord promises that He will back US up through His spirit if we do these things, and because we are on His errand. What a veritable feast this week has been! We have felt gratified to receive inspiration in very specific ways, and have "rejoiced together" (Doctrine and Covenants 50:22) with others a multitude of times. We've met with the wonderful leaders of the Pozzuoli Branch, to get an idea of who could use a visit, and found them all to be delightful, steadfast folks. We've been to a mission conference where we were privileged to rub shoulders with half the wonderful missionaries of the "Great Italy Rome Mission" (the other half met the preceding day in Palermo) and to be instructed by Pres. and Sis. Pickerd, President Patrick Kearon, and Elder and Sister Gary Sabin - all of which was spiritual repast from which we will feast for months to come.

AND, we've had an unexpected reunion with a choice young woman we knew in Prato, when the Sisters Johnson and Pulli were teaching her. She was later baptized in Lecco, and then moved to Naples some months ago. Someone referred her to the zone leaders, who passed on the referrals to our sister missionaries. We went with them to find her at what turned out to be her old address, not realizing she was OUR Dorcas. I mused at the possibility later, looked her up and found her on Facebook - at which point I knew it was indeed OUR Dorcas, from the fact that we have two mutual friends, both from the Italy Milan Mission. The sisters found her number, and we all traveled to visit her yesterday. What a warm reunion it was! She is a precious daughter of God; we feel that especially, knowing this reunion was no coincidence.

Last night we had a wonderful get together/open house in the Pozzuoli chapel, which was well attended, bounteously appointed, and greatly enjoyed by all, as far as we could tell.

Did I already say this? We love this place!