Poignant, Frustrating, Weird, Wonderful

My goodness.  Life is amazing.  Crazy.  Weird.  

We’ve had occasion to look back over the forty years of our family's story; we’ve agreed that every life, surprisingly, is a fascinating story.  As our mission president says, “You can’t make this stuff up!”  We laugh about that occasionally as it relates to our experiences here; but it is also true of our very own lives.

A couple of days ago there was a funeral in the Napoli branch.  It didn’t occur to anyone to inform us; we are new, we’re only there every other Sunday...but the sister who passed away, who has not been active in church for a few years, was one whom we had visited in the last month.  She was delighted at our visit; we were surprised at how very “active” she still was, really, even though she hadn’t attended much lately (severe health issues in the family are a big reason).  She invited us for dinner that Sunday and talked of wanting to start up a family home evening group at her home again, something that had been done but lapsed over the years.  

The dinner invitation had to be postponed, the family was “influenzati” (sick with the flu).  We called again a few days later, but she said they were still not quite up to a visit.  Before we could make another call, she was gone.  It’s nobody’s fault that we didn’t know about the funeral; we had been out of touch with the Napoli branch all week, which was unusual; we just feel bad that we couldn’t have been more of a support to the family.  I am sure they were well cared for; there will still be things to do for them in the future.  

Life is poignant.

It is also a bit frustrating; lots of appointments have fallen through recently and we’ve found ourselves spending more time at home than we feel comfortable with.  Not that we don’t have stuff to do - we need to study the Church’s Self Reliance program that we are helping to implement, and we both had talks to prepare (for the baptism of Patrizia last Saturday!  yay!)...plus, with Amy’s family coming next week from Barcelona, first to Rome where we will meet them and play tourist for a couple of days before coming back here for a few more days before they fly out on Christmas day, I’ve used the time to do some planning and preparing.  We just feel like we’re using our time best when we’re working with folks one on one.

We did have a wonderful visit with L. at her home.  She is so strong, but she doesn’t understand that she doesn’t have to be strong alone.  She thinks she has to shoulder all her own burdens and others’ too, and she’s wearing herself out.  Then there’s R. and her mother A.; we had a family home evening with them and the two little ones (Dad’s on business in China, of all places).  R. is worn out, too, carrying the giant share of homemaking and having perfection in her sights.  We encouraged them both to reach out to a loving Savior through studying his words, turning to Him in prayer, and coming to worship Him at the Sacrament table.  Neither of them was in church - again - but things take time.  We are there for them.  They are wonderful.

The baptism was Saturday afternoon; Patrizia is so sweet, we just love her. We could sense that she was deeply contented with her decision. After the baptism came the branch Christmas party, so it was a very festive evening. We had a wonderful time because our friends Rachele and Antonio showed up after we had called to invite them earlier; we sat at the same table as Patrizia and her husband Mimmo, and another missionary couple, the Simoncini, who were in the area to do a Self Reliance presentation today in Napoli (we both served together in the Milan mission, so we're both doing our second mission now, it was so neat to be with them). We all had a great time watching the program and eating a great dinner. They even liked my flourless orange saffron cake.

Sunday night we went caroling in downtown Pozzuoli with the missionaries and the youth of the branch here.  Lots of Christmas lights and lots of people - and lots of noise.  It was tough to find a place where we could be heard!   A couple of missionaries handed out #lighttheworld passalong cards as we sang.  Elder Jackson was able to share a copy of The Book of Mormon.  Yay!

Afterward everyone came to our house for Italian style hot chocolate (super thick and super chocolate) and pan d’oro - and homemade heath bar type candy, made by Eden and her mom Lani.  I think it was a good time for the kids.  Parents and even visiting grandparents came along as well.  It was the biggest crowd we’ve had in our house.

That’s the update for now.  It is so good to be here and see the hand of God, so merciful and longsuffering, in our lives.  We love this place!  Happy Christmas preparations to all.  We love you.

Okay, these photos are out of order. I just like this photo from Saturday night's Christmas party so much I put it first. Two of our lovely Young Women, both Italians (among a majority of Americans in the Flegreo Branch here in Pozzuoli).

We had a zone training about a week ago, at the end of which we staged our own Nativity scene replete with angels, wise men, sheep, inn keepers, etc.   We had the privilege of being Mary and Joseph, with our little Asian Baby Jesus...

I love how the Pozzuoli elders have this great camaraderie.  We were inspecting their apartment.

The offerings at the fitness gym next to our church building.  Rather eclectic...

Mmmmm.  The last remnants of pasta with telline (tel-ee-nay) before I slurped them up.  Lunch with Mario

Elders Jackson and Draghi with Patrizia and Mimmo before the baptism.

These great folks, Anziano and Sorella Simoncini, were part of the mission of Milano when we were there, and now are in the Rome mission with us too!

holy ground

Wonderful thing for Tuesday, 10 March:

The sisters asked us to go with them to teach a young woman who had "just happened" to come with Kenneth to our home evening week before last.  We had all been impressed with how naturally she took to the things we discussed relative to eternal marriage, and she had told the sisters she would let them know when she was settled enough to receive them (just came to the area from Rome, though she is from Nigeria originally).

True to her word, she contacted them and they set up an appointment.  Not being familiar with the area, she told them "Via Pomeria", assuming where she lives is still part of Prato.  Well, there is a Via Pomeria in Prato - but the suburb where she lives is called Montemurlo, and there's a Via Pomeria there, too.  It took three phone calls from the Prato Via Pomeria, before we finally talked with someone in her apartment building who knew where to direct us!

It was so worth the effort though - her humble and open heart received, like the proverbial sponge, everything we discussed.  She was pleased and grateful to accept The Book of Mormon.  She said that she had always shied away from being baptized, even though she grew up in a Christian home, but when challenged to pray to know if The Book of Mormon and the other things the sisters will teach her are true, and if she receives an answer in the affirmative, to be ready to be baptized April 11, she did not hesitate to agree.

She told us we were God's messengers, but around her, we felt as if we were walking on holy ground.

fun thing:

I went out with just a sweater!   Spring is on the way!