Oh, It Is Wonderful!

Wonderful thing for Friday, 29 May:

One of the great personal benefits of being a Pathway missionary is that I get to teach the Institute class.  The students, Jenny, Elton, Melvin and Daniela, are wonderful; and the course, a new Religion course recently published, "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel", is beyond marvelous.

Yesterday we talked about how important it is - and how much an example of the condescension of God - that Jesus be born of a mortal mother and of an immortal Father.  An utter marvel.

We talked about how our trust is confirmed and our faith grows as we realize that Jesus was mortal as we are -- and, on the other hand, how our trust and faith are strengthened by the fact that Jesus inherited the traits of his immortal, celestial Father as well.  Writing about it in my journal this morning, I kept setting my pen down to think about it, to ponder the significance of his suffering in the garden.

The garden... "For as in Adam [the Garden of Eden] all die, even so in Christ [the Garden of Gethsemane] shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

How perfectly He did and does His part:  "For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

It has all helped me to be more committed to do my little planting, hoeing, dunging, nourishing and harvesting.  He "marked the path and led the way" (Hymns, 195, "How Great the Wisdom and the Love").

Fun thing:

In fact, we were just given a taste of the fruit yesterday:  the oldest daughter of one of our neighbors, who knew us in our most excruciatingly dysfunctional times as a family,  sent an email yesterday:  she is a member of the Church now!

She commented, "Bet you didn't know I was watching..."

The fact that she saw something, was testimony to the power of the Holy Ghost working in the lives of people desperately but prayerfully trying to weed their garden.

Hallelujah!

(our garden after 30 years of effort)

We ain't just whistlin Dixie

Wonderful thing for Weds., 20 May:

I just want to give kind of an overview of what we're up to these days, since my daily efforts seemed to have slogged to the wayside.

We are super involved with Pathway.  We have a dozen+ faithful, enthusiastic students.  They do online work individually during the week, then we all get together for a Gathering/encontro on Thursday evenings, where a "lead student" - a different person each week - facilitates the discussion of the principles learned during the week.  Before the Gathering, which takes place at 9:00 to accommodate everyone's schedules, some come at 7:30 for Institute (the 18-30 age group) and some come at 8:00 for a BYU-I Religion class gathering, again led by a different student each month.  This is the group who are fluent enough in English that they don't need the extra language class online, so they take a Religion class in order to receive enough credit for the trimester.  This way, everyone receives 5 credits a trimester, which rolls over to BYU-I credit if they should decide to enroll as online BYU-I students after the three-trimester Pathway run.

I've been teaching the Institute Program; I don't recall having such profound learning experiences in a course I was teaching!  The course is "Jesus Christ and The Everlasting Gospel."  Marvelous.  Melvin, Dani, Jenny and Elton all prepare and participate; we are all "edified and rejoice together" (D&C 50:22)

Blaine oversees the Religion class, and we both oversee the Gathering.  The discussions and topics are exciting and, well, edifying.  You're made a better person for learning them.  Our students all lead very busy lives and the time commitment for Pathway is not small, but they LOVE it.

We really feel blessed to have landed in this opportunity here!

We're going to be doing some training for the Young Women/Young Men programs here in the Florence Stake in the next few weeks.  It is amazing how much the stake presidency looks to us to help the stake and wards learn what it's like to be a stake and a ward; it has only been a year since they were a district and branches.  Things run a little differently when the church is more established; our experiences have helped prepare us to share with them.  It's daunting; they are not "new" members by any means, but strong in faith and in testimony.  They've just never been a ward or a stake before.

Keep us in your prayers, we want to help without giving the impression that we "know it all" and they don't.

We are still, always, working with the Young Single Adults, here in Prato mostly, but also in Florence, Pisa and Livorno.  We do our very best to encourage, to share our testimonies about how the principles of the Gospel really do work, based on our own experiences.  We always have a good home evening at our apartment on Sunday evenings, even though it is not always well-attended.

Yesterday we hoped to visit some of our YSA in Pisa and Livorno, but couldn't make an appointment.  We had to go that direction anyway to pick up a bed frame from the Pisa elders, and take it to the Livorno sisters, one of whom was sleeping on her mattress on the floor.  In speaking with the Livorno elders, Blaine asked them if they were working with any YSA.  They told us that they baptized a young man recently, so we called him, and he was available for a visit.

His name is Jim.  He is Filippino and speaks English.  He has been working as a sous chef on a luxury yacht stationed in Livorno.   It was a pleasure to talk to him (on the beach at Viareggio, no less!), he is sweet, humble, happy with the spirit of peace and joy he is feeling.  We felt blessed!

So.  Now I've brought you up to speed.

Fun thing:

Today, the missionaries' P Day, we asked the sisters if they wanted to accompany us on a hike.  We wanted to check out a place we'd seen on the map, as a possible site for our YSA activity this Saturday.  Blaine had been up in that area before with Mike Mower, and had seen some gorgeous waterfalls.  It's pretty much just a couple of miles into the mountains from our house.

We all set out, at first in our car along very narrow, typically winding Italian roads, the kind where you have to honk every time you come to an incline or a curve, for fear of meeting an oncoming car; then we took off on a trail Blaine already knows from his walks, trying to figure out the directions for a less traveled path on our Italian map.

 a villa we saw along the way, surrounded by glory

We were supposed to come to a centuries-old house, Casa Bastone, after .4 kilometer.  It was supposed to be easy hiking.  After an hour-and-a-half of uphill, rocky climbing, the last half-hour of which was in the rain, we sent Blaine ahead to see what he could see...which was more of the same.  In the meantime, it started raining harder, the mists descended, and we started feeling cold, even in our windbreakers.

Okay, we put on our windbreakers at about this time.  These are our adventurous sister missionaries, Sorella Pulli and Sorella Johnson.

We must have taken a wrong turn , but we're not sure how.  Back down we went, taking care not to fall on the now somewhat slippery rocks (I did slip three times, twice into briers!).  By the time we got back to the car, we were totally, soakingly sodden.  As if that weren't enough, we decided to go check out the waterfalls area a little further along the road.  We ate our lunches in the car on the way.

It didn't take long on that little hike to say, "Okay, fine, this'll do, let's go!"  We were all amazed that we had actually had the gumption to get back out of the car in our flooded state, and trudge back up another trail!  We did see a couple of small falls; maybe Saturday we'll go up high enough to see the rest.

Funny how being completely uncomfortable makes for great memories!

Pathways and vistas

Wonderful thing for...the last few days!

Made a Pathway presentation to a young man from Honduras, who just recently moved to Pisa with his wife, the bishop's daughter.  They have a 3-month-old daughter; when she took a sabbatical from nursing school at Weber State after giving birth, she lost her visa, so they came here for a year.  They both speak English and Spanish, and he is learning Italian.  Pathway is perfect for him, and he is excited about it.  Think about it:  earning a degree online from anywhere in the world at the cost of one normal year of college - or less.  WHAT a blessing.

fun thing:

Drove to Montespertoli, a small town near Florence, with a couple of the Florence elders, so they could give a blessing of healing to a sister who must be dealing with the same tenacious flu/cold Blaine is finally finished with.  Besides the blessing that always brings to us - oh my wow!  What an incredible view of some gorgeous countryside!  I'll post pics when I upload them from the camera, which is still in the car.

I love this work.  Even if another day goes by and I rue the fact that I haven't written my blog, or even dropped a note to someone in the family.  

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.

breaking the ice without falling

Wonderful thing for Saturday & Sunday, 28 February and 1 March:

Sometimes it's a big challenge to decide on just one wonderful thing, especially when we're covering more than one day.

Shall I write about the beautiful drive to Siena Saturday, where I filled up the back of our car with treasures from the Lees' apartment, which is being closed out when they leave soon (and we are going to miss them!)?

  This brick person (It looks like a woman from the side, but the caretaker said it's a man) was erected a couple of years ago.  It stands atop the ruins of a 600-year-old castle that I saw from the road, then went to take a closer look.

Shall I write about the grace of an attitude adjustment that enabled me to enjoy going ice skating by myself (meaning, without Blaine, still not up to it) with the GANS - and to find out  that I still know how, after all these decades?

I am standing with the only two, of our party of seven, who were actually willing to skate, two of the finest young women I know, Rafaella and Cristina.

Shall I write about my first opportunity to interact with the Young Women ("Giovani Donne") of the Florence Stake, after having been called to serve as the stake secretary?  Yes.  And I'm sorry I don't have a pic.  I'm going to have to remember to snap photos more often.

We drove to Pisa for two reasons yesterday:  to be a part of the stake YW/YM activity, and to make a presentation about Pathway to the Pisa Ward, after the block of three meetings Sunday.  The YW/YM met in a separate room for Sunday School while the Pisa Ward met in the chapel for Sacrament Meeting, then switched to the chapel for their own Sacrament Meeting while we proceeded with our presentation.

Let's see...there were Veronica, Valentina (her birthday), Esther, Kimberly, Anna, Patrizia, Gloria, Eveline, Gina, Francesca, Letizia, our own Diletta, Virginia, Alessia, Jessica ... oh goodness!  I really did memorize all their names!... I think I'm leaving some out.  Beautiful, wonderful, lovely young women.  The YW presidency, minus Marianna who couldn't make it at the last minute, are also beautiful, wonderful, lovely young women, none of them married - unless Marianna is, I'm not sure - Jessica and Denise.

We brainstormed ideas for service as part of the theme for this year (https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2015?cid=YS-M-youththeme&lang=eng), and shared personal stories of service.  I talked about opportunities to share the gospel based on D&C 4, and told about some of the experiences our children had when they were teens.  The girls gave ideas to visit the elderly, services for the homeless, putting on a show for children in a hospital, etc.  Here it's a bit of a bureaucratic boondoggle to do service projects, but there's always a way.

I'm looking forward to it.

Fun thing:

Yeah.  I skated.  I didn't fall.  I'm glad I persevered past the first time or two around the rink, during which time my feet and ankles were telling me I'd lost my mind.  Apparently I was asking things of those muscles that they'd long forgotten how to do.

soakin it all up

Wonderful thing for Monday, 16 February:

First off, Pres. Ianni's spiritual acuity hits us in the solar plexus again.  He's been meeting with us frequently lately, about Pathway and YM/YW.  Yesterday he had some questions about Pathway.  He was at the church, between work and home, so we went there to talk with him.  What an example of being wholeheartedly invested in doing good and in carrying out his calling.  We showed him a Pathway video that has been translated into Italian on YouTube, about a 5-minute video.  From watching it, he immediately inferred every possible scope and purpose of Pathway, and the imperative to get it out there to bless the lives of the people.  What a marvel - the man, and the program.

Secondly, I just have to say that it's not easy being a mother/grandmother, and away from family for a year-and-a-half ... more for some.  Therefore, it was like basking in a pool on a lovely summer day to get a skype call from Amy, Lawton, and the children Sunday evening.  We talked for over an hour, and I soaked up every word, every nuance of expression, every grandchild experience shared.  It's nice to have family in the same time zone.

Ahhhh!  Tender mercies!

Fun thing:

"The word is out" does not directly carry over to Italian.  The blank look on Pres. Ianni's face was priceless!

Glory

Wonderful thing for Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, 9-11 February:

Pathway, what hast thou wrought with my life?  Ah well, GOOD things are coming to pass, so it's okay that I haven't had a spare minute to blog.  I guess that's the wonderful thing - good things are coming to pass!  How awesome is that.  Everywhere we go to make a presentation, enthusiasm for this program abounds.  Folks, we have a stake in Florence.  That means, all the priesthood keys to carry forward the work of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ are here.  in Florence.  Within the next year or so, we will have a temple.  in Italy.  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-in-pictures-beauty-purpose-mormon-temples.      

I am reminded of the live action Peter Pan movie - I know, that's odd, give me a minute.  Peter Pan, Wendy, her brothers and the Lost Boys, are all in utmost peril on Hook's pirate ship.  Wendy is permitted a moment to say good-bye, and she takes the opportunity to present Peter with " the hidden kiss."  This changes everything.

So it is with what's happening right here, right now, at least that's how we feel about it.  A stake.  A temple.  Pathway.  This changes everything!

If there were the words to describe what it's like to be me, to be us, here, now, doing what we're doing, perhaps you would feel how...BIG it is.  The scripture that comes to mind is when the Nephites are visited by the Resurrected Savior in 3 Nephi 18; they partake of the bread and wine of the Sacrament and are "filled".  There is purpose, there is meaning, there is delight; there is heartache, there is disappointment, there are conundrums.  It's absolutely glorious.

Every now and then, in my prayers, I sneak in a little "Hallelujah!"

fun thing:

Yesterday was "P Day" for the younger missionaries.  We took one, too.  Sisters Johnson and Gregg drove over (they're the only sisters in the mission with a car) and we drove two cars to the drop off spot at the foothills of Prato on the east side and left our car.  Then we drove several miles west and parked their car near a trail head, albeit along a busy city street.  Off we went for three fun hours of minimal climbing and great views.

We saw:  a dilapidated and crumbling textile factory with scaffolding still up around a "new" part, and accompanying outbuildings; a cave; lots of olive orchards; purple daisies and smaller white daisies, both of which smelled...nice!; villas; dogs guarding villas; other hikers and bikers; a real farm, with chickens and geese, and somewhere - cows, given the sound of cow bells; at another place we saw and tried to communicate with a very stout horse and a very stout pony; blue skies - glorious after several very cold, wet, windy days...

All of this, too, was glorious.  We stopped and ate a sack lunch prepared by Blaine.  Approaching the first drop off point, he suddenly realized that he had carefully under the back seat of the sisters' car, his wallet...and his keys.  He probably doesn't want me sharing this.  Oh well!  He had planned everything perfectly, he couldn't conceive of this colossal snag having occurred.  We all hooted.

Eventually, we thought to call Andrea, who came to pick us up and take us to the sisters' car.  Blaine tried to swear her to secrecy, but we'll see how many find out about it!

I'd post a picture...but I forgot my camera.  The sisters promised to share.

Just gotta make time for exercise...

Wonderful thing about all the days since the last post:  Sometimes there's just too much to do!  We have our "normal" occupations, teaching institute and now a missionary preparation course; doing our weekly home evening; meeting with the institute presidency weekly and following up throughout the week; going to institute in Florence at least once every couple of weeks; going to missionary district meetings every week, alternating between Prato and Florence; attending lessons taught by missionaries; attending ward council meetings weekly in either Florence or Prato; visiting members, particularly young adults, in both wards...Thank heaven we're serving full time, because now we've been asked to do training meetings in three areas of the stake for YM/YW; we've been called as training specialists in the same; I've been called as stake YW (Young Women auxiliary of the church) secretary; we've been asked to expand our work with young adults to Pisa, Livorno, and La Spezia; AND we're acquainting ourselves and others with the Pathway program, which right now means visiting the ward/branch councils in the stake twice in the next few weeks, once to inform the leaders, and once to recruit interested members.  Every night we're out late and every day we're working on these programs.  Love it, it's happy work that invites the fruits of the Spirit!
p.s.  If you don't know anything about Pathway, check it out on pathway.lds.org.

Fun thing:  Blaine's biggest worry about this mission was that we wouldn't have enough to do...