If anyone is still reading this blog, I love you!

At the bottom of this post you I write about how every day in this mission is so amazing and  gratifying.

First, here are random photos and videos.  

I took the following photo because it felt like even the weeds along the street were celebrating Christmas.

There were (still are, because the holidays aren't over until tomorrow, Epiphany - the celebration of the visit of the Magi) several Christmas trees in the visitors center, along with a display of Nativity scenes.  Three of them were in the general area, and the rest were in the room you can just barely see on the right in the following photo.  This nativity scene, or presepe, and the one with the blue background were made by a member here in Rome - a true work of love.

This is the previous one, up close.  The holy family is on the bottom right of the house.  This nativity is of the "profane" variety, because it shows the holy family in the midst of everyday life as practiced in medieval times.

  

The following nativity is of the "sacred" variety because it isolates the holy family in order to emphasize the holy nature of the birth of the Savior.  Every detail tells a story.

Gimme a break - I know it's blurry, but it really was a charming Christmas-decorated Roman street!

This is the refrigerator in the breakroom of the visitors center, where we missionaries take our meals.

Can't say enough how much we love these darling, endearing, joyful, strong young women!

And finally, a celebration of family.  We have been so blessed to enjoy basically every Christmas of the last six years with Amy, Lawton, Abbey, Aidan, Olive and Ian.  We are feeling a little sad that this may be the last time for quite awhile, since they remain in Barcelona and we may not be back.  We loved having them here to celebrate the wonderful spirit of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and its attendant activities.

I adore these people!

Every week we spend six hours a day, six days a week, at the visitors center, a place where the spirit of peace and joy rests in abundance - especially, we found, during the Christmas season - supporting the most amazing, sweet, intelligent, humble, inspired young sister missionaries as they meet and share with others - people who are not members of the church as well as people who are - what makes this place so unique and joy-filled.  

Every day we work to get to know our visitors, discern their needs/desires, and share spiritual messages catered to those needs, specifically focusing on the basic message every missionary shares, of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the points of His doctrine, and of the Restoration of His gospel in the latter days through the Prophet Joseph Smith (included in that message is an invitation to study and pray about the Book of Mormon, the proof of our message).  

We have wonderful experiences doing this.  I said we support the sisters, because we try to give them the opportunity to take the lead in these discussions.  By so doing they strengthen their own conviction, as well as learn to share the message more effectively.  Sometimes if there are more visitors than there are missionaries, we lead our own discussions.  

Because people come to the visitors center out of curiosity, or perhaps a friend has invited them to come, they are already open to what we have to share, so there are rarely experiences where contentions arise.  This is not to say that every person who walks through the door becomes an instant convert; that is not even the goal.  We are here to minister to people, to share the message and to build relationships.  So, we only go as far as people are willing to go, and we encourage them to return.  Sometimes they want to go as far as they can, sometimes they accept a copy of the Book of Mormon, sometimes they come back.  Nearly always, they leave with a positive experience. 

It's pretty fulfilling.  We just wish there were more visitors!  This will come with time.  We are happy every day.  

We use the rest of the day for study, chores, communicating with family and friends, etc.  Oh - and transportation, which can be major sometimes.  Occasionally there is an activity sponsored by the visitors center, like a concert at the church (located on the same piazza), so we usually attend those as well - a sample video is below.

We have a "Pday" every week; "P" stands for preparation.  For the young missionaries, this means cleaning and laundry, shopping, calling/writing home, sightseeing, etc.  For us, it's just time to take a break, maybe do some sightseeing.  Sometimes when family comes in we take an extra Pday by rearranging the schedules at the visitors center with the other two couples who work there.  With our normal Pday plus one, we usually borrow the director's car and take our guests to Naples, Pompeii/Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast.  We encouraged family to visit us especially during this mission, since it may be our last to Italy, and several have taken us up on the offer.  We have really enjoyed the visits; every time things have gone so well and everyone has had a great trip.  We feel very grateful for that.

This is a random "video" which is more of an "audio", taken with my phone, which has a cracked screen, rendering the camera lens rather filmy.  But I did it to record the birds.  The temple site is very "green", and often wildlife, particularly birds and insects (but I did see a cat walk across the back steps of the visitors center today), abound.  I was so taken with the birdsong this particular evening that I had to record it.

So - 13 months in, and it has been a dream!  We will actually be going home a month early, since the couple who is replacing us will be here at the end of April.  Visitors center training is conducted at the MTC once every six weeks, so it was either they come two weeks after our departure date - which is not doable - or four weeks before.  Ergo, we leave the first part of May.  After spending a couple of weeks in Barcelona, we will arrive back in the States sometime toward the end of May.  

Don't really want to think about all that right now...

See ya next time I see ya!  Keep the faith.

Just bits and pieces.

So don't be alarmed when I share with you that I had a heart attack on my birthday, because that's what the display on our little locker door is called.   I loved it!

Along with the birthday banner ("tanti auguri" - happy birthday)

Sorella Euvrard, our director's wife - they're second and third on the left - always makes birthday cakes for everyone.  For me it was chocolate sheet cake with fudge frosting dotted with walnuts - excellent!

Preparing to bike home after an afternoon/evening at the VC.

If you ever talk to a sister missionary on the phone, they may or may not be snacking on the other end.  Notice the three clocks.  They talk to people all over the world.

Not only were we privileged to have our son Matthew and his wife Bergen for a few days' visit, our nephew David and his wife Carrie were also in Rome for a medical conference, and were able to join us - or we them in Positano - on several occasions.  Wonderful!  Matt and David hadn't seen each other for years and years.

You can't tell it, but I believe they're standing in front of the fountain at the Pantheon.  They didn't want to to the stereotypical photo in front of Trevi.

There's a fun shop in Italy called Bartolucci, they sell wooden toys and specialize in Pinocchio.  Of course I would never have needed this when Matt or any of his siblings were little, because of course they never told lies...

When we visited St. Peter's Square with Matt and Bergen, there was preparation for the canonization of 5 saints.  Quite the doings.

This charming scene is in Trastevere, a famous neighborhood where you supposedly can see the real Rome of today.

So anyone who knows me knows I'm a Halloween grinch, but we senior couples decided to "treat" the sister missionaries, so I followed the cute idea of making a "Mormon" cemetery with cups of pumpkin "dirt" pudding.

The dear sister in charge of the Family History Center on the second floor of the VC is Rosanna Magno.  We know each other from when I was a young missionary serving in Bari in the 70s, and she and her family were investigating the Church.  They have done a marvelous work since being baptized.  She brought this picture for me to see the other day.  No wonder people used to squeeze my cheeks!  My wonderful comp was Charlotte Crandall...wonder where she is these days?

Tidbits:

Talked to a wonderful guy from England the other day.  He has left the Church in pursuit of his relationship with Jesus Christ.  Had some great stuff to share with me - I felt maybe this visit was an answer to my prayers.  If he's honestly pursuing that relationship - and I felt that he is - he'll be all right.  Good for him for coming out of his way to see what the Rome Temple site is all about.

Talked to a young couple who were interested in what was inside the temple and why they couldn't just go in.  I showed them the model of the temple, with one side cut away so you can see inside.  We talked about how it's all about eternal families.  The woman said nothing, but her eyes were wide open and I think maybe her heart was too.  

A foursome from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas came in, members of the Church - wanted to see for themselves what all the hoopla is about.  They walked around, we shared a few things with them; then we asked if they'd like to see the twelve-minute video, the one that's only shown in visitors centers, called "The Storms of Life".  It's actually a series of six videos; each begins and ends in the same way, but in the middle there's a story of a current person dealing with current storms of life, who shares personal experiences with Jesus along the way.  Often, when people who just come in with a shrug and a nonchalant "We're members" come out of that video with a whole new depth of feeling and a renewed gratitude.  That's what happened with these folks, at least with the one brother who shared just that with me.  He was deeply grateful that they had taken the time to see it.

My sister Rosemary and two of her children are coming soon.  More family with whom we can share this place, our home, and our mission.  Grateful.

Buondi`.

Social Media is Overwhelming

So I have at least been posting on Facebook, but some of my friends don't do Facebook.  I ought to spend more time on this blog...but I haven't been...Please forgive me.  I know I can manage my time better.

We are almost at the halfway mark of our mission.  I marvel to write that; I know in no time at all I'll be shaking my head over the passage of the entire 18 months.  Every day we have marvelous experiences sharing our faith and listening to the experiences and feelings of others.  Every day our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ deepens, clarifies, strengthens, marvels.

These photos reflect just a small part of all this, but enjoy!

  On the left is just a corner of the  temple, but not too many photos are taken of the chapel/stake center that is also on the temple site.  The whole square is so welcoming and peaceful.

I selected these photos randomly; we love romanesco and artichokes - but right now both are out of season.

This and the next two photos are from the Jewish ghetto, in existence from the 1500s.  Today, it's a happenin' place.  Life is ... ironic.

One of many fun encounters we have at the Visitors Center.  I didn't recognize this sweet lady at first, but when upon hearing I grew up in Hailey, Idaho, she exclaimed "I'm from Carey!"  I knew immediately that she is a Murdock - though her name now is Peggy Merrell.  Our families were friends, and her dad and mine were in the stake presidency together.  Love it!

The next few photos help you conceptualize one of the reasons the temple site is so peaceful and welcoming.  Sometimes when I walk around it, it seems as if even the birds and the bees feel it.

Blaine carries his iPad around all the time - it has a wealth of information and pictures to share.  He also wears a hat outside to protect his face from the sun, having had several small cancers removed.  So some of the sisters went to the Lego store and made a Lego Anziano Hyde, and attached it to our locker in the break room.

In June we had a wonderful visit from my brother Steve and his wife Young Ju.  Here we are waiting for the metro, Rome's subway.

I think he had never had a birthday cake quite like this one!  Yum!

This is one of the best connections yet!  I was leaving the VC and two Asian brothers walked in.  We exchanged greetings and info.  When they told me they were from South Korea, I told them my sister-in-law was also from there.  Same city!  Wow, that's interesting.  Upshot:  they're dear friends!  Boise, Idaho and Taegu, South Korea, meet at the Rome temple!!!

The Italy Rome West zone, last zone conference for our wonderful President couple the Pickerds.  We've know them for two missions.  Welcome to the Smiths, just as wonderful!

On to a couple of fun Blaine photos:  

 his favorite:  pizza cappriciosa

This is how you rinse the shower after cleaning.

When the sister missionaries arrive before we do, they have to wait because we have the keys to the breakroom.

  In July our granddaughter Abbey and her friend Aitana came from Barcelona for a visit.  Too short!  But fun, and such a joy to have her here.

One of the four olive trees on the main piazza.  They are 400-500 years old.  They were transplanted from northern Italy, but there are olive trees around the perimeter of the grounds that are native to the site, and are 150-200 years old.

Children enjoying the puddles after a storm

My pack mule!

We got so tired of waiting for the bus that this is our new mode of transportation to and from

 the Visitors Center!

 

Aidan, Abbey's younger brother, came for a visit this month.  Boy did we have fun!

Celebrating a baptism (third person on the left).  Our friend Valter has come to the VC almost every day for three months.  We all feel a part of his conversion process.