I started this post two months ago, but never finished because I hadn't asked for permission from one of the people whose story I share later. I got the approval when we went back for the temple groundbreaking ceremony, but am just now getting it finished.
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Well, we've been home for (gasp) almost three months. (It's now been over five!) How that time went by, I'll never know. We are glad to be home with friends and family, but miss the beautiful people of Italy!
I have been encouraged to keep up this blog by a few people, so I will continue to share stories that you might be interested in from time to time. Here are three amazing stories which show that miracles do happen -- and they happen often. We just need to open our eyes to see them, and then get on our knees to thank our Father in heaven for His constant love and care in even the smallest details of our life.
The New Roommate
Our two oldest daughters recently returned from their missions to the Italy Milan Mission and the Japan Tokyo Mission and decided to be roommates this school year. On move-in day a couple of weeks ago, I was helping Lisa move some of her things in. As we were on our way out, we saw a mother and daughter who looked extremely familiar coming into the building. I knew that the daughter was a ballerina and started to ask her which university she would be attending and assured her that I was sure she would be their top dancer! My daughter, Lisa, didn't recognize them at first. I thought that because they were so familiar, they must be in our home stake. In the meantime, they looked a little shocked to see us and actually had put their hands up to their chest. I wondered why they were so surprised! I couldn't remember their names. but I said, "Oh they're from our stake!" The mom slowly shook her head and said, "No . . . we're from Firenze!" (Florence!) Why, of course they were! We had just seen them a couple of months before when we were still on our mission -- and Lisa and Kimberly had met this girl when they attended a youth conference when we first arrived in Italy in 2007!
I couldn't believe it! What a coincidence. Or was it? As we talked, I found out that she didn't know who her roommates would be; she had just signed up in an apartment that had a spot available. Knowing that she would be all alone in the U.S. without a friend to live with and her parents so far away, Lisa and I asked her if she would like to live in their apartment, where there was also an opening. Our other daughter, Kimberly, spoke Italian, but even better, this cute girl would have a family here in the U.S. who would have her over for Sunday dinners, celebrate holidays with her, and could help with anything that came up. She was so excited about the idea--and her mother just started to cry.
Later, her mother told us that it truly was a miracle that we ran into each other. Apparently, when they had gone into the office to pick up her key, they couldn't find the paperwork showing that she had paid. She said they had to wait for quite some time, but that they finally found it -- just in time to come into our building at the very same moment when we were leaving. Just a half minute earlier -- or later -- and we would not have seen each other. We both realized what a special miracle we had been a part of.
Giulia, the new roommate, is at our home right now watching a movie with our girls as I write this. What an adorable girls she is and we are so happy to have this opportunity to have her as part of our family for a time. A blessing for us as much as I hope it will be for her.
Jonathan
I wrote about Jonathan and his baptism a couple of years ago. Since that time, Jonathan worked two jobs (working double shifts at one of the jobs) to earn enough money to serve a mission. He was later called to serve in the Italy Milan Mission. We just received a letter from him recently telling us that he had been transferred to Siena to be the Branch President there. What a miracle. A little over two years ago, Jonathan was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is the only member of his family to join the church thus far. And now he is the ecclesiastical leader of the Siena Branch. The things he has learned and experienced will serve him well as he helps the members and brings others into the church. What a miracle you are, Anziano Duque!
(Note: We were able to see Jonathan when we went to Italy for the groundbreaking ceremony. We met his mission president while there and asked him if we could drop a package off to him in Siena. He gave his permission, but we were disappointed that when we got there, Jonathan and is companion were not there. We thought they might have gone to Florence for the satellite broadcast and just not returned yet. We were disappointed, but left the package for them for when they returned. We then continued on to Florence to get some things at the market. After a couple of hours shopping in the large, open-air market, who should we see but Jonathan and his companion!! We were so excited to see him. Apparently, his mission president had called him to let him know that we might drop by, but he was in Florence instead of Siena. He and his companion had meetings in the morning and then decided to walk through the market on their way to catch the train to Siena on the off chance that we might be there. The night before, he had told his companion that he would be seeing us the next day -- and he did! He's doing well and we couldn't be more proud of him!)
God's Timing
Two years ago, a member of the Rome Stake named Alfonso approached me at an activity. I later found out that he had first approached my husband and asked him if he could possibly help him find more stable work that would pay enough to take care of his wife and son and his widowed mother who was living with them. My husband, thinking that I might be the better resource, referred him to me. I remember that, at the time, I was a little surprised that an Italian would be asking us about employment when we really didn't have any connections with anyone who could give him a job. I politely said that if we heard of anything, we would let him know. I asked him to send me an email and a resume so that I would know what his qualifications were and left it at that. He sent them . . . and there they sat for several months.
One day, one of Scott's friends was at our home studying with him and said, "Guess what? My dad just got a promotion! He is now in charge of Human Resources at such and such organization!" At that moment, something nagged at me until I finally remembered why -- Alfonso who had asked us to help him find a better job had mentioned this organization in his letter and resume! I pulled up his email that he had sent me a several months earlier and realized that he had been hired here and there by this company as a security guard, but that they had always been temporary work for two or three months at a time. (In Italy, they have a law that once you have hired someone for a permanent position, you must keep them until they retire, regardless of job performance. Because companies do not want to be locked into hiring someone that they don't know, they will often hire temporary staff for a short period of time.) Alfonso had mentioned this company and said that he would most love to work there in a permanent position because of their stability, reputation, and salary. He had applied there before, but had not "won the interview" because, as he said, you often needed someone to help you get an interview.
Because we had met the father of Scott's friend at the kids' basketball games, I decided to write him an email asking how this man might be able to get an interview. He was very responsive and said that while he didn't do the hiring, he could make sure he would get an interview. He said that "the rest would depend on how he presents and defends himself."
We forwarded the resume on and I later decided to send him Alfonso's first letter to us (some of which is found below):
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First of all I'd like to thank you for accepting to at least listen to what I have to ask.
I'm very sorry that we never had a lot of occasions to know each other better but every time we met I could feel your strength and your spirituality. It's been a long time since I've been thinking of different options to improve my family situation and the other day when I saw you in Church I felt that talking with you could be a help.
I would like to briefly tell you a little about me.
I lost my father when I was 10 years old. You could even say that it happened before when I was 3, because dad had a car incident in 1979 that left him seriously injured and in a vegetative state. Even my mom is very ill now, due to a life of stress and a several physical problems.
Anyway now I'm married and I have a 5 months old child (he would now be a little over a year old), but with a mortgage, a rent, some debts from the wedding, I really struggle to get to the end of the month with my job that I have now.
As one of my last resorts, I have thought to ask you if you are able to help in any way. I am not sure how, but felt as if I should at least ask.
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The father of Scott's friend was very positive about the situation and asked if he could forward the letter onto the person doing the hiring. He said, "I think he should have this letter. The story is so moving."
Although they didn't expect any positions to be open for several months, they invited him to take the tests that would be required of him once a position opened up. They later discovered that he had already completed and passed the tests from earlier applications.
We were notified when there was an opening several months later so that Alfonso could submit his application. A few months later, he was given an interview. A few months after that, he was given a second interview, and finally, he was told that he had received a job and would begin in October -- just in time for the birth of his second child!
This is part of the letter that he wrote to us letting us know about the job:
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"The role of Mr. _________ was crucial in order to obtain this outcome so I really want to thank you for your efforts and prayers. Really there are no words to express how grateful I am to the Lord, to you and to Mr. _________. This job means a lot for me and the well being of my family so thank you, thank you, thank you!"
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This is what I wrote to him in return:
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"Oh happy day! There are no words. I know that it is all due to the Lord and His having his hand in the small details of our lives. Why else would you have randomly asked us to help you when we were not in a position to find work for you? Or to hear from a friend of Scott's that his father has received a promotion at the very place that you wanted a job! There are so many small miracles at work for us every day. I'm sure Heavenly Father loves when we notice them and realize the love that He has for us."
Yes, the miracles in our lives just go on and on. May we continue to see them and thank Him for the love that he shows us with the daily miracles he performs on our behalf.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Mom Moments
One of the things I love most about being in Italy on our mission is that we've been able to have most of our children with us at one time or another. It just wouldn't have been the same without them and we've loved sharing this experience with them.
When we get home, five of our six children will either speak Italian fluently or will be able to understand most of what is being said (even if they are too shy to speak it). Marianne spoke in church recently and shocked everyone by giving a seven-minute talk in Italian without looking much at her notes. (Kimberly who was home from her mission for a couple of weeks helped her translate her talk from English to Italian.) She even realized when she made a funny mistake and knew how to correct it! Jeff, who was sitting next to me, whispered under his breath, "Wow. She's amazing!" We knew she could -- she just hadn't up until this point. Stephanie speaks half English and half Italian most of the time and sometimes has a complete conversation in Italian -- if no one outside the family is around!
But there are many other reasons why this has been such a good thing for our family. We have learned a lot -- about other cultures, other beliefs, and the struggles that many have in this life. The kids have learned how to really study -- and study hard. We have spent a lot of time together as a family -- much more than we would have with our busy lives back in Utah. And that's only the tip of the iceburg!
There are some funny moments as well. I thought I would hurry and write down a couple of them before I forget:
One day while Kimberly and a couple of her friends from the States were here, I picked Marianne and Stephanie up from school. The day was warm and sunny and we wanted to take advantage by going on a bike ride through the Villa Borghese (kind of like Central Park in New York City). Stephanie was frustrated that I hadn't brought her a change of clothes and that she would have to wear her navy blue school pants. (Just last year she wouldn't have even thought about it!) I told her that no one would even notice and that there probably wouldn't even be any kids her age around. As soon as we got out of the car, a throng of kids just her age walked by. She said, "See?" I said, "Tell me what's wrong with these pants." She said, "They're getting too short!" I said, "Well, at least they aren't as short as your pants were last year!" To which she replied, "These ARE the pants from last year." Drats!
A few minutes later as we were walking, she said she was thirsty. I said, "Did you know that you could put one of these smooth rocks in your mouth and that will help you not be so thirsty? In fact, the pioneers used to do that as they walked across the plains." She said, "Well, did you know you can actually get water from a rock?" I said, "No you can't honey. The rock just helps your saliva gland get working so your mouth isn't so dry." "No," she insisted, "That's not what I mean. I mean you really can get water from a rock! You can just hit it with a hammer and water will come out." I said, "Well, if the rock were part of a rock wall, and there happened to be an underground stream behind it and you hit the rock and broke through, then water would come out." "No," she again insisted, "You really can just hit a rock with a hammer and water will come out!" Realizing that it was going to take another "expert" to convince her, I said, "Go ask Kimberly." She promptly went back to walk with Kimberly and said, "Kimberly, you can get water out of a rock, can't you!" Kimberly said, "Yes -- if you're Moses!" To which Stephanie replied, "EXACTLY!" So funny.
And then there are always those times when you wish your children weren't there to witness your ineptness or foolishness because you know that someday they will pass on these "crazy mother stories" to their friends, or worse yet, your own grandchildren! Such was a moment a couple of days ago.
A woman in our ward at church had had a new baby who was having some troubles with swallowing and had to be hospitalized. The mother was at the hospital most of the time with the baby, so the women in the ward were taking turns bringing meals to the family. It was decided that this week the Young Women would prepare the meals under the supervision of their mothers. We had fun making homemade chicken noodle soup with peas and carrots, baking powder biscuits, a fresh fruit platter, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. As we left the house to deliver the meal (in the dark and rainy night), I grabbed the address, the map showing right where it was, my wallet, and keys to the house. What I realized a couple of blocks away was that I didn't have my phone with me. Marianne encouraged me to go back and get it, but that would entail driving around several blocks because of the one-way streets. I decided against it and said we would be OK.
Driving here is crazy. Driving here in the rain is crazier. There is more traffic because those who are normally on motocycles and scooters (motorini) are now in cars and it's a mess. But since I had mapped it all out, I felt like I knew where I was going and we would be fine. We drove the 10 minutes there with few problems, but, as usual, could not find a parking place. If this happens, especially if you're only going to be a few minutes, you just put on your hazard lights and double park, hoping you can get back out to the car before the owners of the trapped cars start honking. We grabbed the food and went off in search of #300, Scala B, int. 2. Except that there were several buildings at #300 (A, B, C, etc.) We found B, but couldn't see the family's last name on the citofono (a list of names and their doorbells). Someone finally let us in. We went to apartment #2 -- and were told that the people we were looking for didn't live there. During this entire process, I was kicking myself for not bringing my phone and their phone number. I could have solved this so easily by ringing them and asking them to come out of their building so we could see where they were. But remember, I hadn't listened to Marianne and so didn't have my phone. Very frustrating. Just as I was going back to the car to get in and return home to get my phone and their phone number, the girls ran up and told me that they had found it!! Yeah! Just as we brought it to the door and were waiting to take our pan back, my hand brushed something in my pocket. My phone!! So NOW we realize we have the phone -- and had it all along. The girls really had fun with that one. Don't kids know that they aren't supposed to laugh at old ladies? Especially when they are their own mothers!
One last mom moment: Over the next three days, Brigham Young University will be hosting the National Ballroom Championship. For several years, we spent many hours there watching our children put their many hours of practice to good use as they competed with a partner or team. What a great experience it was for them. It was one of the hardest things that some of our children had to leave behind as we came to Italy. Kimberly said good-bye to dance when she decided to serve a mission, missing last year's competition. This year she will be a volunteer, helping with the event instead of dancing in it.
In remembrance of her beautiful dancing, I wanted to post this clip that someone sent me last year. At first, I didn't think Kimberly was in this particular piece until I saw how one of the dancers moved her arms and held her head that made me look closer. And there she was. She takes away my breath every time.
When we get home, five of our six children will either speak Italian fluently or will be able to understand most of what is being said (even if they are too shy to speak it). Marianne spoke in church recently and shocked everyone by giving a seven-minute talk in Italian without looking much at her notes. (Kimberly who was home from her mission for a couple of weeks helped her translate her talk from English to Italian.) She even realized when she made a funny mistake and knew how to correct it! Jeff, who was sitting next to me, whispered under his breath, "Wow. She's amazing!" We knew she could -- she just hadn't up until this point. Stephanie speaks half English and half Italian most of the time and sometimes has a complete conversation in Italian -- if no one outside the family is around!
But there are many other reasons why this has been such a good thing for our family. We have learned a lot -- about other cultures, other beliefs, and the struggles that many have in this life. The kids have learned how to really study -- and study hard. We have spent a lot of time together as a family -- much more than we would have with our busy lives back in Utah. And that's only the tip of the iceburg!
There are some funny moments as well. I thought I would hurry and write down a couple of them before I forget:
One day while Kimberly and a couple of her friends from the States were here, I picked Marianne and Stephanie up from school. The day was warm and sunny and we wanted to take advantage by going on a bike ride through the Villa Borghese (kind of like Central Park in New York City). Stephanie was frustrated that I hadn't brought her a change of clothes and that she would have to wear her navy blue school pants. (Just last year she wouldn't have even thought about it!) I told her that no one would even notice and that there probably wouldn't even be any kids her age around. As soon as we got out of the car, a throng of kids just her age walked by. She said, "See?" I said, "Tell me what's wrong with these pants." She said, "They're getting too short!" I said, "Well, at least they aren't as short as your pants were last year!" To which she replied, "These ARE the pants from last year." Drats!
A few minutes later as we were walking, she said she was thirsty. I said, "Did you know that you could put one of these smooth rocks in your mouth and that will help you not be so thirsty? In fact, the pioneers used to do that as they walked across the plains." She said, "Well, did you know you can actually get water from a rock?" I said, "No you can't honey. The rock just helps your saliva gland get working so your mouth isn't so dry." "No," she insisted, "That's not what I mean. I mean you really can get water from a rock! You can just hit it with a hammer and water will come out." I said, "Well, if the rock were part of a rock wall, and there happened to be an underground stream behind it and you hit the rock and broke through, then water would come out." "No," she again insisted, "You really can just hit a rock with a hammer and water will come out!" Realizing that it was going to take another "expert" to convince her, I said, "Go ask Kimberly." She promptly went back to walk with Kimberly and said, "Kimberly, you can get water out of a rock, can't you!" Kimberly said, "Yes -- if you're Moses!" To which Stephanie replied, "EXACTLY!" So funny.
And then there are always those times when you wish your children weren't there to witness your ineptness or foolishness because you know that someday they will pass on these "crazy mother stories" to their friends, or worse yet, your own grandchildren! Such was a moment a couple of days ago.
A woman in our ward at church had had a new baby who was having some troubles with swallowing and had to be hospitalized. The mother was at the hospital most of the time with the baby, so the women in the ward were taking turns bringing meals to the family. It was decided that this week the Young Women would prepare the meals under the supervision of their mothers. We had fun making homemade chicken noodle soup with peas and carrots, baking powder biscuits, a fresh fruit platter, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. As we left the house to deliver the meal (in the dark and rainy night), I grabbed the address, the map showing right where it was, my wallet, and keys to the house. What I realized a couple of blocks away was that I didn't have my phone with me. Marianne encouraged me to go back and get it, but that would entail driving around several blocks because of the one-way streets. I decided against it and said we would be OK.
Driving here is crazy. Driving here in the rain is crazier. There is more traffic because those who are normally on motocycles and scooters (motorini) are now in cars and it's a mess. But since I had mapped it all out, I felt like I knew where I was going and we would be fine. We drove the 10 minutes there with few problems, but, as usual, could not find a parking place. If this happens, especially if you're only going to be a few minutes, you just put on your hazard lights and double park, hoping you can get back out to the car before the owners of the trapped cars start honking. We grabbed the food and went off in search of #300, Scala B, int. 2. Except that there were several buildings at #300 (A, B, C, etc.) We found B, but couldn't see the family's last name on the citofono (a list of names and their doorbells). Someone finally let us in. We went to apartment #2 -- and were told that the people we were looking for didn't live there. During this entire process, I was kicking myself for not bringing my phone and their phone number. I could have solved this so easily by ringing them and asking them to come out of their building so we could see where they were. But remember, I hadn't listened to Marianne and so didn't have my phone. Very frustrating. Just as I was going back to the car to get in and return home to get my phone and their phone number, the girls ran up and told me that they had found it!! Yeah! Just as we brought it to the door and were waiting to take our pan back, my hand brushed something in my pocket. My phone!! So NOW we realize we have the phone -- and had it all along. The girls really had fun with that one. Don't kids know that they aren't supposed to laugh at old ladies? Especially when they are their own mothers!
One last mom moment: Over the next three days, Brigham Young University will be hosting the National Ballroom Championship. For several years, we spent many hours there watching our children put their many hours of practice to good use as they competed with a partner or team. What a great experience it was for them. It was one of the hardest things that some of our children had to leave behind as we came to Italy. Kimberly said good-bye to dance when she decided to serve a mission, missing last year's competition. This year she will be a volunteer, helping with the event instead of dancing in it.
In remembrance of her beautiful dancing, I wanted to post this clip that someone sent me last year. At first, I didn't think Kimberly was in this particular piece until I saw how one of the dancers moved her arms and held her head that made me look closer. And there she was. She takes away my breath every time.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Myths and Reality of Mormonism
I found a great video that helps dispel the myths of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted by Steve Young, former NFL quarterback, and Sharlene Wells Hawkes, a former Miss America. (After clicking on the link above, scroll down until you see "Myths and Reality" and choose between Windows Media Player and QuickTime video.)
If you want more information, videos, or answers to questions, go to www.mormon.org.
If you want more information, videos, or answers to questions, go to www.mormon.org.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
So Who Goes to Your Church?
I get this question from time to time and have to smile. There are various reasons why people ask this. Sometimes they are asking because they have a hard time believing that Italians really join our church. Sometimes they assume that most of the members are “stranieri” (foreigners) – people not originally from Italy. Some see our church as an American church (even though a fifth of our missionaries are Italian and more members live outside the U.S. than in). The fact is, we have a wonderful mixture of Italian members and those from many other countries.
Some leaders in the church who come from Italy and other countries
Approximately two-thirds of those who are joining the church right now are Italians.
In addition to Italy, we have members from South America, Africa, the Philippines, other countries in Europe such as Romania and Ukraine. And, yes, even America is represented – mostly by those who work at the U.S. Embassy or for the military. Several months ago, the Relief Society hosted a stake dance festival where couples performed dances from their countries and there were a total of fourteen countries represented!
Members from the Philippines, Italy, Venezuela, and Finland
Members from Pescara
It might surprise some to know that many of those who attend our church are third-generation members. Oftentimes, grandparents joined long ago and have brought their children up in the gospel.
Long-time member from Napoli
Sisters - one lives in Rome and the other in Florence.
Both are strong women who have raised wonderful children in the church.
Now their grown-up grandchildren are the ones who are serving missions, marrying in the temple, and leading the church. They run the various organizations such as Relief Society, Primary, Young Men and Young Women. I am constantly impressed at the strength of their testimonies and the energies with which they willingly serve.
One of our returned missionaries and his fiance'
I remember attending a baptism in Pescara where I got to know more members of the Bosco family. One of their sons, Stefano, lives in Rome and was Scott’s Young Men leader. He always tried to teach these boys things that would help them be good men and fathers someday. He married a beautiful young woman who is originally from South America. I watched in amazement as this young woman would teach a Relief Society lesson and then run upstairs and lead the singing with the Primary children. On weekdays, she would organize activities for young girls aged 8-11 as part of the Achievement Days program. These fun and educational projects helped these young girls serve others and learn important skills. I thought of the strength of these two as they were married and knew that the church here was in good hands.
Stefano and Itala on their wedding day
Stefano and Itala today
But back to this young man’s family from Pescara . . . His grandmother joined the church decades before and raised her children in the church. This young man’s father and mother are instrumental in the missionary work in that ward, bringing their friends—and their families—into the church. They have further contributed to the missionary effort by sending four sons on missions. As these sons have returned from their missions, they have married in the temple and continue to serve in various capacities. What an amazing family the Bosco family is!
Fratello and Sorella Bosco from Pescara
The Calabrese family is another example of good and faithful latter-day saints. Brother Calabrese is the Stake Patriarch and works on a volunteer basis in the mission office helping with a myriad of tasks. Brother and Sister Calabrese lived in La Spezia years ago when President Acerson was a young missionary—unfortunately, he didn’t find them at that time. They joined the church about eight years later in 1983 in Siracusa, Italy and their conversion story is inspiring. Brother Calabrese’s mother, sister, and others joined the church shortly thereafter. The Calabreses continue to raise their children in the church.
Fratello and Sorella Calabrese
We met their youngest daughter, Norma, when we first came to Italy. She is truly one of the most beautiful and amazing young women we know. A recent university graduate, Norma knows six different languages, including Arabic, and works in an embassy for a country from the Middle East. She is very good and kind and finds various ways to serve. She recently married an Italian returned missionary in the temple. He was just called as the Elder’s quorum president. Norma teaches and plays the piano for the Primary children and in Sacrament Meeting. They both are very helpful in providing translation for the English-speaking members, helping with church activities, and organizing dinners and game nights for themselves and the other young couples in the area.
Daniele and Norma
We love these good and faithful members who attend every week, fulfill their assignments, and inspire and help others to serve.
A few new young adult members from the Napoli District
A cute couple from Sardegna
But there is another group of members I wish to tell you about: those who visit bella Italia and make it a priority to attend church meetings while they are here. I am always impressed with their faithfulness when I see them. Why? Well, first of all, because you would think that there are many more exciting things to see in Italy than the inside of a chapel! Second, they are doing it because they want to – not to keep up appearances (who’s going to know if they went to church while they are here??). Third, if they are not Italian, there is a language issue and they realize that there might not be anyone who can translate for them. They come anyway.
Why do they come? I think it’s because they want to feel the beautiful spirit that is there. They want to meet with the saints from another country who, in spite of cultural and language differences, believe in the same things that they do. They know they will get the same teachings they would get back home. They want to worship God and show respect for Him by taking time out of their busy schedule to come to His church. They want to take the emblems of the sacrament which symbolize the atonement of Jesus Christ and help us to remember His great sacrifice.
Let me tell you about some of these visitors whom we have met in our travels around the mission. One was a group of men of various ages from Peru who came to church in Pozzuoli near Napoli. There was a grandfather, his two sons, and a grandson. They were performers who were on tour throughout Italy and had to do some real searching for the church meetinghouse since it’s fairly tucked away in Pozzuoli. They even took time out of their busy schedule during the week to ride the train and find the church so they wouldn’t get lost on Sunday. That Sunday they arrived early and stayed for all three meetings. Since they spoke Spanish, and not English, none of the missionaries could translate for them. They said they understood enough with some of the similarities between Spanish and Italian. What a beautiful and faithful family!
One hot summer Sunday, we were visiting the branch in Cagliari, which is on the beautiful island of Sardegna. People come from all over Europe to vacation in Sardegna because it is surrounded by huge stretches of white-sand beaches. So it was with great surprise when I saw a group of five or six young men who were visiting that Sunday from France. As I talked to them before the meeting, I found out that some were returned missionaries, one had just received his mission call, one was just submitting his mission papers, and one had just recently joined the church. They had found out where the church was located, found the busses that they needed to take to get there, and then gave up a day at the beach to sit through meetings that were all in Italian – no one spoke French and so they, too, had to do without translation. When it was my turn to speak in church that day, I spoke about them and their dedication in attending church (luckily my Italian was slow and clear enough that they were able to understand enough). Where else would you find this love of God and commitment to something you believe in? I hope my daughters marry someone like these young men someday.
We have met those who come to visit family and friends from other parts of Italy and who make sure to attend church. Sometimes their family and friends aren’t members, but they come anyway, giving up valuable visiting time so they can show their children that attending church is important. It’s been especially fun for us because we have met those who know our daughter Kimberly as she serves in the northern part of Italy!
Family (who knows Kimberly) from northern Italy attending church in Napoli
And then there are lots and lots of visitors to our home ward in Rome. Yesterday there was a young man and a young woman who were visiting from Paris. They had each served missions (to Romania and France) and were now going to school and working in Paris. They knew each other through church and decided to go to Rome and do some sightseeing for the weekend. Knowing that they only had about a day and a half after traveling, they came to church anyway. They found out that there was a baptism after Sacrament Meeting and wanted to stay. They then asked about visiting the temple site, and because we didn’t have pressing concerns, took them there for a few minutes. When we finally left them at the bus stop, it was 3:30 p.m. and they were hoping to see a little of St. Peter’s Basilica before it closed. We figured with all the travel time and activities at church, they had taken six hours out of their schedule to do what they did. It really is amazing to me.
And this happens week after week with couples and families who are here on vacation or just stopping through on a cruise. One family who just dropped in one Sunday was Mitt Romney (yes, that Mitt Romney, former candidate for the office of President of the United States of America), his wife, Ann, and two granddaughters. They came to Sacrament Meeting and quietly sat in the back not wanting to attract attention, shook hands with several of the members afterward, then slipped away to finish their time in Rome. Just in case he runs for President again, and just in case anyone wants to know if he really is a religious, God-fearing man who feels it is important to partake of the sacrament, showing his love and respect for his Father in Heaven and his Savior, Jesus Christ – well, the answer is yes.
I’m so grateful that we are able to attend church with such good people! If you are traveling to our mission, you can find the location of church meetinghouses and meeting times here. Otherwise, go to the Meetinghouse Locator at www.mormon.org to find a meetinghouse anywhere in the world. Wherever you go, you'll be more than welcome!
Some leaders in the church who come from Italy and other countries
Approximately two-thirds of those who are joining the church right now are Italians.
In addition to Italy, we have members from South America, Africa, the Philippines, other countries in Europe such as Romania and Ukraine. And, yes, even America is represented – mostly by those who work at the U.S. Embassy or for the military. Several months ago, the Relief Society hosted a stake dance festival where couples performed dances from their countries and there were a total of fourteen countries represented!
Members from the Philippines, Italy, Venezuela, and Finland
Members from Pescara
It might surprise some to know that many of those who attend our church are third-generation members. Oftentimes, grandparents joined long ago and have brought their children up in the gospel.
Long-time member from Napoli
Sisters - one lives in Rome and the other in Florence.
Both are strong women who have raised wonderful children in the church.
Now their grown-up grandchildren are the ones who are serving missions, marrying in the temple, and leading the church. They run the various organizations such as Relief Society, Primary, Young Men and Young Women. I am constantly impressed at the strength of their testimonies and the energies with which they willingly serve.
One of our returned missionaries and his fiance'
I remember attending a baptism in Pescara where I got to know more members of the Bosco family. One of their sons, Stefano, lives in Rome and was Scott’s Young Men leader. He always tried to teach these boys things that would help them be good men and fathers someday. He married a beautiful young woman who is originally from South America. I watched in amazement as this young woman would teach a Relief Society lesson and then run upstairs and lead the singing with the Primary children. On weekdays, she would organize activities for young girls aged 8-11 as part of the Achievement Days program. These fun and educational projects helped these young girls serve others and learn important skills. I thought of the strength of these two as they were married and knew that the church here was in good hands.
Stefano and Itala on their wedding day
Stefano and Itala today
But back to this young man’s family from Pescara . . . His grandmother joined the church decades before and raised her children in the church. This young man’s father and mother are instrumental in the missionary work in that ward, bringing their friends—and their families—into the church. They have further contributed to the missionary effort by sending four sons on missions. As these sons have returned from their missions, they have married in the temple and continue to serve in various capacities. What an amazing family the Bosco family is!
Fratello and Sorella Bosco from Pescara
The Calabrese family is another example of good and faithful latter-day saints. Brother Calabrese is the Stake Patriarch and works on a volunteer basis in the mission office helping with a myriad of tasks. Brother and Sister Calabrese lived in La Spezia years ago when President Acerson was a young missionary—unfortunately, he didn’t find them at that time. They joined the church about eight years later in 1983 in Siracusa, Italy and their conversion story is inspiring. Brother Calabrese’s mother, sister, and others joined the church shortly thereafter. The Calabreses continue to raise their children in the church.
Fratello and Sorella Calabrese
We met their youngest daughter, Norma, when we first came to Italy. She is truly one of the most beautiful and amazing young women we know. A recent university graduate, Norma knows six different languages, including Arabic, and works in an embassy for a country from the Middle East. She is very good and kind and finds various ways to serve. She recently married an Italian returned missionary in the temple. He was just called as the Elder’s quorum president. Norma teaches and plays the piano for the Primary children and in Sacrament Meeting. They both are very helpful in providing translation for the English-speaking members, helping with church activities, and organizing dinners and game nights for themselves and the other young couples in the area.
Daniele and Norma
We love these good and faithful members who attend every week, fulfill their assignments, and inspire and help others to serve.
A few new young adult members from the Napoli District
A cute couple from Sardegna
But there is another group of members I wish to tell you about: those who visit bella Italia and make it a priority to attend church meetings while they are here. I am always impressed with their faithfulness when I see them. Why? Well, first of all, because you would think that there are many more exciting things to see in Italy than the inside of a chapel! Second, they are doing it because they want to – not to keep up appearances (who’s going to know if they went to church while they are here??). Third, if they are not Italian, there is a language issue and they realize that there might not be anyone who can translate for them. They come anyway.
Why do they come? I think it’s because they want to feel the beautiful spirit that is there. They want to meet with the saints from another country who, in spite of cultural and language differences, believe in the same things that they do. They know they will get the same teachings they would get back home. They want to worship God and show respect for Him by taking time out of their busy schedule to come to His church. They want to take the emblems of the sacrament which symbolize the atonement of Jesus Christ and help us to remember His great sacrifice.
Let me tell you about some of these visitors whom we have met in our travels around the mission. One was a group of men of various ages from Peru who came to church in Pozzuoli near Napoli. There was a grandfather, his two sons, and a grandson. They were performers who were on tour throughout Italy and had to do some real searching for the church meetinghouse since it’s fairly tucked away in Pozzuoli. They even took time out of their busy schedule during the week to ride the train and find the church so they wouldn’t get lost on Sunday. That Sunday they arrived early and stayed for all three meetings. Since they spoke Spanish, and not English, none of the missionaries could translate for them. They said they understood enough with some of the similarities between Spanish and Italian. What a beautiful and faithful family!
One hot summer Sunday, we were visiting the branch in Cagliari, which is on the beautiful island of Sardegna. People come from all over Europe to vacation in Sardegna because it is surrounded by huge stretches of white-sand beaches. So it was with great surprise when I saw a group of five or six young men who were visiting that Sunday from France. As I talked to them before the meeting, I found out that some were returned missionaries, one had just received his mission call, one was just submitting his mission papers, and one had just recently joined the church. They had found out where the church was located, found the busses that they needed to take to get there, and then gave up a day at the beach to sit through meetings that were all in Italian – no one spoke French and so they, too, had to do without translation. When it was my turn to speak in church that day, I spoke about them and their dedication in attending church (luckily my Italian was slow and clear enough that they were able to understand enough). Where else would you find this love of God and commitment to something you believe in? I hope my daughters marry someone like these young men someday.
We have met those who come to visit family and friends from other parts of Italy and who make sure to attend church. Sometimes their family and friends aren’t members, but they come anyway, giving up valuable visiting time so they can show their children that attending church is important. It’s been especially fun for us because we have met those who know our daughter Kimberly as she serves in the northern part of Italy!
Family (who knows Kimberly) from northern Italy attending church in Napoli
And then there are lots and lots of visitors to our home ward in Rome. Yesterday there was a young man and a young woman who were visiting from Paris. They had each served missions (to Romania and France) and were now going to school and working in Paris. They knew each other through church and decided to go to Rome and do some sightseeing for the weekend. Knowing that they only had about a day and a half after traveling, they came to church anyway. They found out that there was a baptism after Sacrament Meeting and wanted to stay. They then asked about visiting the temple site, and because we didn’t have pressing concerns, took them there for a few minutes. When we finally left them at the bus stop, it was 3:30 p.m. and they were hoping to see a little of St. Peter’s Basilica before it closed. We figured with all the travel time and activities at church, they had taken six hours out of their schedule to do what they did. It really is amazing to me.
And this happens week after week with couples and families who are here on vacation or just stopping through on a cruise. One family who just dropped in one Sunday was Mitt Romney (yes, that Mitt Romney, former candidate for the office of President of the United States of America), his wife, Ann, and two granddaughters. They came to Sacrament Meeting and quietly sat in the back not wanting to attract attention, shook hands with several of the members afterward, then slipped away to finish their time in Rome. Just in case he runs for President again, and just in case anyone wants to know if he really is a religious, God-fearing man who feels it is important to partake of the sacrament, showing his love and respect for his Father in Heaven and his Savior, Jesus Christ – well, the answer is yes.
I’m so grateful that we are able to attend church with such good people! If you are traveling to our mission, you can find the location of church meetinghouses and meeting times here. Otherwise, go to the Meetinghouse Locator at www.mormon.org to find a meetinghouse anywhere in the world. Wherever you go, you'll be more than welcome!
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