"He is risen!" - Buona Pasqua to all!

Spring is here in full force, and that means new life!  As we celebrate new life, may we always remember Him who willingly gave His life that we all might live eternally.

It is wonderful to be here in Italy, called as full-time missionaries to proclaim the restored gospel to all who will listen.  We constantly invite investigators and less active members of our branch to plant the seed of the restored gospel in their hearts and minds and see if it blooms into a testimony.  Those who do so, with faith and real intent, feel it grow within them until they receive their own witness from the Holy Spirit that the message of the restoration is true.

A couple of weeks ago we received great news from Church headquarters.  The Church is going to combine two districts, the Florence district and the Rimini district, and create a new stake in Italy.  On May 11 a few general authorities will visit our area and create this new stake.  Our little branch will remain a branch, but they will make at least five or six wards, call bishops, ordain High Priests, and move forward with the work of the Lord.  It will be exciting!!

Last Sunday we had a couple from Florida visit our branch.  The Casablanca's are originally from Puerto Rico, and they have served two missions, one of them as a Mission President in Columbia.  They gave us advance warning that they were coming, so we invited them over for lunch after church.  It was good to get their impressions of missionary work.  They plan on putting in their papers soon for a third mission.

Our Relief Society President and her counselor wanted to visit the Nelsons, our professional basketball player and his family, so we took them over to visit.  They brought large chocolate eggs for the two older kids, and they had a blast opening the wrappers, eating the chocolate, and finding the hidden toys inside.

Julie, with her two kids, Logan and Hannah

Hannah taking a big bite of chocolate!

We are working hard with our members, inviting them over for dinner and visiting them in their homes.  It is important to get to know everyone outside the environs of the church house.  As we get to know people better, we are more able to serve them!

Darryl continues to teach Institute, and Bonnie is working hard in the Primary and directing the branch's weekly Family Home Evenings.  We help the missionaries with the English classes they teach twice a week, and we accompany the missionaries on their teaching appointments when they ask.  A Senior Couple's life is filled with a mixture of opportunities to serve, and we are striving our best to take advantage of all the opportunities that come our way.

We took a couple of hours out of our weekly duties to drive through the countryside to enjoy the coming of spring.   As we drove through the Bella Toscana, we captured a few shots of the beautiful land to share with you.  Here you go.

Even though Easter is near, they don't seem the least bit worried

Trees in bloom!

Wisteria in bloom, and cascading over the wall 

Fruit is growing!

A red poppy for Bonnie

The vineyards are finally starting to leaf out

Rows and rows, as far as the eye can see (almost)

Monteriggioni in the background, over newly planted and plowed fields

Today was Easter Sunday.  Because we have many part-member families, we were aware that some of our more active members would be away for family events on Easter Sunday.  As a result, one of our elders was called upon to teach the Priesthood lesson, and Darryl jumped in to teach Gospel Doctrine.  One of our sister missionaries was supposed to talk in Sacrament Meeting, but she called Darryl at 8:00 a.m. this morning and told him she was too sick to talk.  Not a big problem.  We sang an extra song and Darryl gave the closing talk, reminiscing on his and Bonnie's trip to the Holy Land in 1997.

As he shared with the branch today, we wish to share with you our knowledge that the tomb is empty, that Christ is resurrected and lives to guide His church today, and that He is our Savior and our Redeemer. 

In reality, the way back to our Father in Heaven and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is easy.  He has given us a detailed roadmap on how to return, he has shown us the way by His example, and now it is up to us to follow the map and His example.  Our individual weaknesses and our tendency to trade immediate gratification for eternal bliss are the stumbling blocks that get in the way of our progress.

Since we are so far away from our five kids, their wonderful spouses, and our ten (soon to be 11) grandkids, we had to find substitutes.  Thus, we invited our missionaries over for Easter dinner, together with two of our members who probably didn't have anywhere to go for Easter dinner.

Bonnie prepared a beautiful table, wrapped Easter gifts for all our guests, and we enjoyed a nice dinner together.  Darryl attempted to recreate his wonderful marinated flank steak.  It turned out OK, even though he couldn't find the exact cut of meat he wanted and he didn't have a BBQ on which to grill the steak.  Nonetheless, our guests enjoyed their meal, and were filled.

Easter setting, and gifts for our guests

Elders Asxon and Robb, and Sister Boscia, waiting for food

Sisters Boscia and Roth, with Anthony from the branch

Anthony and Elder Robb, reading our Reunion book

Sisters Roth and Boscia, with Emily from the branch

Dinner is served!!
Sister Roth, Emily, Sister Boscia, Bonnie, Elders Robb and Axson, and Anthony

Bonnie made a wonderful carrot cake, and our English member, Emily, brought homemade brownies.  Needless to say, we had a wonderful meal with cherished people.

We wish all our family, friends and loved ones a marvelous Easter, as we all look forward with hope and faith toward the great gifts of eternity that are made possible by the sacrifice we celebrate today.