Respite You Think? Not So Fast!

After spending a wonderful few days with Kara and Chris, and then enjoying the creation of the 10th Stake in Italy in our own Bella Toscana, we settled back down to work in our beautiful city of Siena.  We had an enjoyable family home evening with our branch family, and continued to visit and strengthen our members.

This was transfer week, and lo and behold our own Elder Robb, who has been with us since he came from the States in November, was transferred to Padova.  We couldn't let him go without one last missionary correlation meeting, which we decided to hold at the best pizzeria in all of Siena.  We had a good time and wished him well on his missionary journey.  It has been fun watching him grow from a new elder who could barely put two Italian words together, to a confident missionary who is able to communicate well with members and investigators.

Elder Robb's last English class at Siena.  Many well-wishers! 

Last missionary correlation meeting with Elder Robb
Bonnie, Sister Roth, Sister Boscia, Elder Robb, Elder Axson

The numbers in our small branch have almost doubled with the arrival of the BYU Study Abroad group of about 16 students.  This group is from the Italian department at BYU, and many of them are returned missionaries from the Italy missions.  They will be a great strength to our little branch.  We already have them speaking, teaching and helping out.

On Sunday, May 18 we had over 50 people in Church, with our BYU students and the tourists that are starting to come in droves.  It was nice to have so many.  But we need to remember that these members come and go, and we must always stay focused on our permanent members here in Siena, working diligently to help them build and grow their testimonies.

 

Darryl blissfully enjoying his last meal just hours before the fateful call

We are now convinced that the Lord both has a sense of humor and he doesn't really like it when his full time missionaries, even us old couples, think they can take a few days' respite to show a daughter and son-in-law the beauties of His creations.  Why do we say this? 

Because on Monday evening we received a call from our Mission President who informed Darryl that he was going to be on a plane the next morning for the United States where he needed to have a medical issue resolved.  He went on to say that he and the Europe Area President, Elder Texiera, wanted Darryl to come to mission headquarters in Milano and direct the Italy Milan Mission in President Dibb's absence.  So, no rest for the wicked, or at least for those who think they can take a few days off to enjoy the countryside!

Needless to say, we were shocked by this news.  But we girded up our loins, packed a few bags, and headed off to Milano on Tuesday, arriving Tuesday evening.  Darryl now has the Mission President's phone, and Bonnie has his wife's phone, and we are handling all the various matters that need to be resolved by the Mission President and his wife.

All health issues involving the missionaries go to Bonnie, and she has had a number of problems to resolve in just the past five days, ranging from the flu to a broken foot.  She is great with these young missionaries as she guides them on the path to healthy living.

We are staying in the Mission Home, which is very roomy, very nice!

Darryl is busy fielding calls from all over the Mission, and at the same time is preparing for New Missionary Training where we bring all new missionaries back to the Mission Home after they have been in the field for 2 weeks, together with their trainers, for some in-depth training and a large dose of encouragement.  Bonnie will also be providing training for this group.  Darryl is using some of the materials that President Dibb used, but has some original training he wants to share with these missionaries.

"Acting" Mission President with his lovely bride

 We are also preparing for a training day with all Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders, and five Zone Conferences.  After that, we will have another round of transfers with new missionaries coming in from the MTC, and missionaries departing for home.

Traditions cannot be broken, so we are feeding the Assistants and Office Elders
AP's - Elders Johnson and Walden, Bonnie, Office Elders Stewart and Bendezu

In addition, we have two new missionary couples coming to join the Mission in the next two weeks, but they have already been assigned to their fields of labor, one working with the American military families near a U.S. base in northern Italy, and one heading off to a small town to serve as branch president.  We will just need to meet and greet them, welcome them to the mission, feed them, and get them pointed in the right direction with the hope that their TomTom's will get them to their assigned destination without too many detours.

The good news is that the medical issue that President Dibb needed to have addressed has been resolved with great success, and he is now in the recovery mode.  His doctors believe that after about 4-6 weeks of rest and recuperation in the States, he will be able to return to Italy and continue to lead the Mission.

And that means that we will get to return to our little town of Siena and the small, but wonderful branch of members that we have grown to love so dearly.

While this is and will continue to be an interesting and challenging temporary duty assignment, we will have no qualms in leaving the traffic congestion of Milano and returning to the Bella Toscana.

What have we learned the past two weeks? 

First, enjoy each day, for it may be your last, at least the last day in the comfort zone to which you have grown accustomed.   

Second, be prepared for the unexpected, and when the unexpected comes, answer the call and go forth with faith.

Third, enjoy the ride!!