Our Daughters Leave, and So Do Two of our Great Missionaries

Kristine and Kathleen were able to stay with us a few more days, so we took advantage of some great fall weather and visited the little hill towns in the Chianti region near Siena.

We also watched a gorgeous sunset from the walls of the medieval castle of Monteriggioni.

We then spent most of Monday exploring Siena.  In the afternoon and evening we enjoyed Pienza and Montepulchiano.  The girls bought gifts for their family, and it was great to be with them. 

We spent Tuesday in Florence, visiting the David, Ponte Vecchio and walking the streets in the rain.  In the past they didn't allow pictures of the David, but that policy must have changed, because everyone one was flashing pictures without a naysayer in sight.

A portrait of Dante and his "Inferno" in the background in the Cathedral of Florence.
Interesting, since he was exiled from Florence during his lifetime.

On Wednesday we needed to start the long trip to Milan where the girls would catch a plane back home.  We drove to Modena, a city where Kristine served as a missionary more than a decade ago, and walked the city.  We drove by the chapel and the old apartment where Kristine lived.  We walked the streets of the old town, visiting the very beautiful cathedral.

We also visited another acetaia where the true balsamic vinegar is made.  It is a very controlled and interesting process, and it will be difficult to use the imitation when you have tasted the real thing.

That evening we stayed at a little B&B in the country near the Malpensa airport, and then dropped the girls off very early Thursday morning for their flight back home.  It was great to see them, and they did help Darryl get through the trauma of his 60th birthday!  Thanks girls!!

On Sunday we had a great group of visitors and investigators in church with us.  It is always interesting to see who shows up for church on any given Sunday.

We found out that two of our missionaries would be leaving us, one finishing his two years and heading home, and one heading off to Verona to train another greenie.  Our Sister Remund, who has only been in Italy for 12 weeks, will be a senior companion here in Siena with another sister from her same group.   Also, the elder that will be joining Elder Warnick has not been out much longer, so we will have a very young group of missionaries assisting us.  Whatever they might lack in language skills will be more than made up in their faith and enthusiasm!

Sad faces because two are leaving Siena

But happy to be in the service of the Lord!

For Family Home Evening we had a dinner, celebrating the birthdays of all members who were born in October, and also as a farewell to Elder Garner and Sister Andromidas.  We had a great time!

FHE at the church, with members and investigators

Sisters Remund and Andromidas with Sharon, a young investigator.

We took them both to the train station and said our goodbyes.  

Elder Warnick helping Elder Garner with his bags,
as Elder Garner waves goodbye to us and Italy!

Sorella Andromidas off to Verona, with Sorella Remund ready to take the reins here in Siena.

We have grown to love each of the young missionaries who have served here in Siena, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.  The work rolls forth!

A Birthday and a Baptism, and a Visit from our Daughters! What Could Be Better!

We are grateful that the lives of senior missionaries permit occasional visits from family and loved ones.  Darryl had a big birthday a few days ago, and his two oldest daughters felt the need to come over and help him through the trauma and turmoil that affects anyone who moves out of one decade into another.

So, Kristine and Kathleen flew over to spend about a week with us, celebrating life and keeping Darryl from doing anything rash as the big day approached, and then passed.

Waiting "patiently" for the plane to arrive 

Mom's first big hug!

Great to see these two daughters!

They flew into Milan, so we drove up there and picked them up.  We decided that on our way down, we would show them the beauties of the Cinque Terre region, as well as Pisa and Lucca.

The weather in the Cinque Terre was a bit unsettled, but the rains stayed away for the most part and we had pleasant temperatures and not too many tourists.  We walked around Monterosso al Mare one night, eating outside at a fabulous seafood restaurant right on the main square.

They had to get their feet wet

The sun setting on a cloudy day

Monterosso at night

The next day we took the train to Manarola, and then to Vernazza, where we enjoyed the sea and the scenery, and most especially the company of these two great kids.

Shopping was a contact sport

Exiting with their treasures

Manarola on the side of a hill

Manarola again, with the swirling sea

The waves were crashing

Vernazza and its little harbor

That evening we drove down to Pisa (a city where both Darryl and Kristine served as young missionaries).   We walked the streets at night, enjoying the views of the Arno, admiring the shops with the Italians as they took their evening passagiata (stroll) through town, and then we ate a late pizza at an outside restaurant.

The Arno at night, running through Pisa

The next morning (which was the fateful day of Darryl's entry into a brand new decade), we climbed the Leaning Tower and checked out the other sites in Pisa's famous Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles).

At the top of the Leaning Tower

The Leaning Tower

Pisa's Duomo

Statue of a fallen angel

Next, we drove to the nearby town of Lucca where we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the city walls.  We then rented bikes and rode twice around the large, medieval walls that completely encircle the town.

Ready for the Tour de France

A beautiful garden of an abbey close to the wall 

A tower in Lucca

We then drove to Siena, because we had a most important date with an investigator who had decided to enter the waters of baptism.  Our sister missionaries had done a great job finding and teaching an Italian lady from Siena who lives just a few blocks from the church.  Daniela progressed in her understanding of the gospel and her willingness to obey the commandments.  She quit smoking, and decided to get baptized.

Sisters Andromidas and Remund, with Daniela 

Sisters Remund and Andromidas, Daniela, Elders Warnick and Garner

A group photo at the baptism

It was a wonderful experience to participate in her baptism on Darryl's birthday, together with our two daughters.  It was a special evening.

On Sunday, Darryl confirmed Daniela a member of the church and bestowed upon her the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Kristine and Kathleen gave powerful talks in Sacrament Meeting, and all in all it was a great first few days to their visit.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to bring change into people's lives, and can make us happy as we journey together down the path toward eternal life.  We are enjoying our small part in the growth of the vineyard here in Italy, and we are thankful for the support and love we receive daily from family and friends.

October brings us the counsel of prophets and apostles!

On the young missionaries' P Day, which is Wednesday in our mission, the sisters called and wanted to borrow or come over to our apartment and watch "Charly".   They said that it was our mission president's favorite movie, and that he permitted missionaries to watch it.  We said OK, come on over because we have the movie and they could watch it on our "big screen", which is about 18 inches high.  It was a cold rainy afternoon, so they came over, put on their warm socks, and everyone had a good cry as we watched "Charly".

That same evening, as Darryl was returning from a ministering visit with a member of his branch presidency, the sisters called on the phone and reported that they had missed the last bus and were stranded in a small little village about 8 miles out of Siena.  So we got into our little Meriva and drove out to the rescue.  The sisters should thank heaven for a senior couple here in Siena.  Otherwise, they would have had a long walk.

General Conference is always a special time where we are privileged to listen to timely counsel from God's prophets and seers, as well as other leaders of the Church.  Here in Italy, however, there are some logistical concerns (as in other parts of the world) because we are eight hours ahead of Salt Lake City.

So, we decided to invite our missionaries over to our apartment on Saturday afternoon for a light dinner before the Saturday morning session of conference was broadcast live.  That started at 6:00 pm our time.  So Bonnie made a great potato salad and Darryl made three different kinds of sliders, and we shared a good, old American dinner with our missionaries before sitting down to watch the session.  After the session was over, we acknowledged that we had been fed spiritually, and it was then time to feast on Bonnie's warm apple crisp.  The missionaries went home, and we stayed up to watch the afternoon session by ourselves, which ran from 10:00 pm to midnight, our time.

Sisters Andromidas and Remund, Bonnie, and Elders Garner and Warnick

Gathered around our "big screen" to watch Saturday's session

Even though General Conference is now available to almost anyone in any part of the world over the Internet, our stake leaders still encouraged us to get try to get the members together for a few sessions of conference on Sunday.

So we did just that.  We asked our Activities Chairwomen to assist us with a meal for the branch, and we invited everyone to bring something to share.

Darryl and Bonnie made a Pesto Lasagna, together with a Vegetable Lasagna, which constituted the first plate, together with a meat sugu prepared by one of our members.  Others brought antipasti, main dishes, drinks, bread and desserts, and we were ready.

We gathered together at the church at 2:00 pm, and the sisters watched the Women's Conference broadcast, while the men watched the Priesthood Session from the night before.

Some of the sisters watching the Women's Conference

And the men watching the Priesthood session

At 4:00 pm, we put the water on for the pasta and did the final preparations for our branch dinner.  About 23 of us sat down and enjoyed a wonderful meal and lots of good conversation.

Then at 6:00 pm, we all gathered in the chapel to watch the Sunday Morning broadcast live from Salt Lake City.

Then, after cleaning up the building, we went home and watched the Sunday Afternoon Session of conference, and we didn't even fall asleep.  Amazing!

We had some great experiences this week.  We attended a Zone Training meeting on Monday, and heard the "dying" testimonies of four great missionaries that will soon be returning home.  One of those is our own Elder Garner, who we have grown to love here in Siena.

The sisters from the Zone love to get together at these meetings, and they always want their picture taken.  They are a strength to the mission and the wards or branches where they serve.  We know that we couldn't do as much as we do without our dedicated sisters, Sister Andromidas and Sister Remund.

The great sister missionaries of the Firenze Zone

On Tuesdays we are at the Church from 10:00 am to noon to run the Genealogy Center.  Not many stop by at that time, but this week we had one of those moments that every missionary hopes and prays for.  About 11:00 am, a young man of about 19 came in, and said that he was from Albania, but lived here in Italy now, and he has been looking for the Church of Jesus.  It turns out that while in Albania he had a friend who is member, and that friend invited him to Church there.  He went and participated in the English classes, and he became good friends with the elders there.  They taught him about the gospel, but then he left for Italy.

We had a great talk, and Darryl called the elders to see if they might be nearby.  They were not far away, so they come over to the Church and took over from there, teaching him a lesson and making an appointment to teach him again tomorrow.  He seems like one of those "golden" contacts.  We will hope and pray that he accepts the truth and exercises his agency to align himself with the restored Church of God here on the earth.

We are enjoying our opportunities to serve the people here in Italy, and we are grateful for the guidance that our living prophets give us to address the challenges of an ever-changing world.  May we listen, learn and apply, as we journey down our own paths toward our eternal goals.