The Transition Takes Place; Darryl Released as Branch President

Over the past year or so, we have visited regularly with a great sister and her family.  She lives in a small hilltop town about an hour's drive from Siena.  Her husband, Luciano, is not a member of the church and he was quite wary of us the first few months we visited.  But slowly he and Darryl developed a sweet friendship.  He has brought his wife and their four-year-old son to Siena a few times to attend church (although he doesn't come in - choosing rather to get out his bike and take a ride around Siena).   He has, however, attended some activities.  Also, as the months passed, he has stayed around the house while we taught lessons, etc.  He claims not to be very religious, but we think deep down he believes in God.

When he and his family came to our Christmas dinner at the church, he talked a lot with our elders, and asked if they would come and visit some time.  (We typically take the sisters with us, as we are teaching a female member.)  But, since we won't be around always, we decided to take the elders out with us this last week so that they could interact with Luciano and build a rapport.  We think it was successful.

Daniele mugging for the camera

Elders Driver and Moa, Bonnie and Darryl, Luciano and Doris
Daniele took this picture!

Bonnie packing heat; joining her sons on the dark side

Loving the great Scappaticci family

We have invited this whole family to come to Siena this Sunday for church services, and then over to our apartment afterward for lunch.  They accepted the invitation, so we will see how things go.  We may have our missionaries over as well.

Our new district in Siena
Sisters Rincoń and Salmond, Us, Elders Moa and Driver

Bonnie getting the missionaries ready for a special musical number

Last Sunday we had our new district of young missionaries over for lunch.  Bonnie let Darryl make his now famous Penne Senese alla Presidente Lee.  Everyone enjoyed it.

Sisters Rincoń and Salmond, Bonnie, Elders Driver and Moa

This past week has been spent primarily preparing for a transition in the branch presidency.  Darryl was hard at work getting everything organized for a smooth transition.

Yesterday, at our branch conference, Darryl was released as branch president.  Claudio LaRussa, a member of the Prato ward, was called as the new branch president.  He and his wife have been members of the church for many years, and we believe that he will be very good for this small branch of the Lord's kingdom.

It was hard to give talks yesterday, as our emotions were right at the surface.  We have grown to love these members as family, and it will be sad to leave them next month.  We have learned some great lessons; especially to love unconditionally, to mourn with those who mourn, and rejoice with those who rejoice.  There were many expressions of love and appreciation shown to us on Sunday by our great members, and it was a bit of a validation that we have been of service here in Siena.

Last evening we took our sisters to the home of a sister and her son.  Her son will turn eight this summer, and the sisters are teaching him about the gospel in preparation for his baptism.  His Mom is still hesitant about making the commitments necessary to be active in the Church, but we hope that the Spirit will touch her and let her know how important it is to raise her son in the light and truth of the restored gospel.  But at least she is very friendly with us now, and welcomes us into her home to teach her and her son.

Our job over the next few weeks will be to assist the new branch president in any way he needs, and to continue visiting our members and provide whatever support and help they might need.  We will continue to work closely with our elders and sisters here in Siena as they teach their investigators, and will try to encourage new relationships with those members we have fellowshipped during our service.

It snowed again last week.  The view from our apartment window

We still have the assignment to travel around the zone and inspect the young missionaries' apartments, and make repairs as needed.  We will be doing those jobs over the next few weeks.  Plus, Bonnie wasn't released from her callings as First Counselor in the Primary and the Director of our Branch Family Home Evenings, so she will be busy.

We enjoy the chance to serve, and especially to build relationships of love and friendship with our Italian saints.  We thought we had planned our mission for the time when the temple in Rome would be finished; but we misjudged that by about a year or so.  Although no official announcement has yet been made, it doesn't look like the temple will be completed until at least the spring of 2016.  So that will give us a great excuse to return to Italy for that historic event, and also a chance to visit our friends in Siena.