Several of us missionaries from our district went out to help “the cat lady” clean her house. That was quite an experience. (Our lady had 20+ cats that she would not allow to go outside her house, and we were cleaning inside her house – ‘nough said!)
We have less photos recently because the ace photographer in our family has been ill.
On 1 July 2010, our new mission president arrived. President and Sister Kelly are super people and we are delighted they are now leading the mission.
Here we were greeting them for the first time.
Several missionaries from our Zone were at the Villa to sing the “Hymn of Rome” for them to welcome them to the mission.
President and Sister Acerson are also in the picture. We love them so much and all they have done for all of us missionaries and for the work of the Lord. What a pleasure to serve most of our mission under their direction.
A poignant moment when President Acerson begins to let go and turn these wonderful missionaries over to the care of a new President.
The same day our President arrived in Rome, we picked up Terrell and Denise Skinner at the airport. They are good friends from Canada who were just finishing their mission in London, England at the temple.
We were just renewing our friendship with them at our apartment, when three former missionaries from the Rome, Italy mission showed up at the apartment. They had come to visit and ended up staying the night before catching their train back to Milano. Francesco DeRuvo (from Italy), Alex Sweat (from Utah), and Arianna Marangoni (from Italy). What a delight to see them again.
Terrell and Denise enjoyed the sights and sounds of Rome with us for a week. Denise’s greatest wish however was to swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
Denise loved the shopping at the little markets, and also wanted to eat dinner in a sidewalk restaurant in the evening.
A good friend from English class, Andrea, invited Will and I to a concert in the countryside outside of Rome. After a drive through a charming tree-lined private estate,
we arrived at the Villa Mondragone.
The day had been a busy one with our first Rome Zone Conference with our new President. Consequently, we had been at the office working late and had not had an opportunity to return home to get the camera.
When we arrived at Villa Mondragone, Andrea and Arianna, his wife, and 18 month-old daughter, Sophia, showed us around the Villa. We were aching to be able to photograph this wonderful place with landscaped courtyards and a fantastic evening view with Rome in the distance.
Arianna’s mother was one of the singers at the concert, which was actually the opera: Carmina Burana.” As we sat on the 3rd row from the front, we felt part of the choir, grand pianos, percussion instruments, and soloists.
What a grand experience. We felt particularly spoiled to be invited to such a lovely evening with good friends.
After all this busy-ness, I just wanted to include a beautiful sunset which we enjoyed coming home from somewhere wonderful!
