Learn the principle - do the service!

Rome Zone Conference was on Thursday. We felt the spirit of the Lord so strong as we listened to the excellent training that was given, as testimonies were borne, and as we felt the love of the missionaries.

We are working for the Lord, and He is working overtime for us! As we are away from our families, they are learning humility and experiencing an outpouring of help and love for one another. We continue to pray sincerely and often for them, and then to Trust in the Lord, and go on with our work here.

Saturday was SUNNY! What a great shot in the arm that is! Brother Guidara has been trying to complete his olive harvest, but between rain and sickness, it had not been accomplished. On sunny Saturday, we headed to his place and again raked olives. It was a delightful day. We loved our association with Elder and Sister Perticaroli, the Guidara’s parents, who are home from their temple mission in Switzerland for medical reasons,

and with the Guidara's.


It felt wonderful to be outside and doing physical work after a week of rain and being in the office.

Sister Perticaroli using an umbrella on the small trees to catch the olives as she rakes them off the tree.

Bringing in the harvest.

Back to the BIG, OLD olive tree to show it to Burt's.

By the way, it takes 5 people holding hands around the tree to reach clear around it.

Buon Anno 2010

What a great start of a new year! The mission has already enjoyed several baptisms in January. Some were individuals, some members of a great family, where the Dad was baptized and then a few days later, after receiving the Aaronic Priesthood, baptized his wife and boys. Baptism is just the beginning of a great association with these new church members. We see them and interact with them constantly as they have become good friends.

We are also excited about Jonathan’s mission call to Milan. He is leaving for the MTC in Madrid by mid-month. We will miss his cheery smile.

Here I share some random pictures taken in our office.

Will - trying on a hat being sent on to an elder in the north of the mission.

This elder has just received a marriage date and wedding colors from his girlfriend who is looking forward to his homecoming. He still has several months of his mission to go.

Karen is excited about a receiving a Christmas package. By the way, thanks for all the good wishes from everyone during the Christmas season. Your love and prayers are much appreciated.

Karen continues to work on Family Search Indexing for the church whenever she gets a spare minute – at the office or at the apartment.

Burt’s (the other office couple) also have gotten us hooked on doing puzzles in the evening while the cookies bake for another day, and the clothes wash in the washer before being hung to dry.

Just a quick update on the building taking shape across the lane from us. They are getting ready to pour cement on the roof. Imagine – cement on the roof!

Will and Karen shopping the sales at the Outlet Mall. Notice the very small package.

Will it ever stop raining? No wonder it's so green outside.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

The year 2010 in Rome began with a giant display of fireworks. We stood on the balcony of our apartment and in every direction there were fireworks in the sky and erupting off individual balconies, until the air was filled with smoke.

It may be January but in Italy, they are still trying to wrap up Christmas. Buffana, the witch bringing good luck, doesn’t come until Wednesday, January 6th to herald the end of the Christmas season.

In downtown Rome, the crowds of people are larger than ever. We went downtown to check out an open market at Piazza Navona, but didn’t stay there long. As we were downtown, we decided to check out a couple more churches we hadn’t seen before. It’s amazing how plain a church can look of the outside, and how elaborate it is on the inside.

At S. Maria degli Angeli Basilica there was a detailed nativity inside,

along with a huge organ, being played by an organist.

The large marble columns were imported from Africa.

Originally this building housed large thermal baths. It became the last great architectural project of Michelangelo, as he shaped the inside like a Greek cross and transformed it into a church.

Across from the Basillica of Saint Mary of the Angels is Piazza della Repubblicia. The Piazza features a huge fountain with four bronze statues, and is the one point of reference you pass each time you ride a bus in downtown Rome. The square is the meeting point for official demonstrations.

Sunday at church we met Karina, a girl of Finnish descent, actually from Salt Lake, who was traveling around Europe alone. She had walked from Termini to the church, about a 5-mile walk. We invited her home for a late afternoon dinner, since it was Fast Sunday, and enjoyed her company as she told us about her travels.

Our district is different once again, and we are enjoying new faces and personalities. Life at the office is different every day. At the first of the month there are several different assignments that need immediate attention. So, it's back to work again - and we are glad to be working for the Lord.

There is NEVER not enough room at our table

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas Eve:
The tradition of acting out the Nativity is alive and well. Will read Luke 2, while 3 sister missionaries and I took the parts of Mary, Joseph, the angel, and the shepherd. Sister Swenson, Sister Hughes, and Sister Maero were good sports about dressing up and reliving the Christmas story.





Christmas Day:
Guess who is coming to dinner! The number kept expanding until we were at 18 for a final count. Some were fashionably late and were not in the picture. The guests were a mix of missionaries, investigators, and members – American, Italian, Filipino and Peruvian culture. But the meal was good ol’ turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and gravy with all the trimmings, including pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. We felt pretty spoiled. Many family and friends made this possible. The Christmas dinner was our gift to the missionaries in our district.

It is amazing how these important relationships foster understanding, growth, and contentment for an absolutely wonderful Christmas 2009.
The puzzle was set up in one corner. The decorations consisted of a small Charley Brown Christmas tree,

a rose candle and ornaments on the table (with homemade peanut brittle on one side and caramel popcorn on the other),

a red poinsetta, a couple of gifts from members, and Buffana doing a fly by to make sure all was well. (Buffana is a good witch who is making sure everyone is good and receiving their gifts.)

The day also included visiting with many family members. It can’t get better than that.
Boxing Day:
A relaxing, sleep-in day, with Burt’s joining us in the evening for left-overs and games.

Other Christmas traditions in Italy include:
Santa climbing a ladder to get into the apartment building.

Lights outside for everyone to enjoy. There are not too many individual lights - more community lights.


We were blessed with balmy, Mediterranean weather. What a wonderful Christmas.

Buon Natale

As we try and take in as many activities as possible in this Christmas season – since we will only be here in Italy one Christmas – we have had a busy week.

Downtown we have seen decorated Christmas trees, carnivals, and lights.


This is Saint Peter's at night with the big Christmas tree in front. There are no lights on this tree, only hundreds of shiny balls. The two street lamps shining on the tree makes the tree appear to be lighted.

This is a Christmas witch by the name of Scacciaguai. She is the good luck witch. If you have been good, then she sees that you get presents. If you have been bad, you receive a lump of coal at Christmas. (Sound familiar?)

These two witches are Buffana witches. They announce January 6th that the gift giving is over.

Here is Will choosing his Christmas gift.

Tree in front of Venezia Square.


Last night, Friday, we attended our ward Christmas party. After a program with talks and a couple of Christmas songs, we had a Christmas feast.

We took potluck salads and the ward provided bread, spicy, delicious pork roast, Christmas cake, and drinks.
Santa came of course for the kids.(Got to love the fake beard)

Here is Karen playing grandma to a new baby in the ward. She loved it!

Everyone had a great time being together.

Today, Saturday, Burt’s and us found an Arts and Crafts Show to attend. There were many things to taste,

look at,



and buy if you were so inclined. It made a fun day.

Can’t believe Christmas Eve and Christmas 2009 is actually less than a week away.

We love you all. And we love Jesus Christ! How blessed we are to know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. That He would come to this earth as a tiny babe,

grow up teaching us the way of the Lord, and be crucified and resurrected for each one of us individually is our special, eternal gift. May we think of Him often during the Christmas season.

Buon Natale!
Merry Christmas!