This one's for Chrystal

Thought you would like to see the quaint shops here in Bari-----

Oh, and here's one I didn't expect to see--Chris HATES the Ikea maze!

Helping with the GANS!

We have been asked to assist with the GANS (giovane adulti non sposati--or young single adults). We are to help the young single adult leaders bring a unity to their group and help bring back some that are no longer active.  They want us to assist with activities every Wednesday night and attend all conferences and devotionals.  We will also be teaching Institute class one day a week to 5 African guys that don't speak Italian well.  I think that will end up being my job.  We may include helping them with their Italian (which will not be my job!).  On top of that there are multiple less active members in both wards here and we alternate going to both wards..  So hard to get people's names straight.  Also, many are related to each other..."Oh that's the sister of Sister______and the mother of Brother _____is the aunt of ________"  etc...  The Sorelli (sister missionaries) have a tree drawn in the apartment of how everyone is related in the wards.
We wonder where the time goes as we are busy most days with meetings and contacting members.

Here is one sweet, spunky little lady we visited in the hospital last week--Sorella Schino--92 years young and not at all happy that she had to eat the terrible hospital food!

We also visited a man 89 years old in the hospital yesterday that loved Chris.  Didn't get a picture but we will be visiting them both often.

Just another beautiful day in Bari

District meeting and Panzerotti!

Had a busy day today.  Went to our DDM meeting with our district and met all the anziani and sorelli that are serving in our area.  All are from the USA.  We have 3 sister missionaries as one had to get transferred out for a bad back.  Cutest and most hard working sisters! At the meeting we said goodbye to the Senior Couple--Elder and Sister Hansen as this will be their last DDM and they will go back to South Jordan, Utah.

Thought I had better write names or I would forget who these great people are...In front and left (glasses) Anz.Holbrook (ZL), behind him is Anz.Bellows (DL) Anz., Anz.Eldridge, Anz. Bates(sweater), Anz.Clasby(glasses), Sor. Brunson, Sor. Dew, Sor. Taylor, us and Hansens.

After our DDM we went with the  missionaries to each lunch and the Hansens got the owners of the restaurant to promise to be at church on Sunday because they were leaving and they had promised them they would go to church before they left Italy.  Obviously they know the missionaries well!

 Later tonight we went to watch the missionaries teach the English course.  That class is a huge draw for the missionaries to teach.  There was about 30 in Sister Brunson's class tonight(beginner class) and about 15 in the advanced class that the Elders taught.

Of course we were hungry and the sisters talked us into Panzerotti after.  The are like scones with cheese, tomatoes etc inside.  We will be huge by the time we get home---carbs, carbs, carbs!!

Matera, Italy-field trip to the Sassi caves

Went with Anziano and Sorella Hansen (the couple we will be replacing) to the Sassi Caves in Matera which was less than an hour away from Bari. It's an ancient cave-city famous for its sassi or stone houses carved out of the caves and cliffs.  Now doesn't that beat West Edmonton Mall. AMAZING sights there.

Chris says this is the ugliest car he's ever seen --even worse than an AMC Pacer!

 The Hansen's, The Fitzner's, The Lahaderne's and the Bullock's(pronounced Boo-Locks in Italian and ours is: Feetznair)

 Cave dwelling inside

Bari, Italy

Arrived in Bari after a 4 hour drive from Rome.  Our assignment will probably be in this city for the next 18 months.  We've been told that we are very blessed to be here as the city is not quite as crazy as Rome and our apartment is very nice.  We have been put up in a hotel until the couple we are replacing have returned home which doesn't happen until the 25th. There are 2 wards here and 2 buildings.  When Chris served here during his first mission, there was not one church owned building in the entire mission other than the mission home in Rome.  How things have changed.

Road trip pics

And Here's Bari!

Arriving in Rome Jan 12

Left the MTC on Monday Jan 11 and arrived in Rome on Jan 12.  What a long terrible flight that was!  We were exhausted when we got there at about 10AM Europe time but really 2AM MST according to my body clock.  The Mission President--Presidente Waddoups and his wife met us at the airport and she welcomed me with the traditional kiss on both cheeks which was a bit strange for me.  I'm going to have to get used to it. She taught me that you kiss left cheek first, then right or it ends up awkward.  We went to see the Rome Mission office and met many new people.  Rome's traffic is CRAZY!  Chris took a drivers test with Presidente and I told him I didn't want one.  I refuse to drive in Rome.  He thinks I'll change my mind.  (doubt it)  Below are Presidente and Sorella Waddoups.

They took us to their home at the Villa and put us up in a beautiful suite there.

They treated us like royalty.  This is in front of the Rome Temple

Even took us to see the sights (and tastes) of Rome 

Trevi Fountain

 think a few of our grandkids would like me to bring this home to them----Supersized Nutella!

This guy grabbed my hand after this picture was shot and wanted money for it--Chris said no (mainly because we didn't have any cash on us) and he wouldn't let go of me.  Finally yanked my hand free--A little unnerving!

Our beautiful suite at the Villa

MTC

Yup, we're going to Italy!  We entered the MTC on Jan 4 and stayed in residence there until Jan 8th.. Below is a picture of our district at the MTC,  Our morning trainer was Kelsey Baer (in the middle) She had served a mission in Milan a year ago and was an amazing teacher. Our PM teacher was Jordan Steheli who was excellent as well. The couple next to us are the Jordan's and they are off to Samoa.  The two single sisters in the middle (Sis. Christensen and Sis. Green) are going to Illinois as a nurse and to Idaho in Employment.  On the end are the Martino's going to the Hamptons in New York.  He had previously served as a young missionary in Milan at the same time as Chris.1972-74. The Martinos had served a previous  mission in the Phillipines as Mission President and wife.  We really enjoyed role playing and learning together.
It was a great experience for all.  We're ready for Italy!

We also went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to the Family Search center. They found pictures of our relatives who came to Ellis Island in the 1800's.  What do you think?  They look remarkably like us!

!

Stop-over in Orem before Mission Training

Had the privilege of staying with Ron and Darlene Olthuis for a few days in Orem, Utah before we entered the MTC.  Darlene and Ron were so good to us and helped to keep my stress down.  I did manage to give them a present of my cold which I'm sure wasn't appreciated.  One thing about Utah and the Provo/Orem area is that they sit a the base of beautiful mountains. I think because I had never been to that area in the winter, I was in awe.  It's truly breathtaking.

We also got to visit with Chris's Italian friend Vito Corleone (it's actually Columbo but I call him Corleone)  Chris first met him on his  mission in 1973 in Ostia, Italy and didn't see him again until a couple years ago.  He lives in Salt Lake City and speaks almost no English.  We got to enjoy a scrumptious Italian meal with him at Settebello's and of course finished with gelato! YUM!!  I even spoke a few words to him in Italian and he understood me.  Miracles!  He is a dear man.

Of course we couldn't go to Salt Lake and area without seeing Temple Square all lit up with Christmas lights.

 

 

Airport Goodbyes

We were so thrilled to have almost all the kids and grandkids see us off at the airport on Wed. Dec 30th.  Since we had packed up our weigh scales from our house we didn't get the opportunity to weigh our luggage and consequently paid a hefty fine......We had multiple hugs and kisses from everyone and then tearfully said our goodbyes.  We will miss you all but will be in touch often!