Pranzo dopo la riunione sacramentale (Lunch after sacrament meeting for an ex-missionary returning to Bari)

 The lady dishing up the food here was cutting into an amazing lasagne--you've never had lasagne until you taste some of these women's cooking.  Delicious!

Rosa's Baptism Apr 9/16

Bella Rosa

Couldn't have been a more wonderful day for us to see Rosa baptized! All the GANS were there (Giovane Adulti Non Sposati) to support her as were her missionaries and us old guys!  Beautiful day, wonderful feeling in the meeting.  She just glowed.
From back left: Guisseppe, Chris, Pat, Rosa, Valerio, Gabriella, Maria Therese, Sorella McFarland, Sorella Reber.
Bottom left: Ivan, Gianni, Claudio----TUTTI BRAVI RAGAZZI

One of the best things to happen in Bari is to get an invitation for pronzo to eat Italian cooking.  Pronzo (lunch)  for  Italians is an event and is always spectacular.  Almost all stores are closed between 1PM-4 PM so people can eat lunch with their families.  After pronzo they go back to work and then have supper around 8:30PM.  Their big meal is pronzo and usually includes many courses. We got invited to Bishop Valentini's parents house for Easter pronzo and their tradition is to make ponzerotti.  I got to see all the steps for making it.  They made about 140 panzerotti--4 different kinds.  Meat, mozzarella, onion and rappe.  DELIZIOSO!

 Standing is Gustavo Valentini, his son, Bishop Valentini and his daughter Valeria.

Our first baptism--an 8 year old

Our first baptism here in Bari was for an 8 year old sweetie named Daniela Ardito.  She is the vescovo's daughter (bishop's) and the PoggioFranco ward was so supportive to come and be there for her special day.  Her sister Simone and her mom are in the picture with her.

Italians may be small but they have huge hearts!

 Our Stake Choir travelled to Taranto for a musical production that included our choir and 2 others.  While there I just had to take pictures of Fratello Palmisano and Anziano Pingree together.  Anz. Pingree is at least 6'8 and Fratello Palmisano is about 5' tall.

When we went to visit Sorella Schino at the casa di cura we met up with the Sorelle , so had to take a picture of  Sorella Reber --who is the same size as 90 year old Sorella Schino--both perhaps 5 foot--if that.  Wonderful sweet people--all of them.

Buona Pasqua--Happy Easter! Primary Party

The Primary party put on by the missionaries started with the Ninja Game

Sorella McFarland and il suo bell'uovo

Anziani Ray and Beasley coloring easter pages

  

Gabriella and Gianni ( a couple of our GANS--Young Single Adults) even colored pages(and helped a lot with the activity!)

We even had some grandparents attend!  Must have been the Fitzner's pancakes that enticed them to come....

Transfers! We love the missionaries!

District meeting at the Fitzner's just before transfers.  I think pancake breakfasts at our apartment might become a regular thing for us right before transfers.  The missionaries love it!  This picture shows all but 2 of our missionaries in this district.  Another set of sister  missionaries were out of town. (Sorelle McFarland and Peterson)  We love them all and will miss Sorella Taylor (front left), Anziano Bellows-district leader(third male missionary from left)Anz. Bates(4th male from left)Anz Holbrook-zone leader(2nd from right).  We love you all!

Saying goodbye to those being transferred at the train station