Chiara's Birthday Party

Our neighbor and friend, Laura, put on a birthday party for her daughter Chiara's 10th birthday.

 Chiara's siblings, Sofia, Agnese, Marco and Marco's fiance, Clio making fun things with balloons.

 Chiara with Celeste and Xavier Raveau.

 The Sorelle and Laura chatting with friends.

 Alberto and Pietro, ping pong champs.

 Anziano Jefferies sampling all the good food.

Singing "Tanti Auguri" to Chiara.

The Real "New" Car

Of course we did not get a Lamborghini for our mission car.  We just happened upon that beautiful machine and had to get a picture standing near it.  We did get a new (different) car.  It is an Opel Meriva.  We had an Opel Corsa.  The Meriva actually has more miles on it but it is up higher off the ground and is a little roomier, which is nice because there are three Sorelle in Forli' now so we have more room for them.

Modigliana

We went on another adventure yesterday to Modigliana, which is very close to the town of Brisighella where we went last Saturday.

 This bridge and arch lead in to the medieval part of the city built in the 1300's.

 These ruins are all that is left of the fortress that protected the city.

 On the hike up to the fortress ruins.

 The lower part of the ruins near the arch.

 This was as close as we could get to the fortress ruins.

On our way home we saw this beautiful field of sunflowers.

New Mission President and Car.

We just got a new Mission President.  We were able to meet President and Sister Dibb at a zone training meeting last Wednesday.  They have seven children, he served a mission in Italy, he married a girl from Idaho, and he went to BYU Law School.  I like him already.  Oh, one other reason I like him . . . he authorized a new mission vehicle for us.

This Lamborghini convertible is a smooth ride..

4th of July Party

We had a party tonight to celebrate the 4th of July.  The Sisters gave a presentation on a little U.S. history and talked about how the Church was restored in a country that had just fought for and gained its independence and that this country had freedom of religion.  They then sang the Star Spangled Banner.  After the program we had a pancake dinner.  Sorella Jefferies made the pancakes and they were a big hit.  We had 37 people at the party, 20 members of the branch and the rest were invited friends.

Family Home Evening with the YSA

Last evening we had a Family Home Evening with the Young Single Adults from the Rimini District.  We had a french toast dinner and then one of the YSA, Manuele, taught a lesson.  They played Pictionary and then had ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. 

 Sorella Jefferies made the french toast.

 I cooked the bacon.

 Her famous chocolate chip cookies.

 Miriam was a little late so we all watched her eat french toast.

 Emanuele and Marco made ice cream sandwiches with french toast and gelato.

 An intense game of Pictionary.

 Giulia laughed at most of Marco's drawings.

 The winning team.

Left to right:  Sonny, Giulia, Mila, Giada, Emanuele, Miriam, Marco, and Ariele.

A Beautiful Evening in Brisighella

On Saturday we went to do some home teaching in Faenza and after that we did some castle hunting in Brisighella, about 15 minutes from Faenza.  There are three rocky peaks in this medieval village.  On one stands the Manfredi Fortress built in about 1310.  On the second peak there is a bell tower with a clock on it.  The bell tower was built in the 1800's.  It was built on top of a medieval basement built in the 1200's as part of the protection for the city.  On the third peak stands a church built in the 1700's.

Hiking up to the Fortress.

At the entrance.

The main Fortress tower.

The Fortress is built right into the rocky peak.

The two towers of the Fortress.

On the hike down we saw these beautiful flowers.

Along a medieval street of the village.

 Looking up at the bell tower from the village below.

Hiking to the bell tower.

The bell tower on top of the ancient basement on top of the rocky peak on top of the ancient missionary.

The church on the third peak.

A view of the village  from one of the peaks.

After all that hiking we needed some refreshment.

Don't worry, it's only fruit juice.

We found a new favorite gelato shop in Brisighella.  No, Sorella Jefferies isn't having two cones.  She is holding mine while I take her picture.