Goodbye and Hello

This past Monday we invited the Sisters to our apartment for a surprise birthday party for Sorella Bennett.  Her birthday is not until November but we had a feeling that she would be leaving Forli' before her birthday.  We had Chinese food and Nutella frosted muffins.  Last night we had a farewell dinner for Sorella Bennett and Sorella Brown at Laura and Alberto's.  Sorella Jefferies made all the food for the dinner.  This morning we said goodbye to Sorelle Brown and Bennett.  Sorella Brown had been in Forli' for 3 transfers and is going to Como.  Sorella Bennett had been here for 4 transfers and is going to to Savona.   It was hard to say goodbye to these two dear Sisters.

This evening we welcomed Sorella Andromidas.  She is from Utah County and she is fresh from the MTC.  Her mother is Italian and her grandparents live in Italy.  I know that she and her trainer, Sorella Jameson, will do great work here in Forli'.

Preparation Day with the Sisters

We spent P Day with the Sisters.  We went to the town of Portico di  Romagna, a town just outside of Forli'.  We walked down the medieval streets and over the bridge and ate piadina at a local restaurant.  

Sorelle Brown, Jameson, Bennett, and Jefferies.

The medieval bridge.

We met this old timer from the village and he told us about the village and showed us some of his antiques.

He was quite interesting.

We had a long conversation.

With Sister Jameson.

With Sister Brown.

With Sister Bennett.

Eating piadina.

Sharing piadina.

Eating Nutella piadina.

Really enjoying Nutella piadina.

Ravenna District Meeting

We had our last District Meeting of this transfer and as the custom goes, we take pictures after the meeting.

The Elders of the Ravenna District.  Elder Ramey, district leader; Elders Dowling and Anderson, zone leaders; Elders Quinton and Jefferies.

The Sisters of the Ravenna District.  Top:  Strong, Alley,  Jefferies, Burkman.  Middle:  Ervin, Bennett, Jameson.  Bottom:  Brown.

Sister Jefferies made Jack-O'-Lantern sugar cookies for the district.

General Conference, Italian Style

We were able to watch General Conference on the internet at our branch building.  It was wonderful!  In the past we had to go to Rimini to see it, but that was hard for members and friends to go that far.  More of the members and people the missionaries are teaching were able to participate this time.

The members watched conference in Italian in the chapel.

It was in English in this room.

Everyone brought food to share between sessions.  Sorella Jefferies with Xavier, Erica, Celeste and Gloria.  Xavier made delicious quiche.

Roberto enjoyed a rice krispie treat on top of a brownie.

The Sorelle brought vegetables -  a carrot cake.

Ariele liked the looks of my rice krispie treat.

Sorella Jameson made brownies.

Sorella Rossi eating carrot cake.

Sorella Jefferies with Erica and Mila.

Visitors from Florence

Debbie Bagnall and  her son Wyatt, friends from Florence, Arizona, were in Italy last week and visited us for a couple of days.  It was great to see them and get all caught up on the news about our friends in Florence. They helped us clean the church building one morning and we appreciated their service.

Debbie took us to dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant.

We visited the mosaics together in Ravenna.

Head Bumps

I can't tell you how many times I have bumped my head on the cupboards and cupboard doors in our kitchen.  On July 30, I decided to start keeping track.  Since then I have bumped my head 24 times.  We have been in this apartment for a year and one would think that I would be able to navigate my way around the kitchen without mishaps.  Oh well, six more months of head bumping.

President and Sister Dibb

President Dibb and his wife came to Forli' last Saturday to interview the missionaries in our zone so we finally got a picture with them.  They have been in Italy since July 1.  President Dibb's brother is married to Ann Monson Dibb.  That was one of his first announcements.  I'm sure he gets asked quite often if he is married to the Prophet's daughter.  We got to visit with them for a few minutes.  President Dibb needs senior missionaries who speak Italian.  If you know of any couples who are thinking about putting in their papers and either the brother or the sister or both speak Italian, have them email me and I can hook them up with President Dibb.