Babies, Baptisms, & Byes

Delia Mae Foust

Brielle Rose Andrew

Grand Babies

Two weeks in a row! The highlight of this week was another beautiful grandbaby, Delia Mae Foust, born to Stuart and Alyssa on Sept 21. We were able to Facetime with them within an hour of the delivery. Last week it was Brielle Rose Andrew born to Jordan and Jessica on Sept 11. We feel so blessed for modern technology because we have been able to participate in the births of our grandchildren and talk to our children even though we are in Rome, Italy! 

Baptisms

Elder Robinson, Brian, Elder Peterson

Martina, Gamel, & Alessandro with Grandma and Grandpa

Today, we witnessed the baptisms of Brian Panozo and Martina Amin (Ah-meen). Brian Panozo is a 15-year-old cousin of the Benitez family, a family in our ward. The Elders taught Brian, who also attends English course. We were very impressed with his testimony of the 

gospel and are excited for him to join our seminary class. Martina became acquainted with the church when she started attending English class as well. She told how two elders had talked to her once at the Pizzaria near the church, but she had a job and was too busy to talk to them. She and her husband both lost their jobs and so she saw a flyer about English courses at the church and wanted to learn English in hopes of finding a job. The sister missionaries started teaching her a couple of months ago, and she began coming to church with her husband Gamel, and son Alessandro (2 ½). We have been so impressed with their faith and desire to know the truth and what God wants them to do in their lives. Both Brian and Martina bore strong testimonies today after their baptisms.

Alessandro Playing a song

Alessandro is a favorite with the missionaries! He loves music and wanted to help me play the piano after the baptism.



Byes

Elder & Sister Roberts

A wonderful couple finished their mission this week and headed back to Springville, Utah. We had the opportunity to work with the Roberts in the Young Single Adult program. We will miss them!

Farewell Dinner for Elder & Sister Roberts

An Historic Week in Rome!

New Stake in Rome

Elder Ballard,  Elder Maynes, & Elder DeFeo with Rome East and
West Stake Presidencies in front of Rome Temple Construction

An important day for the saints in Rome happened with the visit of Elder Russell M. Ballard of the 12 Apostles and Elder Richard Maynes of the Seventy.   They were here to create the new Rome West Stake.  We now have 2 Stakes in Rome, which include areas like Naples to the south and Sardinia to the west. 

Early Sunday morning we participated in a missionaries-only meeting with Elders Ballard and Maynes and they had a quick handshake with each of us.   

Elder Ballard Shaking Hands

Elder Ballard with 70+ missionaries

Then at 10:00 AM, we, along with over 1,000 Italian Saints, more than we have ever seen in one location and many investigators, witnessed an historic realignment of the Rome Stake.  Both Rome Stake Presidents are in their early 30’s. 

Sisters Caramia & Marquis

At the conference, we had fun meeting some of the missionaries that we had known before. One in particular was Sister Caramia who we worked with in Rome 2. She was transferred to Sardinia and is training a new missionary, Sister Marquis, who happens to be friends with my niece Eryn Wilkes in Lindon, Utah.  We also met Sister Caramia's parents from Rimini!

August Runs Out

Dinner Appointment

Elders Sargent,Bennett,Robinson,Rigby, Ugo & Jenna Perego,
S. Andrew & E. Andrew (in Mirror)

After church Sunday we were invited to lunch at the Perego’s home with the four Elders from our District. 

Levi

Beach Head War Cemetery for the Allied Forces

Elders Sargent, Robinson, & Andrews

Andrews

The Peregos told us about two Military cemeteries from WWII near where they live: One for the Allied forces and one for the Americans. After dinner we drove to visit the cemeteries with Elders Sargent and Robinson who both hope to serve in the military after their missions. First, we drove to the Beach Head War Cemetery for the Allied Forces.

View of Tyrrhenian Sea

As we drove to Anzio to see the American Cemetery we got a view of the Tyrrhenian Sea southwest of Italy. It is part of the Mediterranean. 

American Cemetery at Anzio

Looking through the gate in Anzio

When we arrived, the American cemetery was closed, so we only got to look at it through the gate. It was very beautiful and well maintained. We are blessed for so many who sacrificed for our freedoms.

S. Felice, A. Sargent, & S. Bradford

Transfers

We found out that we are having three missionaries transferred this coming week.



We have known Sisters Felice and Bradford since we arrived in Rome and will miss them very  much! Now we will be the oldest missionaries--serving the longest in Rome 3. 

Sargent, Robinson, Andrew, Bennett, Rigby
The blue-tie brotherhood: 'All of the Elders looking Serious'

All of the Elders and Sisters came up with the idea of getting us matching ties and scarves! We have a great District!

Andrew, Bradford, Pancheri, Felice, Pace