Cherished Friendships in Rome

More Baptisms

Sebastian Ferrinan and family

Sebastian Ferrinan, an 11-year-old boy who has been attending Primary the past month, was baptized. His family is from Peru, and the missionaries found them and invited them to church. Sebastian’s father was able to baptize him. They brought another family with them to the baptism! We felt a wonderful spirit! 
 
Baptism in the Sea

Natalia, Diana, Ayelen, Marianna, and Diana

We were able to go to Ladispoli (on the Tyrrhenian Sea) and see the baptism of one of the Young Single Adults Ayelen (Ashlyn) Gimenez from Argentina. Her friends invited her to come to the YSA activities. We met her last November and thought she was wonderful! Then she was taught by the sister missionaries and decided to be baptized. We had the meeting at the church and then walked a few blocks to the Tyrrhenian sea to have the baptism. It was a beautiful setting! 

 

Elder Bird & Ayelen

Sister Furlanich & Ayelen

Elders Kunz, Barone, Andrew & Sisters Andrew and Haynie

Transfers

Three of our missionaries were transferred! We just get to know them, and they are off to another city!

Lillian, Lindsay, & Parker

Another Grandbaby!

Our big news was the birth of our 10^th grandchild, Lillian Price, born to Lindsay and Parker on May 21. She weighed 4 lbs 12 oz and was 18 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great! The birth of Lillian evened out the numbers of our grandchildren—5 girls and 5 boys! We were able to Skype with Lindsay and Parker not too long after the birth! 

Church Historian Visits Rome

Elder Steven E. Snow in Italy

Elder & Sister Snow with Italy Rome Missonaries

We attended a special meeting for the missionaries in Rome with Elder Steven Snow, the Church Historian and Recorder. In 1849 Lorenzo Snow was called to Italy. He did not have much success, but there was one small community where a few people joined because of a priesthood blessing given to a little boy by the name of Joseph Guy. These Italians emigrated to the U.S. and became very strong members—names like Cardon, Toronto, and Guy. Progress in Italy stopped in 1854 and no more missionaries were sent to Italy until 1965. The first Stake was created in 1981 and last week the tenth stake was created in Florence, Italy. What will happen in the next 33 years?  The Rome Temple is being built and should be dedicated next year. Elder Snow encouraged the Italian members to keep a record of the experiences that they are having now: stories of faith, family experiences, the significance of the Rome Temple, and miracles that are taking place in their lives. He said that if the Savior’s disciples had not kept records, we would not have the stories of Christ’s ministry on the earth. We are so grateful for all the faithful record keepers that have made it possible for us to have scriptures today. 

Bro & Sis McAllister, Jenna & Ugo & children, Bro & Sis Perego

Baptism

Sunday, we had visitors because Jenna and Ugo Perego had both sets of parents (one from Milan and the other from Illinois) there for the baptism of their daughter, Sarah. Their oldest son Joshua also received the priesthood and was ordained a deacon.  

Ugo & Sarah

FHE in Ostia

The Andrews, S.Bair, E.Baggaley,E.Zemp,Michela, S.Anderson,Karen,Fabrizio, Daniele

We attended Family Home Evening at Ostia (on the coast, west of Rome). The plan made by the Young Single Adults and missionaries was to meet at the church and go to the beach nearby for FHE and have a testimony meeting. We piled into two cars, but when we got to the beach, it was overcast, cold and windy, so we drove back to the church and ended up with 6 missionaries, 7 young single adults, and 2 non-members that the Elders were teaching. Greg gave a short message, and the Young Single Adults had a testimony meeting. It was wonderful to hear the conversion stories and testimonies of these members. Most of them were fairly new to the gospel and had to work to gain their testimonies—we felt a strong spirit.    

ROME YSA Meet BYU Semester Abroad

Serving Cafe Rio

Millets & Andrews

We cooked all day to prepare for the evening Institute activity. We cooked 28 chicken breasts in 3 large crockpots, and Kimballs did the same. We also had to shred 8 pounds of cheese, and several heads of lettuce. We had 45 BYU students from the Study Abroad program that attended the activity, with about the same number of 

Zumba

Rome area YSA!  Half of the BYU group were Art History majors and the other half Italian majors studying at Sienna. They all travel for about a week before they start their semester assignments, and touring Rome is always on the agenda. We invited them to the Institute activity and had a Café Rio style dinner for them. Daniel Peterson from BYU was in town visiting, so he spoke on the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. 






We served dinner afterward, and then they did some fun dancing—some Zumba line dancing and Italian dance. We didn’t lock up the doors until midnight!

Miguel Chavez with Elders Barone and Di Caro

Baptism in Roma 3

Miguel Chavez, born in Colombia, was baptized on Thursday when we had Pathway, so we did not attend. Greg was asked to confirm him in Sacrament meeting. Miguel will be a great missionary one day!