Salad for dinner

Friday morning I walked up to Todis to re-stock up on tortillas. Then we walked together (Dee without crutches, just her boot!) down to Conad to get a bunch of produce for the salad that would be dinner that evening. It was a request of Anziano Wijesundera, whose birthday is coming up right after transfers next week; he will likely be transferred. He is a college tennis player (his sister is a professional) and a very healthy eater. We also got some cheese and some wonderful sourdough-like bread, which Dee would turn into delicious garlic bread.

I did a fair amount of work on travel plans for Wes and Alyssa next month. She had sent us phone numbers for some of her grandfather's friends and relatives whom we hope to see. We set up a call for that night, after getting back from Institute. The trip is coming together, but we still need to contact the relatives to nail down details according to when they are available, assuming that works.
 
The morning was hot and very humid, so I turned on the AC in the back office and enjoyed being cool before we left. We ended up with four large bags of stuff to carry down to the car, which was fortunately close because I carried all of the bags, plus my computer shoulder bag. I am getting a good weight workout with Dee unable to carry things!

During the afternoon I finished my prep for the two lessons on Luke Friday and Saturday. After this week, I will be caught up in Naples. From then on my two Institute lessons each week will cover the same material, in two different languages, which will be easier. Claudia is now done with exams and so was around much of the afternoon. She is all set to graduate, with only her undergraduate thesis defense remaining. I also did some work on my Sunday School lesson.

We got a package from the office, via the Balzottis, for Sorella Nelson in our ward (Rome 3). Then we learned that they were doing exchanges with the Sorelle beneath us, so it turns out that Sorella Nelson would actually be staying here overnight. She was delighted to get her package right away, instead of waiting for church on Sunday. We have also offered to offload the Balzottis, who are overloaded with work in the office since the Paulsens went home early, by taking on inspections for the two missionary apartments in Rome 3. Because we know the missionaries and are already down that way a couple of times each week, we can do it without too much extra work.

My wife spent all afternoon preparing the salads, with multiple kinds of greens, veggies, strawberries, cheese, crackers, garlic bread, ham, chicken, hard-boiled egg, tuna and several different dressings. I sent out a photo, and a couple of the kids were stunned, asking "salad, for dinner??" That isn't really much of a thing here, but I reassured them they would like it.

 

Preparing the garlic bread

My lesson on Luke 12-13 went quite well. We had Noelle again, with Anziano Wijesundera translating for her, and Stefano was there from up north. There were a lot of meaningful comments, and I felt good about the lesson. In particular, I invited the kids to share spiritual experiences at a few key points, and they came through beautifully. Afterwards the group loved the salad, even the doubters (Gabriele most of all). Nathan, normally a somewhat picky eater, came back for thirds. My wife gave him the leftover butter garlic spread she had made, and he was really excited to be able to make some at home. At the end of the dinner, basically everything was gone.

Nathan digging in

 

 

 

 

We gave the Sorelle a ride home, so they were able to help us carry up the several bags of stuff. Cleanup was quicker than usual; we were home just before 10pm, early for a Friday. After that we had a WhatsApp video call with Wes and Alyssa to figure out a few more travel details. After that we were zonked; it has already been a very full week.