Anpziano?

Monday night and Tuesday morning were full of messages about my father-in-law's health issues. Things always seem to be up and down, more down recently. Lynn and Jim are lifesavers for us. Prayers are welcome.

It was our first Taco Tuesday of the year and was nice to be back in the saddle. There was a decent-sized group, and kids hung around most of the afternoon playing games after lunch. Anziano Mansell choked on something during lunch and almost had to get the Heimlich maneuver, which made things exciting for a while, but he is ok now. The kids were really quick to respond.

 

Dee started two crock pots full of chicken for Friday's dinner and was able to bone it and put it away by the time we left for the evening. Her meals take much of the week to plan and prepare. I spent some time working on my Friday lessons, gathering material from the commentary at www.gospeldoctrine.com, which I always find useful. Dee went out in the afternoon to take the guitar to get it repaired. It has been a few months since the glue on its bridge came off. The craftsman at the guitar repair shop is an old man (older than me). He looked at it and said he could fix it, but I would need to leave it there for a long time. I asked how much it would cost. He thought a long time and then said 50€. I gave a reluctant look and then agreed. I think it's an okay price. He had me write my name and phone number on a piece of tape and put it on the guitar case. He told me it would be ready in a week or two. He didn't give me a chit or write down the quote. Back at the Institute, Oscar said that was normal for an artisan. I'm a little nervous about no claim ticket or written quote. We'll see. The store is just a few blocks away and is well known in Rome for guitars. She also asked about buying extra matching Ganziano ties at the shop downstairs. They don't have anything identical right now, but said that that design often shows up from the factory, so we will check again in a few weeks. I went to a small jewelry shop to get the battery replaced on an old Casio watch which was slowly dying. I don't use it much, but it is plastic and nice for some activities. They had me leave it overnight to get replaced, and it will cost only 5€.

Ugo and Simone came in together late in the afternoon for Ugo's first online class of the year, with the topic being the writings of Isaiah. Simone, home from his mission for only a few weeks, is also starting on Pathway and spent some time after Institute on his first online class there. Simone is a big and tall guy, and he actually noticed a typo in my title on our photo on the wall (along with those of all the missionaries who have served at the campus). Instead of "Anziano Whiting", I had written "Anpziano Whiting." I told him that he was the only one tall enough to notice, after more than a year! I quickly reprinted our photo to fix the typo and replaced it above the bulletin board. Simone told me we need to be less perfect so the next couple can measure up. He said we're the only couple he knows and doesn't want us to leave. He is very complimentary.

I also called California to set up my doctor appointments for our first week back home: dentist, eye doctor, and MD for a physical. We will definitely be busy those first weeks. Marilene brought in two DVDs, Remember the Titans and Blind Side, as candidates for Wednesday's movie night activity. Each one has both English and Italian, for audio and subtitles. We will let the group decide which to watch. I ripped the movies so I can play them from my computer without needing the physical DVD.

Anziano Lewis dropped by, which was a delightful surprise, in Rome from Cosenza to get his permesso renewed. He served three months with us here over the summer and is an awesome young man. We enjoyed visiting with him for a while, waiting for the other missionaries to finish the English class, since he will be staying the night at their apartment. It's a bummer that I'm not allowed to hug the young elders. Shaking hands in this case is so unsatisfactory.

By the time Dee got the chicken all done and cooled down enough to put into the fridge, it was slightly after 9pm, so we got home a few minutes late. Anziano Thacker had brought us some stuff from the office, including our replacement chip-and-PIN credit cards from the states, which cross the ocean fairly fast. I also got reimbursed for the Walkers' toner cartridges.

We were asked to help on Saturday at the first day of the private portion of the temple open house. It will be the day when the temple construction workers get to bring their families to see. The next two weeks will be VIP and press tours, followed by the public portion of the open house starting at the end of the month. Things are about to get real exciting and real busy around here.

January and June are sales months in Italy, decreed by the government. Sammy told us it's important for the government to regulate it or else sales would get out of hand. Another cultural difference.