Overflowing chapel

Sunday at church, the chapel was completely overflowing with visitors! They had to set up about thirty chairs in the foyer to accommodate everyone. The visitors were here for the temple Open House, including a number of missionaries who served in Italy in years past. There was a sister who served during the same time as Dee, though they never knew each other, as well as her daughter who served in Rome 3 six years ago. 

Our fast and testimony meeting had some wonderful testimonies, including one from an African brother from London. He started speaking in English, and after a minute I went up to translate for him, since we were sitting on the front row, which was about the only place left near the front when we got there. He was crying and very touched by the spirit of the meeting. His English was fortunately very clear, but we do miss Stefano (who just moved away) and his flawless translation skills. Since I was up there, when he finished I gave a brief testimony, saying how much we loved serving there, that we are counting down the days not because we want to go home but because we don't want our mission to end. I decided to skip it since I get pretty teary when I think of leaving. The Magnantis said they're crying, too, and want to have us over for lunch.

I did the lesson and music in Primary. An American couple (Pitts from Bakersfield) wanted to visit and videoed the kids singing I am a child of God in Italian. I had taken this last opportunity to teach a song in Spanish. All the kids speak it except the Peregos. I found a gorgeous video for He Sent His Son in Spanish on Youtube. I added captions and Doug brought in the screen from the clerk's office. They loved the pictures, though I lost the Perego boys a little.

The best part was talking about being a creator. I showed works by Elders Scott and Gong and talked about creating. Then I showed parts of the stained glass from the Rome visitor center and told the amazing stories. You can read a very nice article about it here. Then we had the Bishop come in and play his guitar, and the kids drew to be creative. Then Silvia and Marcella and I cleaned out the cabinets, even finding a Santa suit.

Ugo's parents, Raffa and Alberto, were there. They came down to see the Open House. It was good to hug them and visit with them. We had originally hoped to take a week at the end of our mission and visit them and other friends up north, but that is out of the question now with my in-laws' challenges, so it was great that they could come down. They also have some health challenges coming up, and Ugo and I gave them each a Priesthood blessing after the meetings, before they left to take the train home.

Jenna's parents with Alberto and Raffa

Extended Perego family

Ugo gave a nice Sunday School lesson. It is odd to be teaching only once per month with the new schedule, which means that I have only two lessons left before we go home. There was a lot of good visiting going on after the meetings, and the GANS brought sandwiches, soda, chips, and cookies for a lunch together in the Primary room, since the kitchen is blocked off during the remodel. 

Once home, we had the whole afternoon and evening there. The Rome 3 Sorelle called to say that they had no hot water  or heat; that means that their heater is out, but nobody can come until at least Monday. They don't complain but wow. Dee would spend a bunch of time talking with family back in LA, trying to figure out how to manage the coming weeks, especially with Donna going home on Tuesday. Her Dad just wants to go home and can never remember why or how he got to the hospital or convalescent facility, so she has to remind him each time. He used to weigh about 155 pounds but was down to 112, though he fortunately has put on a few pounds in the last couple of weeks. Anyway, he is still very weak, so she tells him he needs to gain weight and get strong enough to come home. She made tentative reservations (we can cancel within 24 hours) to fly to LA for a week or so later this month to help transition him back to home and arrange for more care at home.  President Pickerd has asked for permission and expects approval soon. With so little time left, she would prefer to spend it all here, but the trip may be necessary and it feels like the right thing to do. 

About 9:45pm I picked up four Anziani (from Caserta and Pozzuoli) at the temple site after their Zone Conference. Anziano Mayer, our former district leader, was in our group, and it was good to see him. Dee put out the leftover casserole, as well as a salad and some cookies (including Hello Dollies). They each had a bunch of the huge casserole and almost finished it off. They looovvved it. A couple of them did some stretching, and two of them took showers because the morning will be early after a late night and we don't have enough hot water for four showers. They are all wonderful young men, very polite and always complimenting the food and offering to help. It is not as fun to have only one night with them, unlike last weekend.

Anziani Lamoreaux, Trickett, Atanasio, Mayer

It was pretty late by the time we all got to bed.