With the Balzottis at the Institute

Monday morning I awoke after a fitful night, feeling dizzy, weak, and with clogged sinuses. At least I didn't have chills anymore. If Dee had been here, I would have just stayed home in bed, but the Institute needed to be opened, so I made it through the day, feeling better as the day went on.

I spoke with President Pickerd, who gave us permission to come home slightly earlier, just 2-3 weeks from now. Now we have to see about working out the flying arrangements, but it was a US holiday so I couldn't talk to anybody in the church travel department.

The Balzottis accompanied me to the Institute for the day. The plan is to train them in what we do, so that they can pass it on to the Motts when they arrive. It is always fun to be around them, and they will be great in soaking up this knowledge. The afternoon was pretty light, as is typical on Mondays. At one point I joked whether they could handle the busy pace of our assignment, but they were fine with having some down time after standing up all day at the temple for three weeks, after almost 18 months of fixing cars and apartments.

ChrisE came by to prepare for a big interview on Tuesday, and I gave him two sandwiches. In the early evening the Benincosas showed up to coach him some more. Jomar came by to sing karaoke. Alessio came by for a while in the afternoon, but left and didn't return for home evening.

I spoke with Dee a couple of times at her parents' house. There is a lot going on there, and her dad is running a fever and has been delirious at times. At one point he said, "This place is no fun. Tomorrow I want to go home." She bought a Verizon SIM card to bring back for me later this week, so that I will have phone access when I travel home.

Our home evening group was the smallest in quite a while: only Jomar and Junior. We watched the full video of Jomar with David Archuleta taken by the Ganziani -- you can watch it here. Anziano Balzotti did the quote, and my question of the week was "who would you love to have dinner with?"  The answers are always fun.  Mine was Glady Knight, but Anziano Balzotti took top honors by saying "my wife".

My lesson was on perseverance, continuing when times get difficult. I shared an experience from playing chess in high school, against our team adviser (Mr. Lamison, a history teacher, known as "Lammy"). I had a passed pawn, which can become a queen, and each time I just moved it up one square, even when he was preparing to attack my king. With each move forward of my pawn, Lammy erupted with a "damn!", with increasing intensity as I got closer. Finally he had to abandon his attack to try to stop my pawn. I learned that going forward with something that you know is right will eventually pay off. Both GANS shared some kind of similar life experience.

Sister Balzotti cutting fudge (so I wouldn't share my germs)

After the lesson we had packaged cookies and Dee's Oreo fudge with white chocolate. Then everyone played Cover Your Assets, which was new for the Balzottis and Ganziani. Everyone had a lot of fun. Anziano Faletti said that he would buy the game as soon as he got home! I think that the Balzottis' first day at the Institute was a big success 😀👍