Our Thoughts - Week One

A few things we have learned from our mission so far -

You can’t help but love the missionaries. Everyone we have met have been such wonderful people. This isn’t really a big surprise of course since everywhere we have gone for the last 40 years in the church, we have found a great support system. Everybody has been helpful, from the young missionaries to the senior couples. At the MTC our trainers and our fellow senior missionaries in the zone were kind and considerate.  They were from every where and were from their late 40’s to early 80’s and from every walk of life.  It was fun to see all the young missionaries who were so excited to get going.At the devotional we heard a voice of an angel singing behind us and it was Grandview's very own Elder Woodbury.We also got the chance to see Elder and Sister Carpenter.There were 2200 in residence at the time and things went like clockwork.

The office missionaries in Rome have dropped everything to help us. They are fun and dedicated and we would be lost without them. The customs are different and we  need them to interpret word and deed, especially in bargaining for an apartment. In Italy renting an apartment is about as complicated as buying a house in the US. You need to have an agent and you need to negotiate plus the documents are completely different. 

The senior missionaries in Italy are the same way. They are all dedicated and most of them are out in the field at great sacrifice. They all have numerous grandchildren and weddings and babies on the way. Actually, one senior couple has had a new grandbaby since we have been here, their 5th new grandchild since they have been in Italy!

Rome is beautiful.  The traffic is unbelievable. People do not read signs - every man for himself. And this is the quietest season of the year - Ferragosta - an ancient holiday celebrating the harvest season,but it is not for just a day. It is for the whole month of August. Most everything is closed and the Italians head gone to the hills or the beach. That is  probably a good time for them to go as it is very hot and humid in the city.

Business is done very slowly.There is no sense in hurrying as nothing is going to happen quickly.........including renting an apartment. But we are in a perfect place at the mission home. We have a large bedroom, an adjoining room and our own bathroom. President and Sister Kelly are perfect for the job. Both are fun and energetic.