Christmas in Italy

“La Befana” is  an old witch lady with a big red nose and slight hunch, dressed in a jacket of colorful patches. She is often pictured with a broom. Every year, on the night of January 5th, “La Befana”, will travel on her magic broom, to every house in Italy in search of the baby Jesus bringing gifts. Climbing down the chimneys, she brings candy (“caramele”) or fruit to the children that were good and black coal (“carbone”), onions or garlic to the children that were naughty.   The children will leave out their stockings, and even their shoes, hoping to awake on the morning of January 6th to some “caramele”.   Similar to the Santa Claus tradition, many of the children will write notes to “La Befana” and even leave out food  for her (sausages and broccoli in some parts of Italy).   It is a tradition that is still strong in Italy with many stores selling stockings, mostly red, but sometimes even sand-colored, for the children to leave out for “La Befana”.   It is a fairy-tale story of the good witch / bad witch, depending on how you behaved during the past year.   After her arrival, there are many parties and Italians will celebrate going from house to house celebrating the bonds of family and friends.  

Villa d'Este, Tivoli

I sometimes hesitate to put pictures on the blog where we have been in Italy because it looks like we are on a vacation. Believe me a mission is work, fun work but work. much more than 40 hours a week) But because Italy is so beautiful. I have to show you the photos or  I would never post.

Recently we went to Tivoli a small town northeast of Rome. While there we toured a Villa d'Este. Villa d'Este was built in 1550 for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, the son of Lucrezia Borgia and Alfonso d'Este. It occupies a stretch of hillside below the town of Tivoli, with spectacular views over the plain towards Rome. Built around an earlier monastery, the building is lavishly decorated with frescoes, reliefs and literally thousands of beautiful internal fountains. The most striking part of the Villa d'Este, however, is its garden; a terraced extravaganza of shady trees and show-stopping fountains.

Other highlights include the Fountain of the Dragons, a many-breasted sculpture of Diana, the long path of the Hundred Fountains and the massive cascade below the Water Organ. The Water Organ periodically offers musical entertainment to visitors.

Missionaries Departing December 2010

Grandview's own Sorella Miller

We met with Sister Miller in Bari. What a great missionary! Of course she has grown up since I last saw her.I remember  her as a spritely teen in young womens with Gina efficiently organizing the group of them.We also met her companion for that evening, Sorella Jones who  was doing a "scombie" better known as a split off. We had  dinner  and reminisced  about the Grandview Ward. Sorella Miller is known as a wonderful missionary and President and Sister Kelley told us to let her parents know that she is loved.

Bari Zone

Describing the Elders and Sisters is almost impossible. I can’t tell you how we admire them. They couldn’t be in a better place. They each have brought their individual gifts and talents to their callings and are as unique as our own children. It is inspirational to see these young men and women serve in this area. It is a wonderful place to be but it is not the Rome tourists see. The culture is very different and takes awhile to learn ( I am not sure Anziano Marcucci and I are adjusted yet). It is hard and tiring…..But joyous and wonderful, or as the missionaries would say “awesome”. They face challenges and are rejected everyday! But I know they would say they wouldn’t trade their experience for anything else. They are seeking the “one” who will welcome their message.

We visited several missionaries this week (and traveled 1223 miles) and delivered them a “gift”… A fire extinguisher. I am sure they were thrilled. We were inspecting their abodes for spiritual and physical security . To a person their apartments were spotless. The slide show that follows shows some of the highlights of the visit.

Bari Missionaries

Amalfi

Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful drives in the world and probably one of the most filmed. We had been on it one other time with a native and professional driver. This time  after inspecting several apartments and working with Elders. Anziano Marcuccci decided to drive it himself (Bad Idea). The road is a lane and half around a cliff with a 500 ft drop off,straight to the ocean, that combined with crazy Italian drivers traveling at "wicked speed", makes the drive extremely dangerous. I was biting my nails the whole time.We arrived at Praiano after a very nerve wracking drive.