When In Rome

 

We remember well October 4, 2008 when Laura had just finished the St. George marathon and we heard the miraculous announcement that there would be a temple built in Rome. We told ourselves that we had to find a way to visit someday. Almost 16 years later, on August 24, 2024, we were able to realize our dream and visit this beautiful, peaceful house of the Lord.

With Rome being outside our Milan Mission boundaries, we had to get permission to travel there. The special feelings while in this sacred temple reminded us of the urgency God has for ALL of his children to have the opportunity to be forever families through the blessings of the temple. It is because of this, that we are here in Italy. We are witnesses of the words of our prophet Russell M Nelson, "positive spiritual momentum increases as we worship in the temple"

Invitation: Read a little about the Rome Temple found here: https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/rome-italy-temple/ 

It was a tender mercy to see our friend, Terry Madsen whom we met during our MTC training and just happened to be one of the missionaries serving at the Rome Temple that day.

After the temple we took the opportunity to relive our Italian honeymoon trip by visiting other parts of Rome including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, Piazza del Popolo, the Colosseum, and many other spectacular sites.

One of our favorite things on the mission is spending quality 2:2 time with the missionaries when we do apartment ministering (cleaning checks). We often reward the missionaries for having clean apartments with lunch or gelato. You can also see Steve's thoroughness as he tests the buoyancy of the inflatable swan and inspects a puzzle while the sorelle clean

We happened to be in Bergamo one evening when they were offering a rare opportunity to climb a bell tower. Ringing the bell was not part of the tour, but that didn't stop Steve

It is no surprise that the Italian food here in Italy is mouthwatering, but we have also had the opportunity to eat delicious food from other countries like Peru. This pork and beet potato salad was tasty!

Steve loves taking clutter from the missionary apartments to the dump. Usually the workers just ignore him, but for some reason when he brings Laura he has all kinds of people offering to help. I don't think the guy on the right even works there 🤔 

We love any time we get the chance to take the beautiful hike from the Bergamo train station to Cittá Alta. You get so many different Italian 'feels' in just 3.5km

Steve tried the early missionary approach of preaching in a park from a soapbox or stump. This must not be the right kind of tree stump