Time is Marching on--February and 1/2 of March

It has been awhile since I have posted to our blog.  I keep up on Facebook with day to day happenings but here's a longer version of life in Rome and what we have been doing.  We hit our 4 month mark on February 27.

Nearly every weekend we take a trip outside of Rome with our dear friends Anziano and Sorella Memmott.  Our weeks are getting numbered with them as they got their travel plans and will be leaving April 11.  Several Saturdays ago we went to Bracciano which was quite an amazing place.  There is a castle dating from the 1200's and it has been very well preserved.  This castle is very different from the one we went to in Caserta in December--the Caserta castle was more "modern"--1700's.  The Bracciano Castle is medieval and just what you picture when you hear about the days of knights, armor, and moats.  The turrets are very high with a beautiful view of a lake and the rooms are pretty spectacular.  One room is full of armor while another is full of weapons used by the knights.  And of course every room is filled with beautiful murals and paintings.  The most memorable room is where one of the queens would invite her male friends for the evening and then after she was done with them, she had a trap door that they would fall down with blades sticking out of the wall and they didn't come out alive because they fell into a lime pit at the bottom.  We kept wondering why no one made a connection that men didn't come out alive but then I guess you didn't question a queen.  One interesting side note about this castle--Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes were married here.  That day we also went to Lidispoli a town on the coast--it was quite windy and cool that day but I was happy to see the Mediterranean Sea. 

 

View from the turret

 

The wicked queen's bedroom--where is the trap door?

 

 

Our "knights" in shining armor!

The next Friday we went to the Vatican.  It wasn't very crowded that day--the last time we went 2 years ago we stood in line nearly 2 hours but then again it was Holy Week.  I love seeing the Pieta but there were curtains around it (2 years ago there wasn't)--we still got to see it but there were quite a few things that were more limited this time in seeing than last time we were there.  We took Bus 80 to the Metro stop by Trevi Fountain and then the metro to within a few blocks of the Vatican.  We have found that it is so much better to take public transportation down to the center of Rome.  There are so many restricted areas and unfortunately, the GPS doesn't know the restricted zones and takes us there--then there is no backing up and you have to just keep on going.  We know this from firsthand experience.  Less than a month after we arrived in Italy, we took a trip to Tivoli.  We ended up on a road that was restricted (there are supposed to be signs but we don't recall seeing one)--the road was so narrow that there was no way to get off the road or around the road.  One week ago, we got a ticket in the mail for driving that road in Tivoli--we drove the road on December 5 and got the ticket last week--We are now part of the senior missionary club because there has not been one missionary couple who has not gotten a ticket.  We had two days to pay the ticket or the fine doubled.  The only place you can pay the ticket is the post office and there is no place to go and tell them what happened so you are stuck with the fine even if it isn't your fault! 

Sad face--ticket for driving in a restricted zone!

Two weeks ago we went to Napoli (Naples) with the Memmotts.  We left early Saturday morning and arrived around noon.  After getting settled in the room, we took a taxi to Christmas Street.  Harry Potter fans it reminded us of Daigon Alley--no kidding.  Nativities and other Christmas items are sold year round here.  The nativities are made from terra cotta and then each is handpainted and the clothing is handmade from cloth--they are really beautiful.  I will definitely be going back to buy a nativity and the thing I like about it is that you can choose which Mary you want, which Joseph, etc.  They are not sold as a set but individually.  The artists are very proud of their work as well they should be.  Sunday morning we went to church in the Napoli Branch and meet some wonderful people.   In the afternoon, we attended the BYU-Idaho Pathway graduation which is why we went there with the Memmotts.  They are the Pathway missionaries.  For you not familiar with Pathway it is a program designed to get a start on a college education. For many here in Italy it is a godsend so that they can further their education.  Many who have graduated from the program have been able to find better jobs and they are so grateful for that.  Some have decided to go further and continue getting a 4 year degree through BYU-Idaho.  The initial Pathway classes are 3 semesters each lasting 12 weeks and the courses taught are life skills, math, and English.  Right now Vaughn and I are helping with the math course--almost everything is done online but once a week the students meet for a gathering session.  An institute class is taught in English (we teach it sometimes when the regular teacher can't be there) and then we break into the other 3 sections.  The students who graduated that night in Napoli had completed the course in December--there is so much interest in Napoli that there is now a Pathway session there--before that the students had to come to Rome which is a 3 hour car drive and more than that if taking the train.

 

One of many stores on Christmas Street in Napoli

 

 

Christmas Street

The next morning we drove the Amalfi Coast which is absolutely breath-taking, stupendous, awesome, amazing and any other word that fits the description.  WE LOVED IT!!  We had heard about the Amalfi Coast but had no idea what to expect and believe you me, it didn't disappoint.  For those that have been there, it is difficult to describe--for those who haven't it is difficult to describe.  It is along the Mediterranean Sea with narrow roads and you feel like you are hanging over the sea.  At times especially when there is a tour bus, you have to back up and find a spot that is wide enough to pass another vehicle.  At one point we were literally within inches of the bus but the bus driver rolled his window down and told Vaughn which direction to go.  The houses are built on the cliffs and the only way to get to the houses is to walk up the stairs that have been built--I have no idea how they do it with their hands full of groceries and other things.  The area is well known for pottery and we did go into several pottery stores--Sister Memmott bought several things--I did not because I know I will be back.   We got back around 9 on that Monday evening and had a wonderful time which we always do with the Memmotts.

The first week of March was the busiest week we have had since we arrived on our mission.  We got home on Feb 29 from Naples and then the next morning we went to the airport to pick up a new senior couple arriving from the MTC--they will be in Sicily as military missionaries for the base there.  We are being asked to help with the transporting of missionaries  because we have a bigger car--we were told from the beginning that we would be getting a new car in January--finally the end of February we were told that the new car was here--Toyota Yaris--but when it came down to it, there was no trunk space and since we haul so much from our apartment to the various locations where institute is held we kept the same kind of car but a newer one which belonged to a couple who went home in February.  We took the couple to the road in front of the temple site to get their picture taken and then to the mall for lunch.  The mall is the best place to view the temple and there is also a great ristorante which has the best pizza!  Our zone conference was that day but we didn't get there until the very end so we attended the Rome West Zone Conference the next day.  Wednesday was taken up with Zone Conference and then institute at the Via Bra church.  Thursday was Pathway and then Friday night was institute only we had it at the Via Bra Church (other side of Rome) because we did a service project for the refugees--hygiene kits.  We made sloppy joes and melt in your mouth potatoes--the YSA's here in Rome love sloppy joes--several wanted the recipe--I am using Melanie's yummy recipe but have had to tweek it a bit since we can't get everything here but it's good!  Last Saturday the Memmotts were in Venice for Pathway so we took another new missionary couple who are from St George around to show them the places we shop.  They also live in our apartment piazza.  They are working in the office so we rarely see them because our hours don't coincide with theirs.  We also took them to the keyhole which has become one of our favorite spots.  Then it was Sunday and we started our new callings in the Rome 6 Ward--I am primary pianist and Vaughn is primary chorister--most of the kids in our primary are American and the primary presidency speak only Italian which can be a problem since the American kids don't understand Italian.  So having Vaughn in Primary will be helpful because he bounces around between English and Italian and I just keep on playing the piano!  We then had a fireside at 2 (which really started at 3 because that is how Italians roll with when things start) with an area 70 and then immediately after that went to Ugo Perego's house (our supervisor for institute).  He lives over an hour away from us but we had a wonderful spaghetti (pesto yummy) dinner and then a discussion with the YSA's.  We got home around 11 and we were both pretty tired!  I am so glad we don't have to get up at 6:30 a.m. like the younger missionaries do.

Jenna Perego and the view from their house--the Mediterranean is somewhere behind us!

This past week a couple of the sister missionaries who live below us went home--I felt like my own kids were leaving when I told them goodbye!  We took Sister Sanchez to Termini (train station) because she is from northern Italy and she took the train home.  While we were waiting for the train, the guy next to me heard me speak English and asked if I was Canadian.  I told him United States--he then proceeded to talk politics with me--everyone in Italy is very interested in American politics.  It was an interesting conversation!

Monday is Abraham's birthday (our Nigerian refugee).  I am having a birthday party for him after church.  When I told him that I wanted to have a party for him he started to cry.  He calls me Mama and Vaughn Papa--I honestly think his mother has died and he doesn't know where his father his--I don't think he has ever had a birthday celebration so he is pretty excited about it.  The 4 younger missionaries in our ward are coming along with the AP's (assistants to president) and 3 other YSA's.  Abraham is faithful in coming to institute every Thursday night and really enjoys it. 

We are really enjoying our mission.  It is an amazing experience.  We can feel the Lord's hand in everything that we do.   Ciao, Ciao.

No Snow in Winter!

Now that January is over, I am reporting that Rome had no snow.  Personally I am really enjoying that.  However, remember that we can't drive outside of Rome because of having no snow tires.  Well, we have driven outside of Rome without snow tires--twice and we were OK.  Both days the weather was gorgeous--60 degrees and no problems. 

So since I last wrote, a lot has happened.  On the Saturday after Epiphany (celebrated on January 6), we ventured out on Bus 80 (our favorite bus).  This bus runs every 7 minutes and is just a block from our house--it takes us right to the heart of Rome.  We got off near a church that has a relic of John the Baptist's head--after viewing the church (not the relic) we walked down what I call the 5th Avenue of Rome--every high end store you can imagine--until we arrived at Piazza del Popolo.  I had been wanting to go there during the Christmas season as there was a display of nativities in the "basement" of the Popolo Church.  To our delight, the display had one more day before it closed down, so we went and it was amazing.  There were over 100 nativities on exhibit--it is a juried event--each year different artists create a nativity and then send in a picture--only 150 are selected for display.  I have included a few pictures of some of them--they ranged from nativities made out of nuts and bolts, fish scales, aluminum foil, pasta, sand--all beautiful creations.  It is definitely a must for next year!

Nativity with fish scales

 

Nativity made from river sand

 

 

Tin foil nativity

 

Nativity made from every kind of pasta imaginable

 



We then made our way to Trevi Fountain--it has been closed for reconstruction the past few years and had just reopened in November.  Beautiful--however, it was so crowded that we didn't stay very long.  Another must for us to see again!

Saturdays are our Preparation Day so we like to get out and about in or near Rome.  However, for two Saturdays in January, we had other things going on.  January 16 was an in-service day for seminary and institute teachers.  We were asked to help with getting the food for snacks and lunch out and ready .  The in-service was in Italian with some English translation.  This lasted from 9-3.  The following Saturday, Jan 23, our stake put together 6000 hygiene kits for the thousands of refugees who are fleeing into Europe.  We then went to a GANS (YSA) home to help her with an assignment for BYU-I Pathway.  We were treated to a lovely lunch of pasta with an anchovy sauce, chicken, and salad--delicious--first Italian lunch we have been invited to.  Meals are served in several courses and take at least a half hour (that's fast) to eat and serve.  Very different than the US where everything is in fast mood.  This past Saturday, we went with Elder and Sister Memmott to Gandolfo which is the summer home of the Pope.  There is a lovely lake which was created by a volcano and is the deepest lake in Italy.  We had a wonderful time which we always do when we are with the Memmotts.  We are going to miss them when they go home in April!!!!  We drove around little mountain top villages (in our car so one of the two times we drove in an area that had snow tire signs all over the place), drove down very narrow roads where we wondered if our car would make it through (it was like riding a roller coaster--I am putting a picture on but unless you were there, it does no justice to what it was like!), and stopped at a great little restaurant in Marino.  We love stopping by these little out of the way ristorante.  They have the best food!

 

 Lake Albano

 

 Driving down a narrow road

We are helping with the BYU-Idaho Pathway program.  It is designed to help those who would like to get a college education to get a headstart.  Everything is taught in English so it helps our students learn English also.  We have been asked to help with the Math this semester.  I have to study several hours a week to prepare for what is being taught that week--so between the math and Italian, I have to get my student skills on!  After the students finish three semesters of preparatory classes they can then enroll in BYU-I fulltime to finish their college degree.  The three semester courses which they take are Life Skills, English, and Math.  For many, it is a dream that they never thought they could accomplish.  Several students who have been through the course and have received a certificate have been able to get a job because of graduating. 

An update on Abraham whom I talked about in the last blog.  He received the Aaronic priesthood in January and is so excited to pass the sacrament.  One of the elders gave him a suit that they no longer needed and he is so proud to wear that every Sunday.  A few weeks ago we asked him if he would like to go to institute on Thursday evenings which coincides with Pathway.  He was very happy to go and even though he is not a Pathway student, he participates in the English class.  He is hoping to be able to enroll in Pathway in April.  It will really help him obtain a job here in Italy.  We pick him up at the refugee camp every Thursday--it is really a hotel but is being used as a camp.  He is always outside the hotel waiting for us each week.  We love this young man so much.  He told me that I am like his mother.  From what I understand, his mother is no longer alive as she was killed by the unrest in his country.  Continue praying for him that he will be able to enroll in Pathway.

My sister Lisa and her daughter Brecken and their friend Ann and her daughter Addie were here to visit last week.  It was so wonderful to see family and spend time seeing the sights with them.  Lisa was here for Pio's baptism in Lugano, Switzerland--this is Guilia's husband.  We went to Guilia's baptism shortly after we arrived in Italy.  We were given permission at that time to go but this time we were not because it is not in our mission area.  Remember it took us 4 hours by train to get there and that was on the fast train traveling nearly 300 kilometers an hour.  We were able to go to the Coliseum with them which was awesome. Actually, it was quite amazing that we were even able to go with them.  Since the Paris attacks, the center of Rome including the Coliseum and Vatican have been off limits to the missionaries because of the large crowds that are there--it has been for safety reasons--we took our favorite bus 80 with Lisa to a stop fairly close to the Coliseum and told them we would wait for them at another location which was less crowded.  We left them and found a place to sit so that we could decide what we were going to do.  Just as we sat down, the sister missionaries called and told us the ban had been lifted for the Coliseum so we went and found Lisa and were able to go on the tour with them.  The guide was from the United States and was very informative about what happened at the Coliseum.  We also had a tour of Palatine Hill which is the ruins of Nero's castle.  The view was a great view of Rome and a close up and personal view of many of the Roman ruins. After the tour, we parted ways with Lisa and company because we had Pathway that evening and they wanted to go to Trevi fountain.  The next day (Friday) we took Lisa and Brecken to the Vatican--yes, Vaughn drove through downtown Rome!!!!  Before dropping them off at the Vatican, we took them to an area called the Keyhole--again an amazing view of Rome.  The keyhole is what it is--a small keyhole you look through to see the Vatican--we love it and what is unique about this area is that you stand in Italy, look through the keyhole into a piece of land owned by Malta, to see the Vatican which is its own country.  On Saturday we took Lisa and company to Tivoli which has become one of our favorite places to visit.  The gardens and fountains are so amazing.  We are looking forward to going again in the spring when everything is in bloom.  A big thank you to Arianne Woods for going with us and driving her car so that everyone could go!  Arianne is in our ward--her husband works at the temple site.  We found a little pizzeria to eat at and everyone went crazy for the pizza with Nutella on it and also the margarieta pizza. 

 A view through the keyhole without seeing the Vatican but it's there!

 

 My little sister and me

At the beginning of January, President and Sister Waddoups invited us to go with them on a day trip to Deruta and Ovieto.  Deruta is a mountaintop village about 2 hours northeast of Rome and is famous for pottery making.  Sister Waddoups wanted to find some pottery to send back to the states--she didn't find what she was looking for but they bought a beautiful pottery lamp for the president's office at the villa.  While in Deruta we visited an ancient kiln which dates before the time of Christ.  The man who now lives over the kiln also has a pottery museum and sells pottery he makes out of the museum.  His family discovered the kiln in the 1700's while they were building the house that he and his family currently live in.  He is a many generation pottery maker.  His wife is from Cleveland and when he found out we were from Ohio, he went and got her and we had a very pleasant visit.  We bought some pottery necklaces he made along with a small pottery container for jewelry.  Then it was on to Ovieto--there we went to the piazza where the church is one of the finest as far as workmanship in Italy (the outside that is--inside wasn't anything spectacular).  This church was built in the 1300's.  We walked along the many streets filled with small shops and I made a purchase of a pottery nativity along with a handpainted nativity ornament. Sister Waddoups collects nativities also so she made a couple of nativity purchases as well.  It was a fun day and we enjoyed spending the time with the Waddoups.

 

The lady from Cleveland--we are standing in front of the ancient kiln

 

Sister Waddoups and me on a random street in Oviato

 

That same week, Elder Memmott was walking across the street in front of his house in a crosswalk and was hit by a motorcycle.  The motorcyclists are crazy here--they don't follow any rules--they do their thing.  He said he looked, then looked again and then looked again--started across and the next thing he knew he woke up looking at a bunch of people looking at him.  He thinks he was thrown about 5 feet.  We took him to a hospital so that he could get xrays on his shoulder and wrist--nothing was broken but he has been very sore and has had to have shock therapy on his shoulder several times.  We have taken him to the doctor for those sessions.  We are all thankful that he wasn't hurt seriously--he is 81 years old today.  He had a guardian angel with him that day!   I told him and his wife I want to be like them when I grow up!

One thing that we have started working on is the Billion Graves Project. This project is taking pictures of graves and then downloading them so that the information can be available for  genealogy research.  We have only been to the cemetery once but oh my goodness!!!  I have never seen a cemetery this large.  Some of the graves look like little apartment buildings with the graves stacked one on top of another.  The pictures of the deceased are on the outsides of the grave--some of the graves are larger family plots which are actually buildings.  One part of the cemetery belongs to the Vatican and is for the priests who die at the Vatican or you can pay to be buried there since it is part of the Vatican.  One thing we have learned is that if your family doesn't pay to keep up the gravesite, they take out the body and put it a common grave and then prepare the gravesite for someone else who's family will pay. 


We love our mission and love living in Rome.  God's Blessings to all.

 Our amazing district before transfers last week. 

American Cemetery

I wanted to mention one other place we visited a couple of weeks ago in Anzio.  We went with Elder and Sister Memmott and again they drove because of the snow tire thing.  Anzio is where the allies landed in WWII to liberate Italy.  In a short 6 months, 44,000 lives were lost.  There are two cemeteries--British and American.  We first went to the British cemetery where about 3000 are buried--the thing that is so touching in this cemetery is that the families of the deceased were contacted and they sent a small message to be printed on the headstone.  Very emotional and humbling.  The American cemetery has 7000 graves--I felt as if I were in a small Arlington Cemetery.  The grounds are immaculate (as where the British).  Again, a very humbling experience.  The Italian people celebrate a day of Thanksgiving to commemorate the day of their liberation from the Nazis.  We enjoyed the day and found a small restaurant that we really enjoyed.  We will be going again.

 British Cemetery

American Cemetery

 

 

 



December in Rome

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our family and friends.  We have had an amazing December.  To begin with we have been able to travel to see sights near Rome.  Because of the terrorism threat, we are not allowed as missionaries to go to places where there are crowds in the center of Rome, therefore, we have not been to the Vatican or the Collesium. We are hoping that ban is lifted soon.
At the end of November, we were given permission by our mission president and Europe area general authority to attend the baptism of our good friend Guilia Fontana in Lugano, Switzerland.  We took the subway to the train terminal in Rome and from there took the fast train to Milano, Italy--at maximum speed the train travels nearly 200 kilometers per hour.  Once we arrived in Milano, we switched trains and rode a much slower train to Lugano--it stopped at every small town or city along the way.  We were meet at the station by Guilia.  We walked to their beautiful home overlooking Lake Lugano.  My sister, Lisa Bearnson and two of her friends, had flown in from Utah for the baptism.  It was a wonderful reunion.  We were also meet by another missionary couple whom we had meet at the Missionary Training Center, Elder and Sister Salatino--they are serving in the Milano Italy Mission.  The time spent with the Fontana family was magical and spiritual.  Guilia's baptism was an experience we will never forget.  Her conversion story began several years ago but to see the light in her eyes as she accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the changes Christ's love have brought into her life is truly wonderful.  We meet this family when we came to Italy in April 2014 and have kept in touch with them.  At that time, Guilia and I had a several hour discussion about religion--she had converted to the Buddhist religion and felt a peace with that.  We had a lovely discussion as I found out about her beliefs and she about mine.  She felt however, something lacking in her life and as she began her quest to find what that was, she began studying the life of Christ and realized that she needed Him in her life.  We are so privileged that she invited us to share this special day with her.  We were asked to sing and Vaughn was asked to give a prayer.  Thank you Guilia and Pio for the loving arms of fellowship and friendship you have extended to us.

Elder Thacker, Sister Thacker, Guilia Fontana, Sister Salatino, Elder Salatino at Guilia's baptism

We had a lovely Thanksgiving, spent with the 50 young missionaries who serve in the Rome area.  The couple missionaries were asked to bring a turkey, dressing, and gravy.  The missionaries LOVED having a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Even the Italian missionaries loved it!!! 

And then it was December!  Saturdays are our P-days (preparation day) so we take advantage of that day and go exploring!  The first Saturday of December we went with Elder and Sister Memmott to Tivoli, Italy.  AMAZING!  The villa (really a castle) was built in the 1500's for a priest who was vying to be the pope (he was never called).  He built the villa and the gardens which are absolutely incredible--a definite see for anyone visiting Rome. 

We also had a Christmas party that we attended in our Rome 6th Ward--I was asked to bring applesauce which I thought was a strange request.  I couldn't find applesauce anywhere at the stores I go to so I went online and found a recipe and made it.  I guess it wasn't what the Italians expected applesauce to be because no one ate it but we enjoyed it and the missionaries liked it.  Look who showed up at the Christmas Party--Yep--Santa is here also.  He's really cute!!! 

Hello Santa!

Our Christmas Tree of made of Lights

On Christmas Eve, we went with Elder and Sister Memmott to Caserta, Italy which is 3 hours south of Rome.  There we meet the other senior couples serving in the Rome Italy mission and the mission president and his wife for a few days of relaxation and celebration.  On Christmas Eve day we went to this castle built in the 1700's for King Ferdinand--AWESOME!!  For you Star Wars fans out there, it was the castle which was Princess  Amidalla's (sorry on the spelling) was filmed there.  We arrived too late to see the gardens which extend for 2 miles but we were amazed by the castle.  Why would anyone need 1400+ rooms?  There are rooms for the ladies in waiting, guardsmen, butlers, several bedrooms for the king, priest, chapels, nursery rooms, queens rooms, and 4 rooms depicting all of the seasons.  Each room has not only paintings on the walls but the ceilings are painted to depict stories of midevil and Renaissance life.  Check out Royal Palace in Caserta, Italy for more info on google.

 Where Star Wars was filmed

 Throne Room

The King's bedroom

Christmas Eve was spent with our wonderful couple missionaries as we depicted the birth of Christ through song and word.  As I looked around the room at all 16 of us singing Silent Night, my heart was filled with love and gratitude for each of them--we are all far from our families but we are here in Italy to serve and love the Italian people just as Christ taught us.  We are so grateful to be here in Italy.  We love those whom we have meet and continue to meet.  We truly have a unique opportunity to live everyday life not as a tourist but as Italians and we love it.

The Sisters with their reindeer antlers (standing) Sister Thacker, Sister Sears, Sister Waddoups

(Sitting) Sister Memmott, Sister Bullock, Sister Hansen



The sheep and the angel

Christmas Day spent at the aqueducts which are 12 miles from the castle and provided water for the gardens.  What a magnificent structure.  We weren't as brave as most of the rest of the group who climbed to the top of the hill--without a path I was afraid I might fall and I hadn't brought my hiking shoes!   For more information google Aqueduct of Vanvitelli.

We then went to a restaurant for what we later found out was a traditional Caserta Christmas Dinner.  It was served in 5 courses--not quite what we would have at home that's for sure.  First course, the antipasto--bacon and ham which has been cured but not cooked, 2nd course--all types of fish from tuna to mussels to shrimp; 3rd course--minestrone soup--not what any of us expected--filled with bones, fat, and skin and sausage--also spinach.  We found out it is a traditional soup for Christmas and is piglet soup.  None of us ate much of it and I think we may have offended the cook!  4th course--fish--we chose cod but salmon was also on the menu--fish is one of the main dishes for Christmas here and that was obvious by the lines at the fish market near us.  5th course--a small almond biscotti (cookie).  It took us over 2 hours to eat all of the courses--we had a grand time and it will certainly go down in the books as one of the most interesting Christmas meals we have ever had!

 Fish platter

Minestrone Soup

Saturday morning we left with Elder and Sister Memmott to go to a Roman amphitheater ruin near Naples.  Elder Memmott drove to Caserta because we cannot drive our car out of Rome.  It is a law that after a certain date you have to have snow tires which makes no sense since their are palm trees all over the place!  We are getting a new car in January and the mission office didn't want to put snow tires on our car for only a few weeks so if we travel outside of Rome we have to rely on the other missionaries or borrow some else's car.  Back to the amphitheater--it is similar to the Collesium in Rome but on a slightly smaller scale--this held only 60,000 people!  The main difference between this one and the one in Rome is that we were able to go underneath where the cages for the animals and the holding places for the slaves were--they are very well preserved.  It was an eerie feeling as we walked around down there--it was difficult to imagine the horror that these people must have felt before they were taken to the arena to be killed by the lions.  Actually quite humbling.  Amphitheater of Capu is what you can google to find out more info.

Our last stop on Saturday was Herculaneum, a city discovered in the 1700's below Mount Vesuvius.  It was a coastal town which was destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  Unlike Pompeii (which we didn't have time to go to but will at another time), this city was covered in the mud and not the ash of the volcano.  Many people were fleeing the eruption and ran towards the Mediterranean Sea--they hid in caves near the shoreline and were caught by the mud and a type of tsunami effect from the sea.  It is very well preserved--the city was for the Roman elite and many of the ruins have mosaics, statutes, and art work.  We found it fascinating and yet a humbling experience.

This past Sunday was spent with Elder Dallin Oaks of the Council of the Twelve.  He and his wife are here on vacation.  He attended our sacrament meeting.  What a spiritual experience to partake of the sacrament of our Lord and Savior with an apostle in attendance.  His sermon in sacrament meeting was uplifting as he talked of Savior's atoning sacrifice for each and every one of us.  In the afternoon, Elder Oaks spoke at a meeting just for the missionaries.  He and his wife shook each of our hands and personally spoke to all of us for a few moments.  Vaughn was Elder Oaks son-in-law's missionary companion many years ago so we had a couple of minutes to discuss that with him.  Elder Oaks looks a little like my Dad, so I gave his hand an extra squeeze!  That evening, he spoke at a meeting for all of the members in Rome and again we were spiritually feed.  I had the opportunity to play the violin--a good brother in the church has loaned me a violin for the 2 years I will be here.  Playing the violin for Elder Oaks brought me back to the days when I was a student at BYU and he was the president--I played for him several times during those years. 

Now for a little bit about the work we are engaged in doing.  We have been called to work with the Young Single Adults (called GANS here in Italy).  On Monday evenings, we have family home evening--we prepare a spiritual lesson and a physical meal--we also play a game.  Wednesday evening we go to an institute class taught by an Italian member of the church--we provide a meal.  Thursday evening we attend BYU-Idaho Pathway--it is a program designed for church members around the world to receive their education through online courses and by attending actual classes.  Elder and Sister Memmott are the missionaries who coordinate this--they are an awesome couple. Prior to their missionary service, Elder Memmott was the financial advisor for the Utah Legislature and also the financial advisor for the 2000 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.  We do not provide a meal for this evening--we are there to help where we can and sometimes we teach the institute class which is taught in English.  On Friday evenings we have another institute class which Vaughn teaches in Italian.  We provide a meal for this class.  Many of our GANS travel for several hours by bus or the metro to attend classes which is amazing to me.  Our days are spent shopping, preparing meals, and preparing lessons for the classes we teach.  We also love mingling with the Italian people and going to the various little shops in our neighborhood.  We have found the most amazing little pizzeria which we visit at least once a week. It is so popular that we have to take a number to be served and it is a teeny little shop!

In closing this segment of our blog, we would like to tell you about Irbiham one of our GANS.  He is from Nigeria and is a refugee.  He has been in Italy for several months.  He fled his country because of the turmoil which is there now.  Prior to coming to Italy, he was studying engineering at the university in Nigeria but because of the unrest, had to quit school.  He made his way out of Nigeria and across the Mediterranean on a raft--he is one of the lucky ones who made it.  Many who have fled have drowned or starved as they made their way across the Sea.  When he arrived in Italy he was assigned Rome (I believe)--he lives in a refugee camp some miles from Rome.  He travels 2 hours one way by bus to come to church.  He looks right into my eyes and says, "Sister Thacker, I love Jesus Christ and what He has done for me."  With tears in his eyes, he testifies of Christ.  He speaks English very well, but because he doesn't speak Italian he can't find a job.  He and I have a deal--we are both learning Italian and now he won't speak much English to me--He says we must learn together.  Keep this young man in your prayers.  He cannot return to Nigeria or his family.  If he does he will be killed.  His smile is contagious and He loves life, He loves the Lord, and he loves the Savior. 

Sorry this blog was so long.  There was so much I wanted to record and so much more I could have recorded.  I promise I will do better in sending the blog out.  May the Lord's blessings be with all of you in the coming year.  We love you.  We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings he has given us and for the unique opportunity we have to serve Him whom we love in this beautiful country of Italy.