Helping Hands

Mormon Helping Hands

Early Saturday morning on July 19, 22 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in a day of service for their community. Missionaries, newly baptized members, ecclesiastical leaders and those not of our faith downed white vests, with the inscription “Mormon Helping Hands” in red and green on the front, and the Church’s name on the back. 

Mormon Helping Hands is a priesthood-directed Church program that provides community service and disaster relief to those in need. It offers organized opportunities for Church members to give of their time and talents.  Members have the opportunity to beautify city streets, parks and recreational areas and to serve in other ways, showing that the Church is a friend to the community.

The event was organized and led by Emanuele Cascone, Stake Clerk and a member of the High Council overseeing missionary work. Six car loads of willing able-bodies met at 7:45 on a very hot morning to lend a hand in the city of Guidonia Montecelio. Participants were mostly from the Rome 2nd and Rome 6th Wards. Eleven missionaries united their energies and encouraged newly baptized members; Jerwin and Jomar Duque, Carol Laender, Marco Mercuri and Luca Colasante to take part. Also contributing their time and efforts were: a member from the Rome 2 Bishopric, Brother Salerno, and a member from the Stake Presidency, President Celestini, who brought his 14 and 8 year old sons, members Ralf, Brother Bosco, Ernesto, Dario and Marco Tummincello. Daniele Fulli is a young man who is taking the English classes taught by the missionaries and is investigating the church also, he also accepted the invitation to serve.

The purpose of the service project was to clear and trim overgrown grass and weeds and to beautify the surrounding 3-acre property called, “La Piccola Pietra”, meaning “The Little Stone”.  The edifice serves as a refuge for single women and their children.

 A steep, long walk way was virtually impassable because of overgrown grass and debris. Workers removed fallen branches, shoveled and swept dirt, and handpicked weeds to make a safe walk way for the residences. The brethren mowed large areas of grass that stood 2-3 feet tall. Others trimmed rose bushes that were withered and hidden behind months of overgrown weeds.  In the center garden situated a beautiful statue of the Savior, whose hands are out-stretched to welcome visitors, and was almost overseen because of the overrun wildflowers. Upon completion of the day, the statue now stands as the focus to the entrance of the property.

By the end of the four-hour effort, everyone was drenched in sweat and was exhausted, but one and all had a smile on their face. Each person expressed gratitude for an opportunity to labor together and render assistance to their neighbor. 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven”.

Mathew 5:6

Before

After

Check out the broom. Didn't know if I should sweep with it or fly away on it!

Piazza Navona and other sites

Can never get enough gelato! 

Carolyn Fenn and Miriam Steurer

Piazza Navona, one of my favorite piazzas. Artists can be found in the square selling their beautiful works of art. I went out with the Fenn's and the Steurer's. David Fenn works for the church and he's involved with the construction of the temple and the other buildings on Temple Square. 

I love the gelato here. My goal is to try every flavour!

Castel Sant' Angelo

motorcycles everywhere

roasting chestnuts

one of my favourites, Victor Emmanuel Monument

more motorcycles

Lunch at Villa Borghese with Sisters Day and Shinney

 Miriam, Dan, David and Carolyn, enjoying pasta and pizza

Most balcony's over flow with flowers

Zone Conference

playing the dice game

The Italy Rome Mission is divided in eight Zones and one District which is the island of Malta.  Every six weeks we have whats called Zone Conference, where those who are serving in that particular Zone meets together and receives instruction from the Mission President and his wife.

I was asked by Sister Waddoups to come up with a game that would go with her lesson. Of course I went with my favorite seminary game that Jo Ellis taught me, "the dice game". Yep, it was a success.
The most fun for me is when we sing our Mission Song in Italian. I'm still learning it. It's a really energetic song and to hear everyone singing it together,especially the guys voices,  is emotional for me.

no not texting, but using Google translate

Rome West Zone

News From Home

Sassy Daniela

Jeffrey on a fly fishing trip

Chase and Kennedy on their Disney trip

from Julia

from Olivia

Tara and Timothy at a friend's wedding in Calgary

Brandon Leduc back from his mission in France

Love to get news from home. I Skype with my sister Daniela regularly. My cousin Bruno and his wife Santina, from Torino, Italy visited my family in Toronto and New York this week ago. Thanks to Skype I got to talk to them. We hadn't seen each other in over 35 years. They are continuing their trip in the states visiting Los Vegas and Arizona. 

Timothy, Tara and family had a great time at Disneyland in Florida. When they got home they went to Calgary for a friends wedding and while there stayed with Ron and Linda Sutton and spent some time with his cousin Andrea and her kids.

Jeffrey went on a three day fly fishing trip where he learned some new skills and enjoyed his time there. He is off now with his family on a camping trip in Southern Alberta.

I always like getting emails from home. Above pictures show drawings that the Julia and Olivia sent me. They now hang in my office.

The Leducs are friends of mine and their son Brandon, who I taught seminary for a couple years returned from serving a mission in France this month.

Lunch in the Countryside

A bunch of the office staff were invited to have lunch with a wonderful family who live outside of Rome; about an hour car ride. We past by beautiful rolling hills scattered with cattle and different crops. Manuele and Silvia and their three children live in a lovely home surrounded by olive orchards, fruit trees and a massive garden. They are virtually self sufficient. Such warm and hospitable people. We ate outside under a huge tree whose branches acted as a natural awning . Silvia kept bringing dish after dish of mouth watering food that included anti pasta, about 5 different vegetables, 3 different pastas and two desserts. The oil she cooked with was from the olive orchard Manuele had pressed himself. We each were given a bottle of their oil as a parting gift. I really felt like this is the Italy I waited to experience.  

Manuele's olive trees

Sister Steurer

just a sampling

Manuele, Silvia and their kids

4th of July

The Andrews, The Millets, The Fenns and the Streures

Patti Fenn

Patti and &Jim Fenn hosted a pancake breakfast for all the American senior missionaries serving in the Rome area. I was the lone Canadian in the group. No problem. On July 1st I proudly displayed a Canadian Flag at the office and gave out red candies to everyone. We're all one big happy family.
 The Fenns (there are two brothers and their wives) are here from Utah working on the construction of the Rome Temple. They've been here for two years already and will be here until the Temple and the other buildings are finished. How long will that be? Nobody really knows. Things are done very slowly here in Italy.

Film For New Visitors Center in Rome

I love this shot

Ancient missionary walking on Via Appia

Film makers are in the midst of making a movie for the Rome Temple Visitors Center once it opens. I came out one night to see them shoot a scene depicting an ancient missionary apostle (could represent Peter or Paul) and then modern day missionaries. This site they choose is called Via Appia Antica. It is one of the earliest and most important Roman routes of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to the most southeastern part of Italy. It was used as the main route for military supplies and transporting troops from small cities to Rome in the 4th century.
 In talking to Daniele, I commented on his English and asked him where he learned to speak so well. He told me he served a mission in Calgary. He began to tell me how much he loved it and really wanted to find  a Canadian girlfriend when he got off his mission and then said, but his brother beat him to the punch. I quickly said, "Is your brother Fausto?" To which he replied yes, how do I know him. I told him I really didn't, but my sister-in-law's niece in Cardston is dating a man from Italy. I quickly made that connection and I was right. Man! What a small world.

Modern day missionaries walking on Via Appia

Massimo Crescione (the film maker), Elder Sorgiacomo, Daniele, Elder Steurer (who took these pictures), Sister Steurer & Elder Quaresima