ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS

Behind the gate is the burial place of  St. Paul

 mosaic ceiling

The crucifix dates back to the 14th centuray

On a cloudy Saturday morning, I went to Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. I went on my own. It was nice to take my time and not have to wait on anyone's schedule. This basilica is huge. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine. He built it over the burial place of Paul the Apostle. After he was executed (beheaded), it was said that his followers erected a memorial at that spot. In the 370s, the edifice was expanded. In 386, the Emperor Theodosius 1 began erecting a much larger and more beautiful basilica. In the 5th century it was larger that the Old St. Peter's Basilica.

Under Gregory the Great (590-604) the basilica was extensively modified. The pavement was raised to place the altar directly over Paul's tomb.

Over the centuries, the Basilica has been damaged by invasions, earthquake and a fire in 1823, which resulted in the almost total destruction. It was reconstructed and reconsecrated in 1855. Many countries made contributions to it's rebuilding. The Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster, The Emperor of Russia sent malachite and lapis lazuli for the tabernacle.

Statue of St.Paul in front of the Basilica

Good view of the alabaster pillars

Alter of malachite and lapis

A painting of all the popes surround the entire entrance, above ceiling

Capella over the burial place

Statue of John the Baptist. This beautiful statue was behind a door leading to the sanctuary.

Closer shot of the tomb and above the chains believed Paul was chained with.

Painting of Paul on the road to Damascus, over the altar

TIES

January tie

February tie

HYRUM

Just more emails I got from people who know Hyrum. I'm thankful for good people who take the time to tell me about their encounter with him.I try to do the same thing with missionaries in Rome. I will write their parents letting them know how much they are loved and what a difference they are making.

Dear Sister Sutton,  

My wife and I had the pleasure of your son and his companion in our home last evening for Sunday dinner.  He is a wonderful young man who loves the Savior and represents the Lord well.  We consider it a privilege to become acquainted with such a valiant young man.  Since we have been missionary parents in the past, we appreciate your thoughts and prayers on behalf of your son and thought you might benefit from the same courtesy.  He is doing well...Brother Allen

He's wearing a cancer awareness tie and dedicated it to his Zia Daniela on Face Book

Dear sister Salazar and Sutton,  I had the lovely opportunity of meeting your awesome missionaries while shopping at the supermarket. i can tell from their smile how much light they radiate and how important the church is to them:) they wanted you to know they are well and loving Utah. You mom's are just so awesome for having faith to let them go and serve. This is the true church and thank you for sending out your missionaries :) Love, Nicole Tribett Dear Sister Sutton I got to have the privilege to meet you cute missionary sons today at the Riverdale 1st Ward in Preston Idaho. I thought you would enjoy getting a pic and knowing they are doing well.  I just sent my own son out. Emit 8 and have a Happy Sunday  (This was from a Sister Klomp)

Dear sister Salazar and Sutton,
 I had the lovely opportunity of meeting your awesome missionaries while shopping at the supermarket. i can tell from their smile how much light they radiate and how important the church is to them:) they wanted you to know they are well and loving Utah. You mom's are just so awesome for having faith to let them go and serve. This is the true church and thank you for sending out your missionaries :)

Love, Nicole Tribett


Dear Sister Sutton
I got to have the privilege to meet you cute missionary sons today at the Riverdale 1st Ward in Preston Idaho. I thought you would enjoy getting a pic and knowing they are doing well.  I just sent my own son out. Emit 8 and have a Happy Sunday  (This was from a Sister Klomp)

APARTMENT INSPECTIONS

The mission is suppose to have regular missionary apartment inspections. But, they haven't been happening. So I took it upon myself to organize it. We had been getting complaints and concerns of apartments falling apart and nothing was really happening to get them restored and fixed. So I gathered information and made schedules.
On Friday, February 13, Sister Day, the Stevens and I, went to Ostia and Ladispoli. It was raining the whole way there. It's an hour drive north west of Rome. By the time we got there, the rain had stopped. It took us a bit to find the Elder's apartment, but eventually found it. We expected theirs and then the sisters.
After inspections, we took them out for lunch. Ostia is by the sea. It was now getting so warm that we took off our coats. We had a nice lunch. I had a big bowl of spaghetti with assorted fish.
We then headed for Ladispoli to see the sisters. It was about a half hour drive. Another city by the coast. We inspected their house and then took them out for "chocolata calda", hot chocolate. The hot chocolate here is so good. It tastes like hot pudding. I love it.Gotta watch it though, cause I'm sure it's loaded with calories.
That took the whole day. By doing these regular visits,we hope that apartments will stay cleaner, safer and more comfortable.
(On a side note, I also cleared, organized and de-junked the supply room. I'm ship, shaping the mission a little bit at a time)

Sisters Day, Barone, Stevens, knight and Elder Stevens

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

PANTHEON

Ruth and Michael Stevens

Just after New Year's Day, the Stevens and I went downtown to see the lights and window shop. It was a beautiful day, not too cold, probably around 7 Celsius. When evening came, we decided to eat at a restaurant right in front of the Pantheon. It was spectacular. Here it was, January and we were eating outside with a heat lamp to take the chill off. And to see the Pantheon just meters from us, and all the people passing by, was just such a wonderful experience. The meal was pricey. I think because of the location. But, it was worth it. We all thought so.

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY

 

Painting of St. Valentine and his remains.Legend says that a man by the name of Valentinus was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden marry and for ministering to Christians who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Ahh!

I was at the church by the Bocca della Verita, and saw the above painting. Those are real bones of the supposedly St. Valentine. No one really knows if the story is actually true. So whose bones are those anyway?

We had a Valentine activity at our apartment, where the sister missionaries invited about 15 single investigators. One of them is Rebecca and this is her daughter Sofia.

Sisters Vickers and DeFranchi. So adorable. 

GABRIEL (ANZIANO) ZITO RETURNS

Anziano Eads, Gabreal and Anziano Jones, glad to see each other

Tuesday, February 10, the former Anziano Zito came to Rome after his release from his mission just weeks before. It was good to see him. Him and Anziano Eads were companions and were good friends. It was nice to see them together again. Gabreal did not stay in Italy long. He left the next day for a 5 week visit to Utah. Gabreal loves to cook and his dream is to open up a restaurant, maybe even in Utah. Anziano Eads finishes his mission in two weeks and Gabreal will meet him at the airport. How cool is that. 

A FISHY STORY

So, Fratello Galle, in my ward, asked me if I liked fish. I answered that I loved fish. He said that he just went fishing, caught a lot of trout and would I like some. I said yes again, I would love some. He brought me the whole fish! Three large fish in fact.

When I brought them home I got the bread knife, the only knife I thought would do the job properly, and began to cut. First, the head came off. As soon as I did that, blood and guts poured out. Yuk! Then I cut the tail off. I proceeded to cut it in half length wise. The hardest thing was removing the scales. I then grilled it and it was so delicious! But, I probably will never do that again. Not with a bread knife anyway.

JANUARY TRANSFERS

Anziano Perry, former AP, spent his last transfer in Palermo, Wonderful missionary.

Anziano Gemmel from New Zealand, quite the character

Anziano Perry, Assistant to the President. Worked lots with him

Anziani, Sorgiacomo, Zito and Garcia. Our Italian Missionaries.

Another with Anziano Zito

Anziano Zito, from Italy. Wonderful, helpful missionary. Lived one floor below us

Anziano Nessun, from Treamonton, Utah. Knew Hyrum. New missionary coming in.

Anziano Sorgiacomo, from Italy. Was the office Elder who trained me.

January transfers were hectic as 26 missionaries left and 21 came in. I'm at the point now that I know these young people well,so, it's sad to see them leave. So thankful to have the opportunity to have worked with them and and got to know a little about their lives.
It's fun, as soon as they got home they requested me on Face Book. A few are engaged to be married already. Yikes!










singing the Mission Hymn, with gusto.

ANOTHER OPERA

 

Anne Shinney, some young aduls, Ruth and Michael Stevens

Some of the young adults from the Rome area wards, work for an opera company, that hold concerts in St. Paul Inside the Walls. It's an Anglican Church, not as ornate as the Catholic churches, but still very beautiful. The company likes to hire young adults from the church because they say they are trust worthy. They go around handing out flyers to tourists and talk to them about coming to their concerts and then they do the ushering. This is the second concert that we attended. And I think I enjoyed this one more than the first. We actually got these tickets for free because they were not able to sell enough of them, because of the low tourist season. Lucky for us!

JULIA'S BAPTISM

On Saturday, February 7  at 11:00 my first granddaughter, Julia, was baptized. I was sad that I was not able to be with her, however, Jeffrey arranged to have it Face timed. So, it was the next best thing. Julia looked pretty and a bit nervous. Her grandma Virene spoke first and then a musical number by Brynn and Jenny. Then she was baptized. Her uncle Tom gave the next talk and then Jeffrey read Hyrum's and I testimony, that we wrote. I was thankful to be part of the program. 

Gerald was Face Timing with me. Jo Ellis bought a yellow rose to give to her from me. I thought that was such a sweet gesture. When Julia changed into dry clothes she put on my niece's , Alissa, dress. It fit perfectly. The room was packed. There were so many who came to support her. 

I bought Julia a Swatch watch from Italy. I wrote her a letter to go with it about using her time wisely; give time to serving her family and God.

,

Cousins at the baptism