Last Days in Bari

One of our former missionaries, Miguel, from Bolzano, is now engaged to one of our former young adults, Valentina, from Foggia.  They came to Bari on our last Sunday and we invited them over for lunch.  

Our last Monday night, Bari Poggiofranco Ward had a farewell party in our honor.  What a gracious, kind gesture. It was so good to see so many dear friends as we prepared to leave our mission.  

And here we are Tuesday morning, January 10 all packed and ready to drive to Rome!  Arrivederci to our lovely apartment and beautiful Bari!

Talent Night at Bari Liberta`

 Our last Saturday evening, we enjoyed participating in a ward talent night at Bari Liberta` ward. Lots of different acts and many were non-member friends.  Here's bishop Pappagallo singing "My Way" in English.  

Dawn accompanied the missionaries. 

And here is my companion playing her piano solo. She did great! 

Mini - MTC

Our last Saturday in Italy was one of our favorites.  We participated in a stake wide Mini-MTC.  We were so pleased to spend the day with many of our GANS and youth of the stake. They each got a calling letter and a name tag.  Youth from nearly every unit in the stake came to Bari. 

On the left is Stefany, she is preparing for a mission.

 

How we'll miss Lele Leone, one of our stake YA reps.  He is such a natural leader. 

Looks like he will miss us too!  

We got to use one of our new pickle ball sets during our break times. 

Another favorite YA, Andrea Dorgia. He always has a smile on his face and is another natural leader. 

Soccer, ping pong, foosball and pickle ball were free-time favorites. 

President Ranieri, from Catanzaro, drove his motor home filled with youth about 4 hours to get to Bari for the event. He's been branch president for 11 years!

 

Happy New Year!

We started 2023 giving the sacrament meeting talks on New Year's Day at the Poggiofranco ward.  Here we are on an evening stroll along the "lungomare" 

This Ferris wheel, "routa panoramica" in Italian, reminds us as we start a new year, to look at our lives from a higher perspective.  

We enjoyed a marvelous, memorable New Year's Day pranzo with our dear friends, the Ramunni's.  Missing from this photo is their daughter, Ludovica, one of our faithful young adults now serving as a full-time missionary in Milano.  How we will miss, Pino, Angela and sweet Silvia.  

Also on New Years, someone had his 68th birthday.  Nice cards from Bob & Lorraine, Monica and Sister Cannariato. 

Christmastime in Puglia

We are so grateful to spend Christmas as full-time missionaries.  Especially now that we are not limited by pandemic restrictions.  We have enjoyed many activities during this past week.

Christmas stockings for our Bari district

Walkin' in a winter wonderland. 

District council, lunch and gift exchange - Taranto district

With Annarita from Lava Subito.  

Christmas Eve at our apartment with Bari district.

Christmas pranzo at the DeSantis home. 

A nice gift from Sister Viterbo.

Merry Christmas to...

...each other.  

Christmas dinner at the Santoro's. 

A Mission dream fulfilled

Congratulations to one of our favorite young adults, who was set apart as a full-time service missionary on Saturday.  Sister Viterbo has been working toward this goal since we arrived in Bari 17 months ago.  We are so proud of her perseverance.  

Two-Ward Christmas Party - Festa di Natale

Sister Cannariato was pleased to be asked to serve on the planning committee for the two ward Christmas party.  Here's the flyer that went around.  We had over 100 people attend.  

All the full-time missionaries were expected to wear elf hats.  I think they looked pretty good.  

The Christmas pageant was very well done.  

The girls on the right aren't angels, they are clearly Stars!  

Sister C and I had the assignment to man the gingerbread cookie decorating table.  It was fun!