Transfer Week - Always Bittersweet

How we miss those who leave us for home or for other areas.  How excited we are to welcome those called to serve in the Puglia Zone.  

Sending Anziano Garrity to Catania.

Anziano Warner is a little sad. 

Notice Anziano Garrity's potato pin on his shoulder strap. 

Sister Ivie departs and Sister Beus arrived. 

Sister Hopkins arrived and Sister Revill heads to Sardegna

Here's the newly constituted group of Bari missionaries.  

"Stack the chairs" for the last time!

At the end of each transfer, as part of our last district council meeting, we chronicle how many transfers (six-week periods) we have completed. For us, we held up 12. This is likely the last time we'll be doing this.  A fun tradition, for sure. 

Young Adult pizza and panettone night!

While we often have Young Adult activities at the church, last Friday we opted for a pizza and panettone night at our apartment. We also celebrated Sister Huggard's birthday. 

We set a record for our apartment with 15 in attendance.  It was squeezy, but very fun. We had a nice mix of GANS, missionaries and friends.   

Carmen is a faithful attender, seminary teacher and temple worker. 

Stefy has just received her service mission call and will be set apart on December 18. 

Giuliano is our over 40 "young" adult. He has a great heart and loved our recent temple trip. He is the pianist at Liberta` ward. He plays by ear! 

November Potpourri

 Here's a little sampling of what else occurred in November. Never a dull moment. 

Apartment inspections in Catanzaro, Cosenza and Crotone. 

Checking out the new apartment for the senior couple in Crotone. Jungle themed bedroom, jetted tub, fancy columns and a completely new kitchen. What a mansion! 

Enjoying a trip to Matera and Alberobello with Anziano and Sorella Thomson. 

Meeting Ether Simoncini, who works for the church in self reliance.  He served in the same mission as Jenny Johnson Wood. 

Feeding the Foggia Anziani breakfast of yummy French toast when they mistakenly came to town thinking it was district council day. 

When we delivered study desks and chairs to the Brindisi Anziani's new apartment, we stopped in front of these columns near the port.  This is the beginning of the famed "Appian Way" that leads to Rome. 

Here we are at their front door after having lunch at a nice restaurant called Botteghino along with  

Mario Piras, in the red shirt, one of our great young adults. 

After attending church in Foggia, we enjoyed lunch at Bishop and sister Dicarolo's home.

My chocolate chip cookies were a nice compliment to sister Beatrice's squash, mushroom and guanciale lasagna.  YUM!

Another Zone Conference - our last?

Our Puglia Zone Conference was, as always, uplifting and inspiring.  Depending on when they decide to schedule the next one, this may be our last.  What is different this time is we have 30 missionaries, the most since we arrived, including another senior couple, the Jones's from Caldwell. 

The night before, we enjoyed a lovely dinner with President and Sister Morris and the Jones's at Trattoria Giulio Cesare.

Just OUR stuff for zone conference.  

Focaccia and clementines put smiles on all the faces. 

We have the best missionaries! 

Anziano and Sorella Jones are excited to serve in Crotone, where their primary responsibilities are member and leader support.  They will also be able to look after the 3 sets of Anziani serving in Crotone, Catanzaro and Cosenza. 

These sisters enjoyed breaking in our new pickle ball set in the relief society room.  No damage was done! 

How the missionaries love zone calcio, even with some light rain. And we're happy to report NO INJURIES! 

Anziano Kelly and Anziano Needham sport their pro soccer jerseys.

A Bari Thanksgiving 2.0

We enjoyed Thanksgiving with all of the missionaries in our district.  Sister Cannariato gave each companionship assignments and the meal was delicious.  

We played some fun games afterwards with "junk food" prizes found at a store called "American Fitness" go figure!

My Dad passes away

While at the temple with our stake young adults, we were able to video chat with Monica, Stephanie and Alexis from my dad's room at the assisted living center.  He passed away on Saturday, November 19.  He had turned 97 on November 8. That day we had a wonderful visit on the phone.  I'm so glad the girls could be there during his final hours, and that we got to be there virtually for a while.  

Monica made his 97th birthday special.

He served in both the US Army and USAF. His wishes were to be cremated and have no viewing. Therefore, we will hold a memorial service when we return home. 

Here's a little write up from his 90th birthday celebration.