3:45am: "You awake?"

The Rome Temple is making great progress!  The office missionaries picked us up at the airport and this was our first 'sight'.  And what a glorious sight.  So exciting to see all the workmen busy as bees.  Keep going guys!!! 

The temple complex will include a stake center and a visitor center and dorms.  It's going to be awesome.  Fingers crossed it will be completed sometime in 2018.  But the entire complex has to be finished before it can be opened.  It's a huge project.

Pres and Sis Pickerd are seated on the left side.  In front of Tom is Anziano Guerico.  He handles all the apartments and cars.  Only a man of great patience could do that job, and from what we could tell, he is a man of Great Patience!  Sis Pickerd fixed a lovely welcome meal.  We feel loved from the get-go.

We landed on Friday where we were taken to our apartment, given a phone, did some paperwork for check-in, stopped at the grocery store.  Saturday (today) is preparation day.  Our current (but temporary) apartment is on the metro line so we went into town for the afternoon.  Amazing how much you can squeeze into just a couple of hours.  Spanish steps (check), Fountain of Trevi (check) and the renovations are all completed and that place sparkles, Pantheon (check), Piazza Navona (check), Vatican (check)  Pictures following.

This ancient Roman marble fountain was discovered in one piece while digging the foundation of the Senate Building.  This was the first time we have seen it working.  Can you imagine those archaeologists that discovered it?  Must have knocked their socks off.  It's stunning.

Assassination of Julius Caesar
Location	Theatre of Pompey, Rome, Roman Republic
Date	March 15, 44 BC
Target	Gaius Julius Caesar
Attack type	Stabbing

Location

Theatre of Pompey, Rome, Roman Republic

Date

March 15, 44 BC

Target

Gaius Julius Caesar

Attack type

Stabbing

Vittorio Emanuele (check) The Roman Forum (check) and Trajans Forum (check)...pictures following.  I know it seems impossible that we passed by all these sights in just an afternoon but we really did!  It's a very walkable city if you know where to go.  

There is an increased presence of law enforcement.  Not sure if there was something special going to happen or if they are just being prepared.  It's true that most European cities are more alert, expecting the unexpected.  It's impressive.

I'm sure most of my blog will NOT be sights of the city, but who can resist the temptation that Rome offers on P-day?  Every corner is picture worthy!

Oh, and the title?  Jet lag is an enemy to a good night's sleep and everyone has experienced it.  Mind you, it's 12:21am and we are fully awake.  And that deep sleep won't come until about 9am tomorrow morning right as we need to get out the door!

I'm sure by the next blog we will be more immersed in our work.  Nice to have a day in the city before the onslaught.  We will have specific training starting on Wednesday and we get the feeling it will be like drinking from a fire hose.