Meeting new People

We went to church in Torento Italy.  Very small branch.  The Branch Pres drives from Switzerland which takes him 3 hours.  He comes for the whole week-end!  He was called just as he was going to retire and build his home in Switzerland.  He had a stroke and told the Lord he would do whatever he was asked to do....the Branch Pres call came and he accepted.  This sweet girl and her daughter were fun to talk to and hang out with.  She only spoke French.  Her baby loved my glasses case.  'Selfies' are never flattering, but sometimes that is the only choice you have.

Meeting with an organization called 'Melting Pot' in Padua.  It was hot and steamy outside but their office was under renovation so this was the next best option.  Not clear how best to help this little group.

Dinner on one of the squares in Padua.  This is Moreno Giannotti and his girlfriend Bianca.  Moreno is the Stake Public Affairs director for the Milan West Stake.  Bianca lives in Siena and she is from Albania, but getting her PHD in teaching Italian to foreigners!  She is also a professional basketball player and her mom played for the Albanian Olympic bb team!  They both teach others how to fly airplanes.  What talent!

The square in Padua where we had our meal.  Very beautiful.

Next stop was in Vicenza to meet Alessandra Balestra and she is the Venice Stake Public Relations Director.  We actually visited her in her home b/c she had a very tight schedule to go to her daughters school that morning for a school program.  Her husband is the Bishop.  She said nobody wants her calling b/c it is so much work and you feel all alone doing it.  She was happy to meet with us and get a little 'boost'.

This meeting was really 'fun'...First of all the other guy in a white shirt and tie is Ether Simoncini.  His parents are serving a mission in our mission!  He is a counselor in the Stake Presidency in Verona Stake.  The guy in the blue shirt is Sergio Giolotti and he is the Stake Public Relations Director for Verona.  We thought he was GREAT!  The guy on the far right represented AVSI and his name is Marco Andreolli.  AVSI is the organization that we want to support fully!  They partner with businesses that need workers.  For example they work with 6 restaurant owners.  They train the refugees in the language of their business:  just what they need to know to cook or be a waiter, etc.   Rather than trying to teach them 'Italian' they just teach them what they need to know in a specific arena to get work.  It's brilliant.  They have an 80% placement in jobs!

Next stop was in Rimini.  There was a project to supply tools and supplies to a carpentry workshop.  The guy with the black shirt was a volunteer carpenter.  The other guy in the white shirt is 1st counselor in the Florence Stake:  Orazio Caramia.  The purpose of the lab was to give the boys something to do as well as to learn a skill.  Their housing unit was just a couple of blocks away.

At the carpentry lab.  Guy far right (white pants) is the director of CARITAS.  The Italian lady with the black pants is the ward public affairs director:  Anna Canuti who arranged the project.  

Simona Savian(black shirt) is the assistant to the Florence public affairs director.  She is with Anna.  Anna told us that her 26 year old son just had his leg amputated and is being fitted with a prosthetic.  At age 19 he was in a scooter accident.  They tried for 7 years to save the leg but it couldn't be saved.  Her first marriage wasn't in the temple, but her second marriage was in the temple.  She shared all this with me as we walked and talked that day.

At the CARITAS housing complex.  This complex is within walking distance of the carpentry lab.  

Discussing the needs and hopes of the CARITAS housing unit and the carpentry lab.  Next to Tom in the light blue shirt is Enrico Morelli.  He is dynamite.  Stake public affairs director for Florence.

This little guy just underwent open heart surgery.  His mom said that he has to go back for another operation.  No fun!

On the way home we stopped via San Marino.  It's beautiful!  San Marino is a country.  Like the Vatican.  

San Marino

San Leo.  Also on the way home to Rome from Rimini.  Very old and historic.