November has been busy

You have seen this kitchen before, it belongs to INTERSOS.  We took another missionary couple, the Whitings, to meet Valentina, the director of the camp.  The Whitings are the new couple at the Institute.  We hope the YSA of Rome will interact with the refugees at this camp, in a variety of ways with the goal of the refugees integrating with the Italian youth.  This camp houses minors and vulnerable women.  We think great things will happen here.

Hygiene kit assembling activity in the church basement.  Hey!  That's our missionary car in the background.  We often park our car here when we have to get on the metro.  Usually we can't find any parking, but luckily we have the keys to the church garage!

The missionaries and the YM/YW of our Rome 1 ward made this activity happen.  The original shipment was 'lost' for weeks and we were always rescheduling this activity.  The two young men missionaries are the zone leaders and they never complained about having to call and reschedule each time it happened.  They get lots of kudos!

At a break in the activity we took 'the kids' over to the local pizza hut...well, its actually the Pizza Alla Pala.  It's literally across the street from the church.  Pretty decent pizza and really cheap.  Found out that the missionaries eat here all the time.  Well, that makes sense.  I remember this conversation, "which one word or phrase describes you?"  Dad got 'wisdom' and I got 'mom'...fine by me!

Trying to arrange all the coats and supplies into bags to get them into the Tibertina Camp.  At one point Dad was the 'guard' of the supplies in the missionary van.  Three guys said they didn't have time to wait in line and could they have a look.  Dad was too smart for that trick.

Tibertina Camp.  Baobab leaders:  Rosaria and Roberto.  It's Rosaria we work with the most.  She is really the 'nuts and bolts' and the fine details/logistics person.  You have 'met' her before and it won't be the last time I sing her praises, she is one unique lady with a heart of gold.

Here are the supplies we were giving to each guest as the camp:  fleece jacket with a rainproof outer shell and a personal hygiene kit.  We are standing inside of a marquee tent that LDS Charities provided to Baobab so that they have a dry place to serve the food.

It's not what you expect really when you hand out needed clothing.  Either the boys were too shy to say 'thank-you' or they didn't know which language to say it in, or didn't speak the language....or they expected it.  Regardless, there is a bit of a tussle from the boys and the camp volunteers helped to make it orderly and made sure that they didn't take more than one coat. 

Refugee Conference, Athens Greece, Nov 2-4, 2017.  This was the opening dinner.  We have 4 refugee couples in Europe,  2 welfare couples from Frankfurt/ Stays and Canfields,  Gilles our boss in Frankfurt, and also Bruce Muir (retiring as director of Humanitarian Services of the Church) and Ty Johnson (taking Bruce Muirs job)  I need to put the 'outcome' of the Athens conference:  "Business as Usual".  Best outcome imaginable.  Here's the cool story:  Since there are less refugees arriving, should the funds go to places with more need? Ex Harvey, Irma, Myanmar, etc.  The thought was yes.  But the members of the church have been so generous that the coffers are still full!  The Presidency doesn't want the money sitting in the bank, they want the money out helping those in need.  So we continue.  The only change is that our funding will not come from 'emergency relief' but 'sustained relief'.  Chokes me up and humbles me each time I think of it.  There is still a need and those needs will still be addressed thanks to the generosity and kindness of the Latter-Day Saints!

We visited a recently arrived Afghanistan family as part of the conference.

The cute girls from this Afghanistan family were happy to sit next to me and show me photos and I showed them photos.  They spoke no English and I didn't speak their language....photos did the job.  Is there a resemblance of the older girl with Isa at all?  It's the eyes or something.

The next camp we visited was run by Lighthouse Relief which started in Lesbos by 3 Swedes.  The camp provides sewing classes for the ladies.

This was a group photo at the camp.  Willmott at the far left, the refugee couple assigned to Greece, us, the Swendson assigned to Serbia, Gilles, Sis Stay, Scovilles, Elder Stay.  Kneeling two random guys who wanted to be in the photo!

The daycare provider had her hands full, but she knew how to keep them in control.

The girls had a jumprope and eventually all the Senior couples had a turn with her jumprope...Dad included!

In the lobby of our hotel:  The Golden Age.  The couple from the left is the Swendsons and they are serving in Serbia.  The Willmotts serving in Greece (not pictured b/c they were at their own apartment and they did a lot of work to make the conference a success) then Gilles, the Herways, the Scovilles. (both Italian based)

Do you remember ZiZi and her baby and Muhammed her husband?  Well here is their update, they did make it to France.  They had their baby there!  Last we heard they are in Lyon, but probably by now they are in another location.  Just wanted you to know that all turned out well for them.  Hooray!  A small update on Abraham.  He phoned to see if we could introduce him to the missionaries in Ancona.  He is connected with them now and is currently taking the lessons.  He is under strict advice to study and find out for himself what he thinks.... 

The mobile units that replaced tents on the campus of the Red Cross.  Notice the cool signs on each home indicating that LDS Charities helped to fund the mobile homes.  We are pictured with the other donors of the project:  John Cabot University.  There are now 30 units, each can house up to 6 people.  There are also units for the canteen, the toilet/showers, medical, and staff.

Dad talking to Pietro Mariana who has been our point of contact for the mobile home project.  The homes were built by IKEA and assembled (IKEA style!) by the employees of Red Cross.  It's supposed to take 4 hours to assemble but Pietro said it's more like 8 hours (IKEA style again)

We were given a nice little plaque in gratitude from the Red Cross for the donation from LDS Charities.