Substitute teach for Naples Institute

We were asked to train to Naples to substitute teach for the Institute class on Saturday.  Ok!  No problem.  The train is only one hour and the chapel is within walking distance of the train station.  We had some time before and after the class so we took the opportunity to go to the old town of Naples.  

In one of the squares, these two guys were really putting on a show with their drum skills.  LDS Charities actually funded drums for the refugees in Naples and I was half hoping that these guys were some of 'our' refugees, and making some money from tourists.  They weren't.  Too bad.

As Easter approaches, there will be celebrations all over Italy.  This little group was parading through the streets with music and flags.

Here is our cute little class.  From Left:  Peter, Mark and Sunday.  Here we are singing the opening hymn.  Those boys really belted it out.  Loved it!  We were singing "Did you Think to Pray" and as they read some of the lyrics they would stop and smile at each other about how perfect the lyrics were.

Learning and discussing the Sacrament, the Holy Ghost, Prayer, and The Gathering.  They are all from Nigeria.  We were all speaking English....but they had a hard time understanding us and we had a hard time understanding them.  Sometimes after I would write the idea on the board I would hear 'Oh! The Holy Ghost protects us.  Yes!"  (for example)  They had good questions and were so humble and teachable.  Peter (L) was a returned missionary and he served in Nigeria.  The other two boys were converts of about 3 months.  All of them came over on a boat.  

After class we were talking about their future.  They are very aware that in Italy it is hard to find work.  They trust completely in God and have faith and hope that everything will work out, although they were very aware that many trials still lie ahead.  They had their scriptures all underlined, they had their manuals and wanted to know what to study during the week.  They expressed how grateful they were that they had the opportunity to study and discuss the scriptures together with us.  Oh my, my mother's instinct was to hug them and make it all easier for them.  Can't be done.  It's a tough world, Satan will make it tougher, and they have many obstacles and trails ahead.

Napoletano Pizza is very famous, and for a good reason.  It's heads & shoulders better than pizza in Rome....or anywhere else in Italy for that matter.  Italian pizza is not created equal!  When we ask the missionaries where they hope to be assigned they ALL say Naples.  Why we ask?  For the street food and the pizza and the nice people!