Our First Visitor: Suzanne!

We have been anxiously awaiting our first visitor, my sister Suzanne.  She came for Easter week-end/ Conference week-end.  She was very patient as we did our missionary duties in the mornings, and visited one camp and had full day service activity.  Still we had plenty of time to be together and to enjoy Rome!  

At the Baobab Camp with Miriam.  As we discussed the situation at the camp, we were able to ascertain their three current needs:  dry wood (for fires to cook and to keep warm) water, and cooking units.  Last week there were over 300 Eritrean women and their children who arrived at the camp.  Some of the babies were only a few months old.   Most were accommodated with INTERSOS and Save the Children who have permanent structures for these vulnerable people.  However even those accommodations filled up and so some had to stay at Baobab in the tents.  The guests are starting to cook their own meals, and there is a hope for about 10 cooking units so each section/national grouping can cook....and Eagle Scout project might just do the trick.  We are talking to a young American boy who is in need of a project!

The very first night of her arrival we went to the Spanish Steps.  "Why are they so famous?"  Who knows, except that Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck made them famous.  Then I found out she had never seen "Roman Holiday"!  

Why come to Rome?  First priority is for the gelato!  Our favorite haunt is 'La Romano' and this flavor is the best.  They put a dab of fresh chocolate in the cone, and just when you think your eating delight is over, you forget about that last, best bite!

Suzanne threw in her coin, so she will be back!

Rome doesn't lack for stunning, jaw-dropping churches, cathedrals, and basilicas.  

This is Cynthia Kneis.  She is the mission nurse.  But she is so much more!  She does just about everything.  One of her duties is to help at the newly opened 'visitor center' on the Temple grounds.  It is just a temporary trailer and there is a full time missionary couple who will operate the center.  The couple are the Simmoncini's and they served here in the office just as we arrived.  They are back....their 3rd mission.

This is the current status of the Temple as of April 1st, 2018.  How relieved everyone is that the official dates have been announced:  Jan 28 to mid Feb will be the open house.  It will be dedicated March 10-17.  I think Kathleen Bluth is coming  this Fall to put in the furnishings.  This is what you see from the Visitor Center picture window.

Cynthia is pointing out on the diagram the different buildings and lay-out of the temple complex.  It's going to be quite magnificent.  We'll be long gone when it opens, but it has been exciting to be here as the final leg approaches.

Trapazzino's is a restaurant that we like very much.  These are eggplant sandwiches in the best bread.  The round balls are called 'supplie'...insides is always a different mixture of rice and veggies, but it's always tasty.

Easter Sunday at St. Giovanni Basilica. 

Scarf shopping in Florence.  We took the train up for P-day.  It's only 1 and 1/2 hour trip b/c it's a bullet train.  

You would think that all the pizza in Italy is equally good.  Not so.  However, at the market in Florence we found top notch pizza.  It's so good, you don't have any trouble finishing it off!

Suzanne took this photo of me and Tom.  

Easter Sunday brunch with friends.  We are at the house of Brett and Arianne Woods (temple).  Also invited was Cynthia and Fred Kneis, Dave and Carolyn Fenn (temple) and family Olmes (embassy)

Ostia Beach clean-up Day.  Suzanne was a trooper as we spent the entire day at this activity!

This is Craig and Susan Christensen.  They lived in Brussels for a year.  They came to the Rome One Ward last Sunday, and then we ran into then again at the restaurant Trapazzino's!  Can you believe that?  Susan has given me lots of tips for my transition from Europe to UT/USA....the most important tip is that I need to buy a ski pass!  Their oldest child is Nikki...who hadn't arrived in Rome yet, the oldest boy was in 5th grade in Brussels....then there is Abby and Sophie....and the youngest boy wasn't born yet when they lived in Brussels.

Suzanne's last night in Rome, we walked down the block to the local cafe and had a hot chocolate.  It was so fun to have her visit.  Already it seems too quiet.  She is my good friend as well as my sister.  I know I am blessed and very lucky that she is 'mine'....