Siracusa, Italy

We traveled down the coast of Sicily to the city of Siracusa this week. It is about 70 kilometers from our apartment in Motto Sant’Anastacia; a very pleasant drive along the coast.  It has a culture of its own and a tourist atmosphere as we drove into the city.  Very clean with Baroque style architecture, large piazzas and the most unique LDS church I have ever seen.  We were assigned to do apartment inspections for both the Anzani and Sorelli who call this city there home.

Syracuse's showpiece square is a masterpiece of baroque town planning. A long, rectangular piazza flanked by flamboyant palazzi, it sits on what was once Syracuse's ancient acropolis. Little remains of the original Greek building but if you look along the side of the Duomo, you'll see a number of thick Doric columns incorporated into the cathedral's structure.

Built on the skeleton of a 5th-century BC Greek temple to Athena, Syracuse's cathedral became a church when the island was evangelised by St Paul. Its most striking feature is the columned baroque facade added by Andrea Palma after the 1693 earthquake. A statue of the Virgin Mary crowns the rooftop, in the same spot where a golden statue of Athena once served as a beacon to homecoming Greek sailors.

The original temple was renowned throughout the Mediterranean, in no small part thanks to Cicero, who visited Ortygia in the 1st century BC. Note the interesting baptismal font to the right as you enter; it consists of an ancient Greek krater (large vase) adorned by seven 13th-century bronze lions.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also has a contemporary interesting chapel.

 This LDS Church is referred to as" the elephant church!"

 Those amazing blood oranges!

2018 Friendship Cup

The USO supported the 2018 Friendship Cup between the US Forces and the Italian Forces assigned to NAS Sigonella.  The Italian team is in blue.  They have official jerseys with names and numbers, they are older, balding  seasoned veterans that have played together for a while. Our US team showed up in black shorts and a gray T-shirt, no number, no names but they did find a goalie jersey.  They look to be 18, 19, maybe 21; I heard someone yell  "go LT "at the keeper .  Nonetheless a scrappy bunch of players with a team full of heart! The US team trailed the entire game but never gave up.  We expected the Italian team to dominate, the best surprise was that our US team tied the game in the last few minutes 5-5! That took us to a shoot out with the Italian team winning the shoot out 5-4! 

 WE are proud USOI volunteers and happy to be involved in this activity to support our troops! It was a rainy day but the hot dog bar seemed to take the chill out of the afternoon. 

Triple Sibling Baptisim

I have never attended a triple sibling baptism until February 17, 2018, Signoella Branch in the Catania, Italy Stake!

When Zach and Chrissy Finucan were married, Chrissy was a member of the church and Zach was recently baptized.  Zach was from Montana and Chrissy grew up in Monument, Colorado.  Zach was an Air Force Academy cadet when they began dating.  Chrissy was in a terrible automobile accident and broke her back, Zach wanted desperately to be able to take care of her but was unable to do that while he was a cadet.  Zach made the unthinkable sacrifice, resigned his commission and education at the AF Academy, re-enlisted in the Air Force and married Chrissy.   They became active duty Air Force and began their career, which afforded Chrissy the medical care she needed to recover from her back injury.  Through the trauma of the back injury, medical care and readjusting to a new career and new location, inactivity slipped in the back door and they drifted away from the church.  Four years later Chrissy gave birth to twin girls, Kaitlyn Marie and Mikayla Kenzie.  They returned to church to have the girls blessed but were not ready to commit to regular activity. Another transfer in duty station and two year later William Jaxon was born to round out their little family of five. 

In 2017 Zach was assigned to NATO forces to support bring the Global Hawk (Remote Piloted Aircraft) to NAS Sigonella, Italy.  The girls were both ten years old and Jaxon eight, Living in Marani the base housing complex, when Chrissy decided she wanted to return to church with her children and eventually be married and sealed to her family.  The Sigonella Branch meets in the base Chapel on Sundays at 1:30. It only took one Sunday to get things started and the missionaries scheduled to teach the lessons.  This all started to happen about the same time we arrived at Sigonella.  We were excited to become involved in meeting with the missionaries at Marani.  Sorella Cardullo and Abbate schedule the lessons after school, at first Jaxon didn’t want to be baptized but the girls couldn’t get the lessons fast enough.  Jaxon always set in for the lesson but wasn’t ready to commit.  It only took a few days after the girls committed to be baptized that Jaxon decided he would also want to be baptized. 

The date was set and we began preparations for the baptism.  Our Branch President Fonseca wanted to talk to Zach to see is he was interested in baptizing his own children. Zach didn’t want to hold up the baptisms for this kids but he committed to prepared to take his family to the temple at a later date. 

The baptism was scheduled; President Fonseca was out of town so Craig would be conducting the baptism service.  We arrive two hours early to make sure the font would be filled.  The missionaries were already and the Catania church when we arrive with the water running.  We both peaked in and all seemed to be well.  The family arrive and the service proceed, I gave the baptism talk and the branch members and the missionaries filled in the service.  We to the font for the baptism and discovered that the Anziani didn’t secure the plug in the font when they started the water and the water level was just below the knees! Hmmm what to do!!!!  The decision was to proceed so Jaxon went first , he had to be baptized twice , it was difficult to get him under water.  Craig was asked to baptize Makayla so I held my breath hoping and praying this would work out and the girls could make it under the water without a second or third time.  The girls were easier and went according to plan. 

We learned to always check the plug in the font! The Anzani are still just 18-19!

We learned that when you are baptizing three siblings, they really want to see each other baptized so they should all wait together for the baptisms before they change into dry clothes!  All ended well and the ultimate goal was baptism.  It was a bit fragmented and we learned some valuable lessons.

My First Zone Conference

I think it could be called “baptism by fire.” We had the opportunity to attend Zone conference with the 26 missionaries that are currently assigned to the Catania Zone.  President Pickerd arrived on Friday evening from Rome and set up interviews with each of the missionaries then our Zone conference began on Saturday morning.  To my great relief the whole conference was in English.  While we were in the Rome Mission Home President Pickerd told us,  “you are going to be surrounded by the best missionaries in the Rome Italy mission.  Sicily is so far away from Rome, I am very selective and careful about whom I send to Sicily, only the most dependable and the valiant missionaries are assigned to Sicily.”  That was confirmed for me at our first Italian Zone conference.  The Anzani and Sorelli were absolutely amazing; they are capable and willing to move forward in whatever President Pickerd asks! It was a day of reading, questions, study and answers, very fulfilling and gratifying.  I have to say I love studying with the Anziani and Sorelli in Sicily. 

President Pickerd is an outstanding leader, he knew every Missionary by name, discussed with each their family circumstance and their assignment.  We have native Italian missionaries, North American missionaries and a sprinkling of other nations creating a very interesting set of circumstances from which they all have arrived in Sicily.  President Pickerd has capitalized on each of their strengths, talents and challenges to create a Gospel Force to be reckoned with.  They set a goal for the next six weeks to have 36 baptisms in the Rome Italy Mission with five of those coming from our zone!  We are going to see a miracle happen in Sicily!

 Pasta al Forna prepared by Sister Lina Calogero, a truly authentic Italian  lunch.  The Pasta is typical of Sicily !

She has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint for 30 years and interestingly enough she remembers Mike when he served in Catania. That was a lunch bonus.!

 The Anziani serving lunch.

Mike's Sunshine

We had an opportunity to stand in Mike’s sunshine this morning.  Mike baptized Paride Apalardo approximately 20 years ago while he was serving as the Assistant to the President in the Catania, Italy Mission, just before he returned back to Utah.  We attended the Catania Ward this morning hoping we could find him.  There he was sitting on the stand, First Counselor to the Bishop, Michaela, one of the twins, was playing the organ for the congregation.  It was a sweet reunion to catch up with Paride.  We didn’t tip the cards to tell him who we were but only introduced ourselves and watched him put the pieces together.  It took his breath away as we watched him realize that we were Mike’s parents.  He and his family are doing well, the twin, Michaela attends an aeronautical high school and Simone attends a scientific high school and David is in elementary school. They will travel to London later this year for an immersion English program to prepare for university admissions.  We are hoping to have the opportunity to speak English with the boys and help them sustain their English skills.  What a sweet opportunity for us! Parent Payday.

 1995 we picked up Mike in Catania from his mission.

 Paride's family invited Craig, Mike and I for dinner at thier house.

 2018 Catania, Italy Craig, Kathy, Paride, David, Michaela and Simone