Esperanza McLean came to Sicily from Guangzhou, China

I received an interesting message a few weeks ago from Esperanza McLean in Guangzhou, China.  Spring semester was over and Espy was coming to Italy, and even added Sicily to her travel plans.  She would arrive on the week including the fourth of July.  What could be more exciting than to be on a military base in Italy to celebrate the 4^th of July!  Espy had picked the perfect week .As we began to prepare both for the 4^th of July and Espy’s visit; we received another surprise phone call from President Pickerd regarding missionary transfers. There were some unusual circumstances with the downsizing of our missionary numbers and Leadership Training in Rome.  We needed to drive missionaries that were arriving in Catania on Saturday, June 30th to their destinations to be in place for Sunday morning church meetings.  Interestingly enough because the 4^th of July fell on a Wednesday this year NAS Sigonella moved their 4^th of July celebration to Saturday June 30^th. Turns out six of our missionaries from Rome and Espy were on the same flight on Saturday, June 30^th to Catania.  We made arrangements for Espy to have a deployed member of our branch to accompany us to the airport to take Espy to the fireworks while we shuttled missionaries to their apartments.  At least Espy saw the fireworks at Sigonella!

Ten Ferraris all lined up for the 4th of July Car show at NAS Sigonella,  Only in Italy!!!

We spent the week sandwiching in our service commitments and showing Espy the high points of Catania.

Espy hated the bombas!

Virgin Mary Festival in Enna.

Breakfast sandwiches (made of gelato) seemed to hit the spot!

Hiking the craters of Mount Etna!

Cathedral ofAcireale.

Puppets made in Acireale.

Roman-Greek theater in Taormina!

Piazza Armerina Roman Mosiac baths.

Lombardi Castle

Craters at Mount Etna

I first met Espy in Guangzhou in 2015, our last semester at South China University of Technology. There have been a few times in my travels that I have met someone that seemed like an “old soul” that I knew from another time and another place. Espy is one of those people, we “have promises to keep!” It was a soulful experience to spend time again with Espy.