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

When in Rome.....

January 22-27

Bright and early Monday, January 22, 2018 we left the MTC for the SLC International Airport through Atlanta to Rome, Italy.  It was an exhausting day but one without incident.  Smooth connections, short layovers and an early arrival on Tuesday morning in Rome, what is not to like about that?  

The excitement started when we started our drive from the Rome Fiumicino Airport. Our driver from the mission office was Anziano Knies from Houston, Texas.  He became so enthralled in telling us about his family and living in Rome that he missed the exit to the Rome Temple.  In an effort to take the next exit and make a U-turn to return to the appropriate exit an impulsive left turn set the whole day into a tailspin.  As he pulled out on the busy street to make a left turn, I saw the oncoming van in the left lane headed straight to broadside our van, at the exact same time a speeding car on the right side hit us scraping all down the right side of the vehicle throwing us directly into a head on crash with the van headed for our left broadside.  This didn’t end well; we were in the middle of the street with both sides of the van smashed, hubcaps flying and all of us shaken.  The traffic began to back up on both lanes for miles honking frustrated drivers came to a stand still on this busy street in Rome, Italy.  Eventually three police cars arrived to direct the stalled traffic and began the slow arduous process of measuring and interrogation of all parties.  We were at a huge disadvantage since we did not speak Italian and did not have our residence permits; they took our passports!  We spent the remainder of the day waiting for the process to take its course, thankful that we were able to just wait on the roadside and not in the hospital.

Wednesday morning found us at the mission home taking our International Driving test,(interestingly enough Anziano Knies was the trainer) financial training, and more paperwork! We went to dinner with the senior couples at a hamburger place called Cidos! No Italian food yet!

Thursday, back to the scene of the crime to get that infamous photo in front of the construction site of the Rome, Italy Temple.  We took the metro to downtown Rome for a quick drive-by of the sites in Rome. Best Italian pizza ever on the way to the Trevi Fountain. 

 

Rome Italy Temple

 President and Sorella Pickerd

 Apostles at San Giovanni in Laterano

 Ascending the stairs of Scala Santa  on the knees.

 The Colosseo

 Moses by Leonardo Di Vinci

 Graffiti on Rome Metro

 Trevi Foutain

 Pantheon

Friday and Saturday we took our 2018 Toyota Yaris hybrid, our international driver’s license and all six pieces of luggage on the road. Rome to Sigonella, Sicily; with an overnight in Cosenza!

 Cars in line for the ferry

 Ferry across Messina

Sicily from the ferry

MTC- Provo UT

We spent three weeks in Taipei with Garrett and Cindi in late April, Mother’s Day and Garrett’s Birthday in May.  We were fairly confident that Taipei, Taiwan would be the perfect spot to serve a mission; it was beautiful, we like the culture and best of all Garrett, Cindi and Charlie were there.  We proceeded to put the things in place that would move us towards that goal.  We discussed this possibility with CES, MLS, ESL, temple options as well as office couple options without anything positive.  The language barrier was putting kinks in our plan.  We completed our medical and dental requirements, turned in our papers then left in October for Arizona.  In early November the big white envelop arrived and we discovered we were going to Rome, Italy assigned to Military Relations on Naval Air Station Sigonella.  I definitely needed to do some research for what this might entail. 

During General Conference October 1849 President Young announced the first missionaries to begin preaching the gospel in Italy, France and Scandinavia. Lorenzo Snow was called to lead the new mission to Italy. On October 19 a party of 32 missionaries bound for Europe gathered at the mouth of Emigration Canyon and departed for the journey East.

             

Lorenzo Snow was well educated and already married with children when he was called to missionary service at the age of 35.  They traveled east, through Cheyenne territory to Council Bluffs, St. Louis, Nauvoo and Carthage Illinois to NYC where they departed on 25 March 1850 on board the Shannon arriving in Liverpool, England four weeks later on 19 April. After a two-month stop over in England three missionaries left Southampton on 15 June 1850 crossed the English Channel to France.  They proceeded across the farmlands of southern France landing in Genoa on the 25 June 1850; they completed the journey from SLC to Italy in about 8 months.

Italy’s prominent role in Europe’s religious and cultural history was an important reason for the decision to make it one of the first European mission fields, preaching Mormonism in the birthplace of the Roman Empire, The Renaissance and especially the Roman Catholic Church was one that captivated church leaders and missionaries.  Church leaders and missionaries also viewed Italy as a land sanctified by the presence of some of Christ original apostles and wished to establish the church in a land where the ancient church once flourished.

Lorenzo Snow dedicated Italy for missionary work in September 1850-1851

Last missionary left Italy in 1865. By 1867 most families that were baptized had immigrated, the church ceased to have an official presence in Italy. These were the one hundred years of solitude.

In early 1965 missionary work resumed in Italy.  A key figure in that was apostle and future church President Ezra Taft Benson.  His impact as President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Secretary of Agriculture took him to Italy several times including in 1957 he received the prestigious High Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in recognition of his work to resolved Italy’s serious post war food shortages.

Ezra Taft Benson rededicated the Italy mission in November 1966.

Mike served in Italy 1993-1995, there were four missions Milan, Podiva, Rome and Catania.

Today there are two Missions Milan and Rome.

President Thomas S. Monson broke ground for the Rome, Italy Temple 23 October

2010.  That event was nothing short of a miracle and a strong signal to the saints in Italy that great things were in-store for Italians and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Mormons on the Piazza

As of 31 December 2015

26,284 members

104 Congregations in 83 cities

10 Stakes

1 District

2 Missions

60 Wards

44 Branches

Anziano Anderson and I are assigned to the Naval Air Station Signoella branch for 18 months January 2018-June 2019.  We just completed two weeks of training in the MTC; we leave SLC on Monday morning through Atlanta and arrive in Rome on Tuesday, January 23 all set to try out our new skills. The Sparrows our trainers,  The Tolmans- South Korea, The Marrows-New York,

The Spanos-Japan, and The Paxtons -Germany, were part of the Military Relations training

It has been an historic two weeks for all church members, but especially in the MTC! Seems like just a few years ago, I was the teacher in Freshman Honors English and one of my students was Justin Wilkins.   I had the rare privilege this week to be the student and Bishop Justin Wilkins taught me seminary and institute training.   It was a little overwhelming to contemplate that blessing.

Elder Bednar spoke at our Tuesday MTC Devotional.  I felt that I had been taught by the spirit for an intense hour as we sat together in the auditorium with 1200 Young Men and Young Women and 120 senior couples.  When we stood and sang “Called to Serve “ together the deep baritone and tenor voices touched my heart and gave me chills to realize our participation was part of something bigger than us!

 

The Next Adventure

In November of 2017 we opened our mission call in Mesa, AZ with Kaci, Bill, Rex and Olivia, and Mike, Jessica, Griffin, Ella and Taegan were on Face Time.  We were assigned to Rome, Italy with a Military Affairs assignment at Signoella Naval Air Station on the Island of Sicily.  Interestingly enough, exactly where Mike had served some 25 years earlier.  When Mike was in Italy there were four missions and Mike was assigned to the Catania mission. What does all of that mean? We would spend the next few months defining that question.

 Immediately we knew we wanted to visit our family before we entered the MTC. Taipei was the complicated one because we needed to turn in our passports on December 5, 2017 as we met face to face with the Italian Consulate for an interview for our Italian Visa. 

We needed to go to Taipei right now! We spent the week after Thanksgiving with Garrett, Cindi and Charlie;

 

An Early Christmas with Bill, Kaci, Karli, Rex, Olivia and Ralph in Mesa, AZ! 

 

Christmas week with Jeff, Ashley, Marley, Cade, Carter, Hudson and Crosby in Newport Beach California;

 

And New Years week with Mike, Jessica, Griffin, Ella, Taegan and Roxy in Colorado Springs! While we were with Mike, Craig took advantage of some expert Italian tutoring!

 

We have an amazing family; they are blessings in our life.  It is going to be so hard to leave and know we can’t pop in for a quick visit or attend an event they are involved in.  Thank goodness for Face Time we can still see their faces and hear about what is going on in their lives.  I am excited to see what changes happen in 18 months.  We have been  greatly blessed!

 Bill dropped us off at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, AZ Monday morning January 8, 2018 at 6:30 AM.  We began our journey to begin our MTC preparations to go to the Rome Italy Mission assigned to Military Relations. We have spent one week with 2,000 18 and 19 year old young men and women and about 200 senor citizens! I know for sure that it has been a week of amazing experiences with an extraordinary conglomerate cross-section of a wide spectrum of adults both young and old!