These Lillies are from an investigators garden. She wanted the church to have lillies for Palm Sunday. Presidente Bullocks Birthday was also on Palm Sunday so we were given the Lillies. They are just beautiful! 

 Angela will be my new tutor!! She returned from Temple Square Mission 2 months ago so she will be a great help. Giovanni has also served , but in England. They have been very kind and helpful when I get in a bind---  which is most of the time.

                                       A Happy Birthday from the Branch !

March 30, 2015 - I wanted to add a short piece about an assignment we received last week.  The mission president asked us to go to another city 150 miles distant to do some baptismal interviews.  Normally the district leader does those, however these were investigators being taught by the district leader.  In that case usually the zone leaders do the interview.  However they were still sick following the conference in Rome and there was an additional issue that the president wanted me to handle which normally he would handle.  The baptismal service was scheduled for Wednesday of that week so time was of the essence.  We drove and took the sisters with us since they had planned to do an exchange with the sisters in Taranto. 

We did the first interview with a brother and all was well.  The second interview was with a young African woman from Nigeria.  I asked if she had any questions before beginning the interview and she proceeded to ask me about marriage requirements.  The baptismal interview includes a question about being legally married.  In West Africa however it is very common to have a traditional marriage arrangement which does not involve any formal documentation, that was the case with her.  I was stumped and did not know how to proceed.  I made a quick call to the mission president but was unable to resolve whether traditional marriage qualifies as a legal marriage for the church.  I did not feel that I could do the interview without resolving that issue.  Needless to say she was very disappointed as were the elders.  But here is the reason I wanted to share this experience; this choice young woman  had such a strong desire to repent and be baptized that she was prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish this.  She wants to be clean and her faith is strong.  The next day she was working on how to resolve the issue, cost and inconvenience were no obstacles.  To see such a strong desire, really the epitome of what the Savior meant when he said to hunger and thirst after righteousness filled my heart to overflowing.  I hope the rest of us  desire those blessings as much as we partake of the sacrament each week...  Anziano/Presidente Bullock

Today is my 61st birthday and after our District meeting we had lunch and cake. Sorella Arnold and Sorella McFarland made Strawberry shortcake with whip cream. It was very good. We had a great meeting, reviewed our Area conference and were also given instruction on how to fulfilling our full potential. #1 the importance of obedience, staying with the schedule and using the companionship time to prepare for the day. The material studied is always used through the day. Keeping our minds on the mission, don't get distracted. #2 Invest in Prayer, The Lord desires to communicate with us, how are we at communicating with Him ? #3 Talk! don't let language stop us -- talk-- always talk! Be courageous--TALK! Get out of our SHELL. Yes, I feel that shell, and it is comfortable! Got to get out!
Some of the information just disappeared when I went to publish it about some of our Rome trip, just have to add a couple of stories. Sorella Arnold has been working with a Sister ever since she got  here in November. The sister's husband left her 8 years ago. A sad story and not unusual. While they were out doing a finding activity, they had the Elders and Sister singing in one of the Plazas and the Rome missionaries answered questions and visited with those who wanted to find out about who they were. One of the men asking about the missionaries was from Crotone and Sorella Arnold was asked to visit with him. She found out he was one of the first members in the Crotone Branch. More especially he was the husband of the Sister she has been working with. She gave him firm and strict counsel to get back to church and return to the covenants he had made. One miracle that was heaven sent for all involved!
Also the Elders said it was their favorite part of the trip to sing and invite the Spirit through music. 15 people asked about information on the church and accepted invitation to have the missionaries come to their homes. The third thing that happened at the singing was a family who are stationed in Saudi Arabia found the missionaries. They were in Roma for a short stop over and really wanted to see the missionaries and visit  with them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have to attend church in secret,  there is a very small group of members in Suadi.  They just needed to be with some members and be supported. They had prayed they could find the missionaries, and there they were-- singing! One last thing, Anziano Calchiera was just tireless in talking to people, everywhere we went he walked up to people and visited with them.  Inviting others to come unto Christ is our calling,  doing it with love and care, time after time, is note worthy! He will return home in 3 weeks. 

I 

I have wanted an old ladies cart every since I saw one here in Crotone! 

The Sorells, Anziano and Brother b got me one. It will be so NICE to pull our groceries around and not carry them!

It was a GREAT surprise and so very welcome!

 Train station at 10pm. We have to say Anziano and Sorella Millet are awesome, they picked us up at the airport and drove us to the villa, and picked us up at the villa and took us to the train station. Driving through Roma is scary, to put it mild. Bro and sis Millet had been on the road right after the third area conference to drove a group of missionaries up to a ferry and they were late getting back for us, so they had been driving from 4:30 pm until they got home?.

 This is what 10:30 looks like, escalators , always keeps the boys happy!

 Missionaries are in bed at 10- maybe 10:30 so we are way tired!

 We are ready to take off, the train is coming. We had not made any missionary contacts the whole trip and at this point we met a couple who also were flying on Ryan Air to Crotone and had to take the train. They spoke the Kings English and were from the Middle East. We talked about our group and who God is, they have had the missionaries in their home twice. We have heard it over and over , God is in everything and no one person, and there is no satan or hell.We just need to be good, and take care of each other. That makes things easy, no accountability for our actions. He told me they see so much bad in the name of God, his god is best. We are not here to just be good, we are here to grow, to experience and change who we are, to who we can become. The train came in the middle of our discussion. They were on the first car and that was way down the plank--- way down-- we were on car 2 which means that there could be several cars all # 2. They ran in the opposite direction, We tried to call to them, Anziano Nessen run up to them and yelled the right direction, the train is so loud! He picked up their suit case and run, It is a good thing Sorella Mcfarland noticed his bag, she got it and all got on safe. Thank heavens Sorella Arnold knows how the trains work and where to go! She got us in the right place and headed in the right direction. We got them in the right place and counted up the suitcases and found our cabins, 2 cabins  6 persons per cabin.

 Notice the shelf above brother B's head there are 2 shelves one for luggage and one for small items, his suit coat is above his head.

 This is the hall down to the cabins. At 4 am we got a shock, you really can't sleep on the train, but dosing off . We were dosing and Sorella Mc Farland stood up and woke us and asked if anything was missing. Carl's suit coat! We looked around walked down the hall and surprise there it was above a cabin door. Some police came through and must have scared the intruder. Sorella McFarland saw a arm come through the door and try to get her bag she stood and was seeing if anything was missing when the police walked by. That prayer of protection from President Waddoups worked! Both phones were in Brother's b coat along with some important paper work.

 This is 5:50 we have 2 more hours to drive, Do these sister ever look bad?

 Our taxi ride to Crotone, it holds 9 and we dropped 4 off in one of the cities on our way , this is safe ride, the driver is a member!

 ,
 The miracle suit coat! Lost but then found!

Mail does get through, A letter from the Singles ward and a letter from Christina! It was so wonderful to get mail.Thanks Thanks Thanks. We got a call yesterday and we need to drive up to a city in the zone to do some interviews for baptism today, 4 hours up . This will be a first for Brother b. This is part of the growing experience!

 These did not publish so I need to back track a bit. We returned back to the Villa and found texting back and forth with the mission office was not very productive so we walked to the mission office, thinking we could be of help. It turns out, we were more in the way  and a reminder of who else needed to get back home. But we meet did the Pope , for the second time in Rome. This is Elder Pope.

 We also met Sorella Mozzarella, she loves her name tag because she gets lots of people asking her about her family name and than she can tell them about family history, the temple, and eternal families.

 While at the office a train ride opened up and so we were told we would be leaving Friday night after all, before they were just thinking they would have us leave on Saturday. We had planned on having dinner for the district at the Villa Friday night. We had helped with dinner at the villa the night before for some travelers who had been on the road all day, a small group of 8, there were leftovers and the Waddoups were leaving town and hoped the leftovers could be eaten. Just not enough for 14 so on our way back from the office we  went on a hunt to find bread and a few more food items. We came across this park. The ruin is from Roman times and that is what is left of a bridge that crossed the river we were following on our open space walk.

 This small bakery was along the way and we had to show this bread, we see it every now and then. Those are whole eggs baked into the bread, all eggs here are brown. 

 Lots of sweets on this side, rolls and bread were on the other side of the display.

 We stepped off the street of Roma onto-- "Portobello Road, W.11" A famous road in England. The Waddoups had pointed it out to us the night before when we went out to get groceries for dinner that night. It is a used goods store with lesser things all the way up to fabulous things. 

 We had out 4th dragon sighting. The bowl has a three headed dragon on it!

With food in hand we headed back, it was hard to find a grocery store by the way, we came across a convert on our way back, that is the back side of the building(RED BRICK).

We just have to say how great the missionaries were. There was plenty to do with breakfast and dinner meals. But all were good to help. The Elders always took care of the trash, carried luggage and was all around great help, Elder Nessen was awesome he was  most willing happy to help, almost forgot he washed the dishes Friday night, with Sister McFarland. We had to hurry through dinner to make our van trip to the train station at 9. The missionaries were out doing missionary work from 2 pm until 8 pm so they were hungry. They were out in the morning as well. So Anziano Nessen and Sorella McFarland's help was very much appreciated. All the missionaries wanted to express thanks to President and Sister Waddoups for their kindness and our time in the mission home and so they sang before we left, we sang for about 20 minutes while we waited for a late van. we closed  with the mission song and prayer of protection from President Waddoups.

Being at the Villa was great ,behind the Villa we could see an open space. We took a walk and found this Natural park, quite , and relaxing.

We had been preparing to leave to return to Crotone and got a call that there might be a strike with Air Traffic Control. We, of course, were involved with being at a lose for transportation back, but more importantly were all those who had arrived Friday morning for the third area conference. Three days, three areas to meet with for area conference, ours was the second area. The trains were on strike  which started at noon.  So they got there, no way to get back??? We needed to be close to the Villa if we could still fly out but what else could be done? We took a walk.

 

 The Villa is located behind the tree to the right.

 The Mission's symbol is a beehive , and low and behold right behind the mission home are BEEHIVES!

This is for my brother Dan who is a HUGE dog fan , and dogs love him .

This is a Danish Dog Hunter, trained to find Truffles! The owner is using a tennis ball, I missed the best shot.The dog went up and down and back and forth row after row of those little shrubs/ willows. When she could not find the ball she ran to the foot of the hill and pointed her head towards the owner and he raised his arm and pointed the direction, she would immediately run in that direction and start the process all over . It was very impressive. Of course truffles would be harder to find, but she was so fun to watch. Watching the process was all the more impressive as the day before we were instructed on the importance of finding the one.

Got back to the Villa to find, yes we were out of luck but because we still had a place to stay we were not a priority, not with some 60+ others  without housing.
All got home but it was a long day for the Office staff! We were told the train companies would rotate who went on strike and when , they found a train out at 11:15 pm that night.

 This is our third Dragon sighting! Bird feeder on the corner of the Roma Mission Home!
Sorella Millet gave me a Dragon Cookie Cutter! SO that is the second one!

This is the Roma Church Building and Mission Office, we are just entering the church for our area conference.

It was a Loud welcome, as everyone got reacquainted with each other and as we meet new people.

 Elder Teixeira, President of the Europe Area, was our General Authority, he will be speaking in the opening session of General Conference, he is a master teacher as well as his wife.
He taught through others. He got out our mission call and showed us we are to invite others to come unto Christ through the waters of Baptism, that is a mission.  Also that when we state our purpose on the first meeting it serves as a common understanding of expectation. It reminded me of school and at the beginning of each semester the guidelines and expectations are outlined. You can decide right away what your going to do. He pointed out the importance of patterns and all humans need for patterns. Schedules are part of patterns.

 Sister Teixeira talked about the importance of charity on a mission, then asked what did you do to serve your companion today? Service, charity love starts with your companionship. 

 Everyone was blessed to hear and be taught, happy reunions also were awesome. Sorella Harmond

 Sorella Stevens was our helper while we were preparing to come and keeps track of us here.

 President and Sorella Waddoups, My favorite quote came from the President, He said, "To increase , you have to do things that require faith!"

 Just had to show this fountain. They are in all cities, dating back to ROMAN times. A promise to have clean water for its people. So these fountains are various sizes and some times they have many spouts but they are every few blocks.

 We had a sorella with a birthday and so we went looking for a gift, All the Sorella love scarves and so that was our goal. We found a perfect scarf and the gal who sold us the scarf looked and sounded so much like our niece Katie we asked to take her picture. So Katie here is your Italy Twin!

 This is the pines of Roma, they look like tall mushrooms, they are huge in other areas.

Just a shot of life, Not sure how much the cat is appreciated on the top, but she is happy.

 This is the Roma Mission Home called , The Villa. Sleeps??? The entire district stayed here plus 4 more sorella's and 4 more Anziano . There are 12 beds in the basement, and 20+ on the top floor. 

 This is the formal dinning room, sorella's doing scripture time. Can you believe the floors , I showed them before but they are beauty.
The Villa was built in 1923, Mussolini had it built!

 Standing on the landing of the second floor looking down,

 On the second floor looking up to the top floor.

 Entrance to the General Authorities Suite , Presidents office and the Master suite of President and Sorella Waddoups.

 Entrance to our General Authorities Suite, which is where we slept, we were to the District Guardians.

We have now slept here twice.

 Our trip to Roma, required several trips to the airport and a pullmen (large van with 9 seats). We passed by this valley quite often and it is so lovely, sorry it didn't show up better!

 This is our Calabria District, we are the first to fly the whole district.

 They are the best and a pleasure to serve with

 RYAN AIR , seats were great and we all got to seat together.

 We were in the back so quick on and off!

 This is Crotone, the cluster of buildings out on the sea, and all the parts around.

Another shot but a better look at why that point, out away from Crotone, was Hera's Temple and the Lighthouse