President Kelly asked us if we would like to drive a car down to Sicily for the new CES couple assigned there. We were excited for the opportunity to see more of our mission and also to connect with a member in Messina that Elder Burt knew from 35 years ago. 
We left Friday morning at 5am with a two hour stop in Paestum to see beautifully preserved Greek Temples that date back to 550B.C.
A quick tour through the Paestum museum.
Tomb with art work depicting a diver passing into the next life.
We left Friday morning at 5am with a two hour stop in Paestum to see beautifully preserved Greek Temples that date back to 550B.C.
A quick tour through the Paestum museum.
Tomb with art work depicting a diver passing into the next life.
My favorite "art work" just outside the museum - a hedge of honeysuckle.
Traveling toward Crotone we drove through the mountains.
Crotone is on the sea.
Do we look like tourists?
Meeting up with Elder and Sister Thompson (from Australia) who are serving a Family History Mission in Crotone. They also give member support. We walked up to the ward building, which is underneath a slot machine sign (next to a place where you can gamble - I regret not taking a photo).
Their simple chapel.
Their simple Relief Society Room - love the center piece.
Elder Cox and Elder Pettry with Salvatore who drew a version of the Plan of Salvation for them.
On the road toward Catanzaro where we spent the night at a Bed and Breakfast.
In the morning we drove to the "toe" of Italy and took a ferry to the island of Sicily.
On the ferry.
Arriving in Messina, we located the meeting spot where we had prearranged to meet Sister Costa. She was the first sister baptized in the then Messina Branch of the Church, just before Elder Burt arrived in the city as a missionary in 1973. Elder Burt taught and baptized her 11 year old daughter. She and her daughter have stayed active in the church and now the daughter has a son serving a mission in Prague.
Sister Costa's joyous reaction to greeting Elder Burt 36 years later.
This will forever be a sweet and tender memory.
Walking down the street with Sister Costa to a spot where we had lunch together.
Stopping to buy some cherries, which the owner would not let us pay for when he learned we were her friends.
Sister Costa is from a Sicilian line of blond haired, blue eyed Italians.
Our three hours with Sister Costa was the highlight of our roadtrip.
On the road toward Catania to deliver supplies to the missionaries.
Sister Pearson and Sister Buma - us - Elder Hill and Elder Medina.
On the road toward Palermo.
Our exit took us through some poor neighborhoods.
The Church is located next to a bakery and....
an Abbigliamento - clothing store.
Elder Burt with supplies for the missionaries.
Up 3 flights of stairs to the chapel (see Christ at the Door painting at top).
Elder Roe and Elder Esplin with Francesco who was baptized the day before.
Beautiful bougainvillea plants on our drive to Bishop Simoncini's home.
A renovated castle in the courtyard where the Bishop lives.
The Simoncini Family Tree - all five children have served missions and married in the temple.
Wonderful Italian food in the welcoming home of the Simoncini family.
Bishop and Sister Simoncini at the head of the table. Some family members on the left and us and Elder and Sister North on the right.
After dinner Bishop and Sister Simoncini took us on a drive to overlook the city of Palermo.
Handing the car over to the Norths, who then took us to the airport.
Saying good-bye to Bishop Simoncini as we drove off to the airport, now riding as passangers in the car we drove over 1164 kilometers.
Traveling toward Crotone we drove through the mountains.
Crotone is on the sea.
Do we look like tourists?
Meeting up with Elder and Sister Thompson (from Australia) who are serving a Family History Mission in Crotone. They also give member support. We walked up to the ward building, which is underneath a slot machine sign (next to a place where you can gamble - I regret not taking a photo).
Their simple chapel.
Their simple Relief Society Room - love the center piece.
Elder Cox and Elder Pettry with Salvatore who drew a version of the Plan of Salvation for them.
On the road toward Catanzaro where we spent the night at a Bed and Breakfast.
In the morning we drove to the "toe" of Italy and took a ferry to the island of Sicily.
On the ferry.
Arriving in Messina, we located the meeting spot where we had prearranged to meet Sister Costa. She was the first sister baptized in the then Messina Branch of the Church, just before Elder Burt arrived in the city as a missionary in 1973. Elder Burt taught and baptized her 11 year old daughter. She and her daughter have stayed active in the church and now the daughter has a son serving a mission in Prague.
Sister Costa's joyous reaction to greeting Elder Burt 36 years later.
This will forever be a sweet and tender memory.
Walking down the street with Sister Costa to a spot where we had lunch together.
Stopping to buy some cherries, which the owner would not let us pay for when he learned we were her friends.
Sister Costa is from a Sicilian line of blond haired, blue eyed Italians.
Our three hours with Sister Costa was the highlight of our roadtrip.
On the road toward Catania to deliver supplies to the missionaries.Sister Pearson and Sister Buma - us - Elder Hill and Elder Medina.
On the road toward Palermo.
Our exit took us through some poor neighborhoods.
The Church is located next to a bakery and....
an Abbigliamento - clothing store.
Elder Burt with supplies for the missionaries.
Up 3 flights of stairs to the chapel (see Christ at the Door painting at top).
Elder Roe and Elder Esplin with Francesco who was baptized the day before.
Beautiful bougainvillea plants on our drive to Bishop Simoncini's home.
A renovated castle in the courtyard where the Bishop lives.
The Simoncini Family Tree - all five children have served missions and married in the temple.
Wonderful Italian food in the welcoming home of the Simoncini family.
Bishop and Sister Simoncini at the head of the table. Some family members on the left and us and Elder and Sister North on the right.
After dinner Bishop and Sister Simoncini took us on a drive to overlook the city of Palermo.
Handing the car over to the Norths, who then took us to the airport.
Saying good-bye to Bishop Simoncini as we drove off to the airport, now riding as passangers in the car we drove over 1164 kilometers.
what a wonderful reunion for dad! That must have been so special!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter Camille served in Palermo for a long time. We looked at these pictures together and she recognized everything from Palermo. She served in the ward that meets in the meetinghouse you featured. She knows the Simoncini's well. What a wonderful opportunity you had to go to Sicily. And how wonderful Jeff got to re-connect with a family from his mission!
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