The Great Palermo Zone

And just like that 10 days have passed!

One of our assignments here in the Palermo Zone is to do apartment inspections. What that really entails is a safety and repair inspection along with a cleanliness inspection. There are nine apartments in our zone, eight anzaini and one sorelle apartment. Guess whose apartment was the cleanest? Perhaps it was a little unfair because the sorelle have the newest apartment also. But don't worry all those anzaini apartments are speck and span after today.

Sorella Bellomo, Roberts, Bonzo, and Anderson

August 15 is a deep cleaning day for the mission. Italy takes a holiday on August 15, called Ferrogosto, plus a good part of August, but August 15 in particular almost everything is closed from the parks to the stores to the businesses. Since most Italians are gone for the day or the week, the mission chooses this day as one of the three days a year for deep cleaning.

But on to our week. We probably put in about 1000 kilometers on the car. The cities we visited were Agrigento, Bagheria, Caltanisetta, Mistretta, Sciacca, Trapani, and three apartments here in Palermo. It was a treat to spend a little time with each of these sets of missionaries. Moms out there be proud of your missionaries. They are so thoughtful. We had several give us treats such as a cake or melon. One took time to organize some papers with Italian lessons for me. Each thanked us for coming. We brought them chocolate chip cookies!

Agrigento - Anzaino Blackwell and LaPray

Bagheria - Anziano Souwan and Alexander

Caltanissetta - Anziano Cobalt and Whited

Mistretta - Anziano Shaffer and Scott

Palermo 1st - Anziano Cowden, Ridd (he was sick that day), Ray, and McKenna

Palermo 2nd - Anziano Carroll and Eldridge

Sciacca - Anziano Pineau and Wog

Trapani - Anziano DeFeo and Olsen

They do their own laundry, ironing, cooking, dishes, shopping. They live in humble circumstances decorated with pictures of the Savior or scripture stories on their walls. The beds aren't the best but not one complains. Some cook with a stove attached to a bombala like a propane tank but is gas. Some have run out of water occasionally but they have bottled water just in case and know how to take 4 liter showers. All smile and are glad to do the work.

They love the members of their branches or wards or even groups (which is smaller than a branch). Some hold church in their apartment and have a room set aside for primary. Some apartments double also for English lessons. All are grateful to have air conditioner or fans, not one has a dryer – we all use drying racks – nor a dishwasher. 

District 2 planning meeting

Elizabeth is a recently returned missionary from Ghana

A little District fun

They delight in gathering together with the other missionaries for District Meeting – held weekly or Zone Conference. Zone Conference was a treat with Presidente and Sorella Pickerd coming to teach and interview each. We were blessed with our very own special time with the Pickerds being their chauffeur driving them to and from the train station, hotel, and airport. We were also able to show them a couple of special spots in Palermo – such as our favorite Palermo overlook on Monte Pellegrino. And enjoy a delicious dinner with them. 

Our sweet sorelle sang a beautiful song at Zone Conference

Palermo District 2

Palermo District 2

We were spiritual and temporal fed at Zone Conference. These missionaries know how to search the scriptures, teach from the scriptures, and learn from the scriptures. 

Palermo Zone - of course Craig's eyes are closed and my tongue is out

The work goes forth in Palermo even during the August holidays. President Utchdorf came to Rome a few weeks ago and stated “Missionaries, don't fear August, the families will be home to teach.”