Thanksgiving in Palermo 2016

Our dear missionaries are always so dedicated and obedient to their service.  Thanksgiving Day is on a Thursday, Thursday is a missionary day just like any other missionary day.  Missionary days are filled with studies, teaching, and finding.

Our mighty Zone Leaders

Anziano M with his new companion, Anziano R

Anziano L, our District Leader, with his new trainee - Anziano D

Anziano S with his new trainee Anziano S

Two of my sweet Sorelle

Our missionaries were asked and committed to serve on Thanksgiving Day but were allowed to have an extended Thanksgiving feast with their district during their lunch time after their district meeting.

Waiting for district meeting to start - notice the tie tradition in the background with Anziano S

We invited our missionaries in district 1 and district 2 to have their district training at our home and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast afterwards. 

The feast and potatoes mashed by Anziano M

Craig and I were busy preparing and cooking dinner and so delighted to share our home with these amazing missionaries.

Waiting for the prayer and the let's eat go ahead

True gentlemen and the sorelle can go first

Plenty for 2nds or 3rds

We had a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, rolls, stuffing, and cranberry jelly.  Our turkey was 2 very large turkey breasts purchased from our local butcher and dry brined. The potatoes and sweet potatoes purchased from the open market in Palermo. The rolls were ordered from and baked by our bread vendor - he comes into our neighborhood everyday. The bread for the stuffing came from him too.  The cranberry jelly was picked up at our local Lidl store during American week.  Marshmallows were found at the Mercato Madeline for the sweet potatoes and the pecans were replaced with walnuts since pecans couldn't be found.

The Sorelle made an amazing fruit salad of kiwi, bananas, and pineapple.  The Zone Leaders provided our drinks.  Anziano C made a delicious and beautiful apple pie.  Chips and dips were brought by Palermo 2 Anziani and broccoli by Palermo 1 Anziani.  Plus a couple of pumpkin pies made from a real pumpkin and not canned and a brownie crusted blueberry no bake cheesecake.

Anziano M's beautiful balance plate

Our desserts

Every dish was washed by this gang and plus some

Nevertheless we were stuffed and will be for days.  But it is good to be together and good to know we can be grateful together too.  So if we have Thanksgiving on Tuesday or Thursday it is all good because we have much to be grateful for everyday.

Palermo Zone Novembre 2016

We are so blessed to serve in Palermo and in the Rome Italy Mission.

Whole Mission Conference Rome Italy 2016

They send us the best missionaries.

Palermo Zone District 1

We love working with them.

2 or our finest, Sorella B and Sorella L - District 2

Eating at Zangaloro is a missionary favorite - great hamburgers

When you try to sneak a picture during district meeting - District 1

We love goofing with them.

Anziano G doesn't even break character - District 2

Isn't she beautiful!

We love eating with them.

District 1 eating at Zangaloro

Most of the zone - goodbye lunch for Sorella L at Buffalo Brothers - best pizza

We love helping them.

Getting new dressers is like Christmas

Our little Italian

We love how they love each other and care for each other.

The best trainer and trainee

Our District leader

Our Agrigentro missionaries

Our Sciacca missionaries 

Our Caltanisetta missionaries

Our Bagheria missionaries

Our Palermo 3 missionaries

Our Palermo 2 missionaries

Our Mistretta missionaries

Our sisters from Palermo 1 and Palermo 2

We just love them.

On to a new area

Our little Italian daughter left us

New experiences in store for these two

Sometimes we have to say goodbye or see you later, but in the words of Sorella Littlefield - there is life after death.

The death of a missionary - a little missionary humor - the numbers represent our transfers

Transfer day at the train station 7 am

Transfer day 7 am

Transfer day 7 am smiles

We even love the new guys.

Taken from Anziano C's pictures - includes the current missionaries

Ficuzza

The Carta Family

The Reserve Map

During the hot days of September the Carta family invited us on a hike in the mountains.  The area was Ficuzza.  What a relief of cool air and what a beautiful location.

Ficuzza Palace

Mary

The palace was built for Ferdinand III of Sicily in 1799. It opens to the public for tours but not on Mondays which is when we were there.

The Chapel being prepared for a wedding that day

Colored rice to throw

Beautiful flowers

You can rent out the chapel for weddings and one was to take place that afternoon.

Turtles enjoying their watermelon

The grounds are large and there is a small animal farm there to walk around.

There were a few small ponds scattered along the hillsides

Crabapples

Fresh air

The wild berries were plentiful

So yummy

From the palace we traveled a short distance to the walking path up the hillsides through the nature reserve which was once hunting grounds.  We enjoyed more fresh air, beautiful vistas with lakes and mountains in the distance, wild berries to taste and fill our bellies, and great company.

The cows were wandering loose

So was the horse

These geese let us know they did not like us there

Quite the unusual monument

At the end of our hike we came to another farmstead that is open during the summer.  A few livestock and gardens were still there to see on the outside.

Dad and son

A little breeze was delightful

We were so grateful to the Carta family for sharing their day with us in this beautiful area. 

Water cistern

The town square was ready with an outdoor foozeball table

And there food and time.  We waited in the small village for the bread man who comes daily for some fresh bread while waiting I did a tiny bit of exploring while Craig played a little foozeball.

It was a beautiful day!