musings of my mind: May 2017

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Missionary Day of GANS in Sciacca

May 21, 2017

What a great day we had in Sciacca! A good number of our Young Adults went with us to Sciacca for the day for an experience of missionary service with the missionaries and members in Sciacca.

Gathering to leave for Sciacca

We gathered at the church on Via Catania to leave for Sciacca

Sciacca is a beautiful coastal city along the southwest coast of Sicily about 1 hour from Palermo. We drive through the mountains and valleys of Sicily to get there. It is one of my favorite drives on the island.

Those clouds!

Our first view of the sea

Above arrival in Sciacca, we attended church, and afterwards had lunch together.

Thanks to Pres Mannino and his brother in law preparing our lunch

Salvo, Craig, and Denis

Denis

After lunch there was a little relaxing, picture taking, and music until it was time to go to the plaza for some sharing of the gospel.

Because we really do like each other

Salvo playing and John taking selfies

John playing

Me and my phone

Sharing pictures

Gathered in the hall with the Sciacca missionaries ready to go convert the people of Sciacca (John's phone)

It was decided the plazza was the best place to share the good word of the gospel with the people of Sciacca. After lunch around 4, people start to wander and gather on the plazza so we headed there.

Sciacca is such a beautiful city and has some amazing ceramic artwork, plus lots of history.

Religious Ceramic Art on the street corner

Through the Porta of Palermo gates we walked


Denis and Antonio

My favorite ceramic steps

Live roses and ceramic roses

We gathered on the plazza and took in the view of the sea while enjoying some sweet music from this man while waiting for the missionaries to arrive.

Craig, Gabriele, John, Dario, Antonio, Suzy, Papon, and Denis

Squinting eyes because I wanted a picture

Sciacca Harbor

What sweet music


Overlooking Sciacca

Clara and Simone

That looks comfy Dario

While waiting a few of us decided to take a walk to the harbor. If you go down stairs you have to climb back up some.

Fishing nets

Papon had to touch the water

More ceramic steps from the sea up


Me and my giraffe wall

More ceramic art

On our way back we had to take a moment at the Basilica to see its beauty.

Sciacca Basilica

Those ceilings!

Bartholomew resting place

It was this stained glass window that caught my eye at first

The light through the stained glass reflecting on the floors and pews

Now we were ready to meet the good people of Sciacca and share the good news.

Discussing the plan

A few songs were sung, a few cards were shared, a message was given, and a lots of smiles.

The plan of salvation and until next time Sciacca

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Palermo Stake Mormon Olympics

A couple of weeks ago the Palermo Stake met at Enna and held their own Mormon Olympics.
There were lots of races, games, fun, and even awards!

Now the Palermo Stake takes in all of the island of Sicily. I live on an island! I have for almost 1 year now. The first few months that freaked me out just a tiny bit but now I don't even think of it.

There are 2 major cities in Sicily, Palermo and Catania - as a mission it is divided into two zones of the same names. We live in the Palermo Zone, here in Palermo but the our zone takes in 6 other cities besides Palermo.

Usually when the Palermo Stake has a stake activity it is held in Enna. Enna is basically in the middle of Sicily and the middle of the stake. There is also a university in Enna the Stake will rent rooms from and in the cause of the Mormon Olympics the whole stadium!

Now for our Mormon Olympics you didn't have to try out but you did have to sign up.

Here you decided which race you would like to participate in. There were 100 meter dashes, 800 meter long races, children races, women races, and men races.