Swiss Temple - GANS style

This past week we were very, very blessed to attend the Swiss Temple with about 70 or so young adults from all over Italy.

Switzerland is a beautiful place in this world.  The Swiss Temple is a beautiful place that takes you out of the worldliness and allows your soul to rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The river that runs through Bern

One of the many fountains in Bern

The Swiss Temple

These courageous young adults that are "true to the faith" of Jesus Christ dedicated their time to spending an entire week at the House of the Lord.  They took time off from work, school, and other pursuits just for this. They flew by plane, rode trains and buses for hours and hours to get there or some by personal car.  The young adults from Palermo went over 24 hours by bus just to be together with each other in the temple.

A small gathering for the group photo

 One of the wonderful things about the Swiss Temple there is a hostel available for temple patrons to stay at right across the street from the temple.  There are bedrooms, showers, kitchen and dining room, plus WiFi and a game room.

Papon's first visit to the temple

 Each night there was a simple event planned for the young adults or you could use it as your own free time. One night we went into Bern with our Palermo Young Adults.

Bern's world famous clock

Papon, Francisco, Anziano Garrett, Gabriele, and Clara

Yes, we ate at McDonalds in Bern

A late night game of chess

Checkmate, good game Papon and Anziano Garrett

The next afternoon we went back to Bern and explored with more young adults.

Albert Einstein home

A look at Albert Einstein in his younger years

One night there was a campfire after the rebroadcast of Elder Bednar's Devotional.

Roasting marshmallows

The last night there was a dance with a hot dog dinner.

The best thing after being in the temple doing family history work was being together and reuniting friendships or making new ones.

With our newest friend Jacqueline

 

Luana leaves in 2 weeks to serve a mission in England

 Look at this beautiful picture of valiant young people, where else shall they be but at the temple.

Sorelle P-day Hiking Mount Pellegrino

A couple of weeks ago this power 5  - as I like to call the Sorelle and I - plus our amazing sidekick for the day hiked Mount Pellegrino.  Mount Pellegrino is a cobblestone trail hike of about 2.5 miles. That might not sound like a lot but it can be a steep 2.5 miles. The thing is though, you have to know up to this point not a single young Anziani missionary has hiked the trail. But this power 5 plus 1 did it.

The Power 5 with our sidekick Jacqueline

All along the trail we stopped for group photos and panoramic views of Palermo.  We saw the sea side with the port and harbor and we saw the inland side of the vastness of Palermo city.

Port side

 

Companion love

Sorella McDonald and Sorella Groll

The mountainside with Santa Rosalia Memorial One

Picture taking

Palermo City

 

Santa Rosalia Memorial Two

At the top we all ventured in to the Santa Rosalie Sanctuary - feel free to read all about that here. It was interesting and a bit ummmm.... creepy but maybe because we don't believe in the traditions.

The grand entrance into the cave or sanctuary of Santa Rosalia

Gifts of gratitude for blessings are left

Holy water

Santa Rosalia Memorial Three

Not sure about the head in the hole in the stone

 After a refreshing taste of pomegranate or orange granita we waited to catch the bus back down the mountain. And we had a little silly fun too.

The Royal Sisters of Sorella Ricks, Sorella Groll, Sorella McDonald, and Sorella Acerson

She thinks she is hiding from me

 Once at the bottom we walked toward centro Palermo for a traditional treat of gelato at Brioscia.  My current favorite there is salted caramel peanut butter gelato!

We love gelato!

"We can expect miracles in our own works" ~ Sorella Victoria Groll

August 2017 Happenings

Or in other words the month of two senior missionaries as they work together to serve their God by being with His children and enjoying His wonders.

One of the wonders we enjoy is the delicious flavors of food. Sicily is loaded with flavor and food, amazing food! Luckily we love to eat.

Now that is a watermelon! 35 pounds of juicy sweetness

Cassatelle - warm sweeten ricotta cheese with chocolate fried in a soft pastry - my favorite, in Castellamare del Golfo

Pistachio Gelato is the still the favorite - in Cefalu

 A favorite part of the eating is preparing the food with our Young Adults and missionaries.

Learning how to make Capanota - a favorite Sicilian "salad" with eggplant, served warm or cold with or without bread

Antonio and Salvo taste tasting for our GANS eggplant fiesta

Macedonia salad, pulled porked sandwiches, and pistachio cake for pranzo with our Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leader

Cookie dough truffles making for treats with Veronica

And we love sharing our table full of food with the young missionaries, either in our home or district lunch.

Palermo District 1 lunch at Nino Ballerino

End of the month Sunday pranzo with the Palermo missionaries

After a sorelle p-day hike up Mount Pelligrino we felt we earn a gelato at a favorite Palermo gelateria - Brioscia

Although food is a great way to bring people together we do more than eat. We enjoy exploring this little island of Sicily.  We explore with our young missionaries on P-day; also know as preparation day.  We feel it is a necessary missionary experience to know and see the beauty of this island whether made by God or man.

Discovering the wonder of these Greek Temples in Agrigento at the Valle dei Templi

Oh the amazement and beauty

Cefalu harbor with its clear blue water, sunny beaches, and the Cefalu Cathedral in the background

On the hottest day we hiked the Rocca di Cefalu with these strong missionaries, Anziano Anderton and Anziano Battaglia serving in Caltanisetta

And a quick side trip visit to Enna, a mountain village in the middle of Sicily

In Enna, Hades kidnapping Persephone to be his bride the cause of winter and summer

Sorella Ricks, Sorella Groll, Sorella McDonald, and Sorella Acerson reigning with beauty at Santa Rosalie Sanctuary in Palermo

We also explore and see the wonders with our young adults - GANS - while talking about purpose and encouragement becoming as God wants us to be.

Capo Gallo Reserve with our beautiful Suzy

Mountains seen by us and cows the backside of Giacalone

Salvo, Anziano Garrett, and Antonio were our explorers this day in Giacalone

A visit to San Vito lo Capo to see Adjei where he works long hours for his summer job earning his college money

And sometimes we wander on our own, wanting to discover every corner of the north west side of Sicily and Palermo City.

The Meditterranean Sea breaking on the rocks of Capo Gallo Reserve - east side

Sunset at Capo Gallo Reserve - east side, perhaps a failed YA activity where we were the only 2 who showed up, but we enjoyed this beauty nevertheless

Castellammare del Golfo harbor, fishing boats waiting for their next turn to catch the life sustaining pesce - fish, for food and livelihood

La Torre, a castle tower in the outskirts of Palermo, converted as part of a wall around a private residence - during a morning exercise walk

Palermo Harbor at sunset

And the simple beauty of life in a part of Palermo, chairs outside a door to sit, relax, and drink in the evening cool air

We feel the reverence and respect dedicated to God and life in each's own way by monuments, art, and objects.

Christ Pantoktator - reminder of who we center our lives on - in Cefalu Cathedral

Almost life size art called the "Mysteries of Trapani" depicting the Passion of Christ made by Trapani artists

A simple church in San Vito, candle holders - be a light to the world

A moment of silent in the Church of Santa Chiara for lives loss in World War II, these are tombs of soldiers from Enna and British and America, names unknown

In Palermo with this priest who has dedicated his life to serving the weak, tired, hungry, and homeless

Friday nights are for being with these amazing young adults and missionaries, sharing a few thoughts about Heavenly Father and His words, with lots of crazy fun thrown in.

Favorite uplifting scripture of the day

Rock, paper, scissors with a twist - you lose you might get wet

Anziano Parkinson lost

And we see our missionaries in action - finding people to teach in Palermo or learning better ways to share the gospel at zone conference.

Sunday night finding along the lungomare with Sorella McDonald and Sorella Groll

August Zone Conference in pink - a small tribute of love for Sorella Pickerd who we missed that day

"Faith is to believe the Book of Mormon is the true words of God, Hope is to trust God, Charity is the pure love of God, shown by Christ dying for us and atoning for us. All these work together for the Plan of Salvation." ~ thoughts from Brother William, Sunday September 10 2017, Third Branch Palermo