Moses

 Yesterday we went with the Wardles and Hancocks to San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) and saw Micheangleo's Moses.  We also went to Santa Maria Maggiore.  There is so much art and history in Rome.  It is great to be able to see and enjoy so many great works.

Rome

View somewhere between Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese

Ostia Antica and Pathway

 Last Saturday we went to Ostia Antica.  Ostia is East of Rome next to the sea.  Ostia Antica are the ruins and I think are better than Pompeii. I took over 400 pictures so you may see some more in future posts.

Last night we had Pathway.  These are the combined Pathway classes that met for  Institute after Pathway.

Thanksgiving in Italy

 Thanksgiving is not a holiday in Italy like in America.  We did have some Thanksgiving dinners, however.  Last Sunday we had a dinner with some of the Senior Missionaries and Temple construction supervisors.  We had the dinner at the mission home and it was wonderful. 

 On Tuesday Ann made a pumpkin dessert for our District.

 Last night we had a outstanding dinner with a great Italian family.  We went to their home North of Rome and had a combination of traditional Thanksgiving food along with some great Italian food.  We were joined by some of the other senior missionaries.  There is a great feeling in their home.  It was a great Thanksgiving.  We had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, ravioli filled with pumpkin and nuts, orange slices with oil and salt, olives, peppers and eggplant covered with olive oil, bread, and some great desserts, pumpkin pie, lemon pie, a cake with peach filling, and an éclair type of cake covered with chocolate sauce. 

 This is most of the group.  The grandparents and oldest daughter were not there yet.

 Italian pumpkins

The grandparents.  Also great people.  He was the branch president when I was here on my first mission.  Today on actual Thanksgiving we will be going to Pathway for our missionary assignment.

Family History night

For family home evening we held a family history activity.

stair way near Porta Pia

Borghese fountain

Friday nights

 Friday nights I teach Institute at Roma 2. 

I ordered Pizza with anchovies for the first time.  I don't think I will do it a second time.

Institute, Central Rome

 Last night we had Pathway and Institute.  My Thursday night institute class.  I forgot to take a picture of my English class.

Institute and Horse at Spanish Steps

 Last night we had Institute.  We spent the day getting ready for that.  Ann cooked a good baked pasta dinner. The above are some of the students at last nights Institute lesson.

Horse drawn carriage waiting for passengers at the Spanish Steps

Typical Tuesday

 On Tuesdays we have district meeting.  This is our current district at yesterdays meeting

 I also have Bishopric meeting and ward council in the evening.  This is the Rome 3 ward council.  In between district meeting and the evening meetings we went to the Questura trying to get my permission paperwork completed.  I have been here 6 months and still trying to get the official permission to stay here.  I think we have everything done this time, they said check back in 40 days.

This picture is from a couple of months ago.  We went looking for a member we home teach that works at this restaurant.  We found Adriano and he served us a wonderful meal.

FHE and Piazza Navona

 Last night FHE at Rome 2

Close up of Bernini fountain Piazza Navona

More friends

Friends

 I do take pictures of the people we meet and we don't go that often to see the sites.  These are pictures from last week's activities.  Sunday we had a good turn out for the translated CES fireside.  Monday we did Family Home Evening in the Rome 2,6 building.  On Tuesday we went to Terni for a fireside. I forgot my camera so don't have a picture of that group.  We had about 18 in attendance.  On Wednesday we had an institute class,  On Thursday we had Pathway classes,  I didn't take pictures that night as I was too busy teaching the English preparation class and then a Book of Mormon Institute class after Pathway.  On Friday we had another Institute class.  So we are busy almost everyday of the week.  Either preparing lessons, food, or being at the evening class.  When we get some free time, then we like to go and see things.  We have met some wonderful people here and that is the best part of the mission.  Lots of new friends.  I will try to post more people pictures.

 the group above is part of the Friday night Institute class.

 Last Monday's FHE group.  Some new people there for the first time.

CES fireside.  We have it one week later than in America so it can be translated into Italian.

Statute in Villa Borghese     Goethe

Ruins along the Appian Way

Church near via del corso, Rome

fruit cups

cherries

We went to lunch at the country home of a member.  She had these bottles of cherries from her orchard.

Another view from Janiculm Hill

Rome, near Piazza Venezia and Forum

View from Janiculm Hill, Rome