December 19, 2017

Dearest Friends and Family,

So here we are, six days away from the day we celebrate the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Here in Roma as it is back home, everyone has been busy decorating their businesses, homes and streets with beautiful lights, garland and all the normal things we have all come to love that symbolize and celebrate His birth.  What a glorious time of year, a time when the world seems to pause for a moment and think more of others than they do of themselves.  

Since our last blog, Sorella Knies and I rode “the bullet train” to Napoli (Naples) with several other couples.  What a fantastic ride.  The train reaches speeds of 180 miles per hour and you don’t even feel like it is moving.  We left Roma early and spent the day seeing sights and shopping.  Our first stop was at Cammei & Coralli De Paola, a local cameo shop that is three generations in the making.  The second and third generation owners were there to greet us with sincere, caring and open arms.  They gave us a proud tour of their shop, showing us how cameos are made, starting from a simple shell to a beautiful, delicate work of art.  Naturally Sorella Knies had to purchase at least one pair…at least one pair!  Our next stop was to be “The Veiled Christ,” which is a marble sculpture of the deceased Christ covered with a very then veil.  The pictures are amazing and it is a must see, but not that trip, as the wait was 2 hours long and we didn’t have time.  Didn’t have time because we had to make it to “Christmas Street,” which is 2 blocks long (approximately 200 yards).  On both sides of the street there is one Christmas shop after another.  The problem was, there were so many people pressing against one another that we couldn’t get into any of the stores, not that you would have wanted to purchase anything.  Had you been lucky enough to buy something, it most certainly would have been crushed as you exited the street.  As I said, 200 yards long, we didn’t stop to shop and it took us almost one full hour to get to the end.  It was “a nightmare on Christmas Street!”  The shops look delightful, just no shopping.  That will be saved for next time also.  The pictures below do not do the street and the crowd justice.  Once entering, you were pushed and shoved the entire time until the end.  All I can say is YIKES!  We did make it out alive, but there was a time when I questioned if we would.  At the end of the day everyone ate the world-famous Napoli Pizza.  Everyone except yours truly.  I found a Burger King in the train station and had a Whopper for breakfast and one for dinner.  Yum!

The people here in Roma are warm, loving and kind, once they let you into their inner circle.  We have a precious “older” woman and her husband that live directly beneath us.  It has been very cold the last couple of weeks, especially considering the humidity which makes it seem even colder.  Anyway, yesterday as I was leaving the building, she was coming in.  Her English is as good as my Italian, so we struggle, but are ultimately able to communicate.  She expressed great concern over the fact that I did not have something on my head to keep it warm.  She did everything she could possibly do, including almost tackling me to get me to go back upstairs and get a hat.  Problem is, I don’t have a warm hat…yet.  Not much of a necessity back home.  This now is home, so I will have to get one, just for her.  

Of all the movies ever made of the Nativity, one of my favorite scenes, if not my favorite scene is the one from Mr. Krueger’s Christmas.  In it, Mr. Krueger, an aging custodian, is setting up his manger scene in his very humble apartment.  As he does so, he is transported back in time to the “original” manger setting where he introduces himself to the newborn baby Jesus, but then realizes that Jesus knows exactly who he is.  He then apologizes for not bringing a gift, “but I guess that’s not important” he exclaims and then thanks Jesus for always being there for him, even in the darkest moments of his life when he lost his wife, Martha.  Before being transported back to present time, he professes, “You are my closest, my finest friend, and that means I can hold my head up high wherever I go.  Thank you.”  I too testify that He is our closest and dearest friend and our advocate with The Father.  What a wonderful and glorious time of the year.  May each one of us celebrate not only His birth, but His life and may we carry the Spirit of Christmas with us throughout the coming new year.  May the light of Christ shine brightly from within us, that we might bring light into the world.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come.

Till next time, ciao, ciao!

Love always and forever,

Anziano e Sorella Knies

P.S.  Remember, “have a wonderful day in the neighborhood, because it’s a wonderful life!”   

Cammei & Coralli

A wonderful Cameo shop with a more wonderful owner!

Naturally Sorella Knies was ready to buy!

A cameo starts from a shell like this.

Do we dare venture into the crowd?

OK here we go!

P.S. this is a street that cars drive on, or at least try to drive on.

Touch the nose and you are guaranteed to have good luck for a year.  The Thomas' went first...

We want good luck too.  This plus black-eyed peas on New Year's day are sure to bring good luck in the new year.

This is Christmas Street.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was 10 times crazier than this picture reflects!  Took us one hour to travel to the end of the street.

Auto dealers in the United States thought they had it figured out by providing "loaner cars" to their customers that are having work done.  

The sign says it all.  Courtesy Bikes for those that are having work done!  Most of the time I am afraid to drive on the roads of Roma.  I'm sure not going to ride a bike! 

December 3, 2017

Dearest Friends and Family,

We just passed through a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration here in Italy where obviously they do not celebrate that holiday.  Turkeys here cost around 8.5 Euros, which is approximately $4.50 per pound, so I will let you be the judge of how big our turkey was by the pictures below.  We had two of our new-found friends, Anziano and Sorella Sprague, over for dinner. After dinner, we were stuffed like turkeys and we played games and had a delightful conversation.  One of the many blessing we have received while in Italy is developing these marvelous new relationships.  In a very short period of time we have gained a sincere love for the Sprague’s and for many others. 

This past week was again Transfer Week.  As stated in previous posts, Transfer Week is extremely busy and at times very stressful and once over we breathe a huge shy of relief that no one was “permanently” lost and then sleep soundly with relatively few worries.  We went into transfers well organized, with everything “in its place” expecting it to be a “non-event.”  Well, it must have been a full moon because we had one problem after another.  To start the day off, one group of missionaries were late getting to the train station, so we weren’t sure if they would make their train.  This of course would have a major ripple effect throughout the mission if they missed their train.  As we patiently awaited news, we laughed and said, “this isn’t a good way to start the day”.  Fortunately, we were then advised that they had made their train with less than 5 minutes to spare.  Crisis avoided!   That proved to be a minor problem compared to the other problems we dealt with that day, which included several missing missionaries, one which was “lost” for several hours. My heart was racing, anxiety was high and of course my mind was conjuring up the worst possible outcome.  At one train station, one Anziano boarded a train that was headed north, to assist one of the Sorella with her luggage, proving that chivalry is not dead.  Well, chivalry may not be dead, but the train took off before the Anziano could disembark and he was there at the station waiting to catch a train going south, in the opposite direction of where he was now headed.  We quickly looked at the train schedules and saw that it would not be possible for him to make a connecting train that day and would have to wait until the next day.  Yikes!  The good news is that his original train was delayed by 45 minutes and he was able to make that train.  Another crisis avoided.  Back to the missing missionaries.  Ultimately all were found and all made it to their final destinations a bit late, but on the same calendar day.  The next day, one of the missionaries came into the office and asked how transfers went.  I said to him, while pointing to the top of my head, “prior to yesterday, I had a full head of hair.”  Who needs hair anyway, it’s really overrated!” 

Yesterday, p-day, Sorella Knies and I went with the Balzotti’s to Basilica San Giovanni, which is where the Pope resides while acting as Bishop of Rome.  In this church, they have several very interesting relics.  The heads of Saint Peter and Saint Paul are said to be housed therein as well as the original table that Christ used for the “Last Supper”.   Across the street is a building that houses the marble staircase (Scala Sancta) that Christ ascended and descended, which originally lead up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem.  There he was tried and ultimately sentenced to be crucified for us all.  Constantine’s mother in the 4^th century had the staircase transported to Rome.  The Catholics revere this to be so sacred that you are only allowed to ascend them on your knees, one step at a time.  Are these original, that is a question.  I prefer to believe they are and then allow myself to be transported back in time every time I view these relics.  As I ascended the staircase, I thought back 2,000 years ago about our precious Savior, who willing ascended these steps to offer Himself as The Sacrificial Lamb. 

At the beginning of Transfer Week, we always have a meeting with the departing missionaries where they bear their testimonies of Christ and of what they have learned during their missions.  One such missionary said, “don’t cry because it is over, but smile because it happened.”  I have pondered that statement many times since, and now smile every day because it is happening!  President Pickerd that night quoted from 1 Nephi 11 which said, “And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?  And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children, nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”  Nephi may not have known everything, but what he did know is that Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children, you and me.  I remember back on a quote from the movie, “Oh God” with George Burns and John Denver.  He, George Burns playing the part of God said, “no matter how hard it is to believe in me, remember that I believe in you.”  What a comforting thought. 

We had a "surprise" visit from our daughter Sarah's brother-in-law, Dave Johnson and a friend, Brooke, a couple of weeks ago.  We adore the Johnson family, especially Graham and it brought a part of Arizona here to Italy.  We had a wonderful time together, visiting many of the sites we had previously visited and a couple of new sites which included the Pyramid of Cestius built in the year 70 B.C. and the Catacomb of Callixtus which dates back to the year 150 A.D. and contained the remains of several Christian martyrs and 9 popes.  Thanks Dave for the visit.  

Well, that’s it for now.  Till next time, ciao, ciao.

Love,

Anziano e Sorella Knies

After dinner with the Woods and with Dave and Brooke

Inside the Catacomb of Callixtus with the Fresco's that are 1900 years old!

Oil lamps that originally lit up the inside of the catacomb

The Catacomb has four levels that cover a total of 12 running miles underground!

Guess who was the first to decorate for Christmas?

In front of the Pyramid of Cestius.  The Egyptians got "nothing" on Rome!

My favorite place to take people... The Appian Way Antica 

This is the front door to the Villa where President Pickerd and Sorella Pickerd live.  As you can see above the door is when it was built.  Guess what, that is when my Father was born.

Our Thanksgiving "turkey"...

The Knies' and the Sprague's together for our Thanksgiving day celebration.

Sorella Sprague surprised Sorella Knies with a hand knitted pair of "booties" to keep her feet warm.  The building we live in only has heat between the hours of noon and 10:00 p.m.  Other than that you are on your own. 

Inside the Basilica San Giovanni with Sorella Balzotti.

Scala Sancta (staircase Christ ascended) and Anziani Balzotti e Knies followed. AMAZING!

This church is absolutely beautiful!

The Pope's throne

This houses the remains of St. Peter and St. Paul

This is where they keep the Table Christ used for His "Last Supper".

In front of the Basilica with the Balzotti's

 

  

November 16, 2017

Way past due for another post, since my last one was in late October.  This job has been a lot busier than Cynthia or I EVER imagined and by the time we get home all we want to do is eat and go to bed.  That is very uncharacteristic for me!  We are very much enjoying the work however and looking forward to each and every day.   Tonight, while lying in bed I gave Cynthia a hard time because she was falling asleep so early, only to be waked up to her phone ringing around 9:45.  She answered it and then said to me that my job ends when I leave the office and hers, as proof by the phone call goes late into the night.  10 minutes later my phone rang from a missionary needing help with an apartment problem.  She laughed and said that somehow, I must have planted that call. 

Since our last post Chandler and Liz came to visit us.  We had an absolutely wonderful time.  We did many of the same things that we did with Mathew and Kristin and Manly and Kathryn, as well as a few new things.  The things that we double and triple up on are still very much fun and we get to experience them with our children.  One new thing we did with them was to visit the city of Orvieto, which is the city we visited with the Spragues and I spoke about in our last post.  Chandler and Liz loved it!  Me too.  We also drove down to the Amalfi coast and saw “God’s handiwork” first hand.  It was breath taking.  As with the other four, we had a delightful time and then tearfully said farewell.  We did have an unexpected treat.  Chandler thought their plane flew out on Friday night, which meant we had to get them to the airport around 8:00, but when Liz looked at the tickets she realized they didn’t fly out until the next morning.  So, we got to eat Chinese food with them which has become our major “comfort” food.  Whenever Cynthia feels a little homesick, we make a beeline to the Chinese restaurant.  Initially we were eating there up to 3 times per week and we are now down to no more than one time per week.   

Two weeks ago, we had an “All Mission Tour” where one of our Church Leaders came to the Mission to visit all of the missionaries.  It was over a three-day period and I was in charge of the travel for everyone and Cynthia and I had to arrange a lunch for 160.  We provided a HUGE hamburger for all of them and they LOVED them.  Even the sister missionaries scarfed down the burger.  It was a very busy week for the two of us, as well as everyone in the office.  The Mission President and Sorella Pickerd are busy ALL THE TIME and they were super busy that week.  The message presented by our Church Leader was amazing and everyone came away feeling closer to the Savior and more committed to Him and His work.  

A couple of weeks ago we took a biking trip on the Appian Way Antica with our friends, The Thomas'.  It is a highway that the Romans started construction on in 300 B.C for their army to use, to leave Roma for battle and return home as victors.  It was a fun, leisurely trip that I VERY MUCH enjoyed.  It is so amazing to think that 2000 years ago, the Roman Army marched on this very road, eight across and here we are today, biking it!  A week later, the Assistance to the President, Anziano Vance and Campbell and I ran on the Appian Way.  That was not so leisurely.  We got out to about 4.25 miles and I asked if they were ready to turn around.  Naturally they wanted to go out another .75 miles to make it a "round 10" miles.  Youth does have its advantages.  I mean ME!  Cool, cool, cool!

Yesterday I had one of the most difficult days of my life.   I could write a book about what happened, but I will give you the “Cliff Note” version…sort of.  One of my responsibilities is to inspect several of the missionary’s apartments for safety and cleanliness.  Two of the cities I visit are in the mountains and often are difficult to get to.  The round trip was going to take me approximately 13 hours so I left at 7:00 a.m.  My first two cities were non-eventful other than having wonderful visits with these precious young people.  I then started my way to the third city, Ascoli, and expected to arrive there around 2:00 p.m.  I made my way up to one mountain town and my navigation system, Tom-Tom (affectionately known as “Tommy-boy”) told me to turn right.  Unfortunately, that town had been severely damaged by the earthquake approximately one year ago and so I could not turn right, so I was forced to turn left and Tommy-boy re-calculated my travel and only added 1 kilometer to the trip.  I continued to make my way when approximately 20 minutes later Tommy-boy told me to again turn right.  Again because of damage I could only turn left.  Then the re-calculated trip was increased by 24 kilometers.  I should have taken the hint, turned around and went home, but I was determined.  The GPS then estimated my time of arrival to be 2:30 p.m.  Still not bad.  Only this pathway led me up a mountain where the roadway had been damaged and several parts were only wide enough for one car to pass. That was ok, because there were no other cars on the path, going or coming.  Should have been a hint. I said a prayer asking for help and protection.  Anyway, I got off of that mountain to the valley below and traveled to a point where there was a sign that pointed to Ascoli 48 kilometers and my GPS said the same thing.  I was relieved to see that sign as a confirmation so I followed its directions only to be lead up another mountain and said, "Lord not another mountain."  This one was higher, had snow on the road, the temperature was dropping and it was getting later.  It lead me to the summit only to find that that road was completely blocked and I had to turn around and return to where I had previously been.  Now it was heavily snowing and I was becoming very nervous (to say the least) and saw my gas gauge was getting a little low.  Again, I said a prayer and traveled on. I saw a town on the top of a small mountain and traveled to it hoping to find fuel.  When I reached the town, I found that it was completely abandoned due to the complete damage that it had sustained from the earthquake.  Now I was feeling really desperate!  I said another prayer and saw a trailer and looked inside to find two Italian military personnel that were guarding the town from looters.  I exclaimed, “I am a lost American, I can’t speak Italian and I need fuel!  They didn’t speak English, but we were able to communicate and they told me to travel to a town 24 kilometer away and pointed the direction.  I put it in the GPS and it confirmed and I traveled on only to find that it retraced my original path.  I had to travel up and down that same mountain that had sustained such damage.  The good news is that I made it to that town, got fueled up and determined its time to go home and off I went.  I said another prayer and headed home.  I have never felt so helpless and lost in my entire life!  Looking back, I do see the hand of God in my experience.  The day before, I was forced by the Mission to have snow tires put on my car, which I thought was a waste of time and money, only to be so thankful the next day as I traveled through the snow.   Another tender mercy was going to that town and finding those Italian military gentlemen.  They gave me the name of the town that I could program into my GPS and get me home.  Had I not found them, I could have taken another wrong turn and ended up on another mountain top out of gas.  My daughter Sarah asked me last night if I ever felt peace after offering my prayers.  I told her that unfortunately I did not, BUT I never doubted His presence and his protection.  Another tender mercy.  I love the Lord and I know He loves me and you and will NEVER abandon us in our times of need.  We ARE His children and He wants each one of us to succeed and ultimately to return to Him.  That is why He sent His Son, whose birth and life we celebrate at this time of year.  May you all feel His love now and always.

Till next time.  Ciao, ciao.

Love

Anziano e Sorella Knies

In the caves at Orvieto they discovered an ancient well, approximately 240 feet deep.  It is big enough for one man to fit in.  You can see the foot and hand holes on each side of the well.  Don't know about you but I wouldn't have wanted that job!

Along the Appian Way it is "littered" with ancient sites.  This was a "Circus" used for chariot races.  Surrounding the perimeter are the remains of the stands where over 10,000 spectators would view the events.

In the middle of the arena, the center area that the chariots would go around.

1700 year old picture

The Appian Way.  2000 plus years old!

Chandler, Liz and I took a night time tour of the Coliseum.  This is in the basement where the gladiators would await their "games".  The original blocks, wedged together, with the "keystone" holding them in place.  Amazing engineering! 

Look on the last post of a picture of Kathryn doing the same thing at the entrance of Civita Di Bagnoregio.  This is Chandler and Liz.

The AP's and myself on our 10 mile run on the Appian Way.

We could not pass up another opportunity to visit Pompeii.  Can't get enough!

Toured the Caserta Castle.  It was breath taking!  These are "Royal" cradles.  

Smile for the camera.  This is our 6 month anniversary!

Guess who is the first to decorate for Christmas?