Dear Family,
The very next day after receiving the news about my father's passing away, George and I were on the plane headed for Rome to finish our last assignment there. I have no doubt that's what my dad would have wanted--finish what you start!
That evening, we sent back to the chapel and temple grounds for another training to another stake.
The very next day after receiving the news about my father's passing away, George and I were on the plane headed for Rome to finish our last assignment there. I have no doubt that's what my dad would have wanted--finish what you start!
Coming around the corner, suddenly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple rises up. It is everything I thought it would be and more!
To the left of the temple is this beautiful ward house.
Opposite the temple is the Visitors' Center. A miniature version of the inside of the temple is a great way for people to understand what is within the temple.
The Christus, surrounded by the 12 Apostles--replacing Judas with Paul, just like the originals of Bertel Thorvaldsen's in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Apostles are all depicted with something representing their life or their death.
We, also, walked and took a look around Rome on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. It was absolutely one of the hottest, most humid days I've ever felt!
Our hotel was very near the Coliseum--completed in 80 AD, it was the largest amphitheater ever built at that time and held 50,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles that, also, used wild animals.
Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome. It could accommodate over 150,000 spectators in its full form. The site is now a public park.
That afternoon, we went back to the chapel in the temple area for training.
Our wonderful AAA for the Rome Coordinating Council. We worked together in training one of the stakes there.
Today, we took a bus to some of the important areas of the old city.
A visit to Rome must include a visit to Trevi Fountain to throw a coin over your shoulder, which is supposed to ensure that you will return to Rome in the future (which we would LOVE to do!)
The Pantheon is a former Roman temple, now a church.
The large circular dome is open to the sky.
The main attraction of Piazza Navona is the trio of fountains in the square. The central and largest fountain is the Fountain of the Four Rivers. It was constructed between 1647 and 1651.
Walking the street up to the Spanish Steps.
Sooo frustrating--a bird hit George while he was walking!
The Galleria Alberto Zordi is a shopping center in Rome named after a famous Italian actor. It is absolutely beautiful!
We didn't have time to visit the Vatican, but we took a pic of it as we later left for the airport.
We were able to attend church at one of the wards that meets in the ward house there. We were thrilled to see our friend who we worked with in Frankfurt in the finance department and was our bishop in the International Ward until he received a call for him and his wife to move to Rome where he became the temple recorder. They are just fantastic people who we really have missed!
We will never forget this wonderful way to end our mission! Just walking around the beautiful temple grounds helped to calm my aching heart of my father's passing. And attending a session in the Rome Temple brought tears in the Celestial Room--so many emotions. I needed that time for some contemplation and prayers.
We now had one day to give the final training to our replacements (the Snows), gather everything at our office, then clean up our apartment, and get all our belongings ready for our return home on Tuesday. It seriously looked like an impossible feat, but we knew, with the Lord's help, it was possible!
No comments:
Post a Comment