Malta - Week 16

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Malta Week 16 -Morrises Visit and Branch Conference 


HAPPY MOONCAKE FESTIVAL!
We had a big surprise on Monday.  Our Chinese Friends, Oakly, Chloe, Zoey and Max dropped by with some Moon Cakes for us so we could celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival! This brought back sweet memories of our time in China. It was so nice of them to think of us!

Monday Night English Class

This beautiful sister, Daina, is going to Peru on a mission.  She moved here from Peru and she speaks very little English, so serving in Peru will be perfect for her!


They had a mission farewell open house for her on Tuesday night.  It certainly wasn't like the open houses we have in the United States where people come and go and wish good luck to the missionary.  We set up the table with all the refreshments in the front of the room, but no one was invited to partake until after a very lengthy program.  The Dad, the Mom, the Missionary and anyone else who wanted to, got up and gave little speeches.  Most of it was in Spanish! It went on and on. After the speeches, it was time to take pictures.  They decided to take pictures of every group of people who had ever known her, all they guys, all the girls, all the cousins, all the aunts, all the uncles, all the friends, the missionaries and more!  It went on and on.  They finally invited everyone to eat, but it continued to go on.  The missionaries had a curfew, so they had to leave, and we decided it was time to go as well.  I'm not sure how long it lasted, but we are happy for Daiana and wish her well on her mission!


Wednesday night English Class

On Thursday, we picked up President and Sister Morris at the airport.  They were coming for Branch Conference.  They always stay in St Julien's Bay, which is always beautiful, so after we dropped them off, we took a scenic walk on the boardwalk around the Bay.

Lunch at Salt and Pepper

Salt and Pepper









We ran into this tightrope walker out on the ocean walking, dancing and doing all kinds of stunts for walkers by. 


FRIDAY
On Friday we had our District Council at the Church with President and Sister Morris.  It was also President Morris' Birthday on Saturday, so we decided to surprise him with a cake.  I made Heath Bar Cake with the Heath Chips I brought back with me from Utah!  It was so good!



Everyone loved the cake!



All the missionaries signed a card for Pres Morris and one of the sisters used her best calligraphy to put his name on the card.

While Pres Morris was here, his goal was to look at properties for a new chapel.  Unfortunately, we had a torrential rainstorm, with rain falling in bucketfuls all afternoon.  But he didn't let that stop him.  He borrowed my cheap umbrella and set out to meet the agents who had found some properties to look at.  

Unfortunately, he still didn't come up with any better options than we have now.

  
On Friday Evening, the rain had cleared.  It was a beautiful evening, and we had an enjoyable dinner with the Morrises. 

Sunday was our Branch Conference.  The missionaries surprised Pres Morris by singing his favorite hymn in Sacrament Meeting.

After all the meetings, we fixed dinner for the Morrisses and then took them to the airport to head back to Rome.


Cindy and I get a cousin picture every time we're together!  It's such a blessing for two Texas cousins to serve together in the Italy Rome Mission!

CIAO

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