Malta Week 37

Malta Week 37 - Hiking Migra Il Ferha, YSA Temple Trip & the Baptism of David Ngareba

English Class Monday Night - We were so sad to hear that David (back row center) has to go back to Columbia.  A lot of our students come here with a tourist visa and if they don't get a job within 3 months they are sent back to their native country. David tried to get a job, but since it's winter here, tourist season is low, and there are very few jobs available!  We will miss him.

Institute on Tuesday night

On Wednesday morning we hiked Migra Il Ferha Malta with Torch, Gloria and Jackie.  

  

This is a closeup of the picture above.  If you look closely, you'll see this man in that picture.  He was fishing on the edge of the cliff from 200 feet above the water.

This was one of my favorite hikes.  

It was along the edge of these majestic cliffs!

I thought this cliff formation looked like the head of an Eagle.

The City above the Cliffs

After our hike, we headed home to pack for our next trip to Rome!

YSA Temple Trip to ROME

After months of planning, we took our first YSA trip. Stan and Debbie Larson, who taught English with us in China are serving a YSA Mission in Croatia.  They organized a combined temple trip with the YSA's in Rome and invited us to join.  We invited all of our YSA's to attend. The church pays a substantial portion of their trip to make it feasible. Originally, eight of them signed up for the trip, but one by one, several of them dropped out.  Some of them had Visa problems and couldn't leave the country.  Others could not get off work.  We were disappointed that only two ended up coming, but super excited that those two were able to make it!  

We flew in on Wednesday night.  Jayson flew in with us and Ann flew in on Thursday morning.  We planned a Family Search training session in the morning with Jayson and an Endowment Session at 3:30. We chose the Endowment session in the afternoon so Ann could join us.  

It was raining that day and Ann's plane was diverted to Naples!  She didn't know when the plane was going to take off again, so she started to get a train ticket, when they decided they could fly into Rome.  Unfortunately, she didn't make it to the afternoon temple session that day.

We enjoyed having lunch with Jayson.  He hadn't been able to attend the temple for over 5 years, so he was excited to return.  The three of us attended the afternoon session and he really enjoyed being in the temple after so many years being away. 

Pictures we took on the temple grounds.

Stan and Debbie Larson and their group of YSA's showed up that evening.  It was so great to see them after so many years!  They had 7 YSA's and two adult leaders with them.

Scott and Marilyn Peterson, the EUA YSA Directors who are based out of Frankfort joined us for this trip.  At the head of the table, the Montagnoli's, YSA Missionaries from Napoli joined us as well.  The Petersons, to the right of the Montagnoli's, hosted a dinner for us on Thursday evening at a lovely restaurant in Rome. The Whitings, YSA missionaries from Rome are pictured at the foot of the table with Sister Roney who is staying with them while on medical leave.  Stan and Debbie Larson are across from us with the other senior couple from Croatia (whose names we have forgotten) next to us.

No dinner is ever complete in Italy, without a stop for Gelato after the meal.  We invited the cute Gelato server to join us in this picture (center)!  And the Gelato was amazing!

While we were at our dinner, we sent the YSA's to Ippo Pizza.  Jayson sent us this picture with the caption, "We are making new friends."  In addition to attending the temple, one of the purposes of these type of trips, is for the YSA's in Europe to meet and associate with other YSA's.  We were thrilled to see this goal being accomplished.

Friday morning, we did a self-guided walking tour of Rome.  It started out as a rainy, gloomy day, but got better as the day went on. 

We started out at Santa Maria Vella Vittoria.

Stan gave us a brief description of all of the monuments and sculptures along the way. 

Ann, Betty Ann, Steve and Jayson

We even found Pinocchio and caught him in a lie!

Trevi Fountain

An outdoor cafe for lunch along the way. 

National Monument to Victor Immanuel

After touring Rome, we headed back for the 3:30 session in the temple.  Davy DeCarlo's Mom and Marina Byberg joined us.  JP and Karen came to work in the temple and we met up with Elder Dobbins and Sister Vedovi so we included all of them in this photo!  It was so wonderful being in the temple.

Friday night, the YSA group from Rome hosted a Valentine's Social and Dance for all of us.  It was so fun to be with all of them!

We loved seeing our YSA's establishing friendships with the other YSA's.

They had super cute decorations and welcomed us all with open arms!

Sister Peterson, the Larson's, the Montagnoli's, Senior Couple from Croatia, and the Whitings from Rome

Saturday morning, we attended the temple one more time.  One of the young men from Croatia was going through for his first time.  It was a beautiful session with JP conducting in English this time which was easier than using the translator.  

After the session we joined together for one last windy picture before the Larson 's took their group to drive back to Croatia.  

One last treat at Venchi's Gelato at the airport before catching our plane back home!

On Sunday, we had another baptism.  

David Ngareba was baptized by JP.

We are on a spiritual high after all the amazing experiences we have had this week.  Attending the temple three days in a row, associating with all of these amazing young men and young women, spending time with other Senior missionaries from Europe and witnessing another baptism in Malta!!!  We feel so blessed for the opportunity to serve here!